Sermon IX (continued, part 2)
" enjoyment ofGod." There is a ſweet calm upon the troubled foul after believing, aneaſe,or rest ofthe mind, which is an unspeakable mercy to awearypoor foul. Chriſt is to it, as the Arkwas to the Dove, when ſhe wandered over the watery world, and found no place to reſt the foal ofher foot. Faith centers the unquiet ſpirit of man in Chriſt, brings it to repofe
itſelf, and its burthen, on him. Itisthe foul'sdropping anchor in a ſtorm, which ſtays and fettles it.
Thegreat debate, which coſt ſo many anxious thoughts, is now iſſued into this reſolution ; I will venture my all upon Chriſt, lethimdowith me as ſeemeth him good. Itwas impofſiblefor thefoul tofind reſt, whilſt itknewnot where tobeſtow itſelf, or how tobeſecuredfrom the wrath tocome ; but when
* Non dicit εισηλθομεν, ingreſſifumus, sed εισερχομεθα, ingredimur, fignificans, initia quietisfideles nunc habere : Plenam quietemfuo temporeconfecuturos. Pareus inloc.
SERM . IX. The Method ofGrace. 287
all is embarked, in Chriſt, for eternity, and the foul fully refol. ved toleanuponhim, and to truſt to him, now it feels the very
initialsofeternalreſt in itſelf: It finds anheavy burthenunloaded from its ſhoulders ; itis come, as it were, into a new world;
the cafe is ſtrangely altered. The word reft, inthisplace, notes
†, (and is ſo rendered by ſome) a recreation; it is reſtored, renewed, and recreated, as itwere, by that ſweet repoſe it hath upon Chrift. Believers, know, that faith is the ſweetest recreation youcan take. Others ſeek to divert and loſe their troubles, by finful recreations, vain company, and the like ; but they littleknow what the recreation, and ſweet reſtoring
reſt, that faith gives the foul, is. You find, in Chrift, what theyſeek, in vain, among the creatures. Believing is the highest recreationknownin this world. But toprevent miſtakes, three Cautionsneedtobepremiſed, leſt wedo, in ipſo limineimpingere,
ſtumble at the threshold,andſoloſe ourwayallalongafterward.
Caution 1 . You are not toconceive, that all thefoul'sfears, troubles, and forrows,arepresently over, andat anend, asfoon as it iscome to
Chrift, by faith. † They will havemany troubles inthe world, after that, it may be, more than ever they had in their lives :
" Our flesh (faith Paul)hadnoreſt," 2 Cor. vii. 5. They willbe infeſted with manytemptations, after that; that, it may be, the affaults offatanmaybe more violent,upontheir ſouls, than ever. HorribiliadeDeo, terribiliadefide: injections thatmake thevery bones to quake, and the belly to tremble ; They will not be
freed from fin: that reſt remains for the people ofGod; nor from inward trouble, and griefoffoul,about fin; Theſe things are not to be expected preſently.
Caution 2. Wemay not thinkall believers do immediately enterintothefull, actualsense of rest and comfort, but theypresently enterintothe Stateof reft. " Beingjustifiedbyfaith, we have peacewithGod,"
Rom. v. 1. i. e. we enter into the ſtate of peace immediately. " Peace is ſown for the righteous, andgladness for the upright " in heart," Pfal. cxvii. 11. Andhe is a rich man, that hath a thouſand acres ofcornin theground, as wellas he thathath fo
much in his barn, or the money in his purſe. They have reſt and peace in the feed of it, when theyhave it not in the fruit ;
+ I will giveyou recreationfrom wearineſs,troubles, and burdens. Vatab.et Erafm. † Luther, upon his converfion, was ſo buffetedby Satan, that neither heat, blood,ſenſation,or ſpeech remained.
288 The Method of Grace. SERM . IX.
theyhave reſt inthe promise, whenthey have it not in poffef-
ſion: and he is a rich man thathath good bouds, and bilis, for agreat fun ofmoney, ifhe have not twelvepence in his pocket. All believers have the promise, have reſt, and peace, granted
them, under God's own hand, in many promiſes, which faith brings them under; and weknowthatthe truth and faithfulneſs ofGod ſtands engaged to make good every line, and word, of the promiſe, to them. So that though theyhave not a full, and clear actual ſenſe and feeling of reſt, they are, nevertheless, by
faith, come into the ſtate of reft .
Caution 3. Wemay not conceive, thatfaith itselfis thefoul's rest, but the means and instrument of it only. We cannot findreſt in any work, or duty of our own, but we may find itin Chriſt, whom
faith apprehends for juſtification and ſalvation.
Havingthus regarded the point againſt miſapprehenſions, by theſe needful cautions, I ſhall next ſhew you, how our coming toChriſt, by faith, brings us toreſt in him. And here let it be confidered, what those things are, that burden, grieve and dif quiet the foul, before its coming to Chriſt; and how it is re-
lievedandeaſed in all thoſe reſpects, by its coming to the Lord Jefus: Andyou thall find,
First, That one principal ground of trouble, is the guilt of finuponthe confcience, ofwhich I ſpake in the former point. The curse of the law lies heavyupon the foul, foheavy, that
nothing is found, inall the world, able to relieve it, under that burden; as you fee ina condemned man, ſpread a table inpri-
fon, with the greatestdainties, and fend for the rareft muſicians, allwill not charm his forrow : but if you can produce an authentic pardon, you eaſe him preſently. Juſt ſoit is here; faith plucks the thorn out ofthe confcience,which ſo grieved it, u-
nites the foul with Chriſt, and then that ground of trouble is removed : for " there is no condemnation to them that are in " Chriſt Jeſus," Rom. viii. 1. The fame moment the foul comes to Chrift, it is paſſed fromdeath to life, is no moreunder the law, but grace. If a man'sdebt be paidby this ſurety, heneed not fear to ſhew his face boldly abroad; he may freely
meetthe ferjeant atthe prison-door.
Secondly, The foul ofa convinced finner is exceedingly bur dened with the uncleanneſs and filthiness, wherwith fin hath defiled and polluted it. Convictiondiſcovers the univerſal pollutionofheart and life, ſo that a manloaths and abhors himself, byreaſonthereof: ifhedo not look into his own corruptions,
he cannotbe fafe; and if hedo, hecannot bearthe fight of
SERM. IX. The Method of Grace. 289
them; he hathnoquiet; nothingcangive reſt, but whatgives
reliefagainst this evil : And this, only, is doneby faith, uniting the foul with Jeſus Chriſt. For though itbe true, that the pollutionof finbe not preſently, and perfectly taken away, by coming to Chriſt; yet theburden thereof is exceedingly eaſed :
for, upon our believing, there is an heart-purifying principle planted in the foul, which doth, by degrees, cleanſe that fountainofcorruption, and will, at last, perfectly free the foul from
it. Acts xv. 9. "Purifying their hearts by faith;" and being once inChriſt, heis concerned for the foul, as a member, now, ofhis own myſtical body, to purify and cleanſe it, that, at laſt,
hemaypreſent it perfect to the Father, without ſpotor wrinkle,
or any ſuch thing, Eph. v. 26. The reigning power of it is gone, immediately, upon believing,and the very exiſtence and
being of it ſhall at laſt be destroyed. O ! what reſt muſt this give, under thoſe troubles for fin ?
