AHeavenlyConference

byRichardSibbes

PrintedbyS.G.forJohnRothwell,andaretobesoldattheFountainandBearinCheapside,1656.

TableofContents

TotheReaderAHeavenlyDiscourseBetweenChristandMaryTheMinistryofAngelsTheapprehensionofChristOneWordfromChrist;onewordfromMaryObservationsWhyDidJesusConcealHimself?TouchMeNotObservetheCircumstancesButHowcametheytobeHisBrethren?ChristChoseMaryChrist'sAscensionandOursChrist'sFatherandoursChrist'sGodandoursThecomfortinGodbeingourGodGodall-sufficientforusAssuranceofsalvation

TOTHEREADER

THEscopeandbusinessof thisepistle isnot somuch tocommend theworkman—whosenameisasweetsavourinthechurch—astogivetheeashort summary-view of the generals handled in this treatise. Thoughmuch might be said of this eminent saint, if either detraction hadfastenedhervenomousnailsinhispreciousname,orthetestimonyofthesubscribersofthisepistlemightgivethebookafreeradmissionintothyhands. This only we shall crave leave to mind the reader of, that thisbright star, who sometimes with his light refreshed the souls of God's

peoplewhileheshone inthehorizonofourchurch,set,aswemaysay,between the evening of many shadows and the morning of a brighthoped-forReformation;which,thoughitbeforthepresentovercast,yetbeingsoagreeable to themindofJesusChrist,andushered inwiththegroans and prayers of somany of his saints, we doubt not but will inGod'sowntimebreakforthgloriously,tothedissipatingofthosecloudsandfogswhichatthepresentdoeclipseanddarkenit.

Now, as it is thewisdomofGod, inbringing abouthis owndesigns, toraiseupfitandsuitableinstrumentsfortheworkofeverygeneration,soit isalso thegraciousdispensationofGod toputseasonablewords intothemouthsofthosehisservants,whobyfaithdofixtheireyesonhimfortheguidanceofhisblessedSpirit;aseveryjudiciousreadermayobservein theworksof this reverenddivine,who foreseeing, as itwere,whatadegeneracy of spirit professors in his timewere falling apace into, thatitchofquestionsanddisputings, likeanoxioushumour,beginningthentobreakforthamongprofessors,*likeaskilfulphysician,appliedhimselfto preserve the vitals and essentials of religion, that the souls of hishearers,beingcaptivatedwiththeinwardbeautyandgloryofChrist,andbeingledintoanexperimentalknowledgeofheavenlytruths,theirspiritsmightnotevaporateanddischargethemselvesinendless,gainless,soul-unedifying,andconscience-perplexingquestions.Forasitisinnature,amanthathathtastedthesweetnessofhoneywillnoteasilybepersuadedthat honey is bitter, but he that hath only taken it up upon creditmaysoonbebaffledoutofit,becausenoactcangohigherthanitsprinciples;and so it is in religion. For those good souls that have embraced thetruthsof JesusChristupona supernaturalprinciple, andexperimentednotonlythetruth,butthegoodnessofthemintheirownsouls,theyarethe clinchedChristians, the goodhold-fastmen, asMrFox styles someChristians in his days; they are the even and steady walkers.Whereasthosethathaveonlya 'formofgodliness,'2Tim.3:5,aslighttincture—who have only out of novelty and curiosity, or pride and ambition, orotherselfends,professedreligion—willprovegiddyandunconstant,'likecloudscarriedaboutwitheveryblast,'Eph.4:14,andwhiletheypromisethemselvesliberty,beapreytothenetofeveryfancyandopinion.

TothesoundandpracticalChristianthatisnotsqueesy-stomached,*will

thetruthsinthistreatisebegrateful.Supposingthereforeanddesiring,ifthou art not, thou mayest be such a one, here is offered to thyconsiderationadivineandheavenlydiscoursebetwixtChristandMary,betweenasoul-burthenedsinnerandaburthen-removingSaviour.

ThatthoumayesthereseehowdiligentMaryistoseek,howreadyChrististobefound.Maryhathherheartbrimfulofsorrow;Christcomes,asitwere,'leapingoverthemountains,'Cant.2:8,withcomfortandbowelsofcompassion.Marywas ina strongpangofaffection,nay,heraffectionswerewoundsohigh thatherexpressions seembroken;andheractionsmightseemtosavourofirregularity,wereitnotthattheexcellencyoftheobject did warrant the height of her affection, and the compassion ofChrist was large enough, not only to interpret for the best, but also topardon and cover all her infirmities. The woman was better at heraffectionsthanexpressions.'TheyhavetakenawaymyLord.'Shespeaksatrandom,namesnobody,whetherJews,ordisciples,orsoldiers.Butseethestrengthofherfaith.Sheisnotashamedtocallhim'Lord,'eveninthelowest state of humiliation. Though Christ be reproached, persecuted,despised, rejected, dead, buried, yet he shall beMary's Lord. Again, 'Iknownotwheretheyhavelaidhim.'ShedreamsofabodilyasportationandrestingofChristsomewhere,andspeakswith indignation,as if shelookeduponitasanindignityor incivility,nay,ofcruelty—Sœvitumestincadavera,sœvitumest inossa,sœvitumest incineres (Cyprian)—,oftheRomanemperors'cruelty,toremoveadeadbody(a).WhatwasdonetoChrist,Mary takes it asdone toher; and,goodheart, she thinks shehath so much right to him, that he should not be stirred without herknowledge.And'Iknownotwhere,'&c.

NowwhileMaryisseekingChrist—whoisneverfarabsentfromaseekingsoul—he standsatherhack.Christ isnearer tousmany times thanwethink of. Sometimes a poor soul wants the sight of comfortmore thanmatterofcomfort,andis,likeHagar,weepingforwaterwhenthewellishard by. Seeking of Christ is the soul's duty; but Christ manifestinghimself is the soul's comfort. Mary turned herself, and she saw Jesus.Gerson saith, the angels rose up at the presence of Christ,whichMaryseeing,made her turn about. But omitting that conjecture, the originalwordστρέφεσθαι is sometimesused fora turningof the face,butmost

frequentlyforaturningofthewholebody.Buttoputitoutofdoubthere,itissaidexegetically,ἐστραφηἑιςτὰὀπίσω,'sheturnedherselfback.'Thesame phrase the Septuagint use of Lot's wife looking back (b). ManytimesChristhathhisfacetowardsus,whenwehaveourbacksuponhim;andthereforeifthouwouldstfindChrist,turnthyselftohim.

Again,HerethoumayestseethetrueJoseph.HeknowsMarywhensheknows not him, but takes him for the gardener. Christ is alwaysbeforehandwithusinhisgrace.Helovesusbeforewelovehim,andcallsusbeforewecallhim.MarytravailswithdesirestofindChrist,andChristisfullofyearningstowardsher.LikeJoseph,hecouldrestrainnolonger,andbecause thegeneralmanifestationsofChristwrought little,hecallsher by her name, 'Mary;' and she being a sheep of Christ, 'knows hisvoice,'andanswershimwithatitleofdignity,Rabboni;thatistosay,'MyMaster.'

Wemayseeherethatdiscoveriesofgracearenotfruitless.Theystirupbelievers'reverenceandobedience.'Letussinbecausegraceabounds,'isthedevil'sapplicationofChrist'sdoctrine,Rom.6:1.

These and several other particulars are withmuch brevity, spirituality,andperspicuityhandledinthistreatise,andwiththatlivelinessthattheyshewtheycome fromonewhoseownheart savouredwhathe taught toothers. The largest part of this book is spent upon that sweet doctrine,viz., abeliever's interest inGodasaFather,and thecomforts that flowfrom that sweet relation.The foundationof our relation toGod is herehandled,andhowGodisfirstaFathertoChrist,andinhimtous.Whatcan be more comfortable in this earthly, interest-shaking, disjointing,confoundingage,thantoclearupoursoul'sinterestinGod?Tollemeum,ettolledeum,ashesaid(c).ItwerebetterformetherewerenoGod,thanthatheshouldnotbemyGod.Thiswillbethycomfort, thatwhenthoucanst not say,My state,my liberty,my house,my land,my friend,mytrade,thoumayestbeabletosay,'MyFather,myGod.'IfthereforethousavourestthethingsofGod,thissubjectwillbeacceptableandgratefultothee;and if this treatisemaybeanyways instrumental forputting theeuponstudyhowtoget it,oruponpracticehowtoimproveit,or incasethy soul sits in darkness, how to endear and clear thy interest, thepublishersshallhavemuchoftheiraim,andthouwilthavenocauseto

repentthycostinbuying,orthypainsinreading.Weshalladdnomorethanthis.BlessedisthatmanorwomanthathathaninterestinhimwhoistheFatherofJesusChristbyeternalgeneration,andofallbelieversinChrist by adoption and regeneration; inwhich inheritance andportion,thatthoumayesthaveashare,shallbetheprayerof

Thysoul'sandthyfaith'sservants intheworkoftheministryforJesus'sake,

SIMONASH.*

JAMESNALTON.*

JOSEPHCHURCH.*

AHEAVENLYDISCOURSEBETWEENCHRISTANDMARY,

AFTERHISRESURRECTION

Jesussaithuntoher,Mary.Sheturnedherself,andsaidtohim,Rabboni;thatistosay,Master.AndJesussaidtoher,Touchmenot;forIamnotyet ascended tomy Father: but go tomy brethren, and say to them, IascendtomyFather,andyourFather;tomyGod,andyourGod.—JOHN20:16.

THEsameloveofChristthatdrewhimfromheaventothewombofthevirgin,fromthewombofthevirgintothecross,andfromthecrosstothegrave,thesameloveofChristmovedhimtodiscoverhimselfafterhewasrisenfromthegraveto themthatheknewdidentirelyandwonderfullylove him. And therefore, before he would ascend to heaven, he did

vouchsafemanyapparitions*anddiscoveriesofhimself,partlytoinstructthem in the certainty of his resurrection, and partly, but especially, tocomfortthem:thosethatheknewdidlovehim.

HisfirstapparitionofallwasmadetoMary,thewomanoutofwhomhehad cast seven devils, Luke 8:2. She wasmuch beholding to him, andthereforelovedmuch,Luke7:47.NosexmaydiscourageanysinnerfromChrist.SheexpressethherloveofChristbyherdesireoffindinghim,byher seeking and weeping, notwithstanding all impediments, before shefoundhim.Asshewept,shestoopeddownandlookedintothesepulchre,and there saw two angels in white: a colour of glory, purity, and joy,becauseitwasatimeofjoy.Theywereoneatthehead,andtheotheratthe feet. As in the law,when themercy-seatwasmade, two cherubimswere also framed, and placed one at the one end, and the other at theother end thereof, with their faces looking one towards another, Exod.25:20.AndwhenChristwasrisen,thereweretwoangels,oneatthehead,another at the feet, to shew that peace was to be expected in the truepropitiatory,JesusChrist.

Oneatthehead,theotheratthefeetofthebodyofJesus.Andtheysatthere.Itwasatimeofpeace.Peacewasmadebetweenheavenandearth,Godandman;andhereisapostureofpeace,'Theysatquietly.'InChrist,angelsandweareatone;God,andwe,andall.Thereisarecapitulationandgatheringofallthingsinheavenandearth,Col.1:20.

The angels, they attended on Christ in all the passages of his life anddeath till theybroughthimtoheaven.*Theybroughtnewsofhisbirth,comfortedhim inhis agony; theywere athis resurrection, and you seeheretheyattend.Athisascensiontheyaccompanyhim.AndastheydidtotheHead,sotheywilltothemembers.Inourinfancy,theytakechargeofourtenderyears;inourdangers,theypitchtheirtentsaboutus;inourdeaths,theycarryoursoulstoAbraham'sbosom,aplaceofhappiness.Atourresurrection,theirofficeistogatherourbodiestogether.Thatserviceand attendance they afforded theHead they afford to themembers; tomysticalChrist aswell asnatural.Therefore letus comfortourselves intheservicetheydidtoChrist.

Now, besides the apparition of the angels, here is the speech of the

angels: 'Woman, why weepest thou?' They knew she had no cause ofweeping,forChristwhomshesoughtwasrisenagain.

Sheanswereth,'BecausetheyhavetakenawaymyLord,andIknownotwheretheyhavelaidhim.'Ifithadbeenasshesupposed,therehadbeencauseenoughofherweeping,ifherLordhadbeentakenaway;forwhentheLord is takenaway,what remaineth that is comfortable?And if theLordbenottakenaway,itmattersnotwhatistakenaway.Forheisallinall.Carnalpeople,sotheyhavetheirwealth,andfriends,andcomfortsintheworld,theycarenotwhatistakenaway.Butsheisofanothermind.'TheyhavetakenawaymyLord,'andwhatcomfortcanIhaveifmyLordbetakenaway?

But itwasbut thespeechofanopinion;shedidbut think it.Andtherewere two things might lead her, truth and probability, which is the-foundationofopinion.Probability:he isnothere, thereforehe is takenaway. Truth: Christ promised he would rise again, therefore he wouldtake away himself. There was certain truth to ground faith, and weakprobabilitytogroundopinion.Yetsuchisthenatureofweakpersonsindistress.Iftherebeprobabilityandcertaintruth,yettheywillbesuretocleave to their probabilities. Oh, theirs be great sin! Ay, but there isgreater mercy for faith to lay hold upon. So the presumptuous sinnersaith,Godismerciful.'Ay,butGodhathexcludedtheefromheaven;thouart an adulterer, a swearer, a filthy person; thy opinion is groundedscarceuponprobability.'Godismerciful,'butnottosuchsinnersaslivein sins against reconciliation as thou dost, 1 Cor. 6:9. Therefore, whenonehathbutprobabilitytogroundopinion,andtheothercertaintruthtoground faith, be sowise for our souls as to take the best and leave theother. If she had remembered his promise to raise himself out of thegrave,sheneedednottohavedoubted.

'They have taken awaymy Lord, and I know not where they have laidhim.' 'They have taken away.' She instanceth none. Andwhen she hadthus said, she turnethherback, and sawJesus standing, andknewnotthatitwasJesus.TheangelsholdtheirpeacewhenChristspeaks,anditistheirplacesotodo.

ButsheknewnotthatitwasJesusinrespectofherpassion.Hersenses

wereheldpartlybythepowerofGod,andpartlybyakindofpassionthatwasacloudbetweenherandJesus,thatsheknewhimnotatthattime.

WhatdothJesussaytoher?

'Woman,whyweepest thou?whom seekest thou?' The first words thatever Christ spake after his resurrection to them he appeared to, is,'Woman, why weepest thou?' It is a good question after Christ'sresurrection.What causeofweepingwhenChrist is risen?Our sinsareforgiven,becausehe,ourheadandsurety,hathsuffereddeathforus;andifChristberisenagain,whyweepwe?Ifwebebroken-hearted,humbledsinners, that have interest in his death and resurrection, we have nocausetogrieve.Itisthereforeagoodquestiontothemthatbelieve,'Whyweepest thou? whom seekest thou?' They were questions, not forsatisfactiontohim—heknew itwellenough—but todrawouthermind,and to draw out by confessionwhat God had hid in her heart, that hemightcomfortherafterwards.

'Butshe,supposinghimtobethegardener,said,Sir, if thouhastbornehimhence,tellme,'&c.

