Page images
PDF
EPUB

election are thus conjoined from eternity; 2 Pet. i. 10: all the craft and force of hell cannot divorce them: Whom he did predestinate, them also he called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justifieth, them also he glorifieth; Rom. viii. 30.

It is true, that, outwardly, many are called; but few chosen : but none are inwardly called, which are not also chosen.

In which number, is my poor soul; whereto God hath shewed. mercy, in singling it out of this wicked world, into the liberty of the sons of God. For, do not I find myself sensibly changed from what I was? Am I not evidently freed from the bondage of those natural corruptions, under which thou heldst me miserably captived? Do I not hate the courses of my former disobedience? Do I not give willing ear to the voice of the Gospel? Do I not desire and endeavour to conform myself wholly to the will of my God and Saviour? Do I not heartily grieve for my spiritual failings? Do not I earnestly pray for grace to resist all thy temptations? Do not I cordially affect the means of grace and salvation? Do I not labour, in all things, to keep a good conscience before God and men? Are not these the infallible proofs of my calling, and the sure and certain fruits of mine election? Canst thou hope to persuade me, that God will bestow these favours, where he loves not? that he will repent him of such mercies? that he will lose the thanks and honour of so gracious proceedings? Suggest what thou wilt, I am more than confident, that he, who hath begun this good work in me, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ; Phil. i. 6. Do not I hear the Chosen Vessel tell his Thessalonians, that he knows them to be elected of God? And upon what grounds doth he raise this assurance? For, saith he, our Gospel came not to you in word only; but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost; 1 Thess. i. 5. That, which can assure us of another man's election, may much more secure us of our own; the entertainment and success of the Gospel in our souls. Lo, that blessed word hath wrought in me a sensible abatement of my corrupt affections; and hath produced an apparent renovation of my mind; and hath quickened me to a new life of grace and obedience: this can be no work of nature: this can be no other, than the work of that Spirit, whereby I am scaled to the day of redemption; Eph. iv. 30. My heart feels the power of the Gospel; my life expresses it; maugre all thy malice: therefore, I am elected.

When the gates of hell have done their worst, none of God's children can miscarry: For if children, then they are heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; Rom. viii. 17: Now, as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God; v. 14: and this is the direction, that I follow.

There are but three guides, that I can be led by; my own will, thy suggestions, the motions of God's Spirit. For my own will, I were no Christian, if I had not learned to deny it, where it stands opposite to the will of my God. As for thy suggestions, I hate and defy them. They are only, therefore, the motions of that Good Spirit, which I desire to follow and if, at any time, my own

frailty have betrayed me to some aberrations, my repentance hath overtaken my offence; and, in sincerity of heart, I can say with a holier man, I have gone astray like a sheep: seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments; Ps. cxix. 176. All thy malice, therefore, cannot rob me of the comfort of mine adoption.

It is no marvel if thou, who art all enmity, canst not abide to hear of love; but God, who is love, hath told me, that love is of God; and, that every one, that loveth, is born of God; 1 John iv. 8, 7: and, that by this we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren; 1 John iii. 14. Now my heart can irrefragably witness to me, that I love God because he is good; infinitely good in himself, and infinitely good to me: and that I love good men, because they are his sons, my brethren. I am, therefore, as surely passed from death to life, as if I had set my foot over the threshold of heaven.

VIIITH. TEMPTATION:

"Alas, poor man, how grossly deludest thou thyself? thou talkest of thy faith; and bearest thyself high upon this grace; and thinkest to do great matters by it: whereas, the truth is, thou hast no faith; but that, which thou miscallest so, is nothing else but mere presumption:" Repelled.

Is it any wonder that thou shouldest slander the graces of God, who art ever ready to calumniate the Giver? No, Tempter: canst thou challenge this faith of mine, which thou censurest, to be thine own work? such it should be, if it were presumption. Were it presumption, wouldest thou oppose it wouldest thou not foster and applaud it as thine? The presumption is thine; who darest thus derogate from the gracious work of the Almighty; and fasten sin upon the Holy Spirit. Mine is faith: yet so mine, as that it is his, that wrought it.