Thirdly, It was anintolerable burden tothe foul, tobe under the continual fears, alarms, and frights ofdeath, and damnati-
on; its life hath been a lifeofbondage, upon this account, ever ſince the Lord opened his eyes to ſee his condition. Poor fouls liedown with tremblings, for fear what a night maybring
forth. It is a ſad life, indeed, to live in continual bondage to ſuch fears; but faith ſweetly relieves the trembling confcience, by removing the guilt which breeds its fears. The ſting of death is fin. When guilt is removed, fears vaniſh. "Smite, 66 Lord, ſmite, ſaid Luther, for my fins are forgiven *." Now, if ſickneſs come, it is another thing than it was wont to be.
Ifa. xxxiii. 24. "The inhabitant ſhall not ſay, I am fick, the
people that dwell therein ſhallbe forgiven their iniquities." Amanſcarce feels his ſickneſs, in comparison to what he did, whilft he was without Chriſt and hope ofpardon.
Fourthly, A convinced ſinner, out of Chriſt, ſees every thing against him ; nothing yields any comfort, yea, every thing increaſes and aggravateshis burden, when he looks to things paſt, preſent, or tocome . If he reflects upon things paſt, his foul is filled with anguiſh, to remember the fins committed, and the ſeaſons neglected, and the precious mercies that have been abuſed: ifhe looks upon things preſent, the cafe isdoleful and
miſerable; nothingbut trouble anddanger, Chriſtleſs and com-
fortless ; and ifhe looks forward, to things tocome, that gives him adeeper cut, to the heart, thananything else; for though
† Feri, Domine, feri, nama peccatis meis abfolutusfum. Luth. VOL. II . PP
290 The Method of Grace. SERM. IX.
itbe fad and miferable, for the preſent, yethe fears it will be much worſe hereafter; all theſe arebut the beginning of forrows. Andthus the poor, awakened ſinner, becomes aMagor Miffabib ; fear round about.
But, upon his coming to Chriſt, all things are marvellouſly altered; aquite contrary face of things appear to him; every
thing gives him hope and comfort, which way ſoever he looks. So fpeaks the apostle, 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. "All things are yours,
" "
(faithhe) whether life or death, or things preſent, or things
tocome; all isyours,andye are Chriſt's, and Chrift is God's:" They are ours, i. e. for our advantage, benefit, and comfort. More particularlyupon ourcoming to Chriſt,
First, Things paft are ours, they conduce to our advantage and comfort. Nowthe foul canbeginto read the graciousend
and deſign of God, in all its preſervations and deliverances; whereby it hath been referved for ſuch aday as this. O ! it
melts his hearttoconfider, his companions in fin and vanity are cut off, and he ſpared; and that for aday of fuch mercy, as
the day ofhis eſpouſals with Chriſt, is. Now allhis paft forrows, and deep troubles ofſpirit, whichGod hath exerciſed him with, begin to appear the greatest mercies that ever he received ;
being all neceſſary and introductive to this bleſſed union with Chrift.
Secondly, Things preſent are ours, though it be notyet with us as we would have it; Chriſt is not fure enough, the heart is not pure enough; fin is too ftrong, andgrace is tooweak ; many things are yet out of order; yet can the foul blefs God, for this, with tears ofjoy and praiſe, being fullof admiration and holyastonishment, thatit is as it is; and that he iswhere he is, though he be not yet where he would be. O ! it is a bleſſed life to live as a poor recumbent, by acts of trust and affiance, though, as yet, it have but little evidence; that it is refolved to
truſt all with Chriſt, though itbe not yetcertain ofthe iſſue. Othis is acomfortable ſtation,aſweetcondition, towhat it was,
either when it wallowed in fin, inthedays before conviction, or was fwallowed up in fears and troubles for fin, after conviction :
now ithath hope, though itwant afſurance; andhope is ſweet, toa foul coming out of fuch deep diſtreſſes. Now it fees the
remedy, and is applying it; whereas, before, the wound feemeddeſperate. Now all hefitations, anddebates, are at anend
in the foul ; it is no longer unresolvedwhat todo; all things have been deeply confidered, and, after confideration, iſſued
into this refolve, or decree of the will. Iwill go to Chriſt ; I willventure all, upon his command and call; Iwill embark my
SERM. IX. The Method of Grace. 291 eternal intereſts in that bottom ; here I fix, and here I refolve
to live and die. O ! how much better, is this, than that floating life it lived before, rolling upon thebillowsof inward fears, and troubles, not able to drop anchor any where, nor knowing where to find an harbour ?
Thirdly, Things to come are ours; and this is the beſt, and fweetest of all : Man isa proſpecting creature, his eye is much upon things to come, and it will not fatisfy him, that it is well
at preſent, except he have a proſpect that it ſhall be fo hereafter. But now the foul hath committed itſelf, and all its concernments, to Chriſt, for eternity, and this being done, it is greatly relieved against evils to come.
I cannot (faith the believer) think all my troubles over, and that I ſhall never meet any more afflictions ; it were a fond vanity todream ofthat; but I leave all theſe things where I have leftmy foul: he that hath ſupported me under inward, will carry me through outward troubles, alſo. I cannot think all my temptations, to fin, paſt ; O ! I may yet meet with fore affaults from Satan, yet it is infinitely better to be watching, praying, and ſtriving againſt ſin,than itwas when I was obey-
ing it in the lufts of it. God, that hath delivered me from the love offin, will, I truſt, preſerve me from ruinby fin. Iknow, alſo, death is to come ; I muſt feel the pangs and agonies of it: but yet the aſpect ofdeath is much more pleasant than itwas.
I come, Lord Jeſus, to thee, who art the death of death, whoſe deathhathdifarmed death of its ſting ; for I fear not its dart,
ifI feel not its ſting. And thusyou fee, briefly, how by faith, believersenterinto reſt ; how Chriſt gives reſt, even at preſent,
to them that come to him, and all this but as a beginning of their everlasting reſt.
Infer. 1. Is there reſt in Chriſt for weary souls that come unto him ? Then, certainly, it is a design of Satan against the peace andwelfare ofmen'sfouls, to discourage themfrom coming
to Chrift in the way offaith.
He is a reſtleſs ſpirit himſelf, and would make us ſo too; it isanexcellent note of † Minutius Felix, " Thoſe deſperate and " reſtleſs ſpirits (faith he) haveno other pleaſure, but in bring- " ingus to the ſame miſerythemselves are in:" He goeth about as a roaring lion, ſeekingwhom he may devour. It frets andgrates his proud and envious mind, to ſee others find reſt, Pp2
+Ad folamen calamitatis fuae, nan definunt perditi perdere. Minut. Felix.
