■Containing the last use of the point, by way of support and comfort to poor tremhling souls, who do take pains to make themselves ready for sufferings ; hut yet finding such strength in Satan''s temptations, and their own corruptions, fear that all their labour is vain, and that they shall faint, and utterly apostatize, when their troubles and trials come to an height.
J.N the last place, if it be such a blessed thing to be ready for bonds, or death for Christ, this may minister much comfort to such souls, who though they cannot say as Paul here did, that they are ready ; yet are at work daily upon their own hearts to make them ready, and strive, in the use of all means, to conquer those corruptions that hinder it, and improve those graces in which it mainly consisteth. O poor soul, whatever present unreadiness or indisposition thou findest, and complainest of in thine heart, yet thy condition is safe.
Objection, Oh ! but I cannot be satisfied in that : I fear I shall be over-borne by temptations when they come to an height. I have such experience of the deceits and treacherousness of my own heart, that it seems impossible to me to do as these blessed souls did, when I come to the like trials.
Solution. It is well thou suspectest thine own heart, and tremblest in thyself; this fear will keep thee waking, while others are securely sleeping. It was a good saying of a reverend minister, Mr. A. H. now with God, * He that fears to flinch, shall never flinch for fear.' It is true, seeming grace may be totally lost, Luke vii. 18. Heb. vi. 4, 5. 2 Pet. ii. 20. It is granted also, that the sin of believers deserve that God should forsake them, and that he may suffer grace in them to be sadly abated, and they may fall before a temptation, as Peter, and all the disciples did : but that thou shalt never be separated from Christ, or fall totus a toto, in to- turn, utterly away from God, thou mayest be abundantly satisfied, upon these five or six grounds.
1. From God''s eternal electing love, wherewithal gracious souls artt beloved and embraced, be their graces never so weak, or their cof-
80 PREPARATIONS FOR SUFFER IXGS ; OR,
ruptions never so strong. This is immutable, Heb. vi. 18. and hence it is said, Mark xiii. 22. " They shall deceive (if it were possible) *' the very elect." Now, this immutable purpose of God, is not founded upon any mutable ground or reason in thee, Rom. ix. 11. Yea, when he, Rom. viii. 29. elected thee, he saw what thou wouldst be, and yet that hindered him not.
2. From the covenant of grace, in the bosom of which thou art \\Tapped up : this is all thy salvation, and all thy hope ; it will afford thee abundant satisfaction, if thou do but weigh particularly these three things about it. 1. That the Author of this covenant is not a
Jickle creature, but st-Jciitltful God, with whom there is not yea and nay ; with whom there is no variableness , nor shadow of turning; whose gifts and callings are without repentance ; so that once w4thin this blessed covenant, and in it for ever. 2. That God hath esta- bhshed the covenant with you in the blood of Christ ; therefore the sacramental cup, is called " the cup of the New Testament in his " blood,"" Luke xxii. 20. The everlasting merit and efficacy whereof gives the soul of a believer the highest satisfaction imaginable. Lastly, Add to this, that in this covenant God hath undertaken for us, as well as for himself: so that what is a condition in one scrip- ture, is the matter o^ a. promise in another, Jer. xxxii. 40.
3. From that strict and intimate union that is betwixt Christ and thee. And hence it is impossible thou shouldst be lost. For, 1. Thy union with his person brings interest in his properties along with it. Whatever he is, or hath, it is for thee : his eye of knowledge, arm of power, bowels of pitv, it is all for thee.
2. This union with his person, secures thy feeble graces from per- ishing, John iv. 14. Thy graces have an everlasting spring. Whilst there is sap in this root, it will ascend into the branches.
3. It implies thy perseverance, because by tliis union thou becomest an integral part of Christ's body, which would be mutilated and de- fective, should thou be C2it oiF and lost.
4. From the prevalent intercession of Jesus Christ in the heavens, for all his saints, in all their trials here on earth. From hence the apostle infers the certaint}- of our perseverance, Rom. viii. 34. and a pregnant instance of it you have in Peter's case, Luke xxii. 32. So Heb. vii. 25. speaks fully to the case. To strengthen this, consider, 1. Who it is that intercedes : It is Christ, whose person is most dear and ingratiated with the Father, John xi. 42. 2. What he intercedes for: Surely for nothing but what is most suitable to his Father's will. The will of Christ's and his Father's do not clash, John xvi. 26, 27. yea, what he prays for, he prays not for gratis, or aslcs upon any dishonourable terms to the justice of his Father; but they are all mercies purchased and paid for ; and therefore lear not the fail- ing of your graces.
5. From the Spirit of Christ which dwelleth and abideth in thee, and hath begun his saving work upon thee. I say, saving, for else it
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Avould afford no argument. His common works on hypocrites come to nothing, but in thee they cannot fail. For, 1. His honour is pledged and engaged to perfect it. That reproach of the foolish builder shall never lie upon him, that he began to build, but could not finish. Besides, this would make void all that the Father and the Son have done for thee ; both their works are complete and per- fect in their kinds, and the Spirit is the last efficient in order of working. 2. Besides, the grace he hath already wrought in thee, may give thee yet further and fuller assurance of its preservation, inasmuch as it hath the nature of a seal, pledge, and earnest of the whole, Rom. viii. 23. 2 Cor. i. 22. So that it cannot fail.
6. From those multitudes of assertory, jpromissory, and compara- tive scriptures, the rich veins whereof run through the book of God, as so many streams to refresh thy soul. Of assertory scriptures, see John vi. 39. John x. 28. 1 John ii. 19- O^ promissory scriptures, see Isa. liv. 10. Jer. xxxiv. 40. 1 Cor. i. 8, &c. Of comparative scriptures, see Psal. i. 3. Psal. cxxv. 1 John iv. 14, &c. The prin- cipal scope of all which is to shew the indefectible nature of true grace in the saints.
And now, how should this refresh thy drooping soul, make thee gird up the loins of thy mind, since thoi) dost " not run as one uncer- " tain, neither fightest as one that beats the air," 1 Cor. ix. 26. but art so secured from total apostasy, as thou seest thou art by all these things. O bless ye the Lord.