Of ASSVRANCE. (2) to Of IOY. (1)

Of ASSVRANCE. (2)

Resp. Not by having sometimes good Motions stir'd up in us by the Spirit; it may work in us, yet not dwell; but by the Sanctifying Power of the Spirit on our Heart, the Spirit infuseth Divinam Indolem, a Divine Nature; it stamps its own impress and Effigies on the Soul, making the Complexion of it Holy. The Spirit ennobles and raiseth the Heart above the World; when Nebuchadnezzar had his Understanding given him, he grazed no longer amongst the Beasts, but returned to his Throne, and minded the Affairs of his Kingdom; when the Spirit of God dwells in a Man, it carries his Heart above the visible Orbs; it makes him Superna anhelare, thirst after Christ and Glory; if we can find this, then we have Grace, and so have a right to Assurance.

2. If you want Assurance wait for it; if the Figures are graven on the Dial, it is but waiting a while and the Sun shines: When Grace is engraven in the Heart, it is but waiting a while and we shall have the Sun-shine of Assurance. He that believes makes not haste, Isa. 28.16. He will stay Gods leisure; say not God hath forsaken you, he will never lift up the light of his Countenance, but rather say as the Church, Isa. 8.17. I will wait upon the Lord which hideth his face from the House of Jacob. 1. Hath God waited for your Conversion, and will not you wait for his Consolation? How [gap] did he come a woing to you by his Spirit? He waited till his Head was fill'd with Dew: He cry'd as Ier. 13.27. Wilt thou not be made clean, when shall it once be? O Christian! did God wait for thy Love, and canst not thou wait for his? 2. Assurance is so sweet and precious, that it is worth waiting for, the price of it is above Rubies, it cannot be valued with th[gap] Gold of Ophir. Assurance of Gods Love is a Pledge of Election, 'tis the Angels Banquet; what other Joy have they? As Micah said, Iudges 18.24. What have I more? So when God assures the Soul of his eternal purposes of Love, what hath he more to give? Whom God kisseth he Crowns. Assurance is [gap], The first Fruits of Paradise, one Smile of Gods Face, one Glance of his Eye, one Crumb of the hidden Manna, is so sweet a Delicious, that it deserves our waiting. 3. God hath given a

Promise, that we shall not wait in vain, Isa. 49.23. They shall not be ashamed that wait for me. Perhaps God reserves this Cordial of Assurance for a fainting time; He keeps sometimes his best Wine till last. Assurance shall be reserved as an Ingredient to sweeten the bitter Cup of Death.

Quest. 7. How may deserted Souls be comforted, who are cast down for want of Assurance? They have the Day-star of Grace risen in their Souls; but as Job complains, I went Mourning without the Sun, Iob 30.28. They go mourning for want of the Sun-light of Gods Face: Their Ioy is eclipsed, They walk in darkness and see no light, Isa. 50.10. How shall we comfort such as lye Bleeding in Desertion, and are cast down for want of Assurance?

Resp. 1. Want of Assurance shall not hinder the Success of the Saints Prayers. Sin lived in, doth ponere obicem, put a Bar to our Prayer; but want of Assurance doth not hinder Prayer; we may go to God still in an humble fiducial manner: A Christian perhaps may think, because he doth not see Gods smiling Face, therefore God will not hear him. This is a mistake, Psal. 31.22. I said in my hast, I am cut off from before thine eyes, nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my Supplication▪ If we pour out Sighs to Heaven, God hears every Groan; though he doth not shew us his Face, he may lend us his Ear.

2. Faith may be strongest when Assurance is weakest; the Woman of Canaan had no Assurance, but a Glorious Faith, O Woman, Great is thy Faith, Mat. 15.28. Rachel was more Fair, but Leah was more Fruitful. Assurance is more fair and lovely to look upon, but a fruitful Faith God sees is better for us, Iohn 20.28. Blessed are they that Believe and feel not.

3. When God is out of sight, yet he is not out of Covenant, Psalm 89.28. My Covenant shall stand fast. Though a Wife doth not see her Husbands Face in many Years, yet the Marriage Relation holds, and he will come again to her after a long Voyage. God may be gone from the Soul in Desertion, but the Covenant stands fast, Isa. 54.10. The Covenant of my Peace shall not be removed. Quer. But this Promise was made to the Jews, and doth not belong to us. Yes, Verse 17. This is the Heritage of the Servants of the Lord. This is made to all the Servants of God, them that are now living, as well as those who lived in the time of the Jews.

Quest. 8. What should we do to get Assurance?

Resp. 1. Keep a pure Conscience, let no Guilt lie upon the Conscience unrepented of; God Seals no Pardons before Repentance; God will not pour in the Wine of Assurance into a foul Vessel, Heb. 10.22. Let us draw near in full Assurance of Faith, having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience. Guilt clips the Wings of Comfort; he who is conscious to himself of Secret Sins, cannot draw near to God in full Assurance; he cannot call God Father but Judge; keep Conscience as clear as your Eye, that no dust of sin fall into it.

2. If you would have Assurance, be much in the Actings of Grace, 1 Tim. 4.7. Exercise thy self unto Godliness. Men grow rich by Trading; by Trading in Grace we grow rich in Assurance, 2 Pet. 1.10. Make your Election sure. How? Add to your Faith Vertue, and to Vertue Knowledge. Keep Grace upon the Wing, it is the lively Faith flourisheth into Assurance; no Man will set up a great Sail in a small Boat, but in a large Vessel: God sets up the Sail of Assurance in an Heart enlarged in Grace.

