I ■ THE SAINT'S DUTY EVIL TIMES: IN TWO SERMONS Preached from lfaiah xxvi. 20. 3y Mr. Jam es Renwick, Minifter of the Go- fpel, who fuffered in the Grafs -Market of Edin- burgh ', February 17. 1688. Proveres xviii. 10. |"^rah in Scotland, of Pre- lates and Malignants, and of backflidden Minifters and Profeflbrs ; he is coming to be avenged on that curfed Throne, and the Supporters thereof for their Cruelty done againft him ; and of Minifters and Pro- feflbrs, for their heinous Treachery towards him ; and this is his Commiflion, and our Charge unto you, to invite and to call you, and all that will give Ear unto this Rock of Ages for your Shelter, unto the Chambers of his Presence and Prote&ion, where ye fiiall be faved with Delight. O come, my People ; in which Words ye have, firfi, An Invitation, Come. idly. The Per- . fons The Saints Duty in evil Timesl 7 fons invited, or the Determination thereof* my People, 'idly. That which they are in- vited unto, the Chambers of the Lord's Prote&ion and Prefence, whereunto he in- vites them to enter, qthly. Their Carriage, and that which they are to do there, jhut thy Doors about thee, and hide thyfelf, as it were, for a little Moment. $thly. The Safety of thefe Chambers, being a hiding Place un- til the Indignation be overpafl : Or rather, the Determination of the Continuance of their hiding, until the Indignation be over- paft. As to the Firfl, the Invitation, Come, come, a homely Word indeed ; this is no lefe than, Behold me ! behold me ! Here is enough to give, and here is Willingnefs to give, only come, only receive, only take, and ye fhall not want. But to enlarge a little, we lay down, from a two-fold Do&rine. Doctrine I. There is both Ability and Willingnefs in the Lord, to give you what* foever your Necejjity requires. ^ Ability. What wopld you have? Salva- tion and Deliverance ? Then A* is abletojave to the uttermofi all that come unto him, Heb. v ii. 2;. Life up your Eyes and behold a Wonder $ The 'Saint's Duty in evil Times] Wonder which ye cannot behold, behold a Wonder which you cannot know, and put forth this Queftion, Ifa. Ixiii. i. Who ts this that comet h from Edom, with dyed Gar* ments from Bozrah ? This that is glorious in his dtpparel, travelling in the Greatnejs of his Strength ? And his Anfwer will be unto you, It is I that f peak in Righteoufnefs, mighty to fave. Gainfay it who will, the Pleafure of the Lord jhall profper in his Handy he Jhall fee of the Travel of his Soul, and be fatisfied. Now, methinks, I hear you faying, All that is true, we can fet our Seals to it ; but, O is he willing? There is our Que- flion. Willing, indeed, he is not more a- ble than he is willing. What are all his Promifes, but Declarations of his free Wil- ingnefs ? What are all his fweet Invitations ? but to t;ell you, that he is willing, and ye are welcome ? He thatthirfteth, let him come y and whofoever will, let him come y and take of the Water of Life freely. Ah ! what fay you to it now ? Give us your Seal to his Wil- lingnefs alfo, Go, fay ye, Why not ? Ye have it. Then come away, there is no more wanting. Say, Come, we know he is willing, and we fet to our Seal to his Wil- lirignefs. But is he willing to receive me? Satisfy me in that, and then I will be right. Ah, Cheat ! ye are taking your Word back again The Saint s Duty in evil Times] 5 again now, and lifting off your Seal ,• if yc except not yourfelf, he will not except you ; his Invitation is unto all. Every onecome. He that thirftethy come ; he that hath no Monej % come, I fa. Iv. 1. Now, why will yc be fo ill to yourfelves as to debar yourfelves, for he doth not do it ? Ye may as well and as rationally fay that ye are not a Body* as to fay he debars you. His Invitation is to every one. Now, aifent to this, and then, before ye except yourfelf out thereof ye muft firft not have a Being, neither of Soul nor Body. We fay, for you to think that he excepts you, it is all one as to deny yourfelf to be one of the Children of Adam. Now, O come, come Niggard, What ail- eth thee ? Come, What would ye have that is not in Chrift ? O that fweet Invitation, Come ; we cannot tell you what is in it ; there is a Depth in ic that all the Angels in Heaven cannot fathom ; it is no lefs than Jefus Chrift, who was delivered for our Offen- ces, and was raifed again for our yuftifica- tion y fpreading forth his Arms, and inviting you. He is opening up himfelf, his All-fuf- ficiency and fuper-tranfcendent Excellency, and