JOHN 6.45 .

Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father , commeth unto me .

THE ingrafting of the humble and broken hearted sinner into Christ , as we have heard , consists of two particular passages : The first was being put into the stock ; Secondly , the ingrafting into the some . As in ingrafting naturally so of implanting spiritually of the soule into Christ . When the soul is brought unto this , then a sinner comes to be partaker of all the spiritual benefits , all shall be communicated to us . Now the point at this present to be handled , is called by the streame of Divines Vocation , and I tearme it the putting in of the soule , when the soule is brought out of the world of sinne , to lye upon , and to close with the Lord Jesus Christ , and this hath two particular passages in it ; partly the call on Gods part , partly the answer on ours . The call on Gods part is this , when the Lord by the cal of his Gospell doth so cleerly reveale the fulnesse of mercy , and certifies to the soule by the work of his sp●rit , that the soule humbled returnes answer to Gods call .

In the first observe two passages : First , the meanes whereby God will call the sinner unto him ; the sinner is afraid to appeare before God whom he hath offended , and may therefore proceed in justice against him for those sinnes which have beene committed by him . Now besides the Law which discovers a mans sinne unto him , hee now prepares another meanes , the voice of his Gospell ; hee lets in many sweet inklings into the soule , of his love and kindnesse to allure him , to call him , and draw him to himselfe .

Secondly , the Lord doth not onely appoint the meanes , namely , the ministery of his Gospel , whereby the soule may be brought unto him , and receive communion with him ; but by the worke of his Spirit hee doth bring all the riches of his grace into the soule truly humbled , so that the heart cannot but receive the same , and give answer thereto , and give an eccho of the subjection of it selfe to be governed thereby : that wee have finished already . There must bee hearing before comming ; not of the Law , to terrifie a man ; but of the Gospell , to perswade and allure a man to come unto the Lord , and receive mercy and kindnesse from him . The Gospell is the meanes ordained by God to call home the soule unto him . But this will not doe the deed ; there must be something else , or the sinner will be at a stand , and cannot come on cheerfully , and receive the grace offered him ; therefore besides the meanes , wee have the speciall cause expressed , which is the Lord . For when a man hath heard , that is one thing ; but that is not all , for the principall cause is the Lord . God the Father alone can buckle the heart to receive the grace appointed , and the mercy offered to the soule : and without the principall cause , all other meanes , I meane the Ministers of the Gospell , although it be a savour of life unto life , yet it may be a savour of death unto death , unlesse the Spirit of the Lord goes with it . For when the Gospell is onely revealed to the understanding , and that onely conceives of the letter thereof , and it soakes not , and sinkes not into the heart : this we call an outward calling , that is the phrase of Divines : when some light flash is imparted and communicated unto the soule , and is not set on sufficiently , that is an outward calling . But when God the Father doth accompany the dispensation of the Gospell with the powerfull operation of the Spirit , and it puts its hand to the key of the Gospell , and unlockes a blinde minde , and a hard heart , there the soule learnes throughly and effectually the way of salvation . The Text saith , there must not onely be hearing , but learning of the Father , else the soule will not , nor cannot come . Now before I can collect the severall passages out of the words , there is some difficulty and obscurity in the phrase , therefore give me leave , as I am able , to discover the meaning and sense of the words , and then the collection will be cleere .

First , for the explication of the phrase , and I will discourse four questions unto you , which will be usefull for the cleere explication of the Text. 4. Questions .

First , what the lesson is that a man must learne before he come .

Secondly , why the Father is said to teach , and not the Sonne , nor the holy Ghost .

Thirdly , what is the manner how the Father doth teach the soule , when he will call it home to himselfe .

Fourthly , what is the frame and disposition of the soule , how doth the heart behave it selfe when it hath in truth learned the lesson . When the Lord will propound unto , and learne the soules of his that belong to him , you must not thinke the truth tedious , because they will give us light into all the truth that shall bee hereafter discussed out of the word .

Quest. 1 He that hath heard and learned of the Father , what is the lesson that he must learne before hee can come ? that after he hath learned this lesson he may be able to see the path of salvation as propounded to him , so also neere at hand , that hee might walk therein , and receive comfort thereby .

Answ. For answer hereunto , the lesson that the soule must learne , is this , namely , the fulnesse of the mercy , and grace , and salvation that God the Father hath provided , and also offered to the poore humbled sinner , in and through the Lord Jesus Christ , which in deed is able to doe that for a poore sinner , which all the meanes and things in the world could not doe , and yet notwithstanding he needs . I have heretofore discussed the poore miserable plight which a sinner hath brought himselfe into by his manifold rebellions . There is no helpe , no hope of himselfe , in what hee hath or doth to releeve and succour himselfe , and therefore he fals flat at the footstoole of the Almighty , and is content to be at his disposing . Now the lesson that the soule must learne , is the fulnesse , greatnesse , and freenesse of the perfect salvation which is brought unto us through the Lord Jesus Christ . And that we may not learne this lesson by halfes , but fully and perfectly , and that your minds may conceive of the same , give me leave to lay it out fully , because it will be profitable for our ensuing discourse : and this lesson discovers it selfe in three things , as in three lines , as I may so terme it .

The first is this , that the soule may learne there is enough sufficiency in the mercy of God , to fill up all the empty chinkes of the soule , and supply all the wants that a sinner hath , and releeve him in all those necessities that either doe or can befall him : this is the condition of every sonne of man since the fall of Adam , that there is not onely a great deale of weaknesse in the soule , but there is a great deale of wants and emptinesse in the soule .

Now this is the fulnesse of the mercy of God , that whatsoever our weaknesses , wants , or necessities bee , there is full sufficiency enough in that masse to fill up all , and to give the soule full content in every particular . Hence the phrase of Scripture runnes thus , when God propounds the fulnesse of mercy in Jesus Christ , he calls it a treasury , and all the treasures of wisedome and holinesse are in Christ ; not one treasure , but all treasures ; not some treasures , but all treasures , Esay 61. When the Gospell was professed , there was a fulnesse of mercy , and there wee shall see a kinde of meeting and concurrency of all blessings together . So that where the Gospell comes , there is joy for the sorrowfull , peace for the troubled , strength for the weake ; be your miseries what they can be , here is releefe seasonable and sutable to all your wants , miseries , and necessities . Nay , this is not onely for the present necessity . Mercy is not only able to releeve your present necessity , but your future also . It is not with mercy as with the widow of Sarepta , who thought when the meale in the barrell , and the oyle in the cruse was spent , she should then surely perish . No , it is not so in the fulnesse and sufficiency of this mercy ; it hath not onely enough to doe you good for the present , and to succour you in all present wants ; but what miseries soever shall befall thee , or what troubles shall betide thee for future times , the fulnesse of Gods mercy laies in provision against such necessities , and times of miseries and vexations . For a poore sinner may be driven to a stand after this manner : It is true , saith the sinner , I have heretofore committed many sinnes , God hath sealed up the pardon of them unto me , and those sins which have heretofore pleased me , God hath given me a sight of them in some power and measure against them . But what if more sins , if more temptations , if more corruptions , if more guilt , if more horror seize upon my heart , how then shall I succour my selfe ? But now this is the fulnesse and sufficiency of mercy , it doth not onely case a man in regard of present necessity , but layes provision for all future wants and calamities that can befall the soule . Psal. 130.7 . The text saith , Let Israel hope in the Lord , there is mercy , and with him is plenteous redemption . The word in the originall is , there is multiplying redemption , or redemption encreasing : if misery , sorrow , and anguish be multiplyed , there is multiplyed redemption also . Then know it , if you know your owne soules ; you see it , if you see your owne lives , that it is new sinnes , new corruptions prevailing with you . But here is the comfort of the soule , as sinne increaseth , so mercy increaseth ; as corruption multiplyes , so redemption multiplyes : therefore he is called the Father of mercy ; as who should say , he begets mercy , even a generation of mercies , from day to day ; and it is a large generation of new mercies framed and made to incourage poore soules : therefore it is said , with the Lord there is a fountaine of life . Looke as it is with a fountaine , there is not onely water in it for the present , but it feeds severall cocks and conduits ; and though it runnes out daily , it enlargeth it selfe daily : So with the Lord there is a fountaine of life . If there be a fountaine of death in thy soule , in regard of thy sinnes to kill thee ; so a fountaine in God to quicken thee . Hence it comes to passe that the Lord speaking of his mercy , calls it the exceeding riches of his mercy , Ephes. 2.7 . I say , the Lord hath not onely fulnesse of mercy , but he is rich in all his fulnesse ; nay , he exceeds in all the riches of the fulnesse of his mercy . So that be we never so poore and beggerly , these sins increase , and those miseries increase ; why yet though thou bee a bankrupt in grace , yet the Lord is full of goodnesse , full of mercy ; yea he exceeds in his fulnesse , to succour thy heart in all necessities : nay , our miseries and wants bee great , yet haply thy feare is greater than all the rest ; thy soule is troubled many times more with the feare of what will be , than with the feeling of what is already befalne thee : But now , how ever thy miseries be great , and thy feare exceeds all misery that can betide ; yet mercy will remove and prevent those feares , and Christ will doe more for thee , than thou canst feare will fall upon thee : Nay , a man doth not feare what misery can befall upon him , but his heart may imagine more than he doth feare . But here is the fulnesse of mercy , mercy full to the brim , and running over ; mercy is able to doe more for thee , than thou canst feare or conceive shall come upon thee . Ephes. 3.20 . then saith the Lord , exceeding excesse , abundantly above that we can aske or thinke . So then the words runne thus , then winde up the point , Thou seest , thou findest , thou feelest , many sorrowes now assailing thee , thou expectest more trouble to befall thee , and thou dost conceive more than thou dost feare ; thy sorrowes out-bid thy heart , thy feares out-bid thy sorrowes , and thy thoughts goe beyond thy feares : and yet here is the comfort of a poore soule , in all his misery and wretchednesse , the mercy of the Lord out-bids all these whatsoever may , can or shall befall thee . Gather then up briefly , and shut up this first passage . Many are the sorrowes of the righteous , guilt of sinne perplexing the sinner , and filthinesse of sinnes tyrannizing and domineering over the soule ; nay , many feares and cares for future times : for a sinner saith , Sometimes my condition is marvellous poore , my estate marvellous miserable ; what if small temptations , what if small corruptions , what if such a fall should betide me , what then shall become of my soule ? Nay , a mans imagination exceeds all feares . The soule that thinks with it self , Should the Lord deale in justice , and should my sinnes get the victory over me , which I hope will never be , for what shall I then do for succour ? yet this is the comfort of a poore soule , let it read this lesson , The Lord is able , and mercy can doe excessive , exceeding abundantly above all , thy sorrowes are abundant , thy feares are very abundant , thy imaginations are excessive , exceeding abundant , exceeding above all present sorrowes , above all future feare , and above the course of all imaginations . This discourse shall serve for the first passage .

We will now adde the second . The soule is not yet fully satisfied , but replyes , It is true , there is bread enough in my Fathers house ; that I yeeld , and that I confesse ; there is abundance of mercy in God , a world of mercy that pardoned Manasses , and saved Saul , but what is that to me , if there be bread enough in my Fathers house , and I starve for hunger , and get no benefit by this mercy of God ? But how shall a man starve in this mercy ? if a way can be conceived , and a meanes can be propounded for another supply to the soule , to fill up the necessity of it , this will be seene in the next particular ; I say herein appeares more fulnesse of mercy .

It is not onely sufficient to releeve a man in all the miseries that can befall him , but this is another thing considered : mercy is able to make thee partake in the same mercy : God doth not leave thee to thy selfe , that thou shouldest buy it , and purchase it ; and buy it , and procure it : but mercy is able to suffice thy soule , that thou maist be refreshed thereby . This is the tenor of mercy : God requires of a man that he should beleeve : now mercy doth helpe to performe the duty commanded . The Lord , as he requires the condition of thee , so he worketh the condition in thee : hee makes thee beleeve that thou shalt be saved , as there is fulnesse of grace in himselfe to doe thee good , if thou dost receive the same : this is the difference betweene the two Covenants , the Covenant of workes , and the Covenant of grace . The first covenant runnes , Adam shall doe and live : now it stood upon the use and abuse of his free will , either to doe the will of God , and be blessed ; or to breake the law , and be cursed : it was in his power to receive the life : and thus either by breach or not doing the condition required , Adam must performe . But it is not so here : the Lord in deed requires a condition : no man can be saved but he must beleeve : but here is the privilege , that the Lord as he makes this condition with the soule , so also he keepeth us in performing the condition , for the Lord he requires that the soule should rest upon him , and he make him also to doe it : he requires the soule to cleave unto him . Ezek. 36.26 , 27. There is the tenor of this covenant , A new heart will I give you , and a new spirit I will put within you , and I will take away your stony heart , and give you a heart of flesh , and I will put my spirit within you , and cause you to walk in my statutes : Or if they will walke in my wayes , out of thine owne power , then I will vouchsafe this mercy and favour . Now the Lord requires this condition , and workes it also in his children ; he requires this of them , and he workes this in them , for their everlasting good ; as Heb. 8.9 . the Lord saith , This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel ; I write my lawes in their hearts , and they shall not need to be taught . Men must know God , and beleeve in the Lord . Now as the Lord requires this , as the condition of the covenant ; so the Lord will work this in them , as he requires this of them . Iohn 1.12 . the text saith , To them that beleeve , he gave them power to be the sonnes of God . Now if a man will beleeve , he shall be saved . Now then hee makes a man beleeve that he may be a sonne . This is the second passage whereby the soule of a sinner comes to be cheered : or that there is not onely abundance of sufficiency in the Lord Jesus Christ ; but that mercy , as it is able to doe him good , so it will make him partaker of the good .

The third particular is this , That as mercy hath all good , and will make us partakers of what it hath ; so also it will dispose of us , and of that it bestoweth upon us . Mercy will not onely have a sinner , but it will rule and order that grace it hath bestowed upon the soule . For if mercy purchase a soule at so high a rate , as the blood of the Lord Jesus ; it is right that the soule purchased by grace , and supplyed with grace , that mercy should dispose it for the honour of God . You are not your owne , saith the Apostle , but bought with a price ; therefore you must glorifie the Lord in body and soule . Nay , it is not onely right that mercy should doe it ; but reason , and beneficiall to the soule , that mercy should doe thus . Nay , I say , unlesse that mercy should rule a man , he had not beene able to give full content to the soule . If the Lord should leave any poore soule to the destiny of his owne heart , and the malice of Satan , hee would runne to ruine presently : he is not able to supply his owne wants and to dispose of his owne spirit , and employ aright his owne soule . For if Adam in his innocency , had a stocke in his owne hands , fell and perished : then if mercy should put a man into the same estate that Adam was , a man should bring himselfe into the same misery that Adam was brought into : but there is that fulnesse of that mercy , that is in Christ that it wil bestow all good needfull for me ; so also , it will dispose of that good in me , so that Satan shall never prevaile , the world shall never overcome , nor my corruptions beare sway in me ; but the Lord shall rule me for ever : and this is the fulnesse of Gods mercy . Gather up the point then , that we may see what wee must learne . There is sufficiency in mercy to supply all wants : nay , there is ability in mercy to communicate that it hath , and we stand in need of . Nay , mercy will preserve us ; and that it giveth to us , against all oppositions that can befall thee . This is the lesson that the soule must learne , that it may be able in some measure to see the way , and learne the path that leadeth to everlasting happinesse . This is the first lesson that the soule must learne of God the Father .

Vset . For the use of this . Is this the lesson the soule must learne ? then looke wisely upon it ; and when this comes upon thee , and sorrow assailes thee heavily , doe not looke into the blacke booke of conscience , and thinke there to finde supply ; neither looke into the booke of the privileges and performances , and thinke to finde power out of thy owne sufficiency : Looke not on thy sinnes to pore upon them , whereby thou shalt be discouraged ; neither look into thy owne sufficiency , thinking thereby to procure any thing to thy selfe . These are but lessons of the lower forme . It is true , thou must see thy sinnes , and sorrow for them ; but this is for the lower forme , and thou must get this lesson beforehand : and when thou hast gotten this lesson of contrition and humiliation , looke onely to Gods mercy , and the riches of his grace ; and be sure as you take out this lesson , take it not out by halves , for then you wrong mercy , and your selves too , if you thinke that bare workes will serve , and that is all . No , no , mercy will rule you , therefore take all the lesson out , and then the heart will be cheered , and thy soule in some measure enabled to come on to the Lord , and will see some glimpses of consolation from the Spirit .

Quest. 2 We see the lesson , what must be learned : now we must see the reason why the Lord must teach this lesson .

Answ. I answer , It is not appropriated to the Father alone , for the Father teaches not alone ; but the Sonne and the holy Ghost teach too . But why then doth the Text give it to the Father ? Here I answer directly , because the Father was directly offended with the sinne of man . 1 Iohn 1.7 . If wee sinne , wee have an advocate with the Father , namely , the Lord Jesus Christ , to plead for us with the Father . He doth not say , wee take an advocate with an advocate , that doth not plead with himselfe : the reason is , God the Father was directly offended ; though all the persons in the Trinity were offended , yet the Father more directly . Now he that is directly offended , favour and mercy must come from him , to the party that doth offend : and that is the reason why Christ especially cast this upon the Father . Take a creditor that hath money , or creditors that are bankrupts ; now this is no meanes to helpe and succour these men : but it lyeth upon the creditor that oweth the debt , for he onely it is must come to forgive the debts : for it is here God the Father , being directly offended by the sonne of man , therefore from him in the first place , must proceed the pardon , and mercy to the sonne of man . Hence it comes to passe , that the text saith , the Father must teach this lesson .

Quest. 3 The third question is this , After what manner doth the Lord teach the soule ? Christ speakes now of the worke of the Spirit : and that you may not be mistaken , know this , that the worke of the Spirit doth alwayes goe with , and is communicated by the word ; therefore if the question be , After what manner doth God teach the soule to spell out this lecture of mercy and pardon ?

Answ. I answer briefl● , The Lord teacheth the soule by his Spirit . I told you that before , that not only the Father , but the Sonne and holy Ghost also teacheth : the Father from himselfe , the Son from the Father , and the holy Ghost from both : Therefore understand what I say , the Spirit of the Lord doth not onely in the generall , make known Gods mercy ; but doth in particular , with strength of evidence , present to the broken hearted sinner the right of the freenesse of Gods grace to the soule ; nay , it holds those speciall considerations to the heart , and prefen●eth the heart with them : not onely so , but in the second place , the Spirit doth forcibly soke in the re●●ish of that grace into the heart , and by the over-piercing worke , doth leave some dint of supernaturall and spirituall vertue on the heart . The Spirit doth not onely with truth bring home the evidence to the heart , but it i● st●ll whispering , and calling , and making knowne the same , and forcibly soketh in the rellish of the freenesse of Gods grace , and leaveth a dint of supernaturall vertue upon the soule . We will expresse the points , because it is somewhat difficult , and is the scope of that place , 2 Tim. 1.7 . The Lord hath not given you the spirit of feare , but of a sound minde . The spirit of feare , is the spirit of bondage , in humiliation & contrition . When the Spirit sheweth a man his sinnes , and sheweth him that he is in bondage , and in fetters , le ts him get out how he can : this is the spirit of feare and of bondage . In the second place , there is the spirit of power . But what is this spirit of power ? You must imagine this spirit of power doth not intimate any particular grace , but as it were the sinewes and strength of the worke of the Spirit , conveying it selfe through the frame of the heart and this I terme to bee the effectuall worke of the Spirit of God . When the soule is humbled , the Lord sweetly communicates into the soule a supernaturall and spirituall vertue . Lastly , as it is in nature , take a knife , if it be rubbed on a Loadstone , it will draw iron unto it ; now it cannot doe that , because it is a knife , but because it is rubbed on a stone , and receives vertue there from : So it is with a heart humbled , it is a fit subject for the grace of God to worke upon : the love of God is like the loadstone , and if the heart he rubbed thereupon , and affected with the sweetnesse thereof , it will bee able to close with that mercy , and come to that mercy , and goe to God , from whence that mercy comes .