ShehadamisconceitofChrist,asifhehadbeenthegardener.Beloved,so it is with a sinner, especially in times of desolation of spirit anddisconsolate condition.TheypresentChrist to themselvesas anenemy.She in passion thinksChrist the gardener.Donotmany,when they bemelancholy of body and troubled in mind, conceive of Christ as anausterejudge,thatwillundoubtedlydamnsuchwretchesastheyare,whopresentChristtothemselvesinthatfashion,thattheScripturedothnot?Doth not he bid all that beweary and heavy laden come to him?Mat.11:28.Andyet they,outofpassion,willpresentChrist tobeanausterejudge, thatwill take themat their disadvantage, observe all theirways,andwillsurelydamnthem.

It is a great violence that passion and opinion offers to truth, and tosaving truth, and the hardest matter in the world for a distressedconscience to apprehend God aright, and to apprehend Christ aright.Secure persons apprehend God under a false notion. They apprehendGod as aGod all ofmercy, andChrist as if hewere not a judge of the

world;asifheobservedthemnot,northeirsinfulcourses;andthereforethey care not whether they serve him or no, Acts 17:31. And Satanpresenteth Christ all of mercy, and Satan and their hearts meetingtogether, the mistake is dangerous. It is a great art of faith, and anexcellentskill,toapprehendChristsuitabletoourconditionthatwearein.Whenwebeinanysin,thenthinkhimajudge;thenthinkofMosesrather than of Christ; then think of Christ as one that will judge bothquick and dead for their hard and wicked actions. But when we behumbleandbroken-hearted,andtouchedwithsenseofsin,presenthimasasweetSaviour,invitingandalluringalltocometohim:'Cometome,allye,'&c.,Mat.11:28;presenthimasagentleshepherd;presenthiminall the sweet relations he names himself by in the Scriptures, lestotherwisewedoChristdishonour,andourselveswrong,Isa.40:11.

'Ifthouhastbornehimhence,tellmewherethouhastlaidhim,andIwilltakehimaway.'

ShewasalikelywomanindeedtotakeChristaway;foraweakwomantotake a heavy body away!But love thinksnothing impossible. Faith andloveagree in this,nothing is impossible. 'Love isstrongasdeath,'Cant.8:6.Neitherlovenorfaithcarefordifficulties;theyarmthesoultobreakthroughall.

'Tellmewherethouhastlaidhim,andIwilltakehimaway.'

Onewouldthinkthedeadbodymighthavefrightedthewoman,andtheheavybodymighthavebeenaboveherstrength.Butshewasinsuchanecstasy of love and desire, and grief for want of desire, that sheconsiderednotwellwhatshesaid.

Theybewordsofpassion;and, indeed, ifyouobservethestoryofMaryMagdalene,shewasawomanofextremityinallconditions.LikeJonah,when he grieves, he grieves exceedingly; when he rejoices, his joy iswoundtothehighestpitch.Soshewasfullof lovewhenshe loved,andfull of grief when she grieved, and full of joywhen she joyed. She hadlarge affections. All were in the highest measure, and strained to thehighestpininher;andthatmadehersay,'Ifthouhast,'&c.

Jesuscouldnotendure[tokeep]herlongerinthisperplexedcondition.Hewastoomerciful;andthereforesaith,'Mary.'Sheturnedtohim,andsaith,'Rabboni,'whichistosay,Master.

AndJesussaidtoher,'Mary.'

ThewordsareasweetandlovingintercoursebetweenChristandMary.In a seasonable time, when she was in all her perplexity and depth ofsorrowforlossofherLord,Christseasonablyatlength,asnotbeingabletoholdanylonger,butmustneedsdiscoverhimself,saithtoher,'Mary.'

Yousee,firstofall,Christbeginneth,andsaith,'Mary;'sheanswereth,inthesecondplace,andsaith, 'Rabboni;'andtillChristbegins,novoiceintheworldcandoanygood.Theangels theyspake toher,but tillChristspake nothing could comfort her. Christ began, and till Christ begannothing would comfort Mary. Christ began himself, and used but oneword.Itisaword,andbutoneword.NothingwillcomfortbutthewordofChrist.Thewordthatcomfortedherwhenhespake,anditwasbutoneword,andyetenough,therewassuchfulnessofspiritandcomfortinthatoneword.Andsheanswerethwithonewordagain.

You may ask why they spake but one word. Beloved, he was full ofaffection,andshewasfullofaffectionalso,toofull,toexpressthemselvesinmany words. As it is in grief, grief sometimesmay be so great thatscarceanywordsareable toexpress it: ingentesdoloresstupent;and ifany words, then broken words, which shew fulness of affection ratherthan any distinct sense. Christwas so full, and she so full, that aworddiscovers. And indeed there was somuch sense, and somuch love, somuch contained in these little words 'Mary' and 'Rabboni,' that it isimpossibletoexpressthemshorter;andherpassionwouldnotstayanylongerdiscourse. Itwasbywords,andbyoneword, 'Mary.' Itwasbyawordwhichshewethhetooknoticeofher.Christknowsthenamesofthestars;heknowseverythingbyname.Heknowseverythingof aman, tothe very hair.He knows their parts, and their very excrements of theirparts.Heknewher,andacknowledgedhertoo:'Mary.'

1. It is a word of knowledge, and familiar acquaintance, andacknowledgment.

2. It is a word of compassion; because he had held her long, and nowcouldnotlonger.Hepitieththestateshewasin.Hesawherreadytosinkforgriefandmeltforsorrow,andthereforehesaid,'Mary.'

3.Asitisawordofcompassion,soitisawordfullofexceedinglove.

4. And it is a word of peculiar appropriation, 'Mary,' whom I have somuchrespectedheretofore.Andawordofsatisfactiononhispart,outofhis pity, and out of his love, and former familiarity and acquaintance.'Mary,'Iamthemanthatthouseekest;Iknowwhatallthyseekingstendto.Thouwantesthimwhomthoulovest;thouwantestme;Iamhewhomthouseekest.

She answered him again, 'Rabboni,' which is interpreted, Master. Shereturnedhimanansweragain;shespaketohim.Hefirstbegan,thenshefollows. She found the virtue of his speech in her heart. There was aninfluenceof it toherheart; andhis lovewitnessing toherheart, raisedher love tohimagain.So itwasananswerofChrist's speech,and fromthesameaffection:ananswerof love,andananswerofexceedinglargeaffectionandsatisfactiontohersoul.Omy'Rabboni,'thesoulofmysoul,the life of my life, my joy, my rock, my all that can be dear to me.'Rabboni,' I have enough.As he desired to give her satisfaction, so shetakessatisfactionintheword.Andyetitwasnotfullsatisfaction;foraftersheclaspsabouthim,andwouldnotlethimgo.Itwasanaffectionthatstirredupmuchdesiremoreandmoretohavecommunionwithhim,sothathewasfaintocheckherafterward: 'Touchmenot,forIamnotyetascended to my Father.' She had not enough; as indeed a believing,affectionatesoulhathneverenoughtillitbeinheaven.

And thus you see the sweet intercourse upon the apparition and firstdiscoveryofChristtoMary.Hespaketoher,andsheansweredhimagainwith the same affection. And it is a word of dependence, as it is fit,'Rabboni,myMaster.'It isnotonlyawordofhonour,notanysuperior,butasuperiorinwayofteaching.Therewassubmissionofconsciencetothe 'Rabboni,' as the 'Rabboni,' labouring to sit in the consciences ofpeople.ItisaSyriacword,whichsignifiethintheoriginal,'multiplicationof knowledge' in him that speaketh, and that laboureth to breedmuchknowledge inhim that is spoken to;and. therefore it isawordofgreat

respectanddependence(d).

She might well call him 'Rabboni,' for he was 'Master of masters,''Rabboniofrabbonis,' theangelof thecovenant, thegreatdoctorof thechurch,thegreat 'Gamaliel,'atwhosefeetallmustsitandbetaught.Soyouseewhatsenseandaffectionsareintheselittlewords.Thefulnessofheartthatwasinthiscouplecannotbeexpressed,wereitpossibletosayallthatcouldbesaid.Andthereforeweleavethehypothesis,andcometomakeapplicationofittoourselves.

Obs.1.First,Wemaylearnhere,thattillChristhimselfdiscovershimself,noteachingwillservetheturn.No.Theteachingofangelswillnotservethe turn, till Christ himself by hisHoly Spirit discovers himself.WhenChrist doth it, it is done.And therefore it should teach us so to attendupontheministryastolookuptothegreatdoctorthathathhischairinheaven,andteacheththeheart.*Ifheteach,itisnomatterhowdullthescholaris.Heisabletomakeanyscholar,ifheinstruct.Iwillnotenlargethe point, because there be particular places wherein they will beenlarged.

Obs. 2. The second thing I will observe is this, that Christ, when heteacheth,hedothitbywords,notbycrucifixes,notbysights.Welostoursalvationandallourhappinessbytheear,andwemustcometoitbytheearagain.Adam,byhearkeningtoEve,andEve to theserpent, lostall;andwemustrecoversalvationthereforebytheear.Aswehaveheard,soweshallsee.Wemustfirsthear,andthensee.Lifecomethinattheearaswell as death. Faith, you know, is the quickening of a Christian, thespirituallifeofaChristian.Now,faithcomesbyhearing;andthereforeIbeseech you in the bowels of Christ, set aside prejudice, and meeklyattendGod's ordinances.Donot considerwhowe are;we are but poorministers,frailmenasyourselves.ButconsidertheLord,thatispleasedtoconveylife,andsalvation,andgrace,andwhatsoeverisfittobringtoheaven, this way. Therefore they that despise this way, set light bysalvation; as the apostle saith, Acts 13:46, 'They judge themselvesunworthyofthekingdomofheaven.'Theycanreadathome,butisthatthewayGodhathsanctified?DidnotthemannastinkwhengatheredontheSabbathday?Thereisacurseuponallprivateindustryanddevotionwhenit iswithneglectofpublicordinances.Shecouldhavenocomfort

tillChristspake.Nay,theverysightofChristcouldnotcomforther.Letthis,Iprayyou,beenough,thatImaynotenlargethepointanyfurther.Thisisthewayforcomfort.Wemusthearhiminhisministershere,ifwewillhearhimcomfortablyspeakingtoushereafter, 'Come,yeblessedofmyFather,'&c.,Mat.25:34.

Obs. 3. Itwas but oneword, 'Mary;' and is there somuch force in oneword?Yea,when it isutteredbyChrist.Onewordcoming fromChrist,andseton theheartby theSpiritofChrist,hathamightyefficacy.Thewordhathanefficacyincreatingallthings,fiat,fuit.Letitbedone:itwasdone; 'Let there be light: there was light.' So let there be light in theunderstanding,andthereitshallbepresently.SoinallChrist'scures,hesaid theword,and itwasdone.So inallspiritualcures, lethimsay theword,itisdone.Nay,averylookofChrist,iftheSpiritgoalongwithit,isable to convert the soul. Respexit Christus, flevit Petrus aware: ChristlookedonPeter,heweptbitterly.Whatwillhisworddo,whenhis lookwilldosomuch?Itwasbutaword,andbutoneword:'Saybuttheword,'saith he in the gospel, 'andmy servant shall be healed,'Mat. 8:8. ThisshouldmakeusdesirethatChristwouldspeakthoughbutfewwordstothesoul; thathewouldclothe thewordsofmenmightilywithhiswordandwithhisSpirit;andthentheywillbemightyinoperationandworks.Oneword,butitwasapregnantword.Itwasfullofaffection.Sheknewitwell enough: 'Mary.'What! to call her so familiarly, so sweetly, by heraccustomedname?Itwroughtonherbowelspresently.

Obs. 4. But to go on. You see here again, that Christmust begin to usbefore we can answer him. He began to 'Mary,' and then she said'Rabboni.'All thepassagesofsalvationaredonebywayofcovenant,bywayofcommerceandintercoursebetweenGodandman,butGodbeginsfirst.Inelection,indeed,wechoosehim;buthechoosethusfirst.Andheknowethwho arehis, andwe knowhim; but he knowsus first.And incalling,weanswer,Ay;buthecallethfirst,andwedobutechotohiscall.Injustification,forgivenessofsins,weacceptofjustification,andsubmittotherighteousnessofChrist,andGod'spurposeofsavingmanthatway;buthegivethfaithfirst,forfaithisthegiftofGod.Weglorifyhimhereonearth, but it is from a result of God's glorifying us in heaven. Someearnestswehave,buttheyareofGod'sgiving.Allwedoisbutreflection

ofhislovefirst,orhisknowledgefirst.

TheChristiansoulsaith, 'ThouartmyGod;'ay,buthesaith first, 'Iamthy salvation,' Ps. 35:3. As Austin saith, Non frustra dicit anima, Deussalus tua:whenGodsaith, 'Iamthysalvation,' it iseasy for thesoul tosay,'ThouartmyGod'(e).Andthismayteachusinourdevotions,whenwe are to deal with God, whenwe are to bring to him any request, todesirehimfirsttorevealhimselftous,desireChristtorevealhimselfbyhisSpirittous.Itisanerrorinthecaseofmen'sdevotions.Theythinktobringsomethingoftheirownstrength,andtobreakin,asitwere,uponGod,withouthisdiscoveryfirst.ButPaulsaith,Gal.4:9,'WeknowGod,orrather,areknownofhim.'Wemustdesirethathewouldmakeknownhis heart to us first, and thenwe shall knowhim again; that hewouldspeaktousbyhisSpirit,andthenweshallanswertohimagain.Thathewouldsaytooursouls,he'isoursalvation;'andthenwemaylayclaimtohim,'heisourGod.'Desirethe'Spiritofrevelation,'torevealhisbowelsandlovetousinChristbyhisHolySpirit;forcertainly,ineveryreturnofours toChrist,Godbegins tous, all in all, thoughnot sensibly.Butweought topray, everydaymore andmore, for a sensible revelation, thatGodwouldrevealhis lovetous inChrist.Andwecannotbutanswer.IfChristsaith,'Mary,'Marycannotbutanswer,'Rabboni.'

Obj.Butyouwillsaythen,Itisnotourfault,butChrist'sfault,ifhemustbegin.IfGodbegins,weshallanswer.

Ans.Ianswerbriefly,thatGoddothalwaysbegintous,andisbeforehandwithus in all dealingswithourselves.Hegivethusmanymotions, andneverwithdrawethhimselffromus,butwhenheisdespisedandslightedfirst; therefore, let us take heed that we labour to answer Christ's callwhenhedothcall.Ifweslightit,theninajudicious*courseheceasethtospeak further to us, ifwe slight his beginnings of revelations. There bemanydegreesandpassagestofaithandassurance.Ifwedonotobservethebeginning,howGodbeginstorevealhimselftousbylittleandlittle,speaking to us by his Spirit in our hearts when he begins, then in aspiritualjudgmentsometimesheleavesustoourselves.AndthereforeletusregardallthemotionsoftheSpirit,andallthespeechesoftheSpiritofChrist, for he begins by little and little, else our consciences will sayafterward,wearenotsaved,becausewewouldnotbesaved.Wewould

not yield to all the passages of salvation; but when hewas beforehandwith us, and offeredmany sweetmotions, yet we loved our sins betterthanoursouls,andsorepelledall.Therefore,Ibeseechyou,donotrefusethesweetmessagesfromheaven,thegraciousandsweetmotionsoftheSpiritofChrist.†Makemuchofthem.Godhathbeguntoyou,besuretoanswer.LearnitofMary.WhenChristbegan,shesetnotherheartandinfidelityagainstit,butsheopenedherheart,andsaid,'Rabboni;'learn,therefore, the duty of spiritual obedience. When God speaks, 'Speak,Lord,forthyservantheareth,'1Sam.3:10.Donotshutyourearstothemotions of God's blessed Spirit; do not harden your hearts against hisvoice,butopenyourheartsasshedid:'Rabboni.'

