Containing the last use of the point, by way of support
Preparations for Sufferings : Or, groundless presumptions ofimmunityandpeace,but foresee difficulties, and fit yourselves to bear them.
CHAP.
XVI.
Containing the last useofthepoint, byway offupportandcomfort to poor tremblingfouls, who do take pains to make themselves readyforfufferings ; butyetfindingfuchstrength in Satan's temptations, and their own corruptions, fear that all their lab our is in vain, and that theyshallfaint, and utterly apostatize, when their troubles and trials come to an height.
IN the last place, if it be such ablessedthing to be ready for bonds, or death for Christ, this may minister much comforttofuchfouls,who thoughtheycannot say asPaulheredid, that they are ready ; yet are at work daily upon their own hearts to make them ready, and strive, in the use of all means, toconquerthose corruptions that hinder it, and improve those graces in which it mainly consisteth. O poor soul, whatever presentunreadiness or indispositionthou findest,and complainest of in thine heart, yet thy condition is safe.
Objection. Oh ! but I cannot be satisfied in that: I fear I shall be over-borne by temptations, when they come to an height.
I have such experience of the deceits andtreacheroufness of my own heart, that it seems impossible tome to do as these blessed souls did,when I come to the like trials.
Solution. It is well thou suspectest thine own heart, and tremblest in thyself; this fear will keep thee waking, when others are securely sleeping.
It was a good saying ofa reverend minister, now with God, He that fears Mr.A. H. * to flinch, shall never flinch for fear.'
It is true, seeminggracemay be totally loft, Luke vii 18 .
Heb. vi. 4, 5. 2Pet. ii. 20.
It is granted also, that the fins of believers deserve that God should forsake them, and that he mayfuffer grace in them to be sadly abated, and they may fall before a temptation, as Peter, and all the disciples did: but that thou shalt never be separated from Christ, or fall totus a toto, in totum, utterly away from God, thou mayest be abundantly satisfied, upon these five or fix grounds.
1. From God's eternal electing love, wherewithal gracious fouls are beloved and embraced,be their graces never so weak, or their corruptions never so strong. This is immutable, Heb. vi. 18. and hence it is said, Markxiii.22. "They shall deceive
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(ifitwerepossible) the very elect." Now, this immutable purpose of God, is not founded upon anymutable ground or reason in thee, Rom. ix. 11. Yea, when he, Rom. viii. 29. elected thee, he saw what thou wouldst be, and yet that hindered him not.
2. From the covenant of grace,inthebosomofwhich thou art wrapped up: this is all thy salvation, and allthyhope ; it will afford thee abundant satisfaction, if thou do but weigh particularly these three things about it.
1. That the Author of this covenant is not a fickle creature, but a faithful God, with whom there is notyea and nay ; with whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning ; whose gifts and callings are without repentance : so that once within this blessed covenant, and in it for ever. 2, That God hath established the covenantwithyou in the blood of Christ ; therefore thefacramental cup, is called " the cup of the New Testament in his blood,"
- Luke xxii. 20. The everlasting merit and efficacy whereof, gives the soul ofabelieverthe highest satisfaction imaginable.
Lastly,Add to this, that in this covenant God hath undertaken for us, as well as for himself: so that what is a condition in one scripture, is the matter of a promise in another, Jer. xxxii. 40.
い 3. From that strict and intimate union that is betwixt Christ and thee. And hence it is impossible thou shouldest be loft.
For, 1. Thy union with his person, brings interest in his properties along with it.
Whatever he is, or hath, it is for thee : his eye of knowledge, arm of power, bowels of pity, it is all for thee.
2. This union with his person, secures thy feeble graces from perishing, John iv. 14, Thy graces have an everlasting spring.
Whilst there is sap in this root, it will ascend into the branches..
S 3. It implies thy perseverance, because by this union thou becomest an integral part of Christ's body, which would be mutilate and defective, shouldst thou be cut off and lost.
4. From the prevalent interceffion of Jesus Christ in the heavens, for all his saints, in all their trials here on earth.
From hence the apostle infers the certainty of our perseverance, Rom. viii. 34. and a pregnant instance ofityouhave in Peter's
' case, Luke xxii. 32.
So Heb. vii. 25. speaks fully to the case.
To strengthen this, confider, r. Who it is that intercedes :
It is Christ, whose person is most dear and ingratiated with the Father, John xi . 42.
2. What he intercedes for : Surely for nothing but what is most suitable to his Father's will. The :
Cccz
Preparations for Sufferings: Or, will of Christ, and his Father's do not clash,John xvi. 26, 27 yea, whatheprays for,he prays not forgratis, or asks upon any dishonourable terms to the justice of his Father; but they are all mercies purchased and paid for; and therefore fear not the failing of your graces.
5. From the Spirit ofChristwhichdwelleth and abideth in thee,andhathbegunhissavingworkuponthee.. I say,savings for else itwouldafford no argument. His common works on hypocrites cometonothing,but intheethey cannot fail. For 1. His honour is pledged and engaged to perfect it.
That reproach of the foolish builder shall never lie upon him,that he began to build,but could not finish.