calling unto all poor needy Things, Come, here is enough for you, give in your Dcfires, and you (hall have them fatisfied to the full. What then have ye to fay to B the io " The Saint s Duty in evil Times. the Bargain ? Come, come, it is a rich Com- modity, and there is no flicking at the Price, only receive 'and have; the eafieft of ail Terms, there is no more required at your Hands. But, fay ye, Sir, ye go with- out your Bounds, the Invitation in your Text is to his People. Ye are all wrong, we are not fo far out as ye trow ; the In- vitation is to his People, to enter into their Chambers, and to all who will-come and be- come his People, to enter into their Cham- bers ; and fo this is a free Market. We ii)uft invite all to come, ye who are Ene- mies, lay down your Armsagainft him, and come,- ye who are upholding his Enemies, and complying with them in their finful Courfesand Abominations, by paying them Cefs and Locality, and by furnifhing them Meat and Drink, (which is more than a Bidding them God fpeed, which the Holy Ghoft, by the Mouth of John, forbids, fe- «ond Epiftle of John, ioth Verfe) quit the putting the Sword in God's Enemies Hands, and come. Ye who have given Bonds to the Adversary, break your Covenant with Hell and Death, and come ; break your fworn Allegiance to the Devil, and come, and fwear a new Allegiance to Jefus Chrift, and ye fhall never rue it : Ye, who compear be- fore their Courts, and pay them Fines, (whereby 7%e Saint's Duty in evil limes] I i (whereby ye both acknowledge them Rob- bers of God, and call your Duty your Sin) quite thefe Courfes, and come. Ye who go to he Curates, leave thefe perjured blind Guides, and come. Ye who go to the Indulged, leave thefe Traitors to God. Ye who go to the backflidden filent Mi- nifters, leave thefe Betrayers of the Caufe, and Deferters of the Crofs of Chrift, and come, and leave all thofe and follow him ; he is a true Guide, and will be fo unto you. Ye who anyways feek or take the Enemies Proce&ion, leave that, and come ; come to him, and ye fliall find Chambers indeed, both for Safety and Delight. All ye that are Strangers to him, come ; ye that are in Nature, come; and ye that know him, come. We muft preach that Word come unto you, fo long as you are here, until ye be tranfplanted out of this fpiritual Warfare unto celeftial Triumph. O Sirs, come, come, ask what you will, and he fhall give it ; O come, come. Now, ic were requifite here to {hew to you who it is that comes unto Chrift, and who it is that comes not; but it will come as fitly in the fecond Thing which we have noticed in the Words, and fo we proceed unto it. The Second Thing, ye know, was this, The it The Saints Duty in evil Times. The Perfons invited, or the Determination of the Invitation, my People: Thefe are they whom he invites to their Chambers, his People,- they who fubferibe to the Terms of his Covenant, which is 9 I will be your God, and ye /hall be my People ; they who make a Covenant with him by Sacri- fice ; they who covenant with him only to be accepted through the Sacrifice of his Son, and they who facrifice themfelves a- way to him ; they who efpoufe him to be their God, and his Quarrel and Concern- ment to be theirs. But before we enter upon what we propofed, we proceed to the third Thing in the Words, to make Way for it, and fo fiiall return. The Third Thing was this, their Cham- bers whereinto they are invited to enter ; their Chambers, that is, the Chambers of the Lerd's Prote&ion and Prefence. What are thefe Chambers do you think ? Ask at Solomon, and he will tell you, Prov. xviii. 10. The Name oj the Lord is a ftrong Tower, the Righteous runneth into it, and is fafe. It is jefus Chrift that ye are invited unto. Doctrine II. Thefe Chambers are fafe, and they who are therein need not fear Wrath. See, for the Confirmati- on of this Point, Jfa. xxxii. 