OurSaviourChristheresaith, 'Mary;'butwhen?Afterhehadconcealedhimselffromheralongtime.Itisnotpresently'Mary,'nor'Rabboni.'Hehadconcealedhimselfagreatwhile.Christdothnotusuallyopenhimselffully at first, though at first he doth in some degree; but he observethdegrees, as in the church in general. You see how that he discovershimselfinhisgraciouspromisesbylittleandlittle;darklyatfirst,andatlasttheSunofrighteousnessarisethclearly.Sotheday-stararisethinourheartsbydegrees. It isagreatwhilebeforeMaryheareth thesatisfyingspeechofChrist,'Mary.'

Quest. Butwhy dothChrist thus conceal himself in regard of his fullermanifestation?

It ispartly to tryandexerciseour faithandothergraces;and thereforeGoddothseemtowithdrawhimselfinthesenseofhislove.

1. To see whether we can live by faith, or whether we be altogetheraddictedtosense,astheworldis,wholivealtogetherbysense,andnotbyfaith.

2. He would have our patience tried to the utmost. He would have'patience have its perfect work,' James 1:4. She had much patience toendureallthis.ButherpatiencehadnotaperfectworktillChristspake.

3.Christwill stirupandquickenzealand fervency inhischildren;andthereforeheseemedtodenythewomanofCanaan,Mat.15:21,seq.,and

Mark7:27, 28; first, he givethno answerbut anharsh answer, 'Adog.'Andsheworksupon it: 'ThoughIamadog,yetdogshavecrumbs.'Allwhich denial was only to stir up zeal and earnestness. And thereforethoughChristdothnotmanifesthimselftousatfirst,yet it istostirupzeal and affection to seek after himmore earnestly. A notable passagethereisofthis,Cant.3:1–6.ThesoulsoughtChrist,andsoughtlong,andsought in theuseofallmeans;butat lengthshewaited,and inwaitingshefoundhim.

4.Christdoththistosetabetterpriceuponhispresencewhenhecomes;to make his presence highly valued when he doth discover himself.Desiderata diumagis placent: things long desired pleasemore sweetly.Andthings,whenwanted,areingratiatedtous,aswarmthaftercold,andmeat afterhunger; and so in everyparticularof this life.And thereforeGod, to set a greater price on his presence, and that hewould be heldmorestronglywhenhedothrevealhimself,hedefersalongtime.Thatisone reasonwhy he did defer revealing himself toMary, that shemighthavethemoresweetcontentmentinhimwhenhedidrevealhimself,asindeedshehad.Longdeferringofathingdothbutenlargethesoul.Wantenlargeththedesireandcapacityofthesoul,sodothlove.Now,whenwewantthatwelove,thatemptieththesoulmarvellouslymuch;itmortifiethaffection.WhenGodkeepsoffalongtime,andweseeitisGodonlymustdo it, then the affection is taken off from earthly things, and the heartenlargedtoGodbylove,andthewantofthethingwelove.Andthereforewesetapriceonthething,sothatwearewonderfullypleasingtoGod.Itis very beneficial to ourselves. What lost Mary by it? So shall we losenothing. We have it at last more abundantly. We have it as a mightyfavour.Mary taketh this as a newblessing altogether.When things arekept long fromus, andGodonlymustdiscover,when theheart is keptfromsecondcauses,theheartisenlarged.CertainlythiscomesfromGod,andGodshouldhaveallthegloryofit.Godiswise;andthereforemakesustostayalongtimeforthatwedodesire.

WeallofusareinMary'scaseinaspiritualsense.SometimesorotherwemissChrist,ImeanthesweetsenseofChrist.Laythisdownforarule,thatChristiansoughttowalkinsweetcommunionwithGodandChrist,andthatitoughttobethelifeofaChristiantomaintainthecommunion

thatChristhathvouchsafedbetweenusandhimself.Then,certainly,weloseChristwonderfully;andnotagainstourminds,butwillingly,byourown slighting of him, and by our own undervaluing of him, or by ournegligenceorpresumption.Christ,thoughhebelow,yetheisgreat,andhewill haveus to knowhis greatness.Theremust be communionwithdue respect. One way or other we deprive ourselves of the sense andsweetnessofcommunionwithChrist.Whatmustwedo,then?Wemustdoasthewomandid:turnovereverystone;useallkindofmeans;leavenot one till we find him; and when all means are used, wait still.Persevereinwaiting,asPeterspeaks.Believers,wait;holdoutinwaiting,for Christ in his time will come. He cannot hold long. As Joseph didsuppresshis loveandaffectionforpoliticendsagreatwhile,Gen.45:3,but his pity towards his brethren was such that his bowels would notsufferhimtoconcealhimselflonger;hispassionwasabovehispolicy:'IamJoseph.'AndsoletusintheuseofallthingsseekChristandthesweetsenseofhislove,whichisbetterthanlifeitself.And,indeed,whatisallwithoutChrist?Christissofullofcompassion,hewillnotlongsufferustobeprolonged,butwillatlengthsatisfythehungrysoul,Ps.63:5.Howmanypromiseshavewetothisend!

Takeheedofsuchatemperofsoul,ascaresnotwhetherwefindChristorno. Oh take heed of that! If we will seek him, seek him asMary. Shesought him early in themorning; she brake her sleep and sought himwith tears. If anything be to be sought with tears, it is Christ andcommunion with him. She sought him instantly and constantly. Shesoughthimso, thatno impedimentcouldhinderher, shewasso fullofgrief and love.* She sought him with her whole heart, she waited inseeking. That is theway to findChrist. Seek him early, in our youngertimes, in themorningofour years.Oh thatwe could seekChrist asweseekourpleasures.WeshouldfindmorepleasureinChristthaninallthepleasures of the world, if we could persuade our base hearts somuch.Seekhimaboveallotherthings.Awakewiththisresolutioninourhearts,tofindChrist,nevertobequiettillwemaysaywithsomecomfort,'IamChrist's,andChrist ismine.'Whenwehavehim,wehaveall.Seekhimwithtears,atlengthwearesuretofindhim.Hehathboundhimself,thatifweknockhewillopen;andifweseekweshallfind:ifweseekwisdomearlywithourwholehearts,entirely,sincerely.SeekChristforChrist,and

thenweshallbesuretofindhim,asshedid.Thusseekhiminthewordandsacraments,whereinhediscovershimselffamiliarly.Seekhiminthetemple—'Christwas found in the temple,'Luke2:46—andthenweshallbesuretofindhimbothhereandhereafter.Speciallyweshallfindhiminourhearts.Youseehowfamiliarlyhecomestousintheword,speakstous by a man like ourselves. And how familiarly by the sacrament, bycommonbreadandcommonwine, sanctified todogreatmattersabovenature,tostrengthenfaith.Hecomethtousthroughourfaces, intooursoulsinthesacrament.Hecomethtous,throughourearsinhearingtheword,throughoursightinseeingthebreadbroken.Hecomesbyfamiliarthings,andbyafamiliarmannerofconveying,asifheshouldnameeveryone, 'Icometothee,andgivetheemybody.'Thinkwithourselves,NowChristcomethtome;whentheministerreacheththebreadandcomestome,thinkofheavenlybread,andofthegiftofChristtomebymeans.Andcanhedoitmorefamiliarly?Isitnotasifhewouldsay,'Mary'?Andthatis the excellency of the sacrament. It conveyethChrist to all the saints,and to every one in particular, as if he named every one. Andwhat anencouragementisthistoansweragain,toopenourheartstoreceivehim,togetherwiththeelements!toembraceChrist,joinwithChrist,andthentokeephimwhenwehavehim!Donotlosehim.Hewillnotbesodealtwithal.Rememberthecovenantwehavemadetohim.Ibeseechyou,letthesesweetconsiderationsofChristdwellinus,andworkoneveryoneofourhearts.Iftheydogoodonushereonearth,ifwebyfaithlayholdonhim, and have intercourse with him, what will it be in the day ofjudgment! How comfortable will it be to hear him say to every one inparticular, 'Comethou,andthou,standonmyrighthand,sitandjudgetheworldwithme?'1Cor.6:2.Dothheknowournamesnowonearth,andgivethtoeveryoneparticularlybyhimself,ifwecomeworthily?andwill not he know us then?Oh, that is farmoreworth than theworld'sgood,toknowusthenandtocallusbyournames!Therefore,Ibeseechyou,beacquaintedwithChrist.Haveintercourse,allwecan,withhiminthewordandsacraments,andneverresttillwefindthissweetresultintheuseofthemeans,'thatheisours,andwearehis.'

Takeheedthereforeinthesetimes,desperatelyaddictedtoformalityandpopery.Isay,takeheed,wedodependnotuponanyoutwardthing,butlooktoChristinallhisordinances,looktotheSpirit.AllGod'schildren,

thechurchofthefirst-born,theyareθεοδίδακτος,suchasare'taughtofGod.' Who can take away the opposite disposition of man's nature togoodness, but God by his Spirit? Who can shine into the soul, andquicken the soul, but Christ by his Spirit?Who is above the heart andconscience, but Christ by his Spirit? Therefore take heed of formality;submit your hearts to the great prophet of the church, that Mosesspeakethof,Deut.18:18,whoshallbethegreatteacherofthechurch;liftup our hearts to him, that he would teach our hearts, and remove thenaturaldispositionthatisinus;thathewould'takeofftheveilfromourhearts,'andteachnotonlywhattodo,butteachtheverydoingofthem.Teachus tohatewhat is ill, teachus tobelieve,andtoresistallSatan'stemptations. Who can teach but the great teacher, whose chair is inheaven? Therefore take heed of depending on formal things. Lift yourhearts toGod, that hewould joinhis teachingwith all other teachings.Thiscannotbetoomuchstoodupon.Ibeseechyou,therefore,takeittoheart.

Givemeleave,therefore,toaddafewthingsmore.IfChristspeakethingeneraltoMary,sheanswerethingeneral;andwhenhespeaksalooftoher, she answereth aloof to him, afar off, and never gave him a directanswer,tillhegaveadirectwordtoher.Whenhesaid, 'Mary,'shegavehimadirectanswer,'Rabboni;'notbefore.Ibeseechyou,therefore,letusnot rest in general promises and the general graces, that be so muchstoodonbysome,thatGodhathalikerespecttoall.Trustnottothat.Wemust not enter into his secrets, but let us obey his precepts andcommandments.Andwithal remember this,whenwehear of a generalmercyandcommandmentforallnationstobelieve,andthatChristcameto save aworld of sinners, alas!what is that tome, unless thouby thyHoly Spirit speakest to my soul, and sayest in particular, 'I am thysalvation,' and speakest familiarly to my soul? Generals are in somedegreescomfortable.ButifIfindnotparticularinterestbythewitnessofthyHolySpirittomysoul,ifthousayestnottomysoul,'Iamthine,andthouartmine,'allistolittlepurpose.Thereforeinthedesiresofoursoulsinprayer,letusdesiretheLordtorevealhimselfinparticular.Wetrusttoomuch in generals. God ismerciful, and Christ came to redeem theworld.Theybetruths,andgoodfoundationsfortofoundfaithupon,buttheywillnotdothedeed,tillbydailyprayerweseektotheLord,thathe

would in a particularmanner reveal himself to us.This dothPaul prayfor,Eph.1:17,'thatGodwouldvouchsafetothemtheSpiritofrevelation.'AndthisistheofficeoftheHolySpirit.Hisspecialofficeis,torevealtoevery one in particular his estate and condition God-ward. The HolyGhostknoweththesecretsinthebreastofGod,andinourownhearts.*Now the Holy Ghost can reveal the particular love that lieth in God'sbreast toourparticularsouls.AndthereforeweshoulddesireGod, thattheHoly Spirit may be sent to seal to us our particular salvation, andneverbequiet tillwebesealed inparticularassurance, thatwebe theywhomChristcametosave.Thisweoughttolabourfor.Ifwelabourforit,weshallhaveitsometimeorother,forGodlovethtobefamiliarwithhischildren.Helovethnottobestrangetothem,iftheyseekhislove,buttorevealhimselffirstorlast.Andfewseekit,butGodrevealethhimselfbyhis Spirit to thembefore theydie; if he dothnot, they are sure of it inheaven.Andthereforetheythatbeagainstparticulars,theyareenemiestotheirownsalvation.Maryregardednot,whileChristspakeofgenerals,butwhenhecametoparticulars,then'Rabboni,'andnotbefore.

'Jesussaithuntoher,Touchmenot;IamnotyetascendedtomyFather,'&c.

This verse containeth Christ's prohibition, or Christ's commission orcharge.Hisprohibition,'Touchmenot;'andhisreason,'forIamnotyetascendedtomyFather.'

Hischarge,'Gotomybrethren;'andthendirectethwhattosaytothem:'IascendtomyFather,andyourFather;tomyGod,andyourGod.'

Thewordsbeverynatural,andneednobreakingup toyou.But I shallhandlethem,astheyfollowoneanother.

'Jesussaidtoher,Touchmenot.'

'Touchmenot.'Why?HewouldhaveThomasnotonlytouch,buttoputhisfingerintohisside;thatismorethantouchinghim,John20:27.Butour Saviour's intent is to meet with a disposition in Mary somethingcarnal, something low and mean, in regard of this glorious occasion,Christ being now risen and glorified, for his resurrection was the first

degreeofhisglorification.Andtherefore,'Touchmenot.'Shecamewithtoomuchacarnalmindtotouchhim,whenshesaid,Rabboni.Itwasnotsatisfactionenoughforhertoanswer,'Rabboni,'butsherunnethtohim,and claspeth him, and clingeth about him, as the affection of love diddictatetoher.Butsaithhe,'Touchmenot'insuchamanner.Thisisnotafitmannerfortheetotouchmein,nowIamrisenagain.Inaword,shehad thought to conversewithChrist in as familiar amanner as before,whenshepouredointmentonhishead.Hewasthesameperson,butthecaseisaltered.Thatwasinthedaysofhishumiliation;nowhewasrisenagain,and itwasthe firstdegreeofhisglorification.Therewasanothermanner of converse due to him; and therefore, 'Touch me not.' Thouthinkest to touchmeas thoudidstbefore,but thoumustnotdo it.Shewastoomuchaddictedtohisbodilypresence.

