THE 
 
 f H R ISTI A N S 
 
 /■Great Interest: 
 
 la Two Parts. 
 
 , I. The Trial of a Saving Interest in 
 CHRIST. 
 
 ; II. The Way how to attain it. 
 
 By WILL l A Al u U f H k l e\ 
 
 Minifter of the Cofpel at Nexu-Kilmarnock. 
 
 To which is prefixed, 
 
 A large Account of his Life, &c. by Way of 
 Introdu&ion, by the late Rev Mr. mill ant 
 Dunlop ; And a Preface bv the late Rev/ Mr. 
 Trail , with tome Account of the Author front 
 i. Mr. Wour cm s Hilfory 
 
 ~ : ■■ 1 — .. i 4}t r 
 
 I -Wherefore the rattier, Brethren, give Diligence to make 
 year Calling and Election fire, z Pet. i to. 
 
 Examine your fives , whether ye be in the Faith, prove 
 your ownfeives: Know ye not your owvjeives, how 
 that Jefus Chrifi is in you , except ye be reprobates ? 
 | 2 Cor xiii 5 . 
 
 / am my Beloved's t and tny Beloved is mine jCant.vi.j. 
 
 GLASGOW : 
 
 Printed by John Hail, in the middle of the 
 
 Salt-mrcat. MDCCL. 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 o F T H E 
 
 Life and Character 
 
 o F 
 
 - Mr. WILLIAM GUTHRIE. 
 
 T HERE is noTreat'fe of this Kind 
 that hath been more powerfully recom- 
 mended to the publick Efteem and 
 Approbation of this Gnurch, both by the Ex¬ 
 cellency of its Compofure, and its uncommon 
 Succefs and extenhve Ufefalnefs among 
 of all Ranks, than this Performance offhe " ^ 
 thy Mr But tho’, upon this- Account 
 
 rr ^ SCn , ‘.' e , qaenr! y rc Rdnted ; yet m 0 ft of 
 the Edmons hitherto pUblifhed have been y e Z 
 defective, as to the Goodnefs of the Paper; til 
 Beahty and Keatnels of the Character, or the 
 Correanefs and Accuracy of the Printing, wh 5* 
 are Ctrcumftances that have no imall Influence 
 on tne i. leafure, and fometimes on the Profit of 
 reading any Compofure. . . .7 .. 01 
 
 3 2 Thcfe 
 
 / S 
 
iv ' MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 Thefe Inconveniencies, joyncd with the high 
 -Value which was juftly entertained for this ex¬ 
 cellent Treatife, were the Reafons which deter¬ 
 
 mined the Publiflicrof this Edition to be at 
 feme Pains in furnifhing the. World with Co¬ 
 pies of it, that Picmld.have,fbn;e tolerable Mea- 
 fure of Etfadtnefs and Beauty. For which Pur- 
 pole the greaveft Care was t^ken ro Corredl this 
 Edition by that Copy which the Author himfelf 
 publilhed, anno 1659. Bcfides which, the Scrip¬ 
 tures quotted bv him are now .tranfe. ibed at full 
 Length ; whereas in that, and all other Edi¬ 
 tions, the Chapter and Vefe are only referred to; 
 which was a mighty Inconvenience to rhe Rea¬ 
 der, who mull be potto 3 g've;lt deal of Trouble, 
 if he fearched out ail the PafTiges in the Bible, 
 and could not but loie the very Ddi gn of the 
 Quotations, if he did it not ; And conlequent- 
 ly this prefent Edition may, upon this Account, 
 be read with more Pleafure, and to better Ad¬ 
 vantage than thole which have preexeded it; 
 An orderly Divihon of the whole Treaiile into 
 Chapters and a Dilfinction of the feveral Peri¬ 
 ods by new Lines conveniently dilpoled, which 
 are another Improvement of the prelent Impref- 
 fi on, do alio contribute an additional Ornament 
 and Advantage ro this Edition 
 
 In the latter Editions of this Treaiile, efu§- 
 cially fuch as were primed in England, there is 
 one confiderabie Defedf ; ieveral Words and 
 Phrafes - ufed by the Author have been changed, 
 becauic it was thought they would not be ea liiy 
 
 under- 
 
of Mr . William Guthrie v 
 
 uhderftond by the Generality of Englljb Readers, 
 and others of a more modern Drefs placed in 
 their Stead : But befides that, this is too great 
 a Freedom to be ufed by the Editors of any Au¬ 
 thor’s Performances, and detradh from their ge¬ 
 nuine Purity ; the Perfons, who aftumed thac 
 Liberty in the prefcnt Cafe, have had the Mil- 
 fortune not to underfhind the Scoticifms them- 
 fe’ves: And therefore have impofed a Senfe up¬ 
 on fbine Paffagcs, very different from the De- 
 fign and meaning of the Writer. I>ow that ai- 
 fo is remedied in this Ed it ion, where every Filing 
 is reffored to its original Purity; and a Lift of 
 Scots Words, with an Explication of them, is 
 fubjoined, whereby they are made ea(y to the 
 Evglijh Reader, - ’ 
 
 1c is hoped it will not be unacceptable to the. 
 Reader, that we now give fome Account of the 
 Author of fo valuable a Treatife ; and make a 
 few Obfervations upon the Performance itfelf: 
 For rho’ the Reverend Mr Trail hath already 
 in fbme Meafure prevented us by his Preface to 
 the London Edition, anno 1:05, yet a very'wor¬ 
 thy Miniiier of this Church, and a near Rela¬ 
 tion of Mr. Guthrie >, having provided us with a 
 great many additional Materials for this Pur- 
 pofe ; we are thereby enabled to afford a more 
 diftindf and particular Information concerning 
 the excellent Author, than Mr could do. 
 
 Mr William Guthrie was aided:Son to the Laird 
 of Pitforthy in the»Shire of Angus , a Cadet of 
 the old Family of Guthrie ; and by the Mother’s 
 
 a 3 Side 
 
Side delcended from the ancient Houfe of Eafler - . 
 ©g/fi, of which ffiewas a Daughter: Where¬ 
 by he enjoyed fuch Advantages of Birth, as at || 
 lead railed him above the Contempt of thofe 
 who give the higheft Value to Noblenefs of ' 
 Blood, and dote moll fondly on the Antiquity 
 of Families. God bleffed his Parents with a 
 numerous Offspring, lo that he had three Sifters 
 german and four Brothers, all of which ex¬ 
 cept one, dedicated themlelves to the Service 
 of Gon in the Gofpel of his Son: Namely y Ro¬ 
 bert who -was licenied to preach, but never or¬ 
 dained to a parochial Charge, his tender Con- 
 ftitution and numerous Infirmities retidring him 
 unequal for fo laborious an Office, and bringing 
 him loon to an End of his Days. Ailtxar.der^ 
 who became Minifter of the Pariffi of Stricka- 
 throw, in the Pie-bytery of Brechin in Angus ; a- 
 bout the Year 1645, where he continued a pious 
 and uleful Labourer in the Work of the Gof¬ 
 pel, till the Introduction of Prelacy ; which un¬ 
 happy Change of our Conftitution affefted him 
 in the tendereft Manner, and is thought to have 
 ffiortned his Days, and contributed to his Death f 
 amio 166 r. And John the youngeft Son, Mini¬ 
 fter of Tor ho!ton in the Shire of Air , in which 
 Poft he remained till he was turned our at the 
 Rtftoration, tor Non-conformity, and he had his 
 Share of the Violence and Cruelty which then 
 reigned ; till in the Year 1669 he was removed, 
 to the better World of Peace and Joy. And 
 as it were a very diftibguiftied Honour to this 
 
 Fa- 
 
°f "W illiam Guthrie. vu 
 
 Family, that of Five Sons, Four of them fliould 
 have devoted thcmfelves to thenobleft Employ- 
 mem of human Nature, the Minidry ofRe- 
 conciliation, and the promoting the eternal 
 Happmefs of pcrilhing Souls; fo no Doubt it 
 was one of the molt pleading Cifcunidances in 
 ■“ 1,e °f our Author, and could not but 
 mightily heighten the Endearments of a natu¬ 
 ral Relation to his Brothers, that they Were at 
 the fame Time Brethren in the Mlnjftry, and 
 united in the peculiar Service of their cummon 
 Lord. 
 
 He was bom zt Pitfsnfy in the Year ttfaa, 
 and no fooner got beyond the Bloom 01 Infan- 
 Cy, out he gave Proofs or his Capacity and Ge* 
 nius, by very quick and conflderable' Advances 
 in the Latin and G/esk Tongues. A Lei’ whisH 
 he Was fent to the _ Univerfrty of St Anknivt, 
 where he ft udied Phtloibphy tinder the memo- 
 rable Mr. fdtms Gut'hrts, who Was afterwards 
 Mimfter at StMlni t and became fn famous by 
 Ms uncommon Zeal ft* the Religion and Li- 
 berty 6f his Country, and by bis being m -ne 
 ttne of the batheft Sacrifices to the growhii 
 TyWuhy of K. Carles If*. Reign. The .Scho¬ 
 lar being the Msrfht's Relation, Was entitled 
 to his peculiar Care, lodged, when at the GT- 
 lege, in the fame Chamber with him, and had 
 thereby the Principles of Learning infilled into 
 him with more Accuracy aiid Advantage than 
 hisClafs-feHows, in Conjun£tibn with 'a conftant 
 Regard to God and Religion, and early Im- 
 
 a 4 , pryffions 
 
vlii MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 preffions of Fiery ; and no doubt rhis happy 
 Sima ion contributed not a little to rhe unt|(ual 
 Progrefshe made in all the Parts ofUnivetfity 
 Studies 
 
 Having taken the Degree of Mafter of Arts, | 
 he applied himfelf for fome Years to the -Stu¬ 
 dy of Divinity, , under the Direction of Mr. 
 Samuel Rutherford After which, being entered 
 upon Trials, which he underwent with great 
 Applaufe, lie was Hcenfed to preach the Gofpel 
 in !duguj} 1642. And according to Mr. Trail's 
 Account, he not only happily improved in 
 Theological Learning, under Mr. Rutherford as 
 Profeflor of Divinity ; but the Miniftry of that 
 good Man, fo juftly celebrated for his afiedting 
 and lively Preaching, and holy Life, was, by 
 the Bleffing of Goo, made the Inftrumenr, if ] 
 not of his Converfion, which his early Piety 
 gives us Ground to believe was fooner effected, 
 at Jeaft of greater Advances in a religious Life, 
 which was fo endeared to his Soul, that he re- 
 folved to devote himfelf to the immediate Ser¬ 
 vice of God in the Office of the holy Miniftry: 
 And in Confequcnce of that pious Refblution, 
 he gave an uncommon Inftance of Mortifica¬ 
 tion to the World, and with how ardent a Zeal 
 he defigned to give himfelf wholly to the Work 
 of the Gofpel, in quitting his paternal Eftate : 
 to ths only Brother of the Five who was not 
 engaged in rhe facred Office, that thereby he 
 himfelf might be perfedfcly difentanglea from 
 the Affairs of this Life, and entirely employ¬ 
 ed 
 
 ! 
 
 1 
 
IX 
 
 of Mr. W illiam Guthrie. 
 
 ed in tkofe of the eternal World. -Soon after 
 his being licenced lie left Sr., Nm’rews, accom¬ 
 panied with the high Efteem and Approbation 
 of the Profelfors of char Univerfity, which they 
 gave Proof of, by a Recomendation conceiv¬ 
 ed in Terms fo full and ftreng, that they bote 
 the Chaiafter of an inward Regard and Value, 
 more than the Form of a cuftomary Ted;me¬ 
 nial. After this, he became Governor to my 
 Lord Ma'uchlin , elded Son to the Earl of Low- 
 don , Chancellor of Scotland; in which Station 
 he continued; till he entered upon a parochial 
 Charge, of which this was the Ocafion. 
 
 He was employed to preach in Galjhun upon 
 a Preparation day, before the Celebration of 
 the Lord’s Supper, 2nd where feveral Mem¬ 
 bers of the new creeled Pari In of Fenwick be¬ 
 ing prefent, they were fo much edified by his 
 Sermon, and conceived, fo juft a Value for him, 
 that they immediately rdoived to make Choice 
 of him for their Minifter ; and in confequence 
 hereof gave him a very harmonious Call, which 
 Mr. Guthrie having complied with, he was or¬ 
 dained to the Sacred Office of that Parifh, No- 
 vernier 7th, 1644. In this Place he had pecu¬ 
 liar Difficulties to ftruggie with, and many 
 Circumftances of his Miniftry extremly difeou- 
 raging; and yet, through the Divine Bleffing, 
 the Gofpel preached by him had furprifing Suc¬ 
 re^* and became, in an eminent Manner, the 
 Wifdom and Power of God to the Salvation 
 ofloff Souls. 
 
 a 5 Aj 
 
X 
 
 MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 As this was a new ere&cd Parifh, and Mr*. 
 Guthrie the firfl Pallor of it ; the People had 
 been very much negle&ed, and had not enjoy¬ 
 ed the Means of Grace with that Eafe and Ad¬ 
 vantage which others were favoured with: The 
 melancholy Eftttts whereof were evidently dif- 
 cernable in the Rudeneis and grofs Ignorance 
 of many of them; and confequently in a too 
 general Negledt of Goo and Religion. 
 
 But under all thefe Oiiadvantages, that hea- 
 , venlv Zeal for the Glory of his great Matter 
 which animated the Labours of to is excellent 
 Minifter, his fervent Love to the Souls of Men 
 dying in rheir Sins, and his holy Wifdom and 
 Diligence in reclaiming and inftrufling them, 
 were fo honoured by God, and accompanied 
 wrh the powerful Influences of bis Holy Spi¬ 
 rit, that in a little Time a robk Change was 
 wrought upon a barbarous Multitude : 1 hey 
 were almoft all perfuaded to attend ee publick 
 Ordinan.es, to let up and maintain the (fated 
 Worfhip of God in their Families ; and lcar.ce 
 was there a H |,r -fe in the whoie Paiifh., that 
 drd not bring f -th some l ie s of his Mh.iftiy, 
 and afford k>me reah Concerts to a religious 
 Life And thus lie-wns made the lnifru ment 
 of n anv notable triumphs of victorious Grace, 
 wirier) leius Chi ifi Fads over the SouKofob- 
 fr’r ut IVanfgvefi'.r;, when he turns them from 
 their Wavs, and (obdues the People under n.im. 
 And what can be more worthy of everlatting 
 Remembrance, than inch gloriousAtchieven ents 
 
 \ 
 
of Mr . Willi 
 
 A M 
 
 G 
 
 U T H R I E. XX 
 
 in the fpiritual Warfare, and fucceisful Battles 
 with the implacable Enemy of the Happinefs 
 of Mankind, and the Kingdom of their Ma¬ 
 ker; which will one Day fhine with an eternal 
 Luftre, and be celebrated with loader and more 
 lading Acclamations of an end lefs World, than 
 the fading Honour of an Earthly Diadem, or 
 the braved Actions and mod finifhed Victory 
 of any of the Heroes of War, who make now 
 fuch Noife and Baffle upon the Stage? And 
 how lime needed the Man we are now fpea'k r 
 ln £ °f* to envy the dashing Pomp and Shew of 
 this Earth, or to be defirous of its richcft TYea- 
 fures? He polTefTed another Portion, fnice al- 
 mod every Family in his Parifh, however lit¬ 
 tle and oblcure, afforded a filming Ornament 
 for rhat divine Crown of Glofv and Rejoycirg, 
 which flial 1 be beautified with "the Dudreofan 
 eternal Excellency, and be, by the triumphant 
 King of the Church, bedowcf upon ail thole 
 who hive turned many unto Righteoufhefs* 
 
 . Mr - Gutbrii was poffefled of all thefe Quali¬ 
 ties which became a Minifter of the G>peL 
 and being accompanied by the powerful Influ¬ 
 ences of Divine Grace, gave a happy Profpect 
 of uncommon Success : Fo*-, befides his excel¬ 
 lent Endowments which were difcovered in the 
 I ulpit, he was eminently fitted to improve, for 
 the ^Edification of his People, the Miniderial 
 Dunes of Vifmng and Catechising; in perform¬ 
 ing wncreof he joined an indefatigable Dili¬ 
 gence to a holy Skill, knew how to embrace 
 
 every 
 
xii M EBIOIRS of the Life 
 
 every Opportunity of riifcoui fing upon the moft 
 important and awful Subjects, in a plain and 
 familiar Manner, and of recommending.Reli¬ 
 gion to the Confcienccs of every one in the 
 Way which their fpecial Circumftances called 
 for. A nd it was his pecular Care, to endear the 
 Ways of God to the Youth of his Parilh, and 
 Eive them early Impreffions of an eternal 
 World, before the Devil and their Luffs had 
 feized upon their Hearts, and enflaved them : 
 And the Seed of Grace that was thus town du¬ 
 ring the Spring of Life, was, through tnc Di¬ 
 vine Bleffing, prefetved in many as they ad¬ 
 vanced in Years, and brought forth, much 
 
 Fruit. Nor did Mr. G*fa* regka, in vlfi- 
 
 ting poor Families, to join Works of Chant; 
 to his Irftrudtions, aad imitate his grgat Ma¬ 
 iler, in filewing Common both to the Bootes 
 and Souls of Men. By all which w inning .Me¬ 
 thods lie engaged their Efieem and Affections, 
 which could not fail to add a mighty fcorce to 
 
 his Exhortations and Reproofs. 
 
 He excelled alfo in that unurunl Mean of 
 ' JWowledgo, Catechizing, and a voiced thme 
 Jtfffiakes - in the Managementof this Dxeic.ie, 
 which frequently letted the Advantage tne.e-. 
 His Quefiions were moftly confined to hip! 
 Truths' of the Dcarinc according to Godhne.s, 
 as were recommended^ by their great frnio:- 
 
 tan 
 Keli 
 

 °f N r - William Guthrie xiii 
 
 Things, which v/ere good and profitable unco 
 Men > and avoiding foolifh and trifling Q„ c r n -_ 
 ons t.iat were vain and ufelefs ; and 'knowin 
 that ir was his Bufinefis Co feed the rneancfl ar 
 weakeft of the Chriftfah Flock with wHole- 
 W fnfimairn^ he adapted theft ExercifR Vo 
 1 *! lu lo , we “ Gipacities, began with the mod ci¬ 
 ty and obvious 1 ruths of Religion, and fo pr e . 
 pared the Way for thofe which required a tuo?e 
 enlightned Lnderftahding. He was careful not 
 to expofe the Ignorant, fo as to beget a Dili if-.- 
 m them Of the Means of Knowledge, hoRro 
 confound the IModefl and Ba Aiful ■ by his 
 Meeknefs and Conddccnfion he encoded 
 and engaged them ; whereby Czechizing le- 
 
 came a P.eaHre to tfiem, and he had the Jov 
 t o fee me, vn a pH fo! id Kno wledge (breading £ 
 
 fel. among a i eopie whom he found grdfly ig¬ 
 norant. V o 
 
 His own Experience in the Ways of Gon 
 snd the great Depths of Troubles and Sorrows* 
 Douuts and Fears, whereby awakned Conlli- 
 ences are o: era fed, into which he himfclf Wa « 
 efren plunged, eminently , qualified him for al 
 Dting and comforting others in the like Circum’ 
 nances, for hrengthmng the weak Halids and 
 confirming the feeble Kriees; and could not"n 5 & 
 to beget m him that affedisnate Concern for 
 poor Souls, thofe Bowels of Tendernefs and 
 Sympathy, which can never be found with any 
 bnrfuch, who them fid ves have had a feeiin- 
 Acquaintance v/ith the Methods of the fpiritu- 
 
 a ? 
 
 .u-trs 
 
x iv MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 all Life, and the Work of the Holy Spirit in 
 their own Hearts and Lives. And tt wete eafy 
 to enlarge upon the uncommon Lex,cuty which 
 this excfllent Pcrfon had in improving Sick- 
 nefs, and the Approaches of the King ; of T 
 rors, to the Advantage of thole who were ex 
 pofed to them: So that tho Inftanqes of a 
 Dea;h-bed Repentance rarely happen, and k be 
 indeed infinite' Madnef. to delay to the aft 
 Hour that Work which is of eternal Con e- 
 mience ; Vet there wanted not Evidences of the 
 Btine Blcffirg upon his Endeavours to reclaim 
 Sinners, and call them to God even m the 
 
 “S be juftly b'araeablc if we neglected 
 to mention one other noble Quality of Mr.G»- 
 thrie '& • The State of his Health mad* it nccel- 
 fary for him to ufe frequent and vigorous Ex- 
 erdies and this made him choofe b lfhmg and 
 Fowling 3 for his common Recreations: But as 
 
 fhe 1 ory W of'^Lbteffed Rafter,°aa| a tender 
 
 2~S&£?&2rJii£'Zi 
 
 ynfgreffort, iron, their Ways; fo toe very 
 Hours of Recreation were abdicated .o this 
 Purpoie which was fo endeared to huts, and he 
 knew how to make his Diverfions fubiervient 
 to the nobler Ends of his Munftiy, he made 
 them the Occafions of familiarizing his Ieop|e 
 
of Mr . W illiam Guthrie, xv 
 
 to him, and introducing himfelf to their Affec¬ 
 tions ; and, in the Difguife of a Sport fman, he 
 gained fume to a religious Life, whom he could 
 have little Influence upon in a Minifter’sGown; 
 of which there happened feveral memorable 
 Examples. 
 
 Some of the Parifli were fo extremely rude 
 and barbarous, that they never attended upon 
 Divine Worfhip, and knew not lo much as the 
 Face of their Pallor ; to fuch every Thing that 
 regarded Religion was diltalleful, a Minifter 
 would have been enough to have frightned 
 them, nor could he have Accefs either to vilit 
 or catechize them : But what Mr. Guthrie might 
 have almoft otherwife defpaiieJ of, he effetiu- 
 ated by his Diverfions; in the Habit which he 
 then wore, he conciliated the Efteem and Love 
 even of thefe ignorant Creatures, made Ule of 
 their C viofity, as well as of nobler Arguments, 
 to bring them to the Church, and enter them 
 into tiie Paths of Salvation ; fo rhar the Pul¬ 
 pit was the firft Place which diicovered to them 
 that it was their Minilfer himfelf who had al¬ 
 lured them thither; and fo Gondefending a 
 Method of gaining them procured a confiant 
 Attendance up-n publick Ordinances, and was 
 at Length accompanied by the Fruits of Righ- 
 teoufnels, which are thro’ Jeftis Chriif unto 
 I the Praife of God. Thus, in Imitation of the 
 i gieat Apoft'le, being crafty he oatight them 
 with Guile. And this heavenly Wifdom and 
 Dexterity will be one Day celebrated with jailer 
 
xvi ■ M E M O I R S of the Life 
 
 Applaufes by the Aflembify of the Firft born, 
 
 ' than the cunningeft Stratagems, or the brave ft 
 Attempts which raife the Character of Princes 
 and Generals, whofe Fame liies now fwifteft 
 and wide ft through the World. 
 
 Thus his eminent Abilities and unwearied 
 Diligence in the Work of the Miniliry conti¬ 
 nued to exert themfelves with diiiinguifhed 
 Succefs; they procured the univerfal Love of 
 his Pari fit, and he lived for one and twenty 
 Years in fitch perfect Harmony with his S.cffion, 
 that during all that time, there happened not 
 the fmaljeit difterence betwixt them 
 
 Tils Family affairs were alfo very ec.fy and 
 comfortable to him. Augufl 1^45 he was hap¬ 
 pily married to j4g:es Campb. /, Daughter to Da¬ 
 vid Campbell, of 6 beldon, in t e Shire of Alr> a 
 remote Branch of the Family of Lmdon ; a 
 Gentlewoman endowed with all thefe. Qualities 
 that could render her a BlefTng to her Huf- 
 band, having joined to a handlome Shape and 
 comely Features, good Senfe and good Breed¬ 
 ing, fweetned by a mcdefl Cheerfulnefsof Tem¬ 
 per, and what endeared her to Mr. Guthrie be¬ 
 yond every thing elfe, fincere Piety : So that 
 they lived a iittle more than twenty Years, in 
 the mod complete Friendfbip, and with a con- 
 ftant mutual Satisfaction founded upon the no- 
 blcft Principle, one Faith, one Hope, one 
 Baptifm, and a fovereign JLove to Jefits Cl 1 rift 
 which zealoufly infpired them born. By her 
 he had Six Children, Two of whom only out¬ 
 lived 
 
tf Mr. "W illiam Guthrie, xvii 
 
 lived him, both Daughters, who were eminent 
 for their fincere Piety, and endeavoured to fol¬ 
 low the Example of their excellent Parents. 
 One of them was married to Miller of G/en/ce, 
 a Gentleman in the Shit e of Air ; and the o- 
 thcr ft 3s married to the Reverend Mr .Patrick 
 Warner, December 168 i, when the Tyrarmy and 
 Creuelty of the Times were growing to their 
 Height, and fo fhe foon became a Companion 
 to him in Tribulation, Imprisonment and Ba- 
 nilhment for the Truth's Sake; till the glo¬ 
 rious Revolution, when Mr. Warner was fettled 
 Miniffer of the Gofpel at Irvine. Both he and 
 fhew are yet living full of Years, waiting till 
 their Change come. Their Children are, Wil¬ 
 liam Warner of Ardeir, in the Shire of Air ; and 
 Margaret Warner , married to Mr. Robert IVedrow 
 Miniffer of the Gofpel at Eajhvood, to whom 
 we are obliged for the Materials, from which 
 this Account of Mr Guthrie’s Life is compofed. 
 
 We have given a fhort Account of Mr. Gu¬ 
 thrie’s eminent minifterial Endowments, as they 
 appeared in the Difcharge of the paftoral Office 
 . among his own People, and of the glorious Suc- 
 cefTes wherewith God blefled his zealous Love 
 and unwearied Diligence: Bnt this was nflt the 
 folc Chara&cr which he excelled in ; for in e- 
 very other Capacity he gave equal Proofs of 
 his fuperior Accompliffiments. 
 
 He was diftinguifhed in the Judicatures of 
 the Church, from which he never allowed him- 
 -felf to be abfenr, by a thorow Knowledge of 
 
 i our 
 
xviii MEMOIRS^/ the Life 
 
 our Conftiturion, an heroick Courage and Firm- 
 rrefs whenever the Cgufe of Truth and Holinsfs 
 was concerned ; and that modeft Regard for o- 
 thers, and Affe&ion to his Brethren, which 
 endeared hint to them, and qualified him for 
 the Bufinefsand Duties of Society. 
 
 When the unhappy Diftinaion betwixt the 
 pubiick Refolutioncrs and the Protefters found 
 Place in the Church, Mr. Guthrie thought it 
 his Duty to be of the luft Denomination : Yet 
 he took Care that his angry paffions did. not 
 embitter his Zeal, which he tempered wi r h a 
 conftant Moderation, and fweetned with an ar¬ 
 dent Love to Peace. He preached with his 
 Brethren of different Sentiments ; and warmly 
 entertained every Thing that had a Tendency 
 to Union, and could give Profpedt of an Ac¬ 
 commodation : The Power of Divine Grace, 
 and his native Genius and Temper, with united 
 Force engaging him to healing Meafures, and 
 inspiring him with an Abhorrency for fuch as 
 were factious and divifive t fo that during a 
 Seafon of fo great Difficulties and Hoards, he 
 avoided every Extreme, and became a bright 
 Example of a zealous Moderation, whereby 
 he was of more than ordinary Ufcfulnefs to thft 
 Church on atl pubiick Occafions. 
 
 in the Year 1645, when a young Man, he 
 was appointed by the Aflembly to attend the 
 Army ; a happy Conjunction of all the Endow ¬ 
 ments which could qualify a Perfdn tor that 
 
 Sta- 
 
of Mr. AV illiam Guthrie xix 
 
 S,ration foon determining t'e Church to make 
 him their Choice. Being newly married, he 
 was then in fiich Circumftanccs, as under the 
 Mofaical OEconomy, would have afforded him 
 a Difpenfation from that Service : And his af¬ 
 fectionate Wife was not a little frightned at the 
 Dangers he might be expofed to, which in- 
 created her Averfion to fuch a Degree, that her 
 reluctant Aftedtion ftruggled with her Duty ; 
 but the Voice of Providence loon gave the laft 
 Principle the Superiority. When he was pre¬ 
 paring for his Departure, a violent Fit of the 
 Gravel reduced him to the greatefl Extremity 
 of Pain and Danger; His religious Spoute un- 
 detflood and improved the Divine Chaflifement; 
 fhe faw how eaflly God could put an End to 
 a Life fhe was too apprehenfive about; and 
 this wrought her up to fixed Refolution ne¬ 
 ver to oppole her Inclinations to his entring u- 
 pon any Imployment whereby he might honour 
 his Matter, how formidable foever were the 
 Hazards which attended it. While he was 
 with the Army, he was iti a remarkable Man¬ 
 ner preferved when in very dangerous Circum- 
 fiancef, upon a Defeat of a Party which he 
 was then with. He ever after retained a grate¬ 
 ful Senle of the Divine Goodnefs; and, after 
 his return to the Parifli, was animated there¬ 
 by to a more vigorous Diligence in the Work 
 of the Miaiflry, and propagating the King¬ 
 dom of the Son of God, both among his own 
 People, and all who were round about himj 
 
 his 
 
XX M E M O 1 R S of the life 
 
 s 
 
 his buhiick Reaching, cf e-tally at the Admi- 
 nift ration of the I. obd’s Supper, and his pri¬ 
 vate Converfation cohfpiring for thole noble 
 
 Purpofes. ^ , . n • 
 
 And indeed : n other Re<peCts al'o, his ihi- 
 ninn- Pietv, -VVifdom, and good Breeding made 
 him univerfalty ufeful in the Country where he 
 Jived. The juft Value which the Nobihry and 
 'Gentry in the Neighbourhood had tor him, and 
 the Inttreft which this gave him with them, 
 enabled him to improve liiccesfully frequent 
 Opportunities he had to do good Offices to pa - 
 t cular Pertons, to compote Differences, and 
 remove Feuds which were ready enough to pre¬ 
 vail in the Church, by procuring the Coment 
 and Support of rhofe concerned, in planting va¬ 
 cant Congregations with Men worthy of the 
 
 facred Character. . 
 
 The prevailing of the En^ltfh Sectarians un¬ 
 der Oliver Cronmel , and the Variety or At¬ 
 tempts which they made, while in Scotland y u- 
 pon the Conftitution and Diciphue ot the 
 Church, was one of the Difficulties which the 
 M inift,rv had then to ftruggle with ; and it, a- 
 mong others, gave a Dilcovery of the excel ent 
 Qua! ides o f Mr Guthrie. His pleafant faceti¬ 
 ous Converfation, and mafterly Reafoamg, 
 procured him an univerfai Refpctt from the 
 Etielijh Officers, and made them fond or his 
 Company, while at the fame Time his Cou¬ 
 rage and Conftaucy did not fail him in the Caule 
 
of Mr. AV ill i a m Guthrie xxi 
 
 of his great Matter, and were often ufeful to 
 curb the Extravagancies of die Sectarians, a:.d 
 maintain Order and Regularity, One pittance 
 hereof happened at the Sacrament of the 
 Lord’s Supper celebrated ar Glnfeow by Mr. 
 Andrew Gray. Several of the Evglijh Officers 
 h3d formed a Dcfignto put in Execution the 
 difbrderly Principle of a promifeuous Admif- 
 fion to the Lord’s Table, by coming to it 
 themfelves without acquainting the Minifter, 
 or being in a due Manner found worthy of that 
 Priviledge Mr. Guthrie , to whole Share it 
 fell to difpenfe the Sacrament at that Tabic, 
 fjioke to them when they were leaving their 
 Pews in order to make their Attempt, with 
 lu'h Gravity, Re foist ion and Zeal, that they 
 <vere quite confounded, and fat down, again 
 without oecafioning any further Difturbance, 
 
 The (Quakers alfo endeavoured about this 
 Time to low Pares in Mr. Guthrie's Paritti, im¬ 
 proving for this End his Abfchce for forne 
 Weeks, during wiiieh he was detained in An-- 
 guf about his private Affairs: But he returned 
 before the Poifbn had funk deep, reeovered 
 fotne har were in hazard of being tainted by 
 its fatal Influences.; and in Conference fo con¬ 
 founded thole Hcrcticks, that they defpaired of 
 ever artacki g with Succefs a Flock guarded by , 
 fo Witch till and skilful a Shepherd, whereas 
 ibev nad made too many Profeiytes to their 
 wild D-u lions in Kilbride, and lome other neigh¬ 
 bouring P^nfhes. 
 
 It 
 
xxii MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 It may be eafily imagined, th3t the eminent 
 Gifts and Graces of this excellent Perfon would 
 engage Parifhes of greater Character and Im¬ 
 portance than Finwick to defire his Miniftry, and 
 carneftly labour for Succefs in their Attempts 
 to obtain it; and indeed his People and him- 
 felf were frequently expofed to the Troubles 
 of Procefles of Tranfportation, and vexed with 
 Fears as to the Iflue of them, Renfrew, Linlith¬ 
 gow, Stirling , Glafgow and Edinburgh, having all 
 of them called him. But befide the indifferent 
 Opinion he entertained of the Method of fup- 
 plying Vacancies by Tranfportations in general, 
 and that the Air and Diverfions of a Conntry- 
 Life were of Ufe to him in maintaining a heal¬ 
 thy Conftitution ; his Love to his Folk was 
 fo warm and conftant, that he put an invincible 
 Obftinacy againft all Defigns of feparating him 
 from them. A Relation is indeed founded on 
 the noblefl Bottom, and finks deepeft into the 
 Soul, when it is animated with the Principle of 
 the Spiritual Life; and therefore it muff in the 
 higheft Degree endear a Minifter to his People, 
 and engage their Affection and Efteem by the. 
 molt powerful Tye, when his Labours have 
 been luccefsful in reclaiming them from Sin 
 their Ruin, and perfuading them to enter upon 
 a religious Life; and fo they owe to him, as far 
 as they can do to an Lnftrument in the Hand of 
 Go©, the Salvation of their immmorial Souls, 
 which is the incomparably ftrongeft Obligation 
 that one Man can have to another, and the 
 
of Mr, W ill i am Guthrie xxiii 
 
 moft flowing Source of Gratitude : And on the 
 other Hand, a Minifter can Icarce mifs to have 
 a peculiar Tendernefs and Warmth of divine 
 Affection for thole, whole Father he is after 
 the Spirit, and hath been honoured by God in 
 bringing them to the Kingdom of his Son, and 
 begetting them through the Gofpel, whole hea¬ 
 venly birth is now the higheft Plealurc and 
 brighteft Triumph of his Life, and will be one 
 Day his Crown of Glory and Rejoicing. A 
 Friendlhip that had fuch a Life, and was invi¬ 
 gorated by a Spirit lo pure and adtive, made 
 Air Guthrie prefer Fin-wick, a poor obfeure Parifh, 
 to the moft confiderable Charges in the Nation; 
 which was a proof of his Mortification to the 
 World, and that he was moved by Views fupe- 
 rior to temporal Jnterefts. 
 
 Thus Mr. Guthrie continued with his old 
 Parifh, till the great Alteration which the 
 Reftoration of King Gharlet II, made in pu- 
 blick Affairs. The firft difeovery that the 
 Meafures of the Court gave of a Defign to o- 
 verturn the Government of the Church, affec¬ 
 ted the worthy Mr. Guthrie in the moft fenfible 
 Part ; nor could any thing afford him Satisfac¬ 
 tion,. while file was in Trouble, and about to. 
 be laid defolate; nor did he let any Occafion. 
 flip of Ihewing his Concern for that which was 
 dearer to him than his other Interefts. At the 
 Synod .of Gh.ifgoto y held dpnl i66i t after long 
 Reafoning about proper Meafures for the Secu¬ 
 rity of Religion, the Matter was referred to a 
 , Com- 
 
xxiv MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 Committee ; Mr. Guthrie prefentcd the Draught 
 of an Addrefs to the Parliament w.ierem a 
 faithful Teftimony was given to the Purity of 
 our Reformation in Worfhip, Dodbne, Dif- 
 cipline, and Government, in terms equally re¬ 
 markable for their Prudence and their Coutage. 
 Every Body approved of it, and it was tranf- 
 mitted to the Synod: but lome worthy Mini* 
 fters of the Side of the publtck Refolunoners, 
 being doubtful of the Seafonabiencfs of fuch 
 a Reprefentation, confidering the Difficulties 
 of the Times, gave an Opportunity to thoie 
 who defigned to comply with Prelacy , to pro¬ 
 cure a Delay, and fo to crufh it; waici 
 not prevent its being ierviceable to the End of 
 our now mentioning it, namely., aff'ui l ^g a ™ 
 of the zealous Honefty and birmnefs of Mr. 
 
 Guthrie _ , „ r i„ 
 
 Another Inffance whereof wis, tneReo - 
 
 tion he took to wait upon his worthy Friend 
 Mr. James Guthrie at his Execution, inot wit. v- 
 
 ft an ding the apparent Hazards he mud theie y 
 
 have expofed himfelf to- But his Seffipre¬ 
 vailed upon him, tho’ not without Difficulty, 
 bv their earned Inrreaties, to lay_ aftde a 
 fign that could nor mifs to deprive them im¬ 
 mediately o f his Miniitry, which by the Good- 
 nefs of Gob, they enjoyed fome \ears after 
 
 hi' Brethren were ejected 
 
 Next to the Protection of a kind Providence, 
 and the fervent Prayers of his o wn Peop.e, and 
 of many others, unto which he aiways anu- 
 
of Mr . ~\V i l l i a m Guthrie, xxv 
 
 buted rhis d'ftinguifhed Favour it the fi it 
 Place ; Mr. Guthrie s being connived at for Pune 
 Time, was principally owing to rhe Favour of 
 dome great Men in the Government, particu¬ 
 larly the Earls cf Eglintoun and Gleneairn , rhe 
 la{t of whom had a Rega d tor him w.iich was 
 heightned by a Co- junction of Efteem and Gra¬ 
 titude, Mr. Guthrie having had Occafion to o- 
 blige him whe t imprifbned for his Loyalty be¬ 
 fore the Rertoration, w.iich that noble Lord 
 never forgot, and when he was Chancellor* 
 contributed what he could to his Preierva- 
 tion, by which Means he e joyed the peaceable 
 PofiTeffion of his Church till the Year 1664. 
 
 As God had defigne i and prepared him for 
 eminent and extenfive Services, during this Pe¬ 
 riod, his excellent Accompliflimcnts now ex¬ 
 erted themlelves with the greareft Efficacy, 
 and his (Jfefulnels was mo e uoiyer allv diftuied 
 through ;he whole Country, wnich was in a 
 great Meahire deprived of their Paftors. Ma¬ 
 ny then hungred after rhe Word <4 the Lord, 
 and this made them wirii more Eagernefs em¬ 
 brace the Advantage wnich a merciful Provi¬ 
 dence iff mded them, of Mr Guthrie's Minith-y. 
 Great Multitudes re (or ted to him from all the 
 Parts of the Weft Country ; his large Churclt 
 was crowded with Hearers iroxxiGlafgovo. Pitiff, 
 Ltm.rk , Hamiitm, *&1 other diffauc Places, 
 and his (trong and clear Voice enabled him to 
 extend, the Profit of his Difcourles to the many 
 
 b Hun- 
 
pf xv i M EMOIRS of the Life 
 
 -“A. v ‘ ~ 
 
 Hundreds who were obliged to beep without 
 D An‘extraordinary Zeal then enlivened the 
 
 f • , * Wav and bear cheerfully with ma- 
 
 th E i ,r Tore That it was their uiuul L iviCtiee 
 
 “ eomeTo r«U -pon SaW^fpend the great- 
 
 ft Part of that Night in Prayer toG o i vandLon- 
 
 SF£StM , =£W.S 
 
 rehgrous Ex.rciTe ana t MileSf wU h- 
 
 h°me Ten, ot ( G long a Way, 
 
 cut gj ud ^ n » fSl b an d other Retreflimenrs, 
 and the_W an P , prepared for any Ba- 
 
 or finding * emfe , v f ^ e l ^ m uch was-their 
 
 finefs throughout t^ V^eek, u>^rn 
 
 A, remarkable 
 
 the it»ei . ra. ftninces that were did- 
 
 a Dif - 
 
 peniedto leop lumbers were con- 
 
 K*K».b. T,*..; — 
 
 s2WS» -.. - 
 
11* l i 4 m Guthrie xxvii 
 
 cxet ted itlclf in a holy Warrrrh of lanCtified' 
 Affections, a ravifhing Pleafure in divine Fe!- 
 lov>. fhip, and u noble Joy and Triumph in their 
 King and Saviour, which were to be vifibly 
 dilcerned in the Hearers.; many were confirm - 
 ed in the good Ways of the Loris, ftrength- 
 red and comforted again ft temporal Fears and 
 Difcouragemcntff; and the Fruits of Righrcouf 
 nefs difcovering their Beauty and Excellency ins 
 a holy Conversion, were a glorious Proof of 
 the Sincerity of their ProfefTion, and the won- 
 deiful Succefs of Air Guthrie s Miniftry. And 
 there are fome of thole yet alive, of whole 
 Con vetfion to a Religious Rife Hod honoured 
 him to be the Inftrumenr, who are ready to at- 
 teft much more than hath been juft now laid; 
 and can never think, without an Exultation o£ 
 Soul, and Emotion of revived Affections, upon 
 the Memory of their fpiritual Father, and the 
 Power of that victorious Grace, which’ in thole 
 Days triumphed fo glorioufly. 
 
 During thefe few Years, while Mr. Guthrie 
 was connived at, the Dangers of the Time ne¬ 
 ver frighened him from his Duty: Bur, with 
 a becoming Boldnefs, fortified his People in a. 
 zealous Adherence to the Purity of our Refer! 
 mation, warned them of the Defection that 
 was then made by the Introduction of Prelacy 
 and inltrudtcd them in the Duties of fb difficult 
 a Seafon; while lie recommended by his own 
 Sreddinels what he taught from the pulpit, he 
 conttanrly maintaining Fcllowlliip with his e- 
 
4xviii M EMOIRS of the Life 
 
 i e aed Brethren, and never making the leaf* 
 Compliance with the Prclatldc Schemes. And 
 ycC in his Sermons he governed hisCouragean 
 L*h1ulnefsbv Chriftian Prudence , and, with 
 Re eixnce to Civil A flairs, confined himlel fo 
 K U rn rhe Language of the iacred Oracles, 
 and" expreffed hiint'elt with fuch a juft Regard 
 to law.ul Authority, that his Enemies could 
 
 find no Occafion agiinfthim. _ ttc.Ch! 
 
 The extraordinary Reputation and Weft - 
 rc e s 0 f My. Guthrie, who was admired and fol¬ 
 ic wed by all the Country, provoked the jea- 
 i n, nd anew Paffions of the Prelates; and 
 h°is excellent Merit became one of theCaufes 
 
 i uG ir^t^z ^tdwS. k si 
 
 r^dfidai-fful Air, telling him, That cannot be 
 a , nd {t lha n mt J:t is a Ring leader and Keeper up 
 
 tthhl m ”>y &«'!* *. anri lheu P reny abr , upt_ 
 
 ?{ . ft the Chancellor. Rmallan, Cwnmgh'vn- 
 X.j an d fome other Presbyterian Gentlemen, 
 h Z\l were waiting on him, obierving the Chan- 
 kor di’cumpolca when he left the Archbifliop, 
 »Ik Wh« the Matter beWo 
 
of Mr. "W illiam Guthrie, xxix 
 
 which the Earl answered, We have fit up theft 
 Men , and they will tread us under their Feet. Ia 
 Conlequence of this Refolurion of the inexora¬ 
 ble Archbifhop Burnet, upon the 24th of July 
 Mr Guthrie was, by a Commi/Tton from 
 him, iufpended, difcharged the Exercife of hiss 
 Miniftry and his Church declared vacant, and 
 he himfelf by an armed Force obliged to re¬ 
 move from it: A large Account of which will 
 be given by the Reverend Mr IVodrow , in that 
 ufeful and much defired Work, The Hi(lo>y ofi 
 the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland, which 
 will fhortly be publifhed *. He was notwirh- 
 ftandin’g allowed to live in his Manle at Fin- 
 wick , where he continued feme more thanaYear; 
 during which he was exceeding ufefui to hi/ 
 People in a private Ch a rafter. 
 
 His Brother to whom he had made over his 
 paternal Eftate of Pitjortloy , dying in the Sum¬ 
 mer 1 66 5, Mr Guthrie's Pre fence there was 
 neceffkry for ordering private Affairs, Which 
 made him and his Wife take Journey for Angus 
 about that Time. He had not been long in 
 that Country, till he was feizedby a Complica¬ 
 tion of Diilempers, rhe Gravel, with which 
 he had been frequently tortured, the Gout, and 
 a violent Heart-burning, at once attacked him 
 
 b 3 with 
 
 * Thir Memoirs ofi the Lifie Mr Williem Gu¬ 
 thrie were wrote iu the Te xr 17 20, before Mr. Wo~ 
 drow’s Hiftory was publijhed . 
 
xxx M E M O' I R S of the Life 
 
 with great Fury: The Agonies which thofe 
 Three terrible Engines of Pain occasioned 
 were alrrcft infupportable ; and were therefore 
 a Scene prepared for a brighter Appearance of 
 the Confrancy, Patience and Refignation of this 
 worthy Minifter. In the Midft of this heavy 
 AfHi&ions, he ftill adoied the Meafures of di¬ 
 vine Providence, tho' at the fame Time lie 
 longed for his Diflblution, and exprefied the 
 Satista&ion and Joy with which he would 
 make the Grave his Dwelling-place, when Gop 
 ihould think fit to give him . Reft there : His 
 compaffionate Maftcr at Eft indulged the pious 
 Breathings of his Soul ; after Eight or Ten 
 Days Illenefs he was gathered to his bathers, 
 and died in the Houle of his Brother-in-law, 
 Air. Lewis Skinner, Minifter at Brechin , upon 
 iVtdnefday the Tenth of OcioLcr 1665, Afternoon, 
 in the 45 th Year of his Age, and was buried in 
 the Church of Brechin , under Pitforthys Desk. 
 And as he- himfclf died in the full Mu ranee of 
 Faith, as to his own Intereft in the Covenant 
 cf God, and under the plcaftng Hopes that 
 v God would return in Glory to the Church of 
 Scotland; So we have no Doubt that his 
 better Parr, his Soul was carried by Angels o 
 thole peaceful Regions, not one of the Inha¬ 
 bitants whereof ever lays that he is fick ; and 
 is now fhir.ing amidft the darling Glories of 
 thofe fuperioiOrbs,which are deftined for tbeHe- 
 rces of Chrillianiry, who have turned many 
 unto Riglucouinefs, and have bom a diitingusni- 
 
 ed 
 

 of Mr. Will i a m Guthrie, xx%» 
 
 cd Parr in the Battles and Triumphs cf rise King 
 of Saints. 
 
 * During his Sicknefs he was vihted by the 
 Bifhop of Brechin , and fcveral Epifcopal Mini- 
 fters, his Relations and Acquaintance's ; who 
 all had an high Value for him, notwichfund¬ 
 ing he, with an ingenuous Freedom, exprefied 
 to them his Sorrow for their Compliance with 
 the corrupr EffabiiiEmenr in EcclcfuiHcal Af¬ 
 fairs, which was then made 
 
 This fhort and imperfeft Account of 'his 
 Life may, in fome Meafure, let the Reader in¬ 
 to the Charadler, of this excellent Perfon : But 
 we hope it will nor be unacceptable, if with¬ 
 out repeating what hath been already repfeieri- 
 ted, we, in a very plain and fimple Manner* 
 give lb me farther Account of his Character, a s 
 we have it from Perfons of undoubted Repura’ 
 tion, who were themfeives well acouainred vfith 
 him. 
 
 His Perfon was (lately and 'well fhaped, and 
 
 his Features comely and han’diomc- And while 
 he was railed above an eftemhu'*: i)eii:acy, 
 which was unworthy the. Dignity of the Mini- 
 fterial Character, he abhorred a fbvenly Me.m- 
 nefs, as very far below ir, and was therefore 
 near and cleanly in his Apparel; And in his 
 whole Behaviour, as well as in his Drcf-, there 
 was nothing that could give the 1c# jQifgufl 
 to Gentlemen of the politeli Education ana 
 niceft Taite. An awful Gravity dwelt upon his 
 Countenance, and never gave ' Way to Levity 
 
 b 4 in 
 
xxxii 
 
 M EMOIRS of the Life 
 
 in Converfation, nr thofe Freedom?* which were 
 unbecoming his facred Offi e, however alow- 
 aRe rhey might be to Perfnns of a different 
 Order : But he knew how to fweeren and ma¬ 
 nage his Temper, fo as never to degenerate into 
 an affciffed Solemnity, or inconverfible Aufte- 
 rity ; but was ufually extremely cheerful and 
 facetious in his Converfation, which made it 
 univerfally ageeeable, and added to the Efteem 
 of a Minifter the Endearments of a Friend and 
 Comrade: Tho’ indeed, which is generally 
 he Cafe of great Spirits, there was in his Tem¬ 
 per an Intermixture of Thoughtfulneis and 
 Melancholy, which fomerimes gained the Su¬ 
 periority, when the publick Interefts were en¬ 
 dangered, and the Enemies of Z/o», which 
 was his favourite Concern, prevailed. 
 
 He ufed the innocent Recreations and Exer- 
 cifes wh'ch then prevailed, Riffling, P’owling, 
 and playing upon the Ice, which at the fame 
 Time contributed to preferve a vigorous Health, 
 and while in frequent Converfation with the 
 beft of the neighbouring Gentry as thefe Oo- 
 caffons gave him Accefs, to bear in upon them 
 Reproofs and Inftrudtions with an inoffenfive 
 Familiarity. 
 
 His firong, clear and melodious Voice, joyn’d 
 to a good Ear, gave him a great Piealiire in 
 Mufick, in the Theory and Practice of which 
 he had a more than ordinary Dexterity: And 
 he failed not with mighty Joy and Satisfac¬ 
 tion, to employ frequently his Voice for the no¬ 
 ble ft 
 
of Mr. AY" i i l l a m G ut h r r e. Xxxii* 
 
 bleft Ufe of it, the Praifes of his Maker and 
 Saviour; in which Part of divine Worfhip, his 
 Soul and Body aided with an united and un¬ 
 wearied Vigour. 
 
 Al l the other amiable Qualities that can give 
 a Luftre to a Man or a ChrifHan, recommen¬ 
 ded this excellent Perfon : His Generofity, Hof' 
 pitality, and charitable Difpofition, were on 
 all proper Qccafions confipicuous, and his mo- 
 deft humility gave a Lovelinefs to his other 
 Virtues. Few Men had .greater Temptations 
 offered to Pride and Vanity; his natural and 
 acquired Abilities, great Succefs, eftablifhed 
 Reputation, and the Applauies of the whole 
 Country who admired him, were all danger¬ 
 ous Flatterers, apt to beguile a Man into a fond 
 Conceit of himfelf; but his Lowlinefs of Mind 
 was proof againft thefe pleafing Seducers, nor 
 could they charm him into Self-fufficiency and 
 Efteem, for he had not fo learned Chrift, and 
 knew that he pofiefled nothing, but what he 
 had freely received. 
 
 He excelled in another noble Part of Reli¬ 
 gion, as well as Humanity, an aftedfionate Synv 
 pathy with fuch as were expofed either to out¬ 
 ward Afffidtions, or the heavier Troubles of a 
 difquieted Soul: for fuch he had always a mel¬ 
 ting Tendernefs, and embraced every Occafion 
 of fuccouring and relieving them : His own Ex¬ 
 perience filled him with Pity for thofe who 
 were in like Circumftances, gave him, in fome 
 Meafure, what hi,s great Mafter hath always 
 
 b ..5 in 
 
xxx] v M E M DIRS of the Life 
 
 in an incomparably more exalted Degree for 
 poor Sinners, a Fellow-feeling of their Infir¬ 
 mities, and enabled as well as (birred him up to 
 comfort them with the C/Onfolations whereby 
 God had refrcfhed and folaced his own Soul ; 
 and he w : as ever fending up fervent Prayers to 
 tiie Throne of Grace in their Behalf. ^ 
 
 We have in the former Part of this Account 
 of Mr. Guthrie , mentioned feveral of thofe e- 
 minent Minifierial Qualifications which he pof- 
 lefl'ed, and made his Charabteuas a Miniflcr, 
 equal to that which he fo juftly enjoyed as a 
 Man and a Chriilian. 
 
 In his Youth he had been a hard Student, 
 and this gave him a Value for all the Branches 
 of Learning, and an Acquaintance with them i 
 Hut above all his favourite Employment was 
 the Study of the holy Scriptures, which he 
 read often in the original Languages ; and cut 
 of this divine Treafure of fpiritual Knowledge 
 he brought our,’ as our Saviour fpeaks, 
 Things new and old, which were of the high- 
 eft Advantage to him when he came to the l ul- 
 pit. As a thorough Acquaintance with the Bi¬ 
 ble* is the beft Way to make a good Preacher ; 
 jo this was one Mean of that Excellency in 
 Difcourfes from the Pulpit, for which Mr. Guth¬ 
 rie was fo much celebrated: And indeed bis. 
 Sermons had all the Advantages^ which co id 
 be given therof by a clear Explication of the 
 Text, Obfervations and Enlargements that were 
 important and luits-ble to the Subject, Aliuhons 
 
of Mr. V, i l l i a m Guthrie xxxv 
 
 and Illuftrations adapted to the mea-'eft Capa¬ 
 cities of his People, and at the fame Time to 
 the Dignity of the Pulpit, and the ilonon;* of 
 Religion, which required a very uncommon 
 Talent; and then a lively and ailed in g Appii- 
 cation of the Doctrines which he tauglit, to the 
 Confciences of his Hearers, with an admirable 
 Mixture of Light and Hear, calculated to in- 
 ftrudl the Ignorant, awaken the Secure, and 
 enliven the whole Soul in the Ways of God; 
 And to conclude, Sermons fo excellent in their 
 Gompofurc, were delivered with a clear, flrono- 
 and well tuned Voice., a graceful and vehement 
 Adtion, and Eyes flowing with Tears, which 
 were Circumftances of no little Advantage. 
 
 In Prayer to God Mr. Guthrie equal!’d, if 
 not exceeded himfelf as a Preacher; The high- 
 eft Serioufnefs and Fervency, an Aw of the 
 great God on his Soul, and a lively Faith in 
 his fatherly Gcodnefs and Cave, together with 
 an inward Feeling of what he fpoke, ail re¬ 
 markably accompanying his Addrefles to the 
 Throne of Grace in fuch a Degree, that many 
 who heard him were ufhally melted into Tears 
 of Afledtion, and exceedingly edifled. 
 
 And to conclude, all his eminent Qualities 
 were fan&ified by the Grace of God, and 
 heightned by an.unaffc&ed Piety, and delighc- 
 ful Feilowfhip with Goo through Chrift fun¬ 
 der tire Shmings of whole Countenance he 
 habitually lived, and attained to a very uncom¬ 
 mon Degree of Spiritual - mindedncD, of a hea¬ 
 venly 
 
xxxvi MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 venly Frame and Temper, and of Joy and Peace 
 in believing, while he both lived and died in 
 full AfTurar.ee of Faith. 
 
 We fhall put an Er.d to this imperfedt Ac¬ 
 count of the Life and Character o; fo eminent 
 a Perfon, by the Teitimonies of Mr. ‘John Li- 
 vingfone Miniftcr at Ancrwm, and Mr. Matthew 
 Crawford Minister at Eafwood, both his Contem¬ 
 poraries, concerning him. The firft, in a ma- 
 nufeript Account which he wrote of the Mini- 
 Iters of his own Tin e, hath what follows, 
 Mr. William Guthrie Mini tier at Finick, was 
 a Mm cf a mofl ready Gift and plentiful Invent, on, 
 with nof apptjiu Cm pari [my ft both to awaken 
 and pacify Consciences ; frnight and ftcdfafl in the 
 pul lick Caufe oj Chrifi ; He was a great Light in the 
 Weft of Scotland. He was much and often 
 troubled with the Gravel, whereof fa d. e ./. In ano¬ 
 ther Place he fays, In his Doth-me Mr. William 
 Guthrie was as full and free as any Man in Scot¬ 
 land had ever been, which, together with the Ex¬ 
 cellency of his Preaching Gift, did fo recommend him 
 to the Afflblions of People, that they turned the Corn¬ 
 field of his Glebe to a tittle Town ; every one Building 
 a Houfc fer his Family upon it, that they might live < 
 tender the Drop of his Minijlry. 
 
 The other, Mr. Matthew Crawford, in his ma>- 
 nufeript Hiftory of the Church of Scot¬ 
 land, hath thele Words; Mr. William Guth¬ 
 rie was a burning and fhining Light, kept in after 
 many ethers, by the Favour of tie old Lari of Eg- 
 lintoun, The Chancellor’s Father in Law, He con 
 
 verted 
 
of Mr. WittiAM Guthrie, xxxvii 
 
 verted mid confirmed many Thoufand Sou/s, and roas 
 ejieemed the greaujl praSiical Preacher in Scot- 
 Iand 
 
 Mr. Rutherford in his Letters hath -fome PafI 
 lages concerning Mr. Guthrie ; but thefe bein<* 
 already publiffied, it would be needlefs to 
 tranferibe any Thing from them,. Nor fliall 
 we detain the Reader by the Chara&er which 
 Mr. Trail gives of Mr. Guthrie from his own 
 knowledge of him, fince it may be found with 
 more Advantage in the Preface which th^t wor¬ 
 thy Mmifter prefixed to the Edition of this 
 1 reatifc publtflicd at London 1705, and fince re¬ 
 printed at Edinburgh. 
 
 Though few People have been in all Re- 
 Ipects better qualified to write upon practical 
 Subjects, yet the modeft and diffident Senti- 
 ment which Mr. Guthrie always entertained of 
 himfelf, deprived the World of the great Ad¬ 
 vantage they would have reaped from his Ser¬ 
 mons, and other Corrtpofures of this Nature 
 had ne thought fit to make them publick. But 
 to trie no final 1 Lofs of the Church, this ex- 
 eehent Treatife is the only genuine Performance 
 of Mr. Guthrie which hath the Light, the 
 Publication wHereof was owing to another 
 Cau.e rather than to the Inclination of the 
 Author, which was plainly enough forced u- 
 p°n riiis Occafion. Some unknown Perfon Came 
 by a Copy of a few iipperfedt Notes of Tome 
 Sermons that Mr. Guthrie had preached upon the 
 yjth or lfai M) wuh Relation to perfonal Co¬ 
 venanting; 
 
jcx*vttl M EMOIRS cj the Life 
 
 venantme ; ami without the fmallcft lutima- 
 ™uof his Defign made to him, printed them 
 “ a froall Pamphlet of«l Pi* tamo, under 
 his Tide, Adearf.maaive, Warmmg Best*. of 
 U ,U, frmCMji lb. Sun .f Life, Mp «J°m- 
 n,f is held forth a dear, (,end and <4y 
 
 ,fa Soul’s funicular define mth , G0D ’"‘ f 
 
 Coim,mt .fine Grace, to ^ 
 
 im a- 1 Debates t here /merit . Printed at Abei.li.en 
 ? \ P 1 6 ft The Book indeed was anony- 
 tui', but Mr!Guthrie was reputed the Author 
 of it by the whole Country, and o on !-,e to 
 Jake Notice of it: He was equally dlfpleafed 
 the Vanity of the Title, and the grofs Le- 
 fj of the 7 Work itfelf, which conl.fted of 
 feme broken Notes of his.Sermons> confuted y 
 h ddled together by an injudicious Hand , and 
 when he faw that it was the only Remedy, he 
 felt himfelf under a Neceffity, however uneaiy 
 to him, to review his Sermons, from which he 
 foon compofed this admirable 1 reanle. 
 