2. Ayd a Man The Saint s Duty in evil Times. i 3 Man fiall be as a hiding Place from the Wind) and a Cover from the Tempefi, as Rivers of Water in a dry Place •, as the Shadow oj a great Rock in a weary Land. There is the Defcription of thefe Cham- bers ; they are Chambers of Safety, no Wind can win there into them, no Tempeft can overtake them who are there; ye are without the Flood Mark of the Wrath of God, and they are Chambers of Delight; ye will not want refrefhing: They arc Rivers of Water in a dry Place* the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land ; we cannot commend them into you, for they furpafs the Eloquence of Angels to do it; but en- ter thefe, and ye (hall find more than we can fell you ; enter, and ye fhall find more than ye will be able to tell yourfelves. En- ter, we fay, that rs the Invitation: But ye will fay, How fhall we enter? What is requifite for our entring ? What will take us in ? Anfwer. Faith, that is the Thing will take you in ; that is the Key that o- pens thefe Doors, the Ufc of the Means and the Exercife of the Faith, the Hand of Duty, and the Key of Faith : But take Notice, u is true faving Faith; it is neither hiftorical, temporary, nor the Faith of Miracles, but it is laving Faith, where- by 14 7ft* Saints Duty in evil limes] by Chrift is only received and refted upon ; it is Faith as an Inftrument apprehending the Objeft, Chrift. Ic is ;hat (I fay) which taketh you in. But, for your more clear Uptaking thereof, confider what is requifite in true faving Faith. Firft, A deep Sight and Senfe of your loft Condition, that you are deftroyed, liable to the Wrath of God, and all the Curfes in the Law. Secondly, a Senfe of this, that there is nothing in you, or that ye can do, that will help you ; it is beyond all creaced Power to recover you; and fo, not at all feeking to eftablifh a Self- Righteoufnefs, it is, Come unto me ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you Reft. Thirdly, a right Sight of the All- fufficiency that is in Jefus Chrift and his Excellency, drawing the Heart out after him, as all the t)efire of the Soul, and fo clofing with him. Therefore, ye who re- main fenfelefs of your loft Condition, have a Care ,• ye are not yet in thefe Chambers. But, that it may be made clear unto you, confider, moreover, if ye would enter into thefe Chambers, Firft, Yemuft clofe with Chrift alone; there muft nothing have a Share in the meritorious Caufe in bring- ing you there, but himfelf only ; y$ muft not lay Part of the Weight upon him, and Pass The Saint 9 s Duty in evil 'times. I J Part upon yourfelves ind your Duties : No, no, he muft either have it all on his Back, or eife he will have none of it ; therefore cake heed to yourfelves. Second- ly, You muft clofe with full Chrift, as Prophet, Prieft, and King ,• as a Prophet, to teach you his Will, he muft be your School-Mafter ; as Prieft, through whofe Sacrifice only the Father muft accept you, and who continually makes Interceffion at his Right-Hand for you,- and as King, to fway a Scepter in your Souls, to rule you according to his own Law, and to caft down, and to caft out every Thing exalt- ing itfelf againft his Kingdom within you, O take heed to this, ye who regard not his Will, ye who give him not a Throne in your Hearts; without this ye cannot enter into thefe Chambers ; and affure your- felves, it he were reigning in you, ye would care more, and contend more for his Kingdom without you, and in the World. Take heed to this, ye who care not tho* a Tyrant poflefs his Throne, and, as it were, fpoil him of his princely Robes : Take heed to this, ye who ftand not to hold down his Kingdom, by upholding of his Enemies. Thirdly, Ye muft (if ye would enter into thefe Chambers) clofe with ali the Inconveniences that follow him; 1 6 The Sams Duty in evil Timet. him ; his Croft muft be taken up, Luke ix. 2 ?> 24. If any Man will come after me, let him deny him/elf, and take up his Crofs daily, and follow me. For whofoever will fave his Life, /hall lofe it : But whofoever will lofe his Life for my Sake, the fame (hall fave it. What- ever he call you unto, muft be embraced $ your Heart muft fubfcribe to the Reafon* ablenefs and Defirablenefs of every one of thefe Inconveniences; but let us change their Names, and call them Conveniences, and Chrifiian Advantages, and fo we may ; for they are of fpecial good Ufe to Chri- ftians; thefe are a Part of the Difcipline of ChrifTs School, and fome fay this is Da*- vid's Meaning, Pfal. cxvi. 13. where he fays, I will take the Cup of Salvation. That is, as they fay, the Cup of Affliction, as that whereby the Lord works the Salvati- on of his People ; and fo indeed the Cup of Afflidion may be called the Cup of Salvation. Now that is the Way ye muft enter. Ufe. O come away, let us hear what ye fay to it. Are ye willing to enter this Way ? Think upon it. This is the Way ye muft enter ; and, in our telling of it, we may tremble to think upon this Gene- ration, who will not clofe with thefe (fo called) Inconveniences. We have no Skill of The Saint's Duty in evil Times] 