1.Itisthatthatmenwilllabourafter,andhavelabouredfor,evenfromthe beginning of theworld, to be toomuch addicted to present things,and to sense. They will worship Christ, but they must have a picturebeforethem.TheywilladoreChrist,buttheymustbringhisbodydowntoapieceofbread;theymusthaveapresence.AndsoinsteadofraisingtheirheartstoGodandChristinaheavenlymanner,theypulldownGodandChrist to them.This theprideandbaseearthlinessofmanwilldo.AndthereforesaithChrist, 'Touchmenot'inthatmanner;itisnotwithmenowasitwasbefore.WemusttakeheedofmeanandbaseconceitsofChrist.WhatsaithPaul,2Cor5:16?'Iknownomannow,accordingtotheflesh;no,notChristhimself,nowheisrisen.'Christwasofsuchatribe,stature, had such gifts andqualities.What is that tome?Christ is nowLord of lords, and King of kings. He is glorious in heaven, and so Iconceiveofhim:'Iknownomanaftertheflesh;no,notChristhimself.'Iforgetwhathewasonearth,andthinkofhimwhatheisnowinheaven.Thereforetobringhimdowntoourbaseconceits,tosense,andthelike,thisisthehumourofmenthatlabourtocrossthescopeofthegospel.Forwhyaremensoaddictedtooutwardthings,outwardcompliments?Itispride, it is Satanical pride. They think that God is delighted withwhatsoever their folly is delighted withal. Because amongst men theremustbeadeala-doing,thereforetheythinkGodiswellpleasedwithsuchthings.God is aSpirit, and thoughoutward thingsbenecessary, yet allmustnotbeturnedoutward,asinpopery.WemustnotbringGoddown

toourfoolishconceits,asifheweredelightedasweare,Joshua4:24.

2. It iswonderful easy too.All outward things, anynaughty*menhavethemwiththeirsins.†Letamanperformalittleoutwardcompliment,hemay be what he will be, let him live as he will, and be possessed thatoutward thingswill serve the turn.He is safe;his conscience isdaubedup,tillGodbysenseofwrathawakenethconscience;andthentheyshallfinditanothermattertodealwithGodthanbycompliment.

3.Thereisalsoagreatgloryinoutwardthings.Thereiscommendations,andmen'sobservanceofthem,asinthePharisees,andinpopery.ButthespiritualworshipofChristhathnoobservancetotheeyeoftheworld.Itis between God and the soul. Men naturally love those things that beglorious.ItissaidofEphraim,thathelovedtotreadoutthecorn,butnottoplough,Hosea10:11;thatis,Ephraimwilltakethatwhichiseasy,butnot that in God's worshipwhich is hard. There be two things in God'sservice: an easy thing, which is outward compliment; an hard thing,which is to trust him, to deny ourselves, to rely upon him and live byfaith.AndthatEphraimwillnotdo.Ephraimwilltreadthecorn,becausetheheifermayeatcorn;buttherebehardthingsinreligionwhichhewillnotpractise.Hewillnotplough. 'Touchmenot,'saithChrist.Thouhastnotconceitsspiritualenoughtodealwithme,nowIamrisen.

Butwhatisthereason?'Touchmenot;forIamnotyetascendedtomyFather.' That seemeth to be a strong reason. But it seemeth to be acontraryreason.Touchmenotnow,whenmybodyispresent;buttouchmewhenIamgone,andremovedoutofsightofallflesh.Touchmenotnow, when thou mayest touch me; and touch me when there is animpossibilityoftouchingme.Thisisseeminglystrange.Butindeedthereisno contrariety in it: 'Touchmenot; for I amnot yet ascended to theFather.'

Thereisadoublemeaningofthewords.Firstofall,'Touchmenot;forIamnotyetascended,'&c.Thouneedestnotclaspandclingaboutme,asifI would stay no more with you below; 'I am not yet ascended to theFather.'Therewillbetimeenoughafterwards.Fortheword'touch,'intheoriginal,dothnotsignifymerelytotouch,butclasp,associate, join,andsolderwithathing(f).§TheScripturespeakingoftheevilman,youshall

not touchhim; that is,notmakehimonewithhim.Thedevil shallnottakehimfromChristandmakehimonewithhimself.Itisastrangewordintheoriginal: 'Thouclaspestaboutme,thoudostmorethantouchme,thouclingesttomeandwiltnotleaveme,asifIwouldgopresentlytotheFather;butIamnotyetascendedtotheFather.'Thatisonepartofthemeaning.

But there is a farther than that, 'I am not yet ascended to the Father;touchme not.' That is, it is anothermanner of touch that I look for—bettorforthee,andinsomeregardforme—totouchmebythehandoffaithwhenIamascendedtotheFather.Thentouchme,andtakethyfullof touchingme.ButforthepresentIamnotascended;Ihavenotdoneall; I have not manifested myself to my disciples in full. When I amascended,allisdone,andthenthereisplacefortouch.AndthatItakeismeanthere, I amnot yet ascended to theFather.Thou thinkest I havedoneall that is tobedone,but thouartdeceived. Imust ascend to theFather,andwhenIamthereIexpecttobetouchedafteranothermanner,after a gracious, spiritualmanner,which is by faith; asAugustine saithwell,'Sendupthyfaithtoheaven,andthenthoutouchestChrist.'*Ashesaid in the sacrament, 'Quid paras dentem et ventrem? Crede, etmanducasti:Whatdostthoupreparethyteethandstomachfor?Believe,andthouhasteaten'(g).SothebestcommunionwithChrististobelieve,tillwecometoheaventohaveeternalcommunionwithhim.Thistouchwilldotheelittlegood,anditpleasethmeaslittle.WhenIamascendedtotheFather,thentouchmeatthefull.SoyouseewhatChristmeaneth.

ThelifeofaChristianhere,andthemannerofthedispensationofChristhere,isbypromise,andbyhisSpirit;thatweshouldlivebyfaith,andnotby sense. The life of sight is reserved for another world, when we arefittedforit.Shewasnotfitforalifeofsense,butwastoexpecttheHolyGhostfromheaven;tobefilledwiththat,andthentobefilledwithfaithandlove;andthentohaveanholycommunionwithhiminheaven.But'Iamnotyetascended.'Thusyouseethemeaning,'Touchmenot.'

TherebetworeasonsofChrist'sprohibition.

1.Herrespectswere toocarnalandordinary,consideringhewas in thestateofglory.Andthen,

2. For that there will be time enough. Do not stand embracing ofme,thereisagreaterworkfortheetodo.Christpreferredthegreatworkofgiving notice to his disciples of his resurrection, before the office ofrespectandservicetohimself.Goaboutaduty,thatImoreregardagreatdeal: 'Go, tellmy brethren I ascend,' &c. So that every part of the textyieldssatisfactiontothatprohibition.

'Go,'saithhe,'tomybrethren.'Ihaveanotherworkfortheetodo,'Touchmenot.'Thou clasps aboutmeas if thouhadstnothing todo.There isanother work to do that pleaseth me better, and more fit for thee: tocomfort them that are indistress,mypoorbrethrenanddisciples.Andtherefore'gotomybrethren,andsayuntothem.'SothatChristprefersaworkofcharitytohispoordisciplesbeforeaworkofcomplimenttohisown person. She clingeth about him; but 'this is not it I would have.'Thosepoorsoulsaremourninganddisconsolateforme,asifIwerecleantakenaway;gotothem,andpreventtheirfarthersorrow.

Godhathawonderful respect toothers. It is strange thatChrist shouldsay, 'Goandbe reconciled to thybrethren,and thenoffer thysacrifice,'Mat.5:24.Asifhewouldhavehisownsacrificeneglected,ratherthanweshouldnotbereconciledtoothers.Andsoaworkofcharityandlove ispreferredbeforeanofficiumandcomplimenttohimself.Letusshewourlovetothefirsttableinthesecond,ourlovetoGodbyourlovetoman.Everything hath its measure and time. Away therefore with this over-muchembracingandtouching.Gothyway,thouhastanotherworktodo:'Gotomybrethren.'Andsoyousee,asItakeit,thefullmeaningofthewords.

Observe the circumstances. Who must go? Here is a commission andcommand. And to whom? To the disciples of Christ. And when dothChrist bid her go?When he was risen, and in the first estate of glory.Whatisthemessage?'TellmybrethrenIamascendingtomyFather,andyour Father; tomyGod, and yourGod.' It isworth your considering alittle.

1.Whoissent?Awoman.Awomantobetheapostleofapostles,tobetheteacherof thegreat teachers in theworld.MaryMagdalenewassent toinstruct the apostles in the great articles of Christ's resurrection and

ascension toheaven.By awomandeath came into theworld, andby awoman lifewaspreached to theapostles;because indeedshewasmoreaffectionate, and affection taketh all. And that makes that sex moreaddicted to religion, by the advantage of their affection; for religion ismerelyamatterofaffection.Thoughitmusthavejudgmentshinebeforeit, yet it is specially in the heart and affections. And she had shewed agreat deal of affection. She stood out when the rest went away, John19:25.Shewasconstant,andbrokethroughalldifficulties;andthenGodhonouredhertobethefirstpreacherofhisresurrection.

God's course is to trust secrets in earthen vessels, that earthen vesselsshouldcarryheavenlytreasure;andthereforesticknotatthevessel,butlooktothetreasure,2Cor.4:7.Awomanmayteachthegreatestapostle.Looknot to theman,but to themessage.Eliaswillnotrefuse themeatbecause the ravenbrought it, 1Kings 17:4.And a condemnedmanwillnot refuseapardon,becauseameanmanbringeth it.Takeoffpride inspiritual respects. When God honours any man to bring news ofreconciliation,stooptohim,ofwhatconditionsoeverhebe.

2.Towhommustshego? 'Go, tellmybrethren,' theapostles.Gototheapostles, that are disconsolate men, now orphans, deprived of theirMaster and Lord. Disconsolate men, and not in vain, so not withoutcause;fortheyhadreasontobediscomforted,notonlyfortheirwantofChrist,butfortheirownillcarriagetowardsChrist.Oneofthemdeniethhim,andtherestforsakehim;andyet'mybrethren,''gotellmybrethren.'

3.Whendidhespeakthis?Afterhisresurrection,inthestateofglory;inthe beginning of it, and when he is ascending to heaven; and yet heowneth them as brethren, though such brethren as had dealtmost un-brotherlywithhim.

Buthowcametheytobehisbrethren?AndhowcomewetobeChrist'sbrother.Christ is the first-bornofmanybrethren,Rom.8:29.He is theSonofGodbynature;andallothersnow,bygraceandadoption,Rom.8:17.Christ is theprimo-genitusamongstmanybrethren;and inChristwehaveoneFatherwithChrist.Wehaveonehonour,andweshallbeallkings and heirs of heaven, as he is. 'If sons, then heirs,' Gal. 4:7; theapostlemakesthecoherence.NowweareallinChristsonsofGod,heirs

withhim.Togototheconditionofnaturethathetook,ournature;andtherefore having our flesh, he is our brother, Heb. 2:14. The veryreprobatemaysayso.Yetthatisagroundofcomfort,thatheisamanasweare.Butthatisnotthemainthingconsiderable.Heisourbrotherinaspiritualrespect,inregardofadoption.HeisthefirstSonofGod,andwein him sons.He is the first heir of God, andwe in him are heirs. Andtherefore'gotomybrethren.'

Beloved,itisapointofmarvellouscomfort,thatChristwasnotashamedto call them brethren, Ps. 22:22: 'I will declare thy name amongst thybrethren,' saithChrist.OurSaviourChrist alluded to thatpsalm in thispassage;andsoitisread,Heb.2:12,outofthatpsalm.Christhathtakenall relations, that are comfortable, upon him towards us. 'He is theeverlastingFather, thePrinceofpeace,' Isa.9:6.He is 'asecondAdam,'andthereforea father in thatregard.The firstAdamis the fatherofallthatperish;thesecondAdamisthefatherofallthatshallbesaved.Asheisourbrother,soourhusband.Hecouldnotbeourhusband,excepthewereourbrother.Hemusttakeournature,andbeonewithus,beforewecanbe onewithhim.He is our friend.Before this timehe called themfriends,asyouseeinJohn:'Iwillcallyoufriends,'John15:15.Buthereisasweeterterm,'brethren.'Thereisnorelationthathathanycomfortinit,butChristhathtakenitonhim.Heisourhead,husband,friend,father,brother,andwhatsoevercanconveycomforttous.*Andthetruthofitis,heisthesethingsmoretrulythananyrelationismadetrueonearth.Forthese relations of husband andwife, andbrother and sister, and fatherand child, are but shadows of that everlasting relation thatChrist hathtakenuponhim;therealityandtruthitselfisinChrist.Wethinkthereisno brother, but the brother in flesh; no father, but the father in flesh.Alas!thesearebutshadows,andquicklycease:'thefashionoftheworldpassethaway,'1Cor.7:31.Brotherisanotherrelation,whereofthesearebutshadows.Thesedobutrepresentthebestthingsthatare inheaven.Christ is the father, brother, friend, and whatsoever is comfortable inheaven;therefore'gotellmybrethren.'

Obj.Ay,butsaiththepoorsoul,Ithathavebeensosinful,sounworthyawretch,shallIhavecomfort inthis, thatChrist ismybrother,andIamChrist's?Icannotdoit.

Ans.1. Iprofess thoucanstnotdo it, 'fleshandbloodmustnot teach itthee,' thoumustbe taughtby theSpiritofChrist.Butconsiderhowtheapostles used Christ. Thou canst not call Christ brother, because thouhastbeenasinner,andhastcarried thyselfunkindly toChrist.Anddidnotthedisciplesso?Didnottheyleavehim,andoneofthemdenyhim,andthatwithoaths?Therefore,whatsoeveroursinshavebeen,denynotour relation to Christ. The poor prodigal said, 'I am not worthy to becalledason,'Iamnotworthytobecalledaservant,Luke15:21.

Hedeniednotthathewasason,buthewasunworthyofit.AndsoIamunworthytobeaspouseandbrotherofChrist,yetdonotourunfaithfulheartssomuchpleasure,astodenyourrelation.

Theapostleswere sodignified, as tobe called the 'pillarsof theworld,'Gal. 2:9. But these left him, and yet for all that, in this time of theirdesertionofhim,'gotellmybrethren.'Thereforebenotdiscouraged.GotoChrist inourworst condition, inour greatest temptations,whenourheartsmisgiveusmostthatwehaveusedGodmostunkindly,andSatanpliedusmostwithdesperate temptations;yetownhimforourbrother,who owned his disciples when they dealt most unkindly with him. Ibeseech you, count it a comfort unvaluable,whichno tongue is able toexpress,thatChristafterhisresurrectionshouldcall'brethren.'Hemightwellcallthembrethrenafterhisresurrection,becausethenalldebtsweredischarged by his death. He had paid their debts, and now theacquittancewasduetothem,becauseChristassuretyhadpaidall.NowIamrisen, 'goand tellmybrethren so.' Ifwecanmakeuseof thedeathandresurrectionofChrist,andsay,Christhathdiedformysins,androseagainformyjustification;Iwillinterestmyselfinhisdeath,Iwillclaimthe virtue of his resurrection; then take the comfort of this. In popery,theyhadmuchcomfort in thosedark times,whenacompanyofproud,carnal, beastlymen ruled the roast according to their own lusts. Theseclergymenmadeagreatpotherwith fraternityandbrotherhood.And iftheywereofsuchafraternityofDominicorFrancis,ormerelyinafriar'scowl, it was not only satisfactory, but meritorious, they could not doamiss. Away with these shadows. Here is the brotherhood that mustcomfort Christians, that Christ owned us for brethren after hisresurrection.Hepaiddear for it,alas!Areweworthsomuch, thatGod

shouldbecomemantodie forus, to riseagain forus, to justifyus,andmakeusbrethren?Thatinfinitelove,thatGodbecamemananddiedforus,androseagaintoownusforhisbrethren,willsatisfyalldoubts.Shallwedoubtanythingofthatlove?Whenheoutofhisfreelovewillownusasbrethren,shallnotweownhim?Iconfessit isamarvellousthing, intimesoftemptationitisdifficulttomakeuseofit.Oh,butpraywiththegoodapostle, 'Lord,increaseourfaith,'Luke17:5;withthepoormaninthe gospel, 'I believe;Lord,helpmyunbelief,'Mark9:24. Sowhenanytemptationcomethforourunworthinessandourundeserving,thenthinkChristafterhisresurrectioncalledhisapostles'brethren,'andhewillbecontenttobemybrother,ifIwillbelievehediedforme,andIwillcastmyselfuponhim;thereforeawaywithalldoubts.

