Use. Let us make use of this 2)oint oj Christ's (joiurj to the Father. Be- loved, there is not a point of religion but hath a wonderful spring of com- fort; and it is want of faith that we do not draw more comfort from them. When, therefore, we part with our friends by death, think they are gone to their Father. If ye loved me, saith Christ, ye would rejoice because I said
366 THE saint's pkivilege.
' I go to the Father,' If we love our friends, we should rejoice when they die. Beloved, this should comfort us, Christ is gone to his Father ! Oh, what welcome was there of Christ when he came into heaven. The same welcome will there be when we go to the Father. How joyful entertain- ment shall we have of the Father and the Son. Therefore death should not be troublesome to us ; say, Christ's righteousness is mine ; therefore I know I shall go to the Father. "What care I, then, what kind of pains I go through. If a man be going to a desired place, howsoever the way be troublesome, the sweetness of the end will make him forget the discourage- ments of his passage. Perhaps we must wade to heaven through a sea of blood. It matters not. The end will recompense all. Though we lose our limbs by the way, it is better to limp to heaven than dance to hell.
April 10. 1638. Imprimatur Tho. Wykes.
THE WITNESS OF SALVATION.*
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage ar/ain to fear ; hut ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby ive cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. — Rom, VIII. 15, 16.
The apostle in this Epistle sets down a platform of Christian doctrine, ■whereupon all persons and Christian churches might safely build them- selves ; shewing therein a sure way how those might come unto the Lord Jesus, who are to obtain salvation by him : which he delivereth in three heads.
1. First, Shewing hoiv God will convince the world of sin.
2. He discovereth unto them ivhat that riyhteousness is, which icithout themselves is imputed unto them.
3. He setteth forth that riyhteousness inherent, created in us by sanctifca- tion of the Sjnrit, irith the effects thereof and motions that helpi us thereunto.
Answering that threefold work of the Spirit", John svi. 8, where Christ promiseth that when the Comforter cometh, he shall reprove the world, 1. Of sin ; 2. Of righteousness ; 3. Of judgment.
First, He shews the comforter shall work a conviction of sin, leaving a man as vile, empty, and naked as may be. Not a hare confession of sin only, which a man may have and yet go to hell ; but such a conviction which stops a man's mouth that he hath not a word to speak, but sees a sink of sin and abomination in himself, such as the apostle had, Rom. vii. 18 : ' For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing,' &c. To attain unto this sight and measure of humiliation, there must be work of the Spirit.
« ' The Witness of Salvation ' forms No. 12 of the original ' Saints' Cordial,' 1629. It was withdrawn in the after-editions. Its separate title-page is as follows : — ' The Witnes of Salvation : or, God's Spirit Witnessing with ovr Spirits, that wee are the Children of God. In One Sermon. Wherein is shewed. What the spirit of Bondage is. Why God suifers his Children to be terrified therewith. The paralleling of the Witnesses in Heaven and Earth. What the witness of onr spirit is. How to discerne of it. The order of the Witnesses. What the wituesse of Gods Spirit is : and, How to discerne the truth thereof. Prselucendo Pereo. Vprightnes Hath Boldnes. lob 27. 5. God forbid that I should justifie you : till I dye I will not remove my integritie from mee. My righteousnesse I hold fast, and will not let it goe : my heart shall not reprove me as long as I live. London, Printed in the yeare 1629.' — G,
3G8 THE WITNESS OF SALVATION.
First, therefore, tlie apostle begins with the Gentiles in the first chapter, who failing grossly in the duties of the first table, God had given also over to err in the breach of all the duties of the second. Then the second chapter, and most part of the third, are spent on the Jews. They bragged of many excellent privileges they had above the Gentiles ; as to have the law, cir- cumcision ; to be teachers of others ; to have God amongst them ; and therefore despised the Gentiles. The apostle reproves them, shewing, that in condemning the Gentiles they condemned themselves, they having a greater light of knowledge than they ; which should have led them unto the true and sincere practice of what they were instructed in. Then he goes on, and shews naturally all to be out of the way, the 14th verse of the third chapter ; and so concludes them to be under sin, ' that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world found guilty before God.' This is an end of the first part.