1 7 of People's clofing with Chrift, who will notclofe with thefe. But, Oh! what fay ye unto us ? Whar is your Reply ? Is it not this, That neither Death, nor Life, nor An- gels, nor Principalities , nor Powers, nor Things prefent, nor Things to come, nor Height, nor Depth, nor any other Creature, [hall be able to fe par ate us from the Love of God, which is in Jefus Chrifi our Lord ? Is this your Saying? Then come away, take him, take on his Yoke; for his Yoke is eafj y and his Burden is light. The End of the Forenoon's Sermon^ After- r is ] Afternoons Sermon. Isaiah xvi. 20. Come, my People, enter thou into thy Chambers, and Jhut thy Doors about thee : Hide thy f elf, as it were, for a little Moment, until the Indignation be overpaft. THIS is the Way that Folks undo themfelves, and forfake their own Mercies; that which ought to chafe them to God, chafes them out from him. All hypocritical Convidions only put them the farther away from the Phyfician ; fo it is with Judgment, which fliould put Folk to their Duties, they are thereby put from it. When the Lord furbifhes his glittering Sword of Juftice, then it is to drive his own Children unto his own Hand. Come, my People, &c. Ye know, the laft Occa- (ion, T*be Saint s Duty in evil Times. jp fion, how we divided thefe Words; ye know alfo, how that, before, we left the iirft Head, we faid, it would be requifite to (hew unto you, who it is thac comes to Chrift, and who it is that comes not ; but we told you, that it would come more fit- ly in the fecond Head ; yet, to make Way for it, we proceed fore ward unto the third Thing in the Words. And now, having touched that a little, we return again, as we told you we propofed to do, and fhall (as the Lord will give) open the fecond Head farther, declaring who are his People, to wit, Thofe, as we were faying, who have made a Covenant with him by Sacrifice, to be accepted only thro* the Sacrifice of his Son, and who facrifice away themfelves unto him. In a Word, they are thofe who are righteous, and who live righteoufly. Thofe who are Righreous are thofe who are fled into Chrift, for his Righteoufnefs, and have gotten themfelves clothed therewith. But, that ye may the more clearly take up who thofe are who come unto Chrift, before we give you fome Marks of them, and fome Rules how to apply thefe Marks, we (hall firft declare who it is that comes not. Fir ft, Thofe come not unto Chrift, who come not from all Sins, Ezek. xviii. 21. But if the IVicked will turn from all his Sins that to The Saint's Duty in evil Time si thai he hath committed, and keep all my Sta- tutes, and doth that which is lawful and right % he Jhall furely live, he {hall not die. Ye fee the Condition; it is if ye will turn from all Sin, both Omiflion and Commiffion ; from all Sin unto all Duty, leaving all Sin arid taking up all Chriftian Duty. There^- fore remember, if ye entertain any one Idol, that will keep Chrift our. Many fay, of fome idol Sin that they do not quit, as Lot faid of Zoar, It 1$ a little one, there- fore let me brook it. But remember what David fays, If I regard Iniquity in my Heart, the Lord will not hear me, Pfal Ixvi. 18. Rer member this, and deftroy not yourfelves, ye who follow not grofs Swearing, Drinking, or Whoring, and the like, yet cleave unto your petty minched Oaths, and your idle vain Difcourfe, and your light Converfa^- tion. O remember this, ye who have any one Predominant, whofe Head ye clap; your Right-Hand and your Right- Eye Sins muft be cut off, and plucked out, before ye can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. I fay, it ye entertain any Predominant, it fpeaks out this, That ye would as well en- tertain all Sins, if your Inclinations were as benf upon them, and that ye do not leave them as they are hateful to God, but only as they are not fo delightfom, or hurtful The Saint 3 s Duty in evil e fimei. 