292 The Method of Grace. SERM. IX.
when he can findnone ; an effectual plaiſter, applied to heal
our wound, when his own muſt bleed to eternity: And he ob-
tains his end fully, if he can but keep off ſouls from Chriſt. Look, therefore, upon all thoſe objections, and diſcouragements, raiſed in your hearts against coming toChriſt, as ſomany artifices, and cunning devices of the devil, to deſtroy and ruin
your fouls. 'Tis true, they have a very ſpecious and colourableappearance; they are gildedoverwith pretences of the JufticeofGod, the heinous nature of ſin, thewant of due and be-
fitting qualifications for fo holy and pure aGod, the lapſing of the ſeaſon of mercy, and an hundred others, of like nature : but, I beſeech you, laydown this as a ſure concluſion, and hold it faſt; that whatever itbe that diſcourages and hinders you from coming to Chriſt, is directly against the intereſt of your fouls, and the hand ofthe devil is certainly in it.
Infer. 2. Hence, alſo, it follows, that unbelief is the true reason ofall that disquietness, and trouble, by which theminds
ofpoorfinners areso rack'd and tortur'd.
If you will not believe, you cannot be eſtabliſhed ; till you come to Chriſt, peace cannot come to you : Chriſt and peace
are undivided. Good fouls, conſider this; you have tried all other ways, you have tried duties, and no reſt comes ; you have tried reformation, reſtitution, anda ſtricter course oflife ; yet your wounds are ſtill open, and freſhbleeding : theſe things, I grant, are, in their places, both good, and neceſſary; but, ofthemselves, without Chriſt, utterly inſufficient to give what you expect from them : why will you not try the way of faith ? Whywillyou not carryyour burthen to Chriſt ? O! that you would be perfuaded to it, how foon would you find, whatſo
long you have been ſeeking in vain! How long will you thus oppoſe your own good ? How longwillyou keep yourſelves uponthe rackofconfcience? Is iteaſyto go under the throbs and wounds of an accuſing and condemning confcience ; You know
it is not : you look for peace, but no good comes ; for a time ofhealing, and behold trouble. Alas! it must, and willbe ſo,
ſtill, until you are inthe wayof faith, which is the true and onlymethod to obtain reſt.
Infer. 3. What cause have we all to admire the goodness of God, in providing for us a Chrift, inwhom wemayfind reft to
ourfouls!
How hath the Lord filled and furnished Jeſus Chriſt with all that is ſuitable to a believer's wants ! Doth the guilt of fin terrify hisconfcience ? Lo, inhim is perfect righteouſneſs, to re-
move that guilt, ſo that it ſhall neitherbe imputed tohis per
SERM. IX. The Method ofGrace. 293 fon, nor reflected by his confcience, inthe wayof condemnation, as itwas before. Inhim, alſo, is a fountain opened, for waſhingand for cleanſing the filth of fin from our fouls ; inhim
isthe fulneſsboth of merit, andofspirit, two ſweet ſprings of peace tothe fouls ofmen: well might the apoſtle ſay, " Chrift, " thewisdom ofGod," I Cor. i. 30. an andwellmight theChurch ſay, " He is altogether lovely," Cant. v. 16. Had notGod provided Jeſus Chriſt for us, we had never known one hour's reft to all eternity.
Infer. 4. How unreasonable, and wholly inexcufable, in believers, is thefin of backsliding from Christ ! Have you found reſt
in him, when you could not find it inany other ! Did he receive, andeaſe your fouls, when all other perſons and things werephysicians ofno value? And willyou, after this, backſlide from him again ? O what madness is this! " Will a man " leave the ſnow of Lebanon, which cometh from the rock of
" the field ? Or ſhall the cold, flowingwaters, that come from " another place, be forſaken ? " No man, that is in his wits, would leave the pure, cold, refreſhing ſtream, of a cryſtal foun-
tain, to go to a filthy puddle, lake, or an empty ciſtern ; ſuch thebeſt enjoyments ofthis worldare, incomparison with Jeſus Chrift.
Thatwas ameltingexpoſtulation ofChriſt'swith thediſciples, John vi. 67, 68. whenſomehad forſaken him, " will ye, alſo, " go away ?" Andit wasavery fuitable return, theymade, Lord, whither away from thee ſhouldwe go ! q. d. From thee, Lord!
No, no; where canwe mend ourſelves? be ſure of it, when
everyou go from Chriſt, ye go from reſt to trouble. Had Judas reſt ? HadSpira reſt? anddoyouthink you shallhave reſt? No, no, " The backſlider in heart ſhall be filled with his " ownways," Prov. xiv. 14. "Curſed be the man thatdepart- " eth from him, he ſhall be as the heath in the defart, that " ſeeth notwhen good cometh, and ſhall inhabit the parched " places ofthe wilderness," Jer. xvii.5. Iffearof fufferings, and worldly temptations, ever drawyou off from Chrift, you may cometo thoſe ſtraits, and terrors ofconfcience, that willmake you wish yourſelves back again with Chriſt in a priſon, with
Chriſt at a ſtake.
Infer. 5. Let all that come to Christ, learn to improve him, to the restandpeace oftheir ownfouls, inthe midst ofall thetroubles, andoutward diſtreſſes, they meet with in the world.
Surely reſt may be found in Chriſt, in any condition ; he is able to give you peace in the midst of all your troubles here.
Sohe tellsyou in John xvi. 33. "Theſethings have Iſpokento
294 SERM. X. The Method of Grace. " you, that in meyou might have peace; inthe worldye ſhall " have tribulation." By peace, he means not adeliverance from troubles, by taking offaffliction from them, or taking them away, by death, from all afflictions ; but itis ſomething theyenjoyfrom Chrift, in the very midst of troubles, and amidst all
their afflictions, that quiets, and gives them reſt,ſo that troubles cannot hurt them. Certainly, believers,you have peace in Chriſt, when there is little inyour own hearts ; andyour hearts mightbe filled with peace, too, ifyou would exerciſe faithupon Chriftfor that end. 'Tis your own fault, ifyou be without reft, in any condition, inthis world. Set yourſelves to ſtudy thefulness of Chriſt, and to clear your interest in him ; believe what the ſcriptures reveal ofhim, and live as you believe, and
you will quickly find the peace ofGod filling your hearts and minds.
Bleffedbe God for Jesus Christ.
1 SERMONX.
Wherein the general Exhortation is enforced, by one
Motive drawn from the firſt Title of CHRIST.
