TO THE CHRISTIAN EEADEE. 39
in keeping the soul in darkness, the more care is to be had of establishing the soul upon that which wiU stay it. Amongst other grounds to build our faith on, as the free offer of grace to all that will receive it. Rev. xxii.17 ; the gracious in\itation of all that are weaiy and heavy laden, Matt. xi. 28 ; those that have nothing to buy withal, Isa. Iv. 1 ; the command binding to beheve, 1 John. iii. 23 ; the danger of not believing, being shut up prisoners thereby under the guilt of all other sins, John xvi. 9 ; the sweet entreaty to believe, and ordaining ambassadors to desire peace, 2 Cor. v. 20 ; put- ting tender affections into them, answerable to their calling, ordaining sacraments for the sealing of the covenant. Besides these, I say, and such moving inducements, this is one infusing vigour and strength into all the rest, that they proceed from Christ, a pei'son authorised, and from those bowels that moved him not only to become a man, but a curse for us ; hence it is, that he ' ivill not quench the smokuig wick or flax.' It adds strength to faith to consider, that all expressions of love issue from nature in Christ, which is constant. God knows that, as we are prone to sin, so, when conscience is thoroughly awaked, we are as prone to despair for sin ; and therefore he would have us know, that he setteth himself in the covenant of grace to triumph in Christ over the greatest evils and enemies we fear, and that his thoughts are not as our thoughts are, Isa. v. 8 ; that he is God, and not man, Hos. xi. 9 ; that there are heights, and depths, and breadths of mercy in him above aU the depths of our sin and misery, Eph. iii. 18 ; that we should never be in such a forlorn condition, wherein there should be ground of despair, considering our sins be the sins of men, his mercy the mercy of an infinite God. But though it be a truth clearer than the sunbeams, that a broken-hearted sinner ought to embrace mercy so strongly enforced ; yet there is no truth that the heart shutteth itself more against than this, especially in sense of miseiy, when the soul is fittest for mercy, until the Holy Spnit sprinkleth the conscience with the blood of Christ, and sheddeth his love into the heart, that so the blood of Christ in the conscience may cry louder than the guilt of sin ; for only God's Spirit can raise the conscience with comfort above guilt, because he only is greater than the conscience. Men may speak comfort, but it is Christ's Spuit that can only comfort. Peace is the fruit of the lips, but yet created to be so, Isa. Ivii. 19. No creature can take off wrath from the conscience, but he that set it on, though all the prevailing arguments be used that can be brought forth, till the Holy Ghost effectually persuadeth, by a divine kind of rhetoric, which ought to raise up our hearts to him who is the comforter of his people, that he would seal them to om* souls. Now God dealing with men as under- standing creatm-es, the manner which he useth in this powerful work upon their consciences, is by way of friendly intercom'se, as entreaty and persua- sion, and discovery of his love in Christ, and Christ's gracious inclination thus even to the weakest and lowest of men. Loquitur Deus ad modum nostnim, agit ad modum suiim. And, therefore, because he is pleased by such like motives to enter into the heart and settle a peace there, we ought with reverence to regard all such sanctified helps, and among the rest this of making use of this comfortable description of Christ by God the Father, in going boldly in all necessities to the throne of grace. But we must know this comfort is only the portion of those that give up themselves to Christ's government, that are willing in all things to be disposed of by him. For here we see in this Scripture both joined together, mercy to bruised reeds, and yet government prevaihng by degi-ees over corruptions. Christ so favoureth weak ones, as that he frameth their souls to a better condition
40 TO THE CHRISTLVN EEADEB.
than they are in. Neither can it be otherwise, but that a soul looking for mercy should submit itself at the same time to be guided. Those relations of husband, head, shepherd, &c., imply not only meekness and mercy, but government likewise. When we become Christians to pui-pose, we live not exempt from all service, but only we change our Lord. Therefore, if any in an ill course of life snatch comforts before they are reached out unto them, let them know they do it at their own perils. It is as if some igno- rant man should come into an apothecary's shop, stored with variety of medicines of all sorts, and should take what comes next to hand, poison perhaps, instead of physic. There is no word of comfort in the whole book of God intended for such as regard iniquity in their hearts, Ps. Ixvi. 18 ; though they do not act it in their lives. Their only comfort is, that the sentence of damnation is not executed, and thereupon there is yet oppor- tunity of safer thoughts and resolutions, otherwise they stand not only con- victed but condemned by the word ; and Christ that rideth on the white horse, Eev. vi. 2, will spend all his arrows upon them, and wound them to death. If any shall bless himself in an ill way, God's wi-ath shall burn to hell against such. There is no more comfort to be expected fi'om Christ, than there is care to please him. Otherwise to make him an abettor of a law- less and loose life, is to transform him into a fancy, nay, into the likeness of him whose works he came to destroy, 1 John iii. 8, which is the most detestable idolatry of all. One way whereby the Spirit of Christ prevaileth in his, is to preserve them from such thoughts ; yet we see people will frame a divinity to themselves, pleasing to the flesh, suitable to their own ends, which, being vain in the substance, wiU prove likewise vain in the fruit, and as a building upon the sand.