3. If you would have Assurance, cherish the Holy Spirit of God. When David would have Assurance, he Prays, Take not away thy Spirit from me, Psal. 51.11. He knew it was the Spirit only that could make him hear the Voice of Joy: The Spirit is [gap], the Comforter, he seals up Assurance, 2 Cor. 1.22. therefore make much of the Spirit, do not grieve it: As Noah opened the Ark to receive the Dove, so should we open our Hearts to receive the Spirit. This is the Blessed Dove which brings an Olive branch of Assurance in its Mouth.

4. Let us lye at the Pool of the Ordinances, frequent the Word and Sacrament, Cant. 2. He brought me to the Banqueting House, and his Banner over me was Love. The blessed Ordinances are the Banqueting House, where God displays the Banner of Assurance. The Sacrament is a Sealing Ordinance, Christ made himself known to his Disciples in the breaking of Bread: So in the Holy Supper in the breaking of Bread, God makes himself known to us to be our God and Portion.

Quest. 9. How should they carry themselves who have Assurance?

Resp. 1. If you have Assurance of your Justification, do not abuse Assurance. 1. 'Tis an abusing of Assurance, when we grow more remiss in Duty; as the

Musician having Mony thrown him, leaves off playing. By Remisness or intermitting the Exercises of Religion, we grieve the Spirit, and that is the way to have an Imbargo laid upon our Spiritual Comforts. 2. We abuse Assurance when we grow Presumptuous and less fearful of sin. What? because a Father gives his Son an Assurance of his Love, and tells him he will entail his Land upon him, shall the Son therefore be Wanton and Dissolute? This were the way to lose his Fathers Affection, and make him cut off the Entail; it was an Aggravation of Solomon's Sin, His Heart was turned away from the Lord, after he had appeared to him twice, 1 Kings 11.9. 'Tis bad to sin when one wants Assurance, but it is worse to sin when one hath it. Hath the Lord seal'd his Love with a Kiss? Hath he left a Pawn of Heaven in your Hands, and do you thus requite the Lord? Will you sin with Manna in your Mouth? Doth God give you the sweet Clusters of Assurance to feed on, and will you return him wild Grapes? It much pleaseth Satan, either to see us want Assurance, or abuse it. This is to abuse Assurance, when the Pulse of our Soul beats faster in Sin and slower in Duty.

2. If you have Assurance, admire this stupendious Mercy. You deserv'd that God should give you Gaul and Vinegar to drink, and hath he made the Hony-Comb of his Love to drop upon you? O fall down and adore his Goodness, say, Lord, How is it that thou shouldest manifest thy self to me, and not to other Believers! Those whom thou lovest as the Apple of thine Eye, yet thou holdest them in Suspence, and givest them no Assurance of thy Love; though thou hast given them the new Name, yet not the White stone; though they have the Seed of▪ Grace, yet not the Oyl of Gladness; though they have the Holy Ghost the Sanctifier, yet not the Holy Ghost the Comforter. Lord, whence is it that thou shouldest manifest thy self to me, and make thy Golden Beams of Assurance shine upon my Soul? O admire God! this will be the Work of Heaven.

3. Let your Hearts be endeared in Love to God; If God gives his People Correction, they must love him, much more when he gives them Assurance. Psal. 31.23. O love the Lord ye his Saints. Hath God brought you to the Borders of Canaan, given you a Bunch of Grapes, crown'd you with loving Kindness, confirm'd your Pardon under the Broad Seal of Heaven? How can you be frozen at such a Fire? How can you choose but be turn'd into Seraphins Burning in Divine Love: Say as St. Austin, Animam meam odio Haberem, I would hate my own Soul, if I did not find it loving God. Give God the Cream and Quintessence of your Love, and shew your Love, by being willing to lose all for his Sake.

4. If you have Assurance, improve it for Gods Glory, several ways; 1. By encouraging such as are yet unconverted; Tell them how sweet this hidden Manna is; Tell them what a good Master you serve, what Vails you have had; Tell them God hath carried you to the Hill of Myrrhe, to the Mountains of Spices; He hath given you not only a Prospect of Heaven but an Earnest: O perswade Sinners, by all the Love and Mercy of God, that they would enroll their Names in his Family, and cast themselves upon him for Salvation. Tell them God hath met with you, and unlock'd the Secrets of Free Grace, and assured you of a Land flowing with those infinite Delights which Eye hath not seen. Thus by telling others what God hath done for your Soul, you may make them in love with the ways of God, and cause them to turn Proselytes to Religion. 2. Improve Assurance by comforting such as want it; Be as the good Samaritan, pour Wine and Oyl into their Wounds. You [gap]ho have Assurance, are gotten as it were to the Haven, you are sure of your Happiness; but do you not see others who are struggling with the Waves of Temptation and Desertion, and are ready to sink? O now Sympathize with them, and do what you can to comfort them when they are in this deep Ocean, 2 Cor. 1.6. Whether we be comforted it is for your Consolation. The comfortable experience of one Christian being communicated to another, doth much revive and bear up his fainting Heart; Our Comfort, saith the Apostle, is for your Consolation. 3. Improve Assurance by walking more Heavenly; you should Scorn these things below; you who have an Earnest of Heaven, should not be too Earnest for the Earth: You have Angels Food, and it becomes not you, with the Serpent, to lick the Dust. The Wicked are all for Corn, Wine and Oyl, but you have that which is better; God hath lifted up the Light of his Countenance: Will you hanker after the World, when you have been feeding upon the Grapes and Pomegranates of the Holy Land? Do you now Lust after the Garlick and Onions of Egypt, when you

