* In margin here, ' Mat. xxviii. 1, Mark xvi. 9, Luke xxiv. 1, John xx. 25.' — G.
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himself, if we come worthily ? and will not he know us then ? Oh, that is far more worth than the world's good, to know us then and to call us by our names ! Therefore, I beseech you, be acquainted with Christ. Have intercourse, all we can, with him in the word and sacraments, and never rest till we find this sweet result in the use of the means, ' that he is ours, and we are his.'
Take heed therefore in these times, desperately addicted to formality and popery. I say, take heed, we do depend not upon any outward thing, but look to Christ in all his ordinances, look to the Spirit. All God's children, the church of the first-born, they are kohihaxToc, such as are ' taught of God.' Who can take away the opposite disposition of man's nature to goodness, but God by his Spirit ? Who can shine into the soul, and quicken the soul, but Christ by his Spirit? Who is above the heart and con- science, but Christ by his Spirit ? Therefore take heed of formality ; sub- mit your hearts to the great prophet of the church, that Moses speaketh of, Deut. xviii. 18, who shall be the great teacher of the church; hft up our hearts to him, that he would teach our hearts, and remove the natural dis- position that is in us ; that he would ' take oif the veil from our hearts,' and teach not only what to do, but teach the very doing of them. Teach us to hate what is ill, teach us to beheve, and to resist all Satan's tempta- tions. Who can teach but the great teacher, whose chair is in heaven ? Therefore take heed of depending on formal things. Lift your hearts to God, that he would join his teaching with all other teachings. This cannot be too much stood upon. I beseech you, therefore, take it to heart.
Give me leave, therefore, to add a few things more. If Christ speaketh in general to Mary, she answereth in general ; and when he speaks aloof to her, she answereth aloof to him, afar off, and never gave him a direct answer, till he gave a direct word to her. When he said, ' Mary,' she gave him a direct answer, ' Rabboni ;' not before. I beseech you, therefore, let us not rest in general promises and the general graces, that be so much stood on by some, that God hath a like respect to all. Trust not to that. We must not enter into his secrets, but let us obey his precepts and com- mandments. And withal remember this, when we hear of a general mercy and commandment for all nations to believe, and that Christ came to save a world of sinners, alas ! what is that to me, unless thou by thy Holy Spirit speakest to my soul, and sayest in particular, ' I am thy salvation,' and speakest familiarly to my soul? Generals are in some degrees comfortable. But if I find not particular interest by the witness of thy Holy Spirit to my Boul, if thou sayest not to my soul, ' I am thine, and thou art mine,' all is to little purpose. Therefore in the desires of our souls in prayer, let us desire the Lord to reveal himself in particular. We trust too much in generals. God is merciful, and Christ came to redeem the world. _ They be truths, and good foundations for to found faith upon, but they will not do the deed, till by daily prayer we seek to the Lord, that he would in a particular manner reveal himself to us. This doth Paul pray for, Eph. i. 17, ' that God would vouchsafe to them the Spirit of revelation.' And this is the office of the Holy Spirit. His special office is, to reveal to every one in particular his estate and condition God-ward. The Holy Ghost knoweth the secrets in the breast of God, and in our own hearts.* Now the Holy Ghost can reveal the particular love that lieth in God's breast to our particular souls. And therefore we should desire God, that the Holy Spirit may be sent to seal to us our particular salvation, and never * In margin here, ' Spiritus Dei, et Dei et hominis secreta cognoscit.' — G.
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be quiet till wo bo scaled iu particular assurance, that wo be they whom Christ came to save. This we ought to labour for. If we labour for it, we shall have it some time or other, for God loveth to be familiar with his children. He loveth not to be strange to them, if they seek his love, but to reveal himself first or last. And few seek it, but God revealeth himself by his Spirit to them before they die ; if he doth not, they are sure of it in heaven. And therefore they that be against particulars, they are enemies to their own salvation. Mary regarded not, while Christ spake of generals, but when he came to particulars, then ' Rabboni,' and not before.
' Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not ; I am not yet ascended to my Father,' &c.