AN ARGUMENT FOR UNIVERSAL HOLINESS. 153
may be hindered from exerting it; but when they do exert it, it is evident. Put a candle under a bushel, it cannot be seen; but take away the hinderance, and it manifests itself. It is so in faith, and its actings. They may be so clouded to the soul itself in which they act, that it may not be able to attain any comforting evidence of it. But take away the bushel, — fear, prejudices, temptations, corrupt reasonings, — and it will assure the soul of itself and its working. Neither is its working more evident than its fruit, or the product of its operations in the soul ; it brings forth love, rest, peace, all with a spiritual sense upon the heart and spirit. Now, these have been in this thing so evident in the souls of the saints, that they have be- spoken that faith which cannot deceive nor be deceived.
The bottom, then, of the communion which the saints had with Christ in this work, and have, must either be faith or fancy. If faith, then the communion was and is real, and the work true that it is built upon. That it was not, that it is not, the fancy or imagination of a deluded heart, may appear from these considerations: —
(1.) From its extent. We know it possessed the minds of the universality of believers in this nation, who were not, nor are at this day, combined in our political interest, but are Avofully divided among themselves; yet have all had, more or less, this persuasion of the work relating unto Christ. Now, that this should be any corrupt imagination, seems to me impossible. I speak not of outward actions and proceedings; for so, I know, whole nations may politically com- bine in evil, — though I will not believe that ever the generality of the saints of Christ shall do so. But I speak of the frame of their hearts and spirits as to communion with Christ in faith and love ; whereunto no outward reasonings or interests could influence them in the least : " Digitus Dei est hoc."
(2.) It appears from the permanency and flourishing of this prin- ciple in straits and difficulties. A corrupt imagination, be it never so strong and vigorous in its season, and whilst its food is administered to it, in the temptation it lives upon, yet, in trials great and pressing, it sinks and withers ; or, if the difficulty continue, for the most part — unless where it falls on some natures of an unconquerable pertinacy — ■ utterly vanisheth. But now, this principle of the saints' communion with Christ about the work of our generation was never more active, vigorous, and flourishing, did never more evidence itself to be of a divine extract, than in the greatest straits and difficulties, — in the mouth and entrance of the greatest deaths. Then did it commonly rise up to its greatest heights and assurance. Our temptations, whether Christ be in this work or no, have, for the most part, befallen us since we had deliverance from pressing, bloody troubles. And I think I may say, that there are very many saints in these nations
154 PROVIDENTIAL CHANGES,
who can truly say, that the best and the most comfortable days that ever they saw in their lives, were those wherein they were exercised with the greatest fears, dangers, and troubles; and that upon the account of the strengthening of this principle of communion with Christ. And in very many hath it been tried out to the death, when corrupt fancies were of little worth.
(3.) It appears from the fruits of this persuasion. Every corrupt imagination and fancy is of the flesh ; and the works of the flesh are manifest. Whatever it may do in conjunction with convictions, and for a season, yet in itself, and in a course, it will bring forth no fruit but what tends to the satisfaction of the flesh. But now, the principle under consideration did bring forth fruits unto God, in godliness and righteousness.
But you will say, " Do we not see what fruit it hath brought forth ? Is not the land full of the steam of the lusts of men engaged in the work of this age ? Can hell itself afford a worse savour than is sent forth by many of them V
Answer 1. Very many who have been engaged never pretended to ought of this principle, but followed professedly on carnal (at best, rational and human) accounts solely. Now, these being men of the world, and being fallen into days of notable temptations, no wonder if their lusts work and tumultuate, and that to purpose. The prin- ciple is not to suffer for their miscarriages who renounce it.
Ans. 2. There was a mixed multitude which in this business went up with the people of God, who pretended to this principle indeed, and talked and. spake of the interest of Christ; but, knowing nothing of the power of it, when these men were brought into the wilderness, and there met with provocations on the one hand and temptations on the other, they fell a lusting : and, indeed, they have pursued and acted their lusts to purpose also ; which have been, indeed, the more abominable, in that some of them have still the impudence to pre- tend this principle of faith as to the interest of Christ, which teacheth no such things, nor produceth any such fruits as they abound withal.