Quest. 4 What is the behaviour of the soule , when it hath learned this lesson from the Lord ?

Answ. I answer , When these two things meet together in the soule , then it hath learned this lesson : The first is this , when the soule having heard of that plentifull redemption that is in Christ , as also having apprehended the revelation thereof ; it commeth to close with the worke of the Spirit , revealing , presenting , and offering grace to the heart : nay , it comes to give entertainment to he riches of that mercy revealed to the soule . There is in the mercy of God , and in the blessed truth of the promises , a great excellency . Now when this is so plentifully brought home to the heart , that it breakes through all oppositions , which may hinder the worke of the Spirit upon the soule , when it is brought home by the spirit of God ; and the heart gives way , and closes with it , so that there is nothing betweene that and the soule ; this I take to be the first frame of the soule , that beginnes to learne this lesson , it beginnes to close to the truth , to give way to the sweetnesse that is in it , and bids adieu to all delight and sinnes , and whatsoever may be a hindrance unto it , from receiving of this grace into the soule . This is the first passage .

The second , with which I will conclude is this , that as the soule closeth with that mercy , and welcommeth it , and the heart is content to take up mercy upon those termes : so in the second place , there is an impression and disposition left upon the soule , that it is framed and disposed ; there is a kinde of print which the soule hath with it ; so that as the mercy of God is revealed to the soule , and communicated to the soule ; so there is a kind of impression , frame , and print , which the heart retaineth , and hath wrought upon it by this grace and free favour of God made knowne : therefore that phrase , Rom. 6.17 . is a marvellous patterne to our purpose ; the Text saith , they were delivered to this forme of doctrine . Looke as it is with a seale , if the seale be set to the wax , and leave an impression , just so many letters upon the wax as in the seale , then it is wholly sealed : So the Spirit of God through Christ , in the promises , doth reveale al the freenesse and grace of mercy in Christ . Now when the Spirit doth leave an impression on the soule , that man is delivered into the truth . I conclude all in Acts 26.18 . when Saul was sent to preach to the Gentiles , the Text saith , he was but to bring them out of darknesse into light : mark , when the Lord doth come to worke effectually upon the soule , he brings men from under the power of darknesse : whereas the understanding was darke and blinded , when the Spirit comes , it turnes it from the darknesse and power of sinne , unto the power of light and grace .

Lastly , the power of the heart doth these two things : for not onely some of the heart must bee brought to God , but the whole heart : therefore in the precious promises of grace and savation , there is fulnesse of all good , to draw all the faculties of the soule unto the Lord ; and therefore the faithfulnesse and the truth of God is mainly revealed in the promises ; now that fits the understanding , and makes it looke to God for pardon , for power , and mercy .

As the promise is a true word , so it is a good word ; this answers all the will and affections ; there is a possibility in mercy to save a man : hope expects it ; but then the soule must looke onely to Christ for mercy , desire , long for it , for that there is a certainty that a man shall have mercy if he can desire it ; love doth welcome and delight in it , nay , the soule doth say , The Lord hath said , thou must be saved : nay , thou must looke to Christ for mercy , it is no where else to be had : nay , if thou dost desire it , thou shalt have it ; and then the Lord determines the point , it is done , mercy is thine ; and then the will addes full consent , and sayes , Amen , Lord , let it be as thou hast said . Gather them up briefly . When the Spirit of God doth so cleerly present mercy to the soule , and doth leave by the over-powring worke thereof a supernaturall worke upon the soule , that the spirit closeth therewith , and receives the print and impression thereof : now the lesson is fully learned : this may suffice for the opening of the severall things ; now therefore we will addresse our selves to gather the doctrines out of the Text. And first for the generall , in that the Father is said to teach .

Doct. That the teaching of the heart effectually is the proper taske and worke of God . It is not you that can teach your selves , neither can all the meanes and friends under heaven doe it ; no , it is the work onely of the Father . All these meanes and ministers are usefull , but God is the chiefe master , and all these are but underling ushers to convey the minde of God unto us ; but the master is God himselfe : it is the powerfull operation of the Spirit that must doe the soule good ; all other meanes are but like the cane that conveyeth the voyce ; but the voyce is the Lord . Iohn 14.26 . I wil send the Comforter , and he shal teach you all things . And who is that ? that is the Spirit of God . We speake to your outward eares , but it is the Spirit of God that must give you mindes to discerne , and spirits to embrace ; that is the onely worke of the Spirit . We shall observe Matth. 11. towards the latter end , I thanke thee Father , &c. how comes it to passe that the wise are befooled , and fooles instructed ? I thanke thee Father , saith hee , that thou hast revealed these things to babes and sucklings , and hast hid them from the wise . How comes this about ? It is thy good will , Father . It is a wonder to see a silly creature , of weake capacity , and almost a foole , and yet he knoweth more of sanctification and faith , than many great Schollers . Take a rush candle , and a lampe , the lampe is a great deale bigger than the rush candle ; yet the rush candle giveth light , and the lampe none , because the rush candle is lighted , & the lampe is not . So it is here , a Christian out of a blinde dotage , and a meere simplician in other things , yet he will talke well of the free mercy of God , and the worke of grace in his heart ; when as many great wise men are novices in these things .

Reason . 1 The reason is , because God hath lighted his candle from heaven , because the worke is an Almighty worke ; it is not an easie matter to goe to heaven : you must not say , What , have I lived thus long , and are we children still ? Ah , children you are , and children you will dye , unlesse the Lord from heaven teach you ; though all men and Angels teach you , the work will not goe forward . 1 Cor. 4.6 . the Text saith , The same God that brought light out of darknesse , shineth in your hearts . Wee know , at the beginning of the world , when darknesse was upon the deepe , the Lord said , Let there be light : now that Almighty God that brought light out of darknesse , which none else could doe , why the same God shineth in your hearts , saith the text : unlesse the Lord say , Let there be light , the minde can never be enlightned , the soule can never bee cheered , nor the conscience pacified .

This is a ground of admirable comfort to all weake , silly , feeble minded creatures . I doubt not but your hearts are grieved , when you consider the marvellous ignorance which is in you , and how little you know concerning life and salvation , when the Lord hath layd line upon line , precept upon precept , and the heart sometimes covets and desires to entertaine the same , the soule commeth to the congregation , and saith , Good Lord , let ●he word worke upon my soule , enlighten my minde , awaken my conscience ; and when the word comes thus home to the heart , the soule hopes that it sh●ll retaine and remember it : but when it is gone , all fals to the ground , and the heart in private reasons thus with it selfe : What shall I say ? when my heart approves of the word , and my soule closed with it , even then so soone as I come out of the Church , I forgat all : what a blind mind and a hard heart have I ? can there be any grace or mercy conveyed to such a soule as mine ? surely I shall one day perish . An ignorant heart is a naughty heart , a base wicked heart ; my sinnes are many , my conditions fearfull . Would you have any comfort ? why then marke what I say , The Lord will teach ; and if the Lord be the teacher , t is no matter what the scholler be . Reason thus with your selves , My memory is weake , my capacity is smal , my understanding feeble , but yet the Lord is my teacher ; and if the Lord will informe , who can let it , but I shall bee informed ? Prov. 1.23 . marke what the Text saith , Returne you simple ones , you scorners , and fooles , and follow me , and I will learn you wisedome . This may move you to depend upon God , in the use of the meanes : the soule may say , I am simple , and I have beene a scorner too , and that is a great misery , and therefore no marvel if God blinde my minde , and harden my heart for I have beene a scorner , and can any good come unto me ? can such a soule receive grace and wisedome ? Why ? Ah , saith Wisedome , come unto me , and I will poure abundance of wisedome upon you .

Sec ndly , if it be the worke of God , then goe to him , for it is a comfort to goe to a father : when therefore the meanes are received , and God gives a heart to improve them , then come not to the congregation , but to God : and when the Minister reproves , say , Father , set home that reproofe to my soule and conscience , dost thou reprove , father ? and when the Minister exhorts , and informes thee daily , the argument from the Scripture plaine ; when the Minister is thus exhorting , and you cannot come off cleerly , looke up to heaven , exhort Father , teach Father : the Minister he speakes to thee , but Father informe us , but Father seale to us the assurance of thy love in Christ . All you that heare me this day , and come , and bringest thine with thee , and commest with thy family into the congregation , looke up to thy God , and say , Lord , here is a vaine rude servant , a silly wife , and a weake foolish childe , and I am as base and blinde as any of them , and all the Ministers under heaven , and all the Angels in heaven , cannot teach and informe us , but doe thou teach us , and worke upon our mindes , and frame our hearts , that wee may know the things belonging to our peace . But thou wilt say , Alas we have come , and looked up to God , but we thrive and prosper not for all this , we receive not that helpe and instruction from him , which he first promised , and we stand in need of . Why , I say , the fault is thine owne , the Lord is not wanting to his owne word , but thou art wanting to thy owne comfort . But how then shall wee so carry and order our selves , that we may seeke God so , as we may partake of that good we desire and stand in need of ?

I answer , These foure meanes are very usefull for this purpose . First , labour to lay thy owne conceitednesse and abilities downe , and all thy carnall imaginations , that shut out the truth of God , and are professedly opposed to the obedience of Christ : if thou leanest on thy owne wisedome , and bearest up thy selfe on thy owne abilities , thou wilt never have direction from God , and thou shalt never be taught by him , if thou thy selfe can teach thy selfe : therefore down with those haughty imaginations , in regard of thy owne parts and abilities , if thou hopest that God shall guide thee , and learne thee in the way of truth . Therefore let every one be a foole , that he may be wise : when thou art a foole in thy selfe , then God will inform thee , when thou canst lay down all thy owne conceits , and captivate all thy carnall reasons , then thou art like to be taught of the Lord : But before , these hinder the Lord from informing thee in the way of truth . He that sets up his owne wit above the wisedome of the Lord , he shall never be exalted by the Lord of heaven . This I take to bee the reason why some men of deepe reaches , and of great understandings , are marvellously besotted in a christian course , & in the way of life & salvation . The reason is , because they trust to their owne wisedome , and rely upon the arme of flesh , and upon their owne policy , and upon the depth of their owne understandings ; and that is the reason why the Lord leaves them to their foolish imaginations : and as the Text saith to the Romanes , when they thought themselves wise , they became fooles . Iames 5. at the beginning ; If any man want wisedome , let him aske of the Lord . The word in the Originall is , if any man be like a begger , that beggeth up and downe for bread when he is hungry : for if thou beest empty of thy selfe , and a begger in thine owne apprehension ; if thou dost lay down all they conceit of thy owne wisedome , then the Lord will give thee wisedome abundantly .

Reason . 2 Secondly , doe what thou knowest , and then the Lord will informe thee much more , in what thou shouldest doe ; improve that little sparke and knowledge thou hast , and then the Lord will increase that knowledge of thine . Gen. 18.19 . when God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah , Why , saith he , shall I hide this thing from my servant Abraham ? The end God teaches a man , is , to improve his knowledge ; and when God hath taught him one lesson perfectly , then the Lord will teach him another presently . When thou hearest the word , doe that duty which God commands , reforme that sinne , and amend that course which God forbids , and he will teach thee abundantly . Iob 7.12 . he that doth Gods will , the Lord will instruct that man . The master of a family will not give a man fire and candle , to sit up and doe no worke by it , it will not quit cost . Wisedome and knowledge is the candle of God ; if thou wilt walk by this light , and walke by this candle , the Lord will increase thy knowledge , till thou art become a perfect Christian .

Reason . 3 Thirdly , we must not onely doe what we know , but must be marvellous painfull , and study and indeavour to the uttermost of our power to get knowledge : doe not make it onely a holy day taske , but labour continually in the use of all meanes for to get knowledge . You come here to the congregation , and attend to the word , you doe well ; but very few that will make this your taske and study at home , to furnish his heart with spirituall understanding . It is a shame that a man should alwayes be fed with a spoon , and hold the spoone in his mouth , as children use to doe ; that is to goe and come to the congregation , and get little or nothing . Hos. 2.3 . When you labour more and more , pray more heartily , study more diligently , bee thinking men , and meditating men , and chewing men , setting themselves upon the truth ; till this , I never look that they should come to any saving or judicious knowledge of life and salvation .

Reason . 4 Last meanes , take heed of bearing any secret grudge against any word and truth of God , bee it never so crosse to thy corruptions : if you doe , the Lord in stead of directing you , will delude you ; and in stead of informing you , will besot you , and give you over to blind minds , and hard hearts . This we know by experience , men of great knowledge , great parts , and abilities , are taken aside with dotage , and fall into those errours , which a man would wonder how a man of judgement should fall into . The reason is , they will not entertaine the truth of the Lord , Rom. 1.28 . as who should say , Oh , this strict way , and this teaching , preaching , and the thundring of judgements , wee cannot beare them , we cannot undergoe them , we have no delight to these : take heed lest the Lord say , Blindnesse take him , hardnesse take him , reprobate sense , let him never entertaine the word of God to informe him , let him never know the wisedome of God to his comfort here , and everlasting happinesse hereafter .

Vse 3 In the third place , doth the Father teach you ? acknowledge you have it as from God , labour so to improve this wisedome , that God may get something by it : you are but stewards of it , and therefore you must improve it for his advantage : as the steward that receives money from his master , &c. so hath the Lord given thee a stocke of wisedome , and hath cleered that eye , and that judgement of thine , use it to his glory . Therefore doe not lift up thy selfe , in regard of thine owne parts , and sufficiency ; but if you finde your hearts to swell , and rise within you , ( for knowledge is a very airy metall , as the Apostle saith , it puffes up a man ) therefore when thou findest thy heart thus bubling with those cursed distempers , reason thus , Why should I be proud of a borrowed suit ? my minde was as blinde as any under heaven , therefore let basenesse bee mine , let wisedome be the Lords , Gal. 5. The apprentice that is taught by his master , must not presently trade for himselfe , but he workes for his master , and gives him the commodity : so let us doe ; we are Gods schollers and prentices ; we are now come into his schoole . Hath the Lord taught thee any skill in prayer , any wisedome to conceive ? doe not worke now for your selves , doe not set up presently , but labour to returne all to him , and to make the Lord partaker of the good he hath bestowed upon thee .

Thus much in generall , that the Lord is the author of this teaching : but now we come to particulars , to see how the Spirit in speciall manner doth this .

This I tell you , that the whole soule must come to God : For as the whole soule in this gracious call of God , both the minde that discovers that mercy , and hope , and desire , and love , and joy , have bad entertaining thereof ; and the wil , which is the great wheele of the soule , that falls on that mercy , and rests thereupon , and gives answer to the call of God therein . Give mee leave to propound two things by way of preface , for the cleering of the following truths ; they will be as a key to open the doore to all the following discourse .

Thing . 1 First , those faculties of the soule , which especially goe out to God , and carry the soule thereunto , are especially to be considered , in this great worke of going unto God , and beleeving in him . Now there are two things in the worke , some evill , and some good : the evill to be refused , the good to be embraced . Now answerably to these 2. things , the Lord hath placed in the soule of a man two sorts of feet ; some feet carry the soule from evill , some feet againe carry the soule towards good .

Now the affections of the soule , that doe respect evill , are especially three , if any evill be comming ; first , feare is a watchman , and the heart trembles , and shakes , and gives in . Hence comes palenesse in the face , because feare goes downe into the very castle of a man , which is the heart ; and then sorrow greeves and mournes , and laments under the weight of that evill , wee feare evill to come , but we sorrow for evill that is come . Thirdly hatred , that carries it selfe with a kinde of indignation , and takes up armes against that evill , feare is preventing , sorrow feeling , hatred opposing any evil that comes . Now these three affections that goe from evill , have been wrought upon in contrition , and humiliation , namely , when the Lord the eye of a poore sinner , discovers unto him that hell is gaping for him , and the God of justice preparing vengeance for him , the soule staggers and shrinks in the apprehension of it ; then the Lord lets in the fire of indignation into the soule , and makes the soule feele that before he threatned , and then the soule grieves ; and because his sinnes have beene so tedious unto him , his heart is brought to a hatred and indignation against those evils . So that if any evill , or provocation , or temptation come to a soule broken , if the old loose companions , old corruptions , old swearing , old blaspheming , old dalliances come to call upon the soule , let us have our fill of love untill the morning , let us take up our old delights ; when these call the soule , and would plucke the soule home againe unto them , then these foure fence the soule against all those inchantments ; in so much that when the drunkard seeth his company comming towards him , hee thinkes , that is my plague , that is the man , and his perswasions and counsels ; hee remembers his old corruptions , and his old horrors , and his old burthens and heavie loads that lay upon his heart ; and the soule hates the drunkard , and will not yeeld to his perswasions , they so fence the way , that the voice of sinne cannot be heard ; it may call , and call , but the doore is shut , they stop the currant , that no streame of distempers may prevaile any more : this now is done before : so that now wee come to the second worke . So there are other affections that carry the soule unto good , if there be any good propounded , or offered , then there are foure other affections that the will sends out to entertaine that good : hope and desire looke for the good that is absent : hope saith , I marvell it comes not : desire saith , I long after it : when the goodnesse is neere , then love welcomes it , and delights in it , and joy rejoyceth , and all these , hope , desire , love , and joy , all bring , carry and convey all the good to the will , which is the great commander of the soule : Love and joy tell the will , We have found much goodnesse , and taken great delight , and much content in the goodnesse and mercy of the Lord . The truth is , wee have taken delight in sinne and base courses ; but oh the comfort , but oh the consolation and goodnesse of mercy ; you cannot have a better good than mercy . Then saith the will , We will have grace & mercy , wee will rest here . Thus wee see how the head and the foot of the affections doe come on to embrace that good : now the understanding doth stand sentinell all the while , and discovers all the good , and musters up hope and desire , and love and joy , and these foure are the maine wee must meddle with ; all the other went from evill , and they have their proper worke before : we doe not hate and sorrow for mercy , wee doe not feare to receive mercy , but wee feare and withdraw our selves from sinne and corruptions , that we may entertaine the call of mercy .

Thing . 2 There is the promise of grace and mercy in Christ , a fulnesse of mercy , which doth so powerfully and effectually draw the soule by this good , that it brings all these affections after it . Therefore in this fulnesse of mercy and goodnesse of God , there are these particulars ; that like so many claspes , draw all these faculties to God , to follow and close with God for their good .

The promise is a true one , and truth is that which marvellously pleaseth the understanding : as a mans palate tastes meat , so the understanding tastes words . There is nothing so pleasing to the understanding , as the truth of God . Now of all truth , there is none like the truth of a promise ; therefore the evidence of it doth cleere the judgement , and the certainty of it , doth establish the judgement of a poore sinner , Eph. 1.13 .