There is not more difference betwixt thee and an angel of light, than betwixt my faith and thy presumption.

True faith (such is mine, after all thy slanderous suggestions) is grounded upon sound knowledge; and that knowledge, upon an infallible word. Whereas presumption rests only upon opinion and conceit; built upon the sands of self-love. Whence it is, that the most ignorant are ever the most presumptuous; when the knowing soul sees what dangers it is to encounter, and provides for them with an awful resolution.

True faith never comes without careful and diligent use of means. The word, sacraments, prayer, meditation are but enough, with their conjoined forces, to produce so divine a work. Whereas presumption comes with ease: it costs nothing; no strife, no labour to draw forth so worthless and vicious a disposition: yea, rather, corrupt nature is forward, not only to offer it to us, but even

to force it upon our admission; and it is no small mastery, to repel it.

True faith struggles with infidelity. This Jacob is wrestling with this Esau, in the womb of the soul: and if, at any time, the worse part, through the violence of a temptation, get the start of the better, the hand lays hold on the heel, and suffers not itself to be any other than insensibly prevented; but recovers the light, ere the suggestion can be fully completed; and, at last, so far prevails, that the elder shall serve the younger: This is the victory, that overcomes the world, even our faith; 1 John v. 4. Whereas presumption is ever quiet and secure; not fearing any peril; not combating with any doubt; pleasing itself in its own ease and safety; and, in the confidence of a perpetual prosperity, can say, I shall never be moved; Ps. xxx. 6.

True faith, wheresoever it is, purifieth the heart; Acts xv. 9: and will not suffer any known sin to harbour there; and is ever attended with care, awfulness, love, obedience. Whereas presumption impures the soul; and works it to boldness, obduration, false joy, security, senselessness.

True faith grows daily; like the grain of mustard-seed in the Gospel, which, from small beginnings, arises to a tall and largespreading plant. Presumption hath enough, and sits down contented with its own measure; applauding the happiness of its own condition.

True faith, like gold, comes out pure from the fire of temptation; and, like to sound friendship, is most helpful in the greatest need. Presumption, upon the easiest trial, vanisheth into smoke and dross; and is never so sure to fail us, as in the evil day.

So, then, this firm affiance of mine, being grounded upon the most sure promises of the God of Truth, upon frequent use and improvement of all holy means, after many bickerings with thy motions of unbelief; being attended with holy and purifying dispositions of the soul; and gathering still more strength, and growing up daily towards a longed-for perfection; and which, now, thy experience convinces thee, to be most present and comfortable in the hour of temptation, is true faith: not, as thou falsely suggestest, a false presumption.

It is true, my unworthiness is great; but I have to do with an Infinite Mercy so as my wretched unworthiness doth but heighten the glory of his most merciful pardon and acceptation.

Shortly, then, where there is a divine promise of free grace and mercy, a true apprehension and embracing of that promise, a warrant and acceptance of that apprehension, a willing reliance upon that warrant, a sure knowledge and sense of that reliance, there can be no place for presumption.

This is the case betwixt God and my soul. His word of promise and warrant, that cannot deceive me, is, He, that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life; John iii. 36: and, He, that believes in him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but hath passed from death to life; John v. 24. My

own heart irrefragably makes out the rest, which is the truth of my apprehension, reliance, knowledge. Mine, therefore, is the faith: the presumption, in casting slander upon the grace of God's Spirit, is thine own.

IXTH. TEMPTATION:

"Thou thoughtest perhaps once, that thou hadst some tokens of God's favour: but now, thou canst not but find that he hath utterly forsaken thee; and, withdrawing himself from thee, hath given thee up into my hands; to which thy sins have justly forfeited thee:" Repelled.

BE not discouraged, O thou weak soul, with this malicious sugges tion of the enemy. Thou art not the first, nor the holiest, that hath been thus assailed.