MATTH. ix . 12. But whenJesus heard that, hesaidunto them,
They that be whole need not a physician, but they that arefick. HAVING AVING opened, intheformerdiſcourſes, the nature, and
method, of the application ofChrift to ſinners ; itremains, now, that I preſs it upon every foul, as it expects peace, and pardon fromGod, to apply and put on Jesus Christ ; (i. e.)to getunion withhim, by faith, whilst he is yet held forth inthe
free, and gracious tenders of the goſpel. To which purpoſe, I ſhall now labour, in this general use of exhortation in which my laſt ſubject engaged me; whereindivers arguments willbe further urged, both from
1. The titles , and 2. The privileges, ofJeſus Chrift. The titles ofChrift areſo many motives,or arguments, fitted toperfuademento comeunto him. Amongst which, Christ, as thephysician offouls, comes under our firſt conſideration, in the
textbefore us .
The occaſion oftheſe words of Chriſt, was the call ofMatthew the publican, who having firſt openedhis heart, next o-
SERM . X. The Method of Grace. 295 pened his houſe to Chriſt, and entertains him there. This trange and unexpected change,wrought uponMatthew, quickly brings in all the neighbourhood, and many Publicans and finners reſorted thither; at which the ſtomachs of the proud Phariſees began to ſwell. From this occafion, they took offence at Chrift, and, in this verfe, Chriſt takes off the offence,byfuch
an anſwer as was fitted, both for their conviction, and his own vindication. But when Jefus heard that, he faid unto them, The whole have no need ofa phyſician, but they that are fick."
He gives it, faith one, as a reason why he converſed ſo much with Publicans and finners, and fo little among the Pharifees,
becauſe there was more work for him ; Chrift came tobe a
phyſician to fick fouls ; Pharifees were fo well, in their own conceit, that Chrift faw theywould have little to do with him ; and fo he applied himself to thoſe who were more fenfible of their fickneſs .
In thewords, wehave an account ofthe temper, andstate, both of,
1. The fecure and unconvinced finner. 2. The humbled and convinced finner. And, 3.Of the carriage of Chriſt, and his different reſpect toboth. First, The ſecure ſinner is here deſcribed, both with reſpect to hisown apprehenfions ofhimself, asone that is whole, and alfoby his low value and eſteem for Chriſt,hefees noneedofhim ;
" The whole have no need ofthe phyſician."
Secondly, The convinced and humbled finner, is here, alſo, deſcribed, andthat both by his ſtate and condition, he isfick ;
andby his valuation ofJesus Chrift, hegreatly needs him: they that are fick need the physician.
Thirdly, We have here Chrift's carriage, and different reſpect toboth; the former he rejects, and paſſeth by, as thoſe with whomhe hath no concernment; the latter he converſes with,
in order to their cure.
Thewords, thus opened,are fruitfulinobſervations. I ſhall neithernote, nor infiſtupon any,beſide this one, which ſuits the ſcope ofmydiſcourſe, viz.
Doct. That the LordJesus Chriſt is the onlyphysicianforfick
Souls. The world is a great hospital, full of fick anddying fouls, all wounded by one and the fame mortal weapon, fin. Some are ſenſeleſs oftheir miſery, feel not theirpains,value not a phyſician; others are full ofſenſe, as well as danger; mourn underthe apprehenfion oftheircondition,and ſadlybewail it. The mercifulGod hath, in his abundant compaſſion to the periſhing
296 The Method of Grace. SERM . X. world, fent a phyſician from heaven, andgiven him his orders,
under the great ſeal of heaven, for his office, Ifa. Ixi. 1 , 2. which he opened, and read, in the audience of the people.
Luke iv. 18. " The Spirit ofthe Lord is upon me, becauſe he " hath anointed meto preach good tidings unto the meek, he " hath fent me to bind up the broken-hearted," &c. He is the tree of life, whoſe leaves are for the healing ofthe nations : he is Jehovah Rophe, the Lord that healeth us ; and that as he
is Jehovah Tzidkenu, the Lord our righteouſneſs. The brazen ferpentthat healed the Ifraelites in the wilderneſs, was an ex-
cellenttypeofour great phyſician Chriſt, and is expreſly applied
tohim, John iii. 14. He rejects none that come, and heals all whomhe undertakes ; but, more particularly, I will,
First, Point at thoſe diſeaſes which Chriſt heals in fick fouls, and by what means he heals them.
Secondly, The excellency of this phyſician above all others : there isnone like Chrift, he is the only phyſician for wounded fouls.
First, We will enquire into the diſeaſes which Chriſt, the phyſician, cures ; and they are reducible to two heads, viz.
1. Sin ; and, 2. Sorrow. First, The disease offin ; in which three things are found ex-, ceeding burdenſfome to fick fouls.
1. The guilt, 2. The dominion, 3.The inherence of fin; all curedby this phyſician, andhow. First, The guilt of fin; this is a mortal wound, a ſtab in the very heart of a poor ſinner. It is a fond, and groundleſs diſtinction, that Papiſts make of ſins mortal and venial; all fin,
in its own nature, is mortal ; Rom. vi. 23. " The wages of " ſin is death." Yet though it be ſo in its own nature, Chriſt can, anddoth cure it, by the ſovereign balſam ofhis own pre-
ciousblood ; Eph. i. 7. " Inwhomwe have redemption, through " his blood, the forgiveness of ſins, according to the riches of " his grace." This is the deepest, and deadliest wound, the foul ofman feels in this world : What is guilt, but the obligationofthe foul to everlasting punishment and miſery ? It puts the foul under the ſentence ofGod to eternal wrath; the condemning ſentence of the great and terribleGod; than which,
nothing is found more dreadful, and inſupportable : put all pains, all poverty, all afflictions, all miſeries, in one ſcale, and God's condemnation in the other, and you weigh but ſo many
feathers, against atalentoflead.
SERM. X. 297 TheMethod of Grace.
This diſeaſe, our great phyſician, Chriſt, cures, by remiſſion, which is the diffolving of the obligation to punishment;
the loofing of the foul that was bound over to the wrath and condemnation ofGod, Col. i. 13, 14. Heb. vi. 12. Micah vii.