 There was indeed, after the Reftoration, 
 on t Sermons of Mr. Guthrie s, upon Hof. 1 3. 
 Q Vnd a few other Texts, printed from very 
 nrrfect Notes, taken by a Hearer, by lome 
 S ru pSn v,ho wanted to make a hide 
 G-A But as dioie could ... no ,uft Sene be 
 -cc un.ed .he Work ol Mr. Gaffe*, bang both 
 
 dw"lTnted an Advenirement, and (bread it 
 ££»» (he could, to guard the publ.ck from 
 
of Mr. ¥ilh am Guthrie, xxxix 
 
 being impofed upon bv thole fpurious Sermons, 
 which in a great Meafure pur a Srop to fo un¬ 
 fair * Practice , and fhould in Reafon have pre¬ 
 vented the dihngenucxus Extracts of fome coarle 
 unguarded Expreffions from them, which are 
 to be met with in fome prelatica] Pamphlets, 
 whereby they endeavour calumnioufly ro expofe 
 the Presbyterian Interelf, from the falfly al- 
 ledged Failures of one of its eminent Guides 
 and Supporters. 
 
 This Irnall Treatife, The driftians great ihieneft, 
 the only genuine Work of Mr. Guthrie , hath 
 been bleffed by God with wonderful Succeli 
 in our own Country, it was publifhed very lea- 
 fonably, a little before the Introduction of 
 Prelacy at the .Reftorarion; nor is the Conduct 
 of a merciful Providence to be overlooked in 
 affording fo ufeful a Help ro Multitudes of the 
 People of God, when their worthy Pallors 
 were torn from them. Several' have owed their 
 Converfion unto a religious Life, to the read in® 
 of the Tieatife: And many Thoulands have 
 been thereby mightily edified and built up in 
 the mod holy Faith. 
 
 Fior hath it lefs Regard paid it abroad in 
 England-, irs Author and itfelf were highly 
 elieemed by the greatelf and be.flMen there i 
 And that there could nor be a greater Honour 
 done it, than by the Character given thereof 
 by Dr. Oroen, will appear to all who are acquain¬ 
 ted with the incomparable Learning and Worth 
 of that excellent Scholar and Divine • as we 
 
 have 
 
X 1 MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 have the Story from a Reverend Mini tier of 
 this Church yet alive, who had the Dottor s 
 Sentiments from his own Mouth. One Day in 
 Convention with him, the Dodtor fpeakmg o 
 Scotland, faid to our Informer, You have truly 
 Men of great Spirits in Scotland, there is jo/ a 
 Gentleman Mr, Bailie of jervifwood, a Per ft* 
 of the wateft abilities 1 ever almoft met with: And 
 for Divines, faid he, pulling out of his Po'jjtct 
 a little guilded Copy o r this Treatile of At. 
 Guthries, That Author 1 take to have been one of 
 the areat eft'Divines that ever wrote ; it is my lade- 
 meeum, and 1 cany it, and the Sedan New Tefta- 
 went ftill about with me, 1 have written fevcral 
 Folios, but - there is more Divinity in it tnan in them 
 all. Tho’ the great Modefty of this admirable 
 Divine, made him give a very unequal Charac¬ 
 ter of his own excellent Performances; yet 
 this does not hinder fuch an Account of Mr. 
 Guthrie s Book, .given by lo mafterly a Judge, 
 from being as much for its Reputation as any 
 
 Thing of that Nature can be.. . 
 
 Nor was the Ufefulnes of this pious Treatile 
 confined, either to the Author’s own Country 
 or Language: Foreigners alio valued it, tranf- 
 lated it, and were eminently profited thereby. 
 It was tranfkted into Low Dutch by the Reverend 
 and pious Mr. Koelman, and was highly edeemed 
 in Holland, fo that Mrs. Guthrie and one of her 
 Daughters met with uncommon Civilines and 
 Kindnefs, when their Relation to its Author 
 was known. It is alfo tranftoed m:o French 
 
xli 
 
 °f Mr\ W illiam Guthrie 
 
 Hi.,h Butch-, and we are informed, that ir was 
 alio trai.fla ed into m e of the Eafern Tongues, 
 at the Chat ges of chat noble Parern of Religion, 
 l earning and Charity, the Honourable Ro¬ 
 bert Boyle 
 
 After what hath been (aid of the intrinfick 
 Excellency of this tifeful Book, it might per¬ 
 haps appear both needlefs and afluming for u$ 
 to pretend to give any further Character of if, 
 or recommended ir to the Efteem and Ufe of the 
 Publiek. 
 
 T Hus far the very learned and excellent 
 Author of this Preface had proceeded in 
 it, when ir pleafed his Lord and Matter to 
 call him to the cverlafting Reward of his La¬ 
 bours, to his own unipeakable Advantage, but 
 to the grear Lofs of the Church, and inexpref- 
 fible grief of all his furviving Friends. 
 
 But he having propofed at his entring upon 
 this Preface, not only to give fome Account of 
 the Author, which is all Death has permitted 
 him to do, but al(o to make fome> Oblervations 
 upon t i e Work itfelf: Some thought the Preface 
 would oe imperfedt, if this likewife were not 
 done. It is therefore here ettayed, tho* with 
 very unequal Abilities. 
 
 Phis excellent Treatife (which has been al« 
 leady fo often publifhed, tranflated into foreign 
 Languages, and patted the Courfe of more than 
 Sixty Years with univerfal Applaufe) hath al¬ 
 ready its Piailes in the Churches of Christ ; 
 
 and 
 
xlii 
 
 M 
 
 E M O I R S of the. life 
 
 and its iuft and univerfal Efteem fo well retried, 
 as to need no Letters of Commendation from 
 any Man, eTpecially from fo obfcure a Hand 
 as mine : Yet to give fome Account of toe 
 Reafons for which it has been fo highly valued 
 to thole who have never read it, to clear and 
 confirm the Grounds upon which is founded the 
 iuft efteem of others who have already perufed 
 it to prevent the prejudices that may be enter¬ 
 tained by fome, and a little to lay open the Spi¬ 
 rit of the Author and its Dodrinc, that this 
 Treatife may be read with the more extcnhve 
 Advantage 'by all; will, we hope nor be 
 unacceptable to any, but grateful and edifying 
 to thole who are defirous that the Church and 
 their own Souls ihouid re3p all pofiiole Ad" 
 vantage bv fuch Books as are pubilfhed 
 
 Jhe Obtervations that may be made upon 
 tliis Treatife, are either fuch as concern the 
 Stile of it, or the Doctrine contained in it, or 
 elfethe Author’s Way and Manner of managing 
 his Subjccr, and the fevcral Branches of it. 
 
 As to the Stile, that would need but litne 
 A oology, tho* the Book were appearing now 
 for the firft Time in the World: For, baring 
 fome few ExprefTions, and thefe too occuiing 
 but fcldom, that are now become fome what 
 obfolete, the Words and Pbraies uied aie juft 
 and grave, clear and fignificant, level to t.ie 
 Capacity of the meaneft, and yet not below that 
 of the.gteateft. But confidering that this frea- 
 
 tife was written near Seventy iears ago, fince 
 
 whica 
 
of Mr. W i lliam Guthrie, xliii 
 
 which Time oar Language has fuffered great 
 Changes, rhe Stile of it deferves not only our 
 Acceptance, but even our high Efieem. It is 
 plain, and yet decent, and adorned with all 
 needful Beauty; clear, and yet concile and 
 comprehenfive ; few Books written this Coun¬ 
 try aboivf that Time are fo pure in their Stile : 
 And this will be the more valued, if we re¬ 
 member what rhe Author fays in his Preface , 
 That in this Work he has mainly y if not only, 
 confulted the Jhimantage of the Rude and Ignoratit ; 
 for while he readies thefe in a plain Stile, he 
 entertains, even rhe Learned, that are ferioijts, 
 agreably. So that whoever nauleares this Bo-ik 
 for its Stile, fhews himfelf more of a critical 
 than of a ChriIlian Spirit. 
 
 'I'ne Beauty of the Stile is exceeded, and 
 even eclipfed, by the Excellency of the Matter 
 which it contains: Upon which many Obfer- 
 vations might be made, very ufeful and necef- 
 lary to be reiuembred in thefe giddy Times. 
 The Subject which he handles, is, of all others, 
 of rhe greatell Importance and Moment to every 
 Man: ic is the 'Chriltian’s great Intereft, his 
 greared Interelf indeed, his Union with Chrift 
 the biefled Redeemer, and his Title to the 
 invaluable and glorious Bicfiings of his Pur- 
 chafe. The Two Parts of this great Subject 
 which he treats of, are thefe which molt nearly 
 touch every Chviftian, and which he is moft 
 called to bring to a clear and fatisfying Iflue ; 
 Low a Per ion may try his Intereft in Christ, 
 
 and, 
 
xliv MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 ard, How he may artain to it, and fecure it? 
 Happy that Man who can fatisfy himfelf as to 
 thefe. 
 
 In managing thefe Heads of his Di'courfe, it 
 is evident to every one who reads his Treatife, 
 That the Author founds his Doftrine upon the 
 Principles of that Syftem, which afferts free 
 Grace as the Caufe of our Salvation, and of all 
 that leads to it, thele Principles which were at 
 firft delivered to the Saints in the holy Scrip¬ 
 tures, reftored again with the Scriptures at the 
 glorious Reformation from Popery, received 
 into almuff all the Confeflions of Faith of the 
 reformed Churches, and fully aflerted by the 
 Synod of Dost, in Oppofition to Pelagian and 
 Semtpelctgian Errors. Upon this Syftem is founded 
 the Doctrine of this Treatife, in which the 
 Author afferts or (uppoles particular Election, 
 effectual Grace, Man’s natural Inability to do 
 what is fpiritually good, Christ’s fatisfying 
 for the £!edt only, and the Perfcverance of the 
 Saints: Thefe Principles plainly run through 
 the whole Work, and it is bottom’d uponifhem. 
 
 Yet at the fame Time nothing is omitted, 
 that naturally could fall within fuch a Work, 
 to inculcate the Neceffity of Holinefs, and 
 univerfal Obedience to God’s holy Law. The 
 Freedom and Fulnefs of the Grace of Christ 
 in the Gofpel is fo taught, as not to juftle out 
 the Necefiity of our own utmoft Diligence, and 
 Care to work out our own Salvation with Fear 
 and Trembling; it was not the Authors Bufi- 
 
 nefs> 
 
 i v . > A 
 
of Mr . w ILLTAM Gu 
 
 T H R ! E.' xlv 
 
 nef-, info fmall and To practical a Trcuie to 
 ftiew explicitely he Confiltency of thefe Two 
 toge her ; he knew this was (ufficiently done 
 in Bocks of a controverfial Nature: But hold- 
 ii g to the Dodtrine of cur excellent IVejlmiuder 
 Gon eflion hefo exalts free Grace as not to 
 invalida-e the Obligations of the Moral Law 
 he fo aflerrs our natural Corruption as nor to* 
 loofen our Obligations to Gofpel-Obedience, and 
 equally dilcourages Free-will and Merit on the 
 O! e Hand, and Slothfuinefs and Security on the 
 other; and this not by direct Aflertioos upon 
 the.e Heads, which are confequentialJy overturn 
 ed by contrary Doftrines laid down in other 
 Places, as is done in Tome late Books of Modern 
 Divinity but by afferting the Principles upon 
 w hich they depend. 1 
 
 Thus he does nor, with feme, exclude the 
 Word Condition from the new Covenant as if 
 there were a Hazard ot Making God’s’ own 
 i erms of his Covenant too necefTary, and fome 
 Hanger of binding them too Lit upon the Souls 
 of Ins People; But. with our Larger Catechifm , 
 he frequently makes Ule of that W ord through* 
 out the whole Book, without apprehending any 
 Hanger from it; and aflem oftner than once 
 in the plaineft and ftrongeft Terms, That Fairh 
 is the Condition of the Flew Covenant, 
 
 This Faith he does not place, as f’.me have 
 •lone, m a firm Perjuafion that Chrifi died for us: 
 nay, he refutes chi-, as a mod dangerous and 
 abiurd Notion . But in the Jtating of the Heart 
 
 uyon 
 
xlvi MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 rtwK Gad in Chrifl, as a full Blsf-g md 
 trues, in she Stub utffifim' m 
 SMvxim h c krifl; it is SO asset 1 /• m l 
 Ub G»r. Devise of fivbt Sbmr, b <****» 
 hsiJ font in the Goffel ; an,l to slofi no th Ch « 
 
 Its Kin"/y Office, as be is anointed to be aht»» 
 rule over a Man in all Things. A Notion of but a* 
 which, as it exalts Free Grace, lo ir excludes 
 the Preemption of Hypocrites ; and ^ fitted ^ 
 prevent Di(couragemenrs and Oofpony 
 the truly Godly, and to excue to Holme.*, 
 by cauimg the Soul to go form toward God 
 in Christ, and to follow hard a,.et nun as 
 its chief Good and Happinefs; whereas the other 
 groundlefs Notion of it leads to the vet y Ke- 
 
 verfe of all thefe. , » rr 
 
 This pious and judicious Author maxes A du¬ 
 rance of our Inter eld in f^Risr to ^tuiname, 
 and that too more cau.v tnan many »t. - 
 
 dhriftiansdo imagine ; jet he will by no M,ans 
 allow it robe of the Eiience of juftifying bairn, 
 or infeparable from it: On the-contrary he. 
 teaches, in the mod exprefs Terms, "jf ? 
 
 are truly gracious, and have a good Tu 
 eternal Life, who do not know fo much. 
 
 He afferts the Freedom and univerfal bx.cnt 
 of the Gofpel-Offer in the fulled Terms de¬ 
 claring, That Peace and Salvation is opted to au 
 without Exception, That a Man is no> *° 
 
 God's miingnefs to receive Men who go to Ghup 
 honefUy : But does not think u niceflary , tor 
 laying a Foundation for this Offer, to artirm. 
 
of Mr. "W illiam Guthrie. 
 
 XV; 
 
 Th.U Cb-iji died for all Men, as fbme others have 
 imagined; nor torture hi midi fo find out the 
 Ground of this general Offer, tiii he has almoft 
 wrought himfefr in to cne Am.inian Scheme. 
 With him it ixas for the Sins of the El;B that 
 Qhrifi fat; sped, and this Rdf ictinn of Christ’s 
 Satisfaction, he did nor judge inc -nlilfent with 
 an univerfal Offer : But, with other orthodox 
 Divines, he judged, that the u liverfal Offer 
 was the Means for applying Christ’s Satisfac¬ 
 tion to the Pcrlons for whom it was fpecially 
 made; and that his glorious End of converting 
 an eleCt World, together with God’s extenfive 
 Command to his Servants, Matth 28 19. was 
 fufficient Ground to preach the Gofpel to every 
 Man, without perplexing Matters with new 
 Schemes, which, as it often happens, involves 
 Matters infiead of explaining them. 
 
 Another Thing obfervab'e in this excellent 
 Author, is his particular Regard, thro ghout 
 his whole Treadle, unto God’s holy Law. 
 As the promoting of Kolinefs, and a thorough- 
 Converfion in Chriliians, aprears to be the 
 great Dcfign of his Work ; (b he does through¬ 
 out the whole of it, maintain an inviolable 
 Refpect for God’s Law, whicn is the Rule and 
 Meafiire of it, He does not lay out himfelf 
 (as fonte innovating Writers on the fame Sub¬ 
 ject have done) to find out fubtile Diftincrions 
 of the Meaning of the Word L.-np, til ! he Has 
 almolt diltingmfhed away the obligation of it. 
 He makes the Law a Sehoolimffer to lead us 
 
 unto 
 
xlviii 
 
 MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 nnro Chkist ; but rhcn he does nor Uvy Tide, 
 a\ an AlnMnck out of Dare, when it has 
 ns o him Nay, he makes it one of the hit * 
 Breathings of the «ew N itu-e, To acknowledge 
 the Law to be good, holy. juft, and fpintual i to ac¬ 
 cept of Chalt's w ole Yoke w.thout Exception andJ* 
 
 bicole a Servant of Riphteo«Ms unto God: \He 
 ' makes the genuine Fruit of the new Life to be Ia tfj 
 working by Love which is the fufillmg o 
 Law g and tells us, That the Promifes are made 
 to Faith followed with Holinefs , which is the fame 
 with Obed ence to it. 
 
 Agreeably co this binding Force of Gods 
 L aw® he every where excites ““ u ”£‘ 
 Chriftians, to exert their moft earneft and e.. 
 men: endeavours in the Work of * elr S 
 vation: He not only encourages believers, 
 whole Powers are by their CoOTe " f '°J 
 adive to Diligence and Induftry , but he calls^, 
 even unconverted Sinners, wuo are dead m 
 TrefpaRes and Sins, to effay their Duty and 
 diligently to apply themielves to the Pia&ice 
 o u and gives them great Encouragement to 
 So lo. He^tells u , That tho no Words will take 
 Effcci till God pour out his Spirit , yet Minifies s r Jl 
 (hil prels Mens Duty upon them , and charge them 
 {halt hey give the Lord no Reft till he Jend out that 
 Spirit, which he will give to them that ask it 
 * H e teaches. That tho ’ none do cordially elefe with 
 God in Chriflfteius , and aejuiejee in that *fnfm 
 found out by God , except only \uch as are eUded a id 
 whole Hearts the Lord doth fwereignly determine to 
 
°f Mr. YV i l l i a m Guthrie, xlix 
 
 that bleffed Chore e . Yet the Lord huh left it as a 
 Duty upon Pop/e who hear this Gofpel, Co clofe with 
 his Otter of Salvation, as if it were in their 
 1 ower to do it : And that the Lord , through theft 
 Commands and Exhortations, doth convey Life and 
 Strength and the new Heart to the Eletl ; and that 
 
 It IS his Mind, in thefe Commands and Invitations 
 to put people tofome Duty, with which he ufes to con¬ 
 cur jor accomplijhing that Bujmefs between him and. 
 them. 
 
 Yea further, anfwering the Objection taken 
 from our own Impotencv to clofe with Chrifh 
 he pofitivdy affirms, That if we effay to dole 
 nith Chrift and reft on him for the offered Salvation , 
 Goa w: U not bo wanting on his Part f and that it 
 Jha/i nop ml on his Part, if we have a Mind to the 
 Bujmefs. Thus he always takes Cafe to keep 
 an Harmony betwixt the Freedom and Power 
 of Grace on the one Hand, and the Necefficy 
 and L femme's of our own Endeavours on the 
 
 other; and while he owns our utter Inability 
 to do any Tiling that is fpirituaiiy good, he 
 gives all Encouragement that can be defired to 
 our own moft earneft E deavours 
 
 To this fame Purpofe ir may be obferved, 
 
 1 Wathe formally exhorts to per Tonal Covenant¬ 
 ing with God, and largely directs the Manage¬ 
 ment of it as a Matter of great Importance. 
 
 tj ... ~ & rc ‘ u importance. 
 
 He did not fear, as fome, it leems, now do, 
 
 thsf fh/» /U..JJ L _ -r ^ J 9 
 
 .i , ' **- Jccms, now do. 
 
 hat the Soul fhould be g airy of Preemption 
 in dedicating it feif with all Solemnity to God 
 Jn Ghrist, and in embracing the ottered p,i_ 
 
 c viiege 
 
1 MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 vilege of fealinga fare Covenant with him: 
 He ^doubted not but that particular Psrfons 
 might do that acceptably, which Bodies of L 
 bad fo often done with great.Success, and glo¬ 
 rious Tokens of God’s Prefence with them in 
 
 holv Scripture. . , . 
 
 Thus it were eafy to enlarge m making ma¬ 
 ny Obfervations upon the Excellency and Sounu- 
 Sfi of this Author’s Doftrine ; but it is now 
 Time to conclude with taking Notice briefly, 
 of this excellent Author’s Way and Manner of 
 managing bis Subject, and delivering his Doc¬ 
 trine. 8 It is obvious to every one who reads 
 him with Attention, that be freaks with a foil 
 XJnderftanding of has Subjeft ; he appears to 
 have meditated deeply upon it, and to have 
 dwelled fully the feveral Particularsot it. Al) 
 be"lays is ot a Piece and confident, he leerns to 
 ave had the Eft Words, and all the imerme- 
 dEre Parts of it in View when he wrote the 
 Fiift He does not write, as forne others upon 
 the lame Sub-eft have done, loofely and inco¬ 
 herently ; Nor has he made up this book., as 
 they have done theirs, of gathered Scraps put 
 together with little Connexion, and as little 
 
 Copfiftency ; nay hc f V<Th=» res 
 
 one that is Matter of his Subject Yet tie wiites 
 always with the utmoft Modefty. and Caution; 
 be does not impofe his own Experiences in Re- 
 iipion as abfolutely neceffary to otheis, bu. 
 
 a Hows a Latitude tor God’s various Ways of 
 
 dealing with different Perlons: How catehuly 
 
°f W in i am Guthrie. i| 
 
 does he guard his Reader againft Miftakesupon 
 the leveral Heads which he handles ? He does 
 not, as fome have done, lay down crude and 
 unguarded.Aftertions in one Place, and cruft to 
 the Attention and Judgment of his Reader for 
 correcting them by others laid down elfewhere: 
 Kay, he was fenfible that not to miflead is 
 much better than to bring back thole who 
 have wandred, not to poifon than to adminifter 
 an Antidote; and therefore under every Head 
 he pointedly guards and circumfcribes' every 
 Subjcdh 1 
 
 He writes with his own Experience: One 
 may eafliy perceive the Heart fpeaking out its 
 own Experience almoft in every Line, and the 
 Author feeling, as well as undemanding, his 
 Marrer. Ac the fame Time he Di[covers the 
 greateft Judgement and Solidity indiftinguiffting 
 Things doubtful, from Things certain; and 
 T hmgs eifential to the Chriftian Life, from 
 Things cxtrinfick and circumftantial. r 0 it - 
 founding nothing upon Chriftian Experience” 
 but what has the Countenance of holy Scrip- 
 
 Thus we have in this little Book a Treatife 
 upon that Subject, which of all others is of the 
 greateft importance to a Chriftian, written in 
 
 jh a Manner as equally exalts free Grace 
 and encourages Gofpel-Holinels; and guarded 
 wun the greateft Exactnefs againft the oppofite 
 Extremes of.Preemption and Defpondency : A 
 Treadle written with the utmoft Plainefs, and 
 C i 
 
Ui M E M O I R S of the life 
 
 vet with great Solidity and Judgment, with all 
 the Depth of a knowing and jodiaous Dune, 
 and the Feeling of an experienced Chi than 
 How happy had it been-for the Church, if 
 none had undertaken to write practical J rea¬ 
 dies without theft and the like Qualities of 
 this excel lent Author? How much for theorowth 
 of true Religion in Mens Hearts and Lives, if 
 f 0C h a plain and ufeful Trcattfe as this were 
 as warmly recommended, and as earthly U j- 
 dhd as others of a Different Lharatter. In is 
 Treat lie of practical Chriflfenuy, as ancient 
 i the Scriptures, fhotrid be found more ufeful 
 than many Morrow of modern Divinity. It is m 
 tM Fduimi attended wicn all the Advantages 
 that the P.ibliftiei could think of, to make it 
 both ufefui and agreeable to the Reader. Tne 
 Loro himfclt grant it may further anfwer its 
 nob e End of converting and confirming Souls, 
 and in all Reipetts yield mueh Fruit to his 
 
 Honour. 
 
 m 
 
of Mr. W i l l i a m Guthrie. Mil 
 
 The following Account of the Reverend 
 Mr. William lu hrlc is faithfully 
 tranfcribed from that Laborious and 
 Worthy Divine Mr. Robert Wodrow, 
 in his Hiftory of the Sufferings of the 
 Church of Scotland, and is as fol¬ 
 lows. 
 
 M R. William Guthrie, Mini Her at Flnmck, 
 in the Shire of Air, ufcd the greatest 
 of Freedom and Sincerity in his Sermons at 
 this Time. I am too nearly concerned in this 
 great Man, to lay much about him, and there¬ 
 fore ch.ocfe to give this in the Words of a wor¬ 
 thy Minifter, his Contemporary, in his Cha¬ 
 racter of him. In his Doctrine Mr William 
 Guthrie was as full an l free as any Mast in Scot¬ 
 land had ever l/een ; which, together with the Excel- 
 lency of his Preaching gift, did fo recommend him to 
 the Affections of People, that they turned the Corn¬ 
 field of his Glebe to a little Town, every one building 
 a Htufe for his Family up in it, that they might li ve 
 under the Drop of his Ordinances and Mhufhy. In¬ 
 deed the Lord gave him an Opportunity to 
 bear a longer fellimony again it the Defec¬ 
 tions of this Time, than molt of his Brethren ; 
 till at length the Malice of the Archbifhop 
 of Glajgow turned him out in the Year 1664, as 
 we may hear. 
 
 c 3 
 
 Con- 
 
liv 
 
 MEMOIRS of the Life 
 
 * j 
 
 Congregational Fa(ls kept. 
 
 A good many Minifters kept Congregational 5 
 Falls: and that was all almoft they could do, ; 
 ft nee now there was lea ice any Opportunities 
 of Presbyterial or Synodical Appointments of 
 this Nature ; And in fame Places where there 
 were ciiiEfteded Perfons to delate them, Mini¬ 
 fters fullered not a little for this Practice,, and 
 the Plainefs of their Doctrine. 
 
 The other Inftance I promifed as to the Suf¬ 
 ferings of old Minifters this Year, is that of 
 the reverend, and Angularly useful Mr Wiliam 
 Guthrie , Minifter of the Gofpel at Finwick 
 T his extraordinary Perfon I have particular 
 Opportunities to have certain and diftindt Ac¬ 
 counts of. I heartily wifh fome proper Hand 
 would give the Publick a juft Narrative of this . 
 great Man’s Life, which might, I perfwade 
 myfelf, be very ufeful. The broken Hints we 
 have, before the left Edition of his excellent 
 Saving Interejl , at London^ l~o 5., are lame and 
 indiftmdt, and were writ without the Know- ■ 
 ledge of his remaining Relations, who could 
 have given more juft and larger Accounts: I 
 fhall therefore here give the more particular 
 Hilfory of his Sufferings at the Time, and his 
 being forced to part with his dear Flock. 
 
 He \ 
 
cf^Mr. W iliiam Guthrie Tv 
 
 v 
 
 He continues longer at his Work than many others. 
 By the Intereft of feveral Noblemen and o- 
 thers, to whom Mr. Guthrie was very dear, he 
 enjoyed a Connivance, and was overlooked for 
 a considerable Ti re, when he continued at his 
 Mafterbs Work, tho’ in his Sermons he was 
 more than ordinarily free and plain. 
 
 Whet) Bifhop Burner comes to Glafgow, he ana (sme 
 other Mnifters are attacked. 
 
 But loon after Dr. Alexander Burnet was 
 brought from the See of Aberdeen to that of 
 Glafgow, . he and the few remaining Minifters 
 about him were attacked : fuch as, Mr Living- 
 fitne at Biggar, Mr. Me Kail ar Bothmti , Mr. Ga¬ 
 briel Maxwell at Dnndonald, Mr. Gabriel Cunning¬ 
 ham at Dunlop , and Mr. Andrew Hutchefon and 
 Mr. William Cafllelaw , Minifters at Stewartoun ; 
 2nd perhaps the Chancellor’s Death about this 
 Time, helped to pave the Way for the greater* 
 Severity againft thefe worthy Perfons. 
 
 idothing prevails with the Ashbijhcp to [pare Mr, 
 
 Guthrie. 
 
 The Archbifhop hid been add re (Ted by fome 
 of the greateft in the KingdomHn behalf of 
 Mr. Guthrie , and treated them very indiicree'- 
 ty ;■ By no Importunity would he fafter himfelf 
 to be picvailed upon to fpare him aiiy longer. 
 YVhen Means and Interceffioijs could not pre¬ 
 vail, Air. Guthrie was warned of tire Arciibi- 
 c 4 fhop’s 
 
 
Ivi 
 
 MEMOIRS©/ the Life 
 
 fhop’s Defign againff him, and advifed by Per- 
 ions of More, his Friends to Puffer no Refilt- 
 ance to be made to his Difpofieflion of tine 
 Church ard Mante ; fiuce his Enemies wanted 
 only this for a handle to profecure him crimi¬ 
 nally for his Zeal and Faithfulnefs in the for¬ 
 mer Times; Such was their Spite againil this 
 ufeful Man of God. 
 
 Hftednefday, "July zcth kept as a congregational Faft 
 with his People. 
 
 Under the Profpect of parting with his be¬ 
 loved People, IVednefday the tetb of July this 
 Year, was let apart by him for Falling and 
 Prayer with his Congregation. The Text he 
 preached from was, Hof 13 9. O Jfrael! thou 
 haft defrayed thy [elf . His Sermon was afterwards 
 printed very unfairly and indiftinctly, from an 
 uncorrect Copy. From that Scripture, with 
 great Plainefs and Affection, he laid before 
 them their Sins, and thofe of the Land, and 
 of that Age ; and indeed the Place was a 
 Bocbim , 
 
 He preaches the next Lord's Day early in the Mormng , 
 rend taka leave of his People 
 At the clofe of that Day’s Work, he gave 
 Intimation of Sermon upon the next Lord’s Day 
 very early, and his own People and many o- 
 thers met him at the Church of Finwick ’rwixt 
 Four and Five in the Morning, where he 
 preached twice, to them from the Clofe of his 
 
 * I ■o tr 
 
of Air. W i l l i am Guthrie. Ivii 
 
 laft Text, But in me is thine Help , And as he 
 uft'd upon ordinary Sabbaths, he had two Ser¬ 
 mons and a ffiort interval betwixt them, and 
 difmifled the People before Nine in the Morn¬ 
 ing. Upon this melancholy Qccafion, he di¬ 
 rected them unto the great Fountain of Help, 
 when the Gofpel and Minifters were taken from 
 them ; and took his-Leave of them, commend¬ 
 ing them to this Great GOD , who was able to 
 build them up, and help them in the Time of 
 their Need. 
 
 
 No Violence ufed agrtinfi the Party who Came to dif- 
 pojfefs him. 
 
 His People would willingly have facrificed 
 ali that was dear to them, in Defence of the 
 Gofpel, and adhering to him. Indeed Mr. 
 Guthrie had fome Difficulty to get their Affec¬ 
 tion to him fo far moderated, as to keep them 
 from violent proceedings again)! the Party who 
 came to difpofefs him : They would have effec¬ 
 tually prevented the Church its being declared 
 vacant, and were ready to have refilled even to 
 Blood, firiving againfi Sin, if they had been per- 
 mitted. But Mr. Guthrie’s peaceable Difpofi- 
 tion, his great Regaid to lawful Civil Autho¬ 
 rity, with his prudent Forefight of the Con¬ 
 ferences of flich a Procedure, both as to to the 
 Intercffs of the Gofpel, his People, and him- 
 feif, made him lay himfelfout, and ufe the fil¬ 
 tered: he had in, the People, which was very 
 great, to keep the Peace; and there was no 
 c 5 Difturb- 
 
 < 
 
iViii ]\I E M O I R S of the Life 
 
 Difturbance which could be made a Handle of- 
 by Adverfaries. 
 
 Mi th much Difficulty the. Archil fey gets erne to inti¬ 
 mate his Sentence again/} Mr. Guthrie 
 When the Archbifhop of Glafgm refolved^ 
 upon dUpcffeffing him, he dealt with feveral of 
 his Curates, to intimate his Sentence againtt 
 Mr. Guthrie , and as many refufed it. There 
 was an Awe upon their Spirits, which feared 
 them from meddling with this great him ; be- 
 fides, they very well knew it was an Action 
 would render them for ever odious to the IVeft- 
 Country, and they feared the Confequenccs. 
 At laft he prevailed with one who was Curate 
 of Galder, as I am told, and promifed him Five 
 Pounds Sterling for his Reward : But poor Man ! 
 It was the Price of Blood, the Blood of Souls, 
 and neither he nor his had muen Satis.action- 
 
 in it. 
 
 7 ?;e Curate of Calder intimates it , July 24 in the. 
 Church of Fin wick. 
 
 Upon the 24th of July, this Man came with, 
 a p^rty of Twelve Soldiers to Fimcick Church 
 on the Lord’s Day, and, by Commiilion from 
 the Archbiihep, difeharged Mr. Guthrie ro- 
 preach. any more at Finwick, declared the 
 Church vacant, and fufpended. him from the 
 Exercife ot his Miniftry. 
 
 And. 
 
W IUIAM GfftHSlS, i'Xr" 
 
 And. to himfttf in the Manje. 
 
 The Commander of the Party and <the Cu¬ 
 rate, leaving the.Soldiers without, came into 
 the Manfe, or Minifter’s Houfe. The be ft Ac¬ 
 count I can at this Diftance give of what pat- 
 fed in the Houfe, is by inferring a fliort Mi¬ 
 nute of thus, left among the In tall Remains 
 of a valuable Collection of Papers belonging 
 to Mr Guthrie ; which were taken away, as we 
 fhall afterwards hear, fame Years after this, 
 By Violence, and againft all the Rules of E- 
 quity, from his Widow, and fell into the 
 Hands of the Bifhops. The Paper was drawn 
 up at the Time ro keep up the Remembrance 
 of this Affair, without any Deftgn of its being 
 publifhed, and I give it in its own native and 
 plain Drefs. 
 
 7 l;e Stun of the Curate's Difc&urfe when 
 he came and intimated Mr. William 
 Guthrie his Sentence of Sufpenfon, with 
 Mr. Guthrie’s Anfwer to him . 
 
 An Account of what paffed in the Matlie. 
 
 HE Curate [hewed, that the Bifop and Com- 
 mitee after much Lenity jheivn to him for 
 a long Time, were conf rained to pafs the Sentence 
 / Sufpenfim Againft him , for not keeping of Pref~ 
 eateries and Synods with his Brethren, and his 
 Vnpcaaahlenefs in the Church : of which Sentence 
 
 of Mi 
 
lx MEMOIRS of the life 
 
 he J V ’S' anointed to wake pub'tck Miwaticm to him, 
 
 J or W '- Ich he read his Comwfytih under the Arch- 
 bilhop ej GJaf-oiv his Hand. 
 
 Mr Gurhrie anfwered, / judge it not conveni¬ 
 ent to lay witch in an far to what you have fpo- 
 ken: Only, whereas you alledge there hath been 
 much Lenity ufed towards me, be it known unto 
 you, that 1 t a k e the Lord fa Party in that , and 
 thank him jor it; yea , 1 look upon it as a Door which 
 God opened to me for preaching this Gc r pd, which 
 neither you nor any Man e/fe was able to fat, till 
 it was given you of G od, And as to that Sen- 
 tence pajjed again]} me, I decl/yre before thofe Gen- 
 tlewen (the Officers of the Party) that 1 lay no 
 Weight upon it, as it comes from you, or thofe who 
 fent you; thergh 1 do rcfpecl the Civil Authority, 
 who h ^ir Law laid the C-rour.d for this Sentence : 
 unci were it not for the Reverence I owe to the Ci¬ 
 vil Magi fee ate, 1 would net furesffie from the Ex r- 
 eife of my Miniffiry fa all that Sentence. And as 
 to the Crimes 1 am charged with, I did keep pref- 
 byttries and Synods with my Brethren ; but I do not 
 judge thofe who now fit in thefee to be my Brethren, 
 tu* Men who have made Defection from the Truth 
 arid Cafe of God ; nor do 1 judge thofe to be free 
 tr lawful Courts o/CiiRi st, that are now fitting 
 And as to my Unpeaceablenefs , 1 know 1 am bidden 
 fa.ow Peace with all Men, but 1 know edf J am bid¬ 
 den follow it with Holinefs ; andfence l could not 0 b- 
 t in Piacs without Prejudice to Holinefs ; / tfaght 
 my felj obli fad to let it go. And a s for your Corn - 
 mfan i Sir , to intimate this Sentence, f hire declare 
 
 I 
 
Ixi 
 
 of Mr. "William Guthrie. 
 
 / think my fclf called by the Lord to the Work of the 
 Mini fryand aid forfake my nearefl Relations in 
 the World, and give up myfelj to the Service of the 
 Go'pel in this Place , having received an unanimous 
 Call from this Parjh, and being tried and ordained 
 ly the Presbytery ; and 1 blefs the Lord he hath gi¬ 
 ven ine feme Succejr, and a Seal of my Mini fry u- 
 pon the Souls and Conferences of not a few that are 
 gone to Heaven, and of forr.e that are yet in the Way 
 to it. And novo, Sir, if you will take it upon you 
 to interrupt my Work amongthis People, as IJlw.il 
 wijh the Lord may forgive you the Guilt of it, fo 1 
 cermet but leave all the lad Conferences that follow 
 upon it, betwixt God and your own Confcience. And 
 here I do further declare before tkefe Gentlemen, That 
 1 am fifpended from my Mini fry for adhering to the 
 Covenants and Work of God } from which you and 
 others have apoflaUzd. 
 
 Here the Curare interrupting him, (aid, That 
 the Lord had a Work before that Covenant had a 
 Being , and that he judged them Apojlates who ad¬ 
 hered to that Covenant ; and chat he wijloed that 
 not only the Lord would forgive him (Mr. Guthrie) 
 but, if it were lawful to pray for the Dud, {ac 
 which ExpreJJion the Soldiers did laugh) that the 
 Lord would forgive the Sin of -idnrChurch ihefe hun¬ 
 dred Tears paf. ' ^ 
 
 It is true, anfwered Mr. Guthrie, the Lord had 
 a Work before that Covenant had a Being ; but it is 
 as true that it hath been more glorious fence that Co¬ 
 venant, -and it is a fnall Thing fir us to be judged 
 of you in adhering tt that Covenant, who have Jo 
 
hai MEMOIRS of tht Life 
 
 deep!) corrupted your Ways, and feem to reflctt on the 
 whole Work of Reformation from' Popery the he 
 hundred Tears paft„ by intimating that the Church had 
 need cj Pardon-lor the fame. 
 
 yds for you, Gentlemen, added he, directing 
 himfel to the Soldiers, l-wifh the herd may par¬ 
 don you fur countenancing of this Man in this Bujt- 
 nefs. One of them Iccffingly replied, ] wifh we 
 miser do a greater Fault ' WJl, fa id Mr. Guthrie , 
 a little Sin may damn a Man s Soul. 
 
 Mr. Guthrie’/ Civilities to the Soldiers. 
 
 When this had palled, Mr. Guthrie called for 
 a Glafs ol Ale, and craving a Blefiing himleir, 
 drank to the Commander of the Soldiers; and 
 a, ter they had been civily entertained by him, 
 they left the HoufA I have it confidently re¬ 
 ported, that Mr. Guthrie at parting did fignify 
 to ;he Curare, that he apprehended fbme evi¬ 
 dent Mark of the Lord’s Difpleafure was abid . 
 r.tg him, for what he was now m a doing, and 
 lerioufiy warned him to prepare for fome Stroke 
 a coming upon him veiy foon. 
 
 The Curate died in a little after. 
 
 Mr. Guthrie's Relations, and a worthy old 
 Min liter yet alive when I write this, who was 
 that Day at Fin wick with him, from whom I 
 have pa. t of this Account, do not mind to have 
 heard any Thing of this Denounciadon ; but if 
 might have been without their hearirfg, fince 
 none of them were prefent at parting. What¬ 
 ever I 
 
of Mr. William G u 
 
 T H R I £. 
 
 ever be in this, I am well aflured the Curare 
 rever preached more afrer he left Knrv'ck He 
 can-e in to Glaf&vo, and whether he reached 
 C.,^, bat lout Miles from it, i knoTf' 
 but in a few Days he died in great Torment \ 
 an dliack Papn, and his Wife and Children di 
 cd ali in a \ ear, or thereby ; and none belong 
 mg to him were left: So hazardous a Thine- 
 k ib to meudie with Chrift's Pent Servants; ' § 
 
 The Kirk declared vacant. 
 
 - W hen they left the Mar Uc, the Curate went 
 iato rheCiur.cn of Fhrwick with the Soldiers 
 his Guard, and now his Hearers, and preached 
 totnem not a Quarter of an Hour, and inti 
 mated from the Pulpit the Biihop’s Sentence 
 again ft Mr. Guthrie. No Body came to hel 
 him, but the Party who came with him and 
 a fewp. htidren and Roys, who created’ him 
 
 Alters ^ bUt WCr£ Chafed off ^ the 
 
 Mr Guthrie i centimes in the Parifh till Oftober 
 166 5 , »Afw he died in Angus 
 Mr. Gutbie continued in the Pa rift bur 
 preached no more m the Church, w fi 4 e as 
 
 fettle 3 ? U 0 T’ the u Was no Curs* ever 
 fettled. Upon the loth of QZobcr next Year 
 
 tlm e^e.ient Perfon died in tvhit | * 
 
 went to fettle lome Affairs relating to hi FaJl 
 
 jf ,he« Tta by rffc fl* Lfl? 
 
 thls br3 S.bt and eminent Light of the 
 
Uiv M E M O I R S of the Life 
 
 md of Scotland was put under a Bufhel, yea 
 
 etinguiftvd. 
 
 Mr. William Guthrie dies, October io. 
 
 By this Time many of the old Presbyterian 
 Mihifters, who had feen the Glory of tne fot- 
 mer Temple, were got to their Reft. The 
 loth Day of OHcbsr this Year, brought^ the 
 Reverend Mr. William Guthrie to his Father^ 
 Houle : I lhall only add the Remark made u- 
 yon his lamented Death, by the worthy Mini- 
 lier his Contemporary, whom I cited before, 
 when I fpok'e of him. This Year the Presbyte- 
 ri.xs in Scotland lojl one of their Pillars , Mr. 
 William Guthr e Mini/hr of the Gofpel at bin-* 
 wick, one of the nnf deque nt , fuccefsful , popular 
 Preachers , that ever was in Scotland. He died 
 a for he was depofed by ohe Bifop t but in 
 
 hfs, tk** one Day the Lord would deliver Scot- 
 if f from her Thraldom. Many others of the 
 cia Minifters of this Church died about this 
 Tirr«e ' in Peace, being taken away from the 
 Evil to come, which was fall coming on in 
 „ reat Meafures, and departed under me folid 
 and firm Hope of a glorious Deliverance coming 
 to this poor Church. 
 
( lxv ) 
 
 A Recommendatory PREFACE by the 
 late Rev. Mr. Robert Trail. 
 
 ^ tj HIS Little Book, having paft fo many 
 _F # brpejjkns, both in Scotland and England , 
 tv irhin the lull Fifty Years, (for it is near that 
 STin e fince it fir ft was printed) and being 
 commended by the Acceptance of the Saints, 
 needeth nothing more, efpecially from fo ob- 
 fcuie a Hand, to recommend it But having 
 known the Author, I would willingly acquaint 
 the World with fomewhat of his Character, af- 
 ' ter one Hint about his Book. It is to this Au¬ 
 thor wc owe the fir ft Motion of Per final- Cove¬ 
 nant ivg roith God. We have heard more, far- 
 mere, of making Rational-Covenants for Refor¬ 
 mation ; and of Church Covenants for mutual 
 Gofpel-Feilowfhip, than W’e have feen of the 
 keeping of them. But Mr. Guthrie firft wrote 
 of Personal Covenanting, as far as ever I can 
 learn ; And that, nor till he had confulted ma¬ 
 ny both Minifers and Chilians. He' having 
 opened the Doer, feveral have followed, bur, 
 turn p-JJdus acquis ; and by the length and arti¬ 
 ficial Method in their Schemes of fuch Cove¬ 
 nants, have put the Prodti'ers thereof in no 
 fmall Danger of luunirg the matter into a dry 
 Formality, the Bane of all holy Things. But 
 it is plain that this Author delign’d nothing in 
 his Ihort form of Words but to clofe the Adi: 
 
 of 
 
lxvl lYIr~. T r a i ids Preface 
 
 of faving Faith in Chrijl* in fuch Expreftions as 
 fait the Experience of every Believer. 
 
 Mr. IVulicim Guthrie ^ was the ehleft Son of a 
 Country-Gentemen in the Shire of Angus in 
 Scotland , of a good Family, and of a compe¬ 
 tent Effare. Afrer he had pad his Courie of 
 Philojbphy at the Univerfity of St. Andrews, he 
 went to the New College there, where Theology and 
 the Hebrew are taughr by feverai Profefors. And 
 it was then no rare Thing, for young Gentle - 
 men that had no Defign of engaging themfelves 
 in any of the three learned Proteflions, of Law, 
 Phy/sck , or Divinity , to fpend fbme Time at that 
 College. Then, and there, it pleaied the Lord, 
 who had feparated him from his Mother s 
 Womb, to call him by his Grace, by the Mi¬ 
 niftry of excellent Mr. Samuel Rutherford , and 
 this young Gentleman became one of the Firft- 
 Fruits of' his Miniftry at St Andrews. His 
 Converlion was begun with great 1 errors of 
 God on his Soul, and was compleuted with 
 that Joy and peace in believing, that did ac¬ 
 company him through his Life. Upon this 
 biefted Change wrought in him, he did imme¬ 
 diately relblve to obey the Call of God, to 
 ferve him in the Miniftry of the Gofpcl, which 
 was given him with the Lord s calling him 
 effectually to Grace and Glory. And he did 
 for this End lb difpofe of his outward Eft ate 
 (of which he was born Heir) as not to be en¬ 
 tangled with the Affairs of this Lfte After 
 fc-me Time fpent in Study, he was called to 
 
 preach- 
 
Mr. Trail’; Preface. Ixvii 
 
 preach, and quickly after was fettled in a Con¬ 
 gregation in the Weft of Scotland, and did fhine 
 in that Place, till a few Months before his 
 Death, that he was driven-away by Perfection, 
 in 1665. In this Place, he labour’d with great 
 Diligence, and with no lels Succefs, ashimfe'f 
 owned to the Lord’s Praife, when he Lid that 
 there was hardly any under his Charge, but 
 were brought to make a fair Profeffion of God- 
 linefs, and had the Worfhip of God in their 
 Families: And it was well known, that many 
 of them were fincere, and not a few of them, 
 eminent Chrifiians. The Love he had to his 
 People, made him fiifly refufe all Calls and In¬ 
 vitations to Glafgow or Edinburgh, or Stirling, 
 (where his own Coufin, grave Mr. James Guthris 
 was Minifler, (afterward Chrift's Faithful Martyr, 
 whom 1 faw die in and for the Lo rd, at Edin¬ 
 burgh, June ill 1661.) and pleaded much in a 
 Genual Mffembly., that he might have his Mini- 
 fit y in that C iry, which was malignant and 
 profane ar that Time:) But all to no purpole. 
 In this Place, tho v an ob'cure One, but by his 
 Miniftry, he lpentall his lew Days. 1 have heard 
 fcvcral judicious Miniflers and Chriftians obterve 
 this of him, that, whereas many worthy Mi- 
 Billers hav’d out-lived their Zeal, the Vigour of 
 their Gifts, and their Acceptance wiui the 
 Godly, this BldTed Man rather increafed in all 
 fchefe to the Safi. 
 
 His Stature was tall and flender, his Afpeft 
 grave. Kis natural Temper was cheerful, 
 k witty 
 
lxv'rn Mr. Trails Preface. 
 
 witty and facetious, vet temper’d with Gravi¬ 
 ty becoming a Mirifter of Chrift. I have <een 
 forces har of this rare Mix'ire in him myfelf, 
 and have heard from many who have had a 
 great Intimacy with him, that they h«ve ad¬ 
 mired this in him,that immediately after his Re¬ 
 creations, and Angular Sallies of Wit and inno¬ 
 cent Mirth, when called to pray, he would fpeak 
 to Ggd with that holy Aw, and baith, and 
 Love, and Life, as if he had come down from 
 the Mount. 
 
 His Gifts were great, ftrong natural Parts, 
 a clear H a.l, and a found Heart. His Voice 
 was of the beft Sort; loud, and yet managed 
 with charming Cadencies and Elevation'• H:s 
 Oratory Angular, and by it he was Maher of 
 the Paflions of his Hearers. His Action in 
 Preaching, was more than ordinary; yet was 
 ir all decent and taking in him. I have oft 
 thought him in this the likeft to the famous 
 Mr. Jclm Rogers, of Dedham in F.JfeX, by the 
 Character I had of him by many ; and ef'pecial- 
 ] v from his Kinfman, Mr. Wiliam Jenkyn, who 
 died Chrift’s Prifoner m Newgate, 16S4. 
 
 In preaching, praying, dealing with deftrefs d 
 Corr'oences, and in pleading for tne Cauie of 
 Gon in the Aflamblies of Minifters ;he was 
 eminenr, and generally fo efieemed in nis Lay, 
 which I do well remember. 
 
 1 have heard many PafTages of God s 1 refence 
 with him, and of his Bleffing of his Labours, 
 which I forbear to mention ; both becaufe tc is 
 
Mr. TrailV Preface. lxix 
 
 unfit ro give a long Preface to a fort Book: and be¬ 
 cause [ am not without Hope, that fome will 
 think it fit to make this great Man better known. 
 
 Ihe main humbling Thing, that attended 
 him, (Next to the A porta fy in the Land, and 
 cruel Terlecution oi the Church of Chrijl in it ) 
 was a crazy Body, afflicted much with the 
 Stone, and at laft with an Ulcer in his Kidneys 
 which brought him to his Grave, in 1665, 
 when he had lived little above Forty two Years. 
 
 This was the Man that the Rulers in Scot¬ 
 land eon'd not then bear: But tho’the Love 
 and Erteem that moft of the neighbouring No¬ 
 bility and Gentry bare to him, did prevail, for 
 a Yea r or two, to prelerve him in his Place, 
 after many of his Brethren were cart out; yet 
 at ieftgth, a Party of the King’s Guards, was 
 lent to turn him out, and to put a Stranger in 
 his Place. Unto which Violence, he* gave 
 Way; and went on a Vifit to his Friends, where 
 he was quickly feiz’d with a Fit of his Diftem- 
 per, and died in 1665, in jdxgvfl. I have oft 
 feen him, converted with him, and have heard 
 him preach; and if my Youth then did make 
 rne an unfit Judge of his real great Worth, yet 
 his Name was fo famous, his Minirtry lb fol¬ 
 lowed, efpecially in his laft two or three Years, 
 by many ejected Minifters, and fo many defio- 
 late Congregations, (and both were multiplied ' 
 in fatal 1662) that I do but declare what was 
 then the common Senfe of The hands in Scot¬ 
 land, that Mr. Guthrie was every Way an emi¬ 
 nent 
 
ixx Mr. TrailV Preface. 
 
 nent Gofpel Minifter. I had alfo a Ipecial Ad¬ 
 vantage for knowing the Spirit of this great 
 Man. My own honoured Father and He, kept 
 for many Years a conltant weekly Correipon- 
 dence by Letters; many of w hich from Mr. 
 Guthrie to my Father I did perufe, and fevcral 
 of them I have ftill by me, writ by his own 
 
 Hand. . 
 
 This was the gyc&t the Author ot this 
 (mall Book ; and it is all that he ever publlfhed. 
 Some I'm a 11 Scrap' of tome of has Sermons, 1 
 have feen in Print, published many i ears after 
 his Death, by fome honeft, blit unjudiciousHand 
 that declare little of the true Spirit of the Au¬ 
 thor. This much I have laid at a (lender De¬ 
 fire of the Rcprinter oj the Booty as Judging it 
 both my Duty and my Honour, to declare what 
 I have feen and Heard" of this Excellent Per.on. 
 And if any think ftrange, that I, who am none 
 of the oldeft of Men, can fo freely give a Cha¬ 
 racter of a Perfon who hath been near forty 
 Years dead ; I can tell them, that befides the % 
 Commonnefs of this fame Judgement ai him, 
 with Thoufands, in the IVeJl of Scotland to this 
 Day (of whom many will cenfure this Account 
 as very lame and defective) I have on iveeord 
 by me in writing tor feveral Years, lome lingu¬ 
 lar Things concerning him, which i forbear to 
 publifh. 
 
 London, Jan ; 
 p. l;04-5. 
 
 HO. TRAIL. 
 
[ lxxi ] 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 READER. 
 
 Chriftian Reader, 
 
 M ~ k T " 
 
 W HILE the Generality of Men , especially in 
 thefe Days , by the.'-- eager Pur fie after low 
 und bafe Interejls, ha n ie proclaimed as upon the llntfe- 
 tops , how mud) they haw forgotten to male Choice of 
 that better Party which, if chafer., fhould never be 
 ■f taken from them ; I have made an Eff y , fitch as it 
 * is, in the follow iug Treatife, to take thee off from this 
 - unprofitable, though painful, Purfuit, by propofing the 
 xhiefef of Interejls, even the ChrifHan’s gre c rn- 
 ter eft, to be feriotfly pondered and conflanjfy profited 
 by thee . Tim may if think it (Irangeta fee any Thing 
 , in Print from my Pen, as indeed it is a Surprife so 
 '■ my fit: But Necejfity hath made me for tens once to 
 offer fi much Violence to my own Inclination in ; eg a rd 
 that tome, without my Knowledge f have latsy pui/ijh^ 
 ed (owe imperfed Notes of a few ofSny 'Sermons, rnojl 
 j confujedly call together , prefixing with V. this vain Ti~ 
 
 ' tic , as difpie fifing to my felt as the p’ddijhing of the 
 
 wyd. ' \ . I .. /«ka . <rr/iu rM ♦ il I'! t'T'l 
 
 Thing , A clear attractive warming Beam, &c. 
 Upon this Occafm was I prevailed with to publifh 
 
 this 
 
Jxxil ^ To the Reader. 
 
 this little Piece, wherein 1 have purpofely ufed a mofi 
 homely and plain"St'He, left' other wife ( though when I 
 have Jlretched myjelf to the upmofl, 1 am below the 
 judicious and more Under [landing) 1 flmld be above 
 the Reach of the Rude and Ignorant, whofe Advan¬ 
 tage 1 have namly, if not oniy, conjulted: I have 
 likewife ihdied Brevity in every dicing, fo far as 1 
 have conceived it to be confident with Plainnefs and 
 Perfpicuity; knnwing that the Per Jons to whom I ad 
 drefs myftlf herein, have neither much Monty to fiend 
 upon Books , nor much rime t& fpare upon Reading. 
 If thou be a riged Critick, J know, thou vtayefl meet 
 with I ever al Things to carp at, yet affure thyfelfT 
 had no Dejign to offend thee, neither will thy fimple 
 approbation jatisfy me \ it is thy Edification 1 in¬ 
 tend, together with the Incitement of jome others more 
 expert and experienced in this excellent Subjstl, to han¬ 
 dle the fame at greater Lengthy which I have more 
 briefly hinted at } who am 
 
 Thy Servant in the 
 
 Work of the Gofpel, 
 
 y 
 
 ■ f 
 
 W illiam' Guthrie. 
 
 '-.v*' 
 
I 
 
 ************ **'*«* 
 
 * * K n vC* * * r* 2* t* * C% vC KK . 
 
 THE 
 
 CHRISTIANS 
 
 GREAT INTEREST. 
 
 THE INTRODUCTION 
 
 QlNCE there be To many'People li- 
 WJ> ving under the Ordinances, pretend¬ 
 ing without Ground to a fpecial In ter eft 
 in Chrift, and to his Favour and Salvation, 
 as is clear, Math . 7. 22, 23. Many will jay 
 to me in that Day, Lord, Lord , have 
 ive not prophefied in thy Name ? And 
 in thy Name have caft out Devils ? And 
 in thy Name done many •wonderful Works P 
 And then will I profefs unto them, l ne¬ 
 ver knew you j depart from me ye that work 
 
 A hti-* 
 
2 
 
 The Intro duct h 
 
 
 Q uUy. Math. 2?- it. 12- afterward cam. 
 alf/tit other Virgin, Saying, Lord Lot d, 
 oten to us : But he anjwered and fata, 
 Verily l fay unto you, I know you not 
 
 s+v-irtp tr, pnter in at the fh flit 
 
 Yf P 1 or many, 'I fay unto you , of life ek 
 
 many who have good Ground of Claim ( 
 cL ill are not eftablifhed m the Conh- 
 5 ,/of his Favour, but remain in the t 
 
 O u-k without Comfort, hefitating concern- _ 
 t the Reality of Godlinefs m themfelves 
 
 mg d fneakinglittle to the Commendation of 
 and ipeaku 0 e f pe cially in the 1 ime 
 
 R c ell i gl %raits h I fhall fpeak a little to two 
 
 Things of greateft Concernment The one 
 
 ^ How a Perfon fhall know if he hath a 
 
 5 ’ f foe-ial lntereft in Chnft, and whe- 
 rrueandipeu - n clim to God’s Fa- 
 
 lherhe Mother i 5( In cafe 
 
 ' VOUr r" Ml hort in the forefaid Trial,tvhat 
 
 clulfe he toll take for making toe God's 
 
 w“‘lihip and salvation to hunfclf l 
 
3 
 
 PART I. 
 
 The TRIAL of a SAVING 
 INTEREST in CHRIST. 
 
 How fhall a Man know if he hath a true 
 and fpecial Intereff in Chrift, and whe¬ 
 ther he hath or may lay Claim juflly 
 to God’s Favour and Salvation ? 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 A Alan's Interefl in Chrifi may be known : 
 It is a Matter of the higheft Importance, 
 and is to be determined by Scripture. 
 
 B EFORE we fpeak direCtly to the 
 Queftion, we fhall premife fome 
 things to make Way for the Anfwer. 
 
 Firfl. That a Man’s Interefl in Chrift, 
 or his gracious State, may be known' 
 and that with more Certainty than Peo¬ 
 ple do conjecture; yea, and the Know¬ 
 ledge of it may be more ealily attained 
 unto than many do imagine : For, not 
 only hath the Lord commanded Men to 
 ■A 2 know 
 
 (k 
 
The Trial of a Saving 
 
 know their Intereft in him, as a Thing at¬ 
 tainable, * Cor.13. fExawneyourfei™, j 
 whether ye be in tae Faith, & c. 2 Pc . j 
 T 10 . Give -Diligence to make your Cal - ■ 
 
 ting and Ele&ion fure> &c. But many of . 
 the Saints have attained unto the cleai Pc 
 foafion of their Intereft in Chnft, and m 1 
 Cod as their own God ; how often do they ,* 
 raft him their God and their Portion, ant 
 how perfuaded is Paul, That nothing can 
 feparate him from the Love of God. Konw , 
 V _g 09. Therefore the Knowledge of 
 a Man’s gracious State is attainable. 
 
 And this Knowledge of it, which may be 
 attained, is no Fancy and bare Conceit, but 
 h !S nioft Pure ; Doubtlefs thou art our Fa- ■ 
 tier, faith the Prophet in name of the 
 Church, Ifa. 63- 16. It is clear thus, 1. 
 That can be no Fancy, but a very fure 
 Knowledge, which doth yield to a rational 
 Man Comfort in moft real Straits; But fo 
 doth this, . Sam. 30. 6 When the people 
 
 (pale offtoamgy™*’ 6 hi 1 
 
 ‘ fpif i n the Lord his God. Plan 3 ; °- 
 
 hhh there, He will not be afraid of ten 
 Thoufands that rife againft him . Co ™Pfe 
 theft words with Ver. 3 - of that Plalm, 
 But thou, 0 Lord, art a Shield forme, 
 fny CUry, md the lifter u t ofm.ne Heaf 
 
 it 
 
5 
 
 Intereft In CHRIST. 
 
 Pfal. 27. 1, 3 The Lord is my Light , and 
 my Salvation , whom (hall I fear? The 
 Lord is the Strength of my Life, of 
 whom [hall / he afraid ? Though an Hof 
 Jhould encamp again(l me, my Heart (hall 
 not featf thou gh War Jhould rife again]} 
 me, in this veil' I be confident. 2. That is 
 a lure Knowledge of a Thing which mak- 
 cth a wife Merchant fell all he hath, that 
 he may keep it lure ; that niaketh a Man 
 ferego Children, Lands, Life, and fuller 
 the Spoiling of all joyfully: But fo doth 
 this, Math. 13. 44-. Mark. 10. 28, 29. Heb. 
 10. 34. Rdm. 5. 3. Acts. 5. 41. 3. That 
 
 muft be a hire and certain Knowledge, and 
 no Fancy, whereupon a Man voluntarily 
 and freely doth adventure his Soul, when 
 he is fteppmg in into Eternity with this 
 Word in his Mouth, This is all my Defire : 
 But liich a Knowledge is this, iSan.z^.g. 
 
 And again, not only may a godly Man 
 come to the lure Knowledge of his gracious 
 State, out it is metre eaiily attainable than 
 many do apprehend : For, fuppofmg what 
 lhail be afterwards proved, That a Man 
 may know the gracious Work of God’s 
 Spirit in himlelf; if he will but argue ra¬ 
 tionally from thence, he lhail be forced to 
 conclude his Intereft in G drift, unlefs he 
 A 3 deny 
 
6 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 H. 
 
 deny clear Scripture-truths. I ffiall only f 
 make Ufe of one here, becaufe we are to 
 fpeak more directly to this afterwards. A v 
 godly man may argue thus, AVhoioever re¬ 
 ceive Chrift, are juftly reputed the Child-■». 
 ren of God, John i. 12. But as many as 
 received him , to them gave he Power to 
 he come the Sons of God ; But I have receiv¬ 
 ed Chrift all the Ways which the Word , 
 there can import; for I pleale the Device 
 of Salvation by Chrift,I agree to the Terms, 
 
 I welcome the Offer of Chrift in all his 
 Offices, as. a King to rule over me, a Prieft 
 to offer and intercede for me, a Prophet to 
 teach me ; I lay out my Heart for him and , 
 towards him, refting on him as I am ^hle: 
 What elfecan be meant by the Word Re¬ 
 ceiving ? Therefore may I fay and conclude 
 plainly and warrantably, I am juftly to. 
 reckon myfelf God’s Child according to the 
 forefaid Scripture which cannot fail. 
 
 The Second • Thing to be premifod, is, - 
 That a Man’be favingly in Covenant with* \ 
 God, is a Matter of higheft importance^//- „ 
 is his Life , Deut. 32. 47. And yet very 
 few have or leek after a faving Intereft in 
 the Covenant, and many fooliffily think 
 they have fuch a Thing without any lolid 
 Ground, Math . 7. 14. Few find or walk in 
 
 the 
 
Interefi ///CHRIS T. 
 
 7 
 
 \dfthz narrow Wav. This fhould alarm Peo- 
 pie to be ferious about the Matter, fmceit 
 •«. is of I'o great Coafequence to be in Chrift; 
 and fince there be but few that may lay 
 
 • juft claim to him : And yet many do fool- 
 . •fifthly fancy an Intereft in him, who are 'de¬ 
 ceived by afalfe Confidence, as the foo'ijh 
 
 Virgins do, Math. 25. 
 
 The Third Thing to be premifed, is, 
 
 * Men muft relolve to be determined byScrip- 
 ture in this Matter of their Intereft in Chrift. 
 The Spirit fpeakingin the Scripture is Judge 
 of all Gontroverfies, Ifa . 8. 20.'7h the Law 
 
 „ and to the TeJHmony; if they Jpeak not 
 according to this Word , it is becaufe there 
 is ho Light in them ; and of this alfo, 
 Whether a Man be favingly in Covenant 
 with God or not. Therefore do not mock 
 God whilft you leem to fearch after fach a 
 
 * Thipg- we prove from Scripture, which 
 
 * is the uncontroverted'' Rule, that you are 
 I* gracious, and have ftriken Covenant faving- 
 
 lyiyith God; then refolve to grant fo much, 
 and to acquiefce in it: And if the contrary 
 appear, let there be a Determination of the 
 Controverfy, elfe you do but mock the Lord 
 and fo your Bands fall be made ft rang, 
 Ila. 28* 22. For, a Jot of his Word can- 
 A 4 n«t 
 
8 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 net fail. Math. 5. 18. Therefore leek Eye¬ 
 ful-tit from Chrif to judge of Things ac¬ 
 cording as the Word of God frail diico- 
 yer them to be. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Rcafcns why fo few come to the clear 
 Knowledge of their IntereJ} in Cirri ft. 
 
 HE Fourth thing to be premifed, is, 
 
 A Although the Matter of a Man’s 
 Intereft in ChriJb be of fo great Importance 
 and the Way to attain to the Knowledge of 
 it, fo plainly held forth in the Scriptures; 
 yet there be but few who reach the diftindt 
 Knowledge of it: And that this may not 
 difeourage any Perfon from attempting it, 
 I frail hint fome few Reafons, why fo few 
 come to the clear Knowledge of it ; which 
 will alfo prepare the "Way for what is to 
 be fpoken afterwards. 
 
 The firft Thing which doth hinder ma¬ 
 ny from the Knowledge of their Interef in 
 Chrifr, is their Ignorance of fome fpecial 
 Principles of Religion: As, 1. That it was 
 free Love in God’s Bofom, and nothing in 
 Man that moved him to fend a Savionr to 
 perfect the Work of Redemption. John 3. 
 
 16. 
 
9 
 
 Ini ere ft w CHRIS TV 
 
 1 6. God fo loved the World, that he gave 
 his oily begotten Son. Men are fill leeking 
 fome Ground for thatBufinefs in themfelvefe, 
 which leads away from fuitable arid high 
 Apprehenfions of the firft Spring and Rife 
 of God’s Goyenant-favvur to his People, 
 which hath no Reafon, Caufe, or Morive 
 in us ; and fo they cannot come to the 
 Knowledge of their Intereft. 
 
 2. They are Ignorant how that Love doth 
 effectually difcover itfelf to a Man’s Heart, 
 lb as he hath Ground to lay Claim to it, 
 viz. That ordinarily it doth firft difcover 
 his broken State in himfelf becaufe of Sin 
 and Corruption defiling the whole Man,, 
 and any Thing in him that might be cal¬ 
 led a Righteoufnefs; all thefe Things arc 
 Lofs and Hang, Phil. 3. 6,7, 8. Secondly. 
 It difeovereth Chriit as the full and fatisfy- 
 ing Treafure above all Things; The Man 
 finds a Treafure, for which, with Joy he 
 felleth all, &c. Mat. 13. 44, 4 6. ,Third'y. 
 It determineth the Heart, and caufeth it to 
 approach unto a living God in the Ordi¬ 
 nances, Pfal. 65. 4. Lie fifed is the Man 
 whom thou choofeft and caufe ft to approach 
 unto thee, that he may dwell in thy Courts. 
 And caufeth the Heart to wait upon him, 
 and him alone, Pjal. 62. 5. My Sou!, wait 
 
 A 5 thou. 
 
xo The Trial of a Saving 
 
 thou only upon God. Thus having dropped 
 in the Seed of God in the Heart, and for¬ 
 med Chrifl there, Gal. 4. 19. The Heart 
 is changed and made new in the forefaid 
 "Work, Ezek. 3 6 . 26. And God's Law is 
 fo (lamped upon the Heartm that Change, 
 Jer. 31. 33. that the whole Yoke of Chrifl 
 is commended to the Man without Excep¬ 
 tion, Rom. 7. 12,16. The Law is acknow¬ 
 ledged good, holy, jitfl , and fpiritual. Up¬ 
 on all which, from that mew Principle of 
 Life, there flow out A£ls of a new Life, 
 Gal. 5. 6. Faith worketh by Love. Rom; 
 6 . 18, 22. And the Man becometK a Ser¬ 
 vant of Rigeteoufnefs , and unto Godi 
 "Which doth efpecially appear in the Spi¬ 
 rituality of Worlhip, John 4. 24. Rom. 7. 
 6 . Men then ferve God in Spirit and Truth; 
 find in the Newnefs of the Spirit, •and not 
 in the Oldnefs of the Letter ; and Tender- 
 nefs in all Manner of Converfation ; the 
 Man then exercifeth himfelf how to keep a 
 Con faience void of Offence towards God, 
 and towards 'Man, A6ts 24. 16. Now, this 
 "Way doth the Love of God difcover itfelf 
 unto theMan and acleth on him,fo ashe'hath 
 Ground of laying fome good Claim to it ; 
 fo as he may mftly think, that the Love 
 which lent a Saviour, had Refpett to iuch 
 
 a 
 
II 
 
 IntereJ} in CHRIS T. 
 
 a Man as hath found thefe Things made 
 out unto him, Surely Ignorance in this doth 
 hinder many from the Knowledge of their 
 Intereft in Chrift; for if a Man know not 
 how God worketh with a Perfon, fo as he 
 may juflly lay Claim to his Love, which 
 was from Eternity, he will wander in the 
 Dark, and not come to the Knowledge of 
 an Intereft in him. 
 
 Vjf' , . 1 
 
 3*sMany are alio ignorant of this, That 
 Cod alolte is the Hope of his People. He is 
 called the Hope of Ifrael, Jer. 14. 8. Al¬ 
 though inherent Qualifications are Evi¬ 
 dences of it, yet the flaying of the Pleart 
 upon him as a full Elefiing and fatisfying 
 Portion, is Faith, 1 Pet. 1. 21. The Faith 
 and Hope mu ft be in Cod ; and the only 
 proper Condition which giveth Right to 
 the faving BlefTmgs of the Covenant, Rom . 
 
 > 4. 5. To him that worketh not , but be- 
 
 lievsth— Faith is counted for Righteouf- 
 nefs. Indeed if any Perfon takeLiberty here, 
 and turn Grace into V/antonnefs, there is 
 • without Doubt in fo far, a Delufion; fince 
 there is Mercy with him upon Condition 
 that it conciliate Fear to him , Pfal. 130. 
 4. Yea, hardly can any Man who hath 
 
 found 
 
12 
 
 'The Trial of a Saving 
 
 found the fore laid Expreffions of God's 
 Love made out upon him, make a Cloke 
 of the Covenant forfinful Liberty, without 
 fome Meafure of a fpiritual Conflict; in 
 this refpedl, He that is born of God doth not 
 fin ; and, he who doth fo Jin ; hath not 
 feen God, i John 3. 6, 9. I fay, God is the 
 Hope of Ms People, and not their own Ho- 
 lineis. If they intend Honefty, and long 
 ferioufly to be like unto him, many Fail¬ 
 ings fnould not weaken their Hope and 
 Confidence, for it is in him who changeih 
 not , Mai- 3. 6. And If any Man finneth r 
 he hath an Advocate , 1 John 2. 1. Now, 
 when Men place their Hope in any other 
 Thing bed da the Lord, it is no Wonder 
 they be kept in a daggering Condition, 
 according to the Changes of the Thing 
 which they make theGroundof their Hope, 
 fince they give not to God the Glory due 
 to his Name, and which, he will not give 
 to another : Compare Pjal. 9. 10. They 
 who Tnow thy Name , will put their Trujl 
 in thee , with Ifa. 42. 8. My Glory will 
 1 not give to another : I am the Lord , that 
 is my Name . 
 
 4, Many are ignorant of the different 
 "Ways, and Degrees of God’s Working with 
 hi s People, and this doth much darken their 
 
 Know- 
 
Knowledge and reflex Acts of their Intereft 
 in him. This Ignorance doth run mainly 
 on three Heads, i. They are Ignorant of 
 the different Degrees and Ways ofth at Law- 
 work, which ordinarily dealeth with Men, 
 and of the different Ways how the Lord 
 bringeth home People at firft to Chrift. 
 They confider not that the Jaylor is not 
 : ..kept an Hour in Bondage, Acts 16. Paul 
 ' is kept in Sufpenfe three Days, Acts g. 
 
 ? Zaccheus not one Moment, Luke 19. 2. 
 
 They areIgnorantof,at leaf! they do not con- 
 flder, how different the Degrees of Sanctifi¬ 
 cation are in the Saints, and the honourable 
 1 Appearings thereof before Men in fome; 
 
 J* and the fid Blemiflaing thereof in others: 
 Some are very blamelefs and more free of 
 grofs Outbreakings, adorning their Pro- 
 feffion much, as Job , Job. 1. and Zecha- 
 riah , Luke 1. Thcfe are faid to be Per - 
 | fedl and uf right , fearing God and efehew - 
 ' ' ing Evil; righteous before God , walking 
 in a l the Commandments and Ordinances 
 cf the Lord , blamelefs : Others were fub- 
 JeCt to very grofs and fad Evils, as Solomon , 
 A fa, See. 3. They are Ignorant of the 
 different Communications of God’s Face, 
 and Expreffions of his Prefence: Some do 
 walk much in the Light of God’s Counte¬ 
 nance, 
 
 \ 
 
 t 
 
14 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 nance, and are much in fenfibleFellowfhip 
 with him, as David was; others are all 
 their Days kept in Bondage through Fear 
 of Death , Heb. 2. 15. Surely the Ignorance 
 of the different Ways of God’s working and 
 dealing with his People, doth very much 
 darken the Knowledge of their Intereft in 
 him, whilft they ufually hint the Lord to 
 one Way of Working, which he doth not 
 keep, as we have fhewed in the former Ex¬ 
 amples. 
 
 The Second Thing which doth darken 
 Men about their Intereft in Chrift, is, 
 There is one Thing or other, wherein their 
 Heart, in fome refpedt, doth condemn them, 
 as dealing deceitfully and guilefully with 
 God: It is not to be expedited that thefe 
 can come to Ciearnefs about their Intereft, 
 whofe Heart doth condemn them for keep¬ 
 ing up fome known Tranfgreftions againft 
 the Lord, which they will not let go, nei¬ 
 ther are ufing the Means which they know 
 to be appointed byGod for delivering them 
 from ft : Neither can thefe come to Ciear¬ 
 nefs, who know fome pofttive Duty com¬ 
 manded them in their Stations, which they 
 deceitfully Ihift and Ihun, not cloftng 
 cheerfully with it, or not willing to be led 
 into it; thefe are alfo in fome refpedt, 
 
 con- 
 
Inter eft in & H K I S T. 
 
 condemned of their own Heart, as the for¬ 
 mer Sort; and in that Cafe it is difficult to 
 come to a diftinflKnowledge of their State, 
 i John 3 21. If our Heart condemn us 
 not % then have we Confidence towards Cod. 
 It. is fuppofed there, that a felf-condemn- 
 ing Heart maketh void a Man’s Confidence 
 proportionally before God. 
 
 I do not deny but that Men may, on 
 good Grounds, plead an Interefl in Chrifl, 
 in the Cafe of prevailing Iniquity, Pfal. 
 651 3. Iniquities prevail againft me ; as for 
 our Tranfgrefftons, thou /halt purge them 
 away. Rom. 7. 23, 24, 25. I fee another 
 Law in my Members , warring againft 
 the Law of my Mind, and bringing me 
 into Captivity to the Law of Sin , which 
 is in my Members : 0 wretched Man that 
 I am y who fiiall deliver me from the Body 
 of this Death ? I thank Cod through JeJ'us 
 thrift our Lord; fo then , with the Mind 
 1 my ft If ferve the Law of Cod ; but with 
 the Flejh , the Law of Sin. But it is hard 
 to be attained, if at all attainable, when 
 the Hea*rt is dealing deceitfully, and en¬ 
 tertaining known Guile in a Particular : 
 Therefore let People clear themfelves of the 
 Particular which they know too well. It 
 is the Thing which doth meet them, mar 
 
 ing 
 
6 
 
 The Trial of Saving 
 
 mg their confidence and Accefs in all their 
 Approaches untoGod; f c&Judg . io. io - 13. 
 The Idolatries of the People are cad up to 
 them by the Lord, and their Suit rejected 
 thereupon. That which draweth away the 
 Heart firft in the Morning, and laft atNight, 
 like an Oven heated at Tight, and it burn- 
 eth as a flaming fire in the Morning, 
 - fpoken of the Wicked, Hof. 7. 6. and tak- 
 eth up their Thoughts often on their Bed; 
 as it is faid of fame Pfal. 3 6. 4. He devif- 
 eth Mifchief upon his Bed, &c'. That 
 which doth lead away the Heart in Time 
 of religious Duty ordinarily, and the Re¬ 
 membrance of which hath Power to enliven 
 and quicker! the Spirits, more than the Re¬ 
 membrance of God, fo as their Heart is 
 after the Heart of fame deteftable ThPng, 
 E 7 ek. 11. 21. That which wiihflandeth 
 Men when they would grip the Promile, 
 as God cafteth up Men’s Sins to them who 
 are meddling with his Covenant, Pfal. 50. 
 16 17.' IVhat haft thou to do to declare my 
 Statutes, or that thou fhouldeft take my 
 Covenant in thy Mouth , &c ? That is th e 
 Thing which doth mar the Knowledge of a 
 gracious Rate ; let it go, and it will be 
 more eafy to reach the Knowledge of an In- 
 terefi: in Chrift. 
 
 The 
 
l 7 
 
 Inter eft w CHRIST. 
 
 The Third Thing which hindreth the 
 Knowledge of an Interefl in Chrifl, is a 
 Spirit of Sloth, and carelefs Negligence in 
 many : They complain that they know not 
 whether they be in Ohrid or not: But, as 
 few take Pains to be in him ; lb few take 
 Pains to try if they be in him. It is a Work 
 andBufinefs which cannot be done deeping, 
 
 2 Cor. 13 5. Examine yourfelves, whether 
 ye be in the Faith; prove your own /elves: 
 Know ye not your own felves , 8 cc ? The 
 feveral Words ufed there, viz. Examine, 
 prove, know, fay that there is a Labour in 
 it; Diligence mufi be ufed to make our 
 Calling and Ele£lion fure, 2 Pet. I . 10. It 
 is a Bufmefs above Flefli and Blood ; the 
 holy Anointing, which teacheth all Things, 
 1 John 2. 20, 27. muft make us know the 
 Things freely given us of God, 1 Cor. 2.' 
 12. Shall the Lord impart a Buflnefs offb 
 great Goncerment, and not fb much as be 
 enquired after to do it for Men ? Ezek. 36. 
 
 3 7. Be afhamed, you who fpend lo much 
 Timein reading of Romances in adorning 
 your Perfons, in Hawking and Hunting, 
 in confulting the Law anent your outward 
 State in the World, and it may be in worfe 
 Things than thefe: Be afhamed that you 
 fpend fo little Time in the Search of this. 
 
 Whether 
 
 V 0 •V* L • f - 
 
The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Whether you be an Heir of Glory or not, 
 whether you be in the Way that leadeth 
 to Heaven,or that Way which will land you 
 in Darknefs for ever. You who judge this 
 below you, and unworthy of your Pains, 
 any Part or Minute of your Time ; it is like, 
 in God’s Account, you have judged your- 
 felves unworthy of everlafting Life., fo as 
 you {hall have no Lot with God’s People 
 in this Matter. 
 
 The Fourth Thing that doth darken the 
 Knowledge of an Intereft in Chrifi, is, 
 Men do not condefcend upon what would 
 fatisfy them ; they complain that God will 
 not fhew unto them what he is about to do 
 with them; but cannot yet fay they know 
 what would fatisfy anent hisPurpofe. i his 
 is a fad Thing. Shall we think thofe are 
 ferious who have never, as yet, pitched 
 on what would fatisfy them, nor are mak~ 
 ing earned Enquiry after what fhould fatif- 
 fy ? If the Lord had left us in the Dark in 
 that Matter, we were lefs inexcusable: 
 But fnce the Grounds of Satisfaction and 
 the true Marks of an Intereft in Chriit, are 
 fo clear and frequent in Scripture, and lo 
 many Things written, that our Joy may 
 be full, i John i. 14. And that thofe who 
 believe may know that they have eternal 
 
l 9 
 
 Inter eft /^CHRIST. 
 
 Life , i John 5. 13. And fince he that be- 
 litveth hath a Witnefs of it in hhnfelf, 1 
 John 5. 10. None can pretend excuie here: 
 We may not here infift to (hew what may 
 and lhould fatisfy arent our Inter eft, fmce 
 we are to Ipeak dire&ly to it afterwards. 
 
 The Fifth Thing that helpeth much to 
 keep Men in the Dark anent their Intereft 
 in Chrift, is, They pitch upon fome mu¬ 
 table Grounds, which are not fo appoftte 
 Proofs of the Truth of an Intereft in Chrift, 
 as of the comfortable State of a triumphing 
 Soul failing before the Wind ; and Marks, 
 which I grant are precious in themfelves, 
 and do make out an Intereft clearly where 
 they are,- yet they are fuch, as without 
 which an Intereft in Chrift may be, and be 
 known aifo in a good meafure: We fhall 
 touch a few of them. 
 
 1. Some think that all who have a true 
 Intereft in him, are above the prevailing 
 Power of every Sin; but this is contrary to 
 that of Pfal. 65. 3. Iniquities prevail a- 
 gainft me, as for our Tranfgreffi'ons, thou 
 Jhalt purge them away. Where we find 
 that holyMan laying juft Claim to Pardon, 
 in the Cafe of prevailing Iniquity : And 
 that of Rom. 7. 23, 24, 25. Where Paul 
 tbanketh God through Chrift, as freed 
 
 from 
 
20 
 
 7 'he Trial of a Saving 
 
 from the Condemnation of the Law, even 
 ivhilfi a Law in his Members leadeth cap¬ 
 tive unto Sin. 
 
 2. Some think that all true Saints have 
 conhantly Accefs unto God in Prayer, and 
 feniible Returns of Prayer at all l imes; 
 but this is contrary to the many ladExercifes 
 of his People, complaining often that they 
 are not heard nor regarded of God, Pjal. 
 13. 1. How long wilt thou forget me,. 0 
 Lord, for ever? How long wi t thou hide 
 thy Face from me? Pfal. 22. 1, 2* My 
 Cod, my Cod, why haft thou forfahen me ? 
 Why art thou fo far from helping me, and 
 fro?n the Words of my roaring? 0 my God, 
 l cry in the Day-time, but thou hearefl not; 
 and in the Night-feafon, and am not fi¬ 
 le nt* 
 
 3. Some think that all who have any 
 true In ter elf in him, have God witneffing 
 the fame unto them by a high Operation 
 of that witneffng Spirit of his fpoken of 
 Rom. 8. id. The Spirit itfelf beat eth l,jt- 
 nefs with our Spirit, tnat we at e the Chil¬ 
 dren of God. Whereof afterwards: And 
 fo they hill fufpech their own Intereft in 
 Chrih, becaufe of the Want of this; but 
 ' they do not remember that they muh firft 
 believe and give Credit to that Record, 
 
 which 
 
21 
 
 Inter eft wCHRIST. 
 
 which God hath given of his Son, that 
 there is Life enough in him for Men, i 
 John 5. 10, 11. And then look for the Seal 
 and Witnefs of the Spirit, Eph. 1. 13. In 
 whom after ye believed, ye were fealed 
 with ■the holy Spirit of Promife, See. As 
 long as People hold fill thefe Principles 
 and the like, they can hardly come to the 
 Knowledge of their gracious State, which 
 God hath w arranted People to prove and 
 clear up to|themfelves, otherways than by 
 thefe fore fa id Things. 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 -Seme Mi flakes concerning att Iuterefl in 
 Chrifl removed. 
 
 T HE Fifth Thing to be premised, is, 
 The Removal of lome Miftakes 
 ' wherein to- People may readily run thent- 
 felves, when we'are about to prove their 
 Interefl in Chrifl. 
 
 As, 1. It is a Mi (Fake to think, that 
 every one who is in Chrifl, doth know 
 that beds in himjformany are truly gracious, 
 and have a good Tittle to eternal Life, who 
 do not know fb much, until it be.made 
 
 lL t 
 
 out 
 
The Trial of a Saving 
 
 
 S2 
 
 out afterwards, I John 5. 13 . Thefe things 
 are written to Believers,'that they may , 
 know they have a true Tittle to eternal 
 Life; that is, that they may know they 
 are Believers, and fo it is luppofed they 
 
 knew it not before. 11 1 
 
 2. It is a Miftake to think, that all who 
 
 come to the Knowledge of their Intereft in 
 Chrift do attain an equal Certainty about 
 the fame: One may fay, He is perfuaded 
 nothing prerent or to come can feparate 
 him from the Love of God, Rom. 8. 38. 
 Another cometh but this Length, I believe , 
 
 help my Unbelief, Mark 9. 24. 
 
 o It is a Miftake to think, that every 
 one who attaineth a ftrong Perfuafion of 
 his Intereft, doth always hold there ; for he 
 who to Day may fay ofthe Lord, /fe is bis 
 
 Refuse,. Pfal. 9 1 * 2 - and his portl ° n > ■ 
 no S c 7 \ will at another Time fay, He is 
 cut off, Pfal. 31- «• and will aft; if the 
 Truth of God’s Promife doth fail for ever¬ 
 more? Pfal. 77* 7) 8, 9 ’ , 
 
 4 It is alfo a Miftake to think, that 
 
 every one who doth attain a good Know¬ 
 ledge of their gracious State, can formally 
 anfwer allObjeftions made to the contrary; 
 but yet they may hold faft the Conclufion; 
 and fay, I know 'whom I have believed, 2 
 
23 
 
 Inter eft ^CHRIST. 
 
 Tim. i. 12. There be few Grounds of the 
 ChriIlian Religion, whereof many People 
 are fo perfuaded, as that they are able to 
 maintain them formally againft all Argu¬ 
 ments brought to the contrary, and yet they 
 may and will hold the Conclufion fledfaflly 
 and juftly : So it is in this Cafe in hand. 
 
 5. It is no lefs a Miftake to imagine, 
 that the vain, groundlefs Confidence, 
 which many profane ignorant Atheifts do 
 maintain, Js this Knowledge of anlnterefl 
 in Chrifl, which we plead for ; many do 
 falfly avow him 'to be their Father , John 
 8.41. and many look for Heaven, who will 
 be beguiled with thofe foolijh Virgins ; 
 Mat. 25. 12. yet we muff not think becaufe 
 of this, that all Knowledge of an Interest 
 is a Delufion and Fancy, although thefe 
 Fools be deceived; for whilft Thoufands 
 are deluded, fome can fay on good and fo- 
 lid Grounds, We know that we are of Cod y 
 and that the ivhole World lieth in Wicked- 
 ?iefs. 1 John 5. 19. 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 The Ways by which the Lord dr awe fit 
 ■ fome to Chrift without a fenfibleprepara¬ 
 tory Law-work. 
 
 Having 
 
24 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 H AVING premifed thefe Things, 
 it now followeth that we give fome , 
 Marks by which a Man may know if-he be , 
 favingly in Covenant with God, ana hath 
 a Jfpecial Intereft in Ghrift, fo as he may 
 warrantably lay Claim to God’s Favour 
 and Salvation. We fhall only pitch upon 
 two great and principal Marks, not wil¬ 
 ling to trouble People with many. 
 
 But before we fall upon thefe, we will 
 fpeak of a preparatory Work of the Law, 
 whereof the Lord doth ordinarily make ufe j 
 to prepare his own "Way in Men’s Souls. 1 
 This may have its own Weight, as a Mark, 
 with fome Perfons. It is called, The YV ork 
 of the Law, or, the Work of Humilation. 
 
 It hath fome Proportion to that Spirit of 
 Bondage, Rom. 8 . 15* And doth now un¬ 
 der the New Teftament anfwer unto it, and 
 ufually leadeth on to the Spirit of Adop¬ 
 tion. 
 
 Only here let it be remembred, 1. That 
 we are not to fpeak of this preparatory V 01k 
 of the Law, as a negative Mark oi a true 
 Intereft in Chrift, as if none might lay 
 Claim to God’s Favour, who hath not had 
 this preparatory Work in the feveral Steps 
 of it, as we are to fpeak or it ; for, as we 
 
 {hall hear, The Lord doth not always keep 
 
 that - 
 
Interejl ^CHRIST. 25 
 
 that Path with Men. 2. The great Reafon 
 why we fpeak of it, is, becaufe the Lord 
 dealeth with many, whom he doth ef- 
 fe&ually call, by Lome fuch preparatory 
 "Work: And to thole, who have been fo 
 1 dealt with, it may prove ftrengthning, and 
 will confirm them in laying the more Weight 
 on the Marks which follow. 3. It may 
 1 help to encourage others, who are under 
 fuch Bondage of Spirit, as a good Progno- 
 flick of a gracious Work to follow: For 
 as we (hall circumftantiate it, it will be 
 rarely found to mifcarry and fail of a gra¬ 
 cious Iflue. 4. Where God ufeth fuch a pre¬ 
 paratory Work, he doth not keep one* 
 Way or Meafure in it, as we {hall hear. 
 
 For the more diftinft handling of this 
 preparatory Work, we {hall fhortly hint 
 the moll ordinary Way's, by which the Lord 
 leadeth People in unto the Covenant faving- 
 ly, and draweth them unto Chrifi. 
 
 Fir/}. There are fome called from the 
 Womb, as John the Baptift was, Luke 1. 
 41, 44. in their very young Years, before 
 they can be deeply engaged actively in 
 Satan’s Ways, as Timothy, 2 Tim. 3. 15. 
 It cannot be fuppofed that thole have fitch a 
 preparatory Work as we are to fpeak of 
 And becaufe fome P^rfons may pretend to 
 
 B this 
 
2 6 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 this Way of. effectual Calling, we offer 
 thefe Marks of it, whereby thole who have 
 been fo called may be confirmed. v 
 
 I. Such ule from their Childhood to be 
 kept free of ordinary Pollutions, where¬ 
 with Children ufually are defiled; as 
 Swearing, Lying, Mocking of Religion and 
 religious perfons, <&c. Thofe whom God 
 calleth effectually, he fanftifieth them from 
 the Time of that effectual Calling: Sin 
 cannot have Dominion over than, as over 
 others, becaufe they are under Grace. Rom. 
 6. 14. 
 
 II. Religion is, as it were, natural to 
 them; I mean, tney need not be much 
 preffed to religious Duties, even when they 
 are but Children; they run willingly that 
 Way, becaufe there is an inward Principle 
 of Love conf raining them, 2 Cor. 5. 14. 
 fo as they yield themfelves Servants of 
 Righteoufnefs, without outward Conflraint, 
 Rom . 6. 16 
 
 III. Although fuch know notjwhen they 
 were firft acquainted with God, yet they 
 have afterwards fuch Exercifes of Spirit 
 befalling, as the Saints in Scripture, of 
 whofe firfi Converfion we hear nor, do 
 fpeak of. They are fhut out from God, 
 upon fome Occafion now and then, and are 
 
 admitted 
 
27 
 
 Int ere ft in C H R I S T. 
 
 admitted to come dearer again,to their Ap- 
 prehenfion : Their Heart is alfo further 
 broken up by the Ordinances, as is faid of 
 Lydia , Afts 16. 14. and ordinarily they 
 do remember, when fome fpecial Bit of 
 Religion and Duty, or when fome -Sin, of 
 which they were not taking Notice before, 
 was dilcovered to them. They who can 
 apply thele Things to themselves, ’ have 
 much to uiy for their effedtual Calling 
 from their Youth. 
 
 Secondly. Some are brought in to Chrift 
 in a fovereignGofpel-way, when the Lord, 
 by fome few Words of Love {wallowing up 
 any Law-work, quickly taketh a Perfon 
 Prifo'ner at the firft, as.he did Zaccheus , 
 Luke. 19- and others, who upon a Word 
 fpoken by Chrift, did leave all and follow 
 him; and we hear no noife of a Law-wok 
 dealing with them before they clofe' with 
 Chrift Jefus. 
 
 And becaufe fome may pretend to this 
 Way ofcalling, we ftiall touch fomeThings 
 moft remarkable in that Tran fiction with 
 Zaccheus , for their clearing and Confirma¬ 
 tion. 1. He had fome defire to fee Chrift, 
 and fuch a Defire, as made him wave that 
 which fome would have judged Prudence 
 and Diicretion, whilft he climbeth up 
 
 B 2 upon 
 
The Trial of a Saving 
 
 upon a Tree that he might fee him. 2. 
 Chrift fpake to his Heart, and that Word 
 took luch Hold upon him, that prefently 
 with Joy he did accept of Chrift’s Offer, 
 and clofed with Chrift as Lord, whilft 
 few of any note were following him. 3.Up¬ 
 on this his Heart doth open to the Poor, 
 although, it feems, he was a covetous Man 
 before. 4. He hath‘a due Impreffion of his 
 former Ways, evidencing his Refpect to 
 Tvlofes his Law, and this he doth fignify 
 before all the Company then prefent, not 
 caring to fhame himfelf in fuck Things as 
 probably were notour to the World. 5. Up¬ 
 on all thefe Things, Chrift confirmeth and 
 ratifieth the Bargin by his Word; recom¬ 
 mending to him that Onenefs of Intereft, 
 which behov^i to be between him and the 
 Saints, and the Thoughts of his own loft 
 Condition, if Chrilt had not come and 
 fousht him, and found him : All which 
 are clear, Luke 19. 3--10. 
 
 We grant the Lord calleth fome fo, and 
 if any can lay claim to the fpecial Things 
 we have now hinted, they have a good 
 Confirmation of God’s dealing with them. 
 From that Scripture; neither are they to vex 
 themfelves becaufe of theWant of a diftinft 
 preparatory Law-work, if their Heart hath. 
 
 yielded 
 
.2 9 
 
 Inter eft In CHRIST. 
 
 yielded unto Chrift; for a Law Work is 
 not deferable, except for this End. There¬ 
 fore Chrift doth offer himlelf directly in 
 the Scripture, and People are invited to 
 come to him : And although many will not 
 come to him who is the Cautioner, until the 
 Spirit of Bondage diftrefs them for their 
 Debt; yet if any, upon the Knowledge of 
 their loft Eftate, would flee and yield to 
 ■Chrift, none might warrantably prefs a 
 Law-work upon them. 
 
 As for others, whom Chrift perfuaded 
 by a Word to follow him, whatfoever he 
 did, or however he fpake to them at his 
 firft Meeting with them, we muft rationally 
 fuppofe, that then he dilcovered fo much 
 of their own Neceffity, and his own Ful- 
 nefs and Excellency to them, as made them 
 quit all and run after him j* And if he do 
 •fo to any, w r e crave no more, lince there is 
 Room enough there for the Phyfician. 
 
 So that from all this, as fome may be con¬ 
 firmed and flrengthned, with whom God 
 hath lo dealt; fo there is no Ground nor 
 ■Occafion for deluded Souls to flatter them* 
 (elves in their Condition, who remain igno¬ 
 rant and fenfelefs of their own Mileries and 
 Ghrift’s Alfufficiency, and hold fall Deceit- 
 
 'Thirdly There are fome brought in to 
 
 B 3 Chrift- 
 
3 ° 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Chrift in ,a Way yet more declarative ofhis 
 free Grace; and this is, when he effettual- 
 1 y calleth Men at the Hour of Death. We j 
 find fomewhat recorded of this Way in that 
 
 Pregnant Example of the Thief on the Crofs , 
 Luke 2-?,. 39— 43 * Although this feemsnot 
 very pertinent for the Purpofe in Hand; yet 
 we fhall fpeak a little of it, that on the one 
 Hand, Men may be fparing to judge and 
 pafs Sentence upon either themfelves or o- 
 thers, before the laft Gafp. And we ftiall 
 fo circumftantiate it, that on the other 
 Hand none may dare to delay lb great a 
 Bufinefs to the laft: Hour of their Life. 
 
 We find thefe Things remarkable in 
 that Bufinefs between Chrift and the Thief, 
 i. The Man falleth at odds with his former 
 Companion. 2. He dareth not fpeak a 
 wrong Word of God, whofe Hand is on 
 Shim, but juftifieth him in all that is be¬ 
 fallen him. 3. He now feeth Jefus Chrift 
 perfecuted by the World, without a Caufe. 
 andmoft injurioufly. 4. He difcoverethChrift 
 to be a Lord and a King, whilft Enemies 
 feem to have him at under. 5. He believ- 
 eth a being of Glory after Death fo real¬ 
 ly, that he preferreth a Portion of it to the 
 prefent Safety of his bodily Life, which 
 he knew Chrift was able to grant to him at 
 
Interefi hi CHRIST. 31 \ 
 
 that Time, and he might have cholen that 
 with the other Thief. 6. Although he was 
 much abated in himfelr, and fo humbled, 
 that he pleaded but that Chrifl would re¬ 
 member him, yet he was nobly daring to 
 throw himfelf upon the Covenant, on Life 
 and Death; and he had fo much Faith of 
 ChrhTs Alfufficiency, that he judged a 
 fimple Remembrance from Chrifl:, would 
 fatisfyingly do his Bufinefs. 7. He acquief- 
 ced (weedy in the Word which Chrifl fpake 
 to him, for the Ground of his Comfort. 
 
 All which are very clear in the Cafe' of 
 that poor dying Man, and do prove a ve¬ 
 ry real Work of God upon his Heart. 
 
 As this Example may encourage fbme to 
 wait for good from God, who cannot as 
 yet lay clear Claim to any gracious Work 
 of his Spirit; fo we obtefl all, as they love 
 their Souls, not to delay their Soui-bufinefs, 
 hoping for fuch a Call of Chrift’s Hand in 
 the End, as too many do; this.,being a rare 
 Miracle of Mercy, with the Glory whereof 
 Chrifl did honourably triumph over the 
 Ignominy of his Crofs; a Parallel of which 
 we fhall hardly find in all the Scripture be- 
 fide. Yea, as there be but few at all fjived. 
 
 Mat. 20. 16. Many be cabled , but few 
 chofen ; and mofl few faved this Way; fo 
 
 B 4 the 
 
32 The Trial of Saving 
 
 the Lord hath peremptorily threatned to 
 laugh at the Calamity, and not to hear the 
 Cry of fuch as mocked formerly at his Re¬ 
 proof, and would not hear when he called 
 to them, Prov. i. 24,25, 26. Becaufe I 
 have called, andye refijed; I haveJlretch- 
 ed out my Hand, and no Man regarded : 
 but ye have fet at nought all my Counfel, 
 and mould none of my Reproof : I alfo mill 
 laugh at your Calamity, I mill mock mhen 
 your Fear cometh. Which Scripture, al¬ 
 though it doth not Ihut Mercy’s Door upon 
 any, who at the Hour of Death do flncere- 
 ly judge themfelves, and flee to Chrifl, as 
 this penitent Thief did; yet it is certain, 
 it implieth that very few, who lit the Offer 
 until then, are honoured with Repentance 
 as he was; and fo their Cry, as not being 
 fmcere and of the right Stamp, lhall not 
 be heard. 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 The Work of the Lam by mhich the Lord 
 prepares his Way into Mens Souls; 
 mhich is either more violent andfudden, 
 or more cahn and gradual. 
 r | " v H E fourth and moft ordinary AVay 
 JL by which many are brought in to 
 Chrifl, is by a clear and difcernible Work 
 of the Law, and Humiliation, which we 
 
 ordi- 
 
Inter eft m CHRIS T. 
 
 ordinarily call the Spirit of Bondage ,. as 
 was hinted before. AV r e do not mean that 
 every one, whole Confcience iswakned with 
 Sin and Fear of Wrath, doth really dole 
 with Chrift; the contrary doth appear in 
 Cain, Saul, Judas , &c. But there is a 
 Convidion of Sin, a Wakning of Confidence, 
 and Work of Humiliation, which, as we 
 Ihall circumftantiate it, doth rarely mifcarry 
 or fail of a gracious Ilfue, but ordinarily 
 doth refolve into the Spirit of Adoption , 
 and a gracious Work of God’s Spirit. And 
 becaufe the Lord dealeth with manySinners 
 this Way, and we find that many are much 
 puzzled about the giving Judgment of this 
 Law-work, we fhall fpeak of it particularly. 
 
 This Work is either more violent and 
 fuddenly expede, or it is more fober and 
 lent, pro traded through a greater Length 
 of Time, and lo as the Steps of it are very 
 difcernible. It is more violent in lome, as 
 in the Jaylor, Paul, and lome other Con¬ 
 verts in the Book of the Adis of the Apo - 
 files, on whom Chrift did break in at an In- 
 ftant, and fell on them as with Fire and 
 Sword, and led them captive terribly j and 
 becaule lome great legal Shakings are de¬ 
 ceitful, and turn to nothing, if not worle, 
 we ftrall point at fome Things remarkable 
 
 B 5 i» 
 
34 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 in thefe Converts fpoken of before, which 
 did prove the Work of the Law on them, 
 to have had a gracious Iffue and Refult. i. 
 Some Word of Truth or Difpenfation, 
 putteth the Perfon to a dreadful Stand, 
 with a great Stir in the Soul. Some are 
 pricked in Heart, Adis 2. 37. Some fall 
 on trembling , Adis 16. 29. And this is 
 fuch a Stir, that the Perfon is brought to 
 his \> r it$ End: What wilt thou have me 
 to do ? faith Paul, Arts 9. 6 . What muft 
 1 do to be freed? faith the Jay lor, Adis 
 16. 30. 2. TJie Perfon is content to have 
 Salvation and God’s Friendfhip on any 
 Terms, as the Queflion doth import, What 
 jhall l do? As if he had laid, What would 
 I not do ? W hat would I not forego ? What 
 would 1 not undergo? 3. The Perfon ac¬ 
 cepted the Condition oTeredby Chrifl and 
 his Servants, as is clear in the forecited 
 Scriptures. 4. The Perfon prefently be- 
 cometh of one Interefl with the Saints, 
 joyning himfelfwith thatperfecutedSociety, 
 putting Refpedt on thofe v horn he had 
 formerly perfecuted, joyning and continu¬ 
 ing with them in the Prof if on of Chrifl 
 on all Hazards. Thofe with whom theLord 
 hath fo dealt, have much to fay for a gra¬ 
 cious Work of Gods Spirit in them; and 
 • it 
 
35 
 
 jntere/e in CHRIST- 
 
 it is like, many of them can date their 
 Work from fuch a particular Time and 
 Word, or Difpenfation, and can give lome 
 Account of what pall between God and 
 them, and of a lenlible Change following 
 in them from that Time foreward ; as Paul 
 giveth a good Account of the Work and 
 Way of God with him afterwards, APIs 22. 
 
 Again, the Lord fometimes carrieth on 
 this Work more calmly, fofdy and lently, 
 protracting it lb, as the fevend Steps of 
 Mens Exercifeunder it are very dilcernible. 
 
 It would draw a great Length to enlarge 
 every Step of it; we frail touch the molt 
 obfervable Things in it. 
 
 I. The Lord layeth Siege to Men, who, 
 it may be, have often refuted to yield to 
 him, offering himfelf in the Ordinances; 
 and by fome Word preached, read, or born 
 in on the Mind, or by fome Providence 
 leading in unto the Word, he doth affault 
 the Houfe kept peaceably by the ftrong 
 Man the Devil, and thus Ghrilt, who is 
 the flronger Man , cometh upon him , Luke 
 11.22. And, by the Spirit o£ Truth, doth 
 fallen the Word on the Man, in which . 
 God’s Curfe is denounced againll fuch and 
 fuch Sins, whereof the Man knoweth him¬ 
 felf guilty. The Spirit convinceth the Man, 
 
 and 
 
3 6 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 and bindeth it upon him, that he Is the 
 fame Perfon agaiiift whom the Word of 
 God doth fpeak, becaufe he is guilty of 
 fuch Sins; and from fome Sins the Man is 
 led onto fee more, until ordinarily he come 
 to fee the Sins of his Youth, Sins of Omif- 
 fon, <bc. Yea, he is led on until he lee 
 himfelf guilty almofl of the Breach of the 
 whole Law; he feeth innumerable Evils 
 eompaffing him, as David Ipeaketh in a 
 Fit of Exercife, Pfal. 40. 12. A Man 
 fometimes will fee ugly Sights of Sin in 
 this Cafe, and is lharp-fighted to reckon a 
 Sibnefs to every Sin almofl. Thus the Spi¬ 
 rit convinceth of Sin , John 16. 8. 
 
 2. The Lord fhaketh a fpecial frong 
 Fold in the Garrifon, a Refuge of Lies, to 
 which the Man betaketh himfelf when his 
 Sins are thus difcovered to him. The poor 
 Man pretendeth to Faith in Chrifl, where¬ 
 by he thinks his Burden is taken off him, as 
 the Pharifees faid, John 8. 41. We have 
 one Father, even God. They pretend to a 
 fpec al Relation to God as a common Lord. 
 The Spirit of God beats the Man from this 
 by the Truth of the Scriptu e, proving 
 that he hath no true Faith, and fo no In- 
 terefl in Chrifl, nor any true faving Grace; 
 jfoewing clear Differences between true 
 
 Grace 
 
37 
 
 Inter eft in CHRIST. 
 
 Grace and the counterfeit Fancies which 
 the Man hath iir him; and between him 
 and the truly godly, as Chrid laboureth to 
 do to thofe in John 8. 42, 44. If God mere 
 your Father, ye mould ove me. Ye are of 
 ■the Devil , for ye do the Lufts of fuch a 
 Father. So, Fear furprifeth the Hypocrite 
 in Heart , Ifa. 33. 14. efpecially, when the 
 Lord difcovereth to him Conditions in 
 many of thefe Promifes, wherein he fruit¬ 
 ed mod, not ealilyattainable; he now feeth 
 Grace and Faith another Thing than once 
 he judged them to be. We may, in fome 
 refpeft, apply that Word here, The Spirit 
 convinceth him of Sin , becaufe he hath 
 not believed on the Son: He is particularly 
 convinced of Unbelief, John 16. 9. He 
 feeth now a huge Didance between himlelf 
 and the Godly, who he thought before out- 
 dripped him only in fome unnecedary, 
 proud, hateful Precifenefs; he now feeth 
 himfelf deluded and in the broad Way 
 with the perifhing Multitude; and fo, in 
 this Sight of his Mifery, coucheth down 
 under his own Burden, which, before this 
 Time, he thought Chrid did bear for him; 
 he now beginneth to (car at the Promifes, 
 becaufe of that and fuch other Words, What 
 haft thou to do to take my Covenant in thy 
 
 y Mouthy 
 
3$ The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Mouthy &c? Pfal. 50. 16. 
 
 III. The Man becometh careful about 
 his Salvation and beginneth to take it to 
 Heart, as the one Thing nece/Tary; he is 
 brought to this with the Jaylor, Adis 16. 
 30. tVhat fall 1 do to be fiaved ? His Sal¬ 
 vation becometh the leading Thing with 
 him : It was lead: in his Thoughts before, 
 but now it prevaileth, and other Things 
 are much mifregarded by him. Since his 
 Soul is ready to perifh, What fall it pro¬ 
 fit him to gain the World if he lofe his 
 Soul ? Mat. 16. 26. Some here are much 
 puzzled with the Thoughts of an irrevoc¬ 
 able Decree to their Prejudice, and v r ith 
 the Fears of uncertain Death, which may 
 attack them before they get Matters put to a 
 point; and fome are vexed with Apprehen¬ 
 sions, that they are guilty .of the Sin againft 
 the Holy Ghod, which is unpardonable, 
 and fo are driven a dangerous Len t th; Sa¬ 
 tan dill cading up to them many fad Ex¬ 
 amples of People, who have dolefully put 
 an End to their own Exercife : But they 
 are in the Hand, of one,' who knoweth hozo 
 to fuccour them that are tempted, Heb. 
 2. 18. 
 
 iy. When a Man is thus in Hazard of 
 milcarrying, the Lord ufeth a W ork of pre¬ 
 venting 
 
39 
 
 Interefl in CHRIST. 
 
 venting Mercy towards him, quietly and 
 under Hand fupporting him; and this is 
 by bearing in upon his Mind the Poffibility 
 of his Salvation, leading the Man to the 
 Remembrance of pregnant Proofs of God’s 
 free andrich Grace,pardoninggrofs TranR 
 greffibns, fuch as ManaJJeh , who was a 
 bloody idolatrous Man, and had Correfpon* 
 dence with the Devil, and yet obtained 
 Mercy, 2 Chron. 33. 12. 13- and other 
 Scriptures bearing Offers of Grace and 
 Favours indifferently to all who will yield 
 to Chrift, whatioever they have been for¬ 
 merly; lo as the man is brought again to this, 
 What fhall Ido to bejaved? Which doth 
 fuppofe, that he apprehendeth a Poiftbili- 
 ty of being hived, elfe he would not pro¬ 
 pound the Queftion. He applieth that or 
 the like Word to himfelf, It may be, ye 
 fhall be hid in the Day of the Lord's Anger, 
 Zeph. 2.3. He findeth nothing excluding 
 him from Mercy now, if he have a Heart 
 for the Thing. Although here, it may be, 
 the Man doth not perceive, that it is the 
 Lord who upholdeth, yet afterwards he 
 can tell, That when his Foot was flipping , 
 Cod's Mercy held him up', as Phil. 94. 1 7, 
 18. the Pftlmift fpeaketh in another Cafe. 
 And he will afterwards fay. When he was 
 
4& 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 as a Be aft, and a Fool in many Relpe&s, 
 God held hbn by the Hand, Plal. 73. 22, 23. 
 
 5. After this Difcovery of a Polfibility 
 to be faved, there is a Work of Defire quick- 
 ned in the Soul; which is clear in that 
 fame Expreffion. IVhat jhall I do to be 
 Javed ?_ but fometimes this Defire is airted 
 amifs, whilfi it goeth out thus, IVhat Jhall 
 I do that I may work the Works of God ? 
 John 6. 28. In which Cafe, the Man for¬ 
 merly perplexed with Fear and Care about 
 his Salvation, would be at fome Work of 
 his own to extricate himfelf; and here he 
 fuddenly refo.lveth to do all that rs com¬ 
 manded, and to forego every evil Way, 
 (yet much mi {kenning Chrifi: jefus) and fo 
 beginneth to take fome Courage to himfelf 
 again, eftablijhing his own Fighteoufnefs , 
 but not fubmitting unto the Righieoufnefs, 
 of God. Rom. 10 3. Whereupon the Lord 
 maketh a new A/fault on him, intending 
 the Difcovery of his abfolutely broken 
 State in himfelf, that fo Room may be 
 made for the Cautioner; as Joftma did to 
 the People, when he found them fo bold in 
 their Undertakings, JoJh. 24. 18, 19. Tou 
 cannot ferve the Lord, faith he, for he is 
 a holy God, a jea'ous God, &c. In this 
 new AiTault, the Lord, 1. bends up againft 
 
 the 
 
41 
 
 Interefi in C H R I S T. 
 
 the Man, the Spirituality of the Law ; the 
 Commandment cometh with a new Charge 
 in the Spiritual Meaning of it, Rom. 7.9. 
 The Law came , faith Paul, viz. in the 
 fpiritual Meaning of it; Paul had never 
 leen fuch a Sight of the Law before. 2. 
 God molt holily doth loofe the retraining 
 Bonds, which he had laid upon the Man’s 
 Corruption, and fuffereth it not only to 
 boyl and (well within, but to threaten to 
 break out in all the ouward Members. 
 Thus Sin groweth bold, and kicketh at the 
 Law, becoming exceeding finful, Rom. 7. 
 8, 9. But Sin taking Occafion by the Com¬ 
 mandment, wrought in me all Manner of 
 Concupifcence ; for without the Law Sin 
 was dead; for I was alive without the 
 Law once ; but when the Commandment 
 came, Sin revived, and I died. Was then 
 that which is good, made Death unto me ? 
 God forbid : But Sin, that it might appear 
 Bin, working Death in me by that which 
 is good; that Sin by the .Command?nent 
 might become exceeding finful. 3. The 
 Lord doth difcover to the Man, more now 
 than ever before, the Uncleannefs of his 
 Righteoulhels, and what Spots are in his 
 belt Things. Thefe Things kill the Man, 
 and he dieth in his own Conceit, Rom. 7. 9. 
 
 and 
 
42 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 and defpaireth of Relief in himfelf, if it 
 come not from another Airth. 
 
 \ many Ups and Downs here, 
 
 ordinarily, the Man refolveth fome Retire¬ 
 ment ; he defireth to be alone, he cannot 
 keep Company as before; like thofewhoin 
 a befieged City, when they fee they cannot 
 hold out, and would be glad of any good 
 Condition from the befleging Enemy, they 
 go to aCouncil, that they may refolvefome- 
 what. So the Man here retireth, that he 
 may fpeak with himfelf. This is like that 
 Communing with our own Heart , Pfd. a. 
 4 * Thus God leadeth to the Wilderness, 
 that he may fpeak to the Heart , Hof 2. 
 ly. When thePerfon is retired,theThoughts 
 of Heart, which were fcattered in former 
 Steps of the Rxercife, do more obfervably 
 thiong in here. We fhall reduce them into 
 this Method. 1. The Man thinks of his un- 
 happy Folly, in bearing arms againfl God* 
 and here there be large Thoughts of former 
 Wys, with a blufhing Countenance, and 
 Self-lothing. Ezek. 36. 31. Then foall ye 
 r em fmber your own evil Ways and your 
 Doings that were not good , and fhall lothe 
 your felves in your own Sight, &c. like 
 that of Pfal. 51. 3. His Sin is ever before 
 him. 2. Then heremembreth what fair Op¬ 
 portunities 
 
Inter eft hi CHRIS T. 43 
 
 portunities of yielding to God he hathbafe- 
 ly loll; his Spirit is like to faint when he 
 remembreth that, as is faid in another 
 Cafe, P/a/. 42. 4, 5, 6. When I remember 
 thefe Things, 1 pour out my Soul in me. 
 Why art thou caft down, 0 my Soul? Why 
 art thou difquieted in me ?—0 my God, my 
 Soul is caft down within me. 3. He now 
 thinks of many Chridians, whom he mock¬ 
 ed and defpifed in his Heart; perfuading 
 himfelf now that they are happy, as having 
 chofen the better Part: He' thinks of the 
 Condition of thole who wait on Chrid, as 
 the Queen of Sheba did of Solomon's Ser¬ 
 vants; Happy are .thy Servants, faith fhe, 
 who Jland continually before thee, and that 
 hear thy Wifdom, 1 Kings 10. 8. Blejfed 
 are they that dwell in thy Houfe, &c. 
 Pfal. 84. 4. He wilheth to be one of the 
 meaned who have any Relation to God, as 
 the prodigal Son doth fpeak; he would be 
 as one of his Father's hired Servants, 
 Luke 15. 17, 19. 4. Then he ealleth to 
 
 ■ Mind the good Report that is gone abroad 
 of God, according to that Tedimony, 'Jo¬ 
 nah 4. 2. The Prophet 4 new that God was 
 a gracious God land merciful, flow to Anger , 
 and of great Kindnefs. &c. The free and 
 large Promifes and Oders of Grace come in 
 
 here; 
 
44 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 here; and the glorious Practices which 
 have part upon Sinners of all Sorts, accord¬ 
 ing to the Fame of God in Scripture. He 
 thinks with himfelf, why hath God (pared 
 me fo long ? And why have I got fuch a 
 Sight of my Sin ? And why hath he kept 
 me from breaking Prilbn at my own Hand, 
 in choofing fome unhappy Outgate ? Why 
 hath he made this lirange Change on me? 
 It may be it is in his Heart to do me good; 
 
 O that it may be fo/ . Although ail 
 
 thefe Thoughts be not in the preparatory 
 Work of every one, yet they are wi th ma¬ 
 ny, and very promifmg where they are. 
 
 7. Upon all thefe Thoughts and Me¬ 
 ditations, the Man, more ferioufly than e- 
 ver before, refolveth to pray, and to make 
 fomeElTay with God, upon Life and Death; 
 he concludeth, it can be no \uorfe 'with 
 him : For if he fit fill , he perifoeth , as 
 the Lepers fpeak, 2 Kings 7. 3, 4. He con- 
 fideretb, with the pinch’d prodigal Son , 
 that there is bread enough in the Fathers 
 Houfe , and to fpare y -whilfi he perifheth for 
 Want : So he goeth to God, for he know- 
 eth not what elfeto make of his Condition, 
 as the prodgial Son doth, Luke 15. 17, 18. 
 And it may be, here he refolveth what to 
 Ipeakj But readily Things do vary when 
 
 he 
 
45 
 
 Interefi in G H R I S T. 
 
 he is fifted before God, as the prodigal 
 Son forgot fome of hisprcmeditatedPrayers, 
 Luke 15. 18,19,21. Iviill arife, and go 
 io my Father , and 'will fay unto him , Fa¬ 
 ther , 1 have finned ogainfl Heaven , and 
 before thee, and am no more "worthy to be 
 called thy Son ; make me as one of thy hired 
 Servants. And he arofe , and came unto 
 his Father , and faid unto him , Father, / 
 have finned againfi Heaven, and in thy 
 Sight, and am no more iworthy to be called 
 thy Son. 
 
 And now when he cometh before God, 
 more obfervably than ever before, 1. He 
 beginneth with the Publican afar off, 
 Luke 18.13. with manyThrough confeflions 
 and Self-condemnings, whereof he is very 
 iiberal, as, Luke 15. 21. 1 have finned- a- 
 gainft Heaven , and before thee, and am no 
 more ivorthy , &c. 2 Now begin his 
 
 Thoughts anent the Hearing of his Prayer, 
 which he was not wont to queftion much; 
 he now knows what thofe Expreflions of 
 the Saints, anent the Hearing of their Pray¬ 
 ers, do import. 3. It is oblervable in this 
 Addrefs, that there are many broken Sen¬ 
 tences, like that of Pfal. 6. 3. But thou, 
 0 Lord, hoio long ? fupplied with Sighs 
 and Gronings 'which cannot be uttered , 
 
 Rom. 
 
46 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Rom- 8. 26. and greedy looking upward, 
 thereby fpeaking more than can be well ex- 
 preft by Words. 4. There be ordinarily 
 lome Interruptions, and, as it were, Di- 
 verfions, the Man fpeaking fometimes to 
 the Enemy, fometimes to his own Heart, 
 fometimes to the Multitude in the World, 
 as David doth in other Cafes, Pfal. 9. 6. 
 0 thou Enemy , Deftrudlions are come to 
 a perpetual . End. Pfal. 42. 5. JVhy art 
 thou caft down 0 my Soul? And vjhy art 
 thou difquieted In me? Hope thou in Cod, 
 for I f:all yet praije him for the Help of 
 his Countenance. Pfal. 4. 2. 0 ye Sons of 
 Men , how long will ye turn my Glory into 
 Shame? 5. It is obfervable here,that fome¬ 
 times the Man will halt and be filent to hear 
 fome indiftinCtWhifpering of a joyfulSound 
 glancing on the Mind, or fome News in 
 fome broken Words of Scripture, which, it 
 may be, the Man fcarcely knoweth to be 
 Scripture, or whether it is come from God, 
 or Satan, to delude him; yet this he hath 
 refolved, only to hear what God the Lord 
 will fpeak, as upon another Occafon, 
 Pfal. 85. 8. 6. More diftinCt Promifes 
 
 come into the Man’s Mind, whereupon he 
 elfayeth to lay hold, but is beaten off with 
 Objections, as in another Cafe the Pfal mill 
 
 is. 
 
47 
 
 Interefl in CHRIST. 
 
 is, Pfal. 22. 3, 6 . But thou art holy. But 
 I am a worm- Now it is about the Daw¬ 
 ning of the Day with the Man, and Faith 
 will ftir affoon as the Lord imparteth the 
 joyful Sound, Pfal. 89. 15. This is the Sub- 
 llance of the Covenant, which may be fhort- 
 ly fummed up in thefe Words, Chrifi Jefus 
 is my beloved Son, in whom lam well plea- 
 fed ; hear ye him. 
 
 We can fpeak no further upon the Man’s 
 Exercife, as a preparatory Work; for, what 
 followeth is more than preparatory. Yet 
 -that the Exercife may appear compleat and 
 full, we fhall add here, That, after all thefe 
 Things, the Lord, it may be, after many 
 Anfwers of divers Sorts, mightily conveyeth 
 the Sound of his Covenant into the Heart, 
 and determineth the Heart to dole with it; 
 and God now draweth fo to Chrifi, John 
 6. 44. and fo fhapeth out the Heart forhim, 
 that the Conception cannot mifcarry; for 
 now the Heart is fo in Breadth and Length 
 for him, as that lefs cannot fatisfy, and 
 more is not defred, like that of Pfal. 73. 
 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee ? Or 
 whom have I defined on Earth befide thee ? 
 The Soul now refolveth to die, if he corti- 
 mand fo,yet at his Door, and facing to him- 
 wards. 
 
 We 
 
48 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 We have drawn this preparatory Work | 
 to Tome Length, not tying any Man to fuch 
 a Work To circumftantiated; only, we fay, . 
 The Lord dealeth To with Tome ; and where 4 
 he fo convinceth of Sin, Corruption, and 
 Self-emptinefs, and maketh a Man take Sal¬ 
 vation to Heart, as the one Thing necef- 
 iary; and letteth him on Work in the Ule 
 of the Means which God hath appointed 
 for Relief; I fay, fuch a Work rarely fhall 
 be found to fail of a good Iffue and graci¬ 
 ous Refult. 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 The Difference betwixt that preparatory 
 Law-work Which hath a gracious Iffue f 
 And. the Convittioa of Hypocrites . 
 
 Objett. TT YPOCRITES and Re- 
 .! X probates have great Stirrings 
 of Confcience, and deep Convictions about 
 Sin, fetting them on Work fometimes, and 
 I do fufpeCt any preparatory Work of the 
 Law I ever had, to be but fuch as they 
 have. 
 
 Anfw. It will be hard to give fure effen- 
 tial Differences between the preparatory 
 Work in thole in whom afterwards Chrift 
 
Inter eft in G H R I S T. 49 
 
 is formed, and thofe legal Stirrings, which 
 are fometimes in- Reprobates: If there were 
 not fome gracious Refult of theie Convicti¬ 
 ons and Waknings of Confcicnce in the 
 Lord’s People, and other Marks of which 
 we fhall fpeak afterwards, it were hard to 
 adventure upon any Difference that is clear 
 in thefe legal ftirrings. Yet, for Anfwer to 
 the Objection, I lhall offer fome Things, 
 which rarely will be found in the Stirrings 
 of Reprobates, and which are ordinarily 
 found in that Law-work which hath a gra¬ 
 cious Iffue. 
 
 I. The Convictions of Hypocrites and 
 Reprobates, are ufually confined to fome 
 few very grofs Tranfgreffions. Saul grants 
 no more but the Perfecuting of David, i 
 Sam. 2 6. 21. Judas grants only the Be¬ 
 traying of innocent Blood , Mat. 27. 4. 
 But ufually thofe Convictions, by which 
 the Lord prepareth his own Way in the 
 Soul, although they may begin at one or 
 more grofs particular Tranfgreffions, yet 
 they fill not, but the Man is led on to fee 
 many Breaches of the Law, and innumer¬ 
 able Evils compafftng him , as David fpeak- 
 eth in the Sight of his Sin, PfaL 40.12. 
 And withal, that univerfal Conviction, if 
 I may'call it fo, is not general, as ufually" 
 
 C we 
 
5° 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 we hear fenfelefs Men faying, that in all 
 Things they fin : But it is particular and 
 condefeending, as Paul afterwards fpake 
 of himfelf; he not only is the Chief of 
 Sinners , but particularly, he was a BlaJ- 
 phenter , a Perfccutor, i Tim. i. 13. 
 
 II. The Convictions which Hypocrites 
 ^have, do feldom reach their Corruption, 
 and that Body of Death, which breeds an 
 Averfenefs from what is good, and ftrongly 
 indineth to what is evil. Ordinarily where 
 we find Hypocrites fpeaking of themfelves 
 in Scripture, they fpeak loftily and with 
 force Self-conceit, both as to their Freedom 
 from Corruption, Johnny. 34. The Phari¬ 
 sees fay to the poor Man, 7 heu waft alto¬ 
 gether born in Sins , and doji thou teach 
 us ? As if they themfelves were not as cor¬ 
 rupt by Nature as he ; they fpeak of great 
 Sins, as Hazael did, 2 Kings 8. 13. rim 
 I a dog , that / Jhould do this great Thing ? 
 And olio in their Undertakings ofDutv, as 
 that- Scribe fpake, Mat. 8/19. Mafier , / 
 tj ill follow thee whither fever thou goef. 
 See how the People do fpeak, Jer. 42. 2, 
 2, 4, e, 6. They undertake to do all that 
 God will command them : So that they flill 
 g 0 about, in any Cafe, to eftab'ifh their 
 own Tighteoijnefs, not fubniitting unto 
 
5* 
 
 Inter eft ///CHRIST. 
 
 the Righteoufnefs of God, Rom. io. 3. 
 But I may fay, that Convictions and Exer- 
 ciie about Corruption, and that Body of 
 Death, inclining to Evil, and di/enabling 
 for Good, is not the Jealt Part of the Work 
 where the Lord is preparing his own Way, 
 They ufe tojudge themfelves very wretched 
 becaule of a Body of Sin, and are at their' 
 AV its End how to be delivered, as Paul 
 fpeaketh when he is under the Exercife of 
 it afterwards, Rom. y. 24 0 "wretched 
 
 ISJan that l am, who Jhall deliver me 
 from the Body of this Death ? 
 
 III. It will ordinarily be found, that the 
 Convictions which are in Hypocrites, either 
 are not fo ferious, as that fom$ other Buii- 
 ncfs will not put them out of Elead before 
 any SatisfaHion be gotten, as in Cain, who 
 went and built a City, and we hear no 
 more of his Convictions, Gen. 4. Felix went 
 away until a more convenient Time, and we 
 hear no. more of his Trembling, ACts 24. 
 2 5' O r > if that Work become very ferious, 
 then it runneth to the other Extremity, 8c 
 Defpair of Relief, leaving no Room for 
 any Out-gate. So we find Judas • very feri- 
 ous in his Convictions, yet he grew deipe- 
 rate and hanged himfelf. Mat. 2 J. 4, 5. 
 But where the Lord prepareth his own 
 
 C 2 Way 
 
52 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Way, the Work is both fo lerious, as the j 
 Peri'on cannot be put off it, until he find 
 Come Satisfaction ; and yet under that very -I 
 Serioufnefs he lieth open for Relief: Both 
 which are clear in the Jaylor’s Words, ; j 
 What muft I do to be Javed ? Atts 16. 30. i 
 This ferious Enquiry after Relief, is a very 
 * obfervable Thing in the preparatory Work 
 which leadeth on to Chrift. Yet we defire 1 
 none to lay too much Weight on thefe 
 Things, fince God hath allowed clear Dif¬ 
 ferences between the precious and the vile. ?, 
 
 Objedi. I fiill fear I have not had lo 
 through a Sight of my Sin and Mifery, as 
 the Lord giveth to many whom he effectu¬ 
 ally calleth, efpecially to great Tranfgrefi- 
 fors, luch as I am. 
 
 Anfw. It is true the Lord difcovereth 
 to fome great Sights of their Sin and Mifery, 
 and they are thereby put under great legal 
 Terrors: But as all are not brought in by 
 that fenfible preparatory Law-work, as we 
 fhewed before; fo even thofe who are dealt 
 with after that Way, are very differently 
 and varioufly exercifed, in regard of the 
 Degrees of Terror, and of the Continuance 
 of that Work. The Jay lor hath a violent 
 Work of very fbort Continuance ; Paul 
 hath a Work continuing three Days; fome 
 
 Perfons 
 
53 
 
 Interefi in CHRIST. 
 
 Perfons are in Bondage through Fear of 
 Death all their Days, Heb. 2. 15. So that 
 we muft not limit the Lord to one Way of 
 Working here. The main Thing we are to 
 look unto inthefe legal Waknings and Con- 
 vi&ions of Sin and Mifery, is, if the Lord 
 reach thole Ends in us, for which ufualiy 
 thele Stirrings and Gonviflions are lent in¬ 
 to the Soul; and if thole Ends be reached, 
 it is well, we are not to vex ourfelves about 
 any preparatory Work further. Now, thole 
 Ends which God driveth ordinarily with 
 Sinners, by thele legal Terrors and Wak¬ 
 nings of Confcience, are four. 
 
 Fir/}. The Lord difcovers Sights of 
 Men’s Sin and Mifery to them, to chafe 
 them out of themfelves, and to put them 
 out of Conceit of their own Righteoulhels. 
 Men naturally have great Thoughts of them¬ 
 felves, and do incline much to the Covenant, 
 of Works : The Lord therefore doth diT 
 cover to them fo much of their Sin and 
 Corruption, even in their bell Things, that 
 they are made to lothe themfelves, and tv 
 defpair ofReliefin themfelves; and fo they 
 are forced to flee out of themfelves, and 
 from the Covenant of Works, to feek Refuge 
 elfe where, Heb. 6. 18. They become dead 
 to themfelves and the Law , as to the Point 
 
 C 2 of 
 
54 
 
 The Trial of Saving 
 
 of Juftification, Rom. 7. 4. Then have 
 they no more Confidence in the Fleftj t Phi. 
 3. 3 This is fuppofed in the Offers of Chriit, 
 coming' to feek and favt that which is lofty 
 Luke 19. 10. and to be a Phyfician to 
 
 thofe who are pick Mat. 9. 12. 
 
 The Second great End is, To commend 
 Chrift Jefus- to Men’s Hearts above all 
 Things, that fo they may fall inLove with 
 him, and betake themfelves to that Trea- 
 fure and Jewel , which only enricheth, 
 Mat.. 13. 44, 46. and, by fo doing, may 
 ferve the Lord’s Deflgn in the Contrive- 
 ment of the Gofpel, which was the Mani- 
 feltation of his free Grace through Chrift 
 Jefus in the Salvation of Men. The Sight 
 of a Man’s own Mifery and damnable fi¬ 
 liate by Nature, is a ready Way to make 
 him prize Chrift highly, who alone can fet 
 fuch a Wretch atLiberty: Yea, it not only 
 Jeadeth a Man to an high Efteem of Chrift, 
 but alfo of all Things that relate to that 
 Way of Salvation, as Grace, the new Cove¬ 
 nant, Faith, dm. andmaketh him carefully 
 to gather and treafure up his Michtams f 
 or golden Scriptures, for the Confirmation 
 of his Intereft in thefe Things. 
 
 - The Third great End is, To deter and 
 fear People, from Sin, and to make ’them 
 
 caft 
 
Interefi in CHRIST. 55 
 
 caft out with it, and confent to put then 
 Meek under ail his Yoke. God kniu*eth 
 fome fparks of Hell in Men’s Boforasby the 
 Difcovery of their Sin, as a ready Mean to 
 mike them henceforth (land in aw, knowing 
 how bitter a \ Thing it is to depart front 
 the Lord, Jer. 2. 19- So we find .Rett of¬ 
 fered to the weary , upon Condition tncy 
 will take on ChrhTs Yoke, Mat. 11 - 2 9 - 
 Take my Yoke upon you, and learn of m ?, 
 for 1 am meek and lowly in Heart; ana 
 ye fh all find Reft unto your Sou's. And God 
 ofFereth to own Men, as their God and f a¬ 
 ther, upon Condition they will allow no 
 peaceable Abode to Belial , 2 Cor, o. 1 4 > 
 ir, 17, iS. What Fellow (hip hath Right e- 
 ■ oufnefs with llnri - htePufnefs ? And what 
 Communion hath Light wit!) Darknefi. 
 And what Concord hath Chrift with 
 a' ? Or what Part hath he that be.teneth 
 with an Infidel / Wherefore , come out from 
 among them, and be ye feparate , faith the 
 Lord, and touch not the unclean Thing : 
 and / will receive you, and will be a ra¬ 
 ther unto you, and ye fhall be my Sons and 
 Daughters , faith the Lord Almighty. 
 
 The Fourth great End is, To work up 
 Men to a patient and thankful Submimon 
 to all the Matter's Pleafure. This is a 
 
 C 4 
 
 fmgular 
 
The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Cngular Piece of Work, Ezek. 6. 63. 
 Then ihalt thou remember and be con - 
 J oundtd > «>‘ d never open thy Mouth any 
 more, hecaufe of thy Shame, when I am 
 Pfcijied towards thee , for all that thou 
 najt done, faith the Lord . The Sight of a 
 iuan s ownV llenefsand Defervings, maketh 
 him filent, and to iay his Hand on his 
 Mouth, whatfoever God doth unto him, 
 Pfal. 39. 9. I was dumb, and opened not 
 my Mouth, hecaufe thou did'ft it. Ezra o 
 13. Cod hath punijhed us lefs than our Ini 
 quities. Micah 7. 9 . / will bear the In¬ 
 dignation of the Lord, becaufe I have fin- 
 ned. The Man careth not what God doth 
 to him, or how he deal with him, if he 
 lave him from thedeferved Wrath to come « 
 Aifo any Mercy is a large Mercy to him, 
 wno hatn feen luch a Sight of himfelf- he 
 Is lefs than the leaf} of Mercies , Gen. 32. 
 IQ. Any Crumb falling from the Matter'] 
 ruble isiwekome, Mat. 15. 27. He thinks 
 it nch Mercy that he is not con fumed, Lam. 
 
 3. 22. Imisis the Thing that marveloufly 
 maketh God’s poor crolTed People fo filent 
 under, and fatisfied with their Lot* nav 
 they think he deferveth Hell who o'peneth 
 his Mouth at any Thing God doth to him 
 lince he hath pardoned his Tranfgreffions. 
 
 So 
 
57 
 
 Inter eft in C H R I S T. 
 
 So then for fatisfying the Objection, I 
 fay, If the Lord hath driveh thee out of thy 
 felf, and commended Chrift to thy Heart 
 above allThings, and made thqe refolve, on 
 his Strength, to wage War with every 
 known Tranfgreflion; and thou art, in 
 fome Meafure as a weaned Child, acquiefc- 
 ing in what he doth unto thee, deliring to 
 lay thy Hand on thy Mouth thankfully; 
 then thy Convictions of Sin and Mifery, and 
 whatfoever thou doll: plead as a preparatory 
 Woik, is lufficient, and thou art to debate 
 no more anent it: Only be advifed to ftu- 
 dy new Difcoveries of the Senfe of thy loft 
 Condition every Day, becaule of thy old 
 and new Sins; and alfb to fee frefh .Help 
 in Chrift, who is a Prieft for ever to make 
 Interceffion; and to have the Work of 
 Sanctification and Patience with Thank- 
 fulnefs renewed and quickned often: For 
 fomewhat of that Work which abafeth thee, 
 exalteth Chrift, and conformeth to his 
 Will, muft convey thee throughout all 
 thy Life-time in this World. 
 
 . C 5 
 
 Chap. 
 
wm 
 
 58 Th-e Trial of a Saving 
 
 Chap. VII. 
 
 Of Faith, 
 
 WT* F come now to fpeak of fome more 
 J y clear and and fure Marks, by which 
 Men may take up their gracious State and 
 Intereh in Chi hi. Th zfirft Thing whereby 
 
 *?.“ ™ ay f"<™ if > is, their doling with 
 Chnft m the Gofpe.l, wherein he it held 
 forth. This is Believing, or Faith, which 
 is the Condition of the Covenant, Rom 4 
 19- R is of Faith. &c. A els 16. a 1 Be- 
 
 l fr?\ thc F:? 7 R s Chri fi’ 
 
 /halt befavefFi ow although in Propriety ' 
 Oi Speech, it is hard to prove an Intereft 
 by Faith, it being our very Intereft in him- 
 yet the Heart’s Clofmg with Chrifi jefus is 
 io dilcermble in it felfc that we may well 
 piace it among the Marks of a gracious - 
 State; And if a Man can make out this, 
 that he believeth on and in Chrifi Jefns,'he 
 
 thereby doth prove a Very true Intercjft in 
 
 him. 
 
 Many do fear at this, as a Mark, upon 
 one of thefe three Grounds ordinarily! 
 
 I. Some 
 
59 
 
 Intereft wCHRIS T.‘ 
 
 I. Some conceive Faith to be a difficult 
 myfterious Thing, hardly attainable. To 
 thefe I fay, Do not miftake, Faith is notfb 
 difficult as many do apprehend it to be : I 
 grant true Faith in the meaneft Degrpe is 
 the Gift of God, and above the Power of 
 Flefh and Blood; for God muft draw Men 
 to ChriJ ?, John 6 44. No Man can come 
 to me except the Father which hath feint 
 me, draw him , Phil. 1. 29. Unto you it is 
 given, in the Behalf of Chrift, to believe' 
 on him Xex. it were a Reflection upon Chrift' 
 and all he hath done, to fay it were a Mat¬ 
 ter of infuperable Difficulty; as is dear, 
 Rom. 10. 6, 11. The Righteoufnefs which 
 is of Faith fpeakeih on this wife, Say not 
 in thine Heart, Who fhalt afcend into H. a- 
 ven ? That is to bring Chrift down from 
 above ' Or, Who fall defcend into the deeps 
 That is, to bring up Chrift again from the 
 dead. But what faith it ? The Word is 
 nigh thee, even in thy Mouth, /.znd in thy 
 Heart : That is, the Word of Faith which 
 we preach, That if thou fnalt ccnfefs with 
 thy Mouth the Lord Jefus, and fhalt be¬ 
 lieve in thine Heart, that God hath raifcd 
 him from the Dead, thou fhalt be faved : 
 For with the Heart Man believeth unto 
 Righteoufnefs, and with the Mouth Cpn- 
 
 fefflon 
 
6o 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 feffort is made unto Salvation; Jor the 
 Scripture faith, IVhofoever believeth on 
 him Jhall not be afoamed. It were accord¬ 
 ing to that Scripture, as much upon the 
 Matter as to fay, Chrift came not from Hea-* 
 ven, is not rifen from the dead, or afcended 
 victorious to Heaven. I fay, He hath made 
 the "Way to Heaven mod eafy ; and Faith, 
 which is the Condition required on our 
 Part, more eafy than Men do imagine. For 
 the better underltanding of this, confider 
 that juftifying Faith is not to believe that I 
 am eleCted, or to believe thatGod loveth me 
 or that Chrilt died for me, or the like; thefe 
 Things are indeed very difficult, and al- 
 moft impoffible at the firfl Hand to be won 
 at by thofe who are ferious ; whilft natural 
 Athiefts, and deluded. Hypocrites, find no 
 Difficulty in averting all thole Things : I 
 fay, true juftifying Faith is not any of the 
 forefaid Things; neither is it limply the 
 believing of any Sentence that is written, 
 or that can be thought upon. I grant, he 
 that believeth on Chrift jeffis, believeth 
 what God hath laid anent Man’s iinful mile- 
 rable Condition by nature, and he befieve- 
 eth that to be true. That there is Life in 
 the Son, who was flain ?and is rifen again 
 
 from the Dead, &c. But none of theie, 
 
 nor 
 
 \ * ' 
 

 Inter eft in CHRIST. Q 61 
 
 nor the believing of many fuch Truths, 
 do fpeak out juftifying Faith, or that Be¬ 
 lieving on the Son of God, fpoken of in 
 Scripture ; for then it were fimply an Aft 
 df the Underfranding : But true juftifying 
 Faith, which we now feek after,, as a good 
 Mark of an Intereft in Chrift, is chiefly 
 and principally an Aft or Work of the 
 Peart and Will, havingprefuppoJfed fuhdry 
 Things about Truth in the Under-land* 
 ing, With the Heart it is believed unto 
 Righteoufnefs , Rom. io. io. And altho* 
 it feem, Vtrfe 9. of that Chapter, that a 
 Man is faved upon Condition that he be¬ 
 lieve this Truth, God raifed Chrift from 
 the dead; yet we muft underftand another 
 Thing there, and Verfe 10. than the be¬ 
 lieving the Truth of that Propofition ; 
 For, befide that all Devils have that Faith 
 whereby they believe, that God raifed 
 Chrift from the dead ; fo the^^ipture hath 
 clearly refolved juftifyird&jJBh into a 
 Receiving of Chrift, 12. As 
 
 many as received him , to them gave he 
 Power to become the Sons of God , even to 
 them that believe on his Name. The Re¬ 
 ceiving of Chr ft is there explained to be 
 the Believing on his Name. It is ftill cal¬ 
 led a Staying on the Lord , Ifa. 26. 3. a 
 
 Truft- 
 
Oz The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Trufling in Cod, often mentioned in the 
 P/alms, and the Word is a Leaning on 
 him. It is a Believing on Chrith John 6 
 ? 9 - rbis is the Work of God, that ye be- 
 heve on him i whom he hath fent, and of- 
 ten fo expre/tin the New Telia men t. When 
 God maketh Men believe iavingly, he is 
 faid to draw them unto Cbrifi; and when 
 the Lord inviteth them to believe, he call- 
 eth them to come to him, John 6. a 7, 44 . 
 All that the Father giveth me, /ball come 
 to me ; and him that cometh tome, I will 
 
 ' ~‘ n no ' W! f e ca fi out. No Man can come to 
 me, except the Father which hath fent me 
 draw him. The Kingdom of Heaven is 
 lj ke „ f, ^ Ian Ending a jewel, wherewith 
 he falleth in Love, Mat. ,3. 44 , 45> , )6 . 
 
 g™! 1 %> tlliS Afting of the Heart on 
 jChrift Jefus, is not fo difficult a Thing as 
 /is conceived. Shall that be judged amyftcr- 
 .ictus difficujj^Tliing,. which doth con fill 
 much in f men have but an Ap- 
 
 ff; re / tl ’^®p £ 5 . for they are blefjed 
 that hunger after Rightecushefs , Mar. - 
 6. If you will, you are welcome, Rev. 22." 
 
 17. Is it a Matter of fuch Intricacy and in- 
 fuperable Difficulty, greedily to look to 
 that exalted Saviour ? If a . 45. 22. Look 
 unto me and hefaved, all the Ends of the 
 
 Earth; 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. 63 
 
 Earth ; and to jecerve a Thing that is of¬ 
 fered, held forth, and declared to be mine, 
 if I will but accept and take it, and in a 
 Manner, open my Mouth , and give Way to 
 it? Pfal. 81. 10. Open thy Mouth *1 wide , 
 and l will fill it. Such a Thing is Faith, 
 if not lefs. Oh, if I could perfuade People 
 what is juftifying Faith, which impropriat- ' 
 eth Chrift to me! We often fear People 
 from their juft Reft and Quiet, by making 
 them apprehend Faith to be fome deep my- 
 fterious Thing, and by moving unnecefiary 
 Doubts about it; whereby it is needlefly 
 darkned. 
 
 II. Some make no Ufe of this Mark, as 
 judging it a high prefumptous Crime to 
 pretend to fo excellent a Thing ' as is the 
 very Condition of the new Covenant. To 
 thefe I fay, You need not flartle fomuch at 
 it, as if it were high Pride to pretend to it: 
 For whatfoever true Faith be, Men muft 
 refolve to have it, or nothing at all; all 
 other Marks are in vain without it; a thou- 
 fand Things befides will not to do the Bufi- 
 nefs: Unlefs a Man believe, he abideth in 
 the Slate of Condemnation , John 3. 18,36. 
 He that believeth not , is condemned al¬ 
 ready , becaufie he hath not believed in the 
 Name of the only begotten Son of God. He 
 
 that 
 
The Trial of a Saving 
 
 ^ I 
 
 that believeth not the Son , fall not fee 1 
 the Wrath of God 'abideth on hint. 
 
 III.Others do not meddle with this noble 
 Mark of Faith, becaufe they judge it a 
 Work of the greateft Difficulty, to find out 
 Faith where it is. To thefe I fay, it is not 
 lb difficult to find it out, fince he that be - 
 lieveth , hath the Witnefs in himfelf i 
 John 5. 10. It is a Thing which by fome 
 lerious Search may be known. Not only 
 maywe do much to find it out by the pre¬ 
 paratory Work going before it in many, as 
 the apprehending and believing of a Man’s 
 lo.fi Efiate, and that he cannot do his own 
 Bufinefs, and that there is fatisfying Ful- 
 nefs in Chrifi, and very definable if he could 
 overtake it; a fieriousMinding ofthis, with 
 a Heart laid open for Relief; as alfio by the " ! 
 ordinary Companions and Concomitants of 
 it, viz. the liking ofChrifi’s Dominion 
 his Kingly andProphetical Office, a Defire 
 to refign myfelfi wholly up to him, to be 
 at his difipofing: As alfio by the native 
 Confequences of it, viz. The Affioiling of 
 the Word; the Affioiling of my own Con¬ 
 fidence according to theWord, a Heart-puri¬ 
 fying Work, a working by Love, die. I - 
 fay,-not only may we know Faith by thefe 
 Things, but it is.difcernible by it fieif and 
 
 of 
 
Interejl in CHRIST. 65 
 
 of its own Nature; although I deny not, 
 but there mull be fome Help of God's Spi¬ 
 rit, by which we know what is freely given 
 j unto us of God, 1 Cor. 2* 12. As alfo, t&at 
 j God hath allowed many Evidences 5 nd 
 Marks, as precious Helps, whereby Men 
 may clear up Faith more fully to themleive?, 
 
 1 J°' !K 5 ‘ 1 3 - Tbefe Things have I written 
 unto you that believe on the Name of the 
 Son of God, that ye may know that ye have 
 eternal Life. Yet I hill fay, that Faith, 
 or Believing, which is fome Afting ol the 
 Heart upon Chrih in the Gofpel, and the 
 Tranfadling with him there, is dilcernible 
 of it ft If, and by itfelf, to a judicious un¬ 
 derhanding Perfon, with an ordinary In- 
 huence of the Spirit; unlels the Lord, for 
 Realons known to himfelf, do overcloud a 
 Man’s Reflex Light, by which he fhould 
 take up and preceive what is in him. 
 
 This juhifying Faith, which we ahert 
 to be lo difcernible, is, in the Lord’s deep 
 Wifdom and gracious Condelcendency, va- 
 rioufly expreh in Scripture, according to 
 the Different Aflings of it upon God, and 
 Outgoings after him, lo as every one who 
 hath it, may find and take it up in his own 
 Mould. It fometimes afleth by a Defire of 
 Union with him in Chrih: This is that 
 
 Looking 
 
The .( rial ofa Saving 
 
 if 1 ”**! Kra “ V“- 45 , 22 . Look unto 
 
 eJJ ”' 1 ts? e J‘ ,ved ' * U ‘t* of the 
 urt . [ his teems to be a weak Aft of 
 
 P . , , : ^ U WCHK. /ICt Ot 
 
 a ,: ld * ar 'below other Actings of it at 
 
 Other i Vne . iprlvnn, m r h „ i 
 
 ntU,. ■‘A-iiuga UI It at 
 
 > r ;. n f perha P s in that fame Perfon. 
 *-en wk! .look to what they dare not ap- 
 
 p!oac 5 o their Apprehenfion,\vhich they 
 
 ; llo: l j embrace ; they may look 
 o ore to whom they dare not fpeak : Yet 
 
 th v /qf maCe t ] ie Pr . omife to F^th in 
 and this ne hath done mercifully and 
 
 o" t m fa thlS " i he °» ] y discernible Vay 
 o. the Actmg of Faith of fome Perfons 
 fometimes. Such are the-Agings or Out- 
 f in§ * 01 Fa j rh ; ex preft in Scripture, by 
 
 FPtT T 6 A r/} u lg after Ri S ht ^ufnefs, 
 5. 6. and that expreft by •wiliiL 
 
 f7\ 22 'n/- And %uho f oever will, let bun 
 take toe Water of Life freely. 
 
 the A% n, nt S Fait u gOCth out Sometimes in 
 wf 1 of Recumbency, or Leaning on the 
 Rp 5 tp e Soul taking up Ghrift then as a 
 Rcfhng-ftone, and God hath f<> held him 
 out, although he be a Stumbling-[hone to 
 o hers Rom. 9. 3,. This Aftingofit ishin 
 ed in the Expreffions of Tru fling and Stiv 
 P? on God, lb often mentioned InScriptm- 
 and precious Framiies are made to 
 
 Acting 
 
6 ? 
 
 Interefi in CHRIST. 
 
 Afting of Faith, as Ifa. 2 6. 3, 4. God will 
 keep than in perfect Peace whofe Minds 
 are Jiayed on him ; becaufe fuch do trufl in 
 him. ‘1 ruf in the Lord; for with him is 
 ever la fling-. Strength. So, P fa!. 125. 1. 
 They that Trufl in the Lord, fall be as 
 Mount Zion, which abideth for ever . I 
 fay, the Lord hath made Promifes to this 
 Way of Faith’s acting, as knowing*it will 
 often go out after him in this Way with 
 many Perfons ; and this Way of its acting 
 will be moft difcernible to them. 
 
 It goeth out after God fometimes by an 
 Aft'of Waiting, when the Soul hath Pome- 
 
 o 
 
 what depending before God, and hath not 
 got out his Mind fatisfyingly anent that 
 Thing; then Faith doth wait, and lo it 
 hath the Promife, If a. 49. 23. They fh all 
 not be afljamed that wait for me. Some¬ 
 times it afteth in a wilful Way upon the 
 Lord, when the Soul apprehendeth God 
 thrufting it away, and threatning its Ruin, 
 fo, Job 13. 15. Though he flay me, yet 
 will I trufl in him . The faith of that poor 
 Woman of Canaan, Mat. 15. 22—28. fo 
 highly commended byGhrift, did go out in 
 this Way of wilful afting over Difficulties; 
 and the Lord fpeaketh much Good of it, 
 and to it, becaufe fome will be put to it, to 
 
 exer- 
 
o ts 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 theyhjwe'that «d * 
 
 cife about, and outgoing after Chriff rf^’ 
 
 ofml y 
 
 ftrumentofr Ch; ^ and Man, as the In- 
 
 ° f his Fulners unto 
 ) and of maintaining Union and 
 
 S|f »«s!saS 
 
 se?HS ? 
 
 ther; that Fulnefs ftould dwell f Q (b 
 Chart turn wh:lt Wav h °£’ l ot H. kt 
 
 sSS:?^tr£, 
 
 Ute "•* covering to ieep it from the 
 
 Storm 
 
Intsrefi in CHRIST. 60 
 
 Storm of God’s Wrath : ChrlfHs fine Rav- 
 
 F £ '-M R x7r- ?\ 17 ’ l8 - Then accordingly, 
 Faith s W ork here is to put on the Lordje- 
 
 Af> Gd. 3. 27. The Soul is hungry and 
 thirfty after feme what that may everiafl- 
 }"g ] y fatl fy : thrift Jefus is, Milk, Wine, 
 
 W of Life, and the true 
 Manna, Ifa. 55. 1, 2 . j 0 J m 6 , 48 . - I# 
 
 Hcis the Feafl of fat Things, and of Wine 
 
 V\T d 'c Then the Work and 
 
 Bxercife of Faith is, to- go, buy, eat and 
 
 df '^k abundantly, Ifa. 55. 1. John 6.53. 
 
 57. The Soul is purfued for Guilt more or 
 
 Ids, and is not Law-biding; Chrirt Jefus 
 is the City of- Refuge, and the high Fried: 
 n.ere, during whofe Lifetime, that is, for 
 ever, the Foor Man who wins thither, is 
 . ; ^ en the M ork andExercife of Faith 
 
 iS> f thither for Refuge to lav hold 
 ™ the , Hop eJct before us, Hpb. 6. 18. In a 
 01 ^'^adoever Vv ay he may benefit 
 poor Man, fohe freakexh ofhimfelf: And 
 as he holdeth out himfdf in the Scripture; 
 io Faith doth point towards him. If he be a 
 Bridegroom, Faith will go out in a Mar¬ 
 riage-relation ; if he be a Father, Faith 
 p eadeth the Man to be a Child ; if he be a 
 Shepherd, Faith pleads the Man may he 
 one of his Sheep; if he be a Lord, Faith 
 
 caileth 
 
70 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 calleth him lo, which none can do hut by 
 the Spirit of Jefus, I Cor. 12. 3. If he be 
 dead and rifen again for our Judincation, 
 Faith, believeth Cod hath raifed him on 
 that Account, Ram. 10. 9. Wherefoever he 
 be, there would Faith be; and whatfoever 
 he is, Faith would be fomewhat propor¬ 
 tionally: For, by Faith the Heart is lhapen 
 out in Breadth and Length for him; yea, 
 when the Fame and Report ofhim.goeth 
 abroad in his Truth, although Faith feeth 
 not much, yet it believeth on his Name up¬ 
 on the very Fame he hath fent abroad of 
 himfelf, John 1. 12. 
 
 But here, for avoiding of Midakes, con- 
 fider, 1. That although judifying Faith 
 afteth fo varioufly, yet every Believer, 
 who hath a good Title to Chrid Jefus, hath 
 not all thele various Actings and Exerciles 
 of Faith; for his Condition craveth them 
 not: And alio the Mader is pleafed not to 
 lead out the Faith of lome Perlons at fome 
 Times in fome of thele Ways, for Realons 
 knowh to himfelf, even when their Necef- 
 fity ( to their Apprehendon) calleth for 
 fuch Actings of Faith. Surely, every one 
 dare not fay, Though he kill me , yet will 
 l truft in him. Many would not have gone \ 
 up with the Woman of Canaan I fpake of, 
 
 Mat. 
 
Inter eft h CHRIST. pi 
 
 Mat. 15. but would have been difcou raged 
 and have quit the I uifuir. It is on this Ac¬ 
 count that Chrifl doth highly commend the 
 Faith offome beyond the Faith of others, 
 Hut. 8. 10. of the Centurion. IVIat. rp. 28 
 of the Woman of Canaan. Many good Peo¬ 
 ple are much difquieted anent their Faith, 
 becaufe it goeth not out in all thole Ways 
 we find 1 ecoi deu in Scripture 5 but there is 
 hardly anyMan will be found, whole Faith 
 hath a fled all thefe "Ways. 
 
 H. Many of thefe actings of Faith are 
 much intended and remitted.They are lbnie- 
 times flrong and vigorous, and difcernible; 
 and fometimes they fail, and Misbelief doth 
 prevail; fo as it were an uncertain Thing 
 to judge of a Man’s State by thefe. We find 
 the Saints very different from themfelves in 
 regard of the ^flings of Faith fometimes, 
 as we Ihewed before. 
 
 III. Each one of thefe A&ings of Faith 
 Ipeaketh Good to the Perfon in whom it is, 
 and hath Promifes annexd unto it, as we 
 hava laid. Yet, 
 
 IV. Although thefe Aclings of Faith 
 have Promifes annexed unto them, they are 
 
 nor, for that, the Condition of the new 
 Covenant; for then every one behoved to 
 have each one of them, which is not true, 
 
 as 
 
72 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 as we faid before. A Promife is made to 
 him who overcometh ; but Perfeverance is 
 riot the Condition of the new Covenant, but 
 doth fuppofe it. There are Promifes made 
 to the Exercife of all Graces, in Scripture ; 
 but only Faith is the Condition of the Cove¬ 
 nant. I fay then, thefe Promifes are made 
 to thefe Aflings of Faith, not as fuch, but 
 as they do fuppofe juftifying Faith, which 
 is the Condition of the Covenant. All thefe 
 are Actings of Faith, but not as it is juftl- 
 fying. Therefore, 
 
 V. There is fomewhat common to all 
 gracious Perfons, which may be fuppofed 
 by all the forefaid Actings of Faith, where¬ 
 in the Nature and EfTence of juftifying 
 Faith ftandeth. And this is the Heart’s 
 Satisfaction anent God’s Device of Salvati¬ 
 on by ChrilT; when Man pleafeth God’s ■ 
 Invention of Satisfaction to Juftice, through 
 Chrifh Jefus, in whom all Fulnefs doth 
 dwell now by the Father’s Pleafure ; when 
 the Soul and Heart of Man acquiefceth in 
 that, then it believeth unto Salvation. As 
 at firft the Lord made Man fuitable to the 
 Covenant of Works by creating him per¬ 
 fect, and fo putting him in a Capacity to 
 perform his Will in that Covenant, fo under 
 the new Covenant, when God giveth the 
 , new 
 
Inter eft in C H RIST. y , 
 
 new Heart to Man, he fetteth'tlie Idea and 
 Stamp of all his Device inthenew Covenant 
 
 toGop e w-S ? f ° aS there is a Confonancy 
 to God s }V ill. there : Thus he beareth the 
 
 Image of the fecond Adam, Chi-id T e f us 
 
 on him. This is a great Part of the new 
 
 Weai t and is moft oppofed'to Works: fmce 
 
 now the Man abfolutely.falleth o/FWor s 
 
 b J°Z n § dead » the * to the Point 
 of Judication, by the Body ofChrifi, R om . 
 
 a Wav of r? C f 1 - Ving J - h . atG ° d hath devife 'd 
 a Way of fatisfying divine Juftice, and re- 
 
 cov^og ioft Man by the Incarnation of 
 
 Wav^thrth k/, i f ° 8 °° d and fure ^ 
 
 Law Utdygiveth U P with the 
 
 Law , as I Paid before, andclofeth with this 
 
 * vice : And this is Believing or Faith 
 veryoppofite to Worksand all reftinjr there- 
 upon. This cannot fail to be in all gracious 
 Pei Ions, in whom many of the Actings o r 
 Fanh are not to be found.This doth Sea-* 
 iy fuppole known Diflrefs in a Man with¬ 
 out all Relief in himfelf; this Moofetli' ' 
 nown. Fulne/s in Chrid, as the alone jfbf. 
 .f CiCnt Relief; This imports a Sort of r-. 
 propnation : For the Heart, pleafinc F--V 
 Devicem io far fwayeth towards it.Vhis 
 
 ms n*v 8 - i Y fu ^ ofed in ^1 the Ach - 
 i j .igs Oi Faith, fpoken of before, Ffe W- 
 
 D 
 
 greedilv 
 
74 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 greedily hungereth, hath this ; and he that 
 ieaneth, hath this; and he-that puts on 
 Ohrid, hath this, fcc. This is to elleem. 
 Chrijl the IVifdom and Power of God to 
 Salvation; lo is he laid to be to ajl that 
 believe, i Cor. i. 24. They efleem that 
 Device wife and fare, befeeming God; and 
 that is to believe. On this Account, Chrifl, 
 ix;ho is the rejected Stone to many , is pre¬ 
 cious to them who believer, a lit Stone to 
 recover, fortify and beautify the tottering 
 Building and Fabrickof loll Man. To whom 
 coming as unto a living Stone, diffallowed 
 indeed of Men, but chofen of God and pre¬ 
 cious ; ye alfo as lively Stones are built up- 
 a fpiritual Houfe, an holy Priejlhood , to 
 offer up fpiritual Sacrifice, acceptable to 
 God by Jefus Chrifi. Wherefore it is con¬ 
 tained in the Scriptures, Behold I lay in 
 Sion a chief Corner-fone, e'ect, precious, 
 and he that helieveth on him (hall not be 
 confounded. Unto you therefore which be¬ 
 lieve he is precious; but unto them which 
 be dijobedient, the Stone which the Build¬ 
 ers difallowed, thefame is made the Head of 
 the Corner : And a Stone of Stumbling and 
 a Rock of Offence , even to than which 
 fumble at the Word, being difobedienf , 
 hereunto alfo they were appointed, 1 Bet. 
 
 2. 
 
Inter eft /« C H R I S T. 
 
 7B 
 
 %J'f‘.- The of Cod is like * 
 
 7 ov he d r n n,i T ff< ur ^ f° r ^ich with 
 
 7 /Jf. hlu 6 a Ju Mat ’ ' 3 ‘ 44 * Theft 
 Words hold out the very Way of believing, 
 
 to behvrh°ft 13 dlfcovercd in the Gofpei 
 lentio/ r" i thC Htart Ta hleth that In- 
 tl t Thisis t0 believe on 
 
 n-?ed -l f ?° d , ,fted “ p: which is COtn- 
 h,‘; ed '™- 1 th « looking to the brafen Ser- 
 
 A'rf,John 3. 14. It was Man's Approbati- 
 for ?f. h . at P CVJC o which made it cffeftual 
 fo h, s healing,- ft is it here, he tbit ft 
 beheveth, fettetl, to hit Seal that Cod is 
 
 Record h" I, 3 ' Pi Tn,e ’ Wherein? In that 
 
 vided 1 ; h f f a ' h ,r born ’ that God hat h pro- 
 Chrift ,%f Men ’ and pltteed it all in 
 
 eth L 7 i 5 i IO ’ "• He tiat Miev 
 In hie r’ ™ ie t h GQi a Uar - Wherein ? 
 Wav ,0 ^ that “rift is a fafe and fure 
 Way to Heaven. Tins is the pieafing and 
 
 acqmefcmg in that Device; and it is con- 
 Falft ’ft 0 -; 3 " 1 kn ° W rp ° ken of juftifying 
 
 Faith ,n Capture -This is tte 8 e i ie a in | 
 
 n Chnit and on his Name, the Receivinf 
 
 in ouTCat R hf“\° n him for Nation® 
 is t Z the Softening that Jefuj 
 ^ the Chnft, that is, the Anointed One 
 
 Part an I he VaZ J Uth fealed > and ft ' a- 
 pai t and qualified for the Work of recon- * 
 
 ^ 2 ciling 
 
y 6 The Trial cf a Saving 
 
 riling Man unto God; and he that believ- j 
 etb that Jejus is the Chrift, is born .of God, 
 i John 5. i. This is to believe with the J 
 Heart that God hath raifed Chrift from 
 the dead , Rom. 10. 9. The Man believeth 
 Chrift died, and is raifed on the Account of 
 Satisfaction for Men’s Tranfgreffion. Devils | 
 may believe that: Nay, but the Man I J, 
 fpealc of, believeth it with his Heart 
 (which no natural Man doth, until a new 
 Heart be given unto him ) that is, he cor- . 
 dially pleafeth, is fatisfied with, and -ac- 
 quiefeeth in this noble Invention. And this ; 
 Faith layeth out itfelf now and then in its 
 ACtings, Outgoings and Ekercife, accord¬ 
 ing to all the Covenant-relations under 
 which Chrift is held forth in the Scripture. 
 
 Now, I fay, This Faith is difcernible, 
 not only in thefe aCtings many times: A 
 Man may know if his Heart doth hungei 
 after Chrift, and flee for Refuge to him, 
 when purfued; and if he doth commit him- 
 felf unto God, 6 c. But alft> in its very j 
 Nature; As it is juftifying, it is difcernible 
 and may be known. A Man may deafly 
 know, if from known Diftrefs in himfelf, 
 upon the Report and Fame of Chrift’s Ful- 
 liefs, his Heart doth pleafe God’s Device 
 in the new Covenant; if it goeth out after 
 
 Chrift 
 
77 
 
 Inferef} in CHRIST. 
 
 Chrid in that Invention, and pleafeth him 
 as Lord of the Life of Men, terminating 
 and reding there, and no where elfe, ac- 
 quielcing in that Gontrivement with Defire 
 and Complacency: This is a difcernible 
 Thing: Therefore I obteilMen impartially 
 to examine themfelves, and if they find 
 that their Heart has clofed fo with that 
 Device of Salvation, and is gone out after 
 him as precious, that thereupon they con¬ 
 clude a Jure'and true Intered in Chrid Jefus, 
 and a good Claim and Title to the Grown; 
 fmce he that belie vetb /hall never perifb, 
 but have everlafiing Life, John 3. 16—36. 
 
 Chap. VIII. 
 
 The Difference between the Faith of Hy¬ 
 pocrites find true fa v ing juftij'y ing Faith . 
 
 object. Hypocrites and 
 
 ' A Ja- Reprobates have a Sort of 
 Faith, and are faid to believe. 'John-2. ay, 
 24. Many believed in his Name when they' 
 few 'the Miracles "which he did : But Je~ 
 fus did not commit-hdrnfelf unto them , bc- 
 caufe he knew all Men! AftsT. 13. Fhen 
 Simon , the Sorcerer, himfef believed al(h\ 
 and cannot choofe but go out after Chriit, 
 
 D 3 and 
 
78 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 and that Device of Salvation, when they 
 hear of it; and they profefs_they do fo, yet 
 are deluded, and fo may I be. 
 
 Jnfw. To fay nothing of that Thought 
 of your Heart, ( whereby you wonder that 
 any Man fhould not pleafe the Device of 
 Salvation by Chrift, and lead out towards 
 him) as a very promifing Thing, andfpeak- . 
 ing out juftifying Faith to be in your Boforn; 
 and to fay nothing in contradiction to that 
 which you think, That a natural Man, 
 whilft fuch, and before he get a new Heart, 
 can pleafe that Device, and believe with 
 his Heart, and affe&ionately, that which 
 perfectly overthroweth the Covenant of 
 Works, and abafeth Man in the Point of 
 Self-righteoufnefs already attained, or that 
 can be won at by him, which is inconfiflerat 
 with many Scriptural Truths ; I offer thefe 
 Differences between the Faith of all Hy¬ 
 pocrites or Reprobates, and that true lav¬ 
 ing juftifying Faith whereof we have fpoken. 
 
 I. They never clofe with ChrUl Jefus in 
 that Device, and him alone as & fufficient 
 Covering of the Eyes* as. is laid of Abra* 
 ham ta Sarah, Gen- 20. i&They flill hold 
 feft fomewhat of their own, at leaft to help 
 to procure God’s Favour and Salvation; 
 Their Heart doth flill fpeak* as that young 
 
 Man's 
 
79 
 
 Interefi in CHRIS T. 
 
 Man's Speech, Luke 18. 18, 21. doth in- 
 finuate, IVhat jhall I do to inherit eternal 
 Life P Beflde that, they do dill retain their 
 former Lovers, and will not break their 
 Covenants with Hell and Death, imagining 
 they may have Chrid with thefe Things e- 
 qually fharing in their Hearts ; contrary to 
 that, A Man cannot ferve two Mafiers y 
 Man, 6. 24. Either Chrid mull be judged 
 abibluite Lord, and worthy to be fo, or no¬ 
 thing at all. And fo it is clear, their Heart 
 is notlhapen our for thatDevice’ofSalvation 
 by Chrid, whom God hath alone made 
 Lord here, in whom all Fulnels lhall dwell. 
 But where jollifying Faith is, the Soul of 
 a Man and his Heart doth-dole with Chrilt, 
 and him alone, having no confidence in the 
 Flejh,' Phi. 3. 3. Pfal. 62. 5. He trufieth 
 only in Cod. Alio the Man here giveth up 
 with other Lovers, as they compete with 
 Chi id, lie refolves not to be for another , 
 Hofea. 3. 3. He calls him Lord, which 
 a Man can only do by the Spirit ofChrifi, 
 
 1 Cor. 12. 3. 
 
 II. As Hypocrites and Reprobates do 
 never clofe with Chrid alone ; fo they do 
 ne ver clofe with a full Chrid, as. he is anoin¬ 
 ted to be a King, to rule over a Man in all 
 Thr-ngs ; a Pried, to procure Pardon and.to 
 
 G 4 make 
 
So 
 
 The Trial of a Saving* 
 
 make Peace for Man upon all Occafionsj 
 a Prophet, to be Wifdom, and a Teacher 
 and Counfeller in all Cafes to Mam So they 
 do not receive Chrift, efpecially in the firft 
 and third Office. But where true juftifying 
 Faith is, a Man clofeth with whole Chrift I. 
 in all thefe Offices, judging all his Will good , ; 
 
 holy,' juft and fpiritual , Rom. 7. 12, 14. 
 and right concerning ail Things, Pfal. 119. 
 
 128. maketh Mention of his RighteoufrTefs 
 only,- Pfal. 71. 16. 
 
 The Man alfo giveth up himfelf to be 
 taught of him, Mat. 11. 29. Learn of me. 
 
 So that Chrift is made to the true Believer, 
 with his own Con lent, Wifdom, Righteouf- 
 nefs, Santtift cation,and complete Redempti¬ 
 on, 1 Cor. 1. 30. And altho’ he hath not 
 all thefe Things formally in Exercife, when 
 his heart goeth out after Chrift, yet upon 
 Search and Trial, it will be found with 
 him, as I havefaid. 
 
 HI. Hypocrites and Reprobates do never 
 clofe with Chrift, and ail the Inconvenien- 
 c.ies may follow him; they ftick at that 
 with th t Scribe, Mat. 8 . 10,20. But where 
 true juftifying Faith is, a Man doth clofe 
 with him on' all Hazards ; he refolveth to 
 forego all, rather than to forego Chrift. We 
 Rave left all, and have followed thee, Mark 
 
 10. 
 
Si 
 
 £> 
 
 in CHRIST. 
 
 10. 28; He reckoneth all to be Lofs and 
 Dung for the Excellency of Chrift Jefus , 
 as bis Lord, and to be found in him , Phi. 3. 8 . 
 
 We might give other Differences alfo; 
 as that true Faith is operative, purifying 
 the Heart, A els 15. 9. -working by Love, 
 Gal. 5. 6. whilit Hypocrites do ony cleanfe 
 the Outjide of the Platter , Mat. 23: 25. 
 and do all to be fen of Men , Mat. 6. 4. 
 r -ot feeling the Honour that is of Cod only , 
 and fo cannot believe . John 5. 44. We 
 might alfo Drew, that true Faith is never 
 alone in a Man, but attended with other 
 laving Graces: But becaufe thefe Things 
 will coincide with what followeth; and 
 here we are fhewing that a Man may take 
 up his gracious State by his Faith, and the 
 Acting thereof on Chrift; we pals thefe 
 Things. 
 
 7 nterefl 
 
 Chap. IX. 
 
 Of the New Creature. 
 
 T HE Second great Mark of a gracious 
 State, and true Paving In ter eft In , 
 jefus Chrift, is the new Creature, 2 Cor. 
 5 * 1 7 * tf any Plan be in Chrift , he is ti • 
 New Creature. This new Creation or T.e- 
 
$2 The Trial of a Sa ving 
 
 novation of that Man, is a very fenfible , 
 Change, although not in thofe who are ef¬ 
 fectually called from the W omb, or in their 
 younger Years; becaufe thofe have had this 
 new Creature from that Time in them, Co 
 as this Change in After-periods of Time is 
 not difcernible ; yet in thofe who have been 
 regenerated and brought in to Chrilt after 
 they were come to greater Age, andfo have 
 more palpably been under the Power of 
 Darknefs, before they were tr(inflated in¬ 
 to the Kingdom ofChrifl, CoL r„ 1-3. But 
 in all who do warrantably pretend to Chrilt, 
 this New Creature mull be; although fome 
 do not know experimentally the Contraries 
 cf every Part of it, fo as others do ; becaule 
 they have not been equally, in regard of 
 PraCbxce under the Power of Darknefs. This 
 New Creature is called the New Man, 
 
 Col. 3. 10. which doth hold out the Extent 
 ofit. It is not lrmply trnew Tongueornew 
 Eland, but a new Man. There is a Prin¬ 
 ciple of new Life and Motion* put in the 
 Man, which is the new heart; which netv 
 Principle of Life lendeth forth AftsofLife, 
 or of Conformity to the Image of him who 
 created it, Col. 3. 10. lo as the Party is 
 renewed in fome Mealbre every Way. This- 
 R'enovation o f the Man v. ho k in ChriFg. 
 v A may 
 
hit ere ft /‘//CHRIST. 83 
 
 may be reduced into thefe two great Heads. 
 
 /?/ 7 ? f There is a Renovation of the Man’s 
 Perlbn, Soul and Body, m Tome Meafure,. 
 I. His Underftanding is renewed, fo as he 
 judgeth Chrift preached in the Gofpel to be 
 the IVifdom and Power of God , a wife and 
 ftrong Device befeeming God, 1 Cor . 1. 23, 
 24. He knoweth the Things ofGod really 
 and folidly, not to be yea and nay } and 
 uncertain Fancies; bjt all to be yea and 
 amen, folid,. certain,, Jfubflandal Things, 
 having a defirableAccomplifhment in Chrift, 
 and refolving much in him, 1 Cor. 2. 14, 
 15. The natural Man receiveth not the 
 Things of the Spirit of God, for they are 
 Foolifhnefs unto him, neither can he know 
 them, becaufe they arefpiritually difcernedi 
 But he that isfpiritual judgeth all things , 
 2 Cor. 1. 18, 19, 20. fs God is true, oar 
 Word towards you was not yea and nay. 
 For the Son of God, Jefus Chrift, who 
 was preached among you by us, even by 
 me, and Silvanus and Timotheus ,, was not 
 yea and nay, but in him was yea : For all 
 the Promifes of God in him are yea, and 
 in him amen, unto the Glory of God by us. 
 Natural Men, educated under Golpel-ordi- 
 nances, although they have fo me notional 
 Knowledge of God, Chrift, the Froiriifes* 
 
The Trial of a Saving 
 
 the Motions of* the Holy Spirit, <bc. To as 
 they may confer, preach and difpute of 
 thefe Things ; yet they look on them as 
 common received Maxims of Chrifrianity, 
 from which to recede were a Singularity 
 and Difgrace; hut not as real, fblid, fub- 
 ftantial Truths, fa as to adventure their 
 Souls and everlafling Being on them..The 
 Underitanding is renewed allb, to take up 
 iomewhat of God in the Creatures, as bear¬ 
 ing Sparks of his glorious Attributes, PfaL 
 jo. i. They fee the Heavens declaring his 
 Glory and Power; and fomewhat of God 
 in Providence and Difpenfations that fall 
 out: His wondrous Works declare that his 
 Name is near , Pfal. 75. 1. the Underhand-' 
 ing alfo taketh up the Conditions “and 
 Cafes of the Soul, otherways than it was 
 wont to do; as we find the Saints ufually 
 fpeaking in Scripture, 0 my Sou', thou haft 
 faicl unto the Lord, Thou art ray Lord, 
 pfal. 16. 1.'My Soul [aid, thy Face will 
 1 Peek y Pfal. 27. 8. Why art thou caft down, 
 0 my Soul? Pfal* 42. 5. Pfal 43 ; 5 - Re¬ 
 turn unto thy Reft, 0 my Sou!, Pfal. 116. 7. 
 
 II. The Heart and Affections are renew¬ 
 ed. The Heart is made a new Heart, a 
 Heart offef?, capable of Impre/Gons, ha¬ 
 ving aCopy of ifisLaw humped on it,and the 
 
 Fear 
 
Ini ereft in CHRIST. gy 
 
 Fea? of u od put into it, whereby the Man’s 
 Duty becometh in a Manner native and 
 kindly t° the Man Jer. 32. 39,.40. Ezek. 
 3 °' 26 ' J* was be ^re a Heart of Sion- 
 void of the Fear of God. The Affections 
 are renewed now: The Love is renewed in 
 fome good Meafure; it goeth out after God 
 J Vill Love the Lord, Pfai. 18. 1. after his 
 Law, QJow Love I thy Law! Pf a ] II0 
 97. aft?r-4hofe who have God’s I;nave in 
 tnern, John 13,. 3? . By this/hall all Men 
 Know that ye are my Difeiples, if ye have 
 Lozecne to .another. 1 John 3. 14. jy e knoxv 
 that we have pajfed from Death unto Life- 
 hccaufe we love the Brethren. This T nvl 
 to God’s People is upon a pure Account,Is 
 they are the Children of God, and do keen 
 bus Statutes, 1 Peter 1. 22. It is with a 
 pure Heart fervently- and therefore it 
 goeth out towards allfuch, whom the Man 
 knoveth or apprehendeth to be fuch p/;]/ 
 
 no 63. h am a Companion of all them that 
 
 tear tree, and of them that keep thy p r - 
 cepts, in all Cafes and Conditions, even 
 where there is nothing to beautify 0 r com 
 
 mend out the Image of God. And this Love 
 
 is lo fervent many Times, 1 Pet r 2 ? 
 that it putteth itfelflout in. aii Relations ft 
 as a Man fteketh a godly Wife, a godly- 
 
 Mailer, 
 
86 
 
 The Trial of a Saving \ 
 
 t 
 
 Matter, a godly Servant, a godly Counfel- 
 kiy if he have to choofe upon,. Pfal. ioi. 
 6. Mine Eyes fall be upon the faithful 
 of the Land, that they may dwell with 
 me: he that walleth in a perfect Way, 
 he Jhall ferve me. And it is not quenched 
 by. many Waters, Cant. 8. 7. Many imper¬ 
 fections and Infirmities, Difference in O- 
 piniony Wrongs received,will not altogether 
 quench Love. Alfo it is communicative of 
 Good according to its Meafure, and as the 
 Cafe of the poor godly requireth, Pfal. 16. 
 2. Thou art my Lord, my Goodnefs extend- 
 eth not to thee, but to the Saints, &c. i> 
 John 7. 17, 18, 19. But whof0 hath this 
 World's Good, and fecth his Brother have 
 need, and Jhutteth up his Bowels of Com¬ 
 panion from him, how dwell eth the Love 
 of Godin him? My little Children, lei us- 
 not love in Word, neither in Tongue, but 
 in Deed' and in Truth. And hereby we 
 know that we are of the Truth, and jhall 
 ajfure our Hearts before him. The Man’s 
 Hatred is alfo-renewed, and is. now bended 
 againtt Sin, P/aL 119. 113- / hate vain 
 fhou. hts ; againtt God’s Enemies, as fuch y 
 Pfd. 139. 21, 22. Do not I hate them 
 fiat hate thee? 8 cc. The Joy or Delight 
 is renewed,, for It runneth towards God, 
 
Inter?/} in• CHRIST. 87 
 
 Pfal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven hut 
 tree? and there is none upon Earth that 
 
 {dWv dW thee ’ . towards his Law ana 
 
 y 1 > .f 11 . ' 1 • 2 * H' ts DeUght is in the 
 Lsvj of the Lord ; and towards the Godlv 
 and their Fellow hup, Pfd. 16. 3-. To the 
 Saints in whom is all my Delight. The 
 Sorrow is ruined again It Sin which hath 
 wronged Chri Zech. 12. 10. Looking to 
 hrm whom they-have pierced, they mourn 
 1 Cor. 7. 11. The Sorrow is godly there* 
 and again It whar eneroacfteth upon Codes’ 
 Honour. They are forrowfidfor the folenni 
 HJcmh’y, and the Reproach of that is their 
 Buraen, Zcph. 3. 18. There is feme Re 
 novation in all the AiFeftions, as in everv 
 other Part of the Soul pointing now towawll 
 
 HI. The very outward Members of die 
 Wan are renewed, as the Scripture (peaks, 
 Tne Tongue, the Eye, the Ear, the Hard 
 the Foot, drc. To that tho/e Members which 
 (awe were improved as Weapons of UnrWh- 
 teoaj !■/} unto Sin, are now improved as Wea- 
 pons ofRighteouJnefs unto Holinefs, R om . 
 
 Secondly, A Man who is in Chritf i s re 
 
 Tgf Ir«- Me3C,re in aIi ^ Ways r 
 a 'Wi, alb Things are became 
 
 Cor, 
 
83 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Cor. 5- 17. The Man becometh new, 
 I.inthe Way of his Intereft. He was upon 
 any Good before, tho’ but apparent, and at 
 beftbut external, Pfal. 4. 6 . Many fay, Who 
 will few us any Good ? But now his In¬ 
 tereft and Bufmefs, is how to be found in 
 Chrift in that Day, Phil. 3. 9. or, how to 
 be forthcoming to him, and walk before 
 him in the Light of the Living, Pfal. 56.- 
 13. which he would choofe among all the 
 Mercies that fill this Earth, Pfal. 119. 64. 
 The Earth, 0 Lord, is full of thy Mercy, 
 teach me thy Statutes. The Intereft of 
 Chrift alfo becometh the Man’s Intereft, as 
 appeareth in the Song of Hannah, 1 Sam. 
 1 and in the Song of Mary, Luke 1. It is. 
 ftrange to fee People newly converted, and 
 having reached but th'eBeginnings ofKnow- 
 ledge, concern and Intereft themfelves in 
 the publick Matters of Chrift’s Kingdom, fo 
 defirous to have him riding profperouily, 
 and fubduing the People under him. 
 
 II. The Man that is in Chrift, is renewed 
 in the Way of his Worfhip. He was wont 
 to Serve God in the Oldnefs of the Letter, 
 for’the Fathion, anfwering the Letter of 
 theXommand in the Outfide of Duty, which 
 one in whom the old Man hath abfolute 
 Dominion can do; But now he worihippeth 
 
 * God 
 
Inter eft in G H R I S T. 89 
 
 God in Newnefs of Spirit, Rom. 7. 6. in 
 a new Way wherein he is helped by the 
 Spirit of God., Rom. 8.26. beyond the Reach 
 of flefh and Blood. He ferveth now the true 
 and living God, 1 Thef. 1.9. in Spirit an din 
 Truth ? John4.24. having fpiritualApprehen- 
 flons of God, and engaged in his verySoulin 
 that Work,doing & faying truly & not feign- 
 edly when he worfhippeth ; Rill defining to- 
 approach unto him at a living God, who hear- 
 eth and feeth him, & can accept his Service, 
 Pfal. 42. 1, 2. I grant, he fails of this ma¬ 
 ny Times; yet I may fay, fuch Worfhip 
 he intendeth, and fometimes overtaketh; 
 and doth not much reckon that Worfhip, 
 which is not fo performed unto God; and 
 the Iniquity of his holy Things is not the 
 leaf! Part of his Burden and Exercife. Such 
 a Worfhip natural men are Strangers un¬ 
 to, whilft they babble out their vain-glori¬ 
 ous Boaflings, like the Pharifee, Luke 18. 
 n, a. to ar. ur.Jfnowh God, A els 17. 23. 
 
 III. The Man that is in Chrifi is renewed 
 in the Way of his outward Calling andlm- 
 ployment in the World ; he now refolveth 
 to be about it, becaufeGod hath command¬ 
 ed fo, not dothful in Bufinefs, fervent in 
 Spirit, frving the Lord, Rom. 12. 11. 
 and to eye God in-it as the laft End, doing 
 it to his Glory, 1 Cor. 10. 31. and fludieth 
 
 to 
 
9o 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 to keep Tome intercourfe with God in the 
 Exercife of his outward Imployments, as 
 Jacob doth in his latter Will, Gen 46. 18. 
 
 / have waited for thy Salvation> 0 Lord. 
 And as Nehemiah did, Nehem. 2. 4. '/hen 
 the King faid unto me, For what doji thou 
 make requejl ? S0 l prayed to the God of 
 H aven. So as the Man refolveth to walk 
 with God, and fet him always before him , 
 Plal. 16. 8. wherein, I deny not, he faileth 
 often. 
 
 IV. He becometh new in theWayofhis 
 Relations; he becometh a more dutiful 
 Husband, Father, Brother, Matter, Servant, 
 Neighbour, dxc. herein doth he exercife 
 himfhf to keep aConfcience void of Offence 
 towards Men , as. well as towards God , 
 A<tts. 24. 16. becoming all 1 kings to all 
 Men , 1 Cor. 9. 22. 
 
 V. He becometh new in the Way of law¬ 
 ful Liberties; he ttudieth to make Ufe of 
 Meat, Drink, Sleep, Recreations, Apparel, 
 with an Eye to God, labouring not to come 
 under the Power of any lawful Thing, 1 
 Cor. 6. 12. All 1 kings are lawful unto me, 
 but all Things are not expedient; all !kings 
 are lawful for me > but I will not be brought 
 under the Power of any. Nor to- give Of¬ 
 fence to others in the Ufe of thele Things, v 
 Rom. 14. 20, 21.. For Meat deftrdy not the 
 
 Mark. 
 
Inter eft i«CHRIST. 91 
 
 Wark of God; all lkings Indeed are pure, 
 bat it is Evil for that Man -who eateth 
 'with- Offence : It is good neither to eat 
 Hefty nor to drink lVine y nor any fhing 
 •whereby thy Brother ftumbleth , or is of¬ 
 fended , or is made weak, Rom. 15. 20. 
 Let every one of us pleafe his Neighbour 
 for his Goodt o Edification ,nor uftng Liber¬ 
 ty as an Occafton to the Flejh , GaL 5, 13. 
 Yea, he laboureth to ufe all thele- Things 
 as a Stranger on Earth, fo as his Moderation 
 may appear, Phi. 4. 5. Let your Moder¬ 
 ation be known unto all Men. And Tome 
 Way he doth eye God as the LaR End in 
 thefe Things, 1 Cor. 10. 31. Doing all to 
 the Glory of God : So as we may lay of that 
 Manj Old Things are much paft away , all 
 Things are, in fome Meafure,. become new , 
 1 Cor. 5. 17. He that is lo a new Crea¬ 
 ture, is undoubtedly in ChriR. 
 
 This Renovation of a Man in all Manner 
 of Converfation, and this being under Law 
 to God in all Things, is that Holinefs with¬ 
 out whichno Man /hall fee the Lord. Hefe.. 
 12. 14. Men may famty Things to thera- 
 ltlv€i», but unlefs they Rudy to approve 
 them (lives unto God in all well-pleafing, 
 and reach fome inward TeRimony of Sinr 
 cerity that Way, they (hall not aRure their 
 
 . Hearts 
 
9 2 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Hearts before him. The Tefiimony of Men's 
 Confidence is their Rejoycing. 2 Cor. i. 12. 
 By this we know that we know him, if 
 we keep his Gommandments. 1 John 7. 3. 
 And hereby we knew that we are of the 
 Truth, and fhall affure our Hearts before 
 him, for if our Heart condemn us, God is 
 greater than our Heart, and knowetb all 
 Things. Beloved, if our Heart condemn us 
 not, then have we Confidence towards God, 
 1 John 3. 19, 20, 21. No Confidence if the 
 Heart condemn. This is the new Creature', 
 haying a Principle of new fpiritual Life in¬ 
 filled by God into the Heart, whereby it 
 becometh new, and putteth forth Acis of 
 new Life throughout the whole Man, as we 
 have laid, lo as he pointeth towards the 
 whole Law: Both towards thele Commands 
 which forbid Sin ; fo he refolveth to let a- 
 gainft fecret Sins, not to lay a Stumh’inr- 
 block before the b ind, Lev. 19 . 14 ; Little 
 Sins, which are judged fo by maim, the 
 leafs Things of the Law, Math, 19 frhdL 
 fioever fhall break oheeof thefe IcaflCommand- 
 ments, and (hall teach men fo, he /hail be 
 called the leaf in the Kingdom of Heaven. 
 Spiritual Sins, Filthmefs of the Spit it, 2 
 Cor. 7. 1 Having therefore thefe Promifes, 
 dearly beloved, let us cieanfeour [elves from 
 
 all 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. 93 
 
 all Yi'thinefs of the Fleft, and Spirit, per - 
 fi tting Holinefs in the Fear of God. Sins 
 of Omilfion as'weii as of Commiffion/mce 
 Men are to be judged by thefe, Mat. 25. 
 41, 42,43, 44, 45. Then ft)ah he fay unto 
 them on the lejt Hand, Depart from me,ye 
 cm fed, into everlafting Fire, prepared for 
 the Devil and his Angels ; for I was an 
 hungred, and ye gave me no Meat, / was 
 thirfty, and ye gave me no Drink, 8cc. 
 Yen, Sins that are winded in into his natural 
 Humour and Conftitution, and fo are as a 
 right Eye or Hand to him, Mat. 5. 29. 
 ft thy right Eye offend thee-pluck it out, 
 and caft it-from thee, 2 cc. This new Princi¬ 
 ple^ of Life, by the good Hand of God, 
 jncixtth the Man let sgainft every known 
 Sin, fo far ^s not to allow peaceable Abode 
 to an) known Daiknels, zCor.6. ly.TVhat 
 Fellowjhip hath Riihteoufnefs with Un- 
 ri hteoufnefs ? And wi at Communion hath 
 Li ht with Darknefs ? As alio he pointeth 
 towards thefe Commands which relate to 
 Duty, and the quickning of Grace in the 
 Manat make th ATzwr efpe cl allGod’s known 
 .Commands, Pfal. 119. 6. To live sodly, 
 Yi r ! teoufty, and foberly, Tit. 2. 12. Yea, 
 'and to Rudy a right and fmcere Why and 
 Manner or doing Ihings, refblving not to 
 
 give 
 
94 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 give over this Study of Conformity to G-od’s 
 Will, whilft he liveth on Earth, but flill to 
 preps forward toward the Mark , for the 
 Prize of the high Calling of God in Chrifl 
 Jefus , Phil. 3. 13, 13. This is true Holi- 
 nefs, very becoming all thofe who pretend 
 to be Heirs of that holy Habitation, in the 
 immediate Company and Fellowlhip of a 
 holy God, 1 John 3. 3. IVe know thaFwhen 
 heJhall appear , we Jhall be like him. 
 
 Some may think thefe Things high At¬ 
 tainments, and very hard to be won at. I 
 grant it is true: But, fir fly Remember that 
 there is a very large Allowance in the Cove¬ 
 nant, promifed to his People, which mak- 
 eth Things moreealy. The Lord hath en¬ 
 gaged to take away the ftony Heart, to 
 give a Heart of Flejh, a new Heart, an 
 Heart to fear him for ever; he hath en¬ 
 gaged to put his Law in Mens • Heart, to 
 put his Fear in their Heart, to make them 
 keep that Law ; to put his Spirit in them , 
 to caufe them keep it. He hath promifed to 
 fatisfy the Priefis with Fatnefs , that the 
 Souls of the People may be fatiated with 
 his Goodnejs, and to keep and water them 
 continually every Moment, Ezek. 3 6 . 26. 
 Jer. 32. 39, 40. Jer. 3L. 33. Ezek. 36. 27. 
 Jer. 31. 14. Jer. 31, is.Ifai. 27. 3. And 
 
IntereJ} ///CHRIS T. 95 
 
 he mu ft be enquired to do all thefe Things 
 unto Men., Ezek. 3 6. 37. He engageth to 
 pour out the Spirit of Grace and Suppli¬ 
 cation on them. Ezek. 12. no. And io ro 
 Ie.am them how to leek the/e Things, and 
 how to put him to it, to do ail for them. 
 
 Secondly .Tor the Satisfaction of the weak- 
 ei, I grant this newCreature, as we have cir- 
 cumferibed and enlarged it, will not be 
 found in all the Degrees of it, in every nra- 
 cious Perfon, Tp^it is well if, 
 
 I. There be a new Man: \\ r e cannot 
 grant lefs; If any Plan be in Chrift, he is a 
 new Creature, 2 Cor. 5. 17. And that is 
 the new Man,, which all muft put on who 
 are fa-vingly taught of Chrift, Eph. 4. 21, 
 22 > 2 i, 2 4 - Jffo be that ye have heard him , 
 and have been taught by him , as the Truth 
 is in Jefus ; that ye put of concerning the 
 former Converfation, the old Plan which 
 ts corrupt according to the deceitful Lufts ; 
 and be renewed in the Spirit of your Mind; 
 and that ye put on the new Man, which 
 ajter God is created in Righteoufnef and 
 true Holinef. There muft be fome renew- 
 :ng after the Image of God in a Man’s. Soul 
 and Body; there muft be fome what of every 
 Part of the Man p inting towards God ; 
 although I grant .every one cannot inftruft 
 
 this 
 
96 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 this to others, neither difcern it in himfelf, 
 becaufe many know not the diftindt Parts 
 of the foul, nor Pieces of Reformation com¬ 
 petent to every Part of the Soul and Body; 
 yet it will be found there is fome fuch 1 hing 
 in them, yea, they have a witnefs ofit with¬ 
 in them, if you make the Thing plain and 
 clear to them what it is. 
 
 II. There muft be fuch a Refpedt unto 
 God’s known Commands, that a Man do 
 not allow peaceably any known Iniquity to 
 dwell in him; for , l¥ha?‘Fel owfhip hath 
 Righteoufnefs with Unright eoufnefs ? And 
 what Communion hath Light with Dark- 
 nefs ? 2 Cor. 6. 14,15, 16. He muft not re- « 
 gard Iniquity. Pfal. 119.6. Then fball I ^ 
 not he afhamed , when I have RefpecI un¬ 
 to all thy Commandments. Pfal. 66. 18. If 
 1 regard Iniquity in mine Heart , t ’ e Lord 
 will not hear me. I grant Men may be. ig¬ 
 norant of manyCommands and muuySins, 
 and may imagine in fome Cafes, that fome 
 Sins are not hateful unto God; but fup- 
 pcfing that they are inftrudted in thefe 
 Things,there can be noAgreement between 
 Righteoufnefs and Unrighteoufnefs. 
 
 III. Men muft point towards all the Law 
 of God in their honeft Refolutions; for this, 
 is nothing elfe than to give up the Heart 
 
 unto 
 
Inf ere ft In CHRIST. 
 
 97 
 
 unto God, to put his Law in it without 
 Exception, which isa Part of the Covenant 
 we are to make with God, Heb. 8 . 10 
 1 . , ls the Covenant that I w /// 
 y'“ h th . e of Ifrael—I z put f 
 
 Laws into their Mind, and write them 
 in their Hearts . I grant many know not 
 how to point towards God’s Laws in all 
 
 nmoH but , ifitbe nudemanifeft 
 
 unto them how that fliouId be done, they 
 will point at it. And it is true, they will 
 
 m ° ftheir Elutions in 
 their Prattice; yet when they have failed, 
 
 they can fay, They did refplve otherways 
 and will yet honeftly, and without Guile 
 
 V fm°^ d ° otherwa y s > it will prove 
 their Affliction to have failed of their Re¬ 
 solution when the Lord difcovereth it to 
 them, which he will do in due Time. 
 
 IV. When we are to judge of onr Smte 
 by the new Creature, we mult do it it a 
 
 rnnwnjpnt 
 
 convenient Time, when we 
 
 r, r in “ic m p-ood 
 
 C.le, at .call not wheat we are in the worft 
 Cafe; for the Fief, and Spirit doluQ and 
 fight agamfi other. Gal. 5. , 7 . And fo me - 
 mes the one and fometimes the other doth 
 prevail. Now I fay, wemuftchoofe a con ‘ 
 venient Time, when the fpiritual Part fa 
 not by ionic Tentation woffled and over. 
 
 E powered 
 
gS The Trial of a Saving 
 
 powered by the Flelh: For, in that Cafe, 
 the new Creature is recoiled back in its 
 Streams, and much returned to the Foun¬ 
 tain and the Habits, except in Tome fmall 
 Things not eafily difcernible, whereby it 
 maketh Oppofition to the Flelh, according 
 to^ the forefaid Scripture : For, now is it 
 the Time of Winter in the Soul, and we 
 may not expert Fruit, yea, not Leaves, as 
 in home other Seafon ; only here, left pro¬ 
 fane Atheifts fhould make Advantage of 
 this, we will lay, 1 hat the Spiiit doth of¬ 
 ten prevail over the Flelh rn a godly Man, 
 and the Scope, Aim, Tenor, and main 
 Drift of his Way is in the Law of the Lord, 
 that is, his Walk. Pfal. 119- Whereas 
 the Pathway, and ordinary Courfe, of the 
 "Wicked is Sin, as is often hinted in the 
 Book of the Proverbs of Solomon. And 
 if it happen that a godly Man be overmal- 
 tered by any Tranfgreffion, ordinarily it 
 is his fad Exercife; and we fuppofe he 
 keeps it fill in Dependency before God, 
 to have it Fertified, as David fpeaketh, 
 VfaL 56. 13. Wilt thou not deliver my 
 Feet from falling P 
 
 G u a ?. 
 
Inters!} hi CHRIST. 
 
 S>9 
 
 HAP. 
 
 X. 
 
 The Difference between a truly renewed 
 Man who is in ChriJ. ?, and Hypocrites. 
 
 OhjcCi. A THE I STS and Hypocrites 
 i. JL may have great Changes 
 and Renovations wrought upon them, mid 
 m “ lem > and I fear mine' be Rich. 
 
 Anfv. I grant that AtheiRs and Hypo- 
 cmphave many Things in them, which 
 do look like the new Creature. Fir/} in 
 regard of the Parts of the Man, they m a y 
 i . come to much Knowledge, as Heb. 6. 4 
 They are enlightned. 2. There may be a 
 Reel among their Affeftions, as, they re¬ 
 ceive the Word with Joy, as hs th ^ re _ 
 ceived the Seed into J} 0 ny Places , Matth 
 IS- 20. 3 They may reach a gr^at Deal 
 
 M,n U K Va [ d Reformation in the outward 
 Ian, both anent Freedom from Sin, and 
 
 ng^ement to pofitive Duty, as that Pha- 
 rtfee did, Luke l8 . u, i 2 . Cod, I thank 
 thee that I am not as other Men are , Ex- 
 ^Doners Unju/}, Adulterers, or even as 
 ns ubl 1 can : / f a f} twice in the Week 
 1 &ve Tithes of all that 1 poffefs. Ye a* 
 
 ^ 2 4. in 
 
loo The Trial of a Saving 
 
 4. in regard of their practical Undemand¬ 
 ing, they may judge lome Things of God 
 to be excellent; the Officers laid, that ne¬ 
 ver Man fpake as Chrijt , John 7, 46. 
 
 Secondly , Hypocrites may have a great 
 deal of Profeffion. 1. They may talk of 
 the Law and Gofpel, and of the Covenant, 
 as the Wicked do: Pfal. 50. 16. Whathafi 
 thou to do to declare my Statutes, or that 
 thou fhould'fl take my Covenant in thy . 
 Mouth? 2. They may confefs Sin openly 
 to their own Shame, as King Saul did, 
 
 1 Sam. 26. 21. 3. They may humble 
 
 themfelvesin Sackcloth withAcbab, 1 Kings 
 21. 27. 4. They may enquire bufily af¬ 
 
 ter Duty, and come cheerfully to receive it; 
 Ifai. 58. 2 . Yet they feek me daily , and 
 delight to know my Ways, as a Nation that 
 did Righteoufnefs and forfook not the Or¬ 
 dinance of their Cod', they ask of me the 
 Ordinances of Juftice , they take Delight 
 in approaching to God 5. They may join 
 with God’s IntereJfl in a hard and difficult 
 Time, as Benias and other Hypocrites in 
 the Book of the Adis of the Apoftles , who 
 afterwards fell off. 6 They may give 
 much of their Goods to God and the i>aints, 
 as Ananias , A£ls 5. 1, 2. if not all then 
 Goods* 1 Cor . 13. 3. Though I beflow all 
 
 my 
 
IOI 
 
 Inter eft in CHRIST. 
 
 my Goods to feed the Poor , and have not 
 Charity , it profits fh ms nothing. Yea, 7. 
 it is not impolfible for fome fuch, being 
 ftraitly engaged in their Credit, to give 
 their Bodies to be burnt , as in the laid 
 cited Place. 
 
 thirdly. Hypocrites may advance far in 
 the common and ordinary Steps of a Chrif- 
 tian Work; fuch as the Elect have when 
 God leads them captive. As, 1.* They 
 may be under great Convictions of Sin, as 
 Judas was, Matth. 27. 3, 4, 5. So was 
 King Saul often. 2. They may tremble 
 at the word of God, and be under much 
 Terror as Felix was, A els 24. 25. 3. They 
 may rejoyce in receiving of the Truth , as 
 he that received the Seed into ftony Places , 
 Matth. 13. 20. 4. They may be in fome 
 
 Peace and Quiet in Expectation of Salva¬ 
 tion by Chrilt, as the foolijh Virgins were, 
 Matth. 25. 5. All this may be> backed 
 and followed with fome good Meafure of 
 Reformation, as the Pharifee , Luke 18. 
 11, 12. The 'unclean Spirit may go out of 
 them y Matth. 12. 43. 6. This Work may 
 
 feem to be confirmed by fome fpecial Ex¬ 
 periences and Taftings of the good Word of 
 God } Heb. 6. 4, 5. 
 
 E 3 
 
 Fourthly, 
 
102 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Fourthly , Hypocrites may have foijie 
 Things very like the laving Graces of the 
 Spirit; as, i. They may have a Sort of 
 Faith, "with Simon Magus , Afts 8. 13. 
 
 2.'They may have a Sort of Repentance, 
 and may walk mournfully, Mai. 3- 14. 
 IVhat Profit is it that we have walked 
 mourn fully before the Lord of Hofis? 3. 
 They may have a great Fear of God, 
 luch as Balaam had, who for a Houfe-full 
 of Gold would not go with the Meffengers 
 of Balaky without Leave alked of God, 
 and given, Numb. 22. 18. 4. They have 
 
 a Sort of Hope, Job. 8. 13. The Hypocrites 
 Hope /hall perifh. 5. The have fome 
 Love, fo had Herod to John , Mark 6. 26. 
 
 I need not to infill, it is out of all Quefti- 
 on they have Counterfeits of all having 
 Graces. 
 
 Fifthly, They have fomewhat like the 
 Special Communications of God, and the 
 Witneffing of his Spirit, & fomewhat like 
 the Powers tif the World to come , power¬ 
 fully on them, with fome Flalhes of Joy 
 arifing thence, as Heb. 6 . 4, 5. For it is ^ 
 impoffible for thofe who were once en light- 
 ned, and have tafied of the heavenly Gift, 
 and were made Partakers of the holy 
 Ghofi, and have tafied the good Word of 
 
 Gad 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. 103 
 
 Cody and the Pavers of the World to come; 
 if they ftmll fall away, to renew them ar 
 gain unto Repentance. Notwithftanding 
 of all which, they are but almojl per- 
 fwaded with A’ggrippa to he Chriflians, 
 Acts 26. 28. It were tedious to fpeak par¬ 
 ticularly to each of thefe Things, and to 
 clear if up, that they are all but rotten 
 Ware: I fhali condelcend upon fame few 
 Things, wherein a truly renewed Man, 
 W’ho is in Chrift, doth differ from Hypo¬ 
 crites and Reprobates. 
 
 I. Whatfoever Change be inldypocrites, 
 yet their Heart is not changed and made 
 new. The new Heart-is only given to the 
 fleet, when they are converted and brought 
 under the Bond of the Covenant, j ter. 32. 
 39. I will five them one Heart , and one 
 IVay, that they may fear me for ever. 
 Ezek. 36. 26. A new Heart will I give 
 you, ana a new Spirit will I put within 
 you, and / will take away the ftony Heart 
 out of your Flcjh, and I will give you an 
 Heart of Flefh. Hypocrites did never ap¬ 
 prehend Chrilf as the only fatisfying Good 
 in all the World, for which with joy they 
 would quit a //; for then the Kingdom of 
 God were entered into them, Matth . 13. 
 44. 7 he Kingdom of Heaven is like unto 
 
 f 4 ' a Trea- 
 
104 Trial of a Saving 
 
 a r reafure hid in a Field, the which when 
 a Man hath found, he hideth , and for 
 Joy thereof gotth an 1 felleth all that he 
 hath , an buyeth the Field. The truly re¬ 
 newed Man dare and can upon good Ground 
 fay, and hath a Teftimony of it from on 
 '.High, that his Heart hath been changed in 
 taking up of Chrift, and hath been led out 
 after him, as the only enriching Treafure, 
 in whom to be fount he accounteth all 
 Things elfe Lofs and Dung , Phil. 3. 8, 9. 
 
 II. Whatloever Reformation or Profelfion 
 Hypocrites do attain unto; as it cometh not 
 from a new Heart, and pure Principle of 
 Zeal for God, lo it is always for fome 
 wicked and By-end, as, to be feen of Men, 
 Matth. 6.5. or to invite and Ihun fome out¬ 
 ward Strait, to be free of God’s Wrath and 
 the Trouble of their own Confidence, If a. 
 58. 3. Wherefore have we fafted,fay they , 
 and thou fee]} not? Wherefore have we af- 
 filled our Soul, and thou takefl no Know¬ 
 ledge ? Mai. 3. 14. What Profit is it, 
 that we have kept his Ordinance , and that 
 we have walked mournfully before the 
 Lord of Hofis ? In Tehimony of this, they 
 never have Refpecl to all known Commands, 
 elfe they fhould never be ajhamed, Plal. 
 119, 6. INor do they without approven 
 
 Guile 
 
IQS 
 
 Interefl ///CHRIS T. 
 
 Guile in their own Heart, refblve again# 
 every known Iniquity, elfe they were freed 
 of Heart-condemnings , and fo might juftly 
 have Confidence before God, I Joh .2. 2i, 22, 
 If in never fo mean a Cafe, they did, from 
 a Principle of Love unto, and of Zeal for 
 Chrifl, and for a right End, confefs and 
 profefs him, Chrifl were obliged by his 
 own Word to confef them before his Fa¬ 
 ther, Matth. io. 32. 
 
 HE Whatfoever Length Hypocrites ad¬ 
 vance in that Work, by which People are 
 led in unto Chrifl, yet they never feek firfi 
 the Kingdom of God and his Righteouf- 
 nef , Matth 6 . 33. The one Thhig that hs 
 neceffary, viz. Chrifl’s Friendfhip and Fel- 
 lowfhip, is never their one Jking, and 
 Heart-fatisfying Choice, elfe that better 
 Tart 'would never be taken from them , 
 Luke 10. 42. 
 
 IV. Whatfoever Counterfeits of Grace 
 are in Hypocrites, yet they are all bred 
 there, without any faving Work of the 
 Spirit of Chrifl, and it is enough to exclude 
 them from the Benefit of this Mark, that 
 they are never denied to thefe Things, nor 
 emptied of them, but Hill do refl on 
 them as their Saviour, fo that they fubmit 
 not unto the Right eoufnef of God , Rom. 10 3. 
 
 E 5 And 
 
And that is enough to..keep them at a DI- 
 fhmce from Chrilt, who will never clout 
 tha/ old Garment of Hypocrites with his 
 fine new Linen, nor put bis new IVine in¬ 
 to old Bottles, Matth. 9. 1 6, 17. 
 
 V. We may fay, JLet flvpociites, Re¬ 
 probates, or Atheifts have what they can, 
 they want the three great Elfentials of 
 Religion and true Chrilfianity. Firft,. 
 They are not broken in themfelves, and 
 emptied even of their Righteoulnefs, the 
 Length of Self-lothing, yet lying open for 
 Relief. Such loft Ones (thrift came tofeek 
 and five, Luke 19. 10. Secondly, They 
 never took up Chrifl Jefus as the only 
 Treafure and Jewel that can only enrich, 
 and fhould fatisfy; and therefore have ne¬ 
 ver cordially agreed unto Gods Device in 
 the Covenant, and fo are not worthy of 
 him: neither hath , the Kingdom of God 
 favingly entered into their Heart, Matth. 
 13. 44. The Kingdom of Heaven is like 
 unto a Treafure hid in a Field, the which 
 when a Man hath found, he hideth; and 
 for Joy thereof felleth all that he hath x 
 and buyeth the Field. Thirdly, They 
 never in earnefl do dole with Chrift’s 
 whole Lode without Exception, judging all 
 his Will, jufi and good, holy and Jpiritual, 
 
107 
 
 Inter eft ///CHRIST. 
 
 as Rom. 7. 12. And therefore no Reft al¬ 
 lowed on them by Chrifl, Matth. 11. 29. 
 Take my Yoke upon you, and ye frail find 
 Reft unto your Souls. Therefore, whofo- 
 ever thou art, who can lay clear and juft 
 Claim, to thcle three forefaid Things, thou 
 art beyond the reach of all Atheifls, Hy¬ 
 pocrites and Reprobates in the World, as 
 having a 11 (wered the great Ends and In¬ 
 tents of the Law and Gofpel. 
 
 Ob’jctt. I am clear fometimes, I think, to 
 lay Claim to that Mark of the New Crea¬ 
 ture, yet at other times Sin doth fo prevail 
 over me, that I am made to queflion all 
 the Work within me. 
 
 Jlnfw. It is much to be lamented, that 
 People profelfing his Name, fhould be fo 
 flaited and enflaved by Tranfgreflion, as 
 many are. Yet in Anfwer to the Objection, 
 it it be ferioufly propounded, we fay, The 
 Saints aYe found in Scripture jultly laying 
 Claim unto God and his Covenant, when 
 Iniquity did prevail over them, as we find, 
 Pfal. 65. 3, Iniquities prevail again ft me ; 
 as for our Tranfgrejftdns thou .(halt purge 
 them away. Rom. 7. 23, 25. Paul thanks 
 Cod through Chrift , when a Law in his 
 
 Members 
 
io8 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Members leads him captive unto Sin . But 
 for the better Underflanding, and fafe Ap¬ 
 plication, of fuch Truths, we mud diffe¬ 
 rence between grots Outbreakings and or¬ 
 dinary Infirmities or Heart-ills, or Sins that 
 come unawares upon a Man, without Fore¬ 
 thought or any Deliberation. As for the 
 former Sort, it is hard for a Man, whilft 
 he is under the Power of them, to fee his 
 gracious Change, although it be in him; 
 and very hard to draw any Comfort from 
 it, until the Man be in fome Meafure re¬ 
 covered, and begin ferioufly to refent fuch 
 Sins, and to refolveagainfl them. We find 
 David calling himfelf God’s Servant, 
 quickly after his numbering of God’s Peo¬ 
 ple ; but he was then under the feriousRe- 
 fentrnent of his Sin, 2 Sam. 24. 10. Jo¬ 
 nah layeth Claim to God as his Mailer un¬ 
 der his Rebellion ; but he is then ruing it, 
 and in a Spit it of Revenge againft himfelf 
 for his Sin, Jonah 1. 9, 10, 12, Next, as 
 for thefe Sins of Infirmity, and daily In- 
 curfion and Heart-ills, fuch as thofe where¬ 
 of Paul doth complain, it is like, were. 
 
 We fhall draw out fome Things from 
 that feventh Chapter to the Romans, where¬ 
 upon Paul maintains hislnterefl in Chriff, 
 and if you can apply them, it is well. 1. 
 
 When 
 
109 
 
 Int ere ft in CHRIST. 
 
 When Paul findeth that he doth much 
 fad, and cannot reach Conformity to God’s 
 Law, he doth not blame the Law as be 
 ing too flrift, fo as Men cannot keen it' 
 as Hypocrites life to fpeak; but he doth 
 biame himfelf as being Carnal- and he 
 fanh of the Law, that it is good, holy 
 andfpintual, Rom. 7. I2 , 14 2 fZ 
 
 can fey, he failed of a Good which he i„! 
 tended, and did outdoor himfelf, and he 
 had often honeftly refolved againil the Evil 
 which he fell into, Rom. 7. K t* * 
 
 3. He faith, that the prevailing of Sin o- 
 ver him is his Exercifb, fo as he judgeth 
 
 T n*T'l Ch * d \ ecaufe of f “ch a 
 
 of Death from which he longeth to be 
 
 ’■ a 7 * u 24 * He W that 
 wmllt he is under the Power and Law of 
 
 mn, theie is fomewhat in the Bottom of* 
 
 his Heart oppofing it, although overmaf- 
 
 tered by it, which would be another Wav- 
 
 and when he gets the upper Hand, it is 
 
 a deJightfome Thing, Rom. 7. 2 o 2c TT 
 
 pon thefe Things he thanks Co din Chrifh 
 tnat there is no Condemnation, R om 7 
 25. Rom. 8. 1. Now then look ifyou’can 
 
 lay Claim to thefe Things. If J you £ 
 ame j oin felf,and approve the Law,whilfl 
 you fail. 2. If you can fay, that you do 
 
 often 
 
i ro 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 often refolve againft Sin honeftly, and 
 without known Guile; and do fo refolve 
 the contrary Good before the Evil break 
 in upon you. 3. If you can fay, that you 
 are fo far exercifed with your Failings, as 
 to judge yourfeif wretched becaufe of Inch 
 Things, and a Body oi Death which is. the 
 Root and Fountain of fuch Things. 4. If 
 you can fay, that there is a Party within 
 you oppofing thefe Evils, which would be 
 at the right' Way, and, as it were, is in its 
 Element when it is in God’s Way, it is 
 well, only be advifed not to take Reft un¬ 
 til in fome good Meafure you be rid of the 
 •Ground of this Objection, or at leaf!, un¬ 
 til you can very clearly fay, You are wa¬ 
 ging War with thefe Things. Now, a 
 good Help againft the prevailing Power of 
 Sin, is, to cleave elofe to Chrift Joins by Faith, 
 which as it is a defireable Part of Simplifi¬ 
 cation, anda notable Piece of Conformity to 
 God’s Will, and rnoft fubfervient unto his 
 Defiga in the Gofpel, Gal. 2. 20,21 ^ The 
 Life which I aoiv live In the Flejh, 1 live 
 bv the Faith of the Son of God , who loved 
 me, and gave hhnfelf for me. I do not 
 fy Up rate the Grace of God : And fo 
 fhoukl be much endeavoured by People, as 
 a Work plcafing unto God. John 6. 29. 
 
 r This 
 
Ill 
 
 Inter eft in CHRIST. 
 
 Thh is the Work of God, that ye believe 
 on him wham he hath fent. So it is the 
 midy \V ay to draw Life and Sap f ro * 
 Chna tne bieilcd Root, for Fruitfuinefs in 
 ah Cafes, as John 15. 4> 5. Abide in me 
 
 y d lV?V/ S the Branch cannot bear 
 • tul l b t J > except it abide in*the J'int- 
 no mere can ye, except ye abide in me. / 
 
 U mthev,,u-,ye are the Branches, he that 
 ydeth me aai / u ^ 
 
 bung,,,g forth much Fruit: Far wither,t 
 vie ye can do no' hi nr. 
 
 C H 
 
 A P. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Of the fpecial Communications of God 
 a ^ d nejm^ular gracious Opera oins of 
 
 his bpin . J 
 
 ■Obfeel. T Qo not par?aXe of tiled- fpecial 
 Jr Communications ofGod, men¬ 
 tioned in the Scripture, and Afiin-4 and 
 Outgoes _ of his Spirit, whereof gmcious 
 People o.ten are fpeaktng, and whereunto 
 'hey attain ; the Want of tiled Things ma- 
 Kah me much fiifpeft my State. ° 
 
 «££• b™ IIlortl >: dome of there 
 
 excellent Communications, and 1 hope, n- 
 
 pon 
 
112 
 
 The Trial of Saving 
 
 upon a right Difcovery of them, there will 
 be but fin all Ground found for the jealous 
 Complaints of many gracious People. 
 
 Fir(l, (Befide thefe Convictions of the 
 Spirit of God, which ufe to ullier Chrift’s 
 * Way into the Souls of Men, and thefe alfo 
 which afterwards do ordinarily attend them) 
 There is a Seal of the Spirit of God fpo- 
 ken of in Scripture, the principal Thing 
 whereof is the fan&ifying Work of the tlo- 
 lyGholt, imprinting the Draughts and Li¬ 
 neaments of God’s Image and revealed Will 
 upon a Man, as a Seal or Signet doth leave 
 an Impreffion and Stamp of its Likenefs u- 
 pon the Thing fealed. So it is, 2 Tim. 2. 
 19. The Foundation of God Jlandeth fire y 
 having this Seal, he Lord knoxveth them 
 that are hi . And, Let every one that 
 nameth the name of Chrifi depart fro?n 
 Iniquity. And thus I conceive the Seal to 
 be called a Witnefs, 1 John 5.1 o. He that 
 believeth hath the Witnefs in himfelf ; that 
 is The Grounds upon which an In tereftin 
 Chrill is to be made out and proved, are 
 in every Believer; for he hath fomewhat of 
 the fanftifying Work of God’s Spirit in 
 him, which is a fure, although not always 
 a clear and manifeil, Witnels. 
 
 Secondly, 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. 113 
 
 Secondly, There is Communion with 
 God much talked of among Chridians, 
 whereby they underdand the fendble Pre- 
 ience of God refrefliing the Soul exceeding¬ 
 ly . But if we Ipeak properly, Commu¬ 
 nion with God is a mutual Intered between 
 God and a Man, who hath clofed with him 
 in Chrid. It is a Commonnefs, or a com¬ 
 mon Intered between God and a Man; not 
 only, is a Man intereded in God himfelf, 
 but in all that is the Lord’s; fo the Lord 
 hath a fpecial Intered in the Man, and al¬ 
 io all that belongs to him. There is a 
 Communion between Husband and AVife, 
 whereby they have a fpecial Intered in o- 
 tlier s Perfons, Goods, Gear and Concern¬ 
 ments; fo.it is here: There is fuch a Com¬ 
 munion with God, he is our God, and all 
 Things are ours, becaufe he is ours. This 
 Communion with God all true Believers 
 have at all Times, as we diall drew after¬ 
 wards. I grant there is an a<dual improve¬ 
 ment of that Communion, whereby Men 
 do boldly meddle with any Thing that be¬ 
 longs unto God, and do meddle with him- 
 ied, as their own, with much Homelinefs 
 and Familiarity, Specially in worfhip, 
 when the Soul doth converfe with a living 
 God, partaking of the divine Nature, grow- 
 
114 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 j n g like unto him, and fweetly travelling 
 thro’ his Attributes, and,with fome Confi¬ 
 dence of Intereft, viewing thefe Things as 
 the Man’s own Goods and Gear: This we 
 call Communion with God in Ordinances. 
 This'indeed is not fo ordinarily nor fre¬ 
 quently made out to Men, and all his Peo¬ 
 ple do not equally partake of it; and it is 
 true, that what is in God, goeth not out 
 for the Behoof of the Man to his Appre- 
 henfion equally at all Times, yet certain- 
 lyCommunion wkhGod, properly fo called, 
 viz. That Commonnefs of Intereh between 
 God and a Man who is favingly inCovenant 
 with him, doth always hand firm and Pure; 
 and fo much of Communion with God in 
 Ordinances have all Believers, as that their 
 Heart converfeth with a living God there, 
 now and then, and is in fome Meaiure 
 changed into that fame Image ; and there 
 needeth be no Doubt about any further in 
 it. 
 
 1 Thirdly , There is a Thing which is cal¬ 
 led Fellow/hip with God often mistaken 
 alfo among Believers. If by Fellowship 
 be meant the walking in our Duty as in 
 the Sight of a living God, who feeth and 
 heareth us, and is W’itnefs to all oui Car¬ 
 riage, it is a Thing common unto all gra¬ 
 cious Men; they all have it habitually, and 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. U5 
 
 in Dcfign, Pfa. 16. 8. I have fei the 
 Lord always before me. Yea, and often 
 they have it actually in Exercife, when 
 their Spirit is in any good Frame ; they 
 walk as if they faw God (landing by'them, 
 and have lome Thoughts of his Favour 
 through Chrift : 'Indy our Fellow (kip is 
 with the Father , and with his Son Jefus 
 ChriJ}, 1 John 1.3. If we by Fellow (hip 
 do mean a fweet, refrefhing, familiar, len- 
 lnle Com erfing with God, which doth 
 delight and refrefh the Soul, belide what 
 tlie Confidence of Duty doth ; it is then a 
 walking in the Light of his Countenance, 
 and a good Part of lenllble Preience : And 
 although it feemeth Enoch had much of 
 It, whim it is fa id, lie walked with God , 
 Gen. 5. 24. yet it is not lo ordinary as the 
 former, nor fo common to all Chriftians 
 oi heie the Soul is fllJed as with Marrow 
 C l n . , Fatne J s > following hard after its 
 Guide, and fmgularly upheld by his riaht 
 Hand Pfal. 63. 5, 8. My Soul J hall be fa - 
 ttsped as with Marrow and Fatnefs ; and 
 my Mouth Jhall praife thee with joyful 
 ,P s j My Soul fol'oweth hard after thee 
 thy right Hand upholdeth me. 
 
 Fourthiy i:\iere is a Thing which is 
 c.ttied Accefs unto God ; and this I take 
 
 to 
 
116 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 to be the removing of Obftruttions out of 
 the Way between a Man and God, fo as 
 the Man is admitted to come near. We are 
 faid to have Accefs to a great Perfon, when 
 Doors are cafl: open, Guards removed from 
 about him, and we admitted to come clofe 
 at him; fo it is here, Now this Accefs,. 
 in Scripture is fometimes taken for Chrift’s 
 preparing of the Way, the removing of 
 Enmity between God and Sinners, fo as 
 Men now have a patent Way to comeunto 
 God through Chrift; Eph. 2 . 18. For 
 through him rue both have an Accefs by 
 one Spirit unto the Father. Sometimes it 
 is taken from the attual improvement of that 
 Accefs purchafed by Chrift, when a Man 
 finds all Obftruflions and Differences, 
 which do ordinarily fall in between him 
 and God, removed: God is not uncouth 
 to him, nor as a Stranger, keeping up him- 
 felf from him, or frowning on him, but 
 the Man is admitted to come even to bis 
 Seat, as Job. 23. 3. of the Want of this 
 doth Job complain, Job 23. 8, 9. whilft 
 he faith, I go forward , back-ward , to the 
 right and left Fiand, and I find him not . 
 The firll: Sort of Accefs is common to all 
 Believers; they are brought near by the 
 Blood of the Covenant, and are no more 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. u 7 
 
 far off, as the Deadly Enmity between God 
 and them is removed. But Accefs in the 
 othei fonfo, is dilpenfed more according to 
 the Lord’s abfolute Sovereignty and Plea- 
 fure, and it is left in the Power of Belie¬ 
 vers to obftrutft it unto themfolves, until it 
 plcafe the Lord mercifully and freely to 
 grant it unto them again ; fo it is up and 
 down, and there needs be no Queftion as 
 to a Man’s State about it. 
 
 Fifthly, There is a Thing called Liber¬ 
 ty before God; & this properly is Freedom, 
 or free fpeaking unto God. Many do much 
 queftion their State, becaufe of the Want 
 of this now and then, ftnce the Scripture 
 hath laid, Where the Spirit is, there is Li - 
 bertv, 2 Cor. 3. 17. But they do unjuftly 
 coniine that Liberty fpoken of there, unto 
 this fi ee fpeaking before God. I grant 
 wheie the Spirit of the Lord doth faving- 
 ly cifcover God's Will in the Scriptures to 
 a Man, there is Liberty from any Obliga¬ 
 tion to the Ceremonial Law, and from the 
 condemning Power of the Moral Law, and 
 from much ofthatgrofs Darknefs and Ig¬ 
 norance which is on natural Hearts as a 
 Vail hidingChrift in the Gofpel from them. 
 
 I grant alfo, that fometimes, even this Li¬ 
 berty which is a free Communing with 
 
 Cod 
 
1*3 The Trial of a having 
 
 God, and ordering of our Caufe before 
 him , and filling of our Mouth with Ar¬ 
 guments, Job. 23.4. is granted to the God¬ 
 ly, but not as Liberty taken in the former 
 Senfes. Although the Lord hath obliged 
 himfelf to pour out the Spirit of Prayer 
 upon all the Louie of David in fome Mea¬ 
 sure, Zech. 12. 10. yet this Communica¬ 
 tion of the Spirit, which we call Liberty 
 or free fpeaking unto God, dependeth much 
 on the Lord’s abfolute Pleafure, when, and 
 in what Mcafure, to allow it. This Li¬ 
 berty, which we call Freedom or free fpeak- 
 ing with God in Prayer, is fometimes 
 much abflrafted from any great Confidence 
 in the Time of Prayer, at leafi:, until it 
 draw towards the Clofe of it; it flandeth 
 much in a Vivacity of the Underftanding 
 to take up the Cafe which a Man is to 
 fpeak before God, fo as he can order his 
 Caule : And next, there be \Vords, or ver¬ 
 bal Expreffions, elegant, fuitable, and ve¬ 
 ry emphatical, or powerful and pithy. 
 There is alfo joined a Fervency of Spirit in 
 Prayer, whereof the Scripture fpeakethj 
 the Soul is hot and bended, and very in¬ 
 tent. 
 
 There is alio ordinarily in this Liberty, 
 a fpecial Melting ofthe Heart often joined 
 
 with 
 
Interefi in CHRIST. rip 
 
 with a great Meafure of the Spirit of Grace 
 and Cupp ication f Zech. 12. 10. So the 
 Sou { ^ poured out before God as for a 
 hfjt-born Such is the Liberty which 
 H i any Saints get before God, whilfi in 
 rxiuch_ brokennefs of Heart and Fervency 
 
 ?;- S ? , y t n they are admitf ed to fpeak their 
 ^hnd fully to God, as a living God, no- 
 ticmg (at lead) their Prayer. Sometimes 
 this Liberty is joined with Confidence, and 
 tlien it is not only a free, but alfo a bold 
 Speaking before God. It is that Boldnefs 
 T tb Confidence, Eph. 3. 12. In ^ hem we 
 have Boldnefs and Accefs , with Confidence 
 If the Faith of him This is more rarely 
 imparted unto Men than the former yet it 
 is ordinary: It hath in it, befide what we 
 lpake before, Ibme Influence of the Spirit 
 upon Faith, making it put out fome vigor¬ 
 ous Adding in Prayer. There is a fweet 
 mournful Frame of Spirit, by which a Man 
 poureth out his Heart in God’s Bofom, and 
 with feme Confidence of his Favour’and 
 good Will, pleadeth his- Caufe before him 
 as a living God; and this is ali the fenlible 
 Prefence that many Saints do attain unto. 
 Thereis no ground ofDoubr anent a Man’s 
 State, in the Point of Liberty before God, 
 m this laid Senfe, becaufe there is nothing 
 
120 
 
 The Trial of a Saving \ 
 
 eflential to the making up of a gracious 
 State here : Some have it, fome want it, 
 fome have it at fome Times, and not at 
 other Times, fo that it is much up and 
 down; yet I may fay, gracious men may 
 do much, by a very ordinary Influence-, 
 contributing towards the attaining and re¬ 
 taining, or keeping of fuch a Frame of 
 Spirit. j 
 
 Sixthly, There is a Thing called Influ¬ 
 ence or Breathing of the Spirit. This gra¬ 
 cious Influence, for of fuch only do I now 
 fpeak, is either ordinary, and this is the 
 Operations of the Holy Spir t on the Soul, 
 and the Habits of Grace there, whereby^ 
 they are ftill kept alive, and in fome Ex- 
 ercife and A fling, although not very dif- 
 cernible This Influence, I conceive, doth 
 always attend Believers, and is that keep¬ 
 ing and watering Night and Day, and 
 every Mo?nent , promifed, Ifai. 27. 3. Or, 
 this Influence is more Angular and fpecial, ' 
 and is that fame to a gracious, although a 
 withered Soul, as the Wind and Breath to 
 the dry Bones , putting them in good Cafe, 
 Ezek. 37. 9. 10. And as the dew or Rain 
 to the Grafs , or newly mown Field and 
 parched Ground, Pfal. 72. 6. Such Influ¬ 
 ence is meant, Cant. 4. 16 by the blowing ' 
 
Inter eft mGHRIST. 
 
 12* 
 
 of the South-wind, making the Spir cs t9 
 
 . ^ hen Spirit moveth thus 
 
 there is an Edge put upon the Graces of 
 od m toe Soul, and they are made to 
 ad more vigoroufly. This is the enlarr- 
 
 tng °f t 7e Hearf > b 7 which a Man doth 
 run in the Ways of God, Pfd. IIp . ' 
 
 This influence is more difcernible than the 
 
 ted nCr Air n f n0t /° ° rdinarily c °mmu!iica- 
 tea. Alio here, fometimes the Wind blow- 
 
 eth more upon one Grace, and fometimes 
 
 moie diicernibly upon another, and often 
 
 upon many of- the Graces together • and 
 
 accorduig to the leffer or greater Meafure 
 
 f? f r thi . S Iilflu ence, the Soul afteth more or 
 
 ; lefs vigoroufly towards God: And flnce 
 
 raith is a created Grace in the SouJ, this 
 
 Influence of the. Spirit is upon it, fome- 
 
 nncs lefs, fometimes more, and according. 
 
 ly “ the Aflurance of Faith final] or greft 
 
 Seventhly ,There is the hearing of Pray* 
 
 e> , ° ften Spoken of in Scripture; and manv • 
 
 vex themlelves about it, alledging that 
 
 they know nothing of it experimentally 
 
 I grant there is a favourable hearing of 
 
 ^ Ut We mu ^ ren tember it is two 
 fold: Either firf. It is f uc h as a Man i s " 
 Amply to believe by way of Argumen t Q 
 fcnptural Grounds; as if I be fled u n to 
 
 F ChriW 
 
121 
 
 The' Trial of a Saving 
 
 Chrift, and do approach unto God in hi n,- 
 pray according to his Will, not regarding 
 Iniquity in my Heart, exerciung faith a- 
 bout the Thing I pray for, abfolutely or 
 conditionally, according to the Nature of 
 the Thing and Promifes anent it: I ana o- 
 bliged to believe thatGod heareth my Pray¬ 
 er, and will give what is good, according 
 to thefe Scriptures, John 14. 13, 14. IVh.t- 
 foevtr ye ask in my Name, I will do it. 
 
 1 John 5. 15. V his is our Confidence 
 that whatJoever we ask according to his 
 Willy he heareth us. Mark 11. 2.4. Be - 
 lie ve that ye receive, and ye Jhall have 
 what ye define. Pfal. 66 . 18. If I regard 
 Iniquity in my Hearty the Lord will not 
 hear, Then if I regard not Iniquity, I 
 may believe that jie doth hear me. Or, 
 Secondly, A Man doth fenfibly perceive 
 that God heareth his Prayer; it is made out 
 to his Heart, without any fyllogiftical De- 
 duftion. Such a hearing of Prayer got 
 Hannah, 1 Sam. 1. 18. Her Countenance 
 was no more fad. Surely the Lord did 
 breathe upon her Faith, and made her be¬ 
 lieve that (lie was heard t She could not 
 make it out by an Argument; for (lie had 
 no Grounds whereupon to build the Pre- 
 mi Fes of the Argument, according to Scrip¬ 
 ture, 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. 1 2$ 
 
 ture, in that Particular: God did damp it 
 Pome Way upon her Heart fenfibly, and Co 
 made her to believe it. This is but rarely- 
 granted, eipecially in Cales clearly deduci- 
 ble in Scripture; therefore People are much 
 to be fatisfed in exercifng their Faith a- 
 Out the. other, and ought to leave it to 
 God to give of this latter what hepleafeth. 
 A Man s gracious State fhould not be 
 1 ought upon Debate, upon the Account of 
 luch hearing of Prayer. 
 
 lightly, T here is Hffurance of God’s 
 Favour by the witn effing of our own Spi¬ 
 rits; which Adurance is" deduced by Way 
 of Argument fyllogiftically thus: Whom¬ 
 ever beheveth on Chrift dial 1 never perilh; 
 but I do believe on Chrid: Therefore, I diall 
 never perifli. WhofohathRefpeff unto all 
 -God’sCommandments,(hall never be afham- 
 
 ed;ButI have Refpeff unto all his Cotn- 
 Jnands: Therefore,I /hall never be afbamed. 
 
 _ a 3 r > oy leafoning thus, and comparing 
 fpintual Things with fpiritual Things, a 
 , . may attain unto a good Certainty of 
 ins gracious State. It is fuppofed, 1 John 
 3 . 18, 19. that by loving the Brethren in 
 fft a at} d in Truth, we may aJJure our 
 Hearts before Cod , and that a Man may 
 rejoice upon the Teftimony of a good Cox- 
 
 F 2 fcience. 
 
124 
 
 ‘The Trial of a Saving 
 
 fcience, 2 Cor. 1. 12. A Man may have 
 Confidence towards God, if his Heart do 
 not condemn him, 1 John. 3. 21 We may- 
 then attain unto fome Aflurance, altho* 
 not full Aflurance, by the Witnefs of our 
 own Spirits. I do not deny, that in this 
 witnefling of our Spirits towards Aflurance, 
 there is fome Concurrence of the Spirit of 
 God: But I conceive, there needeth but a 
 very ordinary Influence, without which we 
 can do nothing. Now, this Aflurance, 
 fuch as it is, may be reached by intelligent 
 Believers, who keep a good Confluence in 
 their Walk. So I hope, there needs be no 
 Debate about it, as to a Man’s gracious State; 
 for, if a Man will clear himfelf of Heart-con- 
 demnin gs ,hewill fpeedilyreach thisalTurance 
 ■ Ninthly, There is a Witnejfing of God’s 
 Spirit , mentioned, Rem. 8. 16. bearing 
 IVitneJ's with our Spirit, that we are the 
 Children of God. This Operation of the 
 Spirit is beft underfh od, if we produce a- 
 ny Syllogifm by which our Spirit doth 
 witnefs our Son/hip; as 4 for Example, Who- 
 foever loveth the Brethren is part fromDeath 
 to Life, and confequenily is in Chrifl ; But 
 I love the Brethren : Therefore, I am paft 
 f om Death to Life. Here there is a three¬ 
 fold Operation of the Sph it, or three Ope¬ 
 rations 
 
Inter eft in C H R I S 
 
 T. 
 
 
 r 25 
 
 rations rather : The firft is a beam of di¬ 
 vine Light upon the fir ft Propofitio n, per- 
 
 w dl j g j Ivine Authorit y- of it, as the 
 Word of God. The Spirit of the Lord 
 muft witnefs the Divinity of the Scripture 
 and that it is the infallible Word of God > 
 far beyond all other Arguments that can 
 be u{hd for it. The fecond Operation is a 
 glorious Beam of Light from the Spirit, 
 fuming upon the fecond Propofition, and 
 to upon his own Graces in the Soul, di('co¬ 
 vering them to be true Graces, and fuch 
 as the Scripture calleth Co. Thus we are 
 laid to knew by his Spirit the 'Things that 
 are j reehy grjen unto us of God, iQor. 2. 
 
 3 ' jtf third Operation is in order to the 
 third I ropofition of the Argument, or the 
 Conclufion, and this I conceive to be no- 
 thing die but an Influence upon Faith, 
 hrengthmng It to draw a Conduf on of full 
 Allurance up op the forelaid Premises. 
 
 JNow, \ witli Submiffion unto others, who 
 lave greater Light in the Scripture, and 
 more Experience ofthefe precious Commu¬ 
 nications) I do conceive the Witnefs of the 
 Spirit or witneffing of it, which is men- 
 
 l T V 6 * I " he spirit itfelf bear- 
 
 f/t ru'TP } ° Ur Spirits that 
 
 Children of God , is not that firft Ope- 
 F 3 ration 
 
126 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 ration upon the firft Propofition; for that 
 Operation is that Teftimony of the Spirit, 
 by which he beareth Witnefs to the Divi¬ 
 nity of the whole Scripture, and aflerteth 
 the divine authority of it unto the Souls of 
 gi acious Men .* .And fuch an Operation 
 may be upon a Truth of Scripture, which 
 doth not relate to a Man’s Sonfhip or Inte¬ 
 rmit in Chrift at all. The Spirit may lb 
 fhine .upon any Truth relating to Duty, 
 or any other fundamental Truth perfuad- 
 i-ng the Divinity of it, upon and unto the 
 Soul, and fpeak nothing relating to a Man’s 
 Intercft in .Chrift. Neither is the third O- 
 peration of the Spirit, by which he makes 
 Faith boldly draw the Conclufion, this wit-i 
 nefling of the Spirit; for that Operation is 
 nothing elfe but an Influence upon Faith,' 
 bringing it out to full affurance: But ’that 
 whereupon this fuH AfTurance is drawn or 
 put out, is fomewhat deponed or witnefTed 
 already r Therefore I conceive the fecond 
 Operation of the Spirit upon the the fecond 
 Piopofition, and fo upon the Graces in the 
 Man, is that Witnefs of God’s Spirit, that 
 • Beam of divine Light /Lining upon thofe 
 Graces, whereby they are made very con- 
 fpibuous to the Underftanding : That is the 
 Witnefs, the fhining fo on them is his wit- ^ 
 
 neffingp 
 
12 7 
 
 Inter eft In GHR I S T7 
 * l c 
 
 ■ neffingj-for only here in this Propofition, 
 and in this Operation, doth the Spirit of 
 God prove a Co-witnefs with our Spirit : 
 For the main Thing wherein the Witnefs 
 of our Spirit lieth, is in the fecond Propo¬ 
 rtion, and fo the Spirit of God, witneflmg 
 with our Spirits, is alfo in that fame Propo¬ 
 rtion. So thcfe two Wimefes have de¬ 
 poned andwimeffied one and the fameThing, 
 viz. the Truth and Reality of fuch and 
 Puch Graces in the Man, which our own 
 Spirit or Conicience doth depone, according 
 to its Knowledge, and the Spirit of the 
 Lord doth certainly affirm and vitncls to 
 be fo ; there is a Sentence drawn forth, and 
 a Concluf on of the Man’s Sonffiip by the 
 Man’s Faith, breathed upon by the Spirit 
 for that EffirT : And this Con dn non bear- 
 eth the full Affiurance of a Man’s Sonffiip. 
 It may be prefumed, that fome true Saints' 
 do not partake of this all their Days, as 
 Heb. 2. 15. And deliver them who through 
 Fear of Death were all their Lifetime 
 foibjeFt to Bondage. 
 
 - Tenthly , I fpeakwith the Experience of 
 many oaints, and I hope according toScrip-■ 
 tt 5re , If I fay there is a Communication of 
 tee Spirit of God which is Jet out to fome 
 of his People fometimes, that is fomewhat 
 
 F 4 be- 
 
 ^ f 
 
128 
 
 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 bei]de, if not beyond that witnetfing of a 
 -on fhip froken of before. It is a glorious 
 divine Mamreflation of God unto the'Soul, 
 iheclding abroad God’s Love in the Heart. 
 It is a Thing better felt than fpoken of. 
 It is no audible Voice, but it is a Waffof 
 Glory filing the Soul with God, as he is 
 Lire, Light, Love and Liberty, counter¬ 
 vailing,that audible Voice, 0 Man, great- 
 ly beloved, Dan. io. 19. putting a Man in 
 a Tran {port with this on his Heart, It is 
 good to be here, as Matth. 1 7.4. It is that 
 which went out from Chrifl to Mary, when 
 he but mentioned her Name, John 20. 16. 
 Jefus faith unto her, Mary. She turned 
 herfelf, and faith unto him, Rabboni. 
 which is to fay, Mafter. He had fpoken 
 Jome "Words to her before, and fhe under- 
 flood not that it was he: But when he ut- 
 tereth this one Word, MART, there was 
 Lome admirable divineConveyance and Ma- 
 nifoliation made out unto her Heart, by 
 which file was fo fatisfyingly filed,’that 
 there was no Place for arguing and deput¬ 
 ing whether or no that was Chrifl, and if 
 fhe had an Interefl in him. That Mani- 
 feftation made Faith to itfelf; and did pur- 
 chafe Credit and Trull to itfelf; and was 
 equivalent with Thus faith the Lord . 
 
 % This 
 
Inter eft ///CHRIST 139 
 
 This is fuch a Glance of Glory, that it may 
 in the higheft'Senfe be called, The Earneft 
 or Firfl-fruits of the Inheritance , Eph. 1. 
 14. for itisa felt Armful of the Holy God, 
 almoft wholly conforming the Man unto 
 his Likenels, fo fwallowing him up, that 
 he iorgetteth all Things except the prelent 
 Manifeltation. O how glorious is this Ma- 
 nifeftation of the Spirit! Faith here rifeth 
 to fo full an Alfurance, that it refolveth 
 .wholly into fenfible Embracements of God. 
 This ib the lhing which doth bell delerve 
 the Title of lenflble Prefence, and, it is 
 like, is not given unto all Believers, fome 
 \\ hereof are all their Days under Bondage 
 and in Fear, Heb. 2.15. But here Love 
 alrpo Si perfe£i., cafteth out Fear, 1 John 4! 
 
 18. This is fo absolutely let out upon the 
 Matter s Plea Sure, and fo tranlient, and 
 palfmg, or quickly gone when it is. that 
 no Man may bring his'gracious State up¬ 
 on Debate for want of it. r 
 
 E seventhly, 4 here is a Thing we call 
 Peace ,about which many do vex themfelves. 
 
 1 his Peace is either anent a Man’s State 
 that he is reconciled unto God by J e f lls 
 Chrift, or it is anent his prefent Cafe and 
 Condition, that he is walking fo as appro¬ 
 val of God, at leaf!, fo far as there Js no 
 
 * 5 %ier- 
 
^ 3 ® *' The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Quarrel or ControvejTy between God and 
 him threading a Stroke. Both of thefe 
 are either fuch in the Court of Scripture 
 and confequentlyin God’s Account; or in 
 tlie Court of a Man’s own Conference. 
 Peace anent a Man’s State, or being in 
 Ghritc, is Pure in the Court of Scripture 
 and oi Heaven, when a Man doth by Faith 
 dole with Chrift and the new Covenant 
 Rom. 5. 1. Being juftified by Faith, -we 
 have Peace with God . It being Pure and 
 iohd in the Court of Scripture, it ihould 
 hold Pm e m the Court of a Man’s Con¬ 
 ference, it. being rightly informed ; for in 
 that Cafe, it hill fpeaks according to Scrip¬ 
 ture: But, becaufe often the Confcience is 
 misinformed, and in the Dark; therefore, 
 there is often Peace anent a Man’s State 
 according to Scripture, whilft his Con¬ 
 ference . doth threaten the contrary, and 
 •noth llill condemn, and refufeth to a/Toil 
 the Man, as being reconciled unto God 
 through Chrift. In this Cafe, the Con- 
 lcience muff be informed, and the Man’s 
 gracious State made out by the Marks of 
 Grace, as we fhewed before; and here the 
 Witnefs of my own Spirit will do much to 
 allay the Cry of the Confcience, and if the 
 Spirit of the Lord join his Witnefs and' 
 
 * TelU- 
 
fnterefi in C H R I S T. 
 
 Teflimony, the Confcience is perfectly f a . 
 tisiied, and proclaimeth Peace to the Man. 
 
 The other Peace, anent a man’s prelent 
 Cafe or Condition, viz. that it is approven 
 of God in a Gofpel-Senfe, it may be want¬ 
 ing, and juflly wanting, although the 
 Peace anent a Man’s State be fare. This 
 Peace anent a Man’s Cafe and Condition 
 is either fuch in the Court of Scripture 
 and this is when a Man is not regarding I- 
 niquity, and resetting the Command? of 
 Cod without Exception; then the Scripture 
 faith, He Hands in an even Place, and he 
 needeth fear no Hated Quarrel between 
 God and him,in order to a temporary Stroke; 
 and when it is thus, his Confcience fhould 
 alfo alfoil him that fame Way, and would 
 do fo, if it were rightly informed: But be- 
 caufe the Confcience is often in the Dark 
 therefore a Man may be alarmed V/ith Evil 
 in the Court of Confcience, as ifhe were 
 juflly to expedt a Stroke from God because 
 of his Sin, and lome Quarrel God hath at 
 him, although he intend Salvation for him. 
 This is enough to keep a Man in Difouier 
 and to inhibit him the Rejoycing allowed 
 unto him, whilfl he is walking in his Inte¬ 
 grity: Therefore a Man mufl here .alfo in¬ 
 form his Confcience, and receive no A'c.cu- 
 
 fu ions'- 
 
 j 
 
132 
 
 T’ne "Trial oj a Saving 
 
 fations nor Condemnings from it, unlefs it 
 make them clear by Scripture. At that 
 Bar let every Man Band, both anent his 
 ^tate, and his Condition or Cafe; and let 
 him appeal from all other Courts to that 
 and not receive any Indictment but conform 
 to the 1 ruth of God, by which the Con- 
 icience is to proceed in all Things. And 
 if this were well looked unto, there would 
 not be fo many groundlefs Sufpicious a- 
 mong the Lord’s People, either anent their 
 State, or their Condition, upon every 
 Til ought which entereth their Mind 
 
 fifthly. There is the Joy of the Ho- 
 ly GhoB; and this is when the Spirit doth 
 breathe upon our rejoycing in God, (which 
 is a ( race very little in Exercife with ma¬ 
 ny) and maketh it fet out fenfibly and vi- 
 goroufly; and he excite th and Birreth the 
 PaBion of Joy and Delight in the Soul 
 fo as there is an unfpeakable and glorious 
 pin the Soul, in the Apprehenfion of 1 
 Gou s Friend Hup and Nearnefs unto him. 
 
 ^ Pet. 1.8, hi whom , though now ye fee 
 him not, yet believing , ye rejoyce with 
 Joy unfpeakable and full of Glory. This 
 Joy folioweth upon Peace, and Peace fol- 
 loweth Righteoufnefs, Rom. 14. jy. The 
 Kingdom of God—as Righteoufnefs , and 
 
 Peace 
 
Inter eft in CHRIS T. 133 
 
 Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghoft. ThU 
 Joy readily will not fail to be according t ® 
 the Meafure of the ARuranee of Faith" as 
 1 Pet. I . 8. In whom believing, ye re-oirp - 
 So that the Removal of Miftakes about d 
 ther Things will allay Doubts aneat this 
 Now becaufe fome of thefe excellent 
 Communications of the Spirit/ after they 
 at-e gone, are brought in Queftion as Delu¬ 
 sions of Satan; for Vindication of them 
 
 n e /%’ T h . at ,he f r«inl Operations of 
 God s Spirit in any high Degree, ufuallv 
 are communicated to People after fuchBro 
 kennefs of Spirit, Pfal. 51. 8. Make me to 
 hear Joy and Giadnefi, that the Bones 
 'Minch toon haft broken may rejoice. 4f_ 
 tei fo lingular Pains in religious Duty 
 Dan 9.3, 21. And I Jet my Face unto 
 the Lord God , to feek by Prayer and Sut- 
 t ie fti™> F*fling and S’ackdoL 
 
 and Afhes. And whi’es I was. Speakin’ 
 a ‘ n P ra y tn J'> an d confejfing my Sin—the 
 Han vjabiiel whom I had feen in the yi- 
 P°” at the Beginning, being can fed to 
 fwifty, touched me. Or in Time of fuch 
 Suffering for Righteoufnefs, i Pet. 4, I ? 
 14. Pejoice, in as much as ye are PartV. 
 hers of Ch rift's Sufferings ; that when his 
 
 Glory 
 

 134 The Trial of a Saving 
 
 Glory fall be revealed, ye may be glad at- 
 Jo 'with exceeding Joy. If ye be reproach¬ 
 ed for the Name of Chrift, happy are ye ; 
 for the Spirit of Glory, and of God reft- 
 eth Upon you . Or if they break in as the 
 Rain that waiteth not for Man, then they 
 do fo humble and abafe thePerfon, Jfa.6. 
 5. Wo is me, for I am undone, bccaufe I 
 am a Man of unclean Lips,—for mine 
 Eyes have Jeen the King, the Lord of 
 Hofts. And there are found fo many Evi¬ 
 dences of Grace in the Man, Rom. 8. 16. 
 The Spirit itfelf beareth IVitnef with 
 our Spirit, that we are the Children of 
 God. Or thefe Things do fo provoke un¬ 
 to Holinefs, and to have every Thing an- 
 fwerable and conform to thole Manifefta- 
 tions of God, 2 Tim. 2. 19. Let every one 
 that Harneth the Name of Chrift, depart 
 from Ihiquity. The Perfon under them 
 doth To lothe allThings behdeGod’sFriend- 
 fhip arid Fellowfhip, Matth. 17.4. Pet¬ 
 er faith unto JefuLor i, it h g 00 g f Qr 
 us to be here. And thefe Things do carry 
 on them and with them fo much Authori¬ 
 ty and divine Superfcrip.tion, whiHt they 
 are in the Soul, that afterwards they may 
 appear fuvficicntly to be fpecial Gorinr uni- 
 cations of God, and liiigtilar gracious Ope¬ 
 rations 
 
bite reft w CHRIST. 13,5 
 
 Nations of his Spirit, and no Delufions of 
 Satan transforming him [elf into an An¬ 
 gel of Light, 2 Cor. n. 14. n0 r fuch 
 common Flallies of the Spirit as may ad¬ 
 mit afterwards irrecoverable Apofiafy from 
 God, Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6 . For it is impojftble 
 for thofe who were once enlightned, and have 
 tajied of the Heavenly Gift, and were made 
 Partakers of the Holy Ghoft , and have taf 
 ted the good Word of God, and the Power of 
 the World to come ; if they /hallfall away 
 to renew them again unto Repentance. * 
 Now then to conclude this Part of the 
 Work that relateth unto Trial • I fay to 
 all thefe who complain of the Want of 
 the precious Outiettings of the Spirit, <1/?, 
 Biefs God if you want nothing'effential for 
 making out of a having Intereflin Chrifh 
 God hath given unto you Chrifl Jefus, the 
 greatefl Gift he had, and fmee your Heart 
 is lhapen out for him, he will with him 
 give you all Things that are good for you 
 in their Seafon. 2 dly, I do believe, upon 
 a rightSearch andT riafafteryou haveunder- 
 Poodthe Communications of the Spirit,vou 
 are not fo great a Stranger tomanyThings as 
 you did fufpeft yourfelf to be. But, 3^ Re¬ 
 member the Promifes of Life and of Peace 
 with God, are no where, in Scripture, 
 
 made 
 
136 T'he Trial of a Saving 
 
 made unto thefe fpecial Things where¬ 
 of you alledge the Want : The Pro- 
 mifes are made unto Faith, followed with 
 Holinefs; and it may be prefumed, that 
 many Heirs^ of Glory do not in this Life 
 partake of iome of thefe Things, but are 
 in Bondage all their Days through Fear 
 of Death , Heb. 2. 15. fo that there fhould 
 be no Mi flake about thefe Thinns j we 
 may feek after them, but God is'free to 
 give or withhold them. 4 thly, Many do 
 feek after fuch Manifeflations before they 
 give Credit by Faith unto God’s Word. 
 He hath born Record that there is Life e- 
 nough for Men in Chrifl Jefus, and if Men 
 would by believing fet to their Seal that 
 God is-true, they fhould partake of more 
 of thefe excellent Things. 5/^, I ma y 
 fay, many have not honourable Apprehen- 
 fions and Thoughts of the. Spirit of God, 
 whole proper Work is to put out the fore- 
 faid noble Operations. They do not a- 
 dore him as God, but vex, grieve, quench, 
 and refill him ; and many People complain¬ 
 ing of the Want of thefe Things, are not 
 at the Pains io feek the Spirit in his Out¬ 
 goings, and few do fet rhemfelves apart for 
 fuch gloriousReceits : Therefore be at more 
 Pains in Religion, give more Gredit to his 
 
 Word, 
 
Interefi in CHRIST. 137 
 
 "Word, and efieem more highly of the Spi¬ 
 rit of God, and fo you may find more of 
 thefe excellent Things. 
 
 ******+ ** * * * * if ** * * * * * * jfr * * jk * * * * 
 
 ********£* ***^* ****** ******* aft*** 
 
 PART II. 
 
 How to attain unto 
 
 A faving Interefi in C H R I S T. 
 
 H A V ING, in the former Part of 
 this Treatife, put every Man’s State 
 to Trial, it now remains, that in this fol¬ 
 lowing Part, we give advice to thofe, who 
 neither can, nor dare lay Claim to the 
 Marks formerly mentioned. 
 
 Q,u ES't. 
 
13 S Howto atttain unto a Savin? 
 
 O 
 
 Quest. II. Whatjhall they do who want 
 ine darks of a true an >' laving Inter eft 
 in Christ, already fpoken of and nei- 
 tnei ca t nor dare pretend unto thenii 
 
 An sw. if Men mils in themfelyes the 
 Marks of a faring intcreft in Chrift, fpoken 
 of before, then it is their Duty, and of all 
 that hear this Gofpel, personally and hear¬ 
 tily to clofe with Gods Device of faving 
 Sinners by Chrift Jefus , and this (hail fe- 
 cure their State. 
 
 C H A P. I. 1 
 
 Some Things premlfed for the information 
 . of t no ft who are more ignorant. 
 
 p OR the better undemanding of this, 
 we fhall premife fome Things for In¬ 
 formation of thole who are more ignorant, 
 and then Ipeak more direftly to the Thing! 
 As for the Things to be premifed, 
 
 I* Lord did at the Beginning, out 
 of his Bounty, make a Covenant with Man 
 in Adam, Gen. 2. 16, 17. and did enable 
 Man to abide in that Covenant, Ecclef 7. 
 2y. Cod hath made man upright j but 
 
 Man j 
 
Inter eft in CHRIS T. 139 
 
 Man by eating of that forbidden Fruit, Gen. 
 
 / 3. did break that Covenant. Hof. 6. j./hey 
 ■ like Adam have tranjgre(fed the Covenant , 
 • and made it void for ever, Rom. 3. 2 8 . By 
 the Deeds of the Law, there J,ball no Flejh 
 be juftified in his Sight, and involved him- 
 felf into all Mifery thereby, Rom. 5. 12. 
 As by one Man Sin entered into the World, 
 and Death by Sin ; and fo Death pa fed u- 
 pon all Men, for that all have finned. 
 
 IF The Lord did molt freely, from ever- 
 lafling, pur pole and intend to five Man a- 
 nother Way, viz. by Chrifr Jefus and the 
 Covenant of Grace, in which he intended 
 Reconcilement with the Elect thro’ Chrifr 
 Jefus, God and Man born of a Woman in 
 due Time, to make this Agreement effectu¬ 
 al. And this Device of fatisfying his own 
 Juftice and laving of the EleCt by Chrifr, 
 he did at firfr intimate to our Parents inPa- 
 radife, Gen. 3. 15. where he friith, that 
 the Seed of the Woman fall bruife the Ser¬ 
 pent's Head. And the Lord hath in all 
 Generations made this known to hisChurch. 
 
 III. I he Lord hath in all Ages cove¬ 
 nanted to be the reconciled God of ail thefe, 
 who by their Subjection to his Ordinances, 
 did profefs their Satisfaction with this De- 
 Nice, and oblige thernfelves to acquielce in 
 
 the 
 
140 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 the fame and to feek Salvation by Chrift 
 Jcfij,, as woJ doth offer him in the Gof- 
 
 k ; r ° , a , s ' he fsopie of Jfraela re called 
 the Lora s People, and are laid to avouch 
 k m to be their God, and he doth avouch 
 them to be his People, Exod. , 9 . r 8 . 
 
 Dent. 26. 17, ,8. Yea, the Lord doth at 
 fo engage himfelf to be the God of the 
 oeed and Children of thofe who do fo fub- 
 
 ihH to h* f W T™' The tenant is 
 Lid to. be made between God and all the 
 
 ff°? k A i'gg an i M ’ ? re Pmt and not pre - 
 Jent unit Day, Deut. 29. 10, u .. IC 
 
 And all are appointed to come under fome 
 
 %rjli a r C0K ™’’ as was enjoined to 
 HbraLam Qm. 17. 10. Not only was it 
 
 Z , M UT *r ua " ,it isfointh! 
 
 offiToT v rTc aIf ? : The Lord makes 
 otter of himfelf to be our God in Chriil 
 
 Jefus : and the People profelling their Sa- 
 
 r n- at °f a '> srui in Teftimony 
 re ° l ^bjefling themfelves unto the Or- 
 dmancer, they are reckoned a covenanted 
 Peopk, and are joined unto his Church in 
 Thoufands, receiving a Seal of the Cove- 
 
 ou^TrH° 1Jl: ^ ny fUr o hCr P articular previ- 
 
 ous l ru±, y.Hs 2. 38,-41. Then Peter 
 jaul unto them ,, Repent and be baptized 
 every QH e of you i n the Name of fefhs 
 
 Cbfijt 
 
IntereJ} in CHRIST, i 4I 
 
 Chrijly for the Remijjion of Sins.-—Then 
 they that gladly received the Word were 
 baptized , and the fame Day there were 
 added unto them about :three Thou fund 
 Souls. J 
 
 I v • Many do deal treacheroufly with 
 God in this Covenant, Pfal. 78. 36, 01 
 Neverthelefs they did fatter him with 
 lheir Mouth, and they lied unto him with 
 their Tongues ; for their Heart was not 
 right, with him, neither were they fled- 
 faft in his Covenant. And altho’ they' pro- 
 kis their Eftimation of Chrift the Saviour 
 and their Heart-fatisfadhion with that De- ^ ' 
 vice of faving Sinners by him, and having 
 tne Image of God reftored by him in them; 
 yet their Heart is not right with God, and 
 they do content themfelves with an empty 
 Title, offering in a fealed Covenant with 
 God, John 8. 39. Abraham is our Father, 
 fay they. For although the Lord obligeth 
 every Man, who profcfleth his Satisfa&ion 
 with Chrift Jefus the devifed Ranfom to be 
 cordial and fin cere herein; and only to thefe 
 who ?re fo, doth he make out the fpiritual 
 Promifes of the Covenant, they only beino- 
 privi/edged to be the Sons of Cod, who do 
 really receive Chrifl, John 1. 1 2 . yet the 
 Lord doth permit many to profefs their clo- 
 
 fing 
 
142 how to attain unto a Savins 
 
 <L> I 
 
 fmg with him in Chrift, both in the Old' 
 and New Teftament, whilft their Heart is 
 not engaged ; and he doth admit them to 
 be Members of his Church, granting unt<V» 
 them the Ufe of Ordinances, and many o-^ 
 ther external Mercies and Priviledges deni¬ 
 ed unto die : ieathen, who are not in Cove¬ 
 nant with him. 
 
 V. Although the great Part of People 
 do foolifhly fancy, that they have clofed 
 with God in Chrift Jefus fincerely and hear¬ 
 tily» or at leaf , they do without any 
 Ground or arrant, promile a new Heart 
 to themfelves before they depart this Life ; 
 yet there be but very few who do really & 
 cordially clofe with God in Chrift Jefus as he 
 is offered in-the Golpel; and fo there be but 
 wery few faved, as is clear, Matth. 7. 14^ 
 Strait is the Gate, and narrow is the /fhyvj 
 which leadeth unto Life, and few there, be ' 
 who find it. Matth. 20. 16. Many are 
 called, but few are chofen. If People 
 would believe this, it might help to alarm 
 them. 
 
 VI. Although none at all do cordially 
 clofe with God in Chrift Jefus, and acqui- 
 efce in that Ranfom found out by God, ex¬ 
 cept only fuch as are elected, Rom. 11. 7. 
 But the Elettion hath obtained it , and 
 
 the 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. 143 
 
 She reft were blinded , and whofe Hearts 
 the Lord noth ioveretgi.'4 determine to 
 that bletfed Cfoice, John 6 . ..[do Alan 
 
 j fan come to me, except the tat her which 
 \j hath fait me, draw him ; yet the Lor d 
 ha 1I1 kit it as a Duty upon People who 
 kar this Gofpel, to clofewit-h his Oder of 
 \Salvation through Chrift Jefus, as if it 
 ft'c'c in their Power to do it: And the 
 Lord, through thefe Commands and Ex¬ 
 hortations, wherein he obligeth Men to the 
 VTbing, doth convey Life and Strength to 
 the Elect, and doth therein convey the new 
 Heart unto them, which pointeth kindly fo¬ 
 rwards this new Device of having Sinners, 
 
 Z i towards Chrift in his Covenant-rebi- 
 ts; or, it is the Lord’s Mind in thefe 
 Commands and Invitations, to put people 
 v on fome Duty, with which he ufeth to con¬ 
 cur for accoridplifhing that Bufmcfs between 
 him and them : So then, it is a Coming on 
 our Part, and yet a Drawing on his Part, 
 John 6 . 44. it is a Drawing on his Part, 
 and a Funning on our Parr, Cant. 1. 4. It 
 is an Approaching on our Part, and yet a 
 Choofing ami cauftng to Approach on his 
 Part, Pfal. 65. 4. It is a Believing , or 
 Deceiving on our Part, John t. 12" and 
 yet// is given us to believe, Phil. t. 29. 
 
 ^ Chap. 
 
144 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 } 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 What it is to clofe with God's Device of j 
 faving Shiners hy ChriJ} Jefus , and that 
 it is a necejfary Duty. 
 
 H AVING premifed thefe Things, I 
 fay, ifMenmifs in themfelves the 
 Marks of a laving Intereft in Chrift, fpo- 
 ken of in the former Part of the Treatife; 
 then for fecuring their State, they are o- 
 blidged with all Diligence perfonally and 
 heartily to accept of, and clofe with God’s 
 Device of faving Sinners by Chrift Jefus, 
 held out in the Gofpel. 
 
 In handling of this, we lhall, if. fhew 
 what it is to accept of, and Clofe with that 
 noble Invention. 2 dly, We lliall Ihew 
 that it is the neeeflary Duty pf thofe who 
 would be in Favour with God, and fecure 
 their Souls. 3 dly, What is previouily re¬ 
 quired of thole who perform this Duty. 
 
 4 thly. What are the Qualifications and 
 Properties of this Duty, if rightly manag- ' 
 ed. Sthly, What be the native Gonfequen- 
 ces of it, if it be performed aright. 
 
 As for the fir ft, What it is to dole with 
 God’s Device-of faving Sinners by Chrift 
 
 jefus, 
 
Inter eft in CHRIS T. 
 
 M5 
 
 Jefus, held out in the Gofpelc Here we 
 muft remember, as we /hewed before That 
 at firft Cod willed Man to abide in his 
 Fa\om by holding faft his firft Integrity 
 inwhieh he was created; but Man by his 
 TranTgreffion loll God’s Favour,- made 
 void that Covenant of Works, and put 
 himlelf m an utter Incapacity to regain 
 the Fords Friendfljip which he had^loft 
 by his Sin, and to refcue himfelf from the 
 Curfe and Wrath now due to him for the 
 ame, or any Way to procure his own Sal- 
 atioii: But the Lord freely hath manifef- 
 
 Fflli n ° ther k W r y re P airin S M ™’s loft 
 5 v . lz ' , b y Ending his Son Chrift T e . 
 fus in the Flelh, to fatisfy his Juftice for 
 the Sins of the Eleft, and to reftore in them 
 his Image now defaced, and to bring them 
 nnto Glory; and he hath made oben Pro! 
 damation in the Church that whofoever 
 will lay afide all Thoughts of laving them- 
 
 remRt y M the ° fWork *> ^ 
 
 rent Righteoufnefs, and will aggreeheartihr 
 
 to be laved by Chrift Jefus, fhey 
 
 reftored to a better Condition than former- 
 
 ly Man was in, and (hall be Caved. L 
 
 then, to dole witli God’s Device of living 
 
 Sinners by Chrift Jefus, is, to quite and 
 
 forgo all 1 houghts of Help or Salvation 
 
 G by 
 
146 Hove to attain unto a Saving 
 
 by our own Righteoufnefs, and to agree 
 unto the Way which God hath found out; 
 it is to value and highly efleeni of Chrifr . 
 jefus, as the Treafure fufficient to enrich 1 
 poor Man, and with the Heart to believe 
 this Record, That there is Life enough in 
 him for Men; it is to pleafe this Invention, 
 and to acquiefce in it, as the only Way to 
 true Happinefs; it is to point towards this 
 Mediator, as God holdeth him out in the 
 Gofpel, with Delire to lay the Strefs of 
 our whole State on him. This is that 
 which is called Faith or Believing, the ;! 
 Receiving of Chrifl, or Believing on his 4 
 Name, John 1. 12. This is that Believing ; 
 on the Lord Jefus ChriJ}, commanded un¬ 
 to the Jay lor for his Safety, Rtfs 16. 31.J 
 This agreeth to all theDefcriptionsofjufti- 
 fying Faith in the Scripture. This doth 
 anfvver the Type of looking to the brafen , 
 Serpent lifted up in the Wildernefs, , John,] 
 3. 14, 15. And this is fuppofed in allthefe ] 
 ordinary A&ings of Faiths to which Pro- i 
 miles are annexed in tne Scriptme; and 
 will be found in all who have got thene\V 
 ' Heart from God, and it wiii be found in'' 
 
 none elfe. . ' 
 
 As to the fecond Thing, viz. That this 
 
 is the necelfary Duty of all fuch who* 
 
 would 
 
Inter eft /^CHRIST. 
 
 147 
 
 woulu be in Favour with God; and lecure 
 their Souls. It appeareth thus: 
 
 l ; This doling with God’s Deviee, or 
 Believing in GhriR, is commanded every 
 where in Scripture by the Lord, as the 
 Condition of the new Covenant, giving 
 Title and Right unto all the fpiritual BleR 
 lings of the fame; for it is, upon the Mat¬ 
 ter, the Receiving of Chrifh This is com¬ 
 manded, whilft God bids Men fame and 
 buy that is, impropriate all, by clofiwr 
 with that Device , Ifai. 55. 1. The wea- 
 ry are commanded to come unto him thus 
 for their Reft, Matth. 11. 28. This is his 
 Commandment, that we fhould believe on 
 the Name of his Son Jefus ChriJ}, John 
 3 - 23. This is enough to prove it a Duty 
 incumbent: But further, it is fuch a Duty 
 as only giveth Title and Right to a Soii- 
 lhip; for, only they who receive him, are 
 priviledged to be Sons, John 1. i 2 . But 
 as ?nany as received him, to them he pave 
 Power to become the Sons of God, even to 
 them that believe on his Name . 
 
 II. It appeareth to be the necefary Du¬ 
 ty of all, thus. No lefs than this doth 
 give a Meeting unto God, offering him- 
 felf to be our God in Chrift; and no lefs 
 than this doth anfwer our ProfdUon, as w^ 
 
 G 2 are 
 
148 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 are in Covenant with him, as Members of 
 his viftble Church. The Lord ofFereth to 
 be our God in Chrifi: If we do not clofe 
 with the Offer, laying afide all Thoughts 
 of other Ways by which we may attain to 
 Fappinefs, we give no Meeting to him. 
 
 He faith, This is ?ny beloved Son, in whom 
 1 am well pleafed; heat' ye him, Matth. 
 17.5. If we clofe not with the Offer, we 
 give no Anfwerunto God. Moreover,we , 
 are all baptized in the Name of the Lord \ 
 Jefus Chrifi, for the Remifflon of Sins , 
 Afts 2. 38. Now'-, unlefs we clofe with f 
 Chrifi, as faid is, wefalfify that Profdfion; 
 therefore, fince this is the Thing which 
 doth anfwer God’s Offer in the Gofpel, 
 and maketh good our Profeffion as Mem¬ 
 bers of his Church, it is a neceffary Duty 
 lying upon us. 
 
 III. Whatfoever a Man doth elfe, if he 
 do not thus clofe with God’s Device anent 
 Chrifi Jefus, and do not receive him, it doth 
 not avail, either as to the accepting of his 
 Perfon, or of his Performances, or as to the 
 Paving of his Soul. Men are accepted on¬ 
 ly in Chrifi the Beloved, Eph. 1. 6. Abel 
 ahd his Offering are accepted by Faith, 
 Heb. 11. 4* Without Faith it is impoffible 
 to pkafe Cod, Heb. 11. 6. And he that 
 
149 
 
 Inter eft wCHRIS T. 
 
 bdieveth not is condemned already, and 
 Jhall not fee Life, but the IVrath of God 
 abideth on him , John 3. 18, 36. For want 
 of this, no external Title doth avail : The 
 Children of the Kingdom are caft out if this 
 be wanting, Matth. 8.10, 11, 12. The Peo¬ 
 ple of Iftael are like other Heathens, in re¬ 
 gard of a gracelefs State, lying open to 
 the Wrath of God, Jer. 9. 25, 2 6. Behold 
 the Days come, faith the Lord, that 1 
 will punijh all them which are circumcifed 
 with the Uncircumcifed; Egypt, and Ju¬ 
 dah, and Edom —for all thefe Nations are 
 uncircumcifed, and all the Houfe of Ifraei 
 are uncircumcifed in the Heart. If Men do 
 not believe that he who was Rain at JeruQi- 
 lem, who was called Chrifi Jefus, and wit- 
 neiTed unto by the Prophets, and declared to 
 be the'SonofGod by many mighty Works;I 
 fay, it Men do not believe tiiathe is the Way, 
 and clofe not with him as the only Way, 
 they Ihall die in their Sins, John 8. 24. / 
 faid therefore unto you , that ye Jhall die ik 
 your Sins; for if ye belieme not that l am 
 he, ye Jhall die in your Sins. 
 
 We fay then,it is a moll nece.Tary Duty 
 thus to clofe with Chrifi Jefus, as the blef- 
 fed Relief appointed for Sinners. Every 
 one who is come to Years of Underhand". 
 
 G 3 ipg? 
 
I 5 ° How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 ing, and heareth this Cofpel, is obliged to 
 take to Heart his own loft Condition, and 
 Coo’s gracious offer of Peace and Salva¬ 
 tion thiough Chrift Jefus; and fpeedily to 
 liee born the AY rath to come, by accepting 
 and doling with this Offer, heartily acqui- 
 elcing therein as a fatisfying AY r ay for laving 
 of poor Sinners. And, that all may be 
 the more encouraged to fet about this Duty, 
 when they hear him praying them to be re¬ 
 conciled unto him, let them remember 
 that Peace and Salvation is offered to the 
 People in univerfal Terms, to all without 
 Exception; If any Man will, he lhall be 
 welcome, Rev. 22. 17. If any thirfl , J 
 although after that which will never profit, 
 yet they lhall be welcome here, on the Con¬ 
 dition forefaid, Ifai. 55. 2, 3. Ail are / 
 commanded to believe. 1 John 3. 23. This h 
 is his Commandment, that w.e foould be¬ 
 lieve on the. Name of his Son fe'fu's ChriJ ?. 
 
 The Prcmifes are to all who are external¬ 
 ly called by thcGolpel., 1 God excludes none,if 
 they do not exclude themfelves, APIs. 2.39. 
 
 The Promife is unto you, and to your ChiP 
 df en , and to all that are afar off, even as 
 many as the Lord our God/hall call. So that 
 if any have a Mind for the Thing, they may « 
 came forward, he will in no wife caft them 
 
 out , 
 
Inter eft in CHRIS T 'f~ 15 1 
 
 out, John 6. 37. being able to fave t: the 
 Utterrnojl them -who come to God, through 
 him, Heb. 7. 25. And thefe who have 
 long delayed to take this Matter to Heart, 
 had now the more Need to look to it, left 
 what belongs to their Peace be hid from, 
 their Eyes. " But all thefe Words will not 
 take Effect with People, until God pour 
 out his Spirit from on high,^ Ifai. 32. i s- 
 to caufe Men approach unto God in Chrift ; 
 yet we murt fiill prels Men’s Duty upon 
 them,,and obteft and charge them by the 
 Appearing of the Lord Jefus Chrid, and 
 their Reckoning to him in that Day, that 
 they give the Lord no Red, until-he End 
 out that Spirit, which he wul give to 
 them that ask it. Luke. it. 13* an d caule 
 them know what belongs unto their Peace, 
 and bring them up to their Duty. 
 
 * '6 h x ?. III. 
 
 What is previoufly required of thofe thai 
 'would believe on Chrift JeJus. 
 
 W E come now to fpeak of the’ third 
 Thing, viz. what is previously 
 required of thefe who are to perform this 
 Dutv. Men. mufl not ralhly, inconfiderat- 
 
 G 4 ly, 
 
* 5 2 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 ly, and ignorantly rufli in upon this Ma¬ 
 ter, faying. They pieafe that Device of 
 iavmg Sinners by Chrid, and will acqui- 
 eice and red on him for Safety : Often 
 Men do deceive themfelves here, and do i- 
 ^agme that they have done the Thing. 
 Vv e fnall therefore hold out fome Things 
 
 “ Perf0n Who is dote 
 C.hu /1 Jcfus; which altho’ we QtFer 
 
 ? ot “ pofiA’e Qualifications, fitting a Man 
 for ChHrt that Way, Ifal. J5 . 
 
 without Money, and -without 1 Price ■ vet 
 they are fuch Things, as without them, a 
 Man cannot knowingly and cordially per¬ 
 form the Duty of Believing on Chrid Je- 
 
 Befide the common Principles which are 
 to be fuppofedm thofe who live under Gof- 
 pel-ordinances, as the Knowledge that Men 
 have immortal Souls; that Soul and Body 
 wdl be united again at the lad Day* that 
 there is a Heaven and Hell, one of which 
 will be the everlading Lot of all Men • 
 that the Old and New Tedament is the 
 true Word of God, and the Rule of Faith • 
 and Manners; that every Man is by Nature 
 void of the Grace of God, and is an Ene¬ 
 my unto God, and an Heir of Condemna¬ 
 tion that Reconciliation is only by the 
 
 Me- 
 
Interefi In CHRIS T. T53 
 
 Mediator Chriit Jefus; that Faith unites 
 unto him, and is the Condition of the new 
 Covenant; that Holinefs is the Fruit of 
 true Faith, and is to be Itudied as that 
 without which no Man lhall fee God : I 
 fay, beflde thefe Things, the Knowledge 
 of which is necelfary, it is required of him 
 who would believe on Chriit Jefus, iff 
 That he take to Heart his natural Condi¬ 
 tion ; and here he mult know fome Things, 
 and alfo be very ferious about them : I lay, 
 the mull know Ibme Things, as, 
 
 I. That as he was born a Rebel and Out¬ 
 law unto God ; fo he hath by many actual 
 Tranlgrelfions difobliged God, and ratifi¬ 
 ed the Forefeiture of his Favour: Yea, a 
 Man fnould know many particular Inftan- 
 ces of his Rebellion on all Hands, as that 
 he-is a Liar, Sabbath-breaker, Blafphemer, 
 or the like, as Paul Ipeaketh very particu¬ 
 larly of himfelf afterwards, 1 %wn\ 1. 13. 
 
 II. The Man muff know that the \\ r ra;h 
 of God denounced in Scripture,-is Handing 
 in force againft thole very Sins whereof 
 he is guilty, and fo conlequently he is 
 the Party undoubtedly again!! whom God, 
 who cannot lie, hath denounced Vtfa’u A-, 
 Man mult know, that when the Scrintwe 
 faith, Cur fed is be that offer eth a corrupt 
 
*54 How to attain an to a Saving 
 
 ‘Things unto Cod, Mai. j 4 . it fpeaketh 
 againff him for his fuperficial Service per¬ 
 formed unto ( vrod with the outward Man 
 when his Heart was Far off. When the 
 Word faith. The Lord will not hold him 
 guilt e/s that taketh his Name in vain, 
 xod. 20. 7. the Man muff know it fpeak- 
 eth againfl himfelf, who hath often care- 
 lefly profaned that dreadful Name, before 
 •which all Knees Jhould bow , Phil. 2. 10. 
 and which his Enemies do take in vain, 
 Plal. 139. 20. When the Word faith, Cur- 
 Jed }s he that doth the IVork of the Lord 
 negligently,. Jer. 48. 10. the Man muff 
 know that it fpeaks againff himfelf, who 
 hath 11 reverently, with much wandring of 
 Heart, and Drowflnefs^ heard the Word 
 preached; and without Senfe, Faith or 
 Underffanding, hath often prayed before 
 him. 'When the Word faith, Wo be to 
 him that giveth his Neighbour Drink , 
 and putteth his Bottle to him, to make 
 him drunk alfo, that he may look on his 
 Nakednefs, Hab. 2 15, 16, the Man muff 
 know that it is fpoken againff himfelf, who 
 hath gloried in making his Neighbour 
 drunk, and that dreadful Wrath is determi¬ 
 ned againff him, according to that Scrip¬ 
 ture. When the Word "fait h. Cod will 
 
 ludpe 
 
 - c.'- 
 
Inter efl in CHRIS T. 155 
 
 judge unclean Perfons , Heb. 13. 4. and 
 will clofe them out of the new Jerufalem , 
 and they /hall have their Part in the Lake 
 which hurneth with Fire and Brimftone , 
 Rev. 21.8. the Man mufl know that the. 
 Scripture fpeaketh thefe very Words a- 
 gainft him, he being an unclean Perfon ; 
 fo that he is the Perlon again ft whom the 
 Curfes of the Law do directly ftrike. 
 
 III. A Man muft know that he hath no¬ 
 thing of his own to procure his Peace, and 
 to fet him free of the Hazard under which 
 he lieth*, becaufe all his Right eoafnefs is 
 as an unclean Thing , Ifai. 64. 6. His 
 Prayers, his other Services done to God, 
 his Alms-deeds, dm. are not Pafs-gilt be¬ 
 fore God, fince they came not from a right 
 Principle in his Heart, and were not per¬ 
 formed in a right Way, nor upon a right 
 Account, nor for a right End : His Sacri- j 
 fices have been an Abomination unto God , 
 Prov. 21. 27 . 
 
 IV. He muft know, that as he is void 
 of all the Paving Graces of the Spirit, as 
 the true Love of God, the true Fear ofhis 
 Isame, godly Sorrow for Sin, he. fo par¬ 
 ticularly, that he wants Faith in Chrift, 
 who taketh Burden for all them who be- j 
 lieve on him. Until a Man know this, he 
 
 will 
 
156 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 will Hill leave all his Debt and Burden 
 without Care or Regard, any where elfe, 
 before he bring it to the common Caution¬ 
 er. 
 
 Now not only mutt a Man know' thefe 
 Things, as I faid before, but muft alio ve¬ 
 ry ferioudy take them to Heart, that is to 
 fay, he mult be atfe&ed with thefe Things, 
 and be in fad Earned: about them, as "he 
 ufeth to be in other Cafes, wherein he ufeth 
 to be molt ferious; yea, he Ihould be more 
 in Earned here, than in other Cafes, be- 
 caufe it is of greater Concernment unto 
 him. This Serionfnefs produceth, 
 
 I. A taking of Salvation to heart more 
 than any Thing elfe. Shall men be obli¬ 
 ged to feek firft the Kingdom of God? 
 Matth. 6 . 33. Is there but one Thing necef- 
 fary? Luke 10. 42. Shall Paul count all 
 Things Lofs and Dung for this Matter ? 
 Phil. 3. 8. Is a Man a fecfergaining all 
 the World, if he lofe bis Soul ? Mark 8 , 36. 
 Shall this be the only Ground of Joy, 
 that Men's Names are written in the Book 
 cf Life? Luke 10. 20. And (hall not 
 Men, who would be reckoned ferious, take 
 their Soul and Salvation more to Heart than 
 any Thing elfe ? Surely it cannot fail. 
 Let none deceive themiclves. If the Ha¬ 
 zard 
 
Inter efi /« C H R I $ T. 
 
 zard of their Sou], and the Salvation there¬ 
 of, and how to be in Favour with God 
 hath not gone nearer to their Heart than 
 any Thing in the World befide, it cannot 
 be prefumed upon juft Grounds, that they 
 ever knew Sin, or God, or the Everlafting- 
 liefs of his Wrath aright. 
 
 II. This Serioufnefs breaketh the Man’s 
 
 Heart, and fainteth the Stoutneis of it, 
 and leadeth it out to Sorrow, as one doth* 
 for a Firfl hornj Zech. 12. 10. I grant 
 their Sorrow will better fuit that Scrip¬ 
 ture afterwards, when they apprehend 
 Chrift pierced by their Sins. 
 
 III. It leadeth the Man to a Self-lo thing;. 
 A Man taking up himfeif fb, cannot but 
 lothe himlelf for his Abominations, where¬ 
 by he hath deftroyed himfeif. There is 
 fomewhat of that Spirit of Revenge , which 
 is mentioned as a Fruit of true Repentance 
 2 Cor. 7. 11. This Je'lffame Thing that ye 
 forrorjed after a godly Sort , what Careful- 
 nefs it wrought in you—-yea, what Re¬ 
 venge ? 
 
 IV. This Serioufnefs doth make the 
 Man peremptory to find Relief; fince it is 
 not in himfeif, he dare not put off and de¬ 
 lay his Bufinefs, as before : And this is 
 indeed required, that he find himfeif fo 
 
 pur- 
 
158 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 purfued and put to it, that he flee for Re¬ 
 fuge fomewhere. I grant fome have a 
 higher and fome a leffer Degree of this Se- 
 rioufnefs, as we /hewed in the former Part 
 of this Treatife : But if we fpeak of the 
 Lord’s ordinary Way of working with 
 thofe who are come to Age, we fay, They 
 mu A very ferioufly take their Soul’s Eflate 
 to 1 ;earr, defpairing of Help in them/elves, 
 ilnce the Whole need not a a Phyfician , but 
 thofe who are fick, Matth. 9. 12. As for 
 the Meafure, We plead only that which 
 probably doth fuppofe that a Man will be 
 induced thereby to tranfacA cordially with 
 Chrifl, on any Terms he doth offer him- 
 felf to be clofed with. 
 
 T he fee ondT King prerequired ofhim who 
 would believe on ChriA Jefus, is, He muA 
 know and take to Heart the Way of Efcape 
 from God’s Wrath : The Spirit muA con¬ 
 vince him of that Righteou/nels. Here a 
 Man mu A underAand fomewhat diAindtly, 
 that God hath devifed a Way to fave poor 
 loA Man by jefus ChriA, whofe periedt 
 Righteoufnefs hath fatisfied offended JuA- 
 tice, and procured Pardon and everlaAin ? 
 Favour to all thofe whom he perfuadeth by 
 this Gofpel to accept of God’s offer, Adis 
 3 ^> 3 9 ' known unto you there - 
 
fore—that through this Man is preached 
 unto you the Forgivenefs of Sins ; and by 
 him all that believe are juftified from all 
 'Things —-John I. 12. As many as received 
 him , to them gave he Power to beco?ne 
 the Sons of God, even to them that believe 
 on his Name. So that no Perfbn is exclu¬ 
 ded, of whatfoever Rank or Condition, 
 whatfoever hath been his former Way, un- 
 lefs he be guilty of the Sin againfl the Ho¬ 
 ly Ghofl, which is a malicious Hatred and 
 Rejection of the Remedy appointed for 
 Sinners, as we (hall hear; for, all Manner 
 of Sin is forgiven unto thofe who accept 
 of the Offer in God’s AVay, Matth. 12 „ 
 31 .He is able to fave to the uttermoj? 
 thofe that come unto God through him 
 Heb. 7. 25. 
 
 The th'frd'Th.mg prerequired, is, A Man 
 muft know, that as God hath not exclud¬ 
 ed him from the Relief appointed, fo he 
 is willing to be reconciled unto Men thro’ 
 Chi iff, and hath obliged Men to clofe with 
 him through Chriff Jefus, and fo to impro¬ 
 priate that Salvation to themfelves. He 
 not only invites all to come, Ifaf 55. j 
 2. and welcometh all that come, as we find 
 in the Gofpel, and commendeth thofe who 
 come, as the Centurion , Matth. S-. 10. and 
 
 . the 
 
160 Howto attain unto a Saving 
 
 the Woman of Canaan, Matth. 15. 28. and 
 chideth for not coming and clofingwithhim, 
 John 5. 49. And ye will not come to me,that 
 ye might have Life-, andcondemneth for not 
 doling fo with him, John 3.18. He that be- 
 lieveih not is condemned already ; butalfo 
 he commandeth all to believe on Chrift, 1 
 John 3. 23. This is his Commandment, that 
 we Jhould believe on the Name of his Son Je- 
 fus Chrift. So as a Man is not to queftion the 
 Lord’s Willingnefs to receiveMen who go fa 
 Chrift honeftly, for God hath abundantly 
 cleared that in Scripture. Unlefs that a Man 
 know fo much, he will fcarcely dare to lay 
 his. Heart open for that noble Device of 
 laving Sinneis, 01 adventure his own 
 Weight and Strefs upon Chrift Jefus. 
 
 The fourth Thing prerequired, is, The 
 Man who would clofe with Chrift Jefus 
 muft refolve to break all Covenants with 
 Hell and Death , Ifai. 28.15. Whatfoe- 
 ver known Evil Men are engaged into 
 they muft refolve to forego it; for, there is 
 no Concord be'ween Chrijl and Belial, iCor. 
 
 * 4 > l 5 -> *6, 1 7 ) i he Lord requi- 
 reth that they who would expect him to be 
 for them , Jhould not be for another, Hof. 
 
 3. 3. This is far from Evangelick Repen¬ 
 tance, which I grant doth not preceed a 
 
 Man’s 
 
Interefi in C H R I S T. 161 
 
 Man’s doling with Chrifl b}r Faith: There 
 is little here beyond a Milregard of thefe 
 Things unto which a Man was formerly 
 devoted, and a flighting what he was mad 
 upon, becaufe he feeth himfelf deflroyed 
 thereby, and Relie ? now afforded ; where¬ 
 upon his Heart beginneth to be more in¬ 
 tent than formerly it was. After this, 
 when Chrifl is lookt upon alone, his Worth 
 and Beauty doth appear, fo as among all 
 the Gods there is none like unto him, and 
 he looketh as a fufhcient Covering of the 
 Eyes to all who get him : Upon which the 
 Heart loveth God’s Device in the new Co¬ 
 venant, andlovcth to lay its Weight upon 
 Chrifl rather than any other Way, bend- 
 ing towards him; and fo the Man becom- 
 eth a Believer. 
 
 Now, I will not fay that all thefe Things 
 whereof we have fpoken, are formally, or¬ 
 derly and diflin&ly found in every Perfon 
 before he clofe with God in Chrifl; for, 
 the Way of the Heart with Chrifl may be 
 added to the four wonderful Things , Prov. 
 30. 18, 19. It is hard to trace the Heart 
 in its Tranflation from Darknefs to Light; 
 yet we hold out the mofl ordinary and like - 
 ly Way, to him who doth afk the Way; 
 debarring thereby ignorant and fenfelefs 
 
 Pet'- 
 
162 
 
 hoiv to attain unto a Saving 
 
 Perfons from meddling, and difcharging 
 them to pretend to an Intereft in him 
 whiiii they remain fuch. 
 
 C H 
 
 A P. 
 
 IV. 
 
 The Properties and native Confequences of 
 
 T true Believing 
 
 HE jourtly' 1 hing we propofed to 
 Ipeakto, is. The Properties of this 
 
 , when rightly gone about. I iliall on¬ 
 ly hint a few. 
 
 X. Believing on ChriAmuAbe perfonalx 
 a Man himfelf and in his own proper Per- 
 ion mud dole with Chrifl Jefus; lhe Juft 
 Jncul hve by Faith , Hab. 2. 4. This 
 faitn, that it will not fuflice fur a Man’s 
 a ety and Relief, that he is in Covenant 
 with God, as a born Member of the vifible 
 Church, by virtue of the Parents Subjecti¬ 
 on to God’s Ordinance?.- Neither will it 
 u ce , that the Perfon had the initiating 
 Seal of Baptifm added, and that he then 
 
 ™a! ] y f ng f ged to feek Ovation by 
 Chrdt s Blood, as all Infants do: Neither 
 ... ir that-Men are come of be¬ 
 
 lieving'Parents; their Faith will not inflate 
 
 Cillld 5 e t 1 into a Right to the fpiritual 
 Eleflmgs or the Covenant: Neither will it 
 
 ' fuf- 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST 163 
 
 fuffice, that Parents did in fome refped en¬ 
 gage for their Children, and give them a- 
 way. unto- God : All thefe Things do not 
 avail. The Children of the Kingdom and 
 of godly PredeceiTors are caft out; uiilefs a 
 Man in his own Perfon, put out Faith in 
 ChriR Jefus, and with his own Heart, 
 pleafe and acquiefce in that Device of fa- 
 ving Sinners, he cannot be Paved. I grant 
 this Faith is given unto him by ChriR, but 
 certain it is, that it muR be perfonal. 
 
 II. This Duty muR be cordial hear¬ 
 ty; With the Heart Man believeth unto 
 Righteoufnefs, Rom 10. 10. A Man 
 
 muR befincere and without Guile, in do¬ 
 ling with ChriR, judging him the only Co¬ 
 vering of the Eyes, not -hankering after a- 
 nother Way. The Matter muR not fwim 
 only in the Head or UnderRanding, but 
 it muR be in the Heart; the Man not only 
 muR be perfuaded that ChriR is the Way, 
 but affedionately perfuaded of it, loving 
 and liking the Thing, having Complacen¬ 
 cy in it; lo that it is all a Man's De- 
 ftre , as David fpeakcth of the Covenant , 
 2 Sam. 23. 5. Ifa Man be cordiaftmd af- 
 fedionate in any Thing, Purely he mu.R be 
 fo here in this one Ihing that is neceffary . 
 It nutR not be limply a Fancy in-the Head, 
 
 it 
 
1 6 4 How to at tain unto a Saving 
 
 ve? U ,w ea ^r t '^ rine ^ andSoul * bufi ner S; 
 
 a- a , ),jrme £ 111 the outer Court of 
 Aftefhons, but in the Flower ofAffe&ions, 
 
 and in the innermoft Cabinet of the Soul 
 where Chnlt is formed. Shall a Man be 
 
 whfrh‘dnJh any TJling ’ and not in this, 
 
 Tnd hi r i C ° mpnZe ali his Chief Jnterefts, 
 and h_s eveilafing State within it? Shall the 
 
 P A be faid to rejoyce over a Man , as a 
 Bridegroom rejoycetb over his Bride > 
 
 7ovp 7 5 r and to reJ} in his 
 of M,f epi ‘ 3 ‘ I7 \ and ^allnotthe Heart 
 of Man go out and meet .him here? The 
 Heart or nothing; Love or nothing ; Mar- 
 nag,-love, which goeth from Eart ,o 
 p c ‘ ’ cv ^ °' Llpoufals, or nothin'? 
 
 *y ^ 
 
 t ' * C ; or - * 3 - 2 , 3. Though I beflow 
 C °° d l t° Teed the Poor, and though 
 Igwe my Body ,0 be burned, and bale 
 not Chanty, u profiteth me nothin*. I 
 v.l not fay, that there !s in all, alfbSn as 
 they believe, a prevailing fenfible Love 
 
 • nh ln;lk " 1 ' &*•! but there mull be 
 m Believing, a rational and kindly Love 
 fo well grounded, and decnly en^W 
 ‘ hat Water, cannot ,,uench iMtis 
 
 dh’lile,T^tl e ,t ujy !n w ' 
 
 The 
 
Inter eft w C H R I S T. 165 
 
 The third Property or Qualification of 
 Believing, as'itgoeih out after Chrift, is, It 
 muft be rational. Hereby I mean, that 
 the Man ihould move towards God in 
 C.hrifi-, In Knowledge and Underffcartding, 
 taking up Goa’s Device of laving Sinners 
 by Chrift as the Scripture doth hold it out, 
 not fancying a Chrift to himfelf, otherwife 
 than the Gofpel fpeaketh of him, nor ano¬ 
 ther Way of Relief by him than the Word 
 of God holdeth out. Therefore we find 
 ! Knowledge joined to the Coveiiant between 
 God and flan as a Requifite, Jer. 24. 7. 
 Kind 1 wit give the?n an Heart to know 
 tne, that I am the Lord, and they Jhall 
 be my People, and I will be their God. 
 J er * 3 1 * 34* Kind they fhall teach no more 
 every I\ian his Neighbour, and every Man 
 his Brother , faying. Know the Lord; for 
 they Jha'l all know me, from the leaf of 
 them to the greateft of them, faith the 
 Lord. I mean here alfo, that a Man be in 
 Calmnefs of Spirit, and as it were, in his 
 cold Blood in elding with Chrift Jefus, 
 not in a firnple Fit of Affection, which 
 foon evanifheth, Ma th. 13. 20. He that 
 received the Seed into 6 tony Places, the 
 fame is he that heareth the Word, and 
 anon with Joy receiveth it. Nor in a 
 
 Diftemper 
 
166 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 Dittemper through Tome outward Dittrefs, 
 as the People were, Pfal. 78. 34. When he 
 /lew them, then they fought him—-and 
 proved not ftedfaji in his Covenant. Nor 
 under a Temptation of Tome outward tem¬ 
 porary Intereft, as Simon Magus was when 
 he believed, Arts 8. A Man mutt aft here 
 rationally, as being Matter of himfelf, in 
 fome Meafure able to judge of the Good 
 or Evil of the Thing as it ttands before 
 him. 
 
 "The fourth is, Faith: As it goeth out 
 rationally, fo it goeth out re/olutely . The 
 poordittrett People in the Gofpel did moft 
 refolutely catt themfelves upon Chritt. This 
 Refolutenefs of Spirit, is in order to all 
 Difficulties that ly in the Way; Violence 
 is offered to thele. The Man whofe Heart 
 is a fhaping out for Chritt Jefus, cannot 
 lay, There is a Lion in the Street , Prov. 
 16. 13. If he cannot have Accefs by the 
 Door he will break through the Roof of 
 the Houle, with that Man, Luke 5. 19. 
 He often doth not regard that which the 
 World calleth Dilcretion or Prudence, like 
 Zaccheus climbing up on a Tree to fee 
 Chritt, when Faith was breeding in his Bo- 
 lom, Luke 19. This Refolutenefs of Spi-' 
 rit looketh towards what Inconveniencies 
 
 may 
 
Inter eft w C H R I S T. 
 
 i6y 
 
 \e 
 
 d 
 
 ir 
 
 may follow, and waveth all thefe; at Ieaffc 
 refolving over all thefe, like a -wife Buil¬ 
 der who reckoneth the Expence before¬ 
 hand, Luke 14. 28. This Refolutenefs is 
 alio in order to all a Man’s Idols, and fuch 
 Weights as would eafdy befet him, if he 
 did not bend after Chrift over them all, 
 like that blind Man who did call his Gar¬ 
 
 ment from him, when Chrift called him, 
 Mark 10. 50. This Refolutenefs in the 
 Soul, proceedeth from defperate Self-ne- 
 ceffity within the Man* as it was with the 
 fayIcr, Adis 16. 30. and from the love- 
 reign Command of God, obliging the Man 
 to move towards Chrift, 1 John 3. 23. This 
 is his Commandment , that we Jhould be¬ 
 lieve on the Name of his Son ;Jefus Chrift , 
 and from the good Report gone abroad of 
 God, that he putteth none away that come 
 unto him through Chrift, John 6 . 37. but 
 doth commend fuch as do adventure over 
 the greateft Difficulties, as the Woman of 
 Canaan, Matth. 15. 28. But above all, 
 this Refolutenefs doth proceed fiom the 
 Arm of Jehovah, fecretly and ftrongly 
 drawing the Sinner towards Chrift, John 
 6 . 44. No Man can come to me, except the 
 Father which hath fent me, Craw him. 
 
 I 
 
168 
 
 Hoiy to attain unto a Saving 
 
 * Wl1 not %> that every one, clofins 
 with Chrift in the Offers of the GofpeJ, 
 hath ali the forefaid Thoughts formally in 
 iiis Mind; yet, upon Search it will be 
 touiicg if he be put to it, or put in Mind 
 
 of iheie 1 hings, they are then aloft in the 
 Soul. , 
 
 By what is faid, it doth manifeffly ap¬ 
 pear, that many in the vihble Church had 
 need to do fomewhat farther for fecuring 
 of their Soul, when they come to Years of 
 Oifcretion, than is found to have been 
 done by them before, in the Covenant be¬ 
 tween God and the Church, fealed to them 
 in Baptifm. 
 
 By what is laid alfo, there is a compe¬ 
 tent Guard upon the free Grace of. God in 
 the Gofpel, held out through Chrift Jefus ; 
 io as ignorant fenfelefs profane Men can¬ 
 not, with any fhadow of Reafon, pretend 
 to an Intereft in it. It is true, Believing 
 a nd doling with him as a per- 
 , e r Saviour, (eemeth eafy, and every god- 
 lefs Man faith, that he believeth on him* 
 But they deceive themfelves, fince their 
 Soul hath never cordially, rationally and 
 relolutely gone out after Chrift Jefus, as 
 we have faid. It may be, fome wicked Men 
 have been enlightned, Heb. 6. 4. and have 
 
 found 
 
Liter:ft in CHR I S T. ^ 
 
 A/ U / nd /a me Red hl thdr Fear > FeIix trem¬ 
 bled,. Acts 24. 25. or in thdr Joy, He that 
 
 received the Seed into fiony Places, the 
 
 Jame ij he that heareth the iVord, and a- 
 
 non with Joy receiveth it, Matth.. 11. 20 
 
 and Herod heard John gladly, Mark 6 . 20. 
 
 Hat not having en aged their Heart in 
 
 approaching to God , Je g , 30. 2 r. having ei- 
 
 thei fitten down in that common W ork, as 
 
 hen Sanctuary, until the Trial came, Mat. 
 
 Z J' 20 , .r U , ! Vhcn Tri bu! «tion or Per ft ca¬ 
 tion anfeth becciufe of the, IVord, by and 
 
 by he is 0j fended- or they re turn hack with 
 the Dog to their Vomits,-from which they 
 had m Tome Meafure efcaped by the Know¬ 
 ledge of the Lord and Saviour, 2 Pet. 2. 
 
 2I J 22 j or the y uctei 'ly ^11 away to’the 
 Haned and malicious Deimfiiig- and PeiTe- 
 cutmg of Ghrift and his Interefts; from 
 vjience hardly can they be recovered, Heb 
 o. 4, 5, 6. and 10. 26, 29, Which Thinre 
 
 “bS? Men to be 111 “S 
 
 Wccomenowtofpeakto the fifth Thins 
 propofed, and that is, \Vi;at be the native 
 Conlequences of true Believing. I fnall 
 reduce what I, will fpeak of them to thefe 
 
 two, viz Union with God-and Commu- 
 
 mom Firfi then, I fay, when a Sinner clo- 
 
 ^ letli 
 
170 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 ieth with Chrift Jefus, as (aid is, there is 
 prefently an admirable Union, a ftrange 
 Onenefs between God and the Man ; as the . 
 Husband and Wife, Head and Body, Root 
 and Branches, are not to be reckoned two 
 but one; fo Chrift, or God in Chrift, and 
 the Sinner doling with him by Faith, are 
 one ; We are Members of his Body, of his 
 Flefli, and of his Bones, &c. Eph. 5. 30, 
 31, 32. He that is fo joined unto the Lord , 
 is one Spirit..1 Cor. 6. 17. As the Father 
 is i the Son, and Chrift in the Father; fo 1 
 Believers are one in the Father and the 
 Son : They are one as the Father and the 
 Son are one. The Father in Chrift, and 
 Chrift in Believers, that they may be made 
 perfedi in one, John 17. 21, 22, 23, 2 6. 
 
 - 6 what a ftrange Interweaving, and 
 
 indiftoluble Knot there ! 
 
 Becaufe of this Union betwdxt God and 
 the Believer, I. They can never hate one 
 another, henceforth the Lord will never 
 hate the Believer. As no man hateth his j 
 own Flefh at any Time but cherifheth and 
 nourifheth it, fo doth Chrift his People, 
 F,ph. 5. 29. He may be angry, fo as to i 
 corred and chaftife the Man that is a Belie- ; 
 ver; but all he doth to him, is for his Good 
 and Advantage. All the Lord's Paths muft 
 
 be 
 
Interefl « C H Rl S T. 
 
 *7* 
 
 bt Mercy and Truth him, Pfil. 2J . IO 
 .C f“.T hw -£ ™ft work together for Cool 
 « ?? Rom - 8- 28. On the other Side 
 " fy? fo r le X C ?, n n " er ^te God maliciouf- 
 1(1 T , that ls born °f God finnetb 
 
 • sj Si&jvss* 1 :s ? 
 
 l ■ h' d'" "th o! i> 
 
 lexers for Good, that they (hall never set 
 of hlsH^d! im ’ and beIb Packed out 
 
 l n IL Be 0 cau & of this Union, there is a 
 
 tweefr and Pellow *feeIing be- 
 
 S God and the Believer, 7&r Lord is 
 afflicted with the Man's Afflitfhn If a j 
 
 fonabiy refon [t'ttf ^ fe - 
 
 i‘\ f* who %;2t e h 
 
 Zed, 2 1 M At - ' t!e °{ * he lor d's Eye, 
 
 Clous m hts s; ghl is lidr i>/M ^ j^dj 
 
 . ^ 15,111 a AVor5 , what.is done to them 
 is done unto him; and what is not done 
 
 “ 40 i r doiK ? to him ’ 
 
 l°e. to 7 meneth r y°“’ receiveth 
 1 , ‘ 25 • 45- ^ much a r ye 
 
 W Ay „ to one of the leafl of thefe 
 my Brethren, ye have done it uL me. 
 
 H * In 
 
172 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 In as much as ye did it not to one of the ] 
 lea ft of thefe, ye did it not to me . On the 
 other Fart, the Zeal of his Houfe fitteth | 
 in the Heart of the Believer, Pfal. 69. 9. i 
 The Lord's Reproach lighteth on the Belie¬ 
 ver. If it go well with his Affairs, that 
 is the Bufinefs of his People. So there is 
 a ftrange Sympathy between God and Be¬ 
 lievers, all by Virtue of the Union between 
 them; becaule of which, Men fnouldhate 
 every Thing which would compete with 
 him in their Love or Affections, andfhould j 
 difdain to be Slaves to the Creatures, fmce 
 thc-fe are the Servants of their Lord and 
 Husband, and their Servants through him. 
 What a hateful Thing for a Queen to whore 
 with the Servants of her Prince and Huf- 
 banclf It is alfo a Shame for a Believer to 
 be afraid of evil Tidings , fmce the Lord, 
 with whom he is one, alone ruleth all 1 
 Things, and i-oth whatfoever pleafeth him 
 in Heaven and Earth , 1 Cor. 3. 21, 23. 
 All 'J hingi are yours, and ye are Chrifi's, 
 and Chrijt is Cod's , Pfal. 112. 6, 7. Sure¬ 
 ly he fhall not be moved for ever , he Jhall 
 not be afraid of evil Tidings; his Heart 
 is fixed trufiing in the Lord, his Heart is 
 efiablijhed, hejhall not be afraid . Plal. 115. 
 
 3- 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. 173 
 
 3 * ® ur is in the Heavens f he hath 
 dare vuhatfoever he p tea fed. 
 
 The oRer great Gonfeguence of believ- 
 mg, is an admirable unparallell’d Commu¬ 
 nion by irtue whereof, I. The Parties 
 themfelves do belong each to other. The 
 Lord is the God of.his People: He him- 
 Llf, father, Son and holy GhoR, is their 
 God, in ail his Glorious Attributes, his Ju- 
 Rice as well as his Mercy, his Wifcjqm, 
 Power, Holinefs, &c. for he become th- the 
 God of his People, as he often fpenketh in 
 the Covenant. On the other Part, the Be¬ 
 lievers are his People. In their Very Perrons 
 tmy a.e his, as the Covenant doth (peak : 
 They IhaU be his People; their Head, their 
 Heart, their Hand, Sc. whatfoever they 
 are, they are his. 
 
 II. By \ irtue of this Communion, they 
 have a mutual Intercft in one another9. 
 whole Goods and Gear, in as far as can be 
 ufeful. All the Lord’s Word doth belong 
 to the Believer. Threatnings as well as 
 Promiles, for their good j all his Ways, all 
 his. Works of all Sorts, fpecial Communi¬ 
 cations, Death, Devils, even all Things, 
 in fo far as can be ufeful. 1 Cor. 3. 21 , 
 2 2, 23. A ! l Things are yours ; whether 
 Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the World, 
 
 hi 5 w* 
 
174 Hciv to attain unto a Saving 
 
 or Life, or Death, or Things Prefent, or 
 
 Jf n ff t0 come > ali are yours; and ye are 
 
 C t n K S -\ and ChHj} ts Ccd ’ s ’ 0n thc o- 
 n er Side, all which belongeth to the Eelie- 
 
 veris the Lord’s; Heritage, Children, Life, 
 
 oe, Credit, <fyc. ali is at his difpofjng ; 
 
 “ f n y of thefe can be ufeful to him, the 
 Believer is to forgo them, elfe he faififieth 
 that Communion, and declareth himfelf. 
 m fo far unworthy of ChriB. Luke 14. 
 20. If any Man come to me, and hate not 
 his Father—yea, and his Life alfo, he can¬ 
 not be my Difciple. 
 
 III. By Virtue of this Communion there 
 fhould be much Homelinefs and Familia-, 
 nty between God and the Believer. The 
 Lord may meddle with any Thing which 
 doth belong to the Believer, and do unto 
 him what feemeth good to him; and the 
 ICan is not to miBake, or fay unto God, 
 What dof} thou ? except in fo far as con¬ 
 cerned! his Duty ; yea, he is Bill to fay in 
 every Cafe, Good is the Word an d Will of 
 the Lord, Ifai. 39. 8. 2 Kings 4. 23, 26. 
 On the other Part, the Believer may in an 
 humble Way, be homely and familiar with 
 Ood in ChriB; he may come with Bold- 
 nefs to the Throne of Grace, and not ufe a 
 Number of Compliments in his AddreiTes 
 
 un-- 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. 175 
 
 :r unto God Heb. 4. 16. For he is no more 
 a Stranger unto God, Eph. 2. 19-/0 that 
 > he needs not (peak unto God> ae one who 
 has Acquaintance to make every Hour, as 
 c > many ProfefTors do; and it maketh a huge 
 ; Ineonflflency in their Religion. 
 e The Believer alfo may lay open all his 
 Heart unto God, 1 Sam. 1. 15. fhave pour- 
 1 ed out my Soul before the Lord, and im« 
 
 ■ part all his Secrets unto him, and all his 
 
 ■ Temptations, without Fear of a Mi flake, 
 
 ■ The Reliever alfo may enquire into what 
 God doth in fo far as may concern his own 
 Duty, or in fo far as may ward off Miftakes 
 of the Lord’s Way, and reconcile it with 
 his Word; fo Job 13. 15. Though he flay ' 
 me, yet will I truj ? in him ; but l will 
 maintain mine own IVays before him . The 
 Believer is a Friend in this Refpecl, as 
 knowing what the Mafter doth. See Gen. 
 18. 23. See. Jer. 12. 1, Ifai. 63. 17. 
 
 The Believer alfo may be homely with 
 God, to go in daily with his Failings, and 
 leek Repentance, Pardon, and Peace thro’ 
 Chad's Advocatefhip, Adis 5. 31. Him . 
 hath God exalted with his right Hand to 
 be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give Re¬ 
 pentance to Ifrael, and Forgivenefs of Sins. 
 
 1 John 2. 1. If any Man Jin, we have an 
 
 H 4 Jd- 
 
*7 6 Hoiv to i: ft at 
 
 n unto a Saving 
 
 Allocate with the Father, Jefus Chrifh 
 the righteous. O how often in one Day 
 may the Believer plead Pardon, if he in- 
 tend not to mock God, or to turn Grace 
 into AV antonnefs I The Lord hath comman¬ 
 ded Men to forgive feventy Times /even 
 Times in one Day, and hath hinted there 
 m the Parable of a King who took Account 
 sf his Servants, how much more the Maf- 
 ter wall forgive, Matth. 18. 22-28. 
 
 The Believer a lfo may be homely to in- 
 
 truft God with all hi s outward Concern- 
 
 ™ ents > f ° r he dotl) care for thefe Thines 
 
 r rSf.F’J'lFd t /"Cod fo clothe the 
 Craft of the Fteld-fall he rot much more 
 
 clothe you, 0 ye of Little Faith ? There¬ 
 fore take noThought, faying What fall 
 ' we eat - °f what fall uiedrink? or where¬ 
 with fall we be clothed P For your heaven. 
 
 i gjf neetb * h “t ye have Need of 
 all thefe o hings.l Pet. 5. 7 .Ca.fling allhour 
 Care upon him, for he careth for you. Yea 
 the Believer may humbly put God to it, to 
 make him forthcoming for him, in ail Ca-' 
 fo, as befcemeth, and to help him to fuit- 
 able Fruit m every Seafon, even Grace in 
 Time Of Need, Heb. 4 . ,6 Yea, how t 
 great Tbmgs may Believers Peek from him 
 m Chml Jems, both for themfelyes and o- - 
 
 thers, 
 
Inter eft ^CHRIST. jm 
 
 ■ft , . ■ 
 
 ay ^j 1 / e . rS, 1 J°^ n _ 5 * J 4 > J 5- /F iv.e ask any 
 diking according to his Will , he heareth 
 :e [ (S ‘ J°^ n l 4 • 13’ Whatfsever ye Jhall ask 
 > \ n m y Name , that will I do. Ifai. 45. u. 
 ;/ ^Sk of me things to come concerning mv 
 e SonSy and concerning the Work of my Hands 
 t command ye me. It is the Shame andgreat 
 ; Pi ejudice of his People, that they do not 
 improve that Communion with God more 
 than they do: Chrift may juflly upbraid 
 them, that they ask nothing in his Namey 
 John 16. 24. 
 
 By what is laid, it doth appear, ofhow 
 great Confequence this Duty of Believing 
 is, by which a Mali cloleth with Chrifl J<T- 
 fus, whom the Father hath fealed, and gi, 
 ven for a Covenant to the Peopled It isYo 
 honourable for God, anlwering his very 
 Defign, and ferving his Intereil in the 
 whole Contrivement and Manifedation of 
 the Gofpel; and it is fo advantageous to 
 Men, that Satan and an evil Heart of Un¬ 
 belief do mightily oppoFe it, by moving 
 Objefhons againft it. I /hall hint fame 
 molt ordinary. 
 
 H 5 Chap/ 
 
 I 
 
17 s How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Objectionsy taken from a Mans Unwor - 
 thinefs, and the Hainoufnefs of his Sin 
 anfwered . 
 
 Objett. T Am fo bafe, worth Iefs, and 
 
 , . feck J e ^s of my felf, that I 
 
 think it were high Prefumption for me to 
 meddle with Chrift Jefts, or the Salvation 
 purchaled at the Rate of his Blood. 
 
 Anfa>. It is true-all the Children of A- 
 dam are bafe and naughty before him, who 
 chargeth his Angels with Folly, job. 4. 
 l8 - A:i . Nations are lefs than nothing, 
 and 1 / anity befre him, Ifai. 40. 17. There 
 is fucn a D ; •oportion between God and 
 Men, hat uuicfs he himlelf had deviled 
 that Covenant, and of his own Free will 
 had offered fo to tranfad with Men, it had 
 bt.n high 1 1 v a Ion tor Men or Angels to 
 have imagined, that God fnould have hum- 
 bied and become a Servant^ and 
 
 have taken on our Nature, and have" uni¬ 
 ted it by a perfonai Union to the bleffed 
 God-head; and that he ihould have fub- 
 jeded himfelf to the Shameful Death of the 
 Crols; and all this, that Men, who were 
 
Rebels, fhould be reconciled unto God, 
 and be made eternally happy, by being in 
 his holy Company for ever. 
 
 But I fay, all that was his own Device 
 and free Choice: Yea, moreover, if God 
 had not fovereignly commanded fo to 
 dole with him in and through Chrifr, Ifai. 
 55 * I, 2, 3. Matth. 11.28. 1 John 3. 23. 
 2 Cor. 5, 20. no man durfl have made Ufe 
 of that Device of his. So then, altho’ with 
 -Abigail I may fay, Let ms be but a Servant, 
 to xvajh the Feet of the Servants of mv 
 Lord, 1 Sam. 25. 41. yet frnce he hath in his 
 holy Wifdom devifed that Way, and know- 
 eth how to be richly glorified in it; Eph.i. 
 18. The Eyes of your Underfunding being 
 enlightned, that ye may know—what is the 
 Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in 
 the Sdints. John 17. 10. All mine are 
 [ thine , and thine are mine, and I am glo¬ 
 rified in them. And he hath commanded 
 me, as I fliall be anfwerable in the great 
 Day, to dole with him in Chrift, as faid 
 is, I dare not difobey, nor enquire into the 
 Reafons of his Contri.vements and Com¬ 
 mands, but mufl adventure on the Bufinefs, 
 as I would not be found to fruflrate tie 
 Grace of God, Gal. 2. 21. and in a Man¬ 
 ner difappoint the Gofpel, and falfify the 
 
 Re- 
 
I So How to attain unto a Savin a 
 
 6 
 
 Record which Cod. hath lorn of his Son 
 that there is Life enough in him for Men 
 i John 5. 10, 11. and lo make God a Liary 
 and add that Rebellion to all my former 
 Tranfgreffions. 
 
 GbjeSi. I am a Perfon Angularly fmful, 
 beyond any I know; therefore I dare not 
 prefume to go near unto Chrift Jefus, or 
 look after that Salvation which is through 
 his Righteoufnefs ° 
 
 Hnf. Is your Sin beyond the Drunken- 
 nefs and Irceft of Lot; Adultery covered 
 with Murder in David; Idolatry, and hor¬ 
 rid Apollafy in Solomon ; Idolatry, Murder, 
 and Witchcraft in Mdnaffeh : Anger again if 
 God, and his Way, in Jonah ; forefwearing 
 of Chrift in Peter, after he was forewarn¬ 
 ed, and had vowed the contrary; bloody 
 Persecution in Pauly makin ti e Saints to 
 blafpheme, 6 c. ? (but wo to him who is 
 emtoldned to Sin by thefe Inftances recor¬ 
 ded in Scripture, and adduced here, to the 
 Comm endation of the free and rich Grace 
 of God, and to encourage poor penitent 
 Sinners to flee unto Chrifb) I fay,Are your 
 Sins beyond thefe ? Yet all thefe obtained 
 Pardon thro’ Chrift, as the Scripture doth 
 fhew. 
 
 Know therefore, that all Sins do ly alike 
 
 level 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. jgj 
 
 "> ^vel before the free GraCe of God, who l 0 - 
 \ vetb freely, Hof. 14. 4. and looketh not to 
 ) 1 efs or more Sin. If the Ferfon have a 
 ■I Heart to ia come unto him, t hr ought, hr ift,then 
 he is able to five to the utmoft, Heb.7.25. 
 , Yea, it is more provoking before God, not 
 ; to dole with Chrid when the Offer coincth 
 to a Man, than all the Red: of his Tranf- 
 g relit on s are ; for he that believetb not, 
 hath made God a Liar, in that Record he 
 hath born of Life in the Son, 1 John y. 
 10, II. And he who doth not believe, fall 
 be condemned for -not be lieping on the Son 
 of God, John 3. 18. That lhall be the 
 main Thing in his Ditta)^; fo that much 
 Sin cannot excufe a Man, if he foar at 
 Chiifl, and drift his Offer, fince God hath 
 openly declared, that this is a faithful Say¬ 
 ing and worthy of all Acceptation, thrift, 
 came to five Sinners; whereof lam chief 
 Even he who is chief of Sinners ill hisowii 
 Apprehenfions, is bound to believe and ac¬ 
 cept this Saying, 1 Tim. 1 15. 
 
 Gbjett. My Sins have dome aggravating 
 Circumdances beyond the fame Sins i n o- 
 ther Perfons, which doth much terrify me. 
 
 Atifiv. AV hat can the Aggravations of 
 thy Sins be, which are not parallelled in the 
 forecited Examples/ 1 Is thy Sin again#great 
 
 Light 
 
182 Hozv to attain unto a Saving 
 
 Light? So behoved many of thefe we jfpake 
 before. VV as it ,;tgainft lingular Mercies 
 and Deliverances'? So was that of Lot's and 
 Noah's DrunkenfcefsL Was thy Sin done 
 with much Deliberation? So was David's 
 whild he wrote the Letter againft Uriah. 
 Wasit again ft, or after any finguldr Mani- 
 feftation of Cod? So was Solomon’s. Was 
 it by a final! and defpicable Temptation ? 
 So was that of Jonah , and of Peter if 
 we confider the Hainoufnefs of their Tranf- 
 greffion. Haft thou reiterated the Sin, and i 
 commuted it over again? So did Lot fo ! 
 dm Peter, fo aid JebcJhaphat in joinin'* ■ i 
 with Ahab and Jehoram , i Kino-s^, 22 . 
 
 2 Kings 3. Are there manygrofs Sins con¬ 
 curring together in thee ? So" were there in 
 IviciKsiJJeh. Haft thou flood long out in 
 Rebellion ? (that, as the former, is tlm ' 
 Shame: But) fo did the Thief on the Crofs- 
 he flood it out to the laft Gafp, Luke 22 
 42-43- If yet thou hafi an Ear to hear 
 thou art commanded to hear , Matth. 13! 
 
 9. Altho’ thou haft Ion gfpent tby Money 
 for that which is not Bread , Ifiii. r.c. ! 2 
 thou haft the greater Need now to make 
 Hafte, and to flee for Refuge, and if thou 
 do fo, hefhall welcome thee, and in nowife 
 cajk thee out John 6. 37. efpecialiy, fmee 
 
 he 
 
Inters fl wCHRTS T. 
 
 183 
 
 he hath ufed no Prefcription of Time in 
 Scripture. So that all thole Aggravations 
 of thy Sin will not excufe the drifting of 
 ‘ the Lord’s Offer. r 
 
 Object. In all thele Inftances given, you 
 • have not named the Particulars whereof I 
 '' am guilty; nor know I any who ever ob- 
 5 taincd Mercy before God, being guilty of 
 fuch Things as are in me. 
 
 Anfw. It is hard to condelcend upon e- 
 very particular Tranlgrelfion which may 
 vex the Confidence ; yea, lelfer Sins than 
 fome of thefie I have mentioned, may huge¬ 
 ly difquiet, if the Lord blow the Fire. But 
 for thy Satisfaction I fhall condelcend ir¬ 
 on fome Truths of Scripture, which do 
 reach Sins and Cafes more univcrlally, than 
 any Man can do par ticulaily. See Exad. 
 34. 7. Cod pa>'doncth Iniquity , Tranfgref- 
 Jion t.nd tin, that is, all Manner ofSin. 
 EZtk.i%. 21, 22, 30. If a Man turn from 
 ail his. IVickednefs , it fall no more be re - 
 membred , or prove his Ruin. John 6.3 7. 
 Him that corneth , he will in no wife cal} 
 out. That is whatfoever be his Sins, or 
 the Aggravation of them. John 3/16. 
 JVhofoever believeth fall have ever la Ring 
 Ufe y that is, without Exception of any 
 Sin, or Cafe. Heb. 7. 25. He is able 
 
184 Horn to atttain unto a Saving 
 
 to fave to the utmofl thefe mho come to 
 God through hhn. No Man can fufhcient- 
 ly declare what is God’s uttermofl. Matth. 
 12. 31. All manner of Sin and Blafphe - | 
 m y /hall be forgiven unto Men , that is, 
 there is no fort of Sin, whereof one In- 
 ftance fir a 11 not be forgiven in one Perfon 
 or other, except the Sin againft the Holy 
 Ghofi. Thefe and the like Scriptures, do 
 carry all forts of Sin before them; fo that, 
 let thy Sins be what they will, or can be, 
 they may be funk in one of thefe Truths, 
 lo as thy Sin can be no Excufe to thee for 
 Drifting the Offer of Peace and Salvation 
 through Chrifb, fince any Man who mill , 
 is allowed to come and take , Kev. 22. 17. 
 
 "We will not multiply Words: the great 
 God cf Heaven and Earth hath fbvereign- 
 fy commanded all who fee their Need of 
 Relief, to betake themfekes unto Chrif: 
 Jefus, and to clofe cordially with God’s 
 Device of Paving Sinners by him, laying 
 a fide all objections and Excufes, as they 
 fhall be anfwerable unto him m the Day 
 he frail judge the Quick and the Dead, arid 
 frail drive away out of his Prefence all thefe 
 who would dare to fay, their Sins and Con¬ 
 dition were fuch, as that they durft not ad¬ 
 venture upon Chrift’s perfeft Righteoulhefs 
 
 for ; 
 
Inter eft in C H R I S T. 185 
 
 ij for their Relief, notwirhftanding of the 
 , Lord’s own Command often interpofed, 
 and in a Manner his Credit engaged. 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 Of the Sin againft the Holy Chofl. 
 
 Chjed. T Sufpedt I am guilty of the Sin 
 A againfi the Holy Ghoft , and fo 
 am incapable of Pardon; and therefore I 
 need not think of believing on Chrifl je- 
 fus for faving of my Soul. 
 
 . -dnpw. Altho’ none fhould charge this 
 -Sin on themfelves, or on others, ujilefs they 
 can prove and inflruft the Charge accor¬ 
 ding to Chrifl’s Example, Matth. 12. 5, 
 26, 32. yet for fatisfying of the Doubt, I 
 fhall, 1. fhew what is not the Sin againfl 
 the Holy Ghoft, properly fo called, becaufe 
 there be fome grofs fins which People do 
 unwarrantably judge to be this unpardon¬ 
 able Sin. 2. I fhall fhew what is the Sin 
 againfl the Holy Ghoft. 3. I fhall draw 
 fome Conclufions in Anfwer directly to 
 the Objection. 
 
 . -As for the firft, There be many grofs 
 ins, which altho’ as all other Sins, they 
 e Sins againfl the Holy Ghoft, who is 
 
 God 
 
i86 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 God equal and one with the Father and 
 the Son. and are done againft fome of his 
 Operations and Motions, yet are they not 
 the Sin again ft the Holy Ghojt , which is 
 the unpardonable Sin. As, I. Blafphem- 
 ing of God under bodily Tortures, is not 
 that Sin; for fome Saints fell into this, 
 ASts 26. II. And I punijhed them oft in 
 every Synagogue , and compelled them to 
 blafpheme; much lefs blafpheming of God 
 in a Fit of Diftra&ion, or Frenzy; for a 
 Man is not a free rational Agent at that 
 Time : And he that Jpareth his People , 
 as a Father doth the Son that ferveth him, 
 Mai. 3. 17. and pitieth them that fear 
 him, as a Father pitieth his Children , Pfal. 
 103. 13. fo doth he fpare and pity in thefe 
 Rovings ; for lo would our Fathers accord¬ 
 ing to the Flelh do, if we blafphemed them 
 in a Fit of Diftra<flion ; much lefs are hor¬ 
 rid Blafphemies againft God, darted in u- 
 pon the Soul, and not allowed there, this 
 unpardonable Sin; for fuch Things were 
 offered to Chrift, Matth. 4. and are often 
 call in upon the Saints. 
 
 II. The hating of Good in others, whil ft 
 l am not convinced that it is good, but in 
 my Light do judge it to be evil; yea, the 
 /peaking againft it, yea, the perfecuting of 
 
 it 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. 187 
 
 j,^ at ?> r <b is ,« ot 'he Sin againit the 
 Holy Gholl ; for ali theft will be found in 
 P a ,l before he was converted ; and he ob- 
 j^^,bec^h edatheftThinjp 
 
 in ? the thriy ing of others 
 
 , n th . e .^° ik and Way of God, whilft I 
 
 r* m ^ df > ^ a > the riling G f Heart 
 
 iWlf U r °ft dC; (! Ce? Which ofrcn ex prefTeth 
 i , agamfl the Creatures near eft our 
 
 Hand; yea, this nfing'ofHeart entertained 
 
 and inamtamed, (although they be horrid 
 
 Sin £ * eadmg awards that unpardonable 
 
 beVthl I' r - e n0t that ? in ’ for thefe may 
 be in tne Saints, proceeding from Self-love, 
 
 which cannot endure to be darkned by a- 
 
 iheirTri T proceeding from fome Crofs in 
 their Idol under si Fit of Temptation • the 
 
 m °iv n f I 1 this was in Jonah 4. 
 
 IV. Not only are not Decays in what 
 once was m the Min, and falling into grofs 
 Sins againft Light, after the receiving of 
 the Truth this unpardonable Sin; for then 
 many of the Saints in Scripture were 
 
 fhe Truth' ™ ’ K 4p ° ftaCy fr ° m ™ch of 
 
 tl ’ n °V hat Sin ’ for that was in 
 and “ the Church of Corinth and 
 
 ofthoL Y a% d T ymg ’ yea ’ foriwearing 
 of the molt fundamental Truth under a 
 
 great 
 
i S S Hoiu to attain unto a Saving 
 
 great Temptation, is not this Sin; for then 
 Peter had been undone. 
 
 • V. As refilling, quenching, grieving 
 and vexing of the Spirit of God by many 
 finful \Y r ays, are not this unpardonable Sin; 
 for they are charged with thefe, who are 
 called to Repentance in Scripture, and not I 
 /hut out as guilty of this Sin : So neither 
 reiterating Sin againfl Light, is the Sin a- 
 gain /1 the Holy Ghofl, altho’ it leadeth to¬ 
 wards it; for inch was Peter's Sin in deny¬ 
 ing Chrifl; fo was Jehoflmphat's Sin in 
 joining with Abab and jehoram. 
 
 VI. Purpofes and Effays of Self-murder, 
 andevenPurpofesof murderingofgodlyMen, 
 the Party being under a fad Fit of Temp¬ 
 tation ; yea, actual Self-murder, (altho.’ 
 probably it often joineth in the Iifue with 
 this unpardonable Sin, which ought to 
 make every Soul look upon the very Temp¬ 
 tation to it with Horror and Abhorrency,. i| 
 vet) is not the Sin againft the Holy Ghofl. 
 The Jay lor intended to kill himfelf, upon | 
 -awor/e Account than many poor People do, j' 
 in the Sight and Sen/e of God’s Wrath, 8 c 
 of their own Sin and Corruption j^yet that I 
 Jay lor obtained Pardon, Acts 16. 27, 34. 
 And Paul, before his effectual Calling, was ! 
 acce/fory unto the Murder of many Saints, 
 
 and 
 
len 
 
 Interest in CHRIST. 
 
 '1R9 
 
 and intended eo kill more, as hitafdf anm . 
 tetn, Acts o. io, 11, 12 
 
 Aldro" ail theft are dreadful Sins, each 
 of them deferring Wrath everlafting, and 
 not being ,canted of, bring endleil Ven- 
 |eance; e.peaaliy the left cuts oft' Hope of 
 Kelic., for oughtcan be expected in an or¬ 
 dinary Way; yet none ofthefe, is the un- 
 paidouable Sm againft the Holy Ghoft- 
 
 a c y of ,hefe > *e re is Hope 
 ..ira that hath an Ear to hear the lot-fill 
 Sound of the Covenant. All Manner of 
 fuch Sm and Blafphemy may be forgiven 
 as ,s clear in the Scripture, where® theft 
 i nmgs are mentioned. 
 
 As for the fecond Thing. Let us Re 
 
 what the Sin againft the Holy Ghoft L 
 It is not a ftmple Aft of Tranfgreffion, but 
 f Com P le _x of many mifehievous Things 
 mvolvmg Soul and Body ordinarily t 
 Guilt. We thus deferibe it: his a rejec¬ 
 ting and oppofmg cf the Chief Ccfpel-trutb 
 and Way of Salvation,^ ntade % 
 
 ?, r y *° a Man by the Spirit of Jo df in 
 
 the Truth and Good thereof s and that 
 
 Z7 € fl% 7if\ ""Woufly 
 
 and dejpitefully, breeding hopelefs Fear 
 There be three Places of Scripture which 
 do fpeak moil of this Sin ; and thence we 
 
 will 
 
r 9 ° How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 will prove every part of this Defcriptior 
 in (a far as may be ufeful to our prefer 
 Puipole ; by which it will appear that non 
 who have a Mind for Chrift, need ftunibl 
 nt what is fpoken of this Sin in Scripture 
 See Matth. 12. 23-32. Heb. 6 . 4, c, 6. t 
 10. 25-29. 
 
 ^en, let us confider the Objeft a 
 bout which this Sin, or finful a&ing of th 
 Man guilty thereof, is converfant, mid tha 
 is the chief Gofpel-truth and Way of Sal 
 vation; both which run to one Thing. I 
 is the Way which God hath contrived fo 
 faying of Sinners by Jefus Chrift the pro 
 mi led Meiliah and Saviour, by whole Deatl 
 and Righteoufnefs Men are to be faved, a< 
 he hath held forth in the Ordinances, con¬ 
 firming the fame by many mighty Works 
 m Scripture tending thereaway. This 
 M ay of Salvation is the Object. The Pha- 
 rijees oppofe this, that Chrift was the Mef- 
 fiah, Matth. 12. 23, 24. And all the Peo - ' 
 p'e find. Is not this the Son of David? 
 But ivhen the Pharifees heard it, they [aid, * 
 This Fell010 doth not cafl out Devils but 1 
 Beelzebub the Prince of Devils. The ‘ 
 Wrong it done again ft the Son of God, 
 FIco, 6. 6. Jt isAmpoffible to renew them 
 again unto Repentance, feeing they cruci- 
 
Inter eft ///CHRIST. i 9I 
 
 ofljO t0 themfelves the Sen of God afrejh, and 
 f^u t him to an open Shame* And againft 
 :#he Blood of the Covenant, and the' Spirit 
 Jgracioufly offering to apply thefe Things, 
 n Heb io. 29. Of how much forer punijh- 
 pnent fuppoje ye, /hall he be ,thought wor- 
 l hy, who hath trodden under foot' the Son 
 of Cod, and hath counted the Blood of the 
 Covenant, wherewith he was fanSlified, an 
 unholy thing, and hath done Defpite un- 
 1 f 0 the Spirit of Grace ? 
 
 Secondly, In the Defcription, confider the 
 Qualification of this objeft. It is ftngu- 
 arly made out to the Party by the SpTrit 
 af God, both in the Truth and Good there¬ 
 of. This faith, 1. That there muft be 
 Knowledge of the Truth and Way of Sal¬ 
 tation. The Pharifees knew that Chrift 
 t/as the Heir, Matth. 21. 38. But when 
 ■hey fail) the' Son, they faid among them - 
 r elves, This is the Heir , come, let us kill 
 him. The Party hath Knowledge, Heb. 
 10. 26. But if we wi fully, after 
 that we have received the Knowledge of 
 the Truth, there remaineth no mo more Sa¬ 
 crifice for Sins. 2. That Knowledge of 
 the Thing muft not fwim only in the Head, 
 >ut there muft be fome half Heart perfwa- 
 Qon of it. Chrift knew the Pharifees 
 
 Thoughts , 
 
192 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 Thoughts , Matth. 12. 23. and fo did judge 
 them, und that the contrary of what they 
 fbake was made out upon their Heart. 
 There is a Tafting which is beyond fimple 
 eniightning, Heb. 6, 4, 5. For it it is im- 
 pojjible for thofe who were once enlightned, | 
 and have tajted of the heavenly Gift , and 
 have tajted of the good IVord of God , and 
 of the Powers of the World to come. Yea, 1 
 there is fuch a perfwafion ordinarily as ( 
 leadeth to a deal of outward San£tification> < 
 Heb. 10. 29. Who have counted the blood a 
 of the Covenant wherewith they were ] 
 findlified an unholy Thing. 3. This Per- ; 
 fwafion muft not only be of the Verity of i 
 the Thing, but of the Good of it. The f, 
 Party iajhth the good Word of God , and : 
 the Powers of the IVorld to come Heb. 6 . t; 
 5. and he apprehendeth the Thing as eli- d 
 gible. 4. This Perfwafion is not made ii 
 out only by Strength of Argument, but ( 
 alfo by an enlightning Work of God’s Spi- ( 
 rit, fliining on the Truth, and making it 6 
 confpicuous; therefore is that Sin called, 
 The \Sin again ft the Holy Ghoft, Matth. a 
 12. 31. Mark 3. 29. The Perfons are faiclk 
 to have been made Partakers of the Holy [ 
 Ghoft , Heb. 6 . 4. and to do defpite unto, 1 
 the Spirit of Grace, Heb. 10, 29. who t 
 
 was 
 
Inter eft in CHRI 
 
 S T. 
 
 *93 
 
 tTon St£ f ° f a OP-a- 
 
 Thirdly, In this Delcription, confider 
 the afting of the Party againft the Obieft 
 qiiahfied. It is a rejedling and oppo/in-r 
 
 once feme w P ° rtet !’’ O That M « havf 
 w rh i, uF, at leaft > been in Hands 
 ,t > , or bad 'he Offer of it, as is true 
 of the Phanfe's, 2. That they do reiefl 
 even with Contempt, what they had of t 
 or in their Offer. The Pharifee, denv it ' 
 
 IrnffPft 11 ] f Ch ^ Matth. 
 
 12. 24. rhis Fellow doth not caf} out Dc- 
 
 iZlils Tb?y P - hm A ° f thc 
 
 ptitChrifl to an opeH Jbame, ' Heb. “g g 
 
 the S wf of P fe f the . mfelves a S ai »rt it by 
 did ftui Th e ‘' feC “, t,0n ’. aS ,,le Pkarifel 
 it is called $ Tl agamft h; 
 
 Choft, Mat* "f tftT t <he "t 
 
 c ™“fy Cbrift again', \( they Juld,"*/ 
 «• 6 . They are Jdverfaries, Heb. 10 2, 
 
 aftfr f’?,° nfidrth ; Pro P-t-of,hIs 
 acting. 1 It ,s avowed , that is, not feet 
 
 “. <h , eIter ,°t hide itfelf. The P.W/- 
 
 «“ fpeak againft God ^'icit y, ZVi 
 
 a- 24 The would few Orty? 
 fin open tShatne. a a r 
 
 ■**™ tUb. 6. OThiyfftat'tl 
 
 1 Or 
 
194 
 
 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 Ordinances which favour that Way, Heb. 
 25. and defpife the Danger; for, look- 
 
 10. 
 
 ing for Indignation , they trample that 
 Blood fill, Heb, 10. 27, 29. 2. The Par¬ 
 ty afteth freely. It is not from Unadvifed- 
 liefs, nor from Force or Conftraint, but an 
 Afting of Free Choice ; nothing doth force 
 the Pharifeei to (peak again ft and perfecute ( 
 Chrift. They crucify to thenfelves , they 
 re-aft the Murder of their own free Accord, 
 and in their own Bofom, none conftraining ■ 
 them, Heb. 6, 6 . fhey fin of free Choice, or, 
 as the Word may be rendr fpontaneoufiy y 
 Heb. 10. 26. 3. It is afted wilfully. They 
 are fo refolute, they will not be diJwaded 
 by any Offer, or the mo ft precious Means, 
 as is clear in the forefaid Scriptures. 4. It 
 is done malicioufly, fo as it proceeds not io 1 
 much, if at all, from a Temptation to Plea- 
 fure, Profit or Honour. It proceedeth not " 
 from Fear, or Force, or from any vgood End 
 propofed ; but out of Heart-malice againfl , 
 God and Chrifl, and the Advancement of f ‘ 
 his Glory and Kingdom : So that it is of 
 the very Nature of Satan's Sin, who hath 
 an irreconcileable Hatred aganiit God, and 
 the Remedy of Sin, becauie Iris Glory is 
 thereby advanced. This is a fpedd ingredi¬ 
 ent in this Sin- The Fharifc.es ai cfound guil- 
 
 a ty 
 
 h 
 
Interefi in C H R I S T. 195 
 
 ty of Heart-malice againf! Clirifl, fince they 
 fpake fo again# him, and not again# their 
 own Children calling out Devils; and this 
 is the Force of Chrill’s Argument;-. If lby 
 Beelzebub caft out Devils, by whom do your 
 Children caft them out? Matth. 12. 2 7. They 
 do their utmofl to crucify Chrijt again, and 
 to bring him to an open Shame , Heb. 6 6. 
 They are Adverfaries like the Devil, Heb. 10. 
 
 5. It is done defpitfully. The Malice muft 
 bewray itfelf. The Pharifecs muft pro¬ 
 claim that Chri# hath Correfpondence' with 
 Devils, Matth. 12. 24. He mull be put to 
 in open Shame, and crucified again , Heb. 
 
 6 . 6 . They mull tread under Foot that 
 Blood, and do Defpite to the Spirit, Heb. 
 10 • 2 9 ) So that the Party had rather pe- 
 'ifh a thoufand Times, than be in Chriil’s 
 Debt for Salvation. 
 
 The I a ft Thing in the Defcription, is. 
 The ordinary Attendant or Confequence of 
 -his Sin ; it breedeth defperate andhopelefs 
 tear. They Fear him whom they hate 
 ivith a flavilh hopelefs Fear, fuch as Devils 
 pave, Heb. 10. 27. A certain fearful look - 
 ■ng for of Judgment, and fiery Indignation 
 vhicbfhall devour the Adverfaries't They 
 enow that God will put out his Power a- 
 Hmll them: They tremble in the Remem- 
 
 I 2 brance 
 
jg6 
 
 How to attain unto a Savin2 
 
 6 
 
 branee of it; and if they could be above 
 him, and deftroy him, they covet it; and 
 fince they cannot reach that, they hate with 
 the utmof of Heart-malice, and do perfe- 
 cute him, and all that is his, with Delpite. 
 
 As for the third Thing propofed, viz. ^ 
 the Conclujions to be drawn from what is 
 faid, whereby we will fpeak diredHy to the 
 Objection. 1. As I hinted before, fince the 
 Sin againf the Holy Ghoft is fo remarka¬ 
 ble, and may be well known where it is, ! 
 none Ihould charge themfelves with it, un- | 
 lefs they can prove and infruft the Charge ; : 
 for it is a great wrong done unto God, to, 
 labour to perfwade my foul that he wilt 
 never pardon me: It is the very way to make 
 me defperate, and to lead me unto the un-' 
 pardonable Sin; therefore, unlefs thoa can 
 and dare lay, that thou doll hate the Way 
 which God hath devifea for laving of Sin¬ 
 ners, and doll refolve to oppofe the thriving' 
 of his Kingdom, both with thy felf and o— 
 thers, out of Malice and Defpite again!! God, 
 thou oughtef not to fulpeft thyfelf guilty 
 of this Sin. 2. Whatfoever thou hall done 
 againf God, if thou doll rue it, and wilh : 
 it were undone, thou cannot be guilty of i 
 this Sin; for in it. Heart-malice and De- j 
 fpite againll God do fill prevail. 3. If I 
 
 tbou 
 
*97 
 
 Intersf} hi CHRIST. 
 
 thou art content to be his Debtor for Par¬ 
 don, and would be infinitely obliged unto 
 him for it, then thou cannot in that Cafe be 
 guilty of the Sin again!! the Holy Ghoft; 
 for, as we (hewed before, they who are guil¬ 
 ty of it, do fo defpite God, that they would 
 not be his Debtors for Salvation. 4. What- 
 foever thou haft done, if thou haft a Defire 
 after Jefus Chrift, and doft look with a fore 
 Heart after him, and cannot think of par¬ 
 ting with his filched Company forever, or, 
 if thou muft fhed with him, yet doft wifti 
 well to him, and all his, thou needed not 
 fulpefl thy lelf to be guilty of this unpar¬ 
 donable Sin; for there can be no luck ha¬ 
 tred of him in thy bofom, as is neceftarily 
 required to make up that Sin. 5. If thou 
 would be above the reach of that Sin, and 
 fecure aganft it for ever, then go work up 
 thy Heart to pleaie Salvation by Chrift Je¬ 
 fus, and to dole with God in him, aoqui- 
 •efcing in him as the fufHcient Ranfom and 
 Reft, as we have been preding before, and 
 yield to him to be faved in his Way. Do 
 this in good Earned, and thou ftialt be for 
 ever put out of the reach of that ugly Thing, 
 wherewith Satan doth affright fo many poor' 
 Seekers of God. 
 
 I 3 
 
 Cra,?*- 
 
ip 3 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 Chap. VII. 
 
 Objections, taken from from Want of Power 
 to be.ieie, anu Lmfruitfulnefs, anfwered. 
 
 Gbjeci. A L T H O’ I be not excluded 
 ~~ ^ from the Benefit of the new 
 Covenant, yet is not in my Power to be¬ 
 lieve upon Chrift; for Faith is the Gift of 
 God,&above the Strength of Flefli & Blood. 
 
 Jnf It is true, that favJng Faith, by 
 which alone a Man can heartily clofe with 
 ood in^ Chrift, is above our Power, and is 
 the Gift of God, as we Paid before in the 
 Premifes : Yet remember, i. The Lord hath 
 left it as a Duty upon all who hear this 
 Gofpel, cordially by Faith to clofe with his 
 CfFer^ of Salvation through Chrift, as is 
 clear in the Scripture. And you muft know, ] 
 that altno it be not in our Power to per¬ 
 form that Duty of ourfelves ; yet the Lord 
 may juftly condemn for not performing of 
 it, and we are inexcufable; becaufe at hr ft ' ■ 
 
 he made Man perfectly able to do whatfo- 
 everhe fhould command, idly, the Lord' 
 commanding this Thing, which is above 
 our Power, willeth us to be fenfible of our v i 
 Inability to do the Firing, and would have 
 
 us 
 
i 9 9 
 
 Inter eft in CHRIST. 
 
 us putting it on him to work it in us. He 
 Kv. h promiled to give the new Heart, and 
 he hath not excluded any from the Benefit 
 of that Promile. 3 d!y, The Lord uleth 
 by thefe Commands and Invitations, and 
 Men’s Meditation on the fame, and their 
 Supplication about the Thing, to convey 
 Power unto the Soul to perform the Duty. 
 
 Therefore, for anfwer to the Objection, 
 
 I do obteft thee in the Lord’s Name, to lay 
 to Heart thefe his Commandments and Pro- 
 mifes, and meditate on them,and upon that 
 blefled Bufinels of the new Covenant, and 
 pray unto God as you can, over them, for 
 be will be enquired to do thefe I kings , Ezek. 
 3 6. 37. and lay thy cold Heart to that De¬ 
 vice of God exprelt in the Scriptures, and 
 unto Chrill Jefus, who is given for a Cove¬ 
 nant to the People, and look to him for Life 
 and Quickning. Go and effay to pleale that 
 Sal vation in the Way God doth offer it and 
 to dole with, and reft on Chrifl for it, as iff 
 all were in thy Power; yet looking to him 
 for the Thing, asknowing thatit mud come 
 from him: and if thou do (o,He who meets 
 thefe who remember hurt in his Ways, Ilai. 
 64. 5. will not be wanting on his Part; & 
 thou fhalt not have Ground to fay, that thou 
 movedft towards theThing until thou could 
 
 I 4 do 
 
zoo 
 
 fiovj to attain unto a Saving 
 
 do no more for Want of Strength, and fo 
 
 h rC p at ^°f s Doori ^ ihaJI not fail on 
 nts Part, if thou have a Mind for the Bu- 
 
 fmeis; yea I may fay, if by all thou hall 
 ever heard of that Matter, thy Heart loveth 
 it, and delireth to be in Hands with it, thou 
 hall it already performed within thee/o that 
 1 * c . u1S P a ^> before thou was aware of it. 
 
 rh •iif’r Many who have clofed with 
 Chilli Jefus, as laid is, are Hill complain- 
 mg of their Leannefs and Fruitlefnefs, 
 which maketh my Heart lay the lefs Weight ' 
 on the Duty of Believing. a 
 
 Anfiu. If thou be convinced that it is a 
 Duty to believe on Chrirt, as f a id is you 
 may not Uiift it under any Pretence As 
 or there Complaints of feme who have 
 looked after hirn, not admitting every one 
 to be Judge of his own Fruit, I fy 7 
 I. Many by their Jealouiies of God’s 
 Love, and by their Misbelief, after they 
 have fo clofed with God, do obftruft ml | 
 ny precious Communications, which other- 
 wife would be let out to them, Matth. , j. 
 
 5. And be did not many mighty Works 
 there, becaufe of their Unbelief. 
 
 H. It cannot be that any whofe Heart is 
 gone out after Chriil, have fund him a 
 ui.ern f, Jer.2.31. Surely they find Ibme- 
 
 what 
 
Interejl in CHRIS T, 
 
 
 what in their Spirit fwaying them towards 
 God in thele two great Things, viz . How 
 to be found in him in that Day. Philip. 3. 
 8, 9. 7 ti7 doubtlefs, and 1 count all Things 
 hut Lofs, for the Excellency of the Know¬ 
 ledge of ChriJ} Jefu my Lord ; for whom 
 I have fuffcred the Lojs of all i hings, and 
 do count them but Dung that 1 may win 
 Thrift, and be found in him, not having 
 mine own Righteoufnejs which is of the 
 Law y but that which is through the Faith 
 of ChriJ}, tbs Righteofunefs which is of 
 God by Faith : and, How to be forthcoming 
 to his Praife in the Land of the Living. 
 Pjal. 119. 17. Deal bountifully with thy 
 Servant, that 1 may live and keep thy 
 Word. Pfal. 56. 13. Wilt thou not deli¬ 
 ver my Feet from falling, that I may 
 walk before God in the Light of the Li¬ 
 ving? They find thefetwo Things aloft in 
 the Soul, and that is much. Moreover, 
 they fhall, after Search, if they judge a- 
 ilght, find ever fuch an Emptinefs in the 
 Creatures, which Abundance of the Crea¬ 
 ture cannot fill up : All is Vanity, only 
 God can f 11 the emptyRoom in theirHeartt? 
 and when he but breatheth a little there is 
 no Room for additional Comfort from Crea¬ 
 tures. This faith, that God hath t-^ptiva- 
 
 I 5 ted 
 

 202 
 
 h'ow to attain unto a Saving 
 
 £L the ^V and hath fixed that faying 
 
 Whr C jf% ir \ ! le Under ^anding and Heart. 
 h*is Cod but the Lord? ir 0 rjhip him 
 
 J y r 6 ^ S ’ 97 ■ 7 - Yea, further^ thefe 
 
 as fat 1 h n th d °f ed with God inChrift, 
 b'en f 7 m D I10t dCny that thej ' e have 
 
 now Ca ^ ble Pr f venti ngs andQuicknings 
 5 °l l nd then > when the Soul was like to 
 V/ f " 2 1 ‘ 7r ° r f 7 ' 0U prevent ell rat 
 
 Z tth i he Ble ^gs ofthyGoodncfsivti 
 94* 1 3 , 19. //fe Ifnid, My Foot (tippeth , 
 
 4 ^7’ r L ° r t\ mC «P' *” the 
 Multitude of my Thoughts within me, thy 
 
 Comforts delight my Soul. Therefore let 
 
 none fay, that there is no Fruit following 
 
 and let none fhift their Duty upon the uu- 
 
 juil and groundlefs Complaints of others 
 
 C 
 
 HAP. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 °f Covenanting with Cod. 
 
 Object. ALTHO'I judge it my Duty 
 yr >x to Cofs with God’s Device 
 
 • , vv>u s ivevice 
 
 m the Covenant, I am in the Dark how to 
 manage^ that Duty; for fometimes God 
 doth oner to be our Cod without any Men- 
 non ex Chuff and fcmciimes faith, that 
 he Will betrotne us unto him; and in other 
 
 Places 
 
Inter eft ^CHRIST. 20- 
 
 Places of Scripture, we are called to come 
 to Chrift, and he is the Bridegroom. A- 
 gain, God fometimes lpeaketh of himfelf 
 as a Father to Men, fometimes as a Huf- - 
 band ; Chrift is fometimes called the Huf- 
 band, and fometimes a Brother, which Re¬ 
 lations feem inconfiflent, and do much put 
 •me in the Dark how to apprehend God, 
 when my Heart would agree with him, and 
 dofe with him. 
 
 Anfv. It maybe very well faid, That 
 Men do come to God, or clofe with him, 
 and yet they come to Chrift and clofe with 
 him. They may be faid to come under a 
 Marriage-relation unto God, and unto 
 Chrift alfo, who is Husband, Father, Bro¬ 
 ther, dm. to them; and there is no- Puch 
 Myftery here as fome do conceive. 
 
 For the better Underftanding of it, con- 
 ftder thefe few Things. I. Altho’ God 
 made Man perfect at the Beginning, and 
 put him in fome Capacity of tranfufting 
 with him immediately, EccL 7. 29. God 
 bath made Mart upright. Gen. 2. 16, 17. 
 And the Lord Gfd created the Man fay¬ 
 ing , Of every Tree of the Garden then 
 ?nayft freely eat,Sec. yet Man by, his Fall, 
 did put himielf at a perfect Diftance with 
 
 God, 
 
/ 2o4 How to attain unto a Savin* 
 
 I Cod, arid in an utter Incapacity to bargain 
 or deal any more with him immediately. 
 
 II. The Lord did, after Adam's Fall,make 
 manifeft the new Covenant, in which he 
 did fignify he was content to tranlach with 
 Man again in and through aMediatorj and fo 
 v did appoint Men to cometo him thro’Chrilh, 
 Iii-b. 7. 25. He is ab 'e to fave them to the 
 uttennefi , that come to God by him , and to 
 look for Acceptation only in him, Eph. 1. 
 6 . To the Praife of his Grace , wherein 
 , he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. 
 
 01 darning M.n to hear Chrift, he beingthe 
 . only Party in whom od was well pleated, 
 Jdatfh. 17. 5. This is my beloved Son in 
 whom 1 aril wellplcafedy hear ye him, 
 
 III. This Matter is fo clear, and fuppo- 
 fed to be fo notour in the Scripture, and Co 
 manifeft to ail who are under the Ordinan¬ 
 ces, that the Lord doth often fpeakef tranf- 
 afting with himlelf, not making Mention 
 of the Mediator, bccauie it is luppoked, that 
 ' every one in the Church ko'pweth that now 
 there is no dealing with God, except by 
 and th o’ Chrift Jefns the Mediator. 
 
 IV. Ccrfider that Chrift jefus, r -od-man, 
 knot,only a fit Tryfting-place for Cod and 
 Men to meet into, and a lit Spokefman to 
 treat between the Pa*ties now at Varience, 
 
 2 Ccr. 
 

 hit ereJl in CHRIST. 
 
 10 5 
 
 2 Cor. 5. 19.God was in Chrij ? recon H t 
 
 W ft lc f !° h ' lm M « But we may lay 
 alio, he is immediate Brid groom; and 4 
 our doling or tranfafting with Got! mav 
 be juflly called, the Marriage of the Kina'- 
 Son, and the Eledt may be- called thr 
 Lamb's Wife, thrift jefus Mnfjt 
 were, the Hand which God holdeth out un¬ 
 to Men, and on which they lay hold when 
 they deal with God. And fo thro’ and by 
 ChnR we clofe with God, as our God on 
 whom our Soul doth terminate laflhAnd 
 ultimately thro’ Chrirt, 1 p et , 1.0/ 
 
 by km do believe in Cod that -aided hhn 
 from the. Dead, and gave him Gkry that 
 y our taiih and Hope might he in God 
 
 V \ <*><#**• &M the Divers RJations 
 mentioned in Scripture, are fet down, to 
 figmfy the fore and indifibluble Union and . 
 
 ftr . , —union and 
 
 Communion between Gad and his People* 
 JT/TZ « be.weva Head 
 
 ,, , „ -* ^ 1 ri.eau 
 
 Metnbe.-s Root and Branches, King and 
 
 rA ’ S ,W erd aDd Father and 
 
 CiOren, Brother and Brother, Husband 
 and M ife, ere. all is here, John i 7 7T 
 
 o n n /*> /C /f.. .7 j 1 . if s~y .. /• 41 y 
 
 22 
 
 23 . 26. And they all flail be A g 
 
 then, Father, art in me/and 7 if 
 i hat they a jo may be one in us : That thr 
 Her Id may believe that thou baft ftnt me. 
 
 And 
 
20 6 Holu to Attain unto a Saving 
 
 And the Glory which thou gave ft me, I 
 have given them : That they may be one j 
 even as we are tone. I in them, and thou 
 in me, flat they may be made perfect in 
 one, and that the IVorld may know that 
 , thou haft fent me, and haft loved them, as 
 thou haft loved me. And 1 have declared 
 unto them thy Name, and will declare it : 
 That the Love wherewith thou haft loved 
 me, may be in them and J in them. So 
 that whatfoever be fpoken in Scripture, 
 People may be clear, that Go J calleth them 
 to be reconciled unto Him thro' Chrifl, and 
 doth offer himfelf to be their God and Huf- 
 bandin him alonfe: And Lien are to accept 
 God to be their him in Chrifl, pleafing"that 
 "Way of Relief for poor Man, and to give 
 up thiemfelves unto God in Chrifl, in whom 
 alone they can be accepted. And they who 
 clofe with Chrifl, they do clofe with God in 
 him, who is in Chrift reconci'ing the IVorld 
 to himfelf, 2 Cor. 5. 19. John 14.8, 9, 10, 
 11. And we are not to dip further into 
 the divers Relations mentioned in Scripture, 
 between God, or Chrifl, or Men, then as 
 they may point out Union a&d Communion ' 
 or Nearneis with God thro’ Chrifl Jefus, 
 and our Advantage thereby. 
 
 Thefe Things being clear, we will not 
 
Interejl in CHRIS T. 
 
 multiply Words : but jfince to believe on 
 Chrifl is the great Duty required of all that 
 hear thisGofpsl, we obteft every one in the 
 Lord’s Name, to whom the Report of this 
 lhall come, That without Delay thevtake 
 to Heart their loll Condition in themlllves 
 and that they lay to fleart the Relief winch 
 God hath provided by Jefus Cbrift, v.her e'¬ 
 er he hath made a free oifer unto all who 
 will be content of the lame, and to be Hi¬ 
 ved that Way and that they lay to Heart, 
 that there is no other Way of Elcape from 
 the Wrath that is to come, becaufe of which 
 Men would be glad, at the laft Day to run 
 into a Lake of melted Lead', to be hid from 
 the Face of the Lamb, whom they do here 
 delpile: We fay, We obtelt all in the Con- 
 lideration of thele Things, to work up their 
 Heart to this Bufinels,and to lay themlelves 
 open for God, and to receive him thro’ 
 Chrifl in the Offers of the Gofpcl, acqui- 
 efeing in him, as the only defireable and la- 
 tisfying Good, that fo they may lecure them¬ 
 lelves. Go fpeedily and learch for his Olfers 
 of Peace and Salvation in the Scripture, and 
 work up your Heart and Soul to clo’e with 
 them, and with Chi ill in them,and withGod 
 5 n Chrifl, and do it fo, as you may have this to 
 fay,That you wereferious,andinearnefl,and - 
 
 cor- 
 
2o8 How to attain unto a Savin* 
 
 o 
 
 cordial here, as ever you were in any Thing, 
 to your Apprehenfron; and for ought you 
 know, Chi-id is the Choice of your Heart, at 
 lead you neither know nor allow anyThing 
 to the contrary; whereupon your Heart 
 doth appeal unto God to learch and try if 
 there be ought amifs, to rectify it, and 
 lead into the right Way. 
 
 Now thiscleaving of the Heart unto him 
 andtading itfelf upon him, to be faved in 
 his Way, is Believing; . hich doth indeed 
 fecure aMan from the Wrath that is to come, 
 becaufe now he hath received Chrij}, and 
 beiieveth on him , and fo Jhail not enter in¬ 
 to Con divination, as faith the Scripture. 
 
 Objtft. When I hear what it is to believe 
 on Chrid Jefus, I think fornetim.es I have- 
 Faith ; for I dare fay, to my Apprhendon, 
 
 I plead the Invention of diving Sinners-by 
 Chrid Jefus, my Heart goeth out after him, 
 and doth term nate upon him as a fatisfy- 
 ing Trealin e; and I am glad to accept God 
 to be my God in him. But I often do que- 
 ftion if ever I have done fo, and fo am, 
 for the mod Part, kept hefitating and 
 doubting if I do believe, or be favingiy in 
 Covenant with God. 
 
 Anfw. It is ordinary for many whole 
 Hearts are gone out after Chrid in the Gof- 
 
^ Intereft /» CHRIST 209 
 
 fd, and have received him, to bring the 
 lame in queflion again : Therefore I floall 
 advife one thing as a notable help to fix 
 the Soul, in the maintaining Faith and an 
 Intere /1 in God, and that is, that Men not 
 only .dole heartily with God in Chrifi, as 
 laid is, but alio that they u exprellv, ex- 
 “ pllcitely, by Word of Mouth and vive 
 {t ) 01ce > anc l formally ciofe with Chrilb Je- 
 « 1US ’ f n ^ acce pt God’s offer of Salvation 
 t ^ iro ^l ni ? and Co make a Covenant With 
 God. ’ And this, by God’s BlelTing, may 
 contribute not a little for efiablilhing them 
 anent their Paving Interefl in God. 
 
 Before I fpeak diredly to this exprefs 
 Covenanting with God, I premife thele few 
 Things. I do not here intend a Covenant¬ 
 ing with God, efientially differing from the 
 Covenant between God and the vifible 
 Church, as tne Lord doth hold it out in 
 his revealed Will; neither do I intend a 
 Covenant, differing efientially from the 
 tranlading of the Heart with God in Chrifi 
 formerly fpoken unt-o : It is the fame Co¬ 
 venant; only it differeth by a fingular Cir- 
 cumll:ance,t//z. the formal Exprejfioji of the 
 Thing which the Heart did before pradife. 
 
 i S railt this exprefs Covenanting and 
 tiamading with God is not abfolutely ne- 
 
 ceffary 
 
cefTary for a Man’s Salvation ; for if any 
 Peifbn cloie heartily and fincerely with 
 ■' Cod, offering himfelf in Chrift in the Gof- 
 pel, his Soul and State is thereby leeured, 
 according to the Scripture, altho’ he utter 
 not Words with his Mouth : But this cx- 
 prefs verbal Covenanting with God is very 
 expedient for the better being of a Man’s 
 State, and his more comfortable maintain¬ 
 ing of an Intereft in Chrift Jefus. 
 
 III. This exprefs Covenanting with God 
 by Word of Mouth is of no Worth, with¬ 
 out fincere Heart-clofing with Godin Chrift 
 joined with it j for without that, it is but a 
 profaning of the Lord’s Name, and a mock- 
 ing of him to his l ace, fo to, draw ?iear 
 unto him with the Lips whilj} the Heart 
 i ’ far away from him, 
 
 IV. I grant,both cordial and verbal tranf- 
 afling with God will not make out a Man’s 
 gracious Eftate unto him, fo as to put and 
 keep it aboveControveriy, without thejoint 
 Witnefs of the Spirit, by which we know 
 what is freely given unto us of God; yet 
 this explieite way of tranfatting with God, 
 joined with that Heart-clofing with him in 
 Chrifi, contributes much for clearing up 
 unto a Man, that there is a fixed Bargain 
 between God and him, and will do much 
 
Inter eft w CHRIST. k 2ii 
 
 to ward off him many groundiefs Jealou¬ 
 sies and Objections of an unftatle Mind and 
 Heart, which uieth affrontedly to deny this _ 
 Hour, what it did really aCt and perform 
 the former Hour. This explicite covenant¬ 
 ing is as an Inftrument taken of what pafl 
 between God and the Soul, and fo hath its 
 ownAdvantage for fire ngthning of Faith. 
 
 As for this exprefs Covenanting, we fhall 
 i. fhew that it is a very warrantable Prac¬ 
 tice. 2. We fhall fhew fhortly what is 
 preparatorily required of thole who do fo 
 tranfadl with God. 3. How Men fhall go 
 about that Duty. 4. What fhould follow 
 thereupon. ' 
 
 As to the firft , I lay It is a warrantable 
 PraCHce, and an incumbent Duty, exprefly 
 and by Word to Covenant with God : 
 Which appeareth thus; 
 
 I. In many Places of Scripture, if we look 
 to what they may bear, according to their 
 Scope, and the Analogy of Faith,God hath 
 commanded it, and left on People as a Duty, 
 Ij'ai. 44. 5. One fhall fay , Iam the Lord's. 
 Ifai. 45. 25. Surely fhall one fay , In the 
 Lord have I Rl&hteouftefs and Strength . 
 Jer. 3. 4. Wilt thou not from this Time 
 cry unto me, My Father, thou art the 
 Guide of my Youth. Zech. 13. 9. They 
 
 frail 
 
212 Hfiiu to attain unto a Savin? 
 
 /hall fay, the Lord is my Ccd. Hof. 2. 
 
 16. 7 hou (halt call me ljhi, and in many 
 Places elfewhere. Now lince God hath fo 
 clearly left it on Men in the Letter of the 
 Word, they may he peri waded, that it is 
 a Practice warranted and allowed by him, 
 and well-pleafmg unto him. 
 
 II Argument. It is the approven Prac¬ 
 tice of the Saints in Scripture, thus expref- * 
 ly to covenant with God, and they have 
 found much quiet in that Duty afterwards. 
 David did often expreflly fry unto God, •: 
 that he was his God, his Portion, and that | 
 himfeif Was his Servant. Thomas will put J 
 his Intereft out of Qqeftion with it,- John' i 
 20. 28* And Thomas anfwered and faict ■ I 
 unto him, My Lord, and my God . Yea, A 
 I fay, the Saints are much quieted in Re¬ 
 membrance of what hath pad; that Way be¬ 
 tween God and them Pfal 73. 25. Whom 
 have I in Heaven but thee ? and there is 
 none upon all the Earth that 1 dejire befides 
 thee. Pfal. 142. 5. I cried unto thee, 0 
 Lord, / faid, thou art my Refuge, and 
 my Portion in the Land of the Living. 
 We find it often fo in the Book of the Can- 
 tides. Now fiall the chief Worthies of 
 God be fo much in a Duty, breeding lb 
 much. Quiet andSatisfaction to thei£ in aia- 
 
hit erefi in C I? R I $ T. 213 
 
 ny Cafes, and fhal! we under the New 
 STeftament, unto whom Accels is minified 
 abundantly, and who partake of the Sap 
 of the Olive; fhall we, I fay, ly behind in 
 this approven Piece of Jlomelinefs with 
 God? Since we ftudy to imitate that Cloud 
 of Witnefles in other Things, as Faith, 
 Zeal, Patience, let us alfo imitate them 
 in this. " 
 
 III Argument. The Thing about which 
 we move here, is a Matter of the greatell 
 Concernment in all the World: It if the 
 Lije of our Sou /, D~ut. 32. 47. Oh, lhall 
 Men ftudy to be exprefs, explicite, plain 
 arrd peremptory in all their other great Bu- 
 •fineifes, becaule they are fuch; and fhall 
 they not much more be peremptory and ex¬ 
 prefs in this, which doth mod concern 
 thsmf I wonder that many not only do not 
 fj'eak it with their Mouth, but they do not 
 fwear andfubfcribe it with their Hand, and 
 do not every Thing for lecurmg of God to 
 then:. * resin Chrifl,&them{elves. untoGod f 
 which theScripture doth warrant, If a. 445. 
 
 This alfo may have its own Weight, as 
 an Argument to prefs this Way of Cove¬ 
 nanting with God, That the Bufn.fs of 
 an Intcrefl in Chrilf, and of a real and ho- 
 neft tranfa&ing with him, is a Thingwhich 
 
 in 
 
214 Howto atttain unto a Saving 
 
 in the Experience of Saints, is moft fre- 
 quenly brought upon Debate and in Que¬ 
 zon ; therefore Men had Need, all the 
 Ways they can, even by Thought, Word 
 and deed, to put it to a Point. 
 
 This alfo may have Place here for pref- 
 fing this as a Duty, That God is lo formal, 
 exprefs, diAinct and legal, to fay fo, in all 
 the Bufinefs-of Man’s Salvation, viz. Chrift 
 mull be a near Kinfman, to whom the Right 
 of Redemption doth belong ; he muft be 
 c.ioien, called, authorized and lent; Cove¬ 
 nants formally drawn between the Father 
 and him, the Father accepting Payment and 
 Satisfaction, giving formal Difcharges, all 
 done clearly and exprelly. Shall the 
 Lord be fo exprefs, plain and peremptory 
 in every part of .the Bufinefs, and fhall our 
 Part of it reft in a confuted Thought, and 
 we be as dumb Beafts before him ? If it were 
 a Marriage between Alan and Wife, it would 
 not be judged enough, altho’ there were 
 Con fen t in Heart given by the Woman, and 
 known to the Man ; if Ihe did never ex¬ 
 prefs fo much by W ord, being in a Capa¬ 
 city to do fo. Now this Covenant between 
 God and Alan, is held out in Scripture, as 
 a Marriage between Man and Wife , Hof. 
 2. 19, 20. 2 Cor. 11. 2. The whole Song 
 
 of 
 
Inter?ft /« CHRIST. 215 
 
 } e , of Solomon i]r.a iketh. if. The Lord ufeth 
 Je . Similitudes, to lignite untotes, what he in¬ 
 i', tends ; and Purely lit*.- is 2 fpeeial Requifite 
 1 : in Marriage, that the Wife give an exprefs 
 and explicite consent unto the Buhnels : 
 ^ 1 he Man iaich, So I take thee to be my 
 jj lawful W ife, and do oblige myfclf to be a 
 jj dutiful Husband : The ‘Woman is obliged 
 on the other Part, to exprefs her Content, 
 
 ‘ and to fay, even fo I take thee to be my 
 1 lawful Husband : and do promile Duty and 
 !. Subjection. It is fo here; the Lord faith, 
 
 ’ 1 do betrothe thee unto me in Faithfulnefs , 
 i and. thou /halt call me IJhi , that is, my 
 j Husband, Hof. 2. 16, 20. I will be for thee 
 , as a Head and Husband, if thou wilt not 
 ; be for another , Hof. 3. 3. The Man ought 
 to anfwer, and fay, Jmen, lb be it, thou 
 Ilialt be my God, my Head and Lord, and 
 
 1 teall and will be thine, and not for ano¬ 
 ther, Cant. 6. 3. I am my Beloved's, ami 
 my Beloved is mine And fo this making 
 of the Covenant with God, is called, a gi¬ 
 ving of the Hand to him , as the Word is, 
 
 2 Chron. 30. 8. which doth hint a very ex¬ 
 prefs, formal, explicite and pbfitive Bar¬ 
 gaining with God. So then, we conclude 
 it to be an incumbent Duty, and a very ap- 
 proven Practice, neceteiry for the quieting 
 
216 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 of a Man’s Mind, and his more comforta- j 
 ble being in Covenant with God, and more 
 fully anfwering God’s Condefcendency and 
 Offer in that great primary Promife, I 
 will be your Cod , and ye Jhall be my Peo~ \ 
 pie , 
 
 Not only may and fhould People thus 
 exprefly clofe with God in Chrift for fixing . 
 their Heart; but they may upon fome Oc- 
 cafions, renew this verbal Tranfaftion with j 
 God, efpecially when thro’ Temptations 
 they are made to queflion if ever they have ; 
 really and fincerely clofed Covenant with 
 God. As they are then to put out new 
 Afls of Faith, embracing Chrifl: as the 
 defireable Portion and Treafure, and alfo 
 upon other Occafions, fo it were expedient, 
 efpecially if there remain any Doubt anent 
 the Thing, that by vive Voice and exprefs 
 Word, they determine that Controverfy, 
 and fay of the Lord , and to him , That he 
 is their Rejuge and Portion , PfaJ. 91. 2. 
 Flal. 142. 5. We find the Saints doing fo ; 
 and we may imitate them, efpecially, 
 
 I. In the Time of great Backfliding, Peo¬ 
 ple were wont to renew the Covenant with 
 God, and we fhould do fo alfo5 our Heart 
 fhould go out after Chrifl: in the Promifes 
 of Reconciliation with God, for he is our 
 
 Peace ; 
 
.bit ere ft in C.H R \ S T. xiy 
 
 tJ | Peace upon all Occafions, and our Advo¬ 
 cate, and we are bound to apprehend him 
 
 0*1 the Father, Jeftus Chrift the righteous, and 
 I to exprefs Co much by Word, as the Saints 
 JS | did in their formal renewing of the Covenant. 
 g| II. When People are in Hazard, and Dif- 
 >| Acuities are prefent or forefeen, then it were 
 
 .-Snares, JoJh. 24. fo David doth in his 
 Straits, Pftal. 57 - r * bi the fthadow oft thy 
 Wings will I make my Refuge , until thofe 
 Calamities be overpaft. 
 
 III. When Men apprehend God to be at 
 a Diftance from them, and their Soul to be 
 under Withering and Decay, then it is fa- 
 feft heartily to clofe with Chrift, and em¬ 
 brace him by Faith for the fccuring of the 
 Soul; and it were 'good to put it out of 
 Queftion, by the Expreflion of the Thing. 
 This is the ready Way to draw Sap from 
 Chrift the Root, for recovering of the Soul 
 and fo- eftablifhing the Heart before him! 
 
218 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 To, thus averting her Intereft in him, when 
 in fuch a Condition, profelTing and avow¬ 
 ing him to be her Beloved, Cant. 5. 
 
 VI. At the Celebration of the Lord’s 
 Supper, Men fhould thus cordially dole 
 with God in Chrift, and fpeak and exprefs 
 fb much; for, that is a Feaft of Love; and 
 then and there we come under a folemnPro- 
 feflion of clofing with God in Chrifl per-'' 
 lonally and openly, and do receive the Seal 
 of it: It is therefore befeeming, at that 
 Time, to bring up both heart and Tongue 
 to fecond and anfwer our Profeflion, appre¬ 
 hending God to be our God, and refigning 
 over ourfclvesto be his,and at his difpofing.; 
 
 We fhall not confine the Lord’s People 
 to Times and Seafons of this Duty, the 
 Lord may bind it upon them at his Plea- 
 fure ; only there is Hazard, that by too 
 frequent exprefs Covenanting with God, 
 Men turn too formal in it: Therefore it is 
 not fb fit that People fhould ordinarily at 
 full Length renew that explicite Tranfadli- 
 on with God, but rather to declare unto 
 G od, that they adhere unto the Covenant 
 made with him, and that they do maintain, 
 and will never revoke nor recal the fame; 
 and withal, they may hint the Sum of it, 
 in laying Claim unto God in Chrif!,as their 
 
 own 
 
Inter eft in CHRIS T. 219 
 
 id 
 
 O' 
 
 al 
 
 own God: And this they may do often, e- 
 ven in all their AddrelTes to God. And 
 probably this is the Thing deflgned by the 
 Saints in their lo ordinary Practice in Scrip¬ 
 ture whilll they alfert their Interefl in God, 
 as their God and Portion ; and it' is fit, 
 that Men, in all their Walk, hold their 
 Heart at the Bufinefs, by Heart-cleaving to 
 God in Chrift. The Life we live in the 
 Flefh, fhould be by Faith in the Son of God, 
 Gal. 2. 20. 
 
 As to the fecond Thing, viz. What is 
 •preparatorily required of him who is ex- 
 prefly to tranlad with God here: Befide 
 what we fpake before as previous to a 
 Man’s doling with Chrift Jefus, we only 
 add, 1. That he who would explicitely 
 bargain with God, mull know, that to do 
 fo, is warranted and allowed by God, as 
 we Ihewed before: If this be wanting, a 
 Man cannot do it in Faith, and fo it will 
 be Sin unto him, Rom. 14. 23. IVhatfoever 
 is not of Faith , is Sin. 2. The Man mull 
 labour to bring up his Heart to the Thing, 
 that it do not belie the Tongue; it will be 
 a great mocking of God, fo to draw ‘near 
 him with the Lips , whilfi the Heart is 
 far off from him , Ilai. 29. 13. 
 
 The third Thing to be confldered in 
 K 2 this 
 
How to attain unto a Savin* 
 
 c) 
 
 this exprefs verbal Covenanting with God,' 
 is the Way how it is to be performed and 
 managed; and befide what was faid before 
 -in He art-doling with Chrift, I add here, ; 
 
 I. The Man Ihould do it confidently, not 
 only believing that he is about his Duty 
 when he doth it, but alio, that God in 
 Chrift jefus will accept his poor imperfect 
 ‘Way of doing this Duty: He doth * accept 
 a Man according to -what be hath, If there 
 be a -willing Mind y 2 Cor. 8. 12. A Mite 
 is accepted, finceit is all the poor Woman's 
 Subfiance , Mark 12. 44. Yea, if it can be 
 attained, the Man jfhould believe that the 
 
 ■ Iflue and Confequence of this tranfading 
 .(hall prove comfortable, and all fhn.ll be 
 Well; and that God who engageth for all 
 in the Covenant, (fince he hath determined 
 the Man to this happy Choice) will in fome 
 -Meafure make him forthcoming, and will 
 :perfed: what concerns him: Faithful is he 
 
 ■ that calleth you , -who alfo will do it, iThef. 
 .5. 24. If this Confidence be wanting, the 
 Matter will be done with much Fear and 
 Jealoufy, ifnotworfe; and will ftill prove 
 -a difquieting Bufinefs to the Man. 
 
 II. It fhould be done holily. It is called 
 the holy Covenant, Luke 1. 72. The holy 
 Things c/David, dels 13. 34. Here it were 
 
 fit- 
 
221 
 
 Interefl in CHRIS T. 
 
 lotting, that what is done in this exprefs 
 rranfa< 5 ling with God, fhould not be done 
 paffingly, and on the by, but in fome fpe- 
 cial Addrefs unto God; the Thing fhould 
 be fpoken unto the Lord, Pfa 1 . 142. 5. / 
 
 I cried unto thee , 0 Lord , I faid, thou art 
 ■ my Refuge and my Portion. It is befeem- 
 ing in fo great a Bufinefs, that a Piece of 
 Time were let apart for Confeffion and Sup¬ 
 plication before God, yea, alfo the Perfon 
 fo tranfafting with God, ihould labour to 
 have high Apprebenhons of God’s Great- 
 nefs and Sovereignty, 2 Sam. 7. 22. Thou 
 art great , 0 Lord God; for there is none 
 li e thee, neither is there any God befide 
 thee, although he thus humble himfelf to 
 behold Things in Heaven and Earth; and 
 thefe high and holy Thoughts of him, 
 will and fhould be attended witlv debafing 
 and humbling Thoughts of Self, altho’ ad¬ 
 mitted to this high Dignity. 2 Sam. 7. 18. 
 Then went King David in, and fat before 
 the Lord; and he faid, Who am 1 , 0 Lord 
 God ? And what is my Hottfe, that thou 
 haft brought me hitherto ? It is no fill all 
 Thing to be allied unto, and with the great 
 God of Heaven, and his Son Chrift; as 
 David fpeaketh when King Saul did offer 
 his Daughter unto him, 1 Sam. 18; 22. 
 
 K 3 Yea, 
 
222 How to attain unto a Savin? 
 
 o 
 
 Yea, further, there iliouJd be fpecial guard¬ 
 ing and watching, that the Heart keep fpi- 
 ritual in ti anfadfing with God, There is 
 ' great Reafonfor this holy Way of Perform - 
 ing the Duty; for Men are ready to miR 
 ken themfelves, and to fhape the Lord ac¬ 
 cording to their own Fancy, and to turn 
 carnal in theBufinefs, fince it is a Marriage- 
 tranfaflion held out in all the ordinary Ex¬ 
 pressions of Love, as in the Song of Solo¬ 
 mon, Ifai. 62. 5. Zeph. 3. 17. 
 
 The fourthThlng we fhall fpeak a Word 
 unto, is, What fhould follow upon this 
 exprefs verbal covenanting with God. I fay, 
 befide that Union and Communion with 
 God in Chrift, following upon believing, 
 if a Man explicitly by Word tranflift with 
 God. 
 
 I. He fliould thenceforth be fingularly 
 careful to abide clofe with God in all Man¬ 
 ner of Converfation; for, if a Man thence¬ 
 forth do any Thing unfuitable, he doth 
 falfify his YVord before God, which will 
 flick much in his Confcienee, and prvoe a 
 Snare : If a Man henceforth misken God, 
 and take on him to difpofe ofhimlelf, fince 
 he is not his own, and hath opened his 
 Mouth unto the Lord, he makes Enquiry 
 
 <*f- 
 
223 
 
 IntereJ} in C H R I S T. 
 
 i if ter Vows, and devoureth that -which is 
 pi- holy, Prov. 20. 25. 
 
 is II. He who fo tranfa&eth with G6d, 
 a- fhould held ftedfaft that Determination and 
 if- Conclufion. It is a Shame for^ a Man, 
 tc- whole Heart hath clofed with God, and 
 m whofe Mouth hath ratified and confirmed 
 e- it folemnly before him, to contradict him- 
 [• felf again, and to admit any Thing to the 
 ). contrary ; he ought boldly to maintain the 
 Thing againfi all deadly, 
 j . Then let me obteftypu who defire to be 
 s eftablifhed in the Matter of jour Intereft 
 , in God, that with all Conveniency you fet 
 t apart a Piece of Time for Prayer befoie 
 Cod, and labouring to workup yotir Ileait 
 to Serioufnefs, Affeftion, and the Faith of 
 the Duty, to make a Covenant, and to 
 tranlacf with God by exprefs Words after 
 this Manner. • 
 
 < OIord, I am-a loft and broken Crea- 
 
 < ture by Nature, and by innumerableaftu- 
 
 * all Tranfgreflions, which I do confefs par- 
 ( ticularly before thee this Day : And altho’ 
 
 < being born within the vifible Church, I 
 1 was from the Womb in Covenant with 
 
 * thee, and had the fame lealed to me in 
 
 * Baptifm; yet, for a long Time, I have 
 i lived without God in the AY orld, (enielefs 
 
 K 4 ‘ and 
 
224 Ho-w to attain unto a Savin* 
 
 \ ^r d f) lg f C / ant ofm y Obligation, by virtue 
 , S f r that C ? venailt: Thou at length 
 4 tf°J Cred Unt r ° and bo ^d upon my 
 rny rmferable State in rnyldf- and 
 - l S f ma de manifeft unto my Hem the f a - 
 4 Tf 2 ] ng 3 e,ie t-ou haft provided by Chrift 
 < Jefus offering the lame freely unto me, u- 
 
 , £° n Cond ; tIon that I would accept of the 
 
 4 r m f’ a A d -n° Uld d ° fe with thee as my 
 4 ? od in Chnil > warranting and command- 
 
 4 ; ut T ft Perij > to acce pt 
 
 t r 1and to ^ ee unto Chrift T e - 
 e h °V l ea ’ to myApprehenfion, now thou 
 ‘ " ? ^vereigniy determined my Heart 
 
 4 ; and ^T d u- f ° r Chrm Mus, leading 
 ,° Ut a ^ ter h,m ln ^e Offers of the Goft 
 , P .> cau , n g m e to approach unto the 1 i- 
 ", ™.8 Go *> '° clofe <° with him, and to ac- 
 ^ qinefte in his Offer, without any known 
 
 « fj™ 4 ® 1 'hat 1 may come up to that 
 
 ‘ wt b , rTA 0t Sp,lit in this 
 
 , p h !? *°? Id b , e t? my Comfort, and the> 
 
 , f 121 * of th y glorious Grace : Therefore 
 
 ‘ Vrt n- e th ‘ S Da y to P ut that Matter out 
 of Queilion by exprefs Word before thee 
 , acc0J 'ding to thy Will. And now I, un - 
 
 * lhai' h /i r m r’ do d L edare > that I believe 
 , ' , Ghrift Jefus, who was llain at Jeru ■ 
 
 fakm, was the Son of God, and the Sa- 
 
 ‘ viour 
 
IntereJ} In C H R I S T. 225 
 
 * viour of the "World; I do believe that Rc- 
 
 * cord, That there is Life eternal for Men 
 i in him, and in him only; I do this Day 
 ‘ in my Heart pleafe and acquiefce in that 
 ‘ Device of laving Sinners by him, and do 
 ‘ entruft my Soul unto him ; I do accept of 
 ‘ Reconciliation \vith God through him, 
 
 * and do clofe with thee as my God in him; 
 c I choofe him in all that he is, and all that 
 
 * may follow him, and do refign up my- 
 
 * felf, and what I am, or have, unto thee; 
 
 * deliring to be divorced from every Thing 
 ‘ hateful unto thee, and that without Ex- 
 1 ception, or Refervation of any Thing con- 
 
 * fiftent with my Knowledge, or intended 
 ‘ Reyerfion. Here I give the Hand to thee, 
 
 * and do take all Things about me Witneffes, 
 ‘ that I, whatever I be, or have- hitherto 
 
 * been, do accept of God’s Offer of Peace 
 ‘ thro’ Chrift; and do make a fure Gove- 
 
 * nant with thee this Day, never to be ran-' 
 
 * verled; hoping that thou wilt make all 
 ‘ Things forthcoming both on thy Part and 
 1 mine; ferioufly begging, as I defire to be 
 ‘ faved, that my Corruptions may be fub- 
 
 * dued, and my Neck brought under thy 
 ‘ fweet Yoke in all Things, and my Heart 
 
 * made cheerfully toacquiefce in whatfbever’ 
 ‘ thou doll unto me, or with me; in prdeh 
 
 K 5 ‘to 
 
229 
 
 Hovj t0 unto a Saving 
 
 1 
 
 « “ EnJs - ^ ow > GJ ory be unto thee,. 
 , ° Father who deviled fuch a Salvation 
 
 ' b" ,o Ch -ftfr 110 aCCO,n P li,h it = Glory 
 
 < V,*® Ch , nl * J e(us > ""ho at lo dear a Rate, 
 
 < j!* d Purchafe the outletting of that Love 
 
 < alo“etM5 F A tile r SBof0m ’ and tlu '°’ w hom 
 
 < J " r ' h Sf ,S granttd > and in whom 
 
 ' „ L CC ° nCl ed U,UO God ' and honourably 
 , ‘ ed ™ to h,m > Md am no more an Ene- 
 
 < am tr r ger : c °‘ y t0 the HoI y Ghoft, 
 
 < ' .. d ' u alarm mc when I was deHroying 
 
 < of y mv f H nd ''i h ? did notonI Y convince me 
 a " “ y ”“ a [ d . hot did .olfc open my Eyes 
 . ° bcho , d ' j e R ch rf provided in Chrift ; 
 
 < a " d dld perfwade and determine my 
 w.ld Heart to fall in Love with Chrif{ 
 
 t Treafilre > and this Day 
 
 th teach me how to covenant with God, 
 
 and how to impropriate to my felfall the • 
 ure Mercies of David, and Bleffings of 
 Abraham r, and to fecure to my felf the Fa¬ 
 vour apd Friendfhip of God for ever. No v 
 
 S "V Soul > feaTt, Head, and whole 
 an, as I can, I do acquiefce in my Choice 
 this Day, henceforth refolvihg not to be 
 my own, but thine; and that the Care of 
 whatfoever concerns me, {hall be on thee 
 
 blv m th^F T L ° rd: Prote ^tng hum- 
 that * Failings on my Part, (againlb 
 
 ‘ which 
 
22; 
 
 . » Int nr eft in CHRIST. 
 
 1 which I refolve, thou knoweft) fhn.ll not 
 i make void this Covenant, for lo hail thou 
 ‘ fa id; which I intend not to abufe, but fo 
 i much the more to cleave dole unto thee? 
 ‘ and I mult have Liberty to renew, ratify, 
 
 ‘ and draw Extracts of this Tranfaftion, 
 
 * as often as (hall be found needful. Now 
 ‘ I know thy Content to this Bargain Rands 
 1 recorded in Scripture, fo as I need no new 
 ( Signification of it ; and I havmg accepted 
 ‘ of thy offer upon thy own Terms, will 
 ‘ henceforth wait for what is good, and for 
 / thy Salvation in End. As thou art faith- 
 i ful, pardon what is amils in my Way of 
 ‘ doing the Thing, and accept me in my 
 ‘ fweet Lord Jefus, in whom I only defire 
 ‘ Pardon. And in TeRimony hereof I 
 ‘ fet to my Seal that God is true, in decla- 
 ‘ ring him a competent Saviour,’ 
 
 Let People covenant with God in fewer 
 or more Words, as the Lord fhall difpole 
 them ; for we intend no Platform of Words 
 for any Perfon : Only it were fitting that 
 Men fhould, before the Lord, acknowledge 
 their loR State in themtelves, and the Re¬ 
 lief that is by ChriR, and that they do de¬ 
 clare that they accept of the fame as it is 
 offered in the Gofpel, and do thankfully 
 reft fatished with it, entruRing the nail Ives 
 
 hence" 
 
22 3 How to attain unto a Savina 
 
 henceforth wholly unto God tobefaved in 
 
 u- S J vljIcl1 the y wait according to 
 
 his Faithfulne/s. 
 
 If Men would heartily and fmcerely do 
 this, it might, thro’ the Lord’s Bleffinj? 
 help to eftablifh them againft many Fears 
 snd Jealonfies; and they might date fome 
 good Thing from this Day and Hour,which 
 might prove comfortable unto them when 
 they fall in the Dark afterwards, and even 
 when many Failings do Bare them in the 
 Face, perhaps at the Hour of Death. 2 Sam. 
 2 3 * 5 * Thefe be the lajt Words c/David— 
 Although my Houfe be net fo with Cod; 
 yet he hath made with me an ever luffng 
 Covenant , ordered in all Things and fare*-. 
 Tor this is all any Salvation, and all my 
 Defire. It is much if a Man can appeal 
 unto God, and fay, Thou knoweft there 
 was a Day and an Hour, when in fuch a 
 Place I did accept of Peace thro’ ChriB i 
 and did deliver up mine Heart to thee to ' 
 write on it thy whole Law without Excep¬ 
 tion; Heaven and Earth are Witne/ies of 
 it. Remember the Word unto thy Servant 
 upon which thou haft caufed me to hope 
 Pial. 119.49. 9 
 
 ObjeSt. I dare not adventure to /peak 
 iuch Words unto God, becaufe I find not 
 
 my 
 
Inter eft /^CHRIST. 229 
 
 my Heart coming up full Length in Affe¬ 
 ction and Serioufnefs : So I fhould but lie 
 unto God, in transacting fo with him. 
 
 Jnfiu. It is to be regretted that Men’s 
 Heart doth not, with much Benfail of De¬ 
 fire and AffcCtion, embrace and welcome 
 that bleffed Offer and Portion : Yet for 
 Anfwer to the Objection, remember, I. 
 That in thofe to whom the Lord givetli the 
 new Heart, forming Chrift in them, the 
 whole Heart is not renewed; there isFlefb 
 and Spirit tufting again ft other , the one 
 contrary unto the other , fo as a Man can 
 neither do the Good or Evil he would do 
 with full Benfail, Cal. 5. 17. It well 
 if their be a good Part of the Heart going 
 out after Chrift, defiring to clofe with him- 
 on his own Terms. 
 
 II. That there is often a rational Love 
 in the Heart unto Chrift-Jefus, expreffing 
 itfelf by a Refpeft to his Commandments 
 1 John 5. .3. This is the Love of God , that 
 we keep his Command>nents . and his Com¬ 
 mandments are not grievous. When there 
 is not a fenfible prevailing Love which 
 maketh the Soul tick, Cart. 2. 5. I amfick 
 of Love , Men muft not always expect to 
 find this. I fty then, altho’ fomewhat in 
 your Heart draw back; yet if you can fay- 
 
 thaf 
 
230 
 
 Hew to attain unto a Saving 
 
 .that you are convinced of your broken 
 State without him, that you want a Ri?h- 
 teoufhefs to cover your Guilt, and that 5 >ou 
 want Strength to /land out againiKSin or 
 to do vyhatis pleafingbefore God, and that 
 you aifo fee tulnefs m him; in both thefe 
 Refpefts, if you dare lay, that fomewhat 
 within your Heart would fun be at him 
 upon his own Terms, and would have 
 both Righteoufneis for Juftification, and 
 
 fhTJh t” °'t er 10 ; and 
 
 that what is within you contradiftino this 
 
 is your Burden in fome Meafure, and your 
 Bondage : If it be lo, your Heart is brought 
 up a tolerable Length; goon to the Bufi- 
 nefs,and determine the Matter by covenant, 
 mg with God, and % with your Mouth, 
 That you have -both Kighteoufnefs and 
 Strength m the Lord , as he hath fworn 
 you fosli do, I/di. 44 . 23> a It is n 
 
 proven Divinity to fay unto God, I believe 
 when much Misbelief is in me, and the 
 I . ka " . d ' v ‘ Jed ,n , the Cafe, Mark 9 , 24 . 
 
 . yf . be ' ,evr t help thou mine Unbelief. 
 Withal, (hew unto God how Matters are 
 
 Guile V( Hta 'm’ ,hat f ° y “ u ma y be without 
 Guiie oefoie him, concealing nothing from 
 
 Han 1 & r nd PUt I OU t Heart? as itis > in hi s 
 Hand, to write his Law on it, according to 
 
 the 
 
231 
 
 lit ter eft in CHRIST. 
 
 the Covenant: For that is the Thing he 
 feeks of Men, that they deliver up their 
 Heart to him, that he may ftamp it with 
 his whole Will, without Exception; and 
 if you can heartily confent unto that, judg¬ 
 ing Chrift’s Blood a fufficient Ranlom and 
 Satisfa&ion for Man’s Tranfgreffion, you 
 may go and exprefly Jftrike Covenant with 
 God, for your Heart and Affe&ion is al¬ 
 ready engaged. 
 
 Objett. I dare not fo covenant with God, 
 left I break to him; yea, I perfwade my- 
 felf, that if fuch a Temptation did offer, 
 fo and fo circumftantiated, I would fall be¬ 
 fore it, and fuccumb : Therefore to tranf- 
 adl fo with God, whilft I forefee fuch a 
 Thing, were but to agrege my Condem¬ 
 nation. 
 
 An fro. I. You have already entred Co¬ 
 venant with God, as you are a Member of 
 his vifible Church; and what is now preft 
 upon you, is, but that you more heartily, 
 fmcerely, particularly, and more exprefly 
 covenant and tranfadt with Tim: You are 
 already obliged heartily to clofe with God 
 in Chrift, and if you do it in Heart, I hope 
 the Hazard is no greater by faying that you 
 ds> fo, or have done fo. 
 
 II. What 
 
23 2 
 
 Hgvj to attain unto d Savina- 
 
 II. What will you do if you fhift hear- 
 ty tranfacbng with God in Chrift, and do 
 not accept his Peace as it is offered ? You 
 have not a Second of it in the World ? e : - 
 ther you mud do this or perifli for ever : 
 And if you do it with your Heart, you 
 may alio fay it with your Tongue. 
 
 “VW 6 fcar at cove nanting 
 With God, becaufe they will afterward? 
 
 tranigrefs, then not one Man Ihould cove¬ 
 nant with God; for Purely every one will 
 tranfgrefs afterwards, if they live any 
 Length of T.me after the Tranfaftion • 
 And we know no Way like this to fecrire 
 Men from falhng; for if you covenant ho- 
 nelfly with him,he engageth, befide the new * 
 Heart, to put his Fear and Law therein, to 
 give his Spnit tocauie you walk in his Wav 
 And when you covenant with God, you 
 deiiyer up yourfelf unto him to be fu4i- 
 ned and made conform to his Will It is 
 rathu- a giving up of yourfelf to be'led in 
 his Way >n all 1 lungs, and kept from eve¬ 
 ry evil Way, than any formal Engagement 
 
 on your Part to keep his Way, and to hold 
 oft from Evil: So that you need not fear 
 ^Covenant, the Language whereof is, 
 tun thou not he mack clean ? Ter, n. 27 
 
 And all that fhun to ftrike Covenant with 
 
 God 
 
233 
 
 IntereJ} in C H R I S T. 
 
 it, ~cd, do thereby declare, that they defire 
 aot to be made clean. 
 
 IV. As it is hard for any to fay confi- 
 • dentlv, they will tranfgrefs, if fuch a 
 : Temptation did offer, fo and fo circum- 
 ftantiated, becaufe Men may think that 
 either God will keep a Temptation out of 
 their Way, or not luffer them to be temp¬ 
 ted above what they are able to bear, or 
 give to them a W ay of Efcape Pfal. 46. 
 1. Cod is our Refuge and Strength , a ve¬ 
 ry prefent He’p in Trouble . 1 Cor. ic. 
 
 13. There hath no Temptation taken you > 
 but fuch as is common to Man : But God 
 is faithful y who will not fujfer you to be 
 tempted above that you are able; but will 
 with the Temptation alfo make a Way to 
 efcape , that ye may be able to bear it. So 
 the Queflion is not, What I may do after¬ 
 wards; but, What I now refolve to do. If 
 my heart charge me prefently with any 
 Deceit or Refolution to tranfgrefs, I mull 
 lay afide that Deceit before I tranfafl with 
 God : But if my Heart charge me with no 
 fuch Furpofe, yea, I dare fay, I refolve a- 
 gainfh every Tranfgreffion; and altho’ I 
 think I will fall before fuch and fuch a 
 Temptation, yet that Thought floweth not 
 from any allowed and approven Refolution 
 
234 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 to do fo, but from Knowledge of my own 
 
 ° f ' Vhat 1 haVe d ° ne ^ 
 P c voke God to defert me : But the Lord 
 
 knows IrefoJve not to tranfgrefs, nor do I 
 
 approve any fecret Inclination of my Heart 
 
 eu’u- at Sin ' bU u WouJd retkon it my fm* 
 gmar Mercy to be kept from Sin in fuch a 
 
 Cafe, and I judge myfelf a wretched Man, 
 
 becaufe of fuch a Body of Death within 
 
 me which doth threaten to make metranf- 
 
 gteis. In that Cafe, I fay, my Heart doth 
 
 not condemn me, therefore I may and ought 
 
 *' before Cod, i John 3. 
 
 altho T 5 1 n £n 6 , the Gafe > 1 % to the G 
 .*** hoi i r hoW : 1 afterwards fail many, 
 ays, and fo perhaps draw upon thyfeifi 
 fad temporal Strokes thereby, andlofefor 
 a Seafon many-Expreffions of his Love; 
 
 ? Ji j \ S Un Advocate ™ith the Father 
 
 tft- ft 1 ■f° hl12 - '• who 
 
 hath fatisfied for our Breaches, ltd . n, r 
 6. He ^as wounded for our Tran faretfons 
 
 a Tr S bruifi r for cur the 
 
 fJfFT- ° f ° Ur Peace ™ s *P‘« Urn, 
 
 rfd ,S « “re held. All 
 
 'turned e hCeP W \°" C aJlra *' we have ' 
 
 lord Td °7 I s ° wn ,V *y> *!>e 
 
 ,, W h,m the Iniquity of us 
 
 ad. And for his Sake, God rd'olveth to 
 
 hold 
 
Interefi in C H R I S T. 
 
 Nil lold faft the Covenant with Men after their 
 si Tranfgreflion, Pfal. 89. 30,-37. If his 
 Children forfake my Law, and walk not 
 in my Judgments ; if they bread my Sta- 
 m tutes, and keep not my Commandments ; 
 Neve rthelefs, my loving Kindnefs will I 
 j not utterly take from him, nor fujfer my 
 in, Faithfulnefs to fail', my Covenant will 1 
 in not break, nor alter the Thing that is 
 if. gone out of my Lip '. Once have I fworn 
 
 by my Holinefs . Elfe how could he be 
 
 fiiid to betrothe us unto himfclj for ever ? 
 Hof. 2. 19, 20. And how could the Co¬ 
 venant be called everlafHng, ordered in all 
 Things and fare, if there were not C round 
 of Comfort in it, even when our.Houfe is 
 not fo and fo with God ? 2 Sam. 23 5. 
 
 Yea, it were no better than the Cove¬ 
 nant of Works, if thefe who enter it with 
 God, could fo depart from him again, as 
 to make it void unto themfelves, and to 
 put themfelves into a worfe Condition than 
 they were in before they made it. Jer. 32. 
 40. And I will make an everlafling Cove- 
 natH^with them, that I will not turh a- 
 w ay f rom them, to do thorn Good— --com- 
 pai^ with Heb. 8. 6 . But now hath he 
 obtained a more excellent Miniflry, by how 
 much more afo he is the Mediator of a 
 
 bet - 
 
23^ Ho w to attain unto a Savina 1 
 
 O 
 
 better Covenant, which was eflablijhed u- 
 pon better Promifes. Mai. 2. 16. I he 
 Lord hateth putting away. No honefl 
 Heart will (tumble on this, but will rather 
 be flrengthned thereby in Duty, Hof. 14. 
 4. to the End I will heal their Backflid- 
 ing) I will love them freely : For mine 
 Huger is turned away from him—-Who 
 is wife, and he /ball underfiand thefe 
 Things ? Prudent , and he Jkall know them? 
 For the Ways of the Lord are right, and 
 the Jufi /ball walk in them. For other 
 Ties and Bonds, befide the Fear of Divorce, 
 and Funifhment by Death, do oblige the* 
 ingenuous Wife unto Duty; fo here Men 
 win fear the Lord and bis Coodnefs , Hof 
 3 * 5 *. ' ' ■ 
 
 ObjeFt. I have at the Celebration of the 
 Lord’sSupper, and at forae otherOccafions, 
 covenanted exprefly and verbally with God ; 
 but my fruitlefnefs in his Ways, and the 
 renewed Jealoufles of my gracious State, 
 maketh me cpieilion if ever I tranfiufted 
 witja God in Sincerity, and I think I can 
 do it no otherways than I have done it. 
 
 Anfw. I. Men are not to expect Fruit- 
 fulnels according to their Defire, nor full 
 A flu ranee of God s favour immediately 
 after they have fled unto Chrifl, and ex¬ 
 prefly 
 
Inter eft in CHRIST. 237 
 
 pretty Iranfaded with God in him : Thefe 
 Things will keep a Man on Work all his 
 Days. 7 he Saints had their Failings and 
 Short-comings, yea, and Backflidings, 
 with many h its of dangerous Misbelief, af¬ 
 ter they had very lerioufly, and fmcerely, 
 and expretty doled with God, as their God 
 in Ghritt. 
 
 II. Many do look for fruitfulnefs in 
 their Walk, and Ettablhhment of Faith, 
 fiom their own fmcerity in tranfa&ing 
 with God, rather than from the Spirit of j 
 the Lord Jelus. 7 hey heft their Heart in 
 their own Honetty and Refolutions, and 
 not in the bletted Root Chritt Jefus, with¬ 
 out whom we can do nothing, and are Va¬ 
 nity altogether in our bell:, Ettate. Men 
 ttiould remember that one Piece of Grace 
 cannot produce any Degree of Grace; fur¬ 
 ther, nothing can work grace but the Arm 
 of Jehovah: And if Men would lean 
 unto Ghritt, and covenant with him as 
 their Duty abfolutely, whatloever may be 
 the Confequence, at lealt, looking only to 
 him for the fuitable Fruit, it Ihoujd fore 
 better with them. God pleafeth not that 
 Men Ihould betake themfelves unto Ghritt-, 
 and covenant wdrh him for a Seafon, until 
 they fee if fuch fruit and Eftabiiihment 
 
 (hall 
 
 r 
 
238 How to -attain unto a Savin& 
 
 Ihall follow, propofiag to difclaim their 
 Intereft in him and the Covenant, if fuch; 
 and fuch Fruit doth not appear within 
 fuch a Length of Time. This is to put ] 
 the Ways of God to Trial, and is very dif-j 
 pleafing unto him. Men muft abfolutely] 
 dole with Chrift, and covenant with him, I 
 refolving to maintain thefe things as their j 
 Duty, and a ready Way to reach Fruit, 1 
 whatsoever Ihall follow thereupon; they ' 
 having a Teftimony within them, that they 
 lerioully defign Conformity to his revealed 
 Will in all Things; that they have clo- | 
 led Covenant with him for the fame End, 
 as well as to be fived thereby. 
 
 III. Men lhould be fparing to bring in 
 queftion their Sincerity in tranfafting with 1 
 God, unlefs they can inftrud the fame, or ; 
 have great Prefumptions for it. If you can I 
 inftruft any Deceit or Guile in your tranF 
 afting with him, you are obliged to difclaim 
 and redify it,and to tranfadwithGod honeft- I 
 ly,andwithoutGuile: But ifyouknow nothing 
 of your Deceit or Guile, in the Day you did 
 t ran fa ft with him ; yea, if you can lay, that 
 you did appeal unto God in that Day, that 
 you dealt honeftlywith him,and intended not 
 to deceive; and did obtef hint according 
 to his Faithfulnefs, to learch and try if 
 
 there 
 
Interefl mCHRIS T. 239 
 
 there was any Crookednefs in your Way, 
 
 . and to difcover it unto you, and heal it. 
 Search me 0 God and know my Heart; 
 try me, and know my Thoughts : And fee 
 if there be any Hi eked Hay in me; and 
 lead me in the Way ever la fling, Pfal. 139. 
 23, 24. and that afterwards you came to 
 the Light, that your Deeds might be ma- 
 nifejl, John 3. 20, 21. And if you can 
 fay, that God’s Anfwers from his Word to 
 you, in fo far as you could underftand, 
 were Anfwers of Peace, and Confirmations 
 of your Sincerity. Yea further, if you 
 dare fay that if upon Life and Death, you 
 were again to tranfaft with him, you can 
 do it no other Way, nor intend more Sin¬ 
 cerity and Serioufnefs than before ; Then I 
 dare fay unto thee in the Lord’s Name, 
 thou ought not to queflion thy Sincerity 
 in tranfa&ing with God, but to have Confi¬ 
 dence before God, fnce thy Heart doth not 
 condemn thee, 1 John 3.21. and thou art 
 bound to believe, that God dealeth upright¬ 
 ly with the upright Man, and with the 
 pure doth fhew himfelf pure, Pfal. 18. 25, 
 29. If a Man intend Honefty, God will 
 not fuffer him to beguile himfelf; yea, the 
 Lord fuffereth no Man to deceive himfelf, 
 
 • , un 
 
 ? 
 
240 How to attain unto a Saving 
 
 unlefs the Man intend to deceive both God 
 and Men. 
 
 IV. Therefore impute your Unfruitful- i 
 nefs to your Unwatchfulnefs and your Mif- 
 ,belief, and impute your Want of full Af j 
 furance, unto an evil Heart of Unbelief^ 1 
 helped by Satan to aftagainll the glorious 
 free Grace of God; and charge not thefe 
 Things upon Want of Sincerity in your 
 doling with Chrifl. And refoive hence¬ 
 forth to abide dole by the Root, and you 1 
 fhall bring forth fome Fruit; and by much 
 Fruit you lay yourfelf open to the Witnefl 
 of God’s Spirit, which will teftify with 
 your Spirit, that you have fmcerely and i 
 honeflly doled with God, and that the red 
 of your AV r orks are wrought in God, and 
 approven of him; and to the AVitnefs of 
 the Spirit and the Water joining with the { 
 Blood, whereupon you .are to lay the 5 
 Weight of your Soul and Confcience, and | 
 where alone you are to fink the Curfes of 
 the Law dew unto you for all your Sins, j 
 ;and Failings in your bed Things. Thefe 
 three do agf£e in one, viz. That .this is 
 the AVay of Life and Peace, and that you - 
 have Intered therein, and fa you come to 
 Quietnefs and full Allurance, John 15. £ * 
 5. Abide in me, and 1 in you: -As- the 
 
 Branch 
 
Branch cannot bear Fruit of itfelf except 
 it abide in the Vine, no more can ye, ex¬ 
 cept ye abide in me: I am the Vine, ye are 
 the Branches ; he that abidcth in me, and 
 1 in him, the fame bringcth forth much 
 Bruit; for-without me ye can. do nothin*. 
 John 14. 21, £3. He. that hath my Com¬ 
 mandments and keepeth them, he it is 
 that loveth me; and he that loveth me, 
 Jhall he loved of my Father, an t / -will 
 love him, and -will manifefr my I elf to him. 
 Jf~ a Man love me, he -will keep my Words’, 
 and my Father -will love him, arrdkve -will 
 come unto him, and make our Abode -with 
 him. Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit itfelf bejr- 
 eth witnefs -with our Spirit, that we are 
 the Children of Cod. 1 John 5. 8. there are 
 Three that bear Witnef in■■ Ea-th, the' 
 Spirit, and the Water, y and the Blood ; and 
 thefe three agree in one. 
 
 O bleffed Bargain of the new Covenant, 
 and thrice bleffed Mediator of the fame ? 
 Let him ride profperoufly, andfubdue Na¬ 
 tions ahd Languages, and gather in all his 
 Jewels, that honourable Company of the 
 Fir ft-born, that ftately Troop of Kings 
 and Priefts, whole Glqry it ftiall be to 
 h :ve walked their Garments in the Blood 
 of that fpotlefs Lamb, and whofe Hapni- 
 
 L riels 
 
24 2 How to attain unto a Saving , See. ' 3 
 
 liefs lhall continually flourifh in following 1 
 him whitherfoever he goeth, and in being j 
 in the immediate Company of the Ancient 1 
 of Days, one Sight of whofe Face fhall \ 
 make them in a Manner forget that ever 
 they were in the Earth. Oh if I could per -1 
 fuade Men to believe that tbefe Things are ; 
 not yea and nay, and to make Hafte towards ; 
 him who haflcth to judge the World, and \ 
 to call Men to an Account, efpecially a- 
 nent their Improvement of this Gofpel. 1 
 Even fo, come Lord Jesus. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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 The whole Treatlfe refumed in a few 
 Questions and Answers. 
 
 Quest, i \~\T Hat is the great- Bu/ivefs a 
 V y Mar. hath to do it: the World? 
 Anfw. To make fore a laving Intereft in Chrij ? 
 Jefus, and ro walk fuirably thereunto. 
 
 Q. 2 Have not all the Members of the vfihie 
 Chu ch a favlng Intcreft in Chriji ? 
 
 A No verily ; yea, but a very few of them 
 have it. 
 
 Q. 3 . How fall 1 knew if I have a fa v ltig lnte m 
 ref in him ? 
 
 A. Ordinarily the Lord p'-epareth his own 
 Way in the Soul, by a Work of Humiliation, 
 and dilcovereth a Man’s Sin'and Mifery to him, 
 and exercifeih him fir therewith, that he longs 
 for the Phyfician Chriji Jefus. 
 
 Q. 4 How full I knew if I have got a competent 
 Dijcovery of my Sin and Mifery ? 
 
 A. A competent Sight of it makes a M n 
 take Salvation to Heart above any Thing in this 
 World: It mukeih him difeiaim all Relefin 
 himlelf, even in his beft Things: It maketh 
 Chrif , who is the Redeemer, very precious r o 
 the Soul: It makes a Man ftand in Awe to fin 
 afterwards, and makes him content to be faved 
 upon a.»y Terms God plcafeth; 
 
 L - Q; 5* 
 
This Treatifie, refumed in 
 
 \ 
 
 Qc ? _ Wtiat other Way may I difitcm a fining 
 hito'eji in him ? 
 
 By the g ir.g out of my Heart ferioufly j 
 a'.!<1 affectionately rewards him as he is hc.d 
 out in the Colpel, and this is Faith or Bdiev- 1 
 ing. 
 
 Q> Hew Jball I know if my Heart goerh out *f- , 
 ter him aright , and that my Faith is true faving 
 Faith ? 
 
 A. Where the Heart goerh out aright after 
 hjm, in true and having Faith, the Soul plea- 
 Cc th Chrifi alone above all Things, and plealeth 
 him in all his three offices, to rule and inftruft, 1 
 as well as to lave ; and is content to cleave un¬ 
 to him, whatloever Inconveniences may fol¬ 
 low. 
 
 Q_ 7- What other Mark of a faving Inter efi in 
 Chrifi can you give to me ? 
 
 A. He that i> in Chrifi favingly, is a new 
 Creature, he is g’-aeioully changed and renew¬ 
 ed in feme Meafure, in the whole Man, and 
 in all his Ways, pointing towards all the known 
 Commands ot God. 
 
 Q. 8. What if 1 find Sin now and then prevailing 
 over me 1 
 
 A. Although every Sin deferveth everlafiing 
 Vengeance, yet^ if you be affti&ed for your 
 Failings, confefs_ them with Shame of Face 
 unto Cod, refolving to ffiive agairift them hc- 
 ncftly henceforth, and flee unto Chrifi for Par- 
 
Q_u e s r i o n s and Answers, 
 
 don, you fhall obtain Mercy, and your Intereft 
 (lands Jure. 
 
 Q^o. What flail the Mem do who cannot lay Claim 
 to Ckrijl jijUS, nor any of thofe Mark: fpoken of? 
 
 yd Let him nor rake Reft until) he make 
 fare unto himfelf a laving Jutereft in Quit. 
 
 10. Went Way can a Man wake Jure an Lite - 
 re/l in Ckrijl, who never had faving luterejl in him 
 hitherto ? 
 
 yd He muff take h;( Sins to Heart, and his 
 great Hazard thereby, and he mull take ro 
 Heart God’s Oder ol Pardon and Peace thro’ 
 Chrift Jefus, aud heartily dole with. God’s 
 Offer, by betaking himfelf unto Chrift the blel- 
 fed Refuge. 
 
 Q: I*- What if my Sins he fmgularly hainoits, and 
 great beyond ordinary ? 
 
 ad. Wharfoever thy Sins be, if thou wilt 
 clofe with Chrift Jefus by Faith, thou Ihalt ne¬ 
 ver enter into Condemnation 
 
 CM*, Is Faith in Chrijl only required, of Man ? 
 
 yi Faith is the only Condition upon which 
 God doth Offer Peace and Pardon unto Men. 
 But be afl’ured, Faith, it it be true and ftving, 
 will not be alone in the Soul, but wil 1 be at¬ 
 tended with true Repentance, and a thankful 
 Siudy of'Conformity to God’s Image. 
 
 Q. 13. Hoto /hall 1 be Jure that my Heart doth 
 accept of God's Offer, and doth clofe with Chrijl je¬ 
 fus t 
 
 4. Go make a Covenant exprefly, and by 
 VYoyd fpeak the Thing unto God. 
 
 L 3 Q; 14 
 
This Treatife refimed, Sec. 
 
 Q: T 4 . What Way jball J So that ? 
 
 A Set apart fome Bit of Time, and having j 
 con fide red ycur own loft Efface, and the Relief I 
 offered by Chrift Jefus, work up your Heart 
 to y!>eafe and clofe with that Oder, and ffayun-1 
 to God exprefly. That you do accept of that 
 Offer, and of him to be your God in Chrift ; * 
 a- do give up yourfelf to him to be faved in - 
 f s vN ay., w ithout Re^vation or Exception in 
 a; Cafe ; and'that v<h henceforth will wait 
 f;v Salvation in the V\ ay he hath appointed. 
 
 C • 1 5 ’ ^ Tat d 1 break unto God after wards ? 
 
 ■A- A' on r ’’ft telotve on his Strength not to 
 b'oTp vv arch over veur cv;n Way, and 
 y‘ ’ He*rt in his Hard tr keep it:' And 
 if •. c 1 e. ' , you mult ccrfefs it u .to God, and 
 ' ? : . c y’.\ /elf Hr it, and flee to the Advocate 
 h = - nd rclblve to do no mo.e fo : And 
 
 <•- dr.- voi* m* ft do as often a« vou tail 
 . '■ ; j 0 Hovo ft all 1 come to jut! Aftxravce of my 
 Inic\. : Chrft . Jo as :t n.ay le pbtvt Controversy ? 
 
 A * -t tola) your Weight po hefftord 
 of Chriif. at d flud . Purify and'Hoi ir- eft in all 
 Eia: s et ■ ' 'v.rbtrion; and pray for the Wil- 
 ne's of Goa’s SpiCr, to join with the Blood 
 'and the W arer : a d his Tcftimony added un¬ 
 fa- u ■ wT eftabi’fh you in the Faith of an In- 
 fcreli . Ch-ift 
 
 vj i: II hat is the Confetjutvce of fitch ihfoig 
 with God in Chrift by Heart and Mouth ? 
 
 A Union and Communion with God, all 
 
 Gedd 
 
 
An Explication, Szc. 
 
 Good here, and his b!efled Fellow&fe f n Hea 
 ven for ever afterwards. * 1 a * 
 
 Q. 18. What if 1 fight all thefe Things and do 
 m lav tom to Heart to put than in .Practice ’ 
 ihe Lord Cometh with his Angels in 
 flair. W£ Fire, to render Vengeance to them 
 vdie or.ey not this Goipel , and thy Judgment 
 
 fnd G tET r 'TW J^fn’ent Ts,Z 
 
 i G L T i ; and fo n ‘ uch r He greater that 
 
 Wimc h r ft r - 3 l r . hlS TV ? tife ’ tnr k /Hall be a 
 V\ irncfc again If thee in that Day. 
 
 An Explication of fome Scots Words that 
 are nfed in this Treatife. 
 
 Anent, c/', or concerning 
 
 Bensail, to do a Thing with a Ben fail, is fo 
 
 f°‘; W / r p hrce ard yfaWy as it were with a 
 bent Seiiiy P. 22p, 1. and ic 
 
 Cast to efi out with one is to ft/ „ m - th 
 mm, t 5 ). )• i. To ca/t up a Thino tr , 
 JVan,_u to upbraid ^him with it, p. *s.L 21 
 Ore is fa-a to give another a Cafl of his 
 
 Si s^J slvcshim ^y «5 
 
 A Cautiokek, a P. 20. <5. 
 
 r * • * 
 
 To 
 
An Explication 
 
 to compete wirh one, is to become his Ri¬ 
 val, P. 79. 1 . 2.0, 
 
 To condescend upon, is to give a particular 
 Infiance of, P. 18. 1 12 anti 50. 1 . 3. 
 
 Conform, Conformable, P 154.1* 17 - 
 
 To depone, to depofie, or (wear to a Tiling os 
 a Wirnefs, P. 126. i. 21. and 127. 1 . 12 
 
 A Dittay, is ei her an Accufation , or a Sen¬ 
 tence of Condemnation, P 181. 1 . 15. 
 
 Expede, Expedited or D'jpatched, P. 55. 1 . iS, 
 
 An Extract, an Exemplification, P. 227. 1 . 6. 
 
 Fainteth, rnaketh faint , P. 15?. 1 . 9 
 
 Feckless, weak, as it were efffflefs, P. 178. 
 
 1 . &. 
 
 A Glance, Glimpfe , P. 129 1 . 1. 
 
 To haft, or HEFT, to fix, as a Knife is fix¬ 
 ed in its Haft. 
 
 Hands, to be in Hands with a Thing, is to be 
 in Pojfejfion of it, P. 195. 1 7. and 200 . 1 . 6 
 
 To instruct a Thing, is to prove it clearly 
 P. 95 1 . 29. and 185. 1 . i 2. and 258, 1 . 18. 
 
 Law-tiding, able to answer a Charge, or 
 Accufitt 'on , P. 69. i* 14* 
 
 To misken a Thing, is to let it alone, fovlear 
 ir, or have off me dating with it. 
 
 To misken a Perfon, is not to own that you 
 know him, to take no Notice of him, or to ne¬ 
 glect him, P. 40. 1 . 16. 
 
 Pass gilt, current Money, P. 155 1 . i<>. 
 
 To please a Thing, is to be plcafid with it. 
 
 To put out, to exert , or put jfitff P. 136. 
 1. 21. and 163. 1. 6. and 216. i. 14 
 
 A 
 
of feme Scots Words . 
 
 A 1 \i.j. i , a di [orderly Mat}on , P. 99. 1 , 14. and 
 1 X ; 
 
 •To shed V»ith a Pericn, is to part from him, or 
 to leave him, P. 179 1 . 12. 
 
 To be sib, or have a Sibnefs to a Man, is to be 
 akin ro him, P, 36 1 . 14. 
 
 To sit an Offer, is not to accept of it in Time, 
 P. 52. 1 16. 
 
 To sl ait, to abufe in the very voorf Manner, P. 
 107. 1 . 18. 
 
 To sway or sway towards a Thing, is to 
 lend towards it, P. 72. 1 27. 
 
 To take up a thing, is to underfund or cp- 
 prehc?:dk,P. 58 1. 5. and 66 . 1. 13. and 157. 
 1. 16. and 16). 1 . 6 . 
 
 There a way, that Way P. 190. I .19. 
 
 To TRYST, or to A1\KE A TRYST, IS to ap¬ 
 point a Meeting : In the Country a Tryst is 
 Meeting to finifh a Bargain, or to comptf; a 
 Difference betwixt Neighbours, and the 
 Trysting-Place is the Place of meeting, P. 
 1. 27. 
 
 To win thither, to get thither, P. 69. 1 . 
 
 18. won at, attained to, P. 60 1 .<J. 
 
 Waff here fignifies a Flajh, P. 128. 1 / 6 . 
 
 There are lome Expreilions which are now 
 become a little lew that were not !o when this 
 Book was- written: There are likewise Tome 
 Phrafes which are not Englifh, but being exprefc- 
 fed in Engiifh Words, they will be.e:i(i!v un- 
 derftood by the Er.giifh Reader. Not one Word 
 in the Edition pubiilhed by theAuthor isChang- 
 
shi Explication , See. 
 
 ed ill this, eveept that (hewed is printed in (lead 
 of (hew. which was the old preterite Tetife, ac~ 
 : c:>Vd *ijT to the GnTom of forming the .preterite 
 Tenfe in nv of the Verbs which End in *v or ow\ 
 as draw, drew, gww, grew. After the fame 
 Manner the Scots Verb jhow or Jhayv marie in the 
 preterite Tatfe fhew, which is ftill cooiiaued in 
 fome Law Forms. 
 
M E ffOIll S oj the Life and Char a Ter cf Mr* 
 Wiluui Guthrie the sixth#. 
 
 Mr. F R A ' L V Preface, 
 
 ■ The A..th#'s Preface. 
 
 ■ Ke JNTRODucrioM. Page i.' 
 
 • P. ART. I. The Trial of a laving lute* 
 reft in C h r i s t. 
 
 Ch a v. I. si Man's Interef in drift may be biownt 
 It is a Matter of the highef Importance', and is 
 to be determined by Scripture. 
 
 Chap II. Reaf ns why fo few come to the clear* 
 Knowledge of Chrif. 1 
 
 Chap J 11. Some Mifa.kts Concerning an Interef ) 
 thrift removed zil. 
 
 Chap. 1 'A The Way by which the Lorddraweth fomf 
 toChriJi wit heut a fenfble preparatory La w work. l ‘ 
 
 Chap. V. Ihe Work of the Law by which the Lord 
 prepares his Way into Men's Souls , which is either 
 more violent and judden, or more calm and gradit* 
 
 f. ai ' , 3 2i 
 
 Chap. VI The Difference betwixt that preparatory 
 Law Work which hath a gracious ffite, and the 
 Cenviftion of Hypocrites. 4 $, 
 
 Chap. Vil. of Faith. 59 
 
 ' Chap. 
 
 
Chap. VHI. 7 he Difference betwixt- the Faith of 
 Hypocrites and true faving jujhfying Faith. 7 7. 
 ..Chap. IX Of the new Creature. 8j'. 
 
 Chap. X. The Difference betwixt a truly renew id 
 Man who is in Cbrljt , and Hypotrires. 99. 
 
 Chap. XI Of the , fecial Communications of God 
 and the (insular gracious Operations of his Spirit. 
 : > III* 
 
 PA R T. II. How to attain unto a faving 
 Intereft in Christ. 
 
 Chap. I. Some Things pr end fed for the Information, 
 cj thofe who are more ignorant. 139. 
 
 Ch ap. II. What it is to clofe with God's Device of 
 ' faving Sinners by Chrifl Jcf,s t and that it is"a‘ 
 necefary Duty. 144. 
 
 Chap. JII What is previoufiy required .of thofe who 
 
 would believe on. Ch'.’fl Jefus , ... ■> 15 !. 
 
 Chap. IV. •The Properties, and native Coxfequences 
 of true Believing. 16 Z. 
 
 Chap V. Objections taken from a Man's Unworthi- 
 ncfs\ and the Hahmfnefs of his Sin , anfwered. 1 - 8. 
 
 Chap. VI. Of the'Sin againfl the Holy Ghoifi. 185.. 
 
 Chap VII. Objections taken from ohe Want of pow¬ 
 er to believe, and Unfruitfulnefs , anfwered. 198*. 
 
 Chap. VHI. Of Covenanting with God- 2 cz. 
 
 The whole Treatije refimed in a few fMsfious and 
 
• m 
 
 
 •-y v'§| 
 
 .