The promise of God is a good word , Heb. 6.5 . therefore as the truth of the Gospell fils the understanding ; so there is a goodnesse in the promise of grace and mercy , which will answer all , and satisfie all the faculties of the soule , as in the good word of the Lord : mercy is a proper object of hope , that it may be sustained ; a proper object of desire , that it may be supported ; there is a proper object for a mans love and delight , that they may be cheered : nay , there is a full satisfactory sufficiency of all good in the Gospell , that so the will of a man may take full repose and rest therein . Therefore the Lord saith , Come unto me , all that are weary and heavy laden : come hope , and desire , and love , and will , and heart ; they answer , We come : all the mind saith , Let me know this mercy above all , and desire to know nothing but Christ and him crucified : let mee expect this mercy , saith hope , that belongs to me , and will befall me : desire saith , Let me long after it ; nay , saith love , let me embrace and welcome it : let me delight in it ( saith joy ) nay , saith the heart , let me lay hold on the handle of salvation , here we will live , and here we will dye at the footstoole of Gods mercy : thus all goe ; minde , hope , desire , love , joy , the will , and all lay hold upon the promise , and say , Let us make the promise a prey , let us prey upon mercy , as the wilde beasts doe upon their provision . Thus the faculties of the soule hunt and pursue this mercy , and lay hold thereupon , and satisfie themselves herein . Hence wee will raise these two points .

Doct. 1 That the word of the Gospell , and the word of the Spirit goe both together ; this is grounded in the Text , they must first heare , then learne , heare the Gospell , and learne by the Spirit .

Doct. 2 That Gods Spirit gives speciall notice of Gods acceptance to an enlightned soule , and that is the first voice of the Spirit to the understanding . Now to the first doctrine .

Doct. 1 The word of the Gospell and the worke of the Spirit alwayes goe together ; the point is grounded in the Text , after this manner : they must first heare , then learne ; heare by the word , and learne by the Spirit . The hearing of the Gospell without the Spirit , is nothing else but a beating of the ayre , and a dead letter . It is true , the Lord can worke above meanes : we know also God can appoint other meanes for to call the soule , but it is not our meaning , we must not looke for revelations and dreames , as a company of phantasticall braines doe ; but in common course Gods Spirit goes with the Gospell , and that is the ordinary meanes whereby the soule comes to be called . God can make the ayre nourish a man , but he doth not . If a man should expect to be fed by miracle , hee himselfe would be a miracle ; Gal. 3.2 . for there goes a spirituall power with it , it raiseth the dead in sinne to life ; it is a living word , and the word discovers also the secrets of mens thoughts . Now that word which raiseth the dead , and discovers the secrets of mens hearts , it must needs have a marvellous power with it , and accompanying of it .

For the opening of it , observe two things : first , the manner ; secondly , the reasons .

Point . 1 After what manner doth the word and Spirit goe together ? and you must know , I do not mean that the Spirit is in the word , no otherwise than in all other things , but in a more speciall manner , and that conceive in three things .

First , the Lord hath ordained and set apart the preaching of the word , hee hath sanctified it , and set it apart to call the soule . Looke as it is with the brazen Serpent , God appointed it to heale those that were stung now if 500. men should have made another Serpent , it could not have healed one man , though they had lookt their eyes out of their heads : So it is with the Gospell , there is no other usuall meanes to call the soule : Hence it is casted the word of the Gospell . Now if five hundred men make five hundred Gospels besides this , they could never convert , or comfort one soule . Or as it is with a mint , if a mint master coyne money , it will goe currant ; but if twenty other coine money , though the stampe were as good , yet it is but counterfeit coine : so it is here . 1 Cor. 1.21 . Let a man study all the arts and tongues that can be devised , he never shall , nay hee never can , know one drop of Gods mercy and goodnesse in Christ . Why but how then may a man know it ? saith the Text , by the foolishnesse of preaching , that is , wicked men count it foolishnesse .

The Lord doth appropriate the saving worke of his Spirit to goe with the ordinance ; not that God is tyed to any meanes , but he tyeth himselfe to this meanes . Why doth not aire nourish all , as well as meat ? because onely God hath set meat apart for this purpose . Hence this Gospell is called the power of God to salvation , because the power of God ordinarily , and in common course appears therein : the waters of life and salvation run only in the chanell of the Gospell . There are golden mines of grace , but they are onely to be found in the climates of the Gospell . Nay , observe this , when all arguments prevaile not with corruption , to perswade the heart to goe to God , one Text of Scripture will stand a man in stead , above all humane learning and inventions , because the Spirit goes forth in this , and none else .

God doth undoubtedly , as he will , when he will , and how he will , give successe to his ordinance . Isay 55.10 , 11. The word of the Lord doth ever accomplish that for which it is sent . For , it is true , many a man is called after the word is delivered a long time . Why is that ? it sokes into the soule , as the snow in December sokes into the earth , but the fruit of it is not seene untill May. The word is a savour of life unto life , it is a living savour of death to death , it is a poison , a deadly savour ; and though it hardens some , yet the worke goes forward .

Reason . 1 Because the Lord would not have any carelesse of his owne glorie , and our good : as he will humble the soule , that he may doe good to it , so hee will make him use the meanes . If a gentleman should go after a begger with an almes , how proud would he be , and rather thinke himselfe a master than a begger ? So , if God should follow us with mercy , we would rather goe from him : but he hath laid mercy in the myne of the Gospell , that wee may dig for comfort in the cisterne of the Gospell , that we may draw all our consolation from thence .

Reason . 2 Because may not be cozened by our owne fancies , the Lord to prevent all inconveniences and conceits of Eatonists and Familists , that thinke they have the power of the Spirit in themselves , whereas Gods Spirit goes alwaies with the word . 1 Iohn 4.1 . Every Minister preaches with a spirit ; some out of the spirit of envie , some out of the spirit of sinceritie : some heares out of the spirit of love , some with the spirit of malice , to carpe at the Minister : try therefore the spirits , and if they hold not with the word , they are naught .

Reason . 3 That we may be watchfull and carefull , lest we lose the comfort that we have : lightly come , lightly goe , got with little paine , lost with lesse care ; therefore the Lord will make us seeke unto the meanes .

Vse . 1 Instruction : to teach us the worth of the Gospel above all other things in the world , for it is accompanied with the Spirit , and it brings salvation with it . What if a man had all the wealth , what if hee had all the policie in the world , and wanted this ? hee were but a foole . What if one were able to dive deepe into the secrets of nature , to know the motions of starres , and yet know nothing belongs to his peace , what availes it ? what if a man could speak with the tongues of men and Angels , yet without this , he is a novice in knowledge . Why doe we value a myne , but because of the gold in it ? and the cabinet , but because of the pearle in it ? oh this is that pearle wee sell all for , 2 Cor. 2.1 , 2.

Vse . 2 For triall : a man may know whether we have a spirituall heart or no : Iudg. 19. he that hath not the Spirit , is a fleshly sensuall man . Wouldest thou know whether thou art carnall or spirituall ? this doctrine tells thee . How came the Spirit ? If thou hast it , it ever came with the Gospell : therfore see now how thy soule stands affected with the Gospell , and so it stands affected to the Spirit . If thou wilt none of the Gospell , thou wilt misse of the Spirit , then Christ will none of thee . Now reason with your owne soules , Why , unlesse I take the Spirit , woe be to mee , I may owne my selfe , Christ will never owne me . Is it so , that I will not suffer the word to prevaile with mee ? remember the time will come that you must dye as well as your neighbours , and then you will say , Lord Jesus forgive my sins , Lord Jesus receive my soule : then Christ will say , Away , be gone , you are none of mine , I know you not . Any man , whether noble or honourable , let him be what he will be , and let his parts be what they will , if he hath not the Spirit , hee is none of Christs : his you are to whom you obey ; but pride and covetousnesse you obey , and malice and spleene you obey , you are therefore none of Christs . Pride will say , This heart is mine , Lord , I have domineered over it , and I will torment it : Corruptions will say , Wee have owned this soule , and wee will damne it . You that heretofore have made a tush at the word , this wind shakes no corne , and these words breake no bones : thinke what you have done ; little do you think you have opposed the Spirit , Acts 7.5 . what , resist the Spirit ? Oh thinke of this . Why , what shall I say ? by what spirit wilt thou be sanctified ? by what spirit wilt thou be saved ? Can thy owne spirit save thee ? no , the Spirit of God must save thee ; and have you resisted that Spirit ? me thinks it is enough to sinke any soule under heaven . Hereafter therefore thinke this with thy selfe , were hee but a man that speakes , yet I ought not to despise him : but that is not all , there goeth Gods Spirit with the word , and shall I despise it ? the Lord keepe me from this : there is but one step betweene this and that unpardonable sinne against the holy Ghost , onely adding malice to thy rage ; thou opposest thy Father , haply the Son mediates for thee ; thou despisest the Sonne , haply the holy Ghost pleads for the : but if thou opposest the Spirit , none can succour thee , therefore looke to it .

Vse . 3 Direction . Hence we may observe the ground why many of Gods faithfull people understand not that they have the Spirit of God , nor yet the increase of it ; they looke not to the promise by which it is conveyed , but to corruption by which it is hindred ; you listen not to the verdict of the Gospell .

Let every one ask this great question , How may I know when the Spirit is in me ? That you know it not , the fault is your owne ; look into the word . It is with a poore soule , as with little children ; the childe in the night being hungry , seekes for the dug , but if he doth not lay hold of it , he gets no good b● it ; so thou hast been a long time musling about a dry chip , and hast got no comfort . Be sure therefore to lay hold upon the promise , hold it , and thy spirit shall be filled with marrow and fatnesse . If there be marrow in a bone , thou must breake it before thou canst get any out . So it is with the promises ; they are full of sweetnesse , but you must chew them , breake them , and bestow thy heart on them . An Alchimist that distils oyle , doth draw out the spirit of metalls , but it is by distillation : so it is with the promises , they are excellent metall , there is a great deale of comfort in them , but if you will have benefit by them , you must distill them by meditation .

Obt. I , but some soules may say , We have done thus often , but yet returne as emptie as before .

Answ. I answer , You should have staid longer upon the promise , it must not bee at your carving and disposing : in reason , a man must swallow his pills , and eat his cordials ; but wee should doe the contrarie , we should chew the promises , and that is done by meditating on them : but we swallow the precious promises of Christ that should comfort us , therefore chew them , if you desire comfort , over and over againe ; eat these daily , and you shall finde much comfort and consolation therein , and benefit thereby .

Vse . 4 Terrour : we may see the hopelesse condition of those men that live under the Gospell , and their hearts are not wrought upon them . If the Spirit of God , and the Gospell of God , will not worke upon thee : if thou hast the eye of a man about thee , thou maist see thy wofull and lamentable condition . If a bungling servant cannot tell how to hew a peece of wood for a building , it is no marvell ; but if it be such a peece , that the master Carpenter cannot make it fit for the building , then it is good for nothing but to be burned : So it is here with the soule , if the Spirit of God can doe thee no good , who can ? if we , a companie of bunglers , cannot doe it , no marvell ; but if our master Christ , if he takes a stubborne sturdie heart in hand , and cannot doe it , it is fit to bee damned . Is not that man miserably ignorant , that wisedome it selfe cannot make wise ? is not he sicke of sinne , whom the Gospell cannot cure ? 1 Cor. 4.3 . I desire those whose conscience to this day accuse them that yet they are blinde , and those that brave it out , and say , Shall I feare the face of a man ? no , no , I scorne it ; I beseech you let me deale with you , doe not brave it out so , for it is the greatest miserie under the Sunne , for thou dost as good as to say , thou wilt not have the word of God to worke upon thee . Iames 1.21 . The word of God is able to save thee , and to sanctifie thee , and art thou yet polluted and defiled ? Oh , take heed of it , goe and be moue thy soule to the Lord , and say , Good Lord , such a drunkard thou hast met with , such a proud heart thou hast humbled , and such a stubborne heart thou hast pluckt upon his knees ; and if drunkards be humbled , if the ignorant be instructed , then what a cursed heart have I , that was loose and vile , and base and profane before , and so I am now . I tell thee , what can you thinke of your selves ? if the Spirit goe with the word , and thou mocke at it , thy condition is lamentable .

Vse 5 Exhortation : Then you are to be intreated , in the bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ , when ever you heare the word of the Lord , and the Gospell of God , you must come trembling , and submit to that good word , Exod. 23. When ever the word of the Lord is revealed , the Spirit of God , blessed for ever , is there accompanying of it , therefore good reason the creature should submit to the Creator . Wee speake not a word for our selves , we preach the good word of the Lord ; and how ever our selves have spoken this , if you oppose it , know it , that it is the Lords word : therefore when you heare the word , doe what you will with us , onely submit to the word of the Lord ; doe what you please with us ( as Ieremy saith ) onely embrace the word of the Lord . It is Gods word , therefore take heed of opposing and gainsaying it , labour to awe your soules , to settle all distempers , wipe out all carping and cavilling at the word , as they presse in upon thee .

Obt. But how shall we bring our soules to doe this ?

Answ. By considering these two or three meanes .

Labour not onely to have thy soule convicted , that the holy Ghost is there accompanying the word , as it doth , ( or else how could it reveale thy sinnes ? ) but also perswade thy heart that it is so , apprehend the power of the Spirit of God ; for as we apprehend the Spirit of the Lord to be in the word , so much the word will worke upon thee ; as it was with the Israelites , 1 Sam. 8.19 . compared with 1 Sam. 12.18 . What is the reason they do so at the one , and not at the other ? why , did they feare the one more than the other ? because they apprehended God to be in the one , and not in the other .

Confesse and know , that not one word of God shall fall to the ground : there thou hast heard , if a man did heare thunder , and knew it would fall upon him , it would awe him . The word of the Lord is as thunder from heaven , it is not the word of man , but of God ; then consider , shall not the word faile ? then the word that God hath spoken shall fall upon me .

Consider , that when judgement hits , it is irrecoverable . If a man knew , that although judgement came , it would not hit him , if it did hit him , he might recover , this would comfort him a little ; but if thou dost not stoope , it will hit , and that irrecoverably ; therefore labour to tremble at Gods word .

We come now to see how the Lord workes upon the soule . First , he lets a light into the minde , for what the eye never seeth , the heart never desireth , hope never expects , that joy never delights in , that the soule never embraceth ; but the soule hangs a farre off , and dares not beleeve that Christ will have mercy upon him ; God is a just God , and he a vile sinner , therefore God will never cast the eye of pitie and compassion upon him , therefore the Spirit lets in a light into his heart , and discovers unto him , that God will deale graciously with him , and doe good unto him .

Doct. 1 Hence , That the Spirit of the Lord gives speciall notice of Gods acceptance to the soule truly humbled . Mercie is generally propounded to the soule in the Gospell , but there is a speciall bringing home of mercy to the soule by the Spirit , that hee strikes through the bargaine . There is many a chapman passeth by the stall , and seeth the meat , and the commodity lye , that is tendred him , and followes him home to his house , if he purpose to sell : so it is not enough to tender mercy , and offer grace and salvation by the Gospell , for this wee often doe , and you will not once looke at them , but cast them away , and no man buyeth them ; but if the Spirit of God takes them in hand , he will strike the bargaine through , hee will follow thee home to thy house , to thy closet , to thy heart , hee will wooe thee , be thou never so coy , be thou never so stubborne , be thou never so wayward , the Lord will bring thee to give entertainment to the Lord Jesus , and to Gods mercy , in and through him , 1 Iohn 5.20 . as if he had said , A man of himselfe hath no minde , no understanding to conceive of the Lord Jesus , and of the freenesse of Gods mercy in Christ , but Christ hath given us this minde , he hath given an eye to the soule of a sinner , so that hee cannot but take notice of the councell holden in the high Court of Parliament , concerning his salvation . It is with a sinner , as it is with a man that sits in darknesse , haply he seeth a light in the street out of a window , but he sits still in darknesse , and is in the dungeon all the while , and thinkes , how good were it , if a man might enjoy that light : So many a poore humble-hearted broken sinner , seeth and hath an inkling of Gods mercies , he heareth the Saints speake of Gods love , and his goodnesse , and compassion ; ah , thinkes he , how happy are they , blessed are they , what an excellent condition are they in ! but he is in darknesse still , and never had a drop of mercy vouchsafed unto him : at last the Lord sets a light in his house , and puts the candle into his owne hand , and makes him see by particular evidence , thou shalt bee pardoned , and thou shalt be saved : this is particular notice .

For the opening of the point , observe two things : 1. The manner how the Spirit doth it . 2. The reasons why the Spirit onely can do it .

For the first , the manner of the Spirits worke , how the Lord doth give this notice , and how the candle comes to bee lighted , and the glimpse of Gods mercy comes in , as by so many cranies into the soule , it is discerned in three passages .

Passage . 1 The Spirit of the Lord meeting with an humble , broken , lowly , selfe-denying sinner , for of him I speake : hee that is a proud stout hearted wretch , God give him notice of his mercy ? no , God will give him notice of something else , he shall have notice of judgements & hell fire : let him have that which belongs unto him , Iudgement to whom judgement belongeth : but I speake of an humbled sinner , through which he may be enabled , and by which he may be fitted to entertaine the things of God . The naturall man perceiveth not the things of God , neither can he ; why ? because they are spiritually discerned . So that there must be a spirituall light in him , before the soule can see spirituall things without , 1 Cor. 2.12 . Wee have not received the spirit of the world , which is the spirit of ignorance and darknesse , that possesseth all the world : the world lyeth in darknesse and in sinne ; there is the spirit of the Devill and terrour in the mindes of wicked men ; but you have not received the spirit of the world to delude you and blinde you , but you have received the Spirit of the Lord ; as who should say , No man doth , no man can know the things of Gods free grace , rich mercy , boundlesse compassion in the Lord . No man can see these colours , unlesse he hath a spirituall eye , Revel. 3.18 . No ( saith God ) ye are blinde , &c. but I counsell thee to buy of me eye-salve , that thou maist see : and now the humbled sinner begins to see , like the man in the Gospell , some light and glimmering about his understanding , that he can look into and discerne the spirituall things of God .

Passage . 2 Then the Lord layes before him all the riches of the treasures of his grace , the Spirit brings out of the store house , out of the bosome of God the Father , those tender mercies and compassions , which never yet saw the Sunne , which neither men nor Angels ever dreamed of , and the Spirit doth communicate them to those that God hath let the spirituall light into : Ephes. 3.9 . there they are called the unsearchable riches of God , and it is a very significant phrase , and the word implies such riches , as a man can never see a foot-step of them . God now doth as some Trades-men doe , he hath a deale of wares in his store-house , but the buyer and passenger seeth not those , but only them that are set out upon the stall : so it is with the Lord Jesus ; hee doth present unto the view of the understanding of the mind enlightned , all those conceivable incomprehensible treasures of his mercy in the Lord Jesus . If a man have no eye , hee cannot see ; if hee have an eye , and have no object , nor colours before him , hee cannot see ; first therefore the Lord gives an eye to the humbled heart ; and when hee hath given him an eye , then hee layes colours before him , that hee may see and looke , and fall in love with the treasures of mercy and compassion , 2 Cor. 3. the foure last verses , the Text saith , The vaile of blindnesse is taken from our minds , and then the faithfull Soule beholds , as in a glasse , all the grace and mercy , and compassion that God layeth before him in Christ ; the humbled sinner hath now gotten an eye , and some spirituall eye-sight , that the Lord hath brought within his view , all the riches and treasures of the Lord Jesus Christ : and the Soule saith , oh , that mercy , and grace , and pardon were mine : Oh , that my sinnes were done away . The Lord saith , I will refresh them that are heavy laden : Oh , that I had that refreshing , saith the Soule ; You shall have rest , saith God : Oh , that I had rest too , saith the soule : Now the Soule beginneth to looke after the mercie and compassion which is laid before it .

Passage . 3 The Spirit of the Lord doth witnesse or certifie , throughly and effectually to the Soule , that this mercy belongs to him : that is the upshot of the notice God gives to the Soule .

The third stroke of the Spirit , strikes through the bargaine , and makes the understanding close with that grace and mercy , set forth unto it ; and without this the Soule of an humble broken hearted sinner hath no ground to goe upon . Beleeving in Scripture is called comming . Now no man can goe without some ground ; now this is the ground , without which the Soule hath no bottome to beare it up , either to come to Christ , or perswade it selfe of mercy in Christ . What good doth it doe any hungry stomacke , to heare that there is a great deale of cheere , and dainties provided for such and such men ; what is it to him , if he have them not ? Take a begger that hath a thousand pound told before him ; hee may apprehend the summe of so much gold , and so much silver ; but what is that all to mee , saith he , if in the meane time I die and starve ? It falls out in this case with a broken hearted sinner , as with a prodigall childe ; the prodigall he hath spent his meanes , and abused his Father ; the prodigall hath now much need , the famine is in the land , and poverty is befalne him , and hee knowes there was meat enough , and cloaths enough in his Fathers house ; but alas hee can expect no kindnesse from his Father , but only his heavy displeasure : if any man should say , goe to your Father , hee will give you a portion of a hundred pounds againe ; doe you thinke the prodigall would beleeve this ? no , no , he would answer thus ; haply my Father will imprison mee , or send a Sergeant to arrest mee , or an executioner to take away my life ; it is my Father that I have offended , my portion I have spent , and his anger I have incensed ; and what , will hee receive mee ? no , I will never beleeve it . Indeed , had I beene a good husband , I might have had his favour , and increased my estate , but I have lost his favour , my owne estate , patrimony and all : but if a man should come and tell him now , that he heard his Father say so , and bring a certificate under his Fathers hand that it was so , this would draw him into some hope , that his Father meant well towards him ; so it is with the sinner , when he is apprehensive of all his rebellions , that hee hath heaped up against Gods mercy , and spirit and grace , by his declining from the truth : If a man should tell such a soule ; goe to God , he will give you a pension of a hundred thousand pounds a yeere , that is , hee will give you abundance of mercy and compassion , the Soule cannot beleeve it , but thinkes ; what I mercy ? no , no , blessed are they that walke humbly before God , and conforme their lives answerable to Gods word , let them take it , but the truth is , it is mercy I have opposed , it is grace that I have rejected , no mercy , no grace for mee ; you cannot wooe the soule to be perswaded , for to thinke that there is mercy for him . But if God send a messenger from heaven , or if under the hand of his spirit , that hee doth accept of him , and will doe good to him , and passe by all former sinnes , and shew favour to him ; this makes the soule grow into some hope , this is the ground whereupon the soule goeth to the Lord . This the Lord performeth to the soule . That which David prayes for , Psalm . 35.3 . the Prophet was not contented that there was salvation in Gods hand , hee knew that God had a world of mercy , and salvation , and pardon lying by him ; but David prayes to God , Say unto my soule , thou art my salvation , testifie it , speake it home , Lord , once more plainly , effectually and sensibly , there is salvation with thee . Paul was saved , and Abraham was saved ; but what is that to mee ? say unto my soule , thy sinnes shall be pardoned , thine iniquities shall be forgiven , thy person accepted .

Quest. But now the question growes on ; But how shall a man discover this testification , and this witnessing of the spirit , to the heart of a humble broken hearted sinner , that these things are so ?

Answ. This third worke of the spirit makes knowne it selfe in three particulars :

Partic. 1 The spirit doth evidence to the soule , broken and humbled , That the soule hath an interest in this mercy , that it was appointed for it , and he hath to meddle with it ; in reason , we may observe that a witnesse in a cause doth marvellously cleare it , if he be wise and judicious ; and the thing that before was doubtfull , comes now to be apparant : as now in a point of Law , two men contend for land ; now if an ancient wise man of some place , is called before the Judge at the Assises , and hee beares witnesse upon his knowledge , that such Lands have beene in the possession of such a generation or family , for the space of many yeares ; this is a speciall testification , that this man being of that generation , he hath interest to these lands : So it is with the witnesse of Gods Spirit , there is a controversie betweene Satan and the soule , the soule saith , oh , that grace and compassion might be bestowed on mee ; why , ( saith Satan ) dost thou conceive of any mercy , or grace and Salvation ? marke thy rebellions against thy Saviour , marke the wretched distempers of thy heart , and the filthy abhominations of thy life : dost thou thinke of mercy ? Here is the controversie , whether an humble sinner hath title to , or interest in the mercy of God ? Now the Spirit of God comming in , that casts the cause and makes it evident , if such a poore heart have interest , and may meddle and make challenge to mercy and salvation , because it hath beene prepared for them , from the beginning of the world to this very day . Now this gives a light into the businesse , & the evidence is sure , that this man hath title to all the riches and compassion of the Lord Jesus ; Acts. 2.39 . Every poore creature thinkes , that God thinkes so of him , as hee thinkes of himselfe ; and hee thinkes God intends marvellous grievous things against him ; and if there be any judgement denounced , or any plague revealed , the soule sits and sincks , and thinkes with himselfe thus ; I wretch , the Lord spake to mee and intended mee ; the Lord threatned mee , and denounced judgement against mee ; and one day he will bring all these plagues upon mee , all shall be made good upon this wretched heart of mine one day , whereas the Spirit of the Lord judgeth otherwise , and God meanes well towards him , and intends good to all you that have beene broken for your sins , and there is witnesse of it in heaven , and it shall be made good to your owne consciences , Christ came not to call the righteous , but sinners , broken , abased , vile , wretched , carnall sinners : doe not thinke hee will keepe any old reckonings in minde ; Christ came into the world , only to succour sinfull humbled wretches ; hee only came to call sinners , not your proud , haughty justiciaries , that trust in their owne performances , no but miserable , vile , broken , abased sinners ; therefore now here is some ground , and light come in , that wee have to doe with mercy . Psalm . 80.3 . Cause thy face to shine upon mee . If a man be in a deepe darke dungeon , he cannot tell when it is light ; hee may aske , is it light ? but else hee cannot tell : But an humbled sinner is like a man standing full upon the Sunne rising , this face of Gods mercy shines full upon him , the Lord lets in the inclination of his kindnesse , and makes knowne the surenesse of his favour in the Lord Jesus Christ ; now the soule hath some apprehension that he hath to doe with mercy .

Partic. 2 The Spirit doth ratifie that interest as the soule now hath , as intended towards him , and prepared for him ; hee makes it good to the heart , and establisheth it , and makes it sure to the soule : This is the nature of a witnesse , if it be sufficient as the Lord provides , That in the mouth of two or three witnesses , every word shall bee established ; so it is with the testimony , or testification of Gods Spirit , for the Spirit doth not beare witnesse alone , but the Father from heaven , and the Sonne in heaven doth joyne witnesse with the Spirit ; and the court is in heaven where this controversie must be scanned , and now the Spirit doth by witnesse promise , that all this mercy shall be made good and given , & the humbled heart shall be made possessor thereof ; hence it is that the soule comes to be deeply setled herein , for God cannot deny himselfe , nor his promise ; this is the maine ground and tenour , whereupon wee hold everlasting happinesse : you know in men of great estate , if their lease had beene naught , and their tenour false , this staggers them deeply ; therfore every man labours to make his tenour as good as hee can , thinke on it , the maintainer of all this good , that a Saint of God hath , all his hope of life and salvation , hangs upon the maine hold , the free promise of the Lord , the certaine faithfull promise of the Lord , in & through Jesus Christ , by the testimony of the Spirit ; you that are sanctified by Christ , know nothing , unlesse you know how to live by a promise in some measure : Now this promise is not only a bare word of God , and a bare intimation of some will and intendment of good , but it is a kind of ingagement , when the Lord doth lay his truth to pawne , here is good surety for a poore humbled soule , it shall undoubtedly be bestowed upon him ; he doth not only intend well unto him , hee doth not only prepare mercy for him , but now he ties & binds himselfe , so that he cannot goe back ; you see now , this is the bottome to beare up the truth , when the Lord doth please to ingage himselfe to a broken hearted sinner , that hee shall be made to beleeve , and made to live by his beleeving : I beseech you take notice of it , this is the tenour and covenant of God with a broken sinner ; hee calls him graciously , and then promises to bestow mercy upon him , 2. Cor. 6.18 . Come out from among them ; what then ? what , shall I forsake all my old companions ? shall I renounce all commodities that I have coveted ? all the honour in the world which I have affected ? Yes , saith the Lord , come out from them all , abandon them , lose all riches , and be impoverished , lose all honour , and be abased ; ah , but what shall wee get by it ? why then , I will be your God , that is , I will ingage my selfe , and passe over the title of all my mercy , and goodnesse , and compassion , and all that I have you shall have , all is yours ; and what then ? You shall bee my people ; marke that , hee is obliged to a poore humbled heart ; as if he had said , I will be your God , and supply your wants , and work graciously for you : as it was with Abraham , the Father of the faithfull , so it must be with the faithfull servants of God , Gen. 12.3 . Now what there is promised to Abraham , he promiseth to all his children , to all the faithfull : it is thus with thee ; that is thou must bid adue to thy country and friends , and though thou livest with thy Father , yet thou hatest his base courses , and though thou livest with thy friends , yet thou hatest their wicked practices , and thou hast forsaken thy god pride , and thy god covetousnesse , and thy god drunkennesse , and the like ; thou knowest God will blesse thee , he hath bound himselfe , and cannot goe backe , this is the ground of the speech : 1 Iohn . 2.25 . Eternall life is the thing there promised , but how can wee intitle ourselves in this ? the text saith , this is the promise he hath promised , that is , he did freely and frankly , and of himselfe , and out of his owne good will , ingage himselfe to give and bestow this promise upon us ; here is the root and ground of all his promise . This is the difference betweene the first and second covenant ; God did covenant with Adam , that he should live upon the ground , that he should doe : Now because the covenant of eternall life depended upon doing , it was not certaine to him and his posterity , but lost it ; but our eternall life dependeth upon the promise of God , and therefore it is sure , because God cannot faile , cannot change , his promise cannot be altred : if we observe the conditions , eternall life is sure unto a broken hearted sinner ; hence come all those phrases in this kind , Wee are called children of the promise , what is that ? why , the very promise of God makes us children ; wee are begotten and made the Sonnes of God : he is called in Esay , The everlasting Father , hee hath begotten us by the word , and the seed of the promise which is sowne in our hearts , by the vertue of the seed and the Spirit of grace , accompanying that seed , wee have power to receive Christ and the Spirit of Christ , and so to become the Sonnes of God . This is the reason of that phrase in Scripture , We are not children of the flesh , but of the promise ; & also of this in Gal. 3. last verse , We are made heires by the promise , it makes us heires ; that is , looke whatever ground , or hope , or hold of eternall life , and glory , & blessednesse , you hold it by the vertue of the promise , all is by a promise , grace and goodnesse is communicated to us by a promise , this is our life , and all our hold , therefore the Gospell is made to be the testament of Jesus Christ ; as by ones last will and testament , a man leaves his goods and lands to his posteritie , so the Lord Jesus Christ out of his free good will , leaveth one legacie of mercie , and grace , and pardon , and strength , to all humble broken hearted spirits , Galath. 3.15 . though it be but a mans covenant , saith hee , when it is confirmed , no man doth abrogate it , but if a man seale it , and confirme it with his bloud , then it is fully established ; no man will , no man can disanull it . So Christ leaves a Legacie of mercie to you , and of favour and compassion to all broken hearted sinners by promise : and therefore it is established , nay , it is the last promise , the last Legacie and Testament , therefore the promise no man can alter , Ioh. 1.14 . He doth not leave peace then , as the world doth ; they wish it , but cannot give it ; they wish it , but cannot bestow it : but Christ leaves a legacie of mercie and peace behind him , nay , he hath ratified it by his bloud , and he will make it good to the soule for ever .

Partic. 3 The witnesse makes the soule yeeld unto what the spirit hath witnessed : As the witnesses in open court in a matter of law , they make the case cleare and evident ; the Jury they take it , the Judge observes it , you all know how the case goes , the witnesse sufficient , &c. So when the witnesse of Gods Spirit comes , bringing the hand of God the Father , and the hand of the Sonne , touching Gods acceptance , it casts the cause clearely . Now this judgement of the sinner yeelds , and cannot but close , and submit it selfe unto the truth ; this is the meaning of that phrase before the text , they shall be taught of God , they shall not only learne , but they shall be taught , they shall have their lesson without booke , they shall be made to learne ; and therefore the tenor of the covenant is this : I will write my Law in their inward parts , and they shall all know mee from the highest to the least : observe the 2 Pet. 1.3 . it is a place of marvellous difficultie , ( this I take to be the meaning ) there is enough to satisfie any man , according to his divine power , he hath given unto us all things , that is , the Lord by his almighty divine power , hath given unto us all things , either appertaining to this present life here , or eternall life hereafter . But how comes this to passe that God doth this ? the Text saith , It is through knowledge of him , that hath called us to glory and vertue ; the word in the originall is , through their acknowledgement of him that hath called us . The soule doth not onely barely know , that this is grace and mercy in Christ ; the eye of the understanding is not only opened , but hee now comes to acknowledge the same , and subscribeth thereby thereunto : God saith , I will save thy soule , I will be thy God ; the soule saith , It is true , Lord , I will deny it no more , I will gain-say it no longer .

In a word then , gather up the point , if it be so , that the Spirit , by the witnesse thereof , doth discover the interest we have in grace , if it doth ratifie the interest which it doth discover ; nay , if it makes the judgement yeeld to what it hath ratified , it certifies effectually and undeniably the truths of grace and mercy thus prepared and ratified to the soule , and the soule saith , I confesse it Lord , and closeth therewith .

Quest. Why , may some say , if this bee so , how then comes it to passe , that many of Gods deare children , how comes it , that many humble hearted creatures never knew they were called , never had any speciall intimation of Gods favour , they cannot say in truth , they are the Lords .

Answ. I speake of him that hath had the work of preparation fully and substantially upon his soule , I speake this , that no scrambling hypocrite , nor sinfull wretch , may come and scramble for comfort , and so goe away and deceive himselfe in this kind , know therefore , for answer thereunto ;

There is a double knowledge , the first is this :

A naked simple apprehension of a truth , a meere closure of a mans minde , with a naked plaine truth revealed , so that the judgement saith it is so .

Secondly , there is a reflecting act , when a man lookes over his understanding , and labours to discerne the worke thereof , not only apprehending what was laid before him , but when he doth apprehend that he doth apprehend , when he knowes that he doth know it , marke that place , for wee will carry Scripture with us , 1 Ioh. 2.3 . Hereby we know , that we know him , saith the Text , if wee keepe his Commandements . A man may know a thing , and yet not know that he doth know : so then it is cleare , every Saint of God hath the first knowledge , that is , every man that is truly called in truth , doth apprehend , and undoubtedly close with the worke of the Spirit , making knowne unto him the mercie of Christ ; many may worke , and most men doe ; the second worke they doe not know that they know ; the Scripture saith , that the Devill himselfe rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience , that is , he casts in a seed of errour and delusion , and corruption into the hearts of wicked men , and by his delusions they entertaine those errours , embrace base courses . Now not one among a thousand can say that the Devill doth thus , this is done by vertue of Satan , and yet he doth not see it ; nay , there is a veile of Satan upon the soule , there is a seed of Satan in the soule , and the soule closeth with it , and yet hee apprehends it not ; so every faithfull soule is ruled by Gods Spirit , and the seed of Gods Spirit is flung into his minde , and closeth therewith , but hee cannot discerne the worke of the Spirit working upon him , the one governed by Satan , the other enlightned by the Spirit , but neither can apprehend , nor know , what they doe know in this kinde .

Reas. 1 Because onely the Spirit of the Lord knowes the Lords minde , it is only privie to Gods counsels , and it only understands the secrets of Gods love , and therefore it only can reveale them and communicate them , Matth. 11.27 . Now because the holy Spirit proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne , he can , nay he doth make knowne the Counsels of both , and so removes all objections , and cleares all cavils ; it is a point of consideration to you that are weake ones , satisfaction is by the meanes of Christ , the Sonne layeth downe the price , and doth satisfie , the Spirit doth certifie it unto the soule , that the Son hath satisfied for the neglect of what God ever required at our hands , and for the committing of what ever God hath forbidden ; now the soule is fully satisfied : As for example ; Take a creditor , to whom the debtor oweth money , haply the debtor is arrested for his not paying the debt ; the surety he comes and layes downe the debt : now the debtor is unacquainted with this , unlesse there be a messenger that brings a certificat under the hand of the creditour that he is paid , and the surety hath discharged the debt , and hee is quitted ; when he heares this , his heart is fully quieted : So here the Lord Jesus is the Surety , the Father is the Creditour , our soules are the debt ; now the Spirit of God he is the Messenger , and he brings under the hand of God , of God the Father , and the Lord Jesus Christ , an acquittance to our soules , that what ever sinnes wee have committed , are pardoned through Christ ; and this fully contents the soule .

Marke , 1 Cor. 2.10 . yea ; the deepe things of God ; as who should say , how can you tell that Gods minde is towards us , and that hee will pardon ? why , these are secrets ; aye , but the Spirit of the Lord knowes , and searcheth the deepe things of God , that which eye never saw , that which the Angels in heaven cannot tell you , that which all the men in the world cannot reveale unto you , without God be with them , that your names are written in the Booke of Life , you shall bee accepted , these are deepe things , but the Spirit reveales them : This is the first Reason , the Spirit onely knowes the minde ; therefore , it only can give notice thereof unto the soule .

Reas. 2 The Spirit only can break thorow al those mists , and clouds of ignorance and blindnesse , that are in our minds , which oppose this worke ; nay , it can beare downe all those distempers and discouragements , which make us unfit , and unable to receive the evidence of Gods love and goodnesse , in the Lord Jesus Christ ; for these two things are in the heart of a sinner , that marvellously oppose the evidence of Gods favour unto the soule .

Hindr. 1 That every man hath a veile of ignorance over his heart , 2 Cor. 3.15 . Now the veile of ignorance no hand can rend it , none can remove it , but only the Spirit of God ; The god of the world blindes the eyes of the wicked ; why then it must be the Spirit of God , the Spirit of another world , I meane the Spirit of Christ that must open the eyes , and take away the veiles , and clouds , and mists , that the god of the world casts before the eye .

Hindr. 2 Are desperate discouragements , when a poore sinner is plunged in the apprehension of all the evill which he hath committed , and in the aggravation of all those sins whereby God hath beene dishonoured ; when the soule observes this , hee thinkes and sayes , This proud heart will never be humbled , this unregenerate heart will never be sanctified , the Lord never intends good to my soule , it is impossible that so many corrections , so long continued , should ever be pardoned , here the soule sinkes downe in desperate discouragements ; now there is none but the Spirit of God that can let a light into the soule , there is none but the hand of the Lord , that can rend , and pluck , and pull a poore fainting , despairing , dying , sinking heart , under the burthen of his manifold abominations , none but the Almighty hand of an Almighty God can doe this ; when it is night , all the candles in the world cannot take away the darknesse ; so all the meanes of grace and salvation , all the candle-light of the Ministery , they are all good helps ; but the darknesse of the night will not be gone , before the Sun of Righteousnesse arise in our hearts . Hence it comes to passe , that it is a very difficult matter to give comfort to a poore distressed soule , Psal. 40.1 . Marke what a co●le there is to give comfort , all the world cannot comfort them , and perswade them : I shall one day perish , say they , I shall one day goe downe to hell , let all the Ministers under heaven say what they will ; Comfort yee , comfort yee , saith the Lord , as who should say , they will not be comforted , they will not thinke , nor be resolved of it . I mercy ? and I comfort ? it is a likely matter , it will never be , it never can be , I shall never see that day : will the Lord pardon me ? I doe not thinke it , I cannot beleeve it , God is a just God , and a righteous God , and I am a vile wicked wretch , it is mercy that I have despised and trampled under my feet , and I mercy ? no certainly , there is no such matter ; this makes the Lord have such a doe , Comfort yee , comfort yee , the third time , and yet they will receive none . We Ministers of the Gospell observe by experience , that we meet with some soules that are gone to the bottome of hell , sometimes by their distempers , and wee make knowne the promises , propound arguments , lay downe reasons , but nothing takes place , nothing prevailes , all is presently forgotten , and you had as good say nothing , all is forgotten ; therefore none but Gods Spirit can doe it , hee must come from heaven , and say , Comfort yee , comfort yee my people : let me therefore speake to you that are Ministers , you doe well to labour to give comfort to a poore fainting soule , but alwayes say , Comfort Lord , say unto this poore soule thou art his salvation ; Lord speake comfort , and say to such a one , his sinnes shall be pardoned , mercy shall bee bestowed upon him , his iniquities are forgiven ; it is that wee observe in the policie of Satan , Satan hath two Policies :

Policie . 1 First , if he can , hee will keepe a man that hee shall never see his sins ; therefore hee labours to doe away all plagues and judgements from the apprehension of the soule ; and therefore when the Minister comes home to the conscience , and saith , What , you have heaven ? what , proud and profane , and oppose God and his ordinances , and you goe to heaven ? No , no such matter ; marke what the Devill suggests , take thy pleasure , it is but halfe an houres work when you lie upon your death-bed , if you can but then cry to God for mercy , and for forgivenes , it is enough : this is the first Policie to keepe a man from seeing his sins ; and thus the soule is content to carry hel-gates on his backe , and a thousand abominations , and is never troubled .

Well , haply the Lord enlightens the soule of such a sinner , and sets his sinnes before him , and saith , here are thy sins , and for these thy sins thou shalt be sent packing to hell ; now he cannot look off his sins , but the Word reveales them , and the Spirit settles them , thou maist take thy pleasures , and live in thy sins , but the end will be bitter , for all these sins God will visit thee , God will execute judgement upon thee ; then the soule trieth his heart , examines his paths , and begins to pore on his corruptions ; when Satan sees this , he labours to draw him away , and sends drunken companions unto him , that they may take his minde off from his sins .

Policie . 2 But if Satan cannot keepe him from seeing his sins , then he shall see nothing but sin : before hee was frolicke , and braved it out , and kickt mercie into the kennell , and he would doe what he list ; Ministers tell mee of grace ? no , no , I will follow my course ; now it is otherwise with him , he can see nothing but iudgements , and plagues , and corruptions , and so sinks downe in discouragements : as therefore there is nothing that can pursue a sinner , and make him see his sins , but God ; so there is none but the Spirit that can let downe a cord of mercy , and draw a poore sinner out from the bottome of hell ; so the Spirit knowes the secrets of God , if the Spirit once settles these things upon the soule , and takes away all hinderances that doe oppose the evidence of Gods favour , then the Spirit must only certifie Gods love , and mercy , and goodnesse , to the soule of an humble broken hearted sinner .

Vset . Triall : will you put your selves upon triall , will you over-see whether you ever had any notice of Gods acceptance ? observe then the author of it , whence and of whom you had it , this will discover the truth of it ; when we mistrust good newes from a farre Country , we use to say , it is good indeed , but is it certaine ? whence had you it ? had you a letter from beyond sea , or heard you from some Noble man , that heard the letter read ? then it is certaine : So there be glad tidings of peace and mercy , there is good newes from heaven , God hath pardoned vile sinners : God saves millions of men , good newes , but if your hearts perswade you for certain , doe you thinke so , or doe others tell you so ? is it nothing but idle ale-house talke ? hath Gods Spirit sealed it ? doth God say to thy soule , thou art his servant , he thy King , thou his son , he thy Father ? if it be so , thou maist pawne thy life on it , trust to it , the notice is good . If a malefactor were condemned , and a rogue that hath beene burnt in the hand , who goes up and downe with a passe , suppose the one to forge his pardon , the other to counterfeit his passe : A wise man he knowes and understands the falsenesse of the partie , and he shall never get any good by it , hee will stop the rogue with the passe in his hand , and hang the traytor with his pardon about his neck . So it is here , wee are all malefactors and poore rogues , running up and downe the face of the earth , and we are walking and looking after another Country ; now , what must be our passe ? the evidence of the Spirit , thou that saist thou doubtest not of Gods mercy , and the pardon of thy sins ; under whose seale hast thou this pardon ? did it come from a right Office , and from a right Seale ? then it is good , else the Lord will stop thee with thy passe in thy hand , and hang thee with thy pardon about thy necke .

Quest. But then you will say , how may wee discerne the notice of the Spirit of the Lord , from another notice , and how may the Saints of God discerne it .

Triall . 1 Differs in these three particulars : First , in the specialitie of it , it is an evidence that comes home particularly to the soule . Looke as it is in the conveyance of lands and leases , by joynt inheritance therein , haply the lease was made before the man had a childe , now if afterwards he have halfe a dozen children , every one in particular hath a title to it , interest in that land , as though they were mentioned in particular . So the Gospell propounds grace and mercy to all humbled soules , broken hearted sinners are m●de joynt heires , and inheritors of everlasting mercy : you that will come out of your sinfull courses , and will touch no uncleane thing , thou hast particular interest in Gods mercy , as if thou wert called by name Robert or Richard , &c. Now mark al the notice and evidence that any hypocrite under heaven hath of the freenesse of Gods mercy , is this , hee hath only some common inkling and heare-say of salvation , they are within the hearing of the promises made to others , and they either not rightly apprehend , or else mis-applying the sense and meaning of the promise to themselves , they cosen their soules , and never have any particular evidence of the truth of it to their soules by the worke of the Spirit ; there is haply an expectation among the prisoners in Newgate , that there wil be a pardon come cut at the end of the Parliament , and some man passeth by and saith , there is a pardon for Newgate : The prisoners that heare this , it makes them rejoyce ; but when the Parliament comes out , there is a pardon only for such persons , for such facts , of such a quality and nature , and so haply he that rejoyced so much in the consideration of a pardon , hath nothing to doe with it ; now the generall heare-say will doe no good , but the particul●r evidence : so it is betweene a cunning Hypocrite and a childe of God , when an Hypocrite hath beene driven to extreme horrour for his sins , then he lookes out for mercy , his heart is terrified , and his soule perplexed , and he heares there is abundance of mercy in Christ , and Christ came to save sinners ; the Hypocrite is delighted with this in the generall , this is only overly , and common , he over-heares a promise , and so quiets himselfe therein ; but when it comes to the triall , God came to save sinners , but what sinners ? humble broken hearted sinners : But the Hypocrite is not such an one , therefore it belongs not to him .

Differ . 2 The second difference of the Spirit is such , that it can hardly be rased out of the soule , the testimony of the Spirit , brought home to the soule , cannot bee taken away , for when the Spirit witnesseth to the soule , it leaves the light upon the minde of an humbled sinner , that will never be plucked off , but hee will turne his eye towards it while the world lasts . This evidence that is brought home , and cast in by the Spirit , it is so unexpected , and so pleasing , and so incomparably strong , and wonderfull , and withall so unconceiveable excellent , that an humbled sinner when once he sees the glimpse and inckling thereof , it will ever be prying and looking that way , nay , in the most desperate discouragements that can befall , and in the greatest desertions that can betide the soule ; nay , notwithstanding all those subtilties of temptations that Satan hurries into the soule , to make a man at a losse , and to make him leave looking after the freenesse of grace in Christ : yet the poore soule will ever be lingring after this Light ; looke as it is with a great torch , carry it out of one roome into another by-roome , and though the torch be gone , yet it will leave such a glimmering so that a man may follow the torch : so it is with the soule , truly humbled , it hath received the testimony of the Spirit , though the torch , the glory of the testimony of this witnesse goeth aside a little in temptation , yet the Lord leaves such a kind of glimmering or inkling of goodnes , that the soule looks after the lampe & light in this kinde , and followeth it for ever , Ionah 2.4 . Ionah was there stubborne with the Lord , he was sent to Ninive , he goes to Tarshish : wel , God sends a whirlewind after him , and tosseth him into the sea , and sent also a great Whale , an unruly ferry-man , to carry him to land : Now being in the belly of the Whale , hee begins to apprehend himselfe , and then is joyfull , and there he made a question of Gods everlasting love ; but yet when he was in the belly of hell , and mountaines of water went over him , yet marke how the holy man behaveth himselfe ; I will still looke towards thy holy presence : He had some illuminations of Gods goodnesse in Christ , and howsoever the glory therof was eclipsed , yet there was some glimmering left behinde .

But now the flashes of the Hypocrite , they are sudden , the lightning of Gods love that is in his minde , but it passes thorow the soule suddenly ; and leaves it in the same hazard & ignorance , and at a losse , as formerly ; for howsoever an hypocrite may have a glimmering , and a kinde of flash , and take notice of the powers of the world to come , yet it comes like lightning , suddenly come , suddenly gone , and it draweth the minde for the while , and the understanding for the present ; but in conclusion , the soule is where it was before , when this flash is gone , and the lightning is over , it is just at the same losse and danger it was before .

Differ . 3 From this authority of the Spirit , it is of great authority , and of marvellous powerful command , so that the whole frame of the soule comes to be ordered , and the heart comes to be framed sutable and agreeable thereon . Looke as it is with a mighty streame , all the lesser streames runne that way ; so it is with the blessed streame of this evidence of truth : what the Spirit of God lets into the minde of the Saints , it carries all with it , and beares all before it , and makes the whole streame of the soule be answerable thereunto : Take notice between the vision Saint Paul had , and which Balaam had , God let in a light into Balaams soule , What , wilt thou curse Iacob ? Oh , the glory that I will bestow upon them : This made his teeth water at the goodnesse of the Lord , and he saith , Let mee die the death of the righteous , Numb . 24.2 . the Text useth the phrase , The Spirit of God was upon Balaam ; the meaning is , he intimated the happie condition of the Saints of the Lord , and in stead of cursing , he blessed them : though this cursed Witch Balaam had this common enlightning to know the excellencie of the condition , yet his heart was never the better , was covetous and malicious still towards Iacob .

But looke Acts 26.19 . Saint Paul saith , hee was not disobedient to the vision , as who should say , The blessed truth that was revealed to me , the voyce that spake to me from heaven , my minde was framed thereby , and answerably disposed thereunto , and I submitted and came in at the voyce of the Lord . Hence the phrase in Scripture , They that know thee will trust in thee , as who should say , Grounded knowledge brings in confidence : So Ioh. 4.10 . Christ saith , Hadst thou knowne me ; it is not every knowledge that will doe the deed , a man may talke of grace , but hadst thou understood better the evidence , thou shouldest have asked grace , and received it , this is the reason of Iobs speech ; when God takes a man in hand , he will command a man to returne from iniquitie : there is a commanding power in the obedience of truth : the Lord lets in a commanding power , and turnes the heart from sin , and makes it yeeld to the obedience of God . Whereas the light of the hypocrite is like lightning in the evening , a flash and away , and leaves no heat behinde it : The Sunne doth not only give light , but it leaves a heat behind it ; so it is with the Spirit of God , when the sunshine of the heavenly light comes into the heart , it leaves a heat of holy affections behinde it , framing and disposing the heart of a man to be at the call and command of God . Observe when wee lay forth arguments before men , and convince their consciences , that their course is nought , notwithstanding , whatsoever we can speake they returne to their wicked speeches , and base practices , their lives are as wicked , their tongues as prophane as ever ; but when the Spirit of God will take those arguments we propound out of Scripture , and make knowne those troubles to the understanding , it communicates unto thee and them that power to the soule , that it comes to be disposed thereunto .

Differ . 4 The testimony of the Spirit goes upon very good ground , it is a wise Spirit , and a Spirit of truth , and therefore goes wisely to worke . Now Hypocrites they beare up their hearts with admirable evidence of Gods love , but aske them what reasons they have for it , what arguments to maintaine it , they have nothing at all to say ; this is an undoubted argument of a besotted , befooled hypocrite . Come to your ancient people , and enquire of them in the time of their sicknesse , aske them if ever they were perswaded of Gods favour , they say they thanke God , they never doubted of it ; they reply , they were worse than Reprobates if they should , but they have no ground at all to confirme this ; this is an undoubted argument of a soule that never had any sound evidence of Gods love , for where the Spirit comes , it goes upon good ground .

Vse 2 Direction and Exhortation ; hence wee learne what course wee must take , what path wee must tread in , what meanes we must use to get this notice , and gaine this evidence of Gods love to our soules , learne the ground , get the witnesse of Gods Spirit , get but the Spirit to seale it , and all is thine . It was the speech of Sampson , when he propounded a Riddle to the Philistines , they knew not how to answer it , because they understood it not before he had told his wife , and shee them , then they related the Riddle to them , hee confesseth their answer to be good , But , saith he , had you not plowed with my Heifer , you could not have expounded my Riddle .

I use the same comparison for our purpose ; use Gods meanes , if you would know Gods minde , take counsell of him that is privie Counceller of Heaven : would you be perswaded of Gods love and affection towards you ? will you know how your case shall goe at the last day ? would you know if your name is written in the Book of life ? if you would , why then , know the way to obtaine it , seeke it of the Spirit of the Lord , for he searcheth the chiefe things of God : consider what our Saviour tels you , Luke 11.12 . Why then , must this Spirit only certifie the pardon of sin ? Why , looke up to heaven then , and plead thus with him , Lord , I am a father , and give my childe what hee wants , and if I see him in need , I releeve him ; why , I need thy Spirit , Lord , I beg it , thou hast promised it , Lord give that Spirit to the soule of thy servant , and let it restifie to my conscience , that thou art reconciled to me .

Object . But how shall we get the Spirit home to a man in this case ?

Answ. The meanes are two :

Meanes . 1 Thou must labour to be such a one , to whom the Spirit belongs . Labour to be an humble hearted sinner , and then the Lord will send his Spirit , and give notice to thee of his acceptance , for the Lord doth not passe over his comfort , or mercie , or compassion to any soule in the world , but onely to those that are broken hearted before God ; there is no mercy for thee that art stubborne , no compassion for thee that art stout hearted ; wouldest thou have the Spirit make a lye for thee , and come from Heaven to make a new Scripture , to bring a loose stubborne drunkard , or adulterer to heaven ? it will not bee so , it cannot bee so , never thinke to bring the Spirit of the Lord , and make him speake mercy to thee , when it belongs not to thee , 1 King . 14.1 , 2 , &c. Doe not thinke to complain it with the Lord Jesus , and put the finger in the eye & weep a few teares , and say , I confesse my rebellions are sinful , I am sory for my sins , and will repent me of my sins : the Spirit wil say , Come out thou proud wretched hypocrite , doest thou feigne thy selfe to be an humble broken hearted sinner ? doe not I know thy reservations ? doe not I know thy by-wayes and back-doores ? Come out thou proud wretch and sturdy hypocrite , I am sent to thee with heavie tidings , you may cozen man , but you cannot deceive God ; therefore never thinke he will give grace and mercy unto thee , unlesse thou be fitted for it .

Meanes . 2 Be sure you harken not to your carnall cavils of reason , nor to the clamours of a corrupt heart , nor to the bawlings of Satan , all which stop and hinder the testimony of the Spirit , and with their loud cries drowne the voyce of the Spirit , that it cannot be heard . It is a fashion amongst Lawyers , at Assises or Sessions , when in their Courts there comes in a wise judicious witnesse , and the Lawyers plead a base cause , they feare him , and therefore , before he can speak out his tale , one speaks and another speakes , and so hinders this that hee cannot bee understood ; then the man saith , hee came for a witnesse , and not thus to be disturbed ; then the Judge commands silence , and then hee hath liberty to discover what he knowes , and then the case is cleare ; so it is with the soule , and carnall reason , and the Devill . The triall is , whether a man hath any interest in Christ or no. Now the Spirit of the Lord working graciously upon the heart , would bring in a faire testimony of Gods grace to the soule : but when the soule commeth to a faithfull Minister to tell him how God hath wrought upon him , and met with him , and how he was burthened with his sins : Oh , saith Satan , you were burthened with your sins , but you returned to them againe ; then the soule saith he was humbled for his sinnes , yet the goodnesse of God was never sealed to him : aye , saith Satan , but you continue in your sins still : aye , saith the soule , I am weary of these sins ; aye , and you are weary of labouring against them too , saith Satan . Thus the soule is tyred by carnall reasons , temptations of Satan ; now let the evidence of the Spirit bee never so plaine , he cannot perceive it ; be watchfull therefore in this case , if you heare what feare , or feeling , or suspition saith ; feeling saith , I find nothing ; feare saith , it will never be ; suspition imagineth , I shall never see that day : but now command silence to every one , to feare suspition , feeling , and unworthinesse , and say , now speake blessed Spirit , then you will see the case cast presently : It is said of Abraham , he considered not Sarahs barren wombe ; for imagine Abraham had thus reasoned , I never had childe , for mee to beare a childe , it is against nature ; shall a man that never begat , beget a childe in his old age ? I will never beleeve it : If hee had done thus , for ought I know , though hee had lived unto this time , hee should never have had a childe , but he never considered of any of these things , and therefore the Promise was accomplished . Therefore be sure not to hearken what failings , feare and doubt , and corruption saith , for they will be ever against thee ; there is no mercy from corruption , no grace from feare and suspition , but consider not your dead barren wretched hearts , but attend upon Gods promise , and you shall finde Gods Spirit witnesse unto you the acceptance of your persons before God .

Object . But you will say , may not a man consider of his sins , and attend to the corruptions of our owne hearts .

Answ. I answer , a man may , nay must , in a fit time , after a right manner , to a good end , for he that never seeth his sins , can never be humbled for them , but this consideration only fits us for mercie , and can never get assurance of any interest in mercie .