21 hurtful unco you. O ! take heed, except ye repent and amend, ye JbaU all likeways perijh. Remember this, ye moral Civili- ans, who are not chargeable with grofs Profanity in your private Walk, yet have your Hands imbrued in Blood, and have them defiled with publick Land Sins, which procure Land Judgments ; ye take a Liber- ty to pay Cefs, and Fines, and Tiends to Baal's Priefts, and do many other Things to ftrengthen the Enemies of our Lord, and condemn his Caufe; I fay, take heed to yourfelves, except ye repent and amend, yejball allltkeways perijh. Remem- ber this, ye who turn not to take up *ll Chriftian Duties with you ; ye think it e- nough if ye babble over two or three Words at Night and at Morning to your- felves, tho* you fet not up the Worfliip of God in your Families ; and if ye do that, ye think that enough, tho* ye neither put to your Hand to aft with the Lord, nor fympathize with his afflicted People, nor imbody yourfelves in Society with them, to cry for all the Abominations of the Land. O take heed, except ye repent and amend, ye JbaU all likeways perijh. Secondly, Thofe come not unco Chrift, who, tho' they may come a great Length, jaot to be chargeable by Alan, neither with Omiflion %% The Sainfs Duty in evil Times] Omiffion nor Commiffion, yet reft there ; all that will not take them to Heaven. Paul, before his Conversion, he reports of himfelf, Philip. Hi. 6. As touching the Righte- cufnefs which is in the Law blamelefs. He was as trim a Legalift as the beft of you ,• but mark what he fays of himfelf, in the feven, eighth "and ninth Verfes, But what Things were Gain to me, thofe I counted Lofs for Chrift. Tea, doubtlefs, and I count all Things but Lofs for the Excellency of the Know- ledge oj Chrift Jef us my Lord : For whom I have fuffered the Lofs of all Things, and do count them but Dung, that I may win Chrift ; and be found in him ; not having mine own Righteouf- fiefs, which is of the Law, but that which is through the Faith of Chrift, the Righteoufnefs which is of God by Faith. It is that ye may only reft on, and no where elfe, but upon the compleat and inherent Righteouf- nefs of Jefus Chrift ; therefore take heed how ye build. Thirdly, Thofe come not unto Jefus Chrift, who feed themfelves up in that de- luding Fancy, that they have not £b much Need of him as others have, by reafon of their thinking their Sins to be but little Sins. O, fay fome, I am not like, the Pro- fane and Wicked ! What then need I fear? Q poor Fool ! mind what the Apoftle tells thee, 7%e Saints Duty in evil Times. 2 5 thee, Gal. iii. 10. For in fuch a Cafe thou art under the Law, and as many as are of the Worksofthe Law are under the Curfe ; For it is written, Curfed is every one that con- tinued not in all Things which are written in the Law to do them. A Penknife can take away the Life as well as a Broad-Sword : Indeed I think the Cafe of the Wicked and Profane is more hopeful than thy Cafe, becaufe they will be fooner gotten convin- ced of the Necefficy of Repentance than thou wilt. Fourthly, Thofe come not unto Chri^ who, becaufe they meet with favourable Difpenfations, and great Proofs of the Lord's general Providences, do thereupon conclude all is well with them. Think upon what Davidfays>Pfal. xvii. 14. From Men which are thy Handy O Lord, from Men of the World, which have their Portions in this Life, and whofe Belly thou fillefl with thy hid Treafure : They are full of Children, and leave the reft of their Subftance to their Babes. None knoweth Love or Hatred by all that is be* fore him, Ecclef. xi. Fifthly^ Thofe come not to Chrift, who think all is right with them, becaufe they are not challenged in their Confciences. O mad Fools! whofe Hearts are fealed with Obduration, the faddeft Place in ail the Scripture i4 *fhe Saints Duty in evil "Times. Scripture holds forth your Cafe, Hofea m 17. Ephraim is joined to his Idols; let bint alone. When ye drop into Hell, the Fire thereof will foon burn up that thick Skin that is grown upon your Consciences. Sixthly, Thofe come not to Chrift, who reft upon their apprehended Sorrow for Sin. O, fay they, I am not fuch a tool as to think all js well, becaufe I want Challen- ges, but becaufe I have them ! Remember EfaUy remember Judas, your building up- on your Sorrows and Tears, is like a man that builds upon a FIow-Mofs. Seventhly j Thofe come not to Chrift, who fall off the common Road of Sin unto Duty, arid reft rhere i Mind what our Lord fays of the cohceity Pharifee, Luke xviiu 11, 12, 13 and 14. That tho* he was not an Extortioner, unjuft, nor an Adulterer* and failed twice a Week, and paid Tithes of all that he had poffefTed, yet he went iiot down to his Houfe fo juftified as the poor Publican did ; yet ye will fay, I am far from Swearing, Drinking, &c. and have betaken myfelf to the Society of the People of God ; and I read, and pray, &c. there- fore all is well. O poor Fool ! thy Cafe is now worfe than ever. O we tremble to think upon the Multitude that pray thcm- fclves unto Hell. This is David indeed* tthtf The Saint's Duty in evil