17, 18, 19. This remiſſion being made, the foul is immediately clearedfrom allits obligations topunishment. Rom. viii. 1. " There is no condemnation." All bonds are cancelled, theguilt of all fins ishealed, or removed, original and actual, great and ſmall. This cure is performed upon ſouls, by the blood of Chrift : nothing isfound, inheaven, or earth, beſides
his blood, that is able to heal this diſeaſe. Heb. ix. 22. " Without ſhedding of blood there isno remiffion; " nor is it anyblood that will do it, but that, only, which dropped from the wounds of Chriſt. Ifa. liii. 5. By his ſtripes we are " healed." His blood, only, is innocent, and precious blood, 1Pet. i. 19. blood of infinite worth, and value; blood ofGod, Actsxx. 18. blood prepared for this very purpoſe, Heb. x. 5. This is the blood that performs the cure; andhow great a cure is it! for this cure, the fouls of believers ſhall be praiſing and magnifying their great phyſician in heaven, to all eternity; Rev. i. 5, 6. " To him that lovedus, and waſhed us from our fins, " in his own blood, &c. to him be glory and dominion, for
ever and ever." "
Secondly, The nextevil in ſincured byChriſt, is thedominion ofit over the fouls ofpoor finners. Where ſin is indominion, the foul is inavery fadcondition; for it darkens the underſtanding, depraves the confcience, ſtiffens the will, hardens theheart, miſplaces anddiſorders all the affections ; andthus e
very facultyis wounded,by the power anddominion of finover the foul. How difficult is the cureofthisdiſeaſe ! it paſſes the ſkill of angels, or men, toheal it; but Chriſt undertakes it, andmakes a perfect cure ofit, at last, and this he doth by his Spirit. As he cures the guilt of fin by pouring out his blood for us; fohe cures thedominion of fin,by pouring out hisSpirit upon us. Juſtification is the cure of guilt, ſanctification thecure ofthedominion of fin. For, First, As the dominion of ſin darkens the understanding, 1 Cor. ii. 14.ſo the Spirit ofholiness, which Chriſt ſheds upon hispeople, cures the darkness and blindness ofthatnoble facul ty, andreſtores it again, Eph. v. 8. They that weredarkneſs, are hereby light in the Lord ; the anointingofthe Spirit, teacheththem all things, 1 John ii. 27 .
Secondly, As the dominion of ſin depraved and defiled the
298 The Method of Grace. SERM . X.
confcience, Tit. i. 15. wounded it to that degree, as to diſable it to the performances of all its offices, and functions ; ſo that itwas neither able toapply, convince, or tremble at the word : So, when the Spirit of holiness is ſhed forth, O what a tender ſenſe fills the renewed confcience! For what ſmall things will it
check, ſmite, and rebuke ! How ſtrongly will itbind to duty, andbar againſt ſin !
Thirdly, As thedominionof ſin ſtiffened thewill, and made it ſtubborn, and rebellious ; ſo Chrift, byfanctifying it, brings ittobe pliant, and obedient to the will ofGod. " Lord(faith " the finner,) what wilt thou have me todo!" Acts ix. 6.
Fourthly, As the power of finhardeneth the heart, ſo that nothing could affect it, or make any impreſſion upon it; when fanctification comes upon the ſoul, it thaws, and breaks it, as hard as it was, andmakes it diffolve, in the breast ofa finner,
in godly forrow, Ezek. xxxvi. 26. " I will take away the heart " of stone out of your flesh, and I willgive you an heart of " fleſh." It willnow melt, ingenuously,under the threatnings of the word, 2 Kings xxii. 19. or the strokes of the rod, Jer. xxxi. 18. or the manifestations ofgrace and mercy, Luke vii. 38.
Fifthly, As thepower of fin miſplaced anddiſordered all the affections, ſo fanctification reduces them again, and fets them
right, Pfal. iv. 6, 7. And thus you ſeehow fanctificationbecomes the rectitude, health, andduetemper ofthe foul, fo far as it prevails, curing the diſeaſes that ſin, in its dominion, filled the foul with. True it is, this cure is not perfected in this life ; there are ſtill ſome remains of the old diſeaſes, in the holieſt fouls, notwithstanding fin bedethroned from its dominion over them: but the cure is begun, and daily advances towards
perfection, and at last willbe compleat, as will appear in the cureofthe next evil of fin; namely,
Thirdly, The inherence of fin in the ſoul: this is a fore difeafe, the verycore and root of all ourothercomplaints and ailes. This made theholy apostlebemoanhimself, and wail ſo bitterly, Rom. vii. 17. becauſe of" ſinthat dwelt in him:" And the
fame miſery is bewailedby all fanctified perfons, allthe world over.
Tis a wonderful mercytohave the guilt anddominionoffin "cured, but we shall never be perfectly found, andwell, till the
exiſtence, or in-dwelling of fin, in our natures, be cured too: when once that is done, thenwe shall feel nomore pain, nor
forrows for fin : andthis ourgreat physician will at laft perform for us , and upon us. But as the cure ofguilt wasby ourjuſtification, thecure of thedominion of finbyourfanctification ;
SERM. X. The Method of Grace.. 299 ſothe third and laſt, which perfects the whole cure, willbe by our glorification; and, till then, it is not to be expected. For it is a clear cafe, that fin, like ivy in the old walls, will
never be gotten out tillthe walls be pulleddown, and then it
is pulled up by the roots. This cure Chriſt will perform in a moment, upon our diffolution. For it is plain, First, That nonebut perfected fouls, freed from all fin, are admitted into heaven, Eph. v. 27. Heb. xii. 23. Rev. xxi. 27.
Secondly, It is as plain, that no fuch perſonal perfection, and freedom is found in any man, on this fide death, and the grave,
1 John i. 8. 1 Kings viii. 46. Phil. iii. 12. a truth, ſealedby the fadexperience ofall the faints on earth.
Thirdly, If ſuch freedom, and perfection must be before we canbe perfectly happy,and no ſuch thing be done in this life;
itremainsthat it must be done immediately upon their diffolution, and at the very time of their glorification : as fin came in atthe timeofthe union oftheir fouls and bodies in thewomb,
fo it will go out at the time of their ſeparationby death ; then will Chriſt put the laſt hand to this glorious work, and perfect
thatcurewhichhath been ſo long under his hand, inthis world : and thenceforth ſin ſhallhave no power upon them, it hall never tempt them more, it ſhall never defile them more, it ſhall never grieve and ſadden their hearts any more : henceforth it ſhall nevercloud their evidences, darken their underſtandings, or give the leaſt interruption to their communion withGod. When fin is gone, all theſe, its miſchievous effects, are gone with it. So that I may ſpeak it to the comfort ofall gracious
hearts, according to what the Lord told the Ifraelites, inDeut.
xii. 8, 9. (to which I allude, for illuſtration of this moſt comfortable truth) " Ye shall not do after all the things thatye do " here thisday, everyman whatsoever isright in his own eyes, " for yeare not as yet come to the reſt, and to the inheritance " which the Lord your God giveth you." Whilftyou are under Chrift's cure upon earth, but not perfectly healed, your underſtandings mistake, your thoughts wander, your affections are
dead, and your communion with God isdaily interrupted; but itſhall not be ſo in heaven,where the cure is perfect : you ſhall notthereknow, love, or delight inGod, inthe manner you do
this day ; for you are not, as yet, come to the reſt, and to the inheritancewhich the LordyourGodgivethyou. And ſomuch as to the diſeaſes offin, and Chriſt's method of curing them.