Therebemanyotherobservationsoutofthewords.

(1.)Willyouhave the firstwords inestateofglory,his firstwordsafterdeath?'Goandtellmybrethren.'Thinkinadesperateextremity,thinkofthesweetmessagehesentbyMaryMagdalenetohisunworthy'brethren,'thathedied for, and [had] givenhis blood tomake themhis brethren.Think of his free love to you. It is not for your worthiness orunworthiness,butofhisownfreelove,thathecamefromheaventotakeyour nature. It is his own free love that he came to die; and thereforeconceivenotofworthinessnorunworthiness,butconsiderthecommandofGod tobelieve; and ifweperish, perish there.Cast ourselves onourbrother,thatwillownusinourworstcondition.Thatisthegranduse.

(2.)Again,IfGodownsusinhisgloriouscondition,shallwebeashamedofthedoctrineofChrist,ofthechildrenofGod,toownthem?WhatsaithChrist?Itisaterriblethunderbolt. 'Hethatisashamedofmeandofmywordbeforemen,IwillbeashamedofhimbeforemyheavenlyFather,'Mark 8:38. Take heed of being ashamed to stand out a good cause, inmattersofreligion.Christwasnotashamedtocallusbrethrenwhenwewereattheworst,andhehimselfinagloriouscondition;hewasinglory,and thedisciplesdrooping in considerationof their guilt, that theyhadforsaken him, and yet 'brethren' still. And shall not we own him, thatowneth us in state of glory? How shall we look that he will own ushereafter,whenhetrustethuswithhiscauseandglory,andwebetrayalltopleasuresuchandsuch?CanwelookChristinthefacewithcomfort,if

weneglecthiscause,histruth,andhischurch?

(3.)Again,Makethisuseofit,Christisourbrother,andwillnothetakeourparts?Absalomwasadisobedientson,yetAbsalomwouldnotlethissister Tamar be abused; hewould be revenged of that. Andwill Christsufferhis sister,his spouse,his church tobe abused long?Nay,will heleave his 'dove, his love, his undefiled one,' Cant. 5:2, where he hathplacedallhis joyandcontentment, tothemaliceandfuryof theenemylong?Certainlyhewillnot.Certainlyhewillbeavengedonhisenemies.Ifnature, that he hath put into the wicked, sinful men, teach them torevenge indignities offered to their kindred, will Christ suffer hisbrethren,hissisters,tobeabused?'Saul,Saul,whypersecutestthoume?'Acts9:4.Nowheisinheaven,thechurch'scaseishisown.Andthereforecomfortourselveswiththatsweetrelation.Christhathundertakentobeourbrotherinstateofglory.Whatacomfortisitthatwehaveabrotherin heaven! What a comfort was it to the poor patriarchs, when theythoughtwith themselves,wehave abrother, Joseph, that is the secondman in the kingdom! And so, what a great comfort is it for poorChristianstothink,thatthesecondinheaven,thatsittethatGod'srighthand, that isKingofkingsandLordof lords,andthatrulethall, isourbrother! Is not this a main comfort, yea, beyond all expression, if wecouldmakeuseofitbyfaithanswerabletoourtrouble?ThereforegotoJoseph,thathathlaidupcomfortforus.Hehathcomfortenoughforus,he hath treasures of comfort. Whatsoever is necessary for us, we mayhaveinChristourelderbrother.Andtherefore'gotomybrethren.'

Ibeseechyou,letusmakeauseofexhortation,tobestirredup,tolabourbyfaithtobeonewithChrist;andthenhewillbeourhead,ourhusband,ourbrother,ourfriend,ourall.Saywhatyoucan,Christwillbe'allinall'to all his.Hehath enough inhim: 'Of his fulnesswe shall receive, andgrace for grace.' Oh labour to be one with Christ. Do not lose such acomfort as is offered. He offereth himself first to be our Saviour andRedeemer,andthenourbrother;neverrestthereforetillwehavepartinChrist.Andthenlabourtomakeuseof,inalltemptationscatchfastholdof, everything that is useful, as it is the nature of faith to do, likeBenhadad's servants, who made use of that word 'brother.' He is my'brother,'saidthekingofIsrael,ascommonofficesmakekindred,1Kings

20:33.Hehadbutletpassthetermof'brother,'andtheywouldnotletitgo,butcatchatit:'ThybrotherBenhadad.'Weseewhatwisdomfleshandbloodcanteach,tomakeanimprovementofanycomfortintheworld,ifbykindred,oroffice,oranyrelationintheworld,theymakeuseofthem.Andwhenwebe inChrist, shallnotwemakeuseof them,whenwebetroubled with sense of sin, or in desperate conditions? When Christcallethusbrother,shallnotweanswer,'Iamthybrother'?Blessedbethymercy and love, that descended so low as to make me thy brother! Ibeseech you, let us not lose the comfortswemayhave in the disciples'beingcalledChrist'sbrethren,whentheywereinsomesortenemies.Butheknewtheirheartsweresound,anditwasbuttheirweakness;thereforelet noweakness discourage thee.Hewill not 'quench the smoking flax,norbreakthebruisedreed,'Mat.12:20.Is thyheartright toChrist?artthounotafalsehypocrite,asecrettraitortoChrist,andtohiscauseandchurch? Then be of good comfort; thou mayest go to Christ as to thybrother.ThoughPeterdeniedhimwithhismouth,yetheconfessedhimwith his heart. And therefore 'go tellmy disciples,' and Peter—he hathmostguilt,andthereforehehathmostneedofcomfort.Bethyguiltneversogreat,ifthouwiltcomeintocovenantwithGod,hereismercyforthee,and thereforemake thisuseof it.Never forget, inyourworst conditionthatmaybe,sinceChristwillstoopsolowtoownyoutobebrethren,tomakeuseofit,ifyourheartsberighttowardshim.

'Go tomybrethren.'Now I come to the commissionor chargegiven toher. 'Gotomybrethren.'Whoisthepartycharged? 'Mary.'Andwhatisher charge? To go to the apostles under the sweet term of 'brethren.'Whendothhe call themso?Afterhis resurrection;whenhewas in thestateofglory.What is themessage?It isverysweet,Go,saytothem, 'Iascend to my Father, and your Father; to my God, and your God.' 'Iascend;' that is, I presently am to ascend, in a very short time I shallascend.ItwasbutfortydaysbetweenEasterandAscension,andallthattimeChristappearednowandthen.It is thenatureof faith,where it isglorious,fortopresentfuturethingsasifpresent,especiallywhentheybenear.'Iascend;'thatis,Ishallveryshortlyascend,anditisalloneasifIascendpresently.TowhomdoIascend?'IascendtomyFather.'To'myFather.' That is not comfort enough. Therefore 'to your Father too.' 'Iascend toGod.'That isnot comfort enough.Therefore 'tomyGod,and

yourGod.'Weshallunfoldthewordsaswecomeatthem.

First,MaryMagdalene,awoman,asinner,isusedinthegreatworkofanapostle,tobeanapostletotheapostles.Iwouldtherewerethatloveinallmen to teach what they know; and that humility in others, to beinstructedinwhattheyknownot.Itwereasweetconjunctionif itwereso. Shewas ameanperson to instruct the great apostles.But, beloved,wherethereisagreatdealoflove,theretheywillteachwhattheyknow;andwherethereishumility,theretheywillbetaughtwhattheyknownot,thoughtheybeneversogreat.AndGodwillhumblethegreatesttolearnofthemeanestsometimes.ThereforehesendethMarytotheapostles.

I beseech you, inmatters of salvation, stand not on terms. Let us taketruthfromChrist,letusseeGodandChristinit,seeourowncomfortinit, not stand upon persons. Aquila and Priscilla teach the great menknowledge, Acts 18:2, seq. And so it is. Sometimes mean persons arehonoured to be instruments of great comforts to persons greater thanthemselves.Sheistogototheapostlesunderthenameofbrethren:'Gotell my brethren.' And she must go to the apostles that were Christ'sbrethren,andowned tobe sonow,whenhewas inglory,whenhewasrisenandexempt fromallabasementsof thecrossandgrave,wherehewasheldcaptivethreedaysunderthedominionofsin,whenhewasfreedfrom all enemies of salvation, and had triumphed over all. 'Go tellmybrethren.'SoyouseethereisasweetaffinityandnearnessbetweenChristandhis.Christ tookournatureonhimfor thisend:hebecame fleshofourflesh,andboneofourbone,thatwespirituallymightbefleshofhisfleshandboneofhisbone.Itisnocomfortatall;aninducingcomfortitis,butnoactual,presentcomfort,thatChristwasincarnateforus;foralltheworldmighthavecomfortinthat,Turks,Jews,Pagans,thathadthenatureofmaninthem.Andallhavesomecomfortinit,astheirnatureisdignified;andthathetooknotonhimthenatureofangels,butthenatureofman,hisspouse,hischurchitisthathaththecomfortofit.Thereforeitisnotsufficientthathebeboneofourboneandfleshofourflesh;butwemustbeboneofhisbone,andfleshofhisflesh.Wemustbeingraffedandbaptisedintohimbyfaith,andthenthetermholdeth,andnevertillthen;so that there is a sweet nearness betweenChrist and his. 'Brother' is amostcomfortable relation. It isa comfort thathe tookournatureupon

him, that Godwould take 'dust and ashes,' earth, into the unity of hisperson.ForGodtobecomemanisagreatdignifyingofman'snature.Butto takenot only ournatureonhim,but to takeourpersonparticularlyneartohim;thouandthoutobeamemberofChrist,thereisthehonourofit.ItinducethustocometoChristthathathlovedournaturesomuch.But theother isanactual,present comfort,whenwecansay, 'I ammybeloved's,andmybelovedismine.'

Ourheartsaretoonarrowagreatdealtoembracethewholecomfortthatthiswordaffordsuntous,thatChristshouldownusashisbrotherafterhis resurrection, for thatshewetha reconciliation. 'Brother' isa termoffriendship, nay,more than a term of reconciliation, for amanmay bereconciledtoanenemy;but it isatermofamity,toshewthatwhenwebelieve in Christ and are one with him, our sins are quitted; death isovercome; Satan's head is crushed when God is reconciled.What havetheytodowithus?Theyareonlytoserveourturnstobringustoheaven,and fit us for it. I beseech you, consider of the excellent freedom anddignityofaChristian;hisfreedominthatheisthebrotherofChrist;freefromall,beingownedbyChristafterhisresurrection,allbeingquitbyhisdeathwhowasoursurety,elseheshouldbeinthegravetothisday.Andthen think of our dignity, to be brother to him that is King of heaven,Lordoflords,rulerofthewholeworld;thathathallthingssubjecttohim.Ohthatourheartswereenlargedtoconceivethewonderfulcomfortthatevery Christian hath in this relation! 'Go tell my apostles,' under thesweettermof'brethren.'

Whoartthou,willSatansay,fleshandblood,apieceofearth,wretchedsot;wiltthouclaimkindredofChrist?

Ay, saith the Christian, believing soul, it is true. If it were my ownworthiness itwereanothermatter,but Iwill givehim the lie.Whenheownedmeforhisbrotherafterhisresurrection,shallIdenytherelation?Therefore never believe Satan's tempting words and sinful flesh; forSatancomethtousinourownflesh,andmakethusthinkGodandChristtobesuchandsuch.Ay,butwhatsaithChristhimself?Believehimandnot Satan, that cometh to thee in thy own despairing, dark, doubtingflesh. Believe the word of Christ, who calleth thee brother, if thoubelievestonhim,andcastestthyselfuponhim.

This sheweth the dignity of a Christian when he is once in Christ, theexcellent, superexcellent, transcendent glory of a Christian.When theytoldourSaviourChristthathismotherandbrethrenweretospeakwithhim, saithhe, 'They thathearmywordanddo it, they aremybrother,and sister, and my mother,' Luke 8:21. This is the excellency of aChristian,thatheisofsonearakintoChrist.WhenwebelieveChrist,itisalloneasifweconceivedChrist,asifwewerebrotherstoChrist,asifwe were of the nearest kindred to him. Nay, it is more; he preferrethmother before mother, brother before brother; mother in spirit beforemother in the flesh, and brother in spirit before all other brothers.Therefore an excellent thing to be a Christian!When once a ChristiangivethhimselftoChrist,anddeniethhisowndoubting,despairingheart,which is the greatest enemy he hath, 1. Then what belongeth to him?Then God is his, and Christ is his; hemust have an inheritance; he isfellow-heirwithout;*allarehis.2.Whatcarriethheinhim?HecarriethinhimtheSpiritoftheFatherandtheSon,andthegracesoftheSpirit,whichmakehim lovely toGod. 3.What cometh fromhim?Having thepreciousgracesoftheHolyGhostinhim,whatcancomefromhimasaChristianbutgraceandcomforttoothers?Heisatreeofrighteousness;andwhatcancomefromagoodtreebutgoodfruit?Sofarheisso.

Soifyouregardwhatbelongethtothem,whatisinthem,theinheritancethey shall have, or what cometh from a Christian, that is, brother ofChrist, he is an excellent person, more excellent than his neighbour.There is noman in the world, never so great, but is a base person incomparisonofaChristian.Whatwillallbeere long?Ifamanbenot inChrist, these thingswilladd toourvexation. Itwillbeamisery tohavehadhappiness;thegreaterwillbethemiserywhentheymustbepartedwithal. And therefore raise your hearts to consider of the excellentconditionofaChristianwhenheisoncethebrotherofChrist.

Iconfessitisanhiddendignity;asPaulsaith,'OurlifeishidwithChristinGod,'Col.3:3.Wehavea life,aglorious life,but it ishid. It isdark;sometimesundermelancholy,sometimesundertemptations,sometimesunder the afflictions of the world and disgrace, and so it is an hiddenexcellency, but it is a true excellency. The world knoweth us notmorethantheyknowGodandChrist.Butit isnomatter,Godknowethusby

name.HeknewMarybyname,asitissaidinIsaiah,'Ihavecalledtheebyname,'45:3.He is a shepherd, thatknowethhis sheepbyname, and isknownofthem.Heknoweththee,andthee,andthee,byname;yea,andthehairsofthyheadarenumbered;andthereforeitmattersnotthoughthy dignities be hid with the world. Yet God knoweth them. He hathwrittenallthymembersinabook,andhehathabookofremembranceofthee.Andthereforeitisnomatterthoughitbeanhiddendignity.ItisatruedignitytobeabrotherofChrist.

Letusopposethistothedisgraceoftheworld,andtoalltemptationsofdiscouragementwhatsoever.Whatarealldiscouragementstothis?Theyfall all before this, thatwe are the sons ofGod and brethren of Christ.Whatcandiscourageaman that is thusapprehensiveof thisexcellencyupongoodterms?Iwillenlargethepointnofurther,butleaveittoyourownmeditations,andtheSpiritofGodworkwithit!

'Gotomybrethren.'Whendothhebidhergo?Nowafterhisresurrection,whenhewas to ascend toheaven.The first degree of his glorywashisresurrection,afterhislowestabasementinthegrave.YouseethathonourdothnotchangeChrist'sdisposition,asitdothamongstmen.Whentheybeadvanced to greatplaces, theywillnot lookon their old friends andacquaintance; but Christ hath no such disposition, he owneth his poordisciples in theirgreatestabasements: 'Go tellmybrethren.'Nowwhenhewas in a stateof glory, ready to go toheaven, andhe giveth themamorecomfortabletitlenowthaneverbefore.Inthegospelhecalledthem'servants,'and'friends,'and'apostles,'and'disciples;'butnow'brethren,'awordofallsweetness,andnothingbutsweetness.'Gotellmybrethren'presently;Christwouldhavenodelay,forhesawtheyhadpresentneed.Christ's love is a quickening love, and the fruits of it are very speedy.There ismore than angelical swiftness in Christ when there is need ofhim.Godhelpethatneed,inthemostseasonabletime,andheknoweththe timebest of all.Hedidbut rise in themorning, and the very sameday,'Gotellmybrethren.'YehaveCant.2:8,thatChristcometh'leapinguponthemountains.'Whenhewastohelphischurch,'heleapedoverthemountains;'as intheeighthverse, 'Thevoiceofmybeloved!behold,hecomethleapinguponthemountains,skippinguponthehills.'Hecomethfromheaventoearth,fromearthtothegrave;andnowheisrisen,heis

allinhaste,hemakethnostay,becausehismannerofdespatchis,tohelpand comfort by the ministry of others. Go quickly; do not standembracingofme,but'goandtellmybrethren.'

Obj.Butwhythendonotwefindcomfortsooner,thatareafflicted?

Ans.Beloved,whereisthefault?IsitinChrist?Youstandoutatstaves-end*withChrist;youwillnotembracecomfortswhentheybeoffered,orelse you be not sufficiently humbled; for he is wise as he is swift, heknowethwhichbethebesttimes.

YouseethenthatChrist,sosoonaseveritisfitforhim,hewillcome.Ifheshouldcomesooner,hewouldcometoosoon;ifafterward,itwouldbetoo late.He is thebestdiscernerof timesand seasons that canbe, andthereforewaithisleisure.Ifthouwantcomfort,humblesoul,whosoeverthouart,waithis leisure.Certainlyheknoweththebesttime,andwhenthetimeiscome,hewillcome.'Hethatwillcomeshallcome,'Heb.10:37,thereisnoquestionofthat.

Nowashesentherinallhaste,preferringitbeforeanycomplimenttohisownperson,soitisaconstantlove.AsitisaquicklovethatGodbearstohis children, so it is a constant, invincible love. They had dealt mostunbrotherly with him, for every one had forsaken him, and Peter haddeniedhim;yet,'Gotellmybrethren.'Onewouldthinkthiswaterwouldhavequenchedthisfire;thisunkindandunbrotherlydealingwouldhavequenched this love inChrist's breast. It is true, if it hadbeen themerelove of man, it had been something; but it was the love of an infiniteperson,thattookournatureoutoflove,andthereforeitwasaconstantand invincible love.Nothing could conquer it,not the thoughtsof theirunkinddealings,no,nottheirdenyingandforsakingofhim.Butstill,'Gotellmy brethren.' 'Love is strong as death,' Cant. 8:6. Death could notholdChristinthegrave,butloveheldhimonthecross.Whenhecametotheworkof our redemption, love thenheldhimonearth;butwhenhewasinthegrave,itbrakethroughallthere.Indeed,itwasstrongerthandeath,inChrist.

Quest.Why is Christ's love so constant, so invincible, that nothing canalterit?

Resolution.Thegroundofitis,itisfreelove.Hefetcheththegroundofhis love fromhis ownheart; not fromourworthiness or unworthiness,but from his own freedom, and God's eternal purpose. God hathpurposedtosavesomany,andthoseandnomorehegivethtoChristtosave.AndGodlookethonhisownpurpose,Christ'sfreelove,andthatisthe ground of all. And thereforewhom he loveth he loveth to the end,becausehelookedonusinhiselection.TheLordknowethwhoarehis;the foundation is so sure, if once we be God's we are ever God's. ForChristlooksonusinGod'selection.Therefore,ifeverheshewethhislovetous,oncehisloveandforeverhislove.Ifanythinginmancouldhinderit, it would have hindered it at our first conversion, when we were atworst,evenenemies; ifnothingcouldhinder it then,whatcanhinder itafterwards? as the apostle reasoneth strongly: Rom. 5:10, if we bereconciledbyhisdeath,muchmorewillhesaveusbyhislife.'Ifwhenwewere enemieswewere reconciled toGod by the death of his Son, nowmuchmore,being reconciled, shallwebe savedbyhis life.' Ifwhenwehadnogoodness,butoppositionandrebellioninus,weweresavedbyhisdeath,Christ ismuchmore able to saveusnowbyhis life, triumphingoverdeathandbeinggloriousintheheavens.

Obj.Ohbut,saiththepoorsoul,Iamapoorweakcreature,andreadytofallawayeveryday.

Ans.AybutChrist's love is constant. 'Whomhe lovethhe loveth to theend.' What saith the apostle? Rom. 8:38, 'Neither things present, northingstocome,shallbeabletoseparateusfromtheloveofChrist;'andtherefore be strong in the Lord, and in the power of hismight; do nottrust toyourselves,nor troubleyourselves for things to come. If youbefree from guilt of former sins, never question time to come. God isunchangeable inhisnature,unchangeable inhis love.He is 'Jehovah, Iam,'always;not'Iwasorwillbe,'but'Iamalways.'Ifeverhelovedthee,hewill lovetheeforever.YouseetheconstancyofChrist's love, 'Gotellmybrethren.'Nowwhentheyhadmostdeeplyoffendedhim,theywererenegadoes,havingalllefthim;andthenwhenhehadmostneedoftheircomfort,beingingreatestextremity;andyet'Gotellmybrethren.'

Beloved,letusnotlosethecomfortoftheconstancyandimmutabilityofChrist'slove.Letusconceivethatallthesweetlinksofsalvationareheld

onGod'spartstrong,notonours; thefirmness isonGod'spart,notonours.ElectionisfirmonGod'spart,notonours.Wechooseindeedashechooseth us, but the firmness is of his choosing; so he calleth us, weanswer, but the firmness is of his action. He justifieth; we are maderighteous,but the firmness isofhis imputation.Willhe forgivesins to-day,andbringusintocourtanddamnusto-morrow?No.Thefirmnessisofhisaction.Wearereadytorunintonewdebtseveryday,butwhomhejustifiethhewillglorify.Thewholechainsoholdeth,thatallthecreaturesinheaven and earth cannot break a link of it.Whomhe callethhewilljustifyandglorify.Thereforeneverdoubtofcontinuance,foritholdsfirmonGod'spart,notthine.Godembracethusinthearmsofhiseverlastinglove,notthatweembracedhimfirst.Whenthechildfallethnot,itisfromthe mother's holding the child, and not from the child's holding themother.SoitisGod'sholdingofus,knowingofus,embracingofus,andjustifyingofusthatmakeththestatefirm,andnotours;foroursisbutareflection and result of his, which is unvariable. The sight of the sunvarieth,butthesuninthefirmamentkeepethalwayshisconstantcourse.SoGod'sloveisasthesun,invariable,andforeverthesame.Ionlytouchit, as the foundation of wonderful comfort, which they undermine thatholdthecontrary.

The next point is, that Christ chose Mary to go tell his brethren, andunder the sweet title of 'brethren,' to deliver this sweetmessage, 'I amgoing to my Father, and your Father; to my God, and your God.' Hetelleththemthesweetestwordsintheworsttimes.

Thispointdiffereth fromthe formerthus.Theformerwas, thatChrist'sloveisconstant,andalwaysthesame.ButnowChristmostshewethhislovewhenwearemostcastdown:intheworsttimes,ifourcastingdownbe with repentance. He never said 'brethren' before, but reserved theterm of 'brethren' for theworst time of all. The sweetest discoveries ofChristareintheworsttimesofalltohischildren.Motherswillbringoutanythingtotheirchildren,thatissweetandcomfortabletothem,intheirsickness. Though they frowned on thembefore, yet the exigency of thechild requires it. When there is need, any thing cometh out that maypleasethechild.Thepoordiscipleswerenotonlyinaffliction,beingthescornoftheworld,theshepherdbeingsmittenandthesheepscattered,

but their inwardgriefwasgreater.Theywere inwardly confoundedandashamed to seeChrist come to suchanend.Theywere fullofunbelief.ThoughChristhadtoldthemhewouldriseagain,theycouldnotbelieve;andsowhatwithfear,andwhatwithdoubt,andwhatwithgrieffortheirusing of Christ so unkindly and leaving him, certainly they were in aperplexedanddisconsolatecondition;yetnow,'Goandtellmybrethren.'We see, then, that after relapses,whenwe be in state of grace, to dealunkindlywithChrist,mustneedsbematterofgriefandshame;yetifwebehumbledforitandcastdown,eventhenChristhathasweetmessagefor us by his Holy Spirit: 'Go, tell my brethren.' In the Canticles, thechurch, the spouse of Christ, had dealt unkindly with Christ, by losinghimandforsakinghim,chap.3:5.Inthethirdchapter,shehadlosthim,andsoughthimonherbed,butfoundhimnot.Sherose,andwenttothewatchmen,andthenwentthroughthecity,butfoundhimnot.Atlengthshefoundhimwhomhersoulloved.ThenChristspeaksmostsweetlyandcomfortablytoherinthebeginningofthefourthchapter,butespeciallyin the sixth chapter, after she had dealtmost unkindlywithChrist.Hestandeth at the door knocking and waiting, till his locks dropped withrain, in resemblance of a lover that standeth at the door, and is notsuffered to come in.Afterwards he leaveth her for this unkindness, yetnot so, but that there was some sweet relish left upon the door. Godalwaysleavethsomethinginhischildrentolongafterhim;andatlength,aftermuchlonging,Christmanifestethhimselfsweetlytoher,chap.4:4,and breaketh out, 'Thou art beautiful, Omy love, as Tirzah, comely asJerusalem,terribleasanarmywithbanners; turnawaythineeyesfromme,fortheyhaveovercomeme;thyhairisasaflockofgoats,'&c.,andsogoeth on, 'My love, my dove, my undefiled one.' He could not satisfyhimselfinthecommendationsofhischurch,being,asitwere,overcomewithlove.Andthissheweth,thatafterwehavedealtunkindlywithChrist,and our consciences are ashamed and abashed with it, as it is fit theyshould,yetifwewillwaitawhile,andbecontent,norbedesperate,noryieldtotemptation,ifwestaybutawhile,Christwillmanifesthimselftous,andshewthathevaluethandprizeththehiddengraceswecannotsee.He can see gold in ore. He can see hidden love, and hidden faith andgrace, that we cannot see in temptations; and he will manifest all atlength,andshewhislovewhenwestandmostinneedofit.WeseeitinDavid,whowas deeply humbled for his follywithBathsheba, for there

wasnotone,butmanysins,asmurderandadultery,&c.;yetbeingnowhumbled,GodsenthimandBathshebawiseSolomon,tosucceedhiminhis kingdom. He forgetteth all; and so you see our Saviour Christforgettethalltheirunkindness.Hebiddethhernot'Go,tellmyrenegadedisciples,thatownednotme;theycarenotforme:Icarenotforthem;Iamabovedeathandall,andnowwilluse themas theydidme.'Ohno.But 'Go, tellmybrethren,'withoutmentioningany thing that theyhavedoneunkindly.

Whatisthereason?Itissufficienttoagracioussoulthatit isthus;it isthecourseofGod.Buttherebereasonstogivesatisfaction.

Reason1.First,TheloveofChristtoapoor,disconsolate,afflictedsoulismost seasonable. When they have relapsed and dealt unkindly withChrist, then Christ not only forgiveth, but forgets all; nay, and calleththem under the term of 'brethren,' which is more than forgiving orforgetting.Ohnowitisseasonable.Forthereisawonderfuldejectionofspirit after unkind usage of Christ, in a soul that knows what Christmeans. It is as a shower of rain after great drought. It falleth weightyuponthesoul.

Reason 2. Secondly, The freedomofChrist's lovemost appeareth then,whennodesert of ours canmove it. For is not that love free,whenwehave dealt unkindly with him, and joined with the world and with theflesh,anddealtslipperilywithhim,thatthenhewouldspeakkindlytousandmakelovetous?Lord,ifIhadhadmydue,whatwouldhavebecomeofme?Ifhehadsentthemwordaccordingtotheirdeserts,hemighthavesaid, 'Go, tell the apostate, basepeople thathavedealtunworthilywithme,whomIwillsendtohell.'Ohno.But'tellmybrethren.'Hisfreeloveappearethmostatsuchtimes,whenoursoulsaremostdejected.

Reason3.Thirdly,Satanroareththenmost,thenhemostofallshewethhishorns,whenwearerelapsed.Oh,saithhe,ifthouhadstneverfoundkindness,ithadbeensomething;butthouhastdealtunworthilythathasthad somany favours, anddost thou so requite theLord of glory?NowthisloveofChristdothexceedinglyconfoundSatan,andtroublehisplots.He knoweth then that God leaveth men, and he joineth with a guiltyconscience, and a guilty conscience maketh them to fear all they have

deserved,ShallIlookGodintheface,andChristinthefacewhenIhaveused them thus? Shall I receive the sacrament and join with God'speople? Now Satan doth join with guilt of conscience, and carrieth itfurther; and when God seeth them dejected and humbled for this, hespeakethmorecomforttothemthaneverbefore.

Thereisnoneofusall,Icanexceptnone,buthadneedofthis.Havewedealt so unkindly with Christ since our conversion?Have not we dealtproudly,andunkindly,andcarelesslywithhim?AndifwehavetheloveofChristinourbreasts,itwillshameandabashus.Nowifwehavejoinedwithatemptation,Satanwillsay,WillyougotoGod,andtoprayer,thathaveservedGodthus?ShallIyieldtothistemptation?Ifwecanshameourselves and say, Lord, I take all shame tomyself, I have dealt mostunworthily with thee, we shall hear a voice of comfort presently. Andthereforewhatsoeverourconditionsbe,beinvitedtorepentance,thoughthouhastfallenandfallenagain.'Ihavedealtunkindly.'DidnotPeterso?and yet, 'Go, tell my disciples, and tell Peter.' The pope will have himhead of the church. I am sure hewas head in forsaking of Christ, andindeedChristnever*upbraidedPeterwithforsakingofhim.Nowonlyhebiddethhimfeed,feed,feed,thathemighttakemorenoticeofit;buthewassokindthathenevercastitintohisteeth,John21:15–17.

Obj.But saith thepoordrooping soul, If Ihadnever tastedofmercy ithadbeensomething.

Ans. But object not that, for though Peter's offence was great, yet hisrepentancewasgreat;andthoughthysinsbegreat,yetifthyrepentanceandhumiliationbeanswerable,thoushalthavemostcomfortofall.Andthereforeletnomanbediscouraged.