Time?. i$ ivho kills his ten thoufands. What (hall I liken you to? Ye are like a Man thatdig- jgeth deep down, and cafts out old Earth, but brings new Earth of his own Mould* but goes not the Length of the Reck. Eight!)', Thofe come not unto Chriftj who even go that Length as to affent td the fpiritual Meaning of the Law, and teft there. This is much indeed, this is a great Length, yea, a greater Length than the mod Part of you, who are hear- ing me this Day, have come unto, and yet they are far from the Kingdom of Heaven. O obferve that Paflage, Mark xii. 32, 33. where a Scribe anfwered out Lord, and faid, To love the Lord with all the Hearty and with all the Underftanding % and with all the Soul, and with all the Strength, and to love his Neighbour as hint- felf, is more than whole Burnt- offerings and Sa- crifices. To whom our Lord replies, 34 Verfe, Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God. Ninthly, Thofe come not unto Jefus Chrift, who have common Gifts, and reft there. O, fay ye, I find a Faculty of Prayer, I want not Wtfrds enough, and get them bravely fee upon the Pins, and I have great Knowledge of the Scriptures, and I am ftraight and nor biatfed in my D Judgment^ 16 "The Saint's Duty, in evil Times. Judgment ; and what need fuch a Man as I fear? O deluded Fool, confider what Paul fays, i Cor. xiii. 2. 'Tho 1 have the Gift of Prophecy , and underfland all Myfteries, and all Knowledge, and tho I have all Faith) fo that I could remove Mountains, and have not Charity, I am nothing. No doubt Ju- das had much of this. God will give Gifts unto Perfons, for the Behoof and Advantage of others ; but when he gives Grace, it is ay for their own Advantage ; yea, the Devil himfelf is better gifted, and hath more Knowledge than all you have. Temhly, Thofe come not unto Chrift, who fuffer many Things materially for the Truth, and have fome feeming Fruits thereof, and reft there. Do not think that your fufiering your Goods to be fpoiled, and yourfelves caft out of your Habitati- on before ye comply with the Enemy, is a Ground from which ye may conclude all to be right : Nay, I tell you, as the Apoftle fays, 1 Cor. xiii. 3. Tho' ye fhould keftow all your Goods to feed the Poor, tho' you give your Body to be burned, and have not Charity, it profits you nothing. Yea, the fame Apoftle fuppofeth, Gal. Hi. 4. that there may be much fufferingirt vain. Haveyefuf- feredfo many things in wain? if it be yet in vain. There are many of you that are fuflfering The Saint's Duty in evil Times. z 7 /uffering this Day materially for Chrift; materially, we fay, and not formally ; for Hypocrites never win to Sincerity in their Doings and Sufferings, nor to do them as to God; and yet ye will get Hell to fuffer in throughout all Eternity ; yea, a Man when his Credit is ftraitly engaged, he may give his Life for the Caufe, and yen get Hell for his Reward. Eleventhly, Thofe come not unto Chrift, who have only a hiftorical and temporary Faith, inflead of a faving Faith. Tho' ye fliould believe all the Truths in the Bible, yet that will not avail you, the Devils be- lieve and tremble ; yea, tho' ye fhould give your general Aflent to the Way of Salva- tion by Chrift, yet unlefs ye receive and embrace him, and reft upon him, all will be for nought. Look the Cafe of this People, If a. xlviii. 2. Who call tbemf elves of the holy City y and ftay themfelves upon the God of Ifrael. But what fays the Lord of them ? Yet not in Truth nor in Righteoufnefs. O take heed what ye are doing, and do not deceive yourfelves, for ye may win this Length, fo as to be convinced that it is good to come unto Chrift, and think ye have done it, being blinded by your Pride, and may fome Way comfort yourfelves, as if ys had done it/ in this your prefumptu- 011s ?8 The Saints Duty in evil Times, ous Dream, and yet really never have; done it : Never really have been brought to deny your own Righteoufnefs, and to receive Chrift, relying only upon him for attaining of Life through his Righteouf- nefs and Satisfa&ion. Twelfthly, Thofe come not unto Chrift, who have only the common Operation of the Spirit upon the Affe&ion within, and refting there conclude that all is well with them. We have already fpoken of the Danger of refting upon apprehended Sorrow for Sin fo there may be much al- io of the Flafhes of Joy, Tendernefs and Heart- Meltings, which Hypocrites may have at fome Times by another. Confider thofe who were Johns Hearers, John v. 35. who for a Seaion rejoiced in his Light, O beware of Gofpel-Hypocritesi Take not Flafhes for Cqnverfion. If it could be ^determined how great a Length Hypo- crites may come, we think it would fift here. Q what fhali we fay of it! Po whuc they will, and come as great a Length as they can, they never come unto Chrift, who are not fully denied to themfelves, and po- fitively reft only upon Jefus Chrift forjufti- fication and Salification. True Faich hath two Voices. Fir ft > It calls and cries, Q Sinner^ le^n not to thyfelf, reft not there. T'be Saints Duty in evil Timti. 