Besides, this would make void all that the Father and the Sonhavedone for thee; both their works are complete and perfect in their kinds, and the Spirit is the last efficient in order of working.
2. Besides, the grace he hath already wrought in thee, maygivetheeyet further and fuller assurance of its preservation, inasmuch as it hath the nature ofafeal, pledge, and earnest of the whole,Rom. viii.
23. 2 Cor. i. 22.
So that it cannot fail.
6. From those multitudes of affertory, promissory, and com parative scriptures, the rich veins whereof run through the book of God, as so many streams to refresh thy soul.
Ofaffertory scriptures, see John vi. 39. John 10. 28.
1John ii.
19. Of promissory scriptures, see Ita. liv. 10. Jer. xxxiv.
40. 1 Cor. i. 8. &c.
Of comparative scriptures, see Psal. i 3. Psal. cxxv. 1. John iv. 14. c.
The principal scope of all which is to thew the indefectible nature of true grace in the saints.
And now, howshouldthis refresh thy drooping foul, make theegird up the loins of thy mind, fincethou dost "not run
" as one uncertain, neither fightestas one that beats the air,"
1 Cor. ix. 26. but art so secured from total apostacy, as thou seest thou artbyallthesethings. O bless ye the Lord.
Obj, 2. But the Lord seems to be departed from my soul; God is afarofffrom me, and troubles are near.
I seem to be insuchacaseas Saulwaswhen the Philistines made war upon him, and God was departed from him; and therefore I shall fall.
Sol. Not fo; for there are two forts of Divine desertions ; the one is absolute, when the Lord utterly forsakes his creatures, so that they shall never behold his face more : The other is limited and respective, and so he forsook his own Son, and often does his own elect : and of this kind, some are onAy cautional, to prevent fin;some are merely probational, to
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try grace; and others caftigatory, to chastise our negligence - and carelessness. Now, though I have not a word of comfort to speak in the case of total and absolutedesertions ; yet of the latter (which doubtless is thy case) much may be said byway of support, be it of which of the three forts it will, or in what degree it will, For, 1. This hath been the case ofmanyprecious fouls, Psal. xxii. 1, 2. Psal. Ixxvii. 2. Psal. lxxxviii. 9. Job xiii. 24, 25, 26, This was poor Mr. Glover's case, as you will find in his story, and it continuedtillhe came within fight of the stake; therefore no new or strange thing hath happened to you.
2. The Lord by this will advantage thee for perseverance, - not orly as they are cautional against sin, but as they make thee hold Christ the faster, and prize his presence at an higher rate, when he shall please Cant. iii. 4. graciously to manifest himself to thee again.
3. This shall not abide for ever: it is but a little cloud, and will blow over.
It is but for a moment, and that moment's darkness ushers in everlasting light, Isa. liv. 7.
Yea, lastly, the light of God's countenance shall not only be restored certainly, but it shall be restoredseasonably ; when the darkness is greatest, thy troubles at the highest, and thy hopes lowest.
He is a God of judgment, and knows how to time his own mercies, Psal. cxxxviii. 3 .
Obj. 3.But I am a weak woman, or a young person, how shall I be able to confess Christ before rulers, and look great ones in the face ?
Sol. Christ delights to make his power known in such, 2Cor. xii . 9. for he affects not social glory.
2. " Thou shalt be holden up, for God is able to make thee " stand," Rom. xiv. 4. Thou that art sensible of thine own infirmity, mayest run to that promise.
3. Such poor weak creatures shall endure when stronger(if self-confident) fall, Ifa. xl. 30, 31. " Even the youths shall
" faint, and be weary, and the young men utterly fall. But "theythatwait upon the Lord, shall renewtheir strength :
"they shall mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be "weary, walk and not faint."
Youths, and young men, are bold, daring, and confident persons, that trust to their own strength ; to whom such as wait upon the Lord stand here opposed; they shall faint, but these shall renew their strength.
Art thou one that waitest and dependest upon an all-fuffici-
Preparations for Sufferings, &c. entGod, in the sense of thine own weakness ? This promise then is for thee.
4. You may furnish yourselves at pleasure,with examples of themightypower ofGodreftingupon such as you are, out of our ownmartyrology.
Thomas Drowry, the poorblindboy, Fox, vol. 3. p. 703.
What a presence ofspiritwaswithhim,whenexaminedbythe Chancellor !
Eulalia, a virgin of about 12 years of age, see how she was actedabovethose years, yea,above the powerofnature.
Fox, vol. 1. p. 120. Tender women,yea, children, act above them. selves, when assisted by a strong God.
Andthusyou have some help offered you by aweakhand, in your present and most important work.
The Lord carry home allwithpowerupon your hearts, that if God call you to suffer for him,you may say as Paul did, "I "am now ready to be offered up,and the time of my departure
" is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my " course, I have keptthefaith:henceforth there is laid up for " me a crownofrighteousness,which God the righteous Judge
" shall give me at that day; andnottome only,but to them " also which love his appearing," 2 Tim. iv. 6, 7,8. And as you expect so to finish your coursewithjoy; be diligent in the ufeofallmeans, to prepare andmakeyourselves ready to follow the call of God, whether it be to bonds, or to death, for the name of the Lord Jesus.