Secondly, As Sin is the diſeaſe ofthe faints, fo, alſo, is for row; the beſtfaints muſt paſs thro' the valley of Bacha, ta
Qq2
300 The Method ofGrate. SERM .X. heaven. How manytears fallfrom the eyes of thefaints,up-
on the account of outward, as well as inward troubles ; even after their reconciliation withGod ? "Through much tribula-
" tionwe must enter intothekingdom ofGod," Acts xiv. 22. Itwouldbe too greatadigreſſion, in this place, tonotebut the moregeneral heads, under which almoſt infinite particulars, of
troubles and afflictions, are found: it ſhall fuffice only to thew, thatwhatever diſtreſs, or trouble, any poor foul is in,upon anyaccountwhatsoever; ifthat foulbelongs to Jefus Chrift, he will takecare of it, for the present, and deliver it, at laſt,by a
completecure.
First, Chriſt cures troubles, byfanctifying them to the fouls of his, that are under affliction, andmakes their very troubles medicinal, andhealingto them. Trouble isaſcorpion, andhath adeadly ſting; but Chriſt is a wifephysician, and extracts a ſovereignoiloutof thisſcorpion, thatheals the wounditmakes. By afflictions,ourwife phyſician purges ourcorruptions,and ſoprevents, or cures, greater troubles, by leſſer ; inward forrows, by outward ones. Ha. xxvii. 9. "By this, therefore, ſhallthe ini- " quityofJacobbe purged; and this is all the fruit, totake "wayhis fin."
Secondly, Chriſt cures outward troublss, by inward confolations,which are made toriſe inthe inner man, as high as thewatersof afflictiondo upon the outward man, 2Cor. i. 5. One dropofſpiritual comfort, is ſufficient to ſweeten a whole ocean of outward trouble. It was an high expreſſion ofan afflicted father, whomGod comforted, juſtupon thedeathof his dear and only fon, † with ſome clearermanifeſtations ofhis lovethan was usual : "O, ſaid he, might I but have ſuch confolations as " theſe, I could be willing (were it poſſible) to lay anonly fon " intothe grave everydayIhavetolivein thisworld." Thus all the troubles of the world are curedby Chriſt. John xvi. 33. " In the world ye ſhall have trouble, butinmeye ſmall "havepeace."
Thirdly, Chrift cures all outward forrows and troubles inhis people bydeath,which is theirremovalfromthe place offorrows, topeace and reſt for evermore. NowGod wipes all tears from their eyes, andthe days oftheir mourning areatan end ; the then putoffthegarments and ſpiritof mourning, and enter intopeace, Iſa. lvii. 2. They come to that place, and ſtate, where tears and fighs are things unknown to the inhabitants ;
Nihil corpusfentit innervo, cum animafit incalo. i. e. The bodyhas no feeling,when the foul is in heaven.
SERM. X. The Method of Grace. 301 one ſtepbeyondthe ſtate of thismortality,brings us quite out of the fight and hearing, of all troubles and lamentations. Theſeare the diſeaſes offouls; fin, andforrow ; and thus they
are curedby Chriſt, the physician.
Secondly, Next 1 ſhall ſhew you, that Jesus Chriſt is the only physician of fouls, none likehim fora fickfinner : And this
willbe evident, indivers reſpects.
First, None fo wife, and judicious, asJeſus Chriſt, to underſtand, and comprehend the nature, depth, anddanger offouldiſeaſes. Ohow ignorant and unacquainted are men with the
ſtate and cafe of afflicted fouls ! But "Chriſt hath the tongue " ofthe learned, thathe ſhould know how to fpeak aword in " ſeaſon tohim that isweary," Ifa. 1. 4. Heonly underſtands
the weight of fin, anddepth ofinward troubles of fin.
Secondly, None fo able to cure, and heal the wounds of afAicted fouls, as Chriſt is; he, only, hath thoſe medicines that can curea fick foul. The blood ofChrift, and nothing else, inheaven or earth, is able to cure the mortal wounds which guilt inflicts uponatrembling confcience: letmentry all other receipts, and coſtlyexperience ſhallconvincethem of their inſufficiency. Confcience may be benumbedby ſtupefactivemedicines, prepared bythedevil for that end; but pacified it can
never be, butby thebloodofChriſt, Heb. xvi . 22.
Thirdly, None ſo tender-hearted, and ſympathizing with fick fouls, as Jefus Chrift ; he is full ofbowels and tender compaſſions to afflictedfouls: he isone that canhave compaffion, be-
cauſehehathhad experience, Heb.v. 2. If I must come into the chirurgeon's hands with broken bones, givemefuch anone, tochuſe, whoſe ownbones havebeenbroken, who hath felt the anguiſh in himself. Chriſt knows what it is, by experience, having felt the anguiſh ofinward troubles,theweight ofGod's wrath, and the terrors ofa forſakingGod, more than any, or all the fons of men : this makes him tender over diſtreſſed ſouls.
Iſa. xlii. 3. "Abruiſed reedhe will not break, and ſmoking flax
" he will not quench."
Fourthly, None cures, in fowonderful a method, as Chrift doth; he heals us by his ſtripes, Ifa. liii. 5. The phyſician dies, that the patient may live; his wounds muſt bleed, that pursmaybe cured: he feels theſmart andpain, thatwe might have eaſe and comfort. No phyſician, but Chrift, will cure othersatthisrate.
Fifthly, None ſo readyto relieve a fick foul, as Chriſt ; he is withinthe call of a diſtreſſed ſoul at all times. Art thou fick
for fin, wearyoffin,andmadetruly willing topart with fin ?
302 The Method of Grace. SERM . X.
lift up but thy fincere cry to the Lord Jeſus for help, and he will quickly be with thee. When the prodigal, the emblem of
aconvinced, humbled ſinner, ſaid, inhimself, I will return tomy
father, the father ran to meet him, Luke xv. 20. Hecan be with thee in a moment.
Sixthly, Noneſo willing to receive and undertake all diſtreſ ſedand afflicted ſouls, as Jefus Chriſt is : he refuſes none that come tohim. John vi. 37. " He that cometh unto me, Iwill " innowiſe caſt out." Whatever their ſins have been, or their forrows are ; however theyhave woundedtheir own souls with the deepest gaſhes of guilt; howdeſperate and helpleſs ſoever their caſe appears, intheir own, or others eyes ; he never puts themoff, or difcourages them, if they be but willing tocome,
Ifa. i. 18, 19.
Seventhly, None ſohappyand ſucceſsful, as Chriſt ; he never fails of performing aperfect cure upon thoſe he undertakes: never was it known that anyfoul miſcarried in his hands, John iii. 15, 16. , Other phyſicians, by mistakes, by ignorance, or careleſſneſs, fill church yards, and caſt away the lives of men; butChriſt ſuffers none toperiſh,thatcommit themselves tohim. Eightly, None ſo free and generous, as Chriſt ; he doth all gratis: he fellsnot his medicines, though they be of infinite
value; but freelygives them; Ha. lv. 1." He that hath nomo " ney, let him come." If anybe ſent away, it is the rich, Luke i. 53. not the poor andneedy: thoſe that will not accept their remedyas a free gift, but willneeds purchase itat a price.