29 there. Secondly, O Sinner, reft on Jefus Chrift, and lean unco him. Ufe. "Now, O Believers, fearch and try yourfelves, fet about it earneftly; this is your Work, and it will not be done {lumbering and flecping. There are many of you here this Day, who are not come the Length of" fome of thefe Steps which we have named ; yea, ye may come thro' them all every one ; but if ye go not far- ther, ye will never win to Chrift : And in his Name I tell you, except your Rigbteouf- nefs exceed the Scribes and Pharifees, ye cannot fnter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Ye know we gave you fome Hints of thofe who are the Lord** People, viz. Thofe who have come unto Chrift, and are made righteous, and live righteoufly; and, for the more clearing of it, we now declare who thofe are who have come unto him, by giving fome Marks and Evidences how the lame may be known. We are noc now fpeaking oi being in Chrift, as a Crea* Iture by Creation and Preservation, nor as a Member eternally, but as a Mem- ber internally and effeftually. But ye will fay, How is that ? Anf. By the ftrifl: Union and Communion betwixt Chrift and the Chriftians, which is from the Striftnefs of the Bond, to wit, his Word and 30 The Saints Duty in evil Times. and Spirit on his Part, and Faith and Love on their Part. Now wc fay, How will that be known ? Well, we will give you thefe Marks, therefore try yourfelves. For, Firfl, If ye be come to Chrift, then ye will find in you a Hatred of all Sin na- turally, and a Defire to all Good, tho* often ye may fail in the Performance. Rom. vii. 15. Paul fays, That which I do, I allow not, for what I would, that I do not, but what I hate, that I do. 1 John iiu 6. Who- . foever abideth in him, finneth not; to wit, fir(l> purpofedly,- Jecondly, willingly; third- ly, affedionateiy ; fourthly, not unto Death ? For the Lord's People have, (1.) Grief. (2.) Care to recover. (3.) Fear to Sin, 1 can ye run on in Sin, without Return- ing and Care of Repentance ? If it be fo, ye are not in this living Root. Secondly, If ye be come unto Chrift, then t ye will find this in yoit* a right and high ^£fteem of the Lord's Mercy ; he and his Salvation will be only precious in your Eyes. Blejfed is he whoje Tranfgreffon is forgiven, whofe Sin is covered, Pfal. xxxii. I. That will be your Thoughts. Thirdly, If ye be come unto Chrift, ye vill find this in you, a Love unto the Way of Holinefs, as well as Happinefs itfelf; lea, 7be Saint's Duty in evil Timesl 3 1 Yea, your Heart will be fo drawn after that noble Device of Salvation, feeing all the glorious Attributes of God fo fhin- ing therein, that ye would in noways be content to go to Heaven another Way than that glorious Way, tho* it could be had ; and this is all the Lord requires of you, only a pleafing the Device. This is the brazen Serpent which ye muft look unto for Healings. O come away ! Fourthly, If ye be come unto Chrift, then ye will find this in you, an ading up- on God as he ads upon you. Hath he cal- led you ? Then ye will call upon him. Hath he juftified you ? Then ye will juftify him. Fifthly, If ye be come unto Chrift, then ye will find this in you, a Self-Denial, and a daily taking up of the Crofs againft your own Inclinations ,• the Dodrine and Prac- tice of Mortification, and a Cutting your- felf (hort of carnal Delights will be defired by you. Sixthly, If ye be come unto Chrift, then ye will be fubjed unto him willingly, and yield fweetly unto the fwaying of his Scep- tre in your Soul. Seventhly, It ye be come unto Chrift, then ye are fubjed unto him univerfally in all his Commands. Eightly, If ye be come unto Chrift, then ye 32 7%e SainSs Duty ito tvil 7imef. ye are fubjed unco him fincerely, in all Things feeking his Glory. Ninthly , If ye be come unro Chrift, then ye are fubjed unco him conftantly, obey- ing him without Wearying. Tenthly. If ye be Come unro Chrift, then his Word abideih in you, i jfofm ii. 14. If that which ye have heard from the Begin- ning remain in yon, yc {hall continue in the Son and in the Father. It muft abide in you, fo as your Mind underftands it, your Hearts affed it. O, how hath that which ye have read and heard remained, few, few in Chrift ! Eleventhly. If ye be come unto Chrift, ye will find his Spirit leading )ouunto nil Truth, John xvi. 15. Teaching thee, and leading thee unto, and confirming in Duty. But do not miftake, we mean noenthufiaftick Spi- rit, but his Word and Spirit which he hath enjoined, Ifa. xxxix. 