[8.] Eightlily, Though poor, doubting, trembling Christians dare not say that tJtey have such strength and poiver against their sins os they vjould have, or as they should have, or as many of the dear saints of God have, who often lead captivity captive ; yet they dare say, that when the Lord is pleased, novj and then, by his Spirit, power, word, grace, &c., to help them, though it be but a little, against their sins, to help tJiem in any measure to subdue their sins, or to assij^t them to bring any one sin or another to an tinder, or to arm them against any temptations, occasions, or 2yrovoccdions to sin, there are no such times or seasons of joy, comfort, delight, refreshing, and content to their souls as these are: Ps. Ixv. 3, Gal. v. 14. The language of their souls in such a day as this is, is this : Oh that it might be always thus with us ! Oh that every day we might lead captivity captive ! Oh that every day we miglit have our lusts at an under ! Oh that every day we might triumph over the old man ! Oh that every day one lust or another might fall before the power, the Spirit, the presence, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. But,
[9.] Ninthly, Thovgh poor, doubting, staggeHng, trembling Chris- tians dare not say that they make so much advantage, so much earn- ings of the sermons they hear, or of the jirayers they make, or of the ^ Acts xi. 23 ; Ps. xv. 4 ; Ps. xvi. 3 ; Lam, iv. 2 ; 1 Thes. i. 2, 3 ; Heb. xi. 38.
Chap. I.] A cabinet of jewels. 291
scriptures they read, or of the communion of saints that they enjoy, as otliers do ; yet they dare say that they luoidd not for all the world cast q^jpra^/in^r, or hearing, or reading, or the communion of saints, and give up themselves to the ways of sin and Satan, and the world. Ps. iv. 3; Ixvi. 19, 20; cxxxviii. 8; Lam. iii. 55-58. But,
[10.] Tenthly and lastly, Though poor, doubting, staggering, trembling Christians dare not say that Christ is their Saviour, yet they dare say that they desire and, endeavour to honour Christ as their Lord, though they cannot see Christ bestowing himself on them as their Redeemer, John XX. 28, yet they are willing to make a resignation of themselves up to him as their king ; they are u-illing to resign up their hearts and lives to the government of Jesus Christ Though they cannot find comfort, yet they will oppose sin; though they cannot comprehend Clmst, yet they will not willingly offend Christ ; though they cannot see their own propriety in Christ, yet they desire nothing more than that Christ may claim a propriety in them ; though they cannot see Christ as a friend, yet they can look upon sin as an enemy ; though they cannot close with the promises, yet they will close with the precepts ; though they cannot close with the privileges of a Christian, yet they will close with the services of a Christian ; though they cannot share in the com- forts of a Christian, yet they will side Avith the duties of a Christian ; though they cannot clear up their interest in Christ, yet they are willing to yield subjection to Christ; though they want strength to throw them- selves into the arms of Christ to save them, yet they will cast themselves at the feet of Christ to serve him ; though they want the light of comfort and consolation, yet they will walk in the light of commands and direc- tions, Isa. 1. 10.
All men will grant that these ten things are strong probabilities of grace ; but give me leave to say that they are, without all controversy, most sure, sound, solid, and infallible evidences of true grace, and of an interest in Christ and salvation ; and therefore all those poor doubtinf, staggei'ing, and trembling Christians that find all these, or any of these ten things in their own souls, they ought for ever to bless the Lord, and speak well of his name upon these accounts. And therefore, 0 my soul ! be thou much in adoring and admiring of free and infinite grace, that hath wrought all these things in thee and for thee.
But now, dear hearts, that this eleventh particular concerning pro- babilities of grace may the better stick upon you, and be the more seriously minded and weighed by you, I beseech you often to ponder upon these six following things :
[1.] First, That you have deserved hell, and therefore foi^ you to have hit a probability of going to heaven, is infinite grace and mercy. You have deserved to be shut up in chains of darkness with devils and damned spirits to all eternit}^ Jude 6, and therefore for you to have a probability of enjoying for ever the presence of God, Christ, the glorious angels, and ' the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven,' Heb. xii. 22-24, is a mercy more worth than ten thousand worlds. You have deserved to dwell with a ' devouring fire,' Isa. xxxiii. ] 4, and to lie for ever under those flames and torments that are easeless, endless, and remediless ; and therefore for you to have a probability of satiating and delighting your souls in that fulness of joy, and in those ' everlasting
292 A CABINET OF JEWELS. [ChAP. I.
pleasures that be at God's right hand,' Ps. xvi. 11, is grace, yea, glorious grace upon the throne, &c. But,
[2.] Secondly, Consider that if you cast up a true and faithful ac- count, you ivill ceiiainly find that the comfort, the peace, the joy, the quiet, the rest, the scdisfaction, the content that tloe generality of saints do enjoy, is more from probabilities of grace, than it is frcmn, any certainty or assurance that they have of grace being in their souls ; it is more from probabilities of an interest in Christ, than from any assurance of an interest in Christ ; it is more from probabilities of being saved, than it is from any special persuasions that they shall be saved ; it is more from probabilities of going to heaven, than it is from any I'aised fixed confidence that they shall go to heaven ; and therefore the people of God have very great cause to bow before the Lord, and to adore his grace, and for ever to speak well of his name, for the very probabilities of grace, and of an interest in Christ, and of being saved and glorified.