So hard was the man after God's own heart driven with this temptation, that he cries out, in the bitterness of his soul, Will the Lord cast me off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? Ps. lxxvii. 7-9.

Thy case was his, for the sense of the desertion: why should not his case be thine, for the remedy? Mark how happily and how soon he recovers himself: And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right-hand of the Most High: I will remember the works of the Lord: surely, I will remember thy wonders of old: I will meditate of all thy works; vv. 10-12.

Lo, how wisely and faithfully David retreats back to the sure hold of God's formerly experimented mercies; and there finds a sensible relief. He, that, when he was to encounter with the proud giant, could, beforehand, arm himself with the proof of God's former deliverances and victories; Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them; 1 Sam. xvii. 36: now animates himself, after the temptation, against the spiritual Goliath, with the like remembrance of God's ancient mercies and endearments to his soul; as well knowing, that, whatever we are, God cannot but be himself: God is not as a man, that he shoud lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent; Num. xxiii. 19: Having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto the end; John xiii. 1.

Hast thou, therefore, formerly found the sure testimonies of God's favour to thee, in the real pledges of his holy graces? live thou still, while thou art thus besieged with temptations, upon the old store. Know, that thou hast to do with a God, that can no more change, than not be: Satan cannot be more constant to his malice, than thy God is to his everlasting mercies. He may, for a time, be pleased to withdraw himself from thee; but it is, that he may make thee so much more happy in his re-appearance. It is

his own word, For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath, I hid my face from thee for a moment; but, with everlasting kindness, will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord, thy Redeemer; Is. liv. 7, 8.

In the case wherein thou now art, thou canst be no meet judge, either of God's respects to thee, or thine own condition. Can the aguish palate pass any true judgment upon the taste of liquors ? Can the child entertain any apprehension of his parent's favour, while he is under the lash? Can any man look that the fire should give either flame or heat, while it lies covered with ashes? Can any man expect fruit or leaves from the tree, in the midst of winter? Thou art now in a fit of temptation: thou art now smarting under the rod of correction: thy faith lies raked up under the cold ashes of a seeming desertion: the vegetative life of thy soul is, in this hard season of thy trial, drawn inward, and run down to the root: thine estate is, nevertheless, safe for this, though more uncomfortable. Wait thou upon God's leisure, with all humble submission; the event shall be happy: when the distemper is once over, thou shalt return to thy true relish of God's mercy: when thy Heavenly Father shall smile upon thee, and take thee up in his arms, thou wilt see love in his late stripes: when those dead ashes shall be removed, and the gleeds of grace stirred up again in thee, thou shalt yield both light and warmth: when the Sun of Righte. ousness shall approach to thee, and with his comfortable beams draw up the sap into the branches, thou shalt blossom and flourish. In the mean time, fear nothing: only believe, and thou shalt see the salvation of the Lord. Thy soul is in surer hands than thine own; yea, than of the greatest angel in heaven: far out of the reach of all the powers of hell; for, Our life is hid with Christ in God; Col. iii. 3: hid; not lost, not laid open to all eyes, but hid: hid, where Satan cannot touch it, cannot find it; even with Christ, in the heaven of heavens.

Fear not, therefore, O thou feeble soul, any utter dereliction of thy God. Thou art bought with a price: God paid too dear for thee, and is too deeply engaged to thee, to lose thee willingly; and, for any force to be offered to the Almighty, what can men or devils do?

And, if that malignant spirit shall challenge any forfeiture, plead thou thy full redemption. It is true, the eternal and inviolable law hath said, Cursed is every one, that continueth not in all things, that are written in the book of the Law, to do them; Gal. iii. 10: and, The soul, that sinneth, shall die; Ezek. xviii, 4, 20. Death, and curse, is therefore due to thee: but thou hast paid both of these, in thy Blessed Redeemer; Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us; Gal. iii. 13. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound; that, as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign, through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ, our Lord; Rom. v. 20, 21. It is all one, to pay thy debt in thine own person, and by thy surety. Thy Gracious Surety hath staked it down for thee, to the utmost far

« EelmineJätka »