[16.] The sixteenth and last proposition that I shall lay down is this : Whenever any fresh doubts or fears rise in your hearts upon the stirrings of corruptions, or debility of graces, or failing in duties, &c., then keep close to these two rules : First, have recourse to any of the former characters that are laid down in this book ; and while you find any of tliem shining in your souls, nay, though it were but one, never pass any judgment against the happiness and blessedness of your spiritual or eternal estates. Secondly, turn yourselves to such particular promises, and plead such particular promises, and rest and stay your trembling souls upon such particular promises, and cling fast to such particular promises, that have been comforts, cordials, and supports to many weak, doubting, trembling Christians, who have been always afraid to say they had grace, or to say that God was their Father, or Christ their Redeemer, or the Spirit their sanctifier, or heaven their inheritance, &c.^ I have read of a woman that was much disquieted in conscience, even to despair, endeavouring to be her own executioner, but was comforted by that blessed promise, Isa. Ivii. 1 5, ' For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy ; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of an humble and contrite spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.' And J have read of another man, who being ready to die. Lord, saith he, I challenge thee by that promise, Mat. xi. 28, ' Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,' and so was comforted. And I have read of some others [Urauas and Beza] that were comforted with that promise. John X. 29, ' None shall pluck them out of my Father's hand.' And I have read of another who, having deeply wounded his conscience by subscrib- ing to popish errors, was much comforted by that blessed scripture : 1 Tim. i. 15, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief And I have read of another [Mr Bilney the martyr] who was much comforted under sore distresses by that promise : Isa. xxvi. 3, ' Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace' (or as the Hebrew runs, shalom,
' Sirtoriiis paid wliat he promised with fair words. — Plutarch. But so does not God : men may eat their words, but God won't eat his.
504) A CABINET OF JEWELS. [ChAP. V.
shalom, peace, peace) ' whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trustetb in thee/' And many have gone to heaven triumphantly by the refresh- ing and comfort that they have found in these following scriptures : John vi. 37, ' All that the Father giveth me shall come to me ; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out ;' Isa. Iv. 1, ' Ho every one that tliirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money : come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and wilk without money and without price ;' ver. 3, ' Incline your ear and come unto me : hear, and your soul shall live ; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.' And so Rev. xxii. 17, 'And the Spirit and the bride say, Come ; and let him that heareth say, Come ; and let him that is athirst come ; and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.' So Hosea xiv. 4, ' I will heal their backslidiugs, and love them freely.' So Isa. xliii. 2-5, ' I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins ;' chap. Ivii. 18, ' I have seen his ways, and will heal him : I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him, and to his mourners ;' ver. 19, 'I create the fruit of the lips ; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord ; and I will heal him.' Oh, these have been comforting promises, and upholding promises, and refreshing pro- mises to many doubting, drooping souls. ^ It is impossible that such a soul should ever drop into hell, that can cling fast to any of these pro- mises, that can hang upon any of these promises, that can rest and lay the weight of their souls upon Christ in any of these promises. Doubt- less reliance upon Christ in these precious promises hath ferried many poor, doubting, trembling souls to heaven. The promise is the golden cabinet, and Christ is the costly jewel that is laid up in it. The pro- mise is the field, and Christ is the pearl of price that is hid in it.^ All the promises they point to Christ, they lead to Christ, they hang upon Christ : ' All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen,' 2 Cor. i. 20. In the new covenant God neither makes any promises, nor fulfils any promises of salvation, but in Christ and through Christ. Now, when any fears, or darkness, or doubts, or disputes, arises in your souls about your spiritual estates, oh, then, run to Christ in the promise, and plead the promise, and hang upon the breasts of the promise, and let your souls cleave close to the promise ; for this is the way of ways to have your evidences cleared, your comforts restored, your peace main- tained, your graces strengthened, and your assurance raised and con- firmed.
1 ' A broken and a contrite heart, 0 God, thou wilt not despise.' This promise was a cordial to Bernard on his dying bed; he died with this promise in his mouth. And Austin found so much sweetness in tiie same promise, that he caused it to be written on the wall over against his bed where he lay sick and died.
2 The promises are pabulum fidei et anima fid.i, the food of faith and the soul of faith. * An oversight which Brooks shares with Sibhes : a ' treasure,' not a ' pearl,' was in
' the field.' Cf. Sibbes, vol. ii. pp. 245, 248.— G.
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