Ninthly, and lastly, None rejoice in the recovery of fouls, more than Chriſtdoth. O ! it is unspeakablydelightful to him tofee theefficacy of hisblood upon our fouls ; Iſa.liii. 11. "He " ſhall fee the travail of his foul, (i.e. the ſucceſs ofhis death " and ſufferings) and ſhallbe fatisfied." Whenhe foreſawthe fucceſs ofthe gospel upontheworld, it isfaid, Luke x. 21. " In " that hour Jeſus rejoiced in Spirit." Andthus you fee, there
is nophyſician like Chriſt, for fick fouls.
Theuſes ofthis point are,
For information and direction" First, From whencewe are informedofmanygreatand neceſſary truths, deducible from this : As,
Infer. 1. How inexprefſſible is thegrace ofGod, in providing fuch a physician as Chrift,for thefick and dyingfouls offinners! ObleſſedbeGod, that there isabalm in Gilead, andaphysician
there! thattheir cafe is notdefperate, forlorn and remedileſs, as that the devils anddamned is. There isbutonecafe except ed fromcure, andthat, ſuch as is not incident toany fenfible,
SERM . X. The Method of Grace. 303 afflicted foul, Mat. xii. 31. and this only excepted, all manner of fins and diſeaſes are capable ofa cure. Though there be fuch adiſeaſe as is incurable, yettake this for thy comfort, never any foul was fick (i. e.) ſenſibly burthenedwith it, and willing to come to Jefus Chriſt for healing: for under that ſin the will is ſowounded, thattheyhave no defire to Chriſt. O ineſtimablemercy ! that the ſickeſt ſinner is capable ofa perfect cure ! Therebethousands, and tenthouſands, now inheavenandearth, who faid once, Never was any cafe like theirs; ſo dangerous, fo
hopeleſs. The greateſtoffinners have been perfectlyrecovered by Chriſt, 1 Tim. i. 15. 1 Cor. vi. 11. O mercy, never to be
dulyeſtimated!
1 Infer. 2. What a powerful restraintfromfin, isthe very methodordainedbyGodfor thecure ofit ! Ifa. liii. 5. " By his ſtripes
we are healed." The phyſician muſt die, that the patient might live; no otherthingbut theblood,theprecious blood of Chriſt, is found in heaven or earth able to heal us, Heb. ix. 22,
26. Thisblood of Chriſt must be freſhlyapplied to every new wound finmakes upon our fouls, 1 John ii. 1, 2. every new fin wounds him afreſh, opens thewounds ofChrift anew. Othink
ofthis, again and again, you that ſoeasilyyieldto thefolicitationsofSatan : Is it ſo eaſy, and ſocheap, to fin, asyou feemto
make it ? Doth the cure offouls coſt nothing? True, it is free tous, butwas it ſo to Chriſt ? No, no, itwas not; heknows thepriceofit, though you do not: Hath Chriſt healed you by his ſtripes, andcanyou put him under freſh ſufferings for you fo eaſily? Have you forgot alſo your own fickdays and nights for
fin, that you are careleſs in refifting and preventing it ? Sure it 'is not easy for faints towound Chriſt, and their own fouls, at
one ſtroke. Ifyou renew your fins, you muſt alſo renewyour forrows and repentance, Pfal. li.title. 2Sam. xii. 13.you must
feelthe anguiſh and painof a troubled ſpirit again, things with whichthe faints are not unacquainted ; ofwhich theymayſay,
as the church, " Remembring my affliction,the wormwood and " the gall, my soul hath them ſtillinremembrance," Lam. iii.
19. Yea, and ifyou will yet be remiſs in your watch, and fo eafily incur new guilt, though apardon intheblood ofChrift may heal your fouls,yetsome rod or other, inthe hand ofadiſpleaſed father, ſhall afflict yourbodies, or ſmiteyou in your outward comforts, Pfal. lxxxix. 23. : Infer. 3. IfChrist be theonlyphysician offickfouls, whatfin andfolly is itfor men to take Christ's work out ofhishands, and attempt to be theirownphysician ? TThus do thoſe that fuperftitiouſly endeavour to heal their
304 The Method ofGrace. SERM.X.
fouls, by afflicting their bodies; not Chriſt's blood, but their own, muſt be the plaiſter and as blind Papiſts, ſo, many carnal and ignorant Proteſtants ſtrive,byconfeſſion, reſtitution, reformation, and ſtricter courſe of life, toheal thoſe wounds that fin hathmade upon their fouls, without any reſpect to the blood
of Chriſt: but this courſe ſhall not profit them at all. It may, for a time, divert, but can never heal them : the wounds, ſo ſkinned over, will open andbleed again. God grant
itbe not when our fouls ſhall be out of the reach of the true andonly remedy.
Ipfer. 4. Howfadis the case ofthoſefouls, towhom Chrift hath not yet been a physician ? They are mortally wounded, by fin, andare like to die of their ſickness ; no ſaving, healing applica-
tions have hitherto been made unto their fouls : and this is the cafeofthe greatest partofmankind, yea, ofthem that live under
thediscoveries ofChriſt in the gospel. Whichappearsby theſe fad ſymptoms.
First, In that their eyes have notyetbeenopened, to fee their fin and mifery; in which illumination,the cure offoulsbegins, Acts xxvi . 18. To this day he hath not given them eyes to ſee, Deut. xxix. 4. butthat terrible ſtroke ofGod, which blinds andhardens them, is too viſibly upon them, mentionedin Ifa. vi. 9, 10. No hope ofhealing, till the finner's eyes be opened
to ſeehis fin and miſery.
Secondly, In that nothing will divorce and ſeparatethem fromtheir lufts ; a fure ſign theyare not under Chrift's cure, nor wereever made fick of fin. O if ever Chriſt be a phyſician to
thy foul, he will make thee loathe what now thou loveſt, and ſay to thy moſt pleasant and moſt profitable lufts,Getye hence,
Ifa. xxx. 22. Tillthen, there is no ground to think thatChrift
is a phyſician to you.