The consideration of our sins , will give us notice of these three particulars : 1. It gives us notice of our owne vilenesse and basenesse , the laying these upon the soule , it is a maine meanes to breake the heart , and bruife a filthy stubborne soule .

It gives us notice of the emptinesse and infirmity of all outward parts , and gifts , and meanes , and helpes to doe us any good .

It will make us see the absolute necessity of a Saviour , and of the great worke of redemption , which Christ hath wrought for us ; nay , it will drive us out of our selves , and force us to fall at the foot-stoole of Gods mercy , that so wee may gaine Gods favour to us : but it is impossible that the consideration of my sins , should certifie mee of my interest in Gods mercy .

Meanes . 3 Labour to bee informed , and to understand aright the language of the Spirit . Looke as it is with a poore man in the Court , a wise witnesse comes in and speakes plainly , but it will doe the poore man no good to heare the witnesse , unlesse he understand it : so though we heare the Spirit , and doe not understand the language of the Spirit , it is as if we never heard it . Now the language of the Spirit is nothing else but the tenour of those gracious promises , which God hath made to poore humbled sinners . Now if we be not able to cast the sense and meaning of the promise , it is like an uncertaine sound , though the witnesse bee good and plaine , yet I cannot be comforted thereby . 2 Cor. 6.16 , 17. This is the language of the Spirit : Now let a poore humble hearted soule come and lay his heart levell to the promise , one saith , it is true , if it were so with mee , then God would be my God ; that promise is made to them that touch no uncleane thing , but I am defiled with sins and abominations , and carried aside by them ; therefore no share in this promise . Now the meaning of the testimony is mistaken , the witnesse is as good as can be , and will cast the cause on your side ; but you understand not the meaning of the witnesse , therefore we will spell the words , what is it to touch no uncleane thing , it is not to bee lightly acquainted with it ; therefore art thou content to sue out a bill of divorce to all thy sins , how ever heretofore thou wert married to them , yet now thou art resolved to bed with them no more : art thou contented God should make knowne what ever is amisse in thy soule , and subdue every distemper , that is the meaning of the promise , and if it be thus with thee , the promise belongs to thee .

Meanes . 4 Labour to keepe the promise by you for ever , and have a readie recourse thereunto , upon all occasions forget not the promise , be not a stranger to it , be not unacquainted , be not unaccustomed , to have daily trading with the promise , which is so profitable to us : Prov. 3.3 . marke what counsell God gives by wisdome , Let not mercy and truth forsake thee : mercy and truth will forsake a man , Satan would plucke them away , but suffer them not , saith the Text , to depart from thy soule . Iob 22.21 . so the originall hath it ; have a daily intercourse to the promise , meditate therein , and muse thereupon , see thou looke a ready way , and have recourse to the Lord upon all occasions .

Motive . 1 To perswade us to use these meanes , is this , because this most concernes our good , if a man had all the good things the world could afford , and his hearts desire , if he had friends to respect him , wealth to enrich him , and honour to promote him , yet if the Lord should send this heavie Message into his conscience , God will curse those blessings , and dam thy soule and person , that newes from heaven of Gods indignation would take away the sweetnesse of all the comforts of this life ; but had a man good tidings from heaven , were the Lord pleased to give notice of his love and mercie in Jesus Christ it would support us in whatsoever miseries or troubles should befall us , nay , when our owne hearts and consciences tell us hard tidings , these evils thou hast committed , and they will be thy plague , and for this thou shalt be damned , and frie in hell , this is ill newes ; but this will beare up a mans heart , if hee can but looke up to heaven , and take good tidings and notice of Gods favour , this will joy and refresh a mans soule .

Motive . 2 As this most concernes us , so Satan is most cunning to deprive us of the same , if hee can stop any intelligence , and take away any evidence of Gods love and mercie to the soule : this is that Satan labours for ; for if the heart gets evidence this way , and have notice under the hand of the Spirit , what love , what joy , what power and vertue will be in the soule , what courage and undauntednesse will be in the heart , to walke in the wayes of godlinesse ; then learne from the Devill himselfe , he labours to keepe from you what will doe you most good ; therefore be you as carefull to get this notice of Gods love to your soules , from the Spirit in the promise , as Satan is to hinder you from the same .

Vse 3 Instruction : Hence I conclude , that the poorest humbled sinner , of the mean●st capacity , doth know more of spirituall truths , concerning grace and salvation , and Gods love in Christ , than the most wise and learned in the world that are not humbled . In a word , take the meanest Saint , that ever breathed on the earth , and the greatest scholler for outward parts , and learning , and reach and policie , the meanest ignorant soule , that is almost a naturall foole , that soule knowes and understands more of grace and mercy in Christ , than all the wisest and learnedst in the world , than all the greatest schollers , and most pompous Cardinals , these were never humbled . How doe I conclude this ? why thus ; if Gods spirit onely give notice of this favor to the humble , then all other , bee their parts what they will bee , God doth not informe them : the humble are informed , they not instructed ; therefore the other know not what they cannot conceive . As suppose one dull blocke , and a quicke wit , are both set to one trade , yet if the dullard had an expert master , and did beat into him the skill of the trade , and the quicke spirit was with a master that could not teach him his trade ; wee see that the dull blocke is more wise in his trade than the other : so it is here , they have the Lord for their master .

Vse 4 To shew us the certainty of the assurance of faith , if the spirit of God gives notice , and certifie a thing , it must needs be certaine : and hence it is , that the assurance of faith must needs bee infallible , and undeniable , in those that have it . I ground it thus ; That which commeth from the notice of the spirit , is most undeniable ; but the assurance thereof commeth from the notice of the spirit , that faith is most undeniable ; hence commeth those triumphs : I know my Redeemer liveth , I am perswaded that neither height , nor depth , &c. shall be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ .

The worke of God upon the understanding , we have spoken of at large ; now wee come to the worke of God upon the affections : as the understanding apprehendeth the truth of the promise ; so the heart looketh at the goodnesse of the promise : Now therefore the Lord , he must teach all the affections to come unto the promise , and the first affection that commeth next in order , is the affection of hope .

Doctrine . The Doctrine is this ; The holy Spirit of the Father doth stir the heart of an humbled and inlightned sinner to hope for the goodnesse of the Lord : The Lord calleth all the affections ; come joy , come desire , come love ; but the first voyce is to hope ; only observe this passage , it must come from a heart humbled and inlightned , for nothing commeth to the heart to be affected , but onely by the head and understanding ; therefore before the soule can hope , the heart must bee humbled , and inlightned : humbled , in regard of preparation , and inlightned in regard of the certification of Gods goodnesse .

Secondly , it must be stirred up to doe it ; the spirit must stir up the heart unto it : when a poore sinner is truly abased , and cut off from every thing in himselfe , and is content to be at Gods dispose , yet the soule cannot dispose of it selfe , it cannot carry it selfe to the affecting imbracing of any supernaturall grace or good by the power of nature : looke as it is with a wind-mill , it is fitted for to goe , and if the winde blow , it will goe ; but now the saile will not stirre the mill , unlesse the winde stirre the saile : So here though the soule bee humbled and content to bee at Gods dispose , yet I say an humble broken selfe-denying heart is not able to stirre of it selfe .

Thirdly , To hope groundedly , it is not a flashy hope , a vaine hope , an idle hope ; as the wicked men , they hope for grace , they hope for mercy , but they have no ground to beare them up , but the hope of such men will perish : but this hope is upon good ground ; the Lord calleth the soule to wait upon him , to expect him ; this is hope which will not make a man ashamed , Rom. 5.5 . We have a hope as an anchor of the soule more sure and stedfast ; Hebr. 6.19 . this is the nature of hope to stand still and wait for mercy and salvation of God , and to looke when the Lord will have mercy upon the soule , and this grounded hope the spirit of God must stirre and worke , or else there will never be any hope : the proofe of the point , Lament. 3.24 . The Lord is my portion , saith my soule , that is all the good , and all the comfort I have in heaven and earth ; he is my portion ; life gone , and health gone , and friends gone , yet the Lord is my portion for ever and ever ; therefore will I hope in him , therefore the soule expecteth that mercy , looketh after it , waiteth for it , Hos. 2.15 . I will allure her in the wildernesse , and speake comfortably unto her , and give her the valley of Achor for the doore of hope : therefore the Lord will allure her in the worke of humiliation , and did speake comfortably unto her in vocation ; thou wantest mercy , mercy is prepared for thee ; thou wantest grace , grace is provided for thee ; that staggering soule of thine shall be strengthned , that troubled soule of thine shall be pacified ; and then the soule commeth to hope , when the heart is throughly humbled and abased , then followeth hope . Now for the further discovery and explication of the point , wee will shew two things .

First , the reason why after a soule humbled , and the minde enlightned , the Lord worketh upon this affection of hope . Secondly , the manner how the Lord stirreth up the heart to hope , what breedeth it , what feedeth it , and upon what it groweth , and what maintaineth it in the soule , and then the Doctrine will be very cleare .

First , the order , why the Lord doth proceed in the next place to stirre up hope .

I answer , the reason is this ; because when the Spirit of God hath enlightned the understanding , and given evidence , that mercy is prepared for an humbled soule : why ( brethren ) the fittest faculty of the soule , that ought to bee imployed to lay hold upon this , it is the facultie of hope ; it is the maine office of this affection in the heart , to looke and expect for a good to come ; for hope is nothing else , but that extent of the soule , whereby it earnestly affecteth a good to come : it must be a knowne good and to come that hope expecteth : if the good be present , wee love it , and joy in it ; but if it be absent , the soule looketh out for it , and waiteth for the same ; it is a fine passage of hope , 1 Phil. 20. according to my earnest expectation of hope : hope is a faculty of the soule to looke out for mercy ; it is a similitude taken from a man that looketh after another , and lifteth up it selfe as high as he may to see if any man bee comming neare him , looking wishly about him , so here the soule standeth as it were a tiptoe , expecting when the soule will come : as the man that is to meet another in such a place , they doe set the time appointed , and then goeth up to a high hill , and looketh very earnestly round about him , wondreth he commeth not , and yet he hopeth he will come : so an humbled sinner , when the Lord saith , mercy is comming towards thee , mercy is provided for thee ; now this affection is set out to meet mercy a farre off , namely hope ; this is the stretching out of the soule . O when will it be , Lord ? thou saist mercy is prepared , thou saist mercy is approaching , the soule standeth a tiptoe ; O when will it come , Lord . As now something that hath a strong sent , a man that hath a good nose , can smel a good way off ; though it findeth it not , though it feeleth it not , yet it may , and saith hope , this sinful soule of mine , it may through Gods mercy bee sanctified , this troubled perplexed soule of mine , it may through Gods mercy be pacified , this evill and corruption which harbour in me , and hath taken possession of me , it may through Gods mercy be removed .

Now for the second thing , how doth God stir up the heart of an humbled broken hearted sinner to hope ? this is worth a while a little to consider of the ground to get and maintaine this hope may be referred to these three heads .

First , the Lord doth sweetly stay the heart , and fully perswade the soule that a mans sins are pardonable , and that all his sinnes may be pardoned , and that all the good things he wanteth , they may be bestowed ; this is a great sustainer of the soule : hope is alwayes of a good to come ; now when a poore sinner seeth his sinnes , the number of them , the nature of them , the vilenesse of them , the cursednesse of his soule , that he can take no rest ; he seeth no rest in the creature , nor in himselfe , though he pray all day , yet he cannot get the pardon of one sinne : the soule is out of any expectation of pardon or power of mercy in any thing he hath or doth ; though all meanes , all helpes , though all men and angels should joyne together , yet they cannot pardon one sinne of his , yet the Lord lifteth up his voyce , and he saith from heaven , thy sinnes are pardonable ; this is a voyce a great way off , thy sinnes may be pardoned in the Lord Jesus Christ : Looke as a traitour , that doth apprehend the anger of the King against him , and that he is sent for to be attached , hee and cry is made after him , the Pursevant pursueth him ; the poore creature flieth from court to countrey , from countrey to city , and so to the sea coast , seeking for some shelter ; the Pursevant besetteth the sea coast for him , the poore soule is now almost in despaire of mercy from the Prince , hee seeth no hope of pardon from him ; but when he overheareth a man that saith , in truth you had better open the doore , and yeeld your selfe to the King , there is hope , the poore soule is much sustained ; What , is there yet hope that my offence may bee pardoned , will the King receive mee to mercy : So when the Lord humbleth the soule , discovereth his sinnes , maketh knowne his judgements , these are thy sinnes that thou hast committed , and for them thou shalt be plagued ; the great judgement of the great God shall come upon thee , and the great God whom thou hast dishonoured will come against thee , and to hell thou must . Now the poore soule seeth no hope , no helpe , no means of supply ; now the poore soule heareth a voyce from heaven , there is no hope in thy selfe , nor in meanes , yet in the Lord Jesus Christ thy sinnes are pardonable , thy soule may be saved , thy heart may be quickned : that place in the Psalmist , Let Israel hope in the Lord , for with him is plenteous redemption : this upholdeth and sustaineth the heart of Gods servant , yet there is plentifull redemption ; and this may discover it selfe in three particulars .

The infinitenesse of Gods power ; though thy sinnes are many , though the guilt of sinne is mighty and powerfull to condemne the soule , yet when the soule apprehendeth an infinitenesse in the power of the Lord , to over-power all his sins , all the guilt of corruption ; this lifteth up the heart in some expectation , that the Lord will shew favour unto a man : though it is a hard thing to hope when the soule is thus troubled , can this hard heart be broken , can these sinnes bee pardoned , can this soule bee saved ? now commeth in the power of God ; God can pardon them , never measure the power of God to that shallow conceit of thine , as Christ when he had told his Disciples , it is hard for a rich man to be saved ; they said , how can any man be saved ; the Lord Christ saith , all things are possible to God , though not to men ; and it is said of Abraham , hee hoped above hope , he looked to the Lord , that was able to doe what he promised , to supply what he wanted ; he considered not that he had a dead body , but he considered he had a living God ; not Sarahs barren wombe , but the gracious goodnesse of God , able to make it fruitfull ; nay hee beleeved in the God that can make things that are not : thy soule is not humbled , the Lord can humble it ; thy sinnes are not pardoned , the Lord can pardon them ; thy soule is not converted , the Lord can convert it ; though I cannot see it , though man cannot imagine it , yet the Lord can doe it .

As the infinitenesse of Gods power , so the freenesse of his grace and promise , that is a thing that marvellously taketh up the heart , and maketh it hope , for wee are ready naturally to expect no kindnesse from God ; the Lord is able to doe it , that is true , but I am unworthy ; the Lord will not bee wanting to them that can desire it , but I am wanting : now here is comfort , the Lord will not sell his mercy , his mercy is not to be merited , it is not to bee discovered , it is to bee given , and to bee bestowed : Malach. 7.18 . Who is a god like unto our God ; we say , Oh if I could please God , if I could walke with God : nay , but God saith mercy pleaseth him , and that place in Esay , I for my owne Name sake will doe this , not for thy workes sake ; I for my owne sake , not for thy obedience sake : this is certaine , as there is no worke in any poore creature can discover any mercy from God , so there is no wickednesse in the heart of a sinner , that can hinder the Lord , when hee will bestow grace and mercy in Jesus Christ .

Object . But the world will say , Then a man may live as he list , and doe what he will , if grace be free .

Answ. No , no ; the Lord will pull downe thy proud heart , and lay thee in the dust ; the Lord will abase thee and humble thee , before thou shalt receive any mercy from him ; hee can as well sit thee for mercy , as bestow it upon thee .

The abundance of the riches of Gods goodnesse , that exceedeth all the basenesse and vilenesse of man : though thou hast sinned against heaven , and the Lord in heaven , yet there is mercy above the heaven : bee thy sinnes and rebellions for the nature of them , for the number of them , for the continuance of them , never so hainous , yet they may bee pardoned . Here the soule saith , My sins are so many , so great , of such a nature , what , shall I beg mercy , and oppose it ? shall I desire grace , and resist it ? as that place clearly sheweth , Rom. 5.20 . Where sinne abounded , grace superabounded ; hee is the Father of mercy , and the God of all consolation ; Iam. 2.13 . there the holy Ghost saith , mercy triumph above justice : justice cannot bee so severe to revenge thee , as mercy is gratious to doe good unto thee ; if thy sinnes be never so many , Gods justice never so great , yet mercy is above all thy sinnes , above all thy rebellions ; this may support the soule . So then you have the first ground to stirre up hope , thy sinnes are pardonable , this is possible ; what thy sinnes be , it skilleth not ; what thy iniquities be , it mattereth not ; there is more mercy in God , than sin in thee , to pardon ; more power in God to shew mercy to thee , than power in sin to destroy thee .

The Lord doth sweetly perswade the soule that all his sinnes shall be pardoned : the Lord maketh this appeare , and perswadeth the heart of his , that he intendeth mercy ; that Christ hath procured pardon for the soule of a broken hearted sinner in speciall , and that it cannot but come unto it . So that hope commeth to bee assured , and certainly perswaded to looke out , knowing it shall bee accomplished : the former only sustained the heart , and provoked it to looke for mercy , but this comforteth the soule , that undoubtedly it shall have mercy . The Lord Jesus Christ came to seeke and to save that which was lost ; he came for this purpose , it was the scope of his comming : now saith the broken and humble sinner ? I am lost , did Christ come to save sinners ? Christ must faile of his end , or I of my comfort . God saith , Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden ; I am weary , unlesse the Lord intended good unto me , why should he invite me and bid me for to come ? surely he meaneth to shew mercy to me , nay hee promiseth to releeve me , when I come therefore he will doe good unto me .

The Lord letteth in some rellish and taste of the sweetnesse of his love , some sent and savour of it , so that the soule is deeply affected with it : marke this , there is yet a further dint , a setling , and an assured kinde of fastning of the good unto the soule , so that the heart is deeply affected with it , and carried mightily unto it , that it cannot bee severed . It is the letting in the riches of his love that turneth the expectation of the soule another way , it overshadoweth all outward good . Looke as the covetous man is up early to contrive his riches , the ambitious man his honour : now Gods letting into the soule the sweetnesse of his grace , doth turne the whole streame of the soule thitherward .

It is a reproofe , and meeteth with two things in wicked carnall persons : First , those that will cast off all hope in point of desperation : Secondly , against those that will doe nothing , but hope without ground ; and that is presumption : both are here to be reproved and condemned .

If the Lord stirreth up the heart of his to hope groundedly for his mercy ; Oh then take heed of that fearefull and unconceiveable sinne of despaire : despaire wee must in our selves , and that is good ; but this despaire which wee now speake of is marvellous hainous in the eyes of God , and marvellous hurtfull to thy owne soule : therefore take heed of it , for ever I say this sin of despaire , when a man casteth away all hope , casteth away all carnall confidence . This thou must doe , and yet thou must hope ; let Israel hope in the Lord , for in the Lord &c. O the Lord taketh this very ill at our hands , thou goest to the deepe dungeon of thy corruption , and there thou saist , these sins can never be pardoned ; I am still proud and more stubborne : this distresse God seeth not , God succoureth not , his hand cannot reach , his mercy cannot save ; now marke what the Prophet Esay saith to such a perplexed soule , Esay 40.27 . Why saist thou thy way is hid from the Lord ? The Lord saith , why saist thou : so the young man shall faint and bee weary , but they that wait upon the Lord shall renue their strength : is any thing too hard for the Lord ? nay I say you wrong God exceedingly , you thinke it is a matter of humility , you count so vilely of your selves : can God pardon sinne to such unworthy creatures ? marke that place of the Psalmist , they spake against the Lord , Can the Lord prepare a table in the wildernesse ? They spake not against themselves , but against God ; so wee speake against God , and charge God himselfe : it is true , saith the soule , Manasses was pardoned ; it is true , Paul was converted : it is true , Gods saints have beene received to mercy , but can my sinne be pardoned ? can my soule be quickned ? No , no , my sinnes are greater than can be forgiven , saith the despairing soule : then mee thinketh Satan is stronger to overthrow thee , than God to save thee : then it seemeth sinne is stronger to condemne thee , than God to doe good unto thee ; and thus you make God to be no God upon point , nay you make him to be weaker than sinne , than hell , than the devill : And this is most injurious to God , to make the power of sinne greater to condemne thee , than the power of God to save thee : to make the power of Satan stronger to ruinate thee , than the mercy of God to releeve and succour thee : and what can you say more ? and what can you doe more against the Lord ? Is not this to make God an underling to Satan , and to sinne ? this is to say , the Almightinesse of God is weaker than the weaknesse of sinne : the Sufficiency of God is weaker than the malice of Satan . It is true , a poore humble sinner many times will make bitter complaints this way , and they thinke they speake against themselves : No , no , they speake against the Lord : they spake against God , when they said , Can the Lord prepare a table in the wildernesse : So you that speake in this desperate manner , why truth Lord , this proud heart will never bee humbled : if any thing would have wrought , it would have beene done before this day . How many sermons , how many mercies , how many judgements , how many prayers ? and yet this proud heart , this stubborne heart , will not be reformed : you thinke you speake against your selves now ; no , no , you speake against the Lord , and brethren thinke much of this ; thou that thinkst so , that saist so , that concludest so ; this is one of the greatest sinnes thou committest , to say thy sinnes cannot be forgiven thee .

Secondly , This sinne of desperation , as it is most injurious to God ; so in the second place , it is extraordinary dangerous to thy owne soule : It is that which taketh up the bridge , and cutteth off all passages : and there can no spirituall comfort and consolation come into the poore soule of a poore sinner : Luk. 3.15 . Luk. 3.15 . Every ditch must be filled , and then all flesh shall see the salvation of the Lord : what are these ditches ? why , nothing else but those deepe gulfs and ditches of despaire , and unlesse these bee filled , no man can see the Lord Jesus Christ . In a word , my brethren , suffer me to open my selfe ; the truth is , this despaire of the soule is that which cutteth the sinewes of all mans comfort , and taketh off the power and edge of all the meanes of grace : it daunteth all a mans endevours , nay it plucketh up a mans endevours as it were quite by the rootes : for that which a man despaireth off , hee will never labour after . It is here as with a man in pangs of death ; unto such a man all means are unavailable for his good , his bed will not ease him , meat will not refresh him , chasing will not revive ; at the last , we say he is gone , he is a dead man : friends leave him , Physitians leave him , they may goe and pray for him , and mourne for him , but they cannot recover him . So this despaire of soule maketh a man cast off all hope , and lie downe in a forlorne condition , expecting no good to come : alas , saith a man , what skilleth for a man to pray ? what profiteth a man to read ? what benefit in all the means of grace ? the truth of it is , the stone is rolled upon me , and my condemnation sealed for ever : it is sure in heaven , and therefore I will never looke after Christ , grace , and salvation any more , and presse the means to him : let him come to heare the Word , marke how he casteth off all the benefit ; it was marvellous seasonable and profitable , it was the good Word of the Lord , very comfortable unto such as have any share therein . Why may not you expect good ? why may not you receive benefit there from ? why , no , saith the soule , the time of grace is past , the day is gone , and thus the soule sinketh in it selfe ; if Christians would pray for him , and Ministers would labour to doe him good , why hee biddeth them spare their labour , for hell is his portion , and his condemnation is sealed in heaven : see now and consider what desperate danger of despaire bringeth to a poore heart , and maketh him to be beyond the reach of mercie , that no meanes can come at him . It is a pretty passage of David , Psal. 77.7 . Will the Lord cast me off ever ? and will he shew no favor ? I said this is my infirmitie , saith the text , the word in the original , this is my sicknes ; as who should say , this would be my death , what , is mercie gone for ever ? then my life is gone , then is all my comfort and all my hope gone , therefore take heed of this , it taketh off the edge of our endevours , & Gods ordinances that might do us good .

Secondly , it reproveth and marvellously condemneth that great sinne of presumption , a sinne more frequent , and if possible may be , more dangerous ; the presumption of carnall hypocrites that boulster up themselves with marvellous boldnesse in their course ; I beseech you observe it , it is true here , as they said , Saul hath slaine his thousands , but David his ten thousands : despaire hath slaine his thousands , but presumption his ten thousands : that men may sweare , and lye , and cousen , and breake all commands , and yet hope to be saved , yet they hope grace will save them ; they resist grace , yet hope Jesus Christ will shew mercie unto them , they oppose Christ , this is that which , I say , hath slaine many thousand soules amongst us , and they are few that have not split at this rocke ; therefore , I say , this serveth to reprove the basenesse , the vilenesse of such Hypocrites that boast themselves , and compare their hopes with the hopes of the Saints : it is true , say they , I cannot walke so freely , I cannot repeat a Sermon , I want those parts that they have , I walke not so curiously , yet I hope to be saved as well as they : this is that which hath slaine many thousands of soules that now are roaring in hell , and they may thanke presumption for it . Now this hope is not the hope of the Saints ; the hope of the Saints is a grounded hope , but these hopes meerely hang upon some idle pleas and foolish pretences , and some carnall reasons : but I tell you they will fall , and their hopes will sinke , and they into the bottomelesse pit before they bee aware : it is the command and counsell of Peter , That every man should be ready to give a reason of his faith and hope that is in him ; therefore let us see the reasons that carry you , the arguments that perswade you to these groundlesse and foolish hopes ; you hope to be saved , and you hope to go to heaven , and you hope to see the face of God with comfort : let us see the ground for these hopes of yours , good hope hath good reasons , grounded hope grounded reasons ; you say , you hope to be saved , and have no reason for it ; it is a foolish hope , an unreasonable hope , the grounds therefore of Hypocrites are mainly five :

The ignorant poore silly man , he pleadeth he can thinke it , hee cannot conceive it , that God hath created any man for to damne him ; sure the Lord is more mercifull than so , and therefore though we be sinfull , and base , and untoward , yet the Lord will not damne us : I answer therefore , it is true indeed , God did never preserve men for this same end that he might damne them ; though it is as true , hee that made men , hee will damne most of men in hell for their sinnes committed against him ; Narrow is the gate , and strait is the way that leadeth unto life , few there be that finde it : is this the argument of thy hope ? marke the folly , and observe the weaknesse of it : if creation bee a good argument , then all the damned should come out of hell and be delivered ; nay by this reason the Devill himselfe should be saved ; they are now in hell , they were created as well as you ignorant silly creatures : thinke of these things how your hope will shatter and breake under you , and you with them will fall together into the bottomlesse pit , Esa. 57.11 . See how the Lord bringeth this argument and confuteth it , it is a people that hath no understanding , therefore he that made them will not save them , he that created them will shew them no mercy , the text saith , the Lord saith from heaven , though hee made thee , he will not shew thee mercie , if thou continue to be wicked and rebellious .

Another groweth in hope , that God will shew mercie unto him in regard of Gods favourable dealing with him in things of this life , and hee saith and pretendeth great thankfulnesse for Gods goodnesse , and hee praiseth the Lord hee never wanted any thing , his lot is fallen into a good ground , and therefore he doubteth not , but that God , who hath beene his God from his youth will save him , and shew mercie unto his soule ; this is the second ground , and it is a poore feeble ground to support the soule in such a case as this . I answer therefore , thou art deceived , thou takest that for an argument of Gods love and mercy , which rather may bee an argument of Gods hatred and indignation : Psal. 92.12 , The wicked flourish , saith the text , then a man may say , they will all to heaven , they will all be saved if they so prosper here , no , saith the text , they flourish that they may be destroyed , and perish for ever , the oxe is fatted for the slaughter , so it is here , thou art fatted here , thou hast more than heart can desire , thy cups are full , and thy table well spread , thy breasts full of milke , and thy bones full of marrow , it is that thou mightest bee destroyed , Psal. 1.5 . Prosperitie destroyeth the soule ; it is like poison , like ratsbane ; now would any man say thus , such a man is most like to live , because he eareth most poison ? nay rather the contrarie , so prosperitie meeting with a sinfull with a naughtie heart , it is poison to him ; the text telleth you , when Haman was invited , it was that hee might be accused ; the truth is , these men of the greatest hope in this life I meane for honour , and pompe , and respect , and preferment , many of them are men of the least hope for heaven .

Others because they have felt the heavie hand of God , many sorrowes , many weaknesses , many troubles in their course , many losses in their estate , these stayeth up their comforts , and upon these grounds they build their hopes ; I have had my hell in this life , and I hope to have heaven in the world to come ; I hope the worst is over , now I have beene troubled in this world , I hope I shall be comforted in another world , and here is the ground of your hopes : I beseech you consider what I answer , I say this , all the grievances , trouble , sorrow , sicknesses , be they what they will be unlesse thy heart be humbled by them , unlesse thou bee brought unto the Lord Jesus Christ by them , they are so farre from being an argument of grace and salvation unto thee , that they are harbingers of those everlasting torments , you shall endure in hell : Sodome and Gomorrah they burnt in brimstone , and they shall burne in hell ; a man would have said they had their hell here , and therefore they should not have it hereafter ; why ? the text saith they suffered vengeance of eternall fire ; why , brethren , I beseech you observe it , will any man reason thus ; such a man hath had the earnest of the bargaine , and therefore he shall not have the bargaine ? will any man say thus , hee that is attached , arraigned , condemned , shall not be hanged ? nay rather he that hath the earnest shall have the bargaine , he that now is accused , condemned shall now be hanged , so here .

Others beare their hopes and sustaine their hearts upon the privileges that God bestoweth upon them , and the meanes they have , and in regard of the duties they doe discharge , and though they thinke they have faire hopes and great hopes of heaven , why , say they , God will powre downe his wrath upon those that know not God , and that call not upon his name , but what doe you make of us , are we heathen , are not we Christians , have not wee beene baptized , and the Lord hath inabled us to doe something , wee call upon his name , and seeke him by fasting and prayer , and therefore he that hath done so much for us , and hath done so much to us , sure hee will give us heaven : I answer , that this bottome is not sufficient to beare up this hope , all the privileges thou hast , all the meanes , ordinances thou enjoyest , unlesse thy heart be humbled , and thy soule brought to Christ , all these will fall under thee , and thou wilt goe to hell , Rom. 2.28 . He is not a Jew that is a Jew outwardly , the Jewes they bragged of this , they were circumcised , and the Heathen were not circumcised ; they were the seed of Abraham , but the Heathen were not ; Paul vilifieth all this , he is not a Jew , that is a Jew outwardly ; thy baptisme , thy praying , and thy hearing , there is no profit by them , no comfort in them , if thou maintaine a wicked life , and a naughty heart , therefore this will not serve the turne , you know it , and the Scripture speaketh it , Iudas an Apostle , Iudas called by Christ , he sat with our Saviour , and dipped his hand in the dish , he was a Devill then , and is with the Devils now ; the foolish virgins had a trim profession , as well as the others ; thou professest , and hearest , and prayest ; thou wilt lye too , and cousen too , and sweare too , thou art naught , and this bottome will never beare thee up .

When they see all this will come to nothing , then they make a shift to plead mercy , and they hope that will stand then in stead , and doe them good , when nothing else will , and therefore you shall heare carnall wicked men confesse themselves naught , their sinnes many , and they vile , but there is mercie enough in God to releeve them , and they hope that will save them . Brethren , I confesse mercie is able to save thee , and if thy hope can lay hold upon it , it will save thee , if thou be so within the reach of mercie , mercie is able to save thee , and will save many other besides ; but thou art not capable of this mercie , thou art not within the roome and compasse of mercie , what availeth it to talke , and speake and hope for mercie , and to see a great deale of mercie in Christ , a great deale of merit in Christ , a great deale of vertue in Christ , able to save thee and a thousand more , and yet thou not in the compasse of mercie , not capable of mercie , but sinkest in thy owne sinnes , before thou gettest any mercie from God , Isa. 27.11 . hee that made them will have no mercie upon them , as who should say , it is true , here is abundance of mercie , mercie enough , mercie that saved a poore company of poore Jewes , that crucified the Lord Jesus Christ ; mercie that saved Paul a persecutour , Manasses an Idolater , but I will shew no mercie unto thee , he that confesseth and forsaketh his sinnes , shall finde mercie , mercie owneth those , mercie doth good unto those , but unto thee that lovest thy sinnes , that embracest thy sinnes , that hid●st thy sinnes , the text saith it , thou shalt never finde mercie , delude thy selfe thou mayst , but thou never shalt have mercie ; Luke 14.24 . there was a marriage made , and a rich marriage feast , enough to have fed many thousands , but those that were bidden did not come , they shall not so much as taste of them , they shall have none of them ; so there are sweet comforts , strong consolations , admirable refreshings , able to sustaine a thousand soules , but you that would keepe your sinnes , and have the pride of your hearts , but you that stand it out with the world , and will not yeeld to the authoritie of the truth , heare what the Lord saith from heaven , he that is the God of comfort , thou shalt never be comforted ; he that is the Authour of salvation saith it , thou shalt never be saved , thou shalt never have a crum of these dainties , nor a drop of these sweet wines of spirituall consolation : what a world now of men are shut out by these trials , that are found guilty of these particulars , you poore ignorant creatures , doe not many of you lift up your heads full high , and many a poore presumptuous hypocrite beare up themselves upon rotten hopes ? Object . but I tell you , when you come to the day of judgement , all this will faile you ; but you will say in the former use , you laboured us from despaire , and incouraged us to hope , and yet now you take away all our hopes , why if neither creation may comfort us , nor the experience of Gods kinde dealing with us may incourage us , nor the afflictions that wee have endured in this world , nor the privileges that we have enjoyed , nor the mercie of themselves may give us any hope to receive mercie , why then it seemeth you would have us despaire , and cast away all hope of any good ?

Answer . The truth is , as I must not make the way broader than it is , so I must not make it narrower than I ought , therefore know these two things :

As long as thou retainest and keepest a proud , stubborne , unconverted heart , there is no hope in heaven or earth , that God should ever shew mercy unto thee , and save that hard , stonie , impenitent , unbeleeving heart of thine , unlesse thou thinkest , that God will bring all thy pride , all thy loosenesse , and sinfull delights unto heaven ; God cannot shew thee mercie unlesse he will deny himselfe , and crosse his holinesse ; follow peace and holinesse , without which no man shall see God ; God taketh a corporall oath of it , an unbeleeving man that liveth under grace despising it and contemning it , God taketh an oath he shall never be saved , now the oath of God shall ever stand : there be two immutable things , namely , himselfe and his oath ; himselfe cannot be changed his oath cannot be broken ; now the Lord sweareth , such a man shall not enter into his rest , a man may be saved that cannot keepe the law fully of himselfe , but a man cannot be saved that will not humble his soule before the Lord , and receive mercy from him ; and hence Ephes. 2.12 . Without God , without Christ , without hope ; the Lord hath said , the Lord hath sworne it , that an unbeleeving , an unrepenting sinner , shall never come unto heaven : he cannot save thy soule , untill he hath humbled thy soule ; hee cannot save thy soule , as long as thou retainest an unbeleeving soule .

This is that which you must take notice of , that I may let in a little crevise of comfort to every naturall man ; that I may set open a peepe-hole of mercy ; know therefore this , that though the Lord will not , nay the Lord according to his oath cannot save a continuing unbeleever ; yet here is all the hope thou hast , and blesse God for it , and bee thankfull that thou hast it ; though whilest thou art an unbeleeving creature , thou canst have no mercy from God , yet God can make thee a beleever : he can breake that heart , he can make thee good ; therefore I say , blesse God , that thou art yet in the land of the living , and say , good Lord , this is mercy , that I am on this side hell : if I had died , I had as certainly gone to hell as the coat upon my backe : hath not the Lord said it , did not the Minister speake it , and the Word reveale it ; that as long as I had a proud , naughty , stubborne , wretched heart , I should never finde mercy , unlesse I should thinke that God would make new Scriptures , turne the course of his providence to save a company of base wretched creatures . Oh my brethren , you that are yet in the gall of bitternesse , and bond of iniquity ; proud before , and proud still , that live and lie in your sinnes , I say , every morning , and every evening , that yet you live , thinke with your selves , Hath God given me this hope , this liberty , and that my life is continued , why now bestirre your selves to get mercy . I beseech you thinke o● it , if you be not wrought upon by the Word , if Heaven and Earth should meet together to save thee , and an Angell from Heaven would speake comfort unto thee , all would faile : therefore you see by this time in what case these are ; goe aside and mourn for your selves and neighbours ; this say , if you will continue proud and wicked , there is no hope for you , all the hope is this , you are yet alive , the Lord may humble that heart , hee may enlighten your eyes , he may worke upon thy soule , else there is no mercy for thee .

Vse 2 It is an use of consolation , and I hope you will be content to heare that . I beseech you therefore to observe what I say , take notice here , that every poore broken hearted sinner may take some ground here to stay his soule , though much disquieted , though exceedingly perplexed : when the soule seemeth to be aloofe off from the Lord , when the Lord doth not shine abroad the sweetnesse of his mercy upon the soule , when the Lord withdraweth himselfe and his grace in assisting and comforting his Saints , when thou hast no sense , no feeling , thou canst not bee perswaded of it , or thy heart beleeve it ; canst thou but looke up to God , and hope , I say thy condition is good : thou art a good scholler in the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus , Esay . 40.18 . The Lord waiteth upon his Saints to doe them good ; but marke what the Text saith , Blessed is every man that waiteth upon the Lord : he doth not say , blessed is the man that hath sense of Gods favour , blessed is the man that hath assurance of Gods mercy , but blessed is that man that waiteth upon the Lord : thou saist thou canst not doe this , and thou canst not doe that ; I say if thou canst but wait and hope for the mercy of the Lord , I say thou art a rich Christian : if a man hath many reversions , though he hath them not for the present , men that judge of his estate , will not judge him for his present estate , but for his reversions which hee shall have : haply thou hast not for the present the sense and feeling of the assurance of Gods love ; away with that feeling , doe not dote upon it , thou hast reversions of old leases , ancient mercies , old compassions , such as have beene reserved from the beginning of the world , and know thou hast a faire inheritance : this is observable ; Rom. 8 28. We are saved by hope : now hope that is seene , is no hope : for why should a man hope for that which a man hath ? wee are saved through hope : now if you would have hope to be seene , you have no hope in conclusion ; though thou hast it not in thy eye , yet if thou dost hope , it is enough , that hope will save thy soule . It is the folly of our sinfull proud hearts , that sometimes in the sense of our owne sinnes and sight of our owne unworthinesse , we almost disdaine to looke upon what God hath done for us , and we consider not the kindnesse of the Lord . That place in the Psalmist , The eye of the Lord is upon them that feare him , and wait for him ; it is the wretched distemper of the soule : we can fall out with heaven and our selves , because we cannot have what we would ; nay we quarrell against the means of grace : what availe meanes and helpes as long as I have such a stubborne naughty heart : Psal. 174 . 1●1 . The Lord taketh pleasure in those that feare him , and wait for his mercy : alas brethren , out of the pride of your owne spirits , you fall out with God and your selves , and so deprive your selves of this comfort .

Object . But you will say , were my hopes of the right stampe , and of the right coyne , then a man might comfort himselfe therein : though he wanted the sense of Gods love , and the assurance of his mercy : but there are many false hopes , flashy hopes , leane hopes , how shall a man know that his hope is sound and good , and will comfort him ?

Ans. You may know it by these foure particulars .

The first is this , a grounded hope , it hath a peculiar certainty in it , it doth bring home unto the soule in speciall manner the goodnesse of God , and the riches of his love in Jesus Christ : this same grounded hope doth not stand upon Ifs and Ands , but it saith , it must be undoubtedly , it must certainly bee mine : and this you must know , it is the nature of hope , to make a thing to be certaine . Hope maketh things infallible and undoubted , and withall there is a kinde of speciality , a bringing home of Gods goodnesse unto the soule , in a peculiar manner : hope alwayes if sound , it hath something to say for it selfe alwaies , it hath a ward to hang and hold upon : Psal. 130.5 . I wait upon the Lord , and I hope in his Word : and so Rom. 15.4 . All things are written for our instruction , that through the comfort of the Scriptures wee might have hope : here is hope , not through your conceits , imaginations and dreames , but through the Scripture : we might have hope , a grounded hope is a Scripture hope , it is a word hope ; and therefore those that cannot bring a word , and give a reason for their hope , I would not give a rush , nor a farthing token for a hundred cart load of such hopes : No , it is Law hope , it is Gospell hope , Scripture hope , Word hope ; so that the soule can say , the Word saith , the Lord came to save those that are lost , why I finde my selfe to be lost , and therefore I hope the Lord will seeke mee , though I cannot seeke him ; I hope the Lord will finde me , though I cannot finde my selfe ; I hope the Lord will save me , though I cannot save my selfe . But the hopes of the wicked hang like a cloud , they are not grounded upon the evidence of the Scripture , they crowd all in the generall ; I hope to fare as well as others , and other had mercy , and why not I ? And hence the hopes of the wicked are unstedfast and wavering : but a man might here demand , are not the hopes of the Saints so too ? Doe they not waver and stagger many a time ? Answer , It is true , but with this difference ; the hopes of Gods servants are like an anchor , which though sometimes it is shaken , yet it holdeth the faster : but the hopes of the hypocrites are like the waves of the seas , and they come to nothing : Prov. 8.28 . The hope of the righteous shall be glad , but the expectation of the wicked shall perish ; as who should say , though the waves be great , and the stormes violent , yet the anchor shall bee fast , and the ship shall come safe to haven ; but it is otherwise with the wicked , their hopes doe perish . What is become of your hopes now ? you thought you should bee saved , and that you should doe as well as others ; but when the day of judgement commeth , and the last great day of account shall be , what then shall become of all your hopes ? You shall see , it is as if a man should plead for a mans inheritance , because he did dwell in the same towne , and were of the same name . But now the Saints of God , when they come to lay claime to mercy , they bring a hold , a word , Isay 61.3 . He appointeth them that mourne in Sion : will you have a legacy of joy , mercy , and pitty ? here it is , the Lord Christ left it you , I bequeath this and leave it to all you broken hearted sinners , to all you humble mourning sinners in Sion : this is your legacy , sue for it in the Court , and you shall have it for ever . Hence David ventureth all for this hope , hee taketh this as a childs part , Psal. 33. the last verse ; Let thy mercy come unto us , as our hope is in thee , not according to our sense and assurance , but according to our hope ; thy desires may faile , and endevours faile , and the means faile , yet let thy mercy come unto me according to my hope .

The second is this , a grounded hope is ever of great power and strength , to hold the soule to the truth of the promise : the Spirit you know , wee shewed , stirreth the heart to hope : now hee turneth hope so to God , that the eye of the soule goeth that way and cannot bee taken from it , but it will goe promise-ward , and God-ward . Hence take a poore sinner , when hee is at the weakest under water ; when all temptations , oppositions , corruptions , grow strong against them , the Lord letteth them loose against the soule , nay letteth the poore soule come to joyne side with Satan against himselfe , and the goodnesse of the Lord ; and hee saith , the truth of it is , I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul : this proud foolish filthy heart of mine , it will be my bane ; it had better for me never to have beene , I shall never get power , strength and grace against these sinnes ; here is the lowest under of a poore soule . If a man should now reply , why then cast off all hope and confidence , reject the meanes , and turne to your sins ; Marke how hope steppeth in and saith , it is true , what ever I am and doe , what ever my condition is , I will use the means , I am sure all my helpe is in Christ , all my hope is in the Lord Jesus , and if I must perish , I will perish seeking him , and waiting upon him . Why , this is hope now , and I warrant that soule shall never goe to hell . Psal. 119.81 . My heart fainted , and my hope was in thy salvation : Isay 8.7 . I will wait for the Lord , who hath hid himselfe from the house of Iacob : the Lord hideth himselfe , he doth not shew himselfe , he hath not manifested himselfe , yet I will hope in the Lord , that hideth his face : Psal. 69.3 . But the hope of the wicked is not so : 2 King . 6. and the last verse , this evill commeth of the Lord , and why should I wait any longer ? Prov. 14.32 . The hope of the wicked is driven away ; that though a man stood upon his bottome , and all the world could not perswade him to the contrary , but that he should be saved , and hee should goe to heaven , though proud still , though vaine still , but his hope shall bee driven away , but the righteous shall have hope in his death : friends faile , life faile , and wealth faile , but yet he hath hope in his death .

Signe . 3 As the strength of this hope is great in regard of all opposition that commeth to the contrary , so also the excellency and surpassing worth of this hope , which overshadoweth all the hopes in the world , that can be offered , propounded , desired ; all seeme nothing to this hope , which the soule hath to God ; that when the soule commeth to be drawne to God , and to hope in him , all other hopes hold no weight : hopeth not for honour , for profit , nor liberty , nor delight ; it discovereth the basenesse of these , so that the soule careth not for any thing else in comparison . It is in this case with the soule , as with the hound ; the hound haply followeth the game untill hee bee spent , and tyred ; yet if there come a fresh hare , yet the very sent of a fresh one will make him leave all : so it is here , though heretofore hee hath had many games in the world ; he hoped for honour and profit , and his soule run all amaine upon them ; but when the soule hath beene brought to know the riches of Gods mercy in Christ , it leaveth the old profits , the old contents , the old delights that he had ; Heb. 11.13 . All these died in the faith , when they had saluted the promises . And observe here a carnall hearted Hypocrite , his hopes be vaine , idle and uncertaine ; the truth is , if the world giveth other hopes of honour , and profits , and delights , he leaveth his hope , and with Demas he embraceth the present world ; but the Saints of God are not so , Heb. 11.25 . Moses might have had great honour , but he forsooke his honour , and had an eye to the recompence of reward .

Signe . 4 The last is taken from the vertue of hope , and the speciall fruit and effect that it worketh in the soule ; A grounded hope it alwayes lendeth supply and succour , when all the rest of a mans abilities faile , and are not able to sustaine and support his soule ; when desire faileth , and love faileth , I meane in his owne sense and apprehension , I say , then hope supporteth the soule , Psal. 16.9 . My flesh shall rest in hope , that is , hope will give a man rest in the most miserable forlorne condition that may be , that when the heart is ready to say , where is the meanes that I have had , and the good dayes that I have seene ? this dead heart cannot bee quickned , I am as dead as the roome where I am , and the bed where I lye ; why , hope will give a man rest in this condition , my flesh shall rest in hope . Looke as in the sea when the stormes arise , and the billowes beat , and the tempests rage , then a little hope , yet the anchor holdeth ; so though the mast , the saile , and all sinke , yet the anchor holdeth ; nay when all give themselves for lost , despaire of all helpe , yet the anckor holdeth ; and here is the excellencie of an anckor in this particular , that when a man hath nothing to sustaine him , yet commeth in this grace of hope , yet it may be better , and it will be otherwise , this upholdeth when nothing else can ; it is not , but yet hope saith , it will be , therefore cheare up that fainting soule of thine , that love God will enlarge , that desire God will quicken , that fearfull heart God will establish , that dead heart God will quicken ; thus the anckor holdeth still from day to day , hence hope is said to be the nurse of the soule , it nourisheth faith , and it feedeth faith , hope fetcheth the promise from farre , Lord thou hast said it , and therefore it cannot but be : I beseech you observe , looke as it is with a man that cannot see a thing a farre off , yet with a prospective glasse he may see it , so here , how ever eye cannot see it , the heart cannot feele it , yet hope waiteth still , expecteth still , as a man in a sounding fit , he cannot see and heare , yet there is some life in the heart , and that bringeth him againe , so when a mans heart would faile , and he is overwhelmed with sorrow and despaire , then yet the pulse of hope beateth still , there is this life of hope left still in the heart of a Christian ; but it is not so with the wicked , their hopes are not like the hopes of Gods servants . It is a fine place , Iob 11. last verse , The hope of the wicked is like the giving up of the ghost , that though a man can lift up his head full high , and thinke he shall be saved and goe to heaven , though he carrieth a base wrethed heart about with him : No , no , when the Lord shall come to lay thee upon thy death-bed , let us then see your hope , if your hope can now keepe life and soule together , if it can cheare , comfort , and refresh you , let it , nay if all the Ministers under heaven , and all the Angels in heaven , should come and reveale the promises ; why , a man will then tell you , Alas ! I am a wretch , I never did any thing , never had any thing , but that which cursed carnall Hypocrites have had : I have prayed , and Iudas prayed , and he is in hell , and so may I be too , for ought I know : why , but the Minister replieth , comfort up your owne heart , cheare up your owne soule in expectation of some favour from God , why ? alas ! saith the soule , there is no comfort for me : why ? but saith a man , there is mercie in Christ , it is true there is mercie , but alas I have resisted mercie , I have despised the offer of grace , therefore there is no hope , he was gracelesse here , and he shall be damned for ever , he was stubborne here , and he shall be for ever miserable hereafter : Looke as a tree that is falling , there are some strong sprigs in the root , and that beareth it up , and it bringeth sometimes a great deale of fruit , so it is here , though desire , endevour be dead unto the word and ordinances , yet there is a sprig of hope , and that supporteth the soule , and the soule saith unto the Lord , thou hast said , the broken hearted sinner shall have mercie , I am so , I am wearie and heavie laden , therefore refresh me , I have a dead heart , Lord , but wearie of it , Lord , a prophane heart , but wearie of it , Lord .

Vse 3 The last use , it is an use of exhortation , since you see the worth of it , and the way thereunto , Exhortat . let every one labour for this hope , Heb. 11.6 . there saith the Apostle , I would desire you to give the same diligence to the full assurance of hope ; I desire you , I intreat you , I will not say I command you , though this may be enjoyned : if you have any hope in heaven , if you have any treasure in Christ , labour to quicken this affection above all : here I am to shew the motives and the meanes .

Motive 1 The first motive is this , in truth wee have no more use of any thing than of hope , it is a thing that is most usefull for us in all estates , in all conditions , what ever we doe , brethren , there is nothing more usefull than this grace of hope , hope is an universall grace : I tell you hoping and breathing are all one , as breath continueth life and soule together , so doth his hope : the truth is , wee have as much use of hoping for God and waiting for his goodnesse , as the body of breathing and preserving of life , 1 Corin. 9.10 . That hee that ploweth may plow in hope , brethren , all our actions must have hope goe along with them , the man must pray in hope , preach in hope , and heare in hope ; what ever thou hast , hope still , that God may blesse it ; what ever thou dost , hope that God will assist thee in it : when a man preacheth , hee must preach in hope , though hee doth not doe good now this day , nor next day , yet hope what the Lord may doe , yet hope what the Lord will doe , so in the time of our pilgrimage here wee cannot live without this hope , so in comming to the word of God , thou commest one day , and yet the word of profiteth not , thou commest the second day , and yet the word prevaileth not , thou commest the third time , yet the word humbleth not ; come still , hope still , the Lord may be pleased at last to set home some word , that may humble thy heart , and quicken thy soule , and subdue thy corruptions .

Motive 2 The second motive is this , we have most need of it , as nothing is more usefull , so nothing is more needfull for the benefit of the soule : you know in warre , those places of the body that are most ready to be assaulted , they looke to fence that especially , as now the head of every souldier , therefore every one getteth a head-peece , and will bee sure to get a helmet about him : now what a head-peece is to the souldiour in warring , that hope is to the Christian in living , 1 Thessal. 5.8 . I beseech you observe it , the Devill fighteth at the head continually , which is the hope of salvation , the assurance of Gods love , this is the head-peece of a Christian , if once this be gone , the soule is gone , and a mans heart sinketh within him , Sathan intendeth most harme this way , and therefore wee should bee most carefull to bestow the more paines for our helpe in this particular : take a poore sinner , cut off his hope , and you cut off his head , if a mans armes were gone , hee might live , if a man want a leg , he might still continue , but if his head-peece be gone , all is gone ; a Christian may want many inlargements , many comforts , many abilities , but if his head-peece be gone , if his hope be cut off , alas ! he hath nothing to support and sustaine himselfe in the time of trouble .

Motive 3 This hope is that whereby our hearts are kept both in the love of God , and provoked unto obedience unto God , Iude 21. Keepe your selves in the love of God , expecting the mercie of God ; now this is nothing but the worke of hope , and brethren , this is a rule , unlesse we expect some mercie from God , we will never looke after him , we will never obey him , never walke with him , but when wee expect some good thing comming unto us , then wee love him and follow after him : but some might here say , it is true , we doubt not of the comfort and benefit that commeth by it , but what meanes are there that might helpe a man to hope in the goodnesse of God , how shall a man uphold his soule in some measure in expecting mercie from the Lord ? Answ. The meanes are three .

Meanes 1 Labour above all to cast out all carnall sensualitie , that commonly creepeth upon us , and would prevaile over us ; I meane this that wee would faine live by sense , our carnall hearts be sensuall creatures , we would faine live by our sense , what we see with our eyes , and feele with our fingers , and have in our hands , that we can be sure of , but wee can have nothing in hope : now when the soule is taken up with , and bestoweth it selfe upon the present things , then you put hope out of office : Rom. 8.24 . You are saved through hope , and hope that is seene is no hope ; a man doth not hope for a thing that he hath , but hope alwayes expects a good that is to come ; this is the marvellous sottish distemper of our wretched hearts , that wee will trust God no further than wee see him : Acts 1.9 . wilt thou now restore the kingdome to Israel , just now ; so here , saith the soule , may I now have grace , may I now have assurance , may I now have the evidence of Gods love ? but I would have it now , where now is hope all this while ? you take away the worke of hope , when you would have things present : wee know the childe must wait for his portion before hee hath it , so you must stay your time , and be contented with the dealing of the Lord toward you in this kinde .

Meanes 2 You must daily attend and labour to bee much acquainted with the precious promises of God , to have them at hand , and upon all occasions , for those are thy consorts , those are they that support thy soule , that looke as the body is without comfort , unfit for any thing , nature groweth feeble and weake , a pale face , a faint heart , a feeble hand , and the like ; so it is here , unlesse a man hath that provision of Gods promises , and have them at hand daily , and have them dished out and fitted for him , his heart will faile : Rom. 15.4 . What ever was written was for our comfort , that through the Scripture we might hope . Verse 13. That we might abound in hope through the Gospell ; as who should say , it is not in your power to support your hope , it is not in any power here below , but through the Scripture ; yee might have hope , and through the power of the holy Ghost : brethren , I beseech you observe it , while wee looke upon our owne infirmities on one side , and the feeblenesse of the meanes on the other side , this is the next way to dampe our hope , to dead our hearts , and to take away all our comfort and assurance ; this is not the way to abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost ; I beseech you observe it , all these things here below cannot give any comfort , a man may as soone wring oile or water out of a flint , as wring comfort out of these meanes . In all these outward things there is no sound comfort or hope , there be these three things , either wee shall not finde comfort or contentment in them , or else not sufficient content , or else no constant , no continuall content . It is with the hope of a poore Christian , as with Noahs dove , she found no rest upon the earth for the sole of her foot ; so it is with our wretched hearts , wee send out our hope to our abilities , to the meanes we doe enjoy , to our prayers and performances wee doe discharge , and thus all our hopes breake and faile us , for in all these things there is no foot-hold for hope ; we must ancker our foot-hold in Christ , what I want Christ can supply , what I need Christ can give , what is good for me Christ can bestow , what I have done amisse Christ can pardon ; though I barren , he is full , though I dull , he hath enough grace and enlargement for me ; it is said of Naamans leprosie , Let him come , and hee shall know there is a God in Israel ; though the King cannot heale , yet a God can ; though the meanes cannot , yet the Lord can ; so it is here , the hope that a man hath in these things here below , and the hope in the Gospell : A man sendeth out his hope , having a wounded conscience , hee now goeth to his gifts , that they should pacifie him , he sendeth out his hope to his prayers , that they should ease him ; marke what they say , are wee God , we cannot helpe ; but heare what the promise saith , though prayers cannot , though parts cannot , though outward helpe cannot , yet there is a God in Israel , there is a promise that is able , here is mercie enough , here is power and comfort enough .

Meanes 3 Maintaine in thy heart a deepe and serious acknowledgement of that supreme authoritie of the Lord , to doe what he will , and how he will according to his owne pleasure ; brethren , I beseech you to observe it , this I take to be the ground , why the heart of a poore sinner is marvellous taken up with passion and distemper , and a kinde of teachy shortnesse ; wee thinke to bring God to our bow , we have hoped thus long , and God not answered , wee have stood so long , and no comfort , and shall we wait still ? wait ? I wait , and blesse God that you may wait : if you may lye at Gods feet , and put your mouth in the dust , and at the end of your dayes have one crum of mercie , it is enough , therefore checke those distempers , what if God will ? when a wretched sinner wrangleth with God for his dealing with him , Paul cutteth him short , what if God will ? so when thou thinkest the time long , when Lord , and how long Lord , what if God will ? he oweth thee nothing , thou deservest nothing , what if God will damne thee , and will send thee to hell ? it is a most admirable strange thing , that a poore worme worthie of hell should take up state , and stand upon tearmes with God , and he will not wait upon God , who must wait then ? must God wait , or man wait ? must the Creatour wait , or the creature wait ? Acts 1.9 . wilt thou now restore the kingdome to Israel , it is not for you to know the times and the seasons ; as who should say , hands off , meddle with that you have to doe withall , it is for you to wait , it is for you to expect mercie , it is not for you to know : so I would have you to doe , when you begin to wrangle and to say , how long Lord , when Lord , and why not now Lord , and why not I Lord ? why ? checke thy owne heart and say , it is not for me to know , it is for me to be humble , and to be abased , and to wait for mercy , but it is not for me to know the time .

Thus much concerning Hope :