2i. My Spirit which is upon thee, and my Words which I have put in thy Mouth, (ball not depart, &c. Twelfthly, If ye be come ufttc> Chrift, then ye will find his Spirit convincing you of Sin. Ihirteenthlyj If ye be come unto Chrift, then ye will find his Spirit ruling and com- manding you, caftingdown all Things ex* alted againft Chrift^ Kingdom, Fourteenth!]) the Saint's Duty in evil Timei. 35 Fourteenth!) , If ye be come unto Chrift, then ye will find his Spirit in you by Sup- plication, leading unto Senfe of Sin, and Apprehenfion of the Neceflity of Mercy, which makes Fervency, letting the Soul fee God only appeafed in Chrift, and fealeth the Truth of God's Promifes and Rewards. Fijteenthlyi It ye be come unto Chrift, then ye may find Faith in you, that will be yourStayin all Eftates, Aftions, Tempta- tions and Affli&ions : This is hard to find outj yet it may be found out ; if ye have a Defire for it, ye may have it. Sixtentbly, It ye be come unto Chrift, then ye will find an admirable Change in you ; a new Spirit without Guile, a new Judgment, new Defires, new Affe&ions, Love, Hatred, Sorrow, Joy, tlew Senfes, Eyes, Smelling, Ears, Tafte, Feeling. Ufa Now, find ye thefe, or any of thefe Marks really in you? Then doubt no more; mis- believe no more ; all is fure ; ye are come un« to Chrift ; and feeing ye are coriie unto him, prefs ay for more and more of his Likenefs for a Progrefs in Sandtification. Remember, 1 John ii. 6. He that faith he abideth inhintj aught alfo himfelf to walk even as he walked. And it leads us unto the third Thing in the opening up of this Point, to wit, To declare E who 34 the Saint* s Duty in evil Timesl who are his People. They, as we were fay- ing, who are righteous, and live righteoufly. Now, thofe who are righteous, are thofe who have fled unto Chrift, arid they indeed live righteoufly. Yet, to make it more clear, We fliatl in fliort tell you who they are who live righteoufly. Thofe, to wit, in a Word, Who walked as be walked. Omnia nos Chrifli vita docere poteft. Firfi, They live righteoufly, beginning all Things with God, referring all Things to God. idly. They do all Things by the Warrant of the Word, contemning their own Wills, that they might do the Lord's : Not my Willy but thy Will be done. They muft lofe their Life before they lofe theic Obedience, idly. They walk holily : Be ye holy as I am holy, i Johniii. 3. Every Man that hath this Hope in him, purifiethhimfelf, even as he is pure. yhly. They walk fruitfully, they go about doing Good. O fad J not only the unfruitful walking of this Genera- tion, but even the {tumbling that they are; *thlj. They walk juftly,not wronging any : Thefe are they who live righteoufly, who ■walk'fo as Chrift walked. O how few righteous Livers are amongft you I and 7lje Saint s Duty in evil Times. 3 3; thefe only are his People, righteous Perfons, righteous Livers, and ic is thofe whom the Lord hath Chambers for. Now, 6thly. we proceed to the Rules how to ap- ply thefe Evidences. ift. Tho' ye find them not all, yet if ye find one or more of them really, then comfort yourfelves. idly. Ifyefind not what former- ly ye have found, labour more to renew the fame than to feek a Sight of the old. idly. Do not try yourfelves in the Hour of Temptation, qthly. When ye find Marks and Evidences, do not reft upon them, for tho* ye have them they may foon be gone. $thly. Do not purfue fomuch to fatisfy your Senfe for the piefent, as to have a folid well-grounded AfTurance for the Time to come. 6thly. Be not fo defirous to know what ye are, as what ye fhould do. Spend not your Time in queftioning your State, as ye do, but ufe the Means of real Uni- on and Communion with Chrift : This is the fhorteft and fureft Way. jtkly. Judge not yourfelves by the Meafure of your Gra- ces, but by the Sincerity of them. Sthly. Compare not yourfelves too much to the Saints, but judge yourfelves by the Word.