are Cloathed with the Sun, will you set the Moon and Stars above you? O let them scramble for the World, who have nothing else but Husks to feed on. Have you assurance of Heaven, and is not that enough? Will not a Kingdom satisfie you? Such as are high in Assurance, should be in the Altitudes, live above the World. 4. Improve Assurance by a Chearful Walking: It is for Condemn'd Persons to go hanging down their Head; but hast thou thy Absolution? Doth thy God smile on thee? Chear up, 2 Sam. 13.4. Why art thou, being the King's Son, Lean? Art thou the King's Son? hath God assured thee of thy Adoption, and art thou [gap]ad? Assurance should be an Antidote against all Trouble: What though the World hate thee, yet thou art assur'd that thou art one of Gods Favourites. What though there is but little Oyl in the Cruse, and thou art low in the World, yet thou art high in Assurance; O then rejoyce. How Musical is the Bird! How doth it chirp and sing, that knows not where to pick up the next Crumb! And shall they be sad and discontented, who have God's Bond to assure them of their daily Bread, and his Love to assure them of Heaven? But certainly, those who have Assurance cannot but be of a Sanguine Complexion.

5. If you have an Assurance of Salvation, let this make you long after a Glorified State: He who hath an Earnest in his Hand, desires the whole Sum to be paid: That Soul who hath tasted how sweet the Lord is, should long for a fuller enjoyment of him in Heaven. Hath Christ put this Ring of Assurance on thy Hand, and so espoused thee to himself, how shouldst thou long for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Rev. 19.9. O Christian, think with thy self, if a glimpse of Heaven, a smile of God's Face be so sweet, what will it be to be ever sunning thy self in the Light of God's Countenance! Certainly, you who have an Assurance of your Title to Heaven, cannot but desire Possession. Be content to Live, but willing to Dye.

6. If you have Assurance, be careful you do no not lose it; keep it, for it is your Life, viz. the comfort of your Life. Keep Assurance 1st by Prayer, Psal. 36.10. O continue thy Loving Kindness; Lord continue Assurance; do not take away this Privy Seal from me. 2dly, Keep Assurance by Humility: Pride estrangeth God from the Soul; when you are high in Assurance, be low in Humility. St. Paul had Assurance, and he Baptizeth himself with this Name, Chief of Sinners, 1 Tim. 1.15. The Jewel of Assurance is best kept in the Cabinet of an Humble Heart.

Of PEACE.

1 Pet. 1.2. Grace unto you, and Peace be multiplied.

HAving spoken of the first Fruit of Sanctification, Assurance, I proceed to the Second, viz. Peace, Peace be Multiplied.

Quest. What are the several species or kinds of Peace?

Resp. Peace in Scripture is compar'd to a River, Isa. 66.12. this River parts it self into Two Silver Streams.

1. There is an External Peace, and that is either 1. Aeconomical, Peace in a Family. 2. Political, Peace in the State. Peace is the Nurse of Plenty, Psal. 147.14. He maketh Peace in thy Borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the Wheat. How pleasant is it when the Waters of Blood begin to asswage, and we can see the Windows of our Ark open, and the Dove returning with an Olive-branch of Peace? 3. Ecclesiastical Peace, Peace in the Church. Its Unity in Trinity is the greatest Mystery in Heaven, and Unity in Verity the greatest Mercy on Earth. Peace Ecclesiastical stands in opposition to Schism and Persecution.

2. A Spiritual Peace, which is Two-fold, Peace above us, or Peace with God; and Peace within us, or Peace with Conscience: This is Superlative; other Peace may be lasting, this is everlasting.

Quest. 2. Whence comes this Peace?

Resp. This Peace hath the whole Trinity for its Author. 1. God the Father

is the God of Peace, 1 Thes. 5.23. 2. God the Son is the Prince of Peace, Isa. 9.6. 3. Peace is said to be the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5.22.

1. God the Father is the God of Peace. As he is the God of Order, 1 Cor. 14.33. so the God of Peace, Phil. 4.9. This was the form of the Priests blessing the People, Numb. 6.26. The Lord give thee Peace.

2. God the Son is the Purchaser of Peace. He hath made Peace by his Blood, Col. 1.20. Having made Peace by the Blood of his Cross. The Attonement Aaron made for the People when he entred into the Holy of Holies with Blood, was a Type of Christ our High Priest, who hath by his Sacrifice pacified his angry Father, and made Attonement for us. Christ purchased our Peace upon hard terms, his Soul was in an Agony, while he was travailing to bring forth Peace to the World.

3. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. He seals up Peace to the Conscience; the Spirit clears up the work of Grace in the Heart, from whence ariseth Peace. There was a Well of Water near Hagar, but she did not see it, therefore wept. A Christian hath Grace, but doth not see it, therefore Weeps. Now the Spirit discovers this Well of Water, it enables Conscience to witness to a Man that he hath the real work of Grace, and so Peace flows into the Soul. Thus you see whence this Peace comes; the Father decrees it, the Son purchaseth it, the Holy Ghost applies it.

Quest. 3. Whether such as are destitute of Grace, may have Peace?

Resp. No. Peace flows from Sanctification, but they being unregenerate, have nothing to do with Peace, Isa. 57.21. There is no Peace (saith my God) to the Wicked: They may have a Truce, but no Peace. God may forbear the Wicked a while, and stop the Roaring of his Cannon; but though there be a Truce, yet no Peace. The Wicked may have something which looks like Peace, but is not. They may be fearless and stupid; but there is a great difference between a stupified Conscience, and a pacified Conscience, Luke 11.21. When a strong Man keeps his Palace, his Goods are in Peace. This is the Devils Peace; he rocks Men in the Cradle of Security, he cries Peace, Peace, when Men are upon the Precipice of Hell. The seeming Peace a Sinner hath, is not from the knowledg of his Happiness, but the ignorance of his Danger.

Quest. 4. What are the Signs of a false Peace?

Resp. 1. A false Peace hath much Confidence in it, but this Confidence is Conceit. The Sinner doth not doubt of Gods Mercy, from which presumptuous Confidence ariseth som[gap] kind of quiet in the Mind. The same Word in the Hebrew, Gasal, signifies both Confidence and Folly. Indeed a Sinners Confidence is Folly. How confident were the Foolish Virgins?

2. False Peace separates those things which God hath joyned together: God joyns Holiness and Peace, but he who hath a false Peace separates these Two. He lays claim to Peace, but banisheth Holiness, Deut. 29.19. I shall have Peace, though I walk in the imagination of my Heart, to add Drunkenness to Thirst. The Wicked are loose and vain, and yet thank God they have Peace: A Delusion. You may as well suck Health out of Poison, as Peace out of Sin.

3. False Peace is not willing to be Tried; a sign they are bad Wares, which will not endure the Light; a sign a Man hath stolen Goods when he will not have his House Searched. A false Peace cannot endure to be tryed by the Word: The Word speaks of an humbling and refining work upon the Soul before Peace; false Peace cannot endure to hear of this: The least trouble will shake this Peace, it will end in despair. In a false Peace, Conscience is asleep, but when this Lion of Conscience shall be awaken'd at Death, then it will roar upon a Man, he will be a Terror to himself, and be ready to lay violent Hands upon himself.

Quest. 5. How shall we know that ours is a true Peace?

Resp. 1. True Peace flows from Union with Christ; Communio [gap]undatur in unione. The Graft or Cien must first be inoculated into the Tree, before it can receive Sap and Nourishment from it: So we must first be ingrafted into Christ, before we can receive Peace from him. Have we Faith? By Holiness we are made like Christ; by believing we are made one with Christ, and being in Christ, we have Peace, Iohn 16.33.

2. True Peace flows from Subjection to Christ; where Christ gives Peace, there he sets up his Government in the Heart, Isa. 9.7. Of his Government and Peace there shall be no end. Christ is called a Priest upon his Throne, Zach. 6.13. Christ as a Priest makes Peace, but he will be a Priest upon his Throne; he

brings the Heart in subjection to him. If Christ be our Peace, he is our Prince, Isa. 9.6. Whenever Christ pacifies the Conscience, he subdues the Lust.

3. True Peace is after Trouble. First, God lets loose a Spirit of Bondage, he convinceth and humbleth the Soul; then he speaks Peace. Many say they have Peace; but is this Peace before a Storm or after it? True Peace is after Trouble. First there was the Earthquake, and then the Fire, and then the still small Voice, 1 Kings 19.11. Thou who never hadst any legal Bruisings, mayest suspect thy Peace; God pours the Golden Oyl of Peace into Broken Hearts.

Quest. 6. Whether have all Sanctified Persons this Peace?

Resp. They have a Title to it; they have the Ground of it; Grace is the Seed of Peace, and it will in time turn to Peace, as the Blossoms of a Tree to Fruit, Milk to Cream. They have a Promise of it, Psal. 29.11. The Lord will bless his People with Peace: They may have Peace with God, though not Peace in their own Conscience; they have the initials and beginnings of Peace. There is a secret Peace the Heart hath in serving God, such Meltings and Enlargements in Duty, as do revive the Soul, and bear it up from sinking.

Quest. 7. But why have not all Believers the full enjoyment and possession of Peace? Why is not this Flower of Peace fully ripe and blown?

Resp. Some of the Godly may not have so full a degree of Peace. 1. Through the fury of Temptation; the Devil if he cannot destroy us, he will disturb us: Satan disputes against our Adoption; he would make us question the work of Grace in our Hearts, and so troubles the Waters of our Peace: Satan is like a subtil Cheater, who if he cannot make a Mans Title to his Land void, yet he will put him to many troublesom Suits in Law. If Satan cannot make us Ungodly, he will make us unquiet: Violent Winds make the Sea rough and stormy; the Winds of Temptation blowing, disturb Peace of Spirit, and put the Soul into a Commotion. 2. The Godly may not enjoy Peace, through mistake and misapprehension about Sin. They find so much Corruption, that sure if there were Grace, there would not be such strong Workings of Corruption: Whereas this should be so far from discouraging Christians, and hindering their Peace, that it is an Argument for them. Let me ask, whence is it that you feel Sin? no Man can feel Sin but by Grace. A wicked Man is insensible; lay an 100 weight upon a Dead Man, he doth not complain, but the being sensible of Corruption, argues a Gracious Principle, Rom. 7.21. Again, whence is it that there is a Combat with Sin, but from the Life of Grace? Gal. 5.17. Dead things cannot Combat. Whence is it that the Saints weep for Sin? what are these Tears, but Seeds of Faith? The not understanding of this, hinders a Christians Peace. 3. The Godly may not injoy Peace through remisness in Duty; they leave their first Love. When Christians abate their fervency, God abates their Peace; if you slacken the Strings of a Viol, the Musick is spoil'd; if Christians slacken in Duty, they spoil the sweet Musick of Peace in their Souls. As the Fire decays, so the Cold increaseth; as Fervency in Duty abates, so our Peace cools.

Use. Labour for this blessed Peace, Peace with God and Conscience; Peace with Neighbour Nations is sweet, Pax una Triumphis innumeris melior, the Hebrew Word [gap] Peace comprehends all Blessings, it is the Glory of a Kingdom; a Princes Crown is more Beautiful when it is hung with the white Lilly of Peace, than when it is set with the Red Roses of a Bloody War: O then how sweet is Peace of Conscience! it is a Bulwark against the Enemy, Phil. 4.7. [gap] it shall keep you as in a Garrison; you may throw out the Gantlet, and bid defiance to Enemies: It is the Golden Pot and the Manna, it is the first Fruits of Paradise. It is still Musick; for want of this a Christian is in continual fear; he doth not take that comfort in Ordinances. Hannah went up to the Feast at Ierusalem, but she wept and did not eat, 1 Sam. 1.7. So a poor dejected Soul goes to an Ordinance, but doth not eat of the Feast; he weeps and doth not eat. He cannot take that comfort in Worldly Blessings, Health, Estate, Relations; he wants that inward Peace which should be as Sawce to sweeten his Comforts. O therefore labour for this blessed Peace, consider the noble and excellent effects of it. First, It gives boldness at the Throne of Grace; Guilt of Conscience clips the Wings of Prayer, it makes the Face Blush, and the Heart: But when a Christian hath some lively apprehensions of God's Love, and the Spirit whispering Peace, then he goes to God with boldness, as a Child to his Father, Psal. 25.1. Unto thee O Lord I lift up my Soul. Time was when

David's Soul was bowed down, Psal. 38.6. I am bowed down greatly. But now the case is alter'd, he will lift up his Soul to God in a way of Triumph; whence was this? God had spoken Peace to his Soul, Psal. 26.3. Thy loving Kindness is before mine Eyes. 2. This Divine Peace fires the Heart with Love to Christ; Peace is the result of Pardon; he who hath a Pardon seal'd, cannot choose but love his Prince. How endeared is Christ to the Soul! now Christ is precious indeed. O saith the Soul, how sweet is this Rose of Sharon! Hath Christ waded through a Sea of Blood and Wrath to purchase my Peace, hath he not only made Peace, but spoke Peace to me; how should my Heart ascend in a fiery Chariot of Love, how willing should I be to do and suffer for Christ! 3. This Peace quiets the heart in Trouble, Mic. 5.5. This Man shall be the Peace when the Assyrian shall come into our Land, and tread in our Palaces. The Enemy may invade our Palaces, but not our Peace; this Man Christ shall be the Peace. When the Head akes, the Heart may be well; when Worldly troubles assault a Christian, his Mind may be in Peace and Quiet, Psal. 4.8. I will lay me down in Peace, and Sleep. 'Twas now a sad time with David, he was flying for his Life from Absalom; it was no small Afflicton to think that his own Son should seek to take away his Fathers Life and Crown: David wept and covered his Face, 2 Sam. 15.30. Yet at this time saith he, I will lay me down in Peace and Sleep. He had trouble from his Son, but Peace from his Conscience: David could sleep upon the soft Pillow of a good Conscience: This is a Peace worth getting.

Quest. 8. What shall we do to attain this blessed Peace?

Resp. 1. Let us ask it of God; he is the God of Peace, he beats back the roaring Lion, he stills the raging of Conscience: If we could call all the Angels out of Heaven, they could not speak Peace without God. The Stars cannot make Day without the Sun; none can make day in a dark Deserted Soul, but the Sun of Righteousness; as the Wilderness cannot water it self, but remains dry and parched, till the Clouds drop their Moisture, so our Hearts cannot have Peace till he infuse and drop it upon us by his Spirit. Therefore pray, Lord, thou who art the God of Peace, create Peace, thou who art the Prince of Peace, command it. Give me that Peace which may sweeten trouble, yea, the bitter Cup of Death.

2. If you would have Peace, make War with Sin. Sin is the Achan that troubles us; the Trojan Horse. 2 Kings 9.22. When Joram saw Jehu, he said, is it Peace Jehu? And he answered what Peace, so long as the Whoredoms of thy Mother Jezabel and her Witchcrafts are so many? What Peace, as long as Sin remains unmortified? If you would have Peace with God, break the League with Sin. Give battel to Sin, it is a most just War, God hath proclaimed it. Nay, he hath promised us Victory, Sin shall not have Dominion, Rom. 6. No way to Peace but by maintaining a War with Sin, Pax nostra Bellum contra Daemonem, Tert. When Sampson had slain the Lion, there came Hony out of the Lion: By Slaying Sin, we get this Hony of Peace.

3. Go to Christs Blood for Peace. Some go to fetch their Peace from their own Righteousness, not Christs; they go for Peace to their Holy Life, not Christ's Death. If Conscience be troubled, they strive to quiet it with their Duties; this is not the right way to Peace: Duties must not be neglected, nor yet idolized. Look up to the Blood of Sprinkling, Heb. 12.24. That Blood of Christ which pacified God, must pacifie Conscience; Christ's blood being suck'd in by Faith gives Peace, Rom. 5.1. Being justified by Faith, we have Peace with God. No Balm to cure a Wounded Conscience, but the Blood of Christ.

4. Walk closely with God. Peace flows from Purity, Gal. 6.16. As many as walk according to this Rule, Peace be on them: In the Text, Grace and Peace are put together. Grace is the Root and Peace is the Flower. As Balm-Water drops from the Limbeck, so Divine Peace comes out of the Limbeck of a Gracious Heart. Walk very Holily; God's Spirit is first a Refiner before a Comforter.

Bran. 2. You who have this Peace, Peace above, Peace within, labour to keep it; it is a precious Jewel, do not lose it. 'Tis sad to have the League of National Peace broken, but it is worse to have the Peace of Conscience broken: Oh preserve this Peace. First, Take heed of Relapses; hath God spoken Peace, do not turn again to Folly, Psal. 85.8. Besides the Ingratitude, there's folly in Relapses; it was long ere God was reconciled, and the Breach

made up, and will you again Eclipse and Forfeit your Peace? Hath God heal'd the wound of Conscience, and will you tear it open again? Will you break another Vein, will you cut a new Artery? This is returning indeed to folly. What Madness is it to meddle again with that Sin, which will breed the Worm of Conscience! Secondly, Make up your Spiritual Accounts daily: See how Matters stand between God and your Souls, Psal. 77.6. I commune with my own Heart: Often Reckonings keep God and Conscience Friends; do with your Hearts as you do with your Watches, wind them up every Morning by Prayer, and at Night examine whether your Hearts have gone true all the day, whether the Wheels of your Affections have moved swiftly towards Heaven: Oh call your selves often to account; keep your Reckonings even, and that is the way to keep your Peace.

Of IOY. (1)

Gal. 5.22.

The Fruit of the Spirit is Ioy.

THE third Fruit of Justification, Adoption and Sanctification, is, Joy in the Holy Ghost. Joy is the setting the Soul upon the Top of a Pinacle, 'tis the Cream of the sincere Milk of the Word.

Quest. 1. What is this Ioy?

Resp. Spiritual Joy is a sweet and delightful Passion, arising from the Apprehension and Feeling of some Good, whereby the Soul is supported under present Troubles, and fenced against future Fear.

1. It is a Delightful Passion.] So it is contrary to Sorrow, which is a Perturbation of Mind, whereby the Heart is perplexed and cast down. Joy is a sweet and pleasant Affection, which easeth the Mind, Exhilarates and Comforts the Spirits.

2. It ariseth from the Feeling of some Good.] Joy is not a Fancy, or bred of Conceit, but is Rational, and ariseth from the feeling of some Good (viz.) The Sense of Gods Love and Favour. Joy is so Real a thing, that it makes a sudden Change in a Person; it turns Mourning into Melody: As in Spring time, when the Sun comes to our Horizon, it makes a sudden Alteration in the Face of the Universe; the Birds sing, the Flowers appear, the Fig-tree puts forth forth her green Figs; every thing seems to rejoyce and put off its Mourning, as being revived with the sweet Influence of the Sun: so when the Sun of Righteousness ariseth on the Soul, it makes a sudden Alteration, and the Soul is infinitely rejoyced with the Golden Beams of Gods Love.

3. By it the Soul is supported under present Troubles.] Joy stupifies and swallows up Troubles; it carries the Heart above them, as the Oyl swims above the Water.

4. The Heart is fenced against future Fear.] Joy is both a Cordial and an Antidote; it is a Cordial which gives present Relief to the Spirits when they are Sad; and an Antidote, it fenceth off Fear of approaching Danger, Psal. 23.4. I will fear no Evil, for thou art with me, thy Rod and thy Staff comfort me.

Quest. 2. How is this Ioy wrought?

Resp. 1. It ariseth partly from the Promise: As the Bee lyes at the Breast of the Flower, and sucks out the Sweetness of it, so Faith lyes at the Breast of a Promise and sucks out the Quintessence of Joy, Psal. 94.19. Thy Comforts delight my Soul; that is, the Comforts which distill from the Limbeck of the Promises.

2. The Spirit of God (who is called [gap], the Comforter, John 14.26.) doth sometimes drop in this Golden Oyl of Joy into the Soul; the Spirit whispers to a Believer the Remission of his Sin, and sheds Gods Love abroad into the Heart, Rom. 5.5. whence flows infinite Joy and Delight.

Quest. 3. What are the Seasons when God doth usually give his People these Divine Ioys?

Resp. Five Seasons: 1. Sometimes at the Blessed Supper; the Soul oft comes Weeping after Christ in the Sacrament, and God sends it away Weeping for Joy. The Iews had a Custom at their Feasts, they pour'd Oyntment on their

Guests and kissed them. In the Eucharist God often pours the Oyl of Gladness on the Saints, and Kisseth them with the Kisses of his Lips. There are two grand Ends of the Sacrament, the strengthening of Faith, and the flourishing of Joy: Here in this Ordinance God displays the Banner of his Love: Here Believers taste not only Sacramental Bread, but hidden Manna. [Caution, Not that God always meets the Soul with Joy.] He may give Increase of Grace, when not Increase of Joy; but oftentimes he pours in the Oyl of Gladness, and gives the Soul a Privy Seal of his Love; as Christ made himself known in the breaking of Bread.

2 Season. Before God calls his People to Suffering, Acts 23.11. Be of good Cheer, Paul. When God was about to give Paul a Cup of Blood to drink, he spiced it with Joy, 2 Cor. 1.5. As the Sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our Consolation also aboundeth. This made the Martyrs Flames, Beds of Roses; when Stephen was Stoning, he saw Heaven open, and the Sun of Righteousness shined in his Face: God Candies our Wormwood with Sugar.

3 Season. After sore Conflicts with Satan Satan is the Red Dragon who troubleth the Waters; he puts the Soul into Frights, makes it believe that it hath no Grace, and that God doth not love it: Though Satan cannot blot out a Christians Evidence, yet he may cast such a Mist before his Eyes that he cannot read it. Now when the Soul hath been bruised with Temptation, God will Comfort this bruised Reed. He now gives Joy Ad corroborandum Titulum, to confirm a Christians Title to Heaven. After Satans Fiery Darts, comes the White Stone; no better Balm to heal a Tempted Soul than the Oyl of Gladness: As after Christ was Tempted, then came an Angel to Comfort him.

4 Season. After Desertion: Desertion is a poysoned Arrow shoots to the Heart, Iob 6.4. God is call'd a Fire and a Light, the deserted Soul feels the Fire, but doth not see the Light; it cries out as Asaph, Psal. 77.8. Is his Mercy clean gone? Now when the Soul is in this case, and ready to faint away in Despair, God shines upon the Soul, and gives it some Apprehension of his Favour, and turns the shadow of Death into the light of the Morning. God keeps his Cordials for a time of Fainting. Joy after Desertion is like a Resurrection from the Dead.

5 Season. At the hour of Death, such as have had no Joy in their Life-time, God puts in this Sugar in the bottom of the Cup, to make their Death sweet. Now at the last hour, when all other Comforts are gone, God sends the Comforter; and when their Appetite to Meat fails, God feeds them with hidden Manna. Sure, as the Wicked, before they dye, have some Apprehensions of Hell and Wrath in their Conscience, so the Godly have some Fore-tasts of Gods Everlasting Favour; though sometimes their Disease may be such, and their Animal Spirits may be so oppressed, that they cannot express what they feel. Iacob laid himself to sleep on a stone, where he saw a Vision, a Ladder, and the Angels ascending and descending; so when the Saints lay themselves down, to sleep the sleep of Death, they have often a Vision; they see the Light of Gods Face▪ and have the Evidences of his Love sealed up to them for ever.

Quest. 4. What are the Differences between Worldly Ioys and Spiritual?

Resp. The Gleanings of the one are better than the Vintage of the other.

1. Spiritual Joys help to make us better, Worldly Joys do often make us worse, Ier. 22.21. I spake to thee in thy Prosperity, and thou saidst, I will not hear. Pride and Luxury are the two Worms bred of Worldly Pleasure, Hos. 4.11. Wine takes away the Heart. 'Tis fomentum libidinis, Aug. The Inflamer of Lust. As Satan entred in the Sop, so often in the C[gap]p. But Spiritual Joy makes one better; it is like Cordial Water, which (as Physicians say) doth not only cheer the Heart, but Purges out the noxious Humours; so Divine Joy is Cordial Water, which doth not only Comfort, but Cleanse; it makes a Christian more Holy; it causeth an Antipathy against Sin; it infuseth strength to do and suffer, Neh. 8.10. The Ioy of the Lord is your strength. As some Colours do not only delight the Eye, but strengthen the Sight; so the Joys of God do not only refresh the Soul, but strengthen it, The Ioy of the Lord is your strength.

2. Spiritual Joys are inward, they are Heart-Joys, Iohn 16.22. Your Heart shall rejoyce. Seneca saith, True Joy latet in profundo, it is hidden within. Worldly Joy is in Superficie, it lyes in the out-side, like the Dew that wets the Leaf, 2 Cor. 5.12. who Rejoyce in appearance, in the Greek [gap], in the Face. It goes no farther than the Face, 'tis not within; In Laughter the Heart is sad. Like a House which hath a gilded Frontispiece, but all the Rooms within are hung in Mourning. But Spiritual Joy lies most within, Your Heart shall rejoyce.

Divine Joy is like a Spring of Water which runs under Ground; a Christian doth [gap], others can see his Sufferings, but they see not his Joy, Prov. 14.10. A Stranger intermeddleth not with his Ioy. This Joy is hidden Manna, hid from the Eye of the World; he hath still Musick which others hear not, the Marrow lyes within, the best Joy is within in the Heart.

3. Spiritual Joys are sweeter than others, better than Wine, Cant. 1.2. They are a Christians Festival; They are the golden Pot and the Manna; They are so sweet that they make every thing else sweet; sweeten Health, Estate, as sweet Water poured on Flowers makes them more Fragrant and Aromatical. Divine Joys are so Delicious and Ravishing, that they do very much put our Mouth out of Taste to earthly Delights; as he who hath been drinking Spirits of Alkermes, tasts little-sweetness in Water. St. Paul had tasted these Divine Joys, and his Mouth was out of taste to Wordly things: The World was Crucified to him, Gal. 6.14. it was like a dead thing, he could find no sweetness in it.

4. Spiritual Joys are more pure, they are not tempered with any bitter Ingredients; a Sinners Joy is mix'd dregs, is imbittered with Fear and Guilt; the Wolf feeds in the Breast of his Joy; he drinks Wormwood Wine: But Spiritual Joy is not muddied with Guilt, but like a Christal stream runs pure; it is all Spirits and Quintessence; it is Joy and nothing but Joy; 'tis a Rose without Prickles; it is Honey without the Wax.

5. These are satisfying and filling Joys, Iohn 16.24. Ask that your Ioy may be full. Worldly Joys can no more fill the Heart, than a drop can fill a Cistern; they may please the Pallat or Fancy, (Plato calls them Pictures of Joy) not satisfie the Soul, Eccles. 1.8. The Eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the Ear with hearing; but the Joys of God satisfie. Psal. 94.19. Thy Comforts delight my Soul. There is as much difference between Spiritual Joys and Earthly, as between a Banquet that is eaten, and one that is painted on the Wall.

6. These are stronger Joys than Worldly, Heb. 6.18. Strong Consolation. They are strong indeed, that can bear up a Christians Heart in Trials and Afflictions, 1 Thess. 1.6. Having received the Word in much Affliction, [gap], with Joy. These are Roses that grow in Winter; these Joys can sweeten the Waters of Marah; he that hath these can gather Grapes of Thorns, and fetch Hony out of the Carcass of a Lyon, 2 Cor. 6.10. As Sorrowing, yet always rejoycing. At the end of the Rod a Christian tasts Hony.

7. These are unwearied Joys; other Joys, when in Excess oft cause a Loathing, we are apt to Surfeit on them; too much Hony nauseates; one may be tired with Pleasure as well as Labour: Xerxes offered a Reward to him that could find out a new Pleasure: But the Joys of God, though they satisfie, yet they never Surfeit; a drop of Joy is sweet, but the more of this Wine the better; such as drink of the Joys of Heaven are never cloy'd; the Satiety is without Loathing, because they still desire the Joy wherewith they are satiated.

8. These are more abiding Joys, worldly Joys are soon gone; such as Crown themselves with Rose-buds, and bath in the perfum'd Waters of Pleasure, yet these Joys which seem to be Sweet are Swift; like Meteors, they give a bright and sudden Flash, and then disappear; but the Joy which Believers have, are abiding; they are a Blossom of Eternity, a Pledge and Earnest of those Rivers of Pleasure which run at Gods right Hand for ever more.

Quest. 5. Why is this Ioy to be labour'd for?

Resp. 1. Because this Joy is Self-existent, it can subsist in the want of all other Carnal Joy. This Joy depends not upon outward things, as the Philosophers once said, when the Musicians came to them, Philosophers can be merry without Musick. He that hath this Joy, can be chearful in the Deficiency of Carnal Joys; he can rejoyce in God, and sure hope of Glory. Though the Fig-tree doth not Flourish, Hab. 3.17. Spiritual Joy can go without Silver Crutches to support it: Spiritual Joy is higher built than upon Creatures, it is built on the Love of God, on the Promises, on the Blood of Christ.

2. Because Spiritual Joy carries the Soul through Duty chearfully; the Sabbath is a Delight, Religion is a Recreation. Fear and Sorrow hinder us in the Discharge of Duty: But a Christian serves God with Activity, when he serves him with Joy. The Oyl of Joy makes the Wheels of Obedience move faster. How fervently did they Pray, whom God made joyful in the House of Prayer, Isa. 56.7.

3. Joy is the beginning of Heaven here; it is called the Kingdom of God, Rom. 14.17. because it is a Taste of that which the Saints have in the Kingdom of God. What is the Heaven of the Angels, but the Smiles of Gods Face, the

sensible Perception and Feeling of those Joys which are infinitely ravishing and full of Glory? And to encourage and quicken us in seeking after them, consider, that Christ died to purchase this Joy for his Saints: He was a Man of Sorrows, that we may be full of Joy; he Prays that the Saints may have this Divine Joy, John 17.13. And now I come to thee, that they may have my Ioy fulfilled in themselves. And this Prayer he now Prays over in Heaven; he knows we never love him so, as when we feel his Love; which may encourage us to seek after this Joy; we Pray for that which Christ himself is Praying for, that his Joy may be fulfilled in us.

Quest. 6. What shall we do to obtain this Spiritual Ioy?

Resp. Walk accurately and heavenly; God gives it after a long and close walking with him.

1. Observe your hours; set time every day apart for God.

2. Mourn for Sin: Mourning is the Seed (as Basil saith) out of which the Flower of Spiritual Joy Grows, Isa. 57.18▪ I'll restore Comfort to my Mourners.

3. Keep the Book of Conscience fair written; do not, by Presumptuous Sins, blur your Evidences: A good Conscience is the Ark where God puts the hidden Manna.

4. Be often upon your Knees, Pray with Life and Fervency: The same Spirit that fills the Heart with Sighs, fills it with Joys; the same Spirit that indites the Prayer, Seals it. When Hannah had pray'd, her Countenance was no more sad, 1 Sam. 1.18. Praying Christians have much Intercourse with God, and none are so like to have the Secrets of his Love imparted, as those who hold Correspondence with him: By a close walking with God, we get these Bunches of Grapes by the way, which are an Earnest of future Happiness.

Quest. 7. How shall we Comfort them who want this Ioy?

Resp. Such as walk in close Communion with God, have more than others.

1. Initial Joy, Joy, in Semine, in the Seed, Psal. 97.11. Light (a Metaphor for Joy) is sown for the Righteous, Grace in the Heart is a Seed of Ioy. Though a Christian wants the Sun, he hath a Day-star in his Heart.

2. A Believer hath Real, though not Royal Comforts; he hath, as Aquinas saith, Gaudium in Deo, though not à Deo, Joy in God, though not from God: Joy in God, is the Delight and Complacency the Soul takes in God, Psal. 104.34. My Soul shall be glad in the Lord. He that is truly gracious, is so far joyful, as to take Comfort in God; though he cannot say, God rejoyceth in him; yet he can say, he rejoyceth in God.

3. He hath Supporting, though not Transporting Comforts; he hath so much that keeps him from sinking, Psal. 138.3. Thou strengthenedst me with strength in my Soul. If a Christian hath not Gods Arm to embrace him, yet to uphold him. Thus a Christian, who walks with God, hath something that bears up his [Heart from sinking; and it is but waiting a while, and he is sure of those Joys which are unspeakable and full of Glory.

Use 1. Then see that Religion is no Melancholy thing; it brings Joy, the Fruit of the Spirit is Joy, Mutatur, non tollitur; a poor Christian that feeds on Bread and Water, may have purer Joy than the greatest Monarch; though he fares hard he feeds high, he hath a Table spread from Heaven; Angels Food, hidden Manna; he hath sometimes those sweet Raptures of Joy as cause a Jubilation of Spirit, 2 Cor. 12.3. he hath that which is better felt than can be expressed.