his merits, that the Father grants all he desires. Before, the sinner knew Christ's excellency, as a blind man knows the light of the sun; but now, as one that beholds its glory. 9. (5) After this deep conviction, the will discovers also its change. As for instance: The sin, which the understanding pronounces evil, the will turns from with abhorrence. Not that the sensative appetite is changed, or any way made to abhor its object: But when it would prevail against reason, and carry us to sin against God, instead of scripture being the rule, and reason the master, and sense the servant; this disorder and evil, the will abhors.-The misery also which sin hath procured, is not only discerned, but bewailed. It is impossible that the soul should now look, either on its trespass against God, or yet on its own selfprocured calamity, without some contrition. He that truly discerns that he hath killed Christ, and killed himself, will surely in some measure be pricked to the heart.* If he cannot weep, he can heartily groan; and his heart feels what his understanding sees.The creature is renounced as vanity, and turned out of the heart with disdain. Not that it is undervalued, or the use of it disclaimed: but its idolatrous abuse, and its unjust usurpation. Can Christ be the way where the creature is the end? Can we seek to Christ to reconcile us to God, while in our hearts we prefer the creature before him? In the soul of every unregenerate man, the creature is both God and Christ. As turning from the creature to God and not by Christ, is no true turning; so believing in Christ, while the creature hath our hearts, is no true believing. Our aversion from sin, renouncing our idols, and our *Acts ii. 57. right receiving Christ, is all but one work, which God ever perfects where he begins.-At the same time the will cleaves to God the Father, and to Christ. Having been convinced, that nothing else can be his happiness, the sinner now finds it is in God. Convinced also, that Christ alone is able and willing to make peace for him, he most affectionately accepts of Christ for Saviour and Lord. Paul's preaching was repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.* And life eternal consists first in knowing the only true God, and then Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. To take the Lord for our God, is the natural part of the covenant; the supernatural part is, to take Christ for our Redeemer. The former is first necessary, and implied in the latter. To accept Christ without affection and love, is not justifying faith. Nor does love follow as a fruit, but immediately concurs; for faith is the receiving of Christ with the whole soul. He that loveth father or mother more than Christ, is not worthy of him, nor is justified by him. Faith accepts him for Saviour and Lord: For in both relations will he be received, or not at all. Faith not only acknowledges his sufferings, and accepts of pardon and glory; but acknowledges his sovereignty, and submits to his government and way of salvation. 10. (6) As an essential part of the character of God's people, they now enter into a cordial covenant with Christ. The sinner was never strictly, nor comfortably, in covenant with Christ till now. He is sure, by the free offers, that Christ consents; and now he cordially consents himself; and so the agreement is fully made.-With this + John xvii. 3. * Acts xx. 21. + Matt. x. 17. covenant Christ delivers up himself in all comfortable relations to the sinner; and the sinner delivers up himself, to be saved, and ruled by Christ. Now the soul resolutely concludes, "I have been blindly led by flesh and lust, by the world and the devil, too long, almost to my utter destruction: I will now be wholly at the disposal of my Lord, who hath bought me with his blood, and will bring me to his glory." § 11. (7) I add, that the people of God persevere in this covenant to the end. Though the believer may commit sins, yet he never disclaims his Lord, renounces his allegiance, nor repents of his covenant; nor can he properly be said to break that covenant, while that faith continues, which is the condition of it. Indeed, those that have verbally covenanted, and not cordially, may tread under foot the blood of the covenant, as an unholy thing, wherewith they were sanctified, by separation from those without the church;* but the elect cannot be so deceived. Though this perseverance be certain to true believers, yet it is made a condition of their salvation; yea, of their continued life and fruitfulness, and of the continuance of their justification, though not of their first justification itself. But eternally blessed be that hand of love, which hath drawn the free promise, and subscribed and sealed to that which ascertains us, both of the grace which is the condition, and the kingdom which on that condition is offered. 12. Such are the essentials of this people of God: Not a full portraiture of them in all their excellencies, nor all the notes whereby they may *Heb. x. 29. + Matt. xxiv. 24. ✦ Joha xv. 4, 6, 9. vii. 31: Rev, ii., 25, 26. iii. 11, 12, Col. i. 23. Rom. x. 22 be discerned. I beseech thee, reader, as thou hast the hope of a Christian, or the reason of a man, judge thyself, as one that must shortly be judged by a righteous God, and faithfully answer these questions. I will not inquire whether thou remember the time or the order of these workings of the Spirit; there may be much uncertainty and mistake in that: If thou art sure they are wrought in thee, the matter is not so great, though thou know not when or how thou camest by them. But carefully examine and inquire, hast thou been thoroughly convinced of a prevailing depravation through thy whole soul? and a prevailing wickedness through thy whole life? and how vile sin is? and that, by the covenant thou hast transgressed, the least sin deserves eternal death? Dost thou consent to the law, that it is true and righteous, and perceive thyself sentenced to this death by it? Hast thou seen the utter insufficiency of every creature, either to be itself thy happiness, or the means of removing this thy misery? Hast thou been convinced, that thy happiness is only in God, as the end; and in Christ, as the way to him? and that thou must be brought to God through Christ, or perish eternally? Hast thou seen an absolute necessity of thy enjoying Christ, and the full sufficiency in him, to do for thee whatsoever thy case requires? Hast thou discovered the excellency of this pearl, to be worth thy selling all to buy it.* Have thy convictions been like those of a man that thirsts; and not merely a change in opinion, produced by reading, or education? Have both thy sin and misery been the abhorrence and burden of thy soul? If thou couldest not weep, yet couldest thou heartily groan under the insupport *Matt. xiii. 46. able weight of both? Hast thou renounced all thy own righteousness? Hast thou turned thy idols out of thy heart, so that the creature hath no more the sovereignty, but is now a servant to God and Christ? Dost thou accept of Christ as thy only Saviour, and expect thy justification, recovery, and glory, from him alone? Are his laws the most powerful commanders of thy life and soul? Do they ordinarily prevail against the commands of the flesh, and against the greatest interest of thy credit, profit, pleasure, or life? Has Christ the highest room in thy heart and affections, that though thou canst not love him as thou wouldest, yet nothing else is loved so much? Hast thou to this end made a hearty covenant with him, and delivered up thyself to him? Is it thy utmost care and watchful endeavour, that thou mayest be found faithful in this covenant; and though thou fall into sin, yet wouldest not renounce thy bargain, nor change thy Lord, nor give up thyself to any other government for all the world?-If this be truly thy case, thou art one of the people of God in my text; and as sure as the promise of God is true, this blessed rest remains for thee. Only see thou abide in Christ,* and endure to the end;t for f any man draw back, his soul shall have no pleasure in him.-But if no such work be found within thee; whatever thy deceived heart may think, or 'how strong soever thy false hopes may be; thou wilt find to thy cost, except thorough conversion prevent it, that the rest of the saints belongs not to thee. O that thou wert wise, that thou wouldest understand this, that thou wouldest consider thy latter end! That yet, while thy soul is in thy body, * John xv. 4. Matt. xxiv. 13. Heb. x. 38. § Deut. xxxii. 29 |