Thirdly, In that they haveno ſenſible andpreſſing needof Chriſt, nor make any earneſt enquiry afterhim, as, moft certain-
ly,youwoulddo, ifyou wereinthewayofhealingandrecovery. Theſe, andmany other fad ſymptoms, do too plainly diſcover thediſeaſe of fin, to bein its full ſtrength uponyour fouls; and
ifit ſocontinue, howdreadful willthe iſſuebe? See Ifa. vi. 9,
10. Infer. 5. What cause have they to be glad, that areunder the hand and care of Christ, in order toa cure, andwho do find, or may, upon due examination, find their fouls are in a
very hopeful way of recovery ! Can we rejoice when the
ſtrength ofa natural diſeaſe is broken, andnaturebegins to recover cafe and vigour again? And ſhall we not much more re-
SERM . X. The Method of Grace. 305 joice, whenour fouls begin tomend, andrecover ſenſibly, and
allcomfortable ſigns ofhealth and life appear upon them ? particularly, whenthe understanding, which was ignorant and dark, haththe lightof life beginning todawn into it; fuch is that in
1 John ii. 27. When the will, which was rebellious and inflexible to thewill ofGod, isbrought tocomply with that holy will, ſaying, " Lord, what wiltthou have me todo ?" Acts ix. 6. When the heart, which was harder than an adament, is now brought tocontrition for fin, and canmourn as heartily over it, as ever a father did for a dead ſon, a beloved, and only fon ; when
its averſations fromGod are gone, atleast have no fuch power as once they had; but the thoughts are now fixed much upon God, and ſpiritual things begin to grow pleaſant to the foul; when times ofduty come to be longed for, andthe foul never
better pleaſed than in ſuch ſeaſons : when the hypocriſy ofthe heart is purged out, ſo that we begin to do all that we do hear. tily,asunto the Lord, and not unto men, Col. iii. 23. 1 Theff.
ii. 4.: when we begin to make confcience offecret fins, Pfal. cxix. 113., and of fecret duties, Matth. vi. 5, 6.: when we have anequal reſpect to all God's commandments, Pfal. cxix. 8., and our hearts are under the holy, and awful eye ofGod, which doth, indeed, over-awe our fouls, Gen. xvii. 1. Owhat
ſweet ſigns of a recovering foul are theſe ! Surely fuch are in the ſkilful hand of the great Phyſician, who will perfect what yet remains tobe done.
Second use for direction . In the laſt place, this point yields us matterof advice anddirection topoor fouls that are under the diſeaſe of fin; andthey are of two forts, which I will diſtinctly speak to : viz. First, Such as are under their firſt ſickness of ſpiritual forrow for fin,
and know not what courſe to take : or, Secondly, Such as have been longer in the hands of Chriſt the Phyſician, but are trou-
bled to fee the cure advance ſo ſlowly upon them, and fear the iſſue.
First, As to thoſe that are in their firſt troubles for fin, and knownot what courſe to take for eaſe and ſafety ; Iwould addreſs to them theſe following counſels.
First, Shut yourears against thedangerous counſels ofcarnal perfons, or relations; for as they themselves are unacquainted with theſe troubles, ſo alſo are they with all proper remedies :
and it is very uſual with the devil to convey his temptations to diſtreſſed fouls, by ſuchhands; becauſe, by them, he cando it with leaft fufpicion. It was Auguſtine's complaint, that his VOL. II. RE
306 The Method of Grace. SERM . X own father took little care for his foul ; and many parents act,
in this cafe, as ifthey were employed by Satan.
Secondly, Be not too eager toget outof trouble, but becontent to take God's way, and wait his time. No woman that is wife, would defire tohave her travail haftened one day before theduetime; nor will it be your intereſt tohaften too foon out oftrouble. It istrue, times of trouble are apt toſeem tedious ; but a falfe peace will endanger you more than a long trouble :
aman may lengthen his own troubles to the loss of his own peace, andmay ſhorten them to the hazard ofhis own foul.
Thirdly, Open your cafe to wife, judicious, andexperienced Chriſtians, and eſpecially the ministers of Chriſt, whoſe office
it is to counfel and direct you in theſe difficulties ; and let not your troubles lie, like a fecret, ſmothering fire, always in your own breafts. Iknow men are more ashamed toopen their fins under convictions, than they were to commit them before conviction : but this is your intereſt, and the true way to your reftand peace. If therebe with you, or near you, an interpreter, one ofa thousand, to ſhew you yourrighteouſneſs, and remedy, as it lies in Chriſt; neglect not your own fouls, in a finful concealment ofyour cafe : itwillbe thejoy of their hearts tobe employed in fuch work as this.
Fourthly, Be much withGod in ſecret, open your hearts to him, and pour out complaints into his boſom. The eii . Pfalm bears a title very fuitable to your caſe and duty; yea, you will
findifyour troubles work kindly, and God intend a cure upon your souls, that nothing willbe able to keep God andyour fouls afunder : whatever your incumbrances in the world be, fome timewillbedaily redeemed, to be ſo ſpent betwixtyou andGod.
Fifthly, PleadhardwithGod, inprayer, for help and healing. " Heal my foul, (faith David) for Ihave finned against thee," Pfal. xli. 4. Tell him Chriſt hath his commiſſion ſealed for fuch as you are: he was ſent to " bind up the broken-hearted," На. Іхі. г. Tell him he came into the world, " to feek and " fave that which was loft," and fo are you now, in your own account and apprehenfions. Lord, what profit is there inmy blood? Wilt thou pursue adried leaf? And why is my heart wounded with the fenfe of fin, and mine eyesopen to ſeemy
danger and mifery? Are not theſe the firſt dawnings ofmercy upon finners ? O let it appear, that the timeofmercy, even the fet time, is nowcome.
Sixthly, Understand your peace tobe in Chriſt only, and faith tobe the onlyway to Chriſt and reft; letthe great enquiry of your fouls be after Chriſt and faith; ſtudy the nature andne-
SERM . XI. 307 The Method ofGrace."
ceffityoftheſe, andcry toGod, day and night, for ſtrength to carry you to Chrift in the way of faith .
Secondly, As to thoſe that have been longer under the hands ofChriſt, andyet are ſtill in troubles, and cannot obtain peace, buttheirwoundsbleed ſtill, and alltheyhear infermons, ordo
in the way ofduty, will not bring them to reft; to ſuch Ionly add two or three words for a clofe.
First, Confider whether you ever rightly cloſed with Chrift finceyour firſt awakening, and whether there be not fome way offin, inwhich you ſtill live: if ſo, no wonderyourwounds are kept open, and your souls are ſtrangers to peace.
Secondly, If you be confcious ofno fuch flaw in the foundation, conſiderhow much ofthis trouble may arife fromyour conſtitution andnatural temper, which being melancholy, will be doubtfuland fufpicious; you mayfind it ſo in othercafes of lefs moment, and be ſure Satan will notbewanting to improve it.
Thirdly, Acquaint yourſelves more with the nature of true jullifying faith; a mistake in thathath prolonged the troubles
ofmany: ifyou look for it inno other actbut affurance, you
may easily overlook it, as it lies, in the meantime, in your affiance or acceptance. A true and proper conception of ſaving faithwouldgo far in thecure ofmany troubled fouls.
Fourthly, Bemore thankfultofhun fin, than to get yourſelves clear oftrouble : it is ſad to walk indarkness, but worſe to lie underguilt. Say, Lord, Iwouldrather be grieved myself, than bea grief to thy Spirit. Okeep mefrom fin,how long foever thou keep me underforrow. WaitonGod in thewayoffaith, and in a tender ſpirit towards fin, and thywounds ſhall behealedatlaſt bythy great Phyſician .
Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ .