O stay, my soul; and be not faithless, but believing, I will take thy argument in pieces; As, 1. Thou sayest, "Hath God any thoughts of me?" Yes, saith God, "I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace, and not of evil," Jer. 29:11. And before the world was, my thoughts and " my delights were with the sons of men," Prov. 8:31. 2. Thou sayest, "I have no thoughts, no care of my fellow creatures as of the dust, or sand, or atoms?" And what then? My thoughts are not as your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord; for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts," Isa. 54:8. What if thou hast no thoughts or care of the smaller creatures; yet God extends his thoughts, and care, and providence not only to thee, but even to them, "Neither can a sparrow fall to the ground, nor a hair from thy head, nor a leaf from the tree without the providence of our heavenly Father," Matth. 10:29,30. 3. Thou sayest, I dare not believe, I am astonished at, confounded in these thoughts of God's eternal love: It is too high for me, I cannot believe it. I answer, Herein thou sayest something: I know it is an hard thing to believe these great things in reference to thyself: but see now, how God and Christ stoop and condescend to make thee believe: God stands much upon this, that the hearts of his saints should confide in him; he accounts not himself honored, except they believe. And therefore mark, O my soul, how Christ suits himself to thy weakness; what is it that may beget this faith, this confidence in thy soul? What is it (saith God) that you poor creatures do one to another, when you would make things sure between yourselves? Why thus,

1. We engage ourselves by promise one to another. And so will I, saith God: poor soul, thou hast my promise; my faithful promise; I have made a promise both to Jews and gentiles, and thou art the one of these two sorts; "The promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call," Acts 2:39. Be only satisfied in that ground of thy hope, that thou art called of God, and then every promise of eternal life is thine, even thine: Thou mayest find a thousand promises scattered here and there in the book of God; and all these promises are a draught of that promise which was made from all eternity, and therefore it is so much the more sure; it is as if Christ should say, “Wilt thou have engagement by promise? This is past long ago; my Father hath engaged himself to me before the world began; yea, and I have made many, and many a promise, since the world began. Read in the volume, and thou wilt find here and there a promise, here and there a draught of that first copy of that great promise which my Father made unto me from all eternity."

2. When we would make things sure to one another, we write it down; and so will I, saith God, thou hast the scriptures, the holy writ, those sacred volumes of truth and life, and therein thou hast the golden lines of many gracious promises, are they not as the stars in the firmament of the scriptures? Thou hast thy Bible, and in the Bible thou hast many blessed, glorious truths; but of all the Bible methinks thou shouldest not part with one of those promises, no not for a world. Luther observing the many promises wrote down in scripture, expresseth thus, "The whole scripture doth especially aim at this, that we should not doubt, but hope, confide, believe that God is merciful, kind, patient, and hath a purpose and delight to save our souls."

3. When we would make things sure to one another, we set to our seals. And so will I, saith God; thou hast my seal, the broad seal of

CHAP. II.

LOOKING UNTO JESUS.

Heaven; my sacraments, the seals of my covenant; and thou hast my privy seal also, the seal of my Spirit. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption," Eph. 4:30.

es.

4. When we would make things sure to one another, we take witnessAnd so will I, saith God, thou shalt have witnesses as many as thou wilt, witnesses of all sorts, witnesses in heaven and witnesses on earth, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the And there are Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. three that bear witness on earth, the Spirit, and the Water, and the Blood, and these three agree in one," 1 John 5:7,8.

5. When we would make things sure to one another, we take an oath. And so will I, saith God: "God willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath," Heb. 6:17. q. d. There is no such need of an oath; but I will be abundant to thee, because I would have thee trust me, and confide in me thoroughly; and as I swear, (saith God,) so will I swear the greatest oath that ever was, "I swear by myself," Heb. 6:13. God swears, "by God: he could swear by no greater, and therefore he sware by himself." And why thus, but for their sakes who are the heirs of promise? He knows our frame, and remembers that we are dust; and therefore to succor our weakness, the Lord is pleased to swear, and to confirm all by his oath.

6. When we would make things sure to one another, we take a pawn. And I will give thee a pawn, saith God, and such a pawn as, if thou never hadst any thing more, thou shouldest be happy. It is a pawn of my Spirit. "Who also hath sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit into our hearts," 2 Cor. 1:22. q. d. I will send my Spirit into your hearts; and this Spirit shall be a pawn, an earnest in your hearts of all the good that I intend to do for you for ever.

7. When we would make things sure to one another, something it may be is presently done, as an engagement of all that which is to come. And thus will I deal with thee, saith God, who livest in these last of times. Why, thou seest the greatest part of thy salvation already done: I made a promise from all eternity of sending my Son into the world, to be made a curse for sin: yea, and if thou believest, for thy sin; and this is the greatest work of all that is to be done to all eternity. Surely, if I would have failed thee in any thing, it should have been in this; it is not so much for me now to bring thee to heaven, to save thy soul, as it was to send my Son into the world, to be made a curse for sin: but when I have done so great a work, and have been already faithful in that promise, how shouldest thou but believe my faithfulness in making good all other promises? If a man should owe thee a thousand pounds, and pay thee nine hundred, ninety and nine, thou wouldest think surely, he would never break for the rest. Why God hath paid his nine hundred, ninety and nine; and all the glory of heaven is but as one in comparison of what he hath done: we may therefore well believe that he that hath done so much for us will not leave the little undone.

Come then, rouse up, O my soul, and believe thy interests in those eternal transactions betwixt God and Christ: is not here ground enough for thy faith? If thou art but called, the promise of God is thine: or if thou darest not rely on his promise (which God forbid) thou hast his in denture, his seal, and witnesses of all sorts, both in heaven and earth. or if yet thou believest not, thou hast an oath, a pawn, and the greatest part of thy salvation already done to thine hand: nay, I will tell thee more,

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poor soul, than this; even Christ himself from all eternity hath engaged for thee, that thou shalt believe: O then put not Christ to be challenged of his engagement, by refusing the gospel! surely when thou believest, thou makest Christ's word good; He that believeth not makes God a liar, though in another sense, and, for aught he knoweth even in this, That he frustrates Christ's undertaking in the covenant. And therefore believe; yea, and cry, "Lord I believe; help thou my unbelief: increase my faith, till I come to full assurance of faith." Faith in this sense is the very eye of the soul, reading its name written in the book of life; it is an apprehension of our particular election. O believe, till thou comest up to this fulness of persuasion, of God's love in Christ.

SECT. VI. Of loving Jesus in that respect.

6. We must love Jesus, as carrying on that great work of our salvation in that eternity. And this is the fruit, or effect of faith, if once we believe, that all those designs and transactions were for us, even for us; O then how should we but love that God, and love that Christ, who thus first and freely loved us? God loved us before we loved him, for he loved us in that eternity before all worlds; surely then we are bound to love him first and above all things. As the diamond formeth and fashioneth the diamond, so love formeth and fashioneth love, or as fire converteth fuel into fire, so this ancient love of God and Christ may well cause our love again. O Christ! didst thou not love us? Who doubts it, that but reads over the project, counsel, foreknowledge, purpose, decree, and covenant of God and Christ? Who doubts it, that but reads the eternal design of God, that Christ should go out of himself, and suffer an ecstasy through the vehemency of his love? That Christ should so far debase his Majesty, as to die for us, that we might not die but live with him? O then, how should this but kindle in our hearts a most ardent love towards God and Christ? What more effectual motive to work man's love than to be prevented by the love and bounty of another? That this fruit doth spring from the sense of our election, Bernard observes, Epist. 107: "Who is righteous, but he that requiteth the love of God with love again? Which is never done except the Holy Ghost reveal unto a man by faith, God's eternal purpose concerning his future salvation." And hence it is that the heart is most in frame, when it is considering the eternal love of God in Christ: as David said to Jonathan, "Thou hast been very pleasant to me, thy love to me was wonderful," 2 Sam. 1:26. So a poor soul, gathering up all the goodness of God in that eternity, and feeding upon it, and the variety of it, breathes out in that expression, "Thou hast been very pleasant to me, O God, thy love to me hath been wonderful." O my soul, that thou couldst so live by faith on these eternal passages, as that thou mightest attain to the highest fruits of faith, not only to love God and Christ, but to love them with a burning love, with a mighty love, such a love as lies in the most vigorous prosecution after Jesus Christ, and in the most faithful resignation of thyself to God; such a love as works the most delightful aspect of God and Christ, as makes a man to behold God and Christ with l cheerfulness; such a love as works a man to extol the praises of God. Oin these hinges lies the strength of love.

But alas! this is, or at least should be thy grief, That thou canst not love so well, and so warmly as thou art beloved. Christ comes towards thee, "skipping like the hart, or toe on the mountains of spices," Cant. 8: 14. But thy love toward Christ is creeping like the worm in the un-1. holesome valley Indeed the best affections have their fits of swoen

ing; it may be for the present thy love is cold: O but come up to this fire; consider how God and Christ loved thee in every one of these.

1. His project to save thy soul sprung out of his love: love was the first wheel that set all the eternal works of God a going; what was that great design of God, but only an expression of his love? It was his pleasure to communicate himself, and the rise of that communication was his love.

2. The counsels of God were all in love. Had not love been as president of the council, where hadst thou been? When all the attributes of God were at a stand, it was the love of God in Christ that resolved the question for thy salvation.

3. The foreknowledge of God was a foreknowledge of love and approbation: in his eternal love he embraced thee as his own: he foreknew thee, i. e. of his free love he set thee apart to life and salvation; "God hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world," Eph. 1:4. He chose us in Christ, but not for Christ; nothing at all moved him to elect thee but his own good pleasure and free love.

4. The purpose of God was a resolution of love: it speaks of his love to be a constant, settled, abiding love: no unkindness shall alter it: "For having loved his own, he loves them unto the end," John 13:1 Nay, he loves them without end: from everlasting to everlasting.

5. The decree of God was an order, (as I may call it,) or an act of love, to give in that grace unto his elect, which before all time he decreed should be an effectual means to bring them unto glory.

6. The covenant betwixt God and Christ was an agreement of love: God and Christ struck hands to save our souls; grace was given in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 Tim. 1:9. Grace was given us, that is, the gracious love and favor of God in Christ was given us before all secu lar times. This was God's meaning from everlasting, this was the design, yea, the greatest design that ever God had, to set out the infinite glory, and the riches of his love in Jesus Christ. No question but he had other great designs in doing such great things as he hath done: but above all the designs that ever God had in all his works, this is the chief, to honor his mercy, to glorify the riches of his love and grace: had it not been for this, he would never have made the world; and therefore in that world to come, it will be the delight of God, to show his saints and angels what he is able to do for a creature; yea, he will to all eternity declare to them, to what an height of excellency and glory, his love and mercy is able to raise poor souls; so that the very saints and angels shall admire and adore, and magnify the name of God everlastingly for it.

O my soul, canst thou ponder on this, and not love him dearly, who hath thus loved thee? Come, "stir up the gift that is in thee;" if thou art a Christian, thou hast some sparks, though now (it may be) under the ashes: come rub, chafe and warm thy affections at this fire: love, like a watch must be wound up, or else it will fall downwards: what docst thou?" Why standest thou idle in the heat of the day?" Christ hath fire in his hand, it is but looking up, and reaching out thy hand to take it from him: O take it with both thy hands and be thankful for it. Prayer, ejaculation, contemplation, judicious observation of the Spirit's season, are the best instru ments to kindle this fire of love in thee.

And methinks thy heart should begin now to melt, methinks it should receive more easy impressions from the object before it; methinks these eternal works and acts of God and Christ towards thy poor soul should be. gin to overcome thee, and to burn thy heart as with coals of juniper, Sol. Song, 6:5. and S:6. Why, Lord, is it thus? Was I elected from all eter

nity in Christ? Was I ordained to a glorious inheritance before there was a world? Was this business to make me happy, one of the chief deep councils of God? Was this one of the works of his wisdom that he was exercised about before the world began? Was this the great design of God in making the world, and in making heaven, that place of glory, to glorify himself, and to glorify such a poor wretch as I am? O then how should this but mightily inflame my heart with the love of God, and love of Christ? How should I choose but say, as the martyr did, "Oh that I had as many lives, as I have hairs on my head, to lay them down for Christ?" Ah! what flames of divine affection, what raptures of zeal, what ravishments of delight, what ecstasies of obedience can be enough for my blessed God and dearest Redeemer?

SECT. VII. Of joying in Jesus in that respect.

7. WE must joy in Jesus, as carrying on that great work of our salvation in that eternity. This joy is a passion arising from the sweetness of the object we enjoy. O my soul, dost thou believe? And art thou now cast into a pang of love? How then should thy joy come on? As Christ said to the seventy, "In this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven;" Luke 10:20. So rejoice not thou in this, that the world is thine, that riches are thine, that thou hast subdued men and devils; but herein rejoice, that thy name is written in the book of life. O what a comfortable point is this! that the Father and Christ should transact a bargain from eternity, concerning thee by name, that the Father and the Son should commune together concerning thy heaven, as if their language had been thus; "Father, what shall be given to thy justice to ransom such an one, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Mary, Martha, Hannah," &c. Why no more but this, "Thou shalt die, my Son, and whosoever believeth in thee shall live for ever." Why then, saith Christ, "I will engage for such and such an one; I will enter into bond for such and such a person; Abraham shall believe in time: see I have wrote down his name in the book of life." And who art thou that readest? Art thou a believer? Dost thou believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Christ said the same of thee, and entered into a bond for thee, and entered thy name in the book of life, see the certainty of this in Phil. 4:3. Thou Thomas, Andrew, Peter, Christ knows thee by name, and thy name is written in the book of life. O go thy way, and rejoice, and take strong consolation! is there not cause? Why, I tell thee, thy name is in the book of heaven; and, if this may add to thy joy, know there is none in heaven or earth shall ever be able to blot it out again. No, no, poor soul, "There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus," Rom. 8:1. God hath decreed thy salvation, and God's decree shall stand, let men and devils say what they will to the contrary, "The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations," Psalm 33:11. It is as possible for God to deny himself, as it is possible for thee a believer to perish. "We are kept (saith the apostle) by the power of God through faith to salvation," 1 Pet. 1:5. And therefore rejoice, and again rejoice: Yea, raise up thy joy to that pitch of triumph, which is joy elevated; and elevated so high that it comes to victoriousness and magnanimous conquest of heart over all things. Say with the apostle, "What, my name is written in the book of life, who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect!-Who then shall separate me from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, I am per.