Ifwe go on in sinful, desperate courses, as the fashion of theworld is,speakwhatwecan,ifwespeakoutourlungs,manywillnotleaveanoath,northeirprofanebasecoursesandfilthyways;illtheyhavebeenalready,andilltheywillbetilltheycometohell.Somesuchtherebe,butbetterwearetospeaktoo.Whosoeverthouart, thatarewearyof thyprofane,base,godlesscourses,behumbledforthem.Whenthouarthumbledandbroken-hearted, then think of Christ, as he offers himself; think ofnothing but love, nothing but mercy. Satan will picture him thus and

thus,butwhenthoubeesthumbledandbroken-hearted,heisreadiertoentertain thee than thon art to fly to him.And therefore at such timesconsider how Christ offereth himself to thee. He that died for hisenemies, and seeks them that never sought him, that is found of themthatsoughthimnot,willherefuse themthatseekhim?If thouhastanheart humbled, and hast a desire of favour, will he refuse thee, thatreceiveth many in the world. Therefore do not despair. We asambassadorsbeseechyou, saith theapostle.ThoudesirestGod's favourand Christ's love. Thou desirest them, and Christ entreateth thee, andthen thou art well met. Thou wouldst fain have pardon andmercy, sowouldChristfainbestowituponthee.ThereforejoinnottoSatan.Takeheedof temptations in suchacaseas this is.Takeheedof refusingourownmercies.WhenGod offersmercy in the bowels of his compassionrefuse it not. Christ is ready to shew great kindness in our greatestunkindness,ifwebehumbledforit.

But this belongeth to those that be broken-hearted, that can prize andvalueChrist.TheythatgooninpresumptuouscoursesshallfindChristinanothermanner ofmajesty. They shall find him as a judgewhom theydespised as a brother; and they that will not come in and subjectthemselvestohismercy,theyshallfindhisjustice.Iftheywillnotcomeunderthissceptre,theyshallfindhisrodofirontocrushthemtopieces.Andthereforeletnocorrupt,carelessperson,thatwillgoon,fortifytheirpresumption fromhence. Itbelongethonly to them tobehumbledandabasedwith the sightof sin, andconsiderationof theirunkindnessandunworthy dealing with Christ. I know such as are most subject todiscouragement, and Satan ismost ready to close with them in strongtemptationsaboveall.Oh,butneverletthemdespair,butconsiderwhatthe apostle saith: 'While sin aboundeth, grace aboundeth muchmore,'Rom. 5:20. If there be height, depth, andbreadth of sin in us, there isnowmoreheight,anddepth,andbreadthofmercy inChrist;yea,morethanwecanreceive.

IhavefallenfromGod,saiththesoul.Whatifthouhast?butGodisnotfallen from thee. Peter denied Christ, but did Christ deny Peter? No.Christhathnotdeniedthee.WhatsaiththeLordinJeremiah? 'Will thehusbandtakethewifewhenshehathbeennaught?no;yetreturntome,

OIsrael,'Jer.3:1.Butsay,thouhastbeenfalse,andcommittedsuchandsuchsins;whatsoevertheybe,thoughadultery,yetreturntome.

Quest.Oh,butisitpossibleGodshoulddoit?

Resol.Yea,itispossiblewithhim:'Histhoughtsarenotasthythoughts;histhoughtsareasfarabovethineasheavenisaboveearth,'Isa.55:8.

Obj.Why,nomanwilldoit.

Ans. Ay, but here is the mercy of a God, 'I am God, and not man;'thereforehiscomfortsfailnot.Ifhewereso,hewouldnotregardonethathathbeensounkind;butheisGod,andnotman.

'Go tomybrethren.' I comenow to thematter of the commission. Tellthem,'IascendtomyFather,andyourFather;tomyGod,andyourGod,'whichisallincludedin'brethren;'forifwebeGod'sinChrist,thenGodisourFather.Butwemustnotdeal in fewwordswithdisconsolate souls,butcomeagainandagainwiththesamewords.Ashowmanytimeshaveyou the comfort of theMessiah in Isaiah and the rest of the prophets,again and again? Our hearts are so prone to doubt of God'smercy, ofChrist'slove,especiallyafterguilt,thatallislittleenough;andthereforeourSaviourstudiethtospeaksweetlytotheheart,'Go,tellmybrethren.'Thatwhichacarnalheartandcurious*headwouldcounttautologyandsuperfluityofwords,agraciousheartthinkstobescantiness.Oh,moreofthatstill; Ihavenotenough!This is theprideofmen, thatwillhaveallthingstosatisfythecuriousear;butagracioushearthathneverenough.AndthereforeChristaddethcomforttocomfort: 'Go,tellmybrethren,Iascend tomyFather, and theirFather; tomyGod, and theirGod.'ThemessageitselfisChrist'sascension.TheplacewhitheristotheFather,acommonFathertohimandthem.Everywordhathcomfort.

Iascend.'

IascendtotheFather,andtomyFatherandyourFathertoo.NowIhavequittedmyself of death, and sin imputed tome as a surety, and I amgoingtoheaventomakeanendofallthere:'IascendtoGod,tomyGodand to your God.'We have all one common Father, and one common

God.

First,Forhisascension.Hedidnotyetascend.Whythendothhespeakforthepresent?'Iascend;'thatis,Iamshortlysotodo.Anditwasinhismind,itwascertainlysotobe;andthereforehespeaksofitinpresent.Itisthephraseoffaith,tospeakofthingstocomeasiftheywerepresent.Faithmakesthemsotothesoul,foritlookethonthewordandallthingsastheyare inthatWord,whowillmakegoodwhatsoeverhesaith.Andthereforeitistheevidenceofthingsthatarenotyet,yettheyheevidenttoa faithful soul. Ifwe, could learn thisaright, tomake things tocomepresent, what kind of people should we be! Could we think of ourresurrectionandascensionandglorytocomeaspresent, theywouldbepresenttoourfaith;thethingspresent,orsense,couldnotwithdrawus.Ifwecouldsethellbeforeus, could thepleasuresofhellbewitchus? Ifthetimetocomewerepresent,couldanythingintheworldwithdrawus?Itcouldnotbe.Andthereforeitisanexcellentskilloffaithtosetthingstocomebeforeusaspresent.

Heascendeth.Heimplieththathewasrisen.Thatwaspast,andthereforehenamethitnot.AllChrist'smindwasonascending.ThosethatarerisentogetherwithChrist, theirmind is all onascension, all onheaven.Andthis isonemain reason,becausewhereanything is imperfect, there thespirit resteth not till it attaineth to that perfection that it is destinatedunto.Whenanythinghathaproperelementandplacewhereitmustrest,itrestethnottillitbeinitsownproperplaceandelement.Theperfectionof the soul is in heaven, to see Christ face to face, and God in Christ.HeavenistheelementofaChristian.Itishisproperregion.Heisneverwelltillthere;andthereishisrest,hissolaceandcontentment,andthereall his desires are satiated to the utmost. Till we be in heaven, we beunder desires; for we be under imperfections. All the while we are inimperfectionsweareinanuncomfortableestate;andwhilewebeso,wearenotasweshouldbe.AndthereforewheresoeveranyarepartakersofChrist's resurrection, they mind the ascension as present. Where anygraceis,therethethoughtsareforheavenpresently.

Letustakeascantingofourdispositionsfromhence.Therebemanythatthink it good to be here always; they never think of ascending. If theycould livehere always, theywouldwith all theirhearts, but it isnot so

withaChristian. It ishisdesire tobewherehishappiness,hisSaviour,hisGodandFatheris,wherehiscountryandinheritanceis,andthereforehemindeth ascension and things to come.When anything is done, hethinks thatwhat isdone isnotyetenough.Asyourgreatconquerors inthe world, they forget what they have conquered, and remember whattheyhaveyettodo;soChrist,havinggotconquestoverdeath,hethinksnow of ascension, to conquer in the eyes of all; for it is not enough toconquer in the field, buthewill conquer in the city;hewill conquer toheaven,andmakeshowofhisconquest.Iascendtoleadcaptivitycaptive,'tomakeashow,'asitisexpressed,Col.2:15.Whileanythingistodoorreceive,oursoulsshouldnotbesatisfied,butstillstretchedouttodesirefurtherandfurtherstill,moreandmorestill, tillwebetherewhereoursouls shall be filled to the uttermost; and there is no place of furtherdesire,asheavenistheplacetosatiate,andfillallthecornersofthesoul.

Quest.ButhowshallweknowwhetherweberisenwithChristorno?

Resol.Partlywemayknowitbyourformercourses.Christwhenhewasrisen,alltheclotheswerelaidtogetherinthegrave.Heleftthembehind,and rose with an earthquake. There was a commotion; and after hisresurrectionhemindedheaven.SoifyeberisenwithChrist,yourformervile courses lie in the grave; your oaths are gone; profaneness andwickednessof life gone.Tell youme, youare risen,while you carry thebondsofyoursinsaboutyou?Youprofane,wretched,swearing,ungodlypersons,filthyspeakers,thathaveanheartmorefilthy,vileinbodyandsoul, can they have any part in Christ? Where is that that bound youbefore?Youcarryitaboutstill.Thereforeyoubeinthebondsofthedevil;you be in the grave of sin; there is no rising. Resurrection is withcommotion.TherewasanearthquakewhenChristarose;andthereisanheartquake when the soul riseth. Can the soul rise from sin withoutcommotion?Intheinwardmantherewill*bedivisionbetweenfleshandspirit,withoutanyadoatall?Andthereforetheythatfindnothingtodointheirspirits,whereistheirrisingagain?

Butthatwhichispropertotheoccasioninhandisthethird.Wheregraceisbegun,therewillbeaninwardproceedingandascendingwithChrist.HowshallIknowthereforewhetherIascend?

1.First,Bymindingthingsabove.Theapostletellethusdirectly,Col.3:1,'Mind thingsabove,'beheavenly-minded in somesort, live the life thatChrist did, after his resurrection. All his discourse was, after hisresurrection, of thekingdomofheaven, andhismindwason theplacewhitherhewastogo;andsoatrueChristianindeed,thatistrulyrisen,histhoughtsanddiscourseis,whenheishimself,heavenly.Otherthingsheusethasifhedidnot;aswhilewebeintheworld,wemustdealwithworldly things; but we must deal with them as that which is not ourproperelement,1Cor.7:37, 'Theyusedtheworld,asiftheyuseditnot;and theymarried, as if they did not; for they knew the fashion of thisworldpassethaway.'Andtherefore they thataffectearthlyglory,carnalaffections and delights, they cannot think of these things with anycomfort. They be moles which grovel in the earth. Some make aprofession, and they ascend higher as kites do, but they look low; theymake high professions, but their aims are low. The true eagles thatascend toChrist, as theyascend, so they lookupwardandupwardstill.Theydonotmind thingsbelow; theydonot takeahighpitch,andstillcontinue earthly-minded; but they look high, as well as ascend high.Thereforeletusnotdeceiveourselves.

2.Yetmoreparticularly, those that ascendwithChrist, they that are inheavenandtheythatareonearthdothesamethings,thoughindifferentdegrees andmeasure.What do they in heaven?There theymeddle notwithdefilementsoftheworld;andso,thoughaChristianbeonearth,hedefilethhimselfnotwiththeworld,orillcompany.Hewillconversewiththem, but not defile himself with them. They that be in heaven arepraisingGod,andsobetheymuchinpraisingofGodhere.Theythatbein heaven love to see the face of God, they joy in it. And they that beheavenly-minded here joy in the presence of God, in the word, thesacraments, and his children. If they be ascended in any degree andmeasure,thistheywilldo.AndthentheywilljoyincommunionwithGodalltheycan,astheydoinheaven.Youhavesomecarnaldispositionsthatarenever themselvesbut in carnal company like themselves. If everwemean tobe inheaven,wemust joy inheavenonearth; that is, in themthat be heavenly in their dispositions. If we cannot endure them here,howshallweeverlivewiththeminheaven?

WhatwasChristtoascendfor?Whatistheendofhisascension?

The endofhis ascensionwas to takepossessionofheaven inhis body,whichhadneverbeentherebefore?

1.Andhewastotakepossessionofheaveninhisbodyforhischurch;thatis,hismysticalbody.Soheascendedtoheaven,carriedhisblessedbodythathetookinthevirgin'swombwithhim.

2.Andlikewiseheascendedtoheaven,totakeupheaveninbehalfofhisspouse,hischurch;as thehusband takesup land inanothercountry inbehalfofhiswife,thereforehedidascend.

3.And likewise he ascended to leave his Spirit, that hemight send theComforter.Hetakethawayhimself, thatwasthegreatComforter,whilehe was below. He was the bridegroom; and while the bridegroom waspresent, they had not such a measure of the Spirit. Christ's presencesuppliedall.ButChristascendedtoheaventhathisdeparturefromthemmight not be prejudicial to them, but that they might have comfortthroughtheGodofcomfort,theSpiritofcomfort,theHolyGhost:'IwillsendtheComforter,'John14:16,seq.

AndthoughtherewasnolossbytheascensionofChrist,theymightfearbylosingofChristthatalltheircomfortwasgone.Ay,butChristtelleththem,'Igotoprepareaplaceforyou.'Hegoethtotakeupheavenforhischurch,and then tosendhisSpirit.Whatablessed intercourse is therenow,sinceChrist'sascension,betweenheavenandearth!Ourbodyisinheaven, and the Spirit of God is here on earth. The flesh that he hathtakenintoheavenisapledgethatallourfleshandbodiesshallbewherehe is ere long. In themean time,wehave theSpirit to comfortus, andnever to leaveus tillwebebrought to theplacewhereChrist is.This isgreat comfort, and this is the main end why Christ ascended to theFather,thathemightsendtheComforter.Andcomfortmightwellcomenow inmoreabundance thanbefore,becauseby thedeathofChrist allenemies were conquered, and by the resurrection of Christ it wasdiscoveredthatGodwasappeased.TheresurrectionofChristmanifestedto the world what was done by death; and now, all enemies beingconquered,andGodbeingappeased,whatremainsbutthesweetestgift

nexttoChrist,theHolyGhost?AndthatisthereasonwhytheHolyGhostwas more abundant after Christ's resurrection, because God was fullysatisfied,anddeclaredbytherisingofChristtobefullysatisfied,andallenemiestobeconquered.

4. One end likewise of his resurrection was 'to make a show of hisconquest.'Thereisadoublevictoryovertheenemy.Thereisavictoryinthe field,andtriumphtogetherwith it.Andthenthere is triumphing incivitateregia,atriumphinginthekinglycity.SoChristdidconquerinhisdeath, and shewed his conquest by resurrection; but he did not leadcaptivity captive andmake show thereof till he ascended; and then hemadeopenshowofhisvictorioustriumphincivitateregia.

5.Onespecialend,likewise,whyhewouldhavethismessagesent,thathewastoascend,wasthathemightappearthereinheavenforus,asHeb.9:11,seq.,'Heappearsforeverinheavenforus,andmakethintercessionforus.'Whenthehighpriestwastoenter intotheholyofholies,whichwasatypeofheaven,hecarriedthenamesofthetwelvetribesengraveninstoneuponhisbreast.Christ,ourtruehighpriest,beingenteredintothe holy of holies, carried the names of all his elect in his breast intoheaven, and there appeareth before God for us. He carrieth us in hisheart.ChristdothfulfilthatwhichinJohn17.heprayethfor,appearinginheavenbeforehisFatherby virtueofhisblood shed, and thatbloodthatspeakethbetter things than thebloodofAbel. It speaksmercyandpardon.ThebloodofAbelcriethforvengeanceandjustice;butthebloodofChristsaith,HereisonethatIshedmybloodfor.AndwhenwepraytoGod, God accepts of our prayers; and by virtue of Christ's blood shed,there ismercy,andpardon,and favourprocured,which is sprinkledbyfaithuponthesoul;GodmanifestingtothesoulbyhisSpirit,thatChristdiedinparticularforsuchasoul,whichsoulprayingtoGodinthenameof Christ, that blood not only in heaven, but sprinkled upon the soul,speakethpeacethere.TheSpiritsaiththattothesoul,whichChristdothinheaven.Christsaithinheaven,Idiedforsuchasoul;theSpiritsaithinthesoul,Christdiedforme;andthebloodofChristissprinkledoneveryparticular soul.AsChrist inheaven appears and intercedeth forme, sothe Spirit intercedeth in mine own guilty heart, that always speaksdiscomfort, till it be satisfiedwith particular assurance. Christ died for

me,andGodismine,andChristismine.Thusparticularfaithsprinkleththe blood of Christ upon the soul. So that now my sins are not onlypardoned in heaven, but in my soul. There is not only intercession inheaven,butinmysoul.MysoulgoethtoGodforpardonandformercy,andrejoicethinallthemerciesithathandhopethtohave.Whatisdoneinheaven,isdoneinaman'ssoulbytheSpiritinsomemeasure.

6. The last end is, that he might shew that our salvation is exactlywrought, thatGod isperfectly satisfied to the full, elsehe shouldneverhave risen, much less ascended to heaven. And therefore if we oncebelieveinChristforforgivenessofsins,andyetsay,Idoubtofsalvation,it is all oneas if you shouldgoabout topluckChrist fromheaven.Thedoubtful, distrustful heart, till it be subdued by a spirit of faith, saith,'Whoshallascendtoheaven,totellmewhetherIshallgotoheaven?'or'Who shall enter into the deep, to tell me I am freed from hell?' I amafraidIshallbedamned,saiththeguiltyheart,tilltheSpiritofGodhathbroughtitunderandpersuadeditofGod'sloveinChrist.Saynot, 'Whoshallascenduptoheaven?forthatistobringChristdownfromheaven,'Rom.10:7.Andwhatan injurious thing is it tobringChristdown fromheaven,tosufferonthecross!Thisisagreatindignity,thoughwethinknotof it, todoubtofoursalvation,andnotcastourselvesonhismercy.Forasverilyasheisthere,weshallbethere.Heisgonetotakeupaplacefor us.He is there in our name, as the husband taketh a place for hisspouse. And if we doubtwhetherwe shall come there or no,we doubtwhetherhebethereorno.Andifwedoubtofthat,wedoubtwhetherhehath wrought salvation or no, and so we bring him down to the crossagain.Who shall descend to thedeep? that is, to bringChrist from thedeadagain.Such is thedangerofadistrustfulheart.SothatbyChrist'sascending into heaven,wemay know all is done and accomplished; allourenemiesaresubdued;Godisappeasedandfullysatisfied,heavenistakenupinourroom,andthereforelabourforalargeheartanswerabletothelargeunchangeablegroundswehave,forfaithtopitchandbottomitselfuponit.ThereforemakethisfartheruseofthisascensionofChrist,andthereuponhisintercessioninheavenforus.Heistheretopleadourcause.Heisthereasoursuretytoappearforus,andnotonlyso,butasacounsellortopleadforus;andnotonlyso,butoneofus,asifabrothershouldpleadforabrother;andnotonlyso,butafavouritetheretoo.All

favourites are not so excellent at counselling perhaps, butwe have onethatisfavouriteinheaven,andisexcellentatpleading,thatcannon-suitallaccusationslaidagainstusbythedevil.HeistheSonofGod,andheisoneofus;heappearethnotasastranger,forastranger,asthecounsellorisperhapsforhisclient,butheappearsasourbrother,Apoc.12:10.Letusthinkofthecomfortsofit.Heappearsforustopleadourcause,withacceptation of his person and cause. For he, beforewhomhe pleadeth,GodtheFather,senthimtotakeournature,die,andascendintoheavenforus,tosustainthepersonsofparticularoffenders.HemustneedshearChrist, that sent him for that purpose. Where the judge appoints acounsel,itisasignhefavoureththecause.Perhapswecannotpray,aredisconsolate,andvexedwithSatan'stemptations.Thepoorclienthathagood cause, but cannotmake a good cause of it. But if he get a skilfullawyer, that is favourable to him, and before a favourable judge, hiscomfortis,hisadvocatecanmakehiscausegood.Ifwewouldconfessoursins, as that we must do, we must take shame to ourselves in all ourdistressanddisconsolationofspirit;andwemustlayopenourestatestoGod,andcomplain;andthendesireGodto lookuponus,andChrist toplead our cause for us and answer Satan; and when Satan is verymalicious and subtile, as he is a very cunning enemy to allege alladvantagesagainstus,tomakeusdespair,rememberthis,wehaveoneinheaventhatismoreskilfulthanhe'thatistheaccuserofbrethren,'Rev.12:10,thataccusethustoGodandtoourownsouls,thataccusetheveryman to himself and maketh him an enemy to himself. But we have apleader in heaven that will take our part against the accuser of ourbrethren,andquietusat length inourconsciences.Perhapswemaybetroubled a while, to humble us; but remember that he is in heavenpurposelytopleadourcause.

ItisagoodpleatoGod,'Lord,Iknownotwhattosay;mysinsaremorethanthehairsofmyhead.Satanlayethhardtome.Icannotansweroneofa thousand. I confessallmysins.Hearme,andhear thySon formysake.Heisnowatthyrighthand,andpleadethforme.'AnddesireChristto plead for us. We have not only all the church to pray for us, 'OurFather;'butwehaveChristhimself toplead forusandmakeourcausegood, ifChrist saith, I shedmyblood for thisperson, and [he] appearsnowbyvirtueofmyredemption.Andtheconditionofthecovenantis,if

weconfessoursins,he ismerciful to forgive.Andifwesin,wehaveanadvocate in heaven, towhomwemust lay claim, 1 John 2:1. The partyhath confessed thedebt; and therefore thebondmustbe cancelled.Hehathperformedtheconditionsonhispart;andthereforemakeitgoodonthineownpart.Andbeing*theSpirithathshamedtheeforthysins,whatcan the devil say?What saithPaul? 'It isGod that justifieth;who shallcondemn?'Rom.8:33. IfGod, the party offended, do justify,who shallcondemn?ItisChristthatdied.Thatisnotenough.'Thatisrisenagain.'That isnot enough. It isChrist that roseagain, 'and sittethat the righthandofGod forus,'andmaketh intercession forus. 'Whoshall layanything to the charge of God's elect?' Let the devil accuse what he will,Christisrisen,toshewthathehathsatisfied;andisnowinheaven,thereappearingforus.Ohthatwehadheartslargeenoughforthesecomforts!thenshouldweneveryieldtobasetemptations.

It is against the pleasure of God that we should be disconsolate?Therefore we wrong our own souls, and sin against our own comfort,whenwe let the reins looseby inordinateandextremesorrow.We losethat sweetness that we might enjoy, by giving way to discomfortablethoughts. Indeed, if a man examine his life from the beginning of hisconversion to theend thereof,hemay thankhimself forallhis trouble.ThesinagainsttheholygospelisakindofrebellionagainstGod,thoughwethinknotso,whenwewillnotbecomforted,norembracegroundsofcomfort when we have them. The comforts of God ought not to be ofsmall esteem to us. The sweet comforts, large, exceeding, eternalcomfortsofGod,weought toesteemof themas theybe; and thereforeourSaviourChristsendethtothemspeedily.

All Scripture is to this end, for consolation, even the Scripture thattendeth to instruction and direction, that somenmay be in a state ofcomfort;forcordialsarenotgood,butwherethereispurgationbefore.Soall Scriptures that arepurging, to tell us our faults, theybe tobringusuntoacomfortablecondition.OtherScriptures,thattendtoinstructourjudgments and settle us in faith, what is the end of all, if wewalk notcomfortablytowardsGodandstronglyinourplaces?Therefore,whenwelooknottocomfortandjoyinallconditions,weabusetheintendmentsofGod.

But,Ibeseechyou,makenotabaduseofit;forifyouknowittobeso,ifit worketh not graciously in you, and winneth you to respect God themore, and love him that is thus indulgent and gracious, but go on inoffendingconscience,andbreakpeaceoff,thenatlengthconsciencewilladmitnocomfort.Manythathaveexcellentcomfortshavemadehavocoftheir consciences, andwill go on in spite ofministers, in spite of theirconsciencesandGod'sSpirit joinedwith conscience.At length it is justwith God to give them up to despair, wicked sinners that trample theblood of Christ under their feet. But for all other that strive againstcorruption,andwouldbebetter,itisagroundofmarvellouscomfort.

I shall come to themessage itself.Tell them, 'I ascend.'He speakethofthataspresentwhichwassurelytobe.Soweshouldthinkofourfutureestate as ifwewerepresently to go toheaven. Faithhath this force, tomake things to comepresent. Ifwe couldkeep it inus, andexercise it,couldweliveinanysin?Butthatitisdistant,thatisthecauseofsinning.Weputoffthingsinadistance.Ifitbeatthedayofjudgment,thatisfaroff;andthereforetheywillnot leavetheirpresentpleasureforthatthatshallnotbe,theyknownotwhen.ButlookonthingsinthewordofaGodthat isJehovah, thatgivethabeingtoall,whohathspokenof thingstocome as if present, and then youwill be of anothermind. Faith is theprivilegeofaChristian,whichmakeththingsafaroffpresent.Nowickedmanbutwouldleavehisswearingandprofanenessifhesawthejoysofheavenandpainsofhell;anditwerenothankstohim.ButtobelieveGodonhisword, that these things shall be, that is the commendationsof aman,andtheexcellencyofaChristianaboveanotherman.Anothermandothallbysense;buttheChristianwilltrustGodonhisword.'Iascend,'saithChrist.

WemustnotthinkoftheascensionofChristasaseveredthingfromus,but ifwewouldhave thecomfortof it,wemust thinkof itasourselvesascendingwithhim.ThinkofChristasapublicpersonandsuretyforus,andthenweshallhavegreatcomfortinthat,thathesaith,'Iascend.'Godprepared paradise before hemade the creature.Hewould have him tocome into a place of honour andpleasure.And soGod, before everwewereborn,providedaplaceandparadiseforusinheaven,thatwemightendourdayswithgreater comfort.Wemaybe straitenedhere.Manya

goodChristianhath scarcewhere to layhis head; butChrist is gone toprepare a place for them in heaven. And this may comfort us in theconsiderationofalloursins;forsinpast,andforcorruptionpresent,andsinthatwemaycommitfortimetocome.Foranythingthatispast,ifweconfess our sins to God, he will forgive them. 'The blood of Christcleansethusfromallsins,'1John1:7,evenfromthepresentcorruptionsthat attend on us.We have one that stands between God and us as asurety; andhewill give us his Spirit to subdue our corruptions, and atlength make us like himself, a glorious spouse, Eph. 5:27. If we wereperfect men, we need not a mediator; and this may teach us comfort,ratherbecausewearesinners,anddailysubjecttooffendGod.Wehaveonetomakeourpeacefortimetocome;ifwesin,wehaveanadvocate,1John2:1.WhenChristtaughtustopray,'Forgiveusourdailytrespasses,'he supposed we should run daily into sins, Mat. 6:12. We have anadvocate in heaven every day to stand betweenGod and us, to answerGod,toundertakethatatlengthweshouldceasetooffendhim;andforthe present, we are such as he shed his precious blood for; and heappearethforusbyvirtueofhisdeath,whichisamarvellouscomfort.Wethinkifwecommitsinthereisnohope.Butwhatneedsamediator,buttomakepeacebetween thepartiesdisagreeing? Ifall thingsweremadeupbetweenGodandus,whatneedofanintercessor?ButGodknowethwellenoughwerunintodailysins,byreasonofaspringofcorruptioninus,whichisneveridle.AndthereforewemaydailygotoGodinthenameof our advocate, anddesireGod forChrist's sake topardon, anddesireChristtointercedeforus.Letusthereforeshameourselves.

There is not a Christian but will be in himself apprehensive of beingthrown intohell everyday.There is a springof corruption inhim, andshouldGodtakea forfeitureof*hisdailyrebellions,hisconsciencetellshimitwerejust.Andthereforewemusteverydayliveuponthisbranchofhispriestlyoffice,hismediation.WemustlivebyfaithinthisbranchofChrist,andmakeuseofitcontinually,forthiswillkeepusfromhell.Andthereforeifwesineveryday,gotoGodinthenameofChrist,anddesirehimtopardonus.ThisistofeedonChrist;andthereforeweshouldmorewillinglycometothesacrament.Whenwebeinheaven,weshallneedamediator no longer, for we shall be perfectly holy.We cannot think ofthesethingstoomuch.Theybethelifeofreligionandofcomforts;andit

mayteachustomakeatrueuseofChristinallourconditions.Poorsoulsthat are not acquaintedwith the gospel, they thinkGodwill cast themintohell foreverysin,and they liveas if theyhadnotanhighpriest inheaventoappearforthem.

The matter of the message is, Christ ascended to God, as a commonFatherandGodtohimandthem.Hedothnotsay,IascendtotheFather.Thatwerenogreatcomfort;forwhatwerethattothem?ortomyFatheronly.Neitherdothhesay, 'IascendtoourFather,'forthatistrueintheorderofit:forheisnotinequalrespecttheGodandFatherofChrist,andtheGodandFatherofus.Andthereforehespeaksofhimselfinthefirstplace:'IgotomyGodandyourGod.'ForheisfirstandspeciallyChrist'sFatherandChrist'sGod,andthenours;asweshallseeintheparticulars.We have a common Father and a common God with Christ. God theFatherisChrist'sFatherbyeternalgeneration,asheisGodandman.WehavethereforethenatureofChristasheisGodandman.

There is this difference between God's being Christ's Father and theFatherofanyelse.

Firstofall,GodisChrist'sFatherfrometernity.Godhadabeingandwasa Father from all eternity. There is noman of equal standing with hisfather.He is bornafterhis father cometh tobe aman.ButChrist is ofGodfromalleternity.Hisgenerationiseternal;andthereforethereisagranddifference.

ThenChrist is co-equalwith theFather ingloryandmajestyeveryday.Thesonisnotequalwiththefather,butChristiswithhisFather.

Again, the son in other generations comesof the father, and is like thefather, takenoutofhissubstance,butofadifferentsubstance fromthefather.ButChristandtheFather,boththepersonsareinonesubstance,inoneessence.TheessenceoftheFatherdifferethnotfromtheessenceof theSon.Wemust remember this, to giveChrist theprerogative andpre-eminency,thatGodishisFatherinanothermannerthanours.HeishisFatherbynature,oursbyadoption.Whatheisbynature,wearebygrace.ThoughChristwasintentuponhisascension,yetheforgettethnotthis grand difference here, butmentioneth it: 'Go tomy brethren.'We

mustnotcallhimbrotheragain.Wemaythinkofhimasourbrother;but'My God and my Lord,' as Thomas saith, John 20:28. If the greatestpersonshouldcallusbrother,yetitismostbehovefulfortheinferiortosay, 'MyGod,myLord;'toacknowledgeChristasagreatperson,andtomakeuseofhislovetostrengthenourfaith,nottodiminishourrespecttohiminanyway.Itishisinfinitemercytotermusbrethren.Butwhenwegotohimwemusthaveotherterms.

Thuswe see how to conceive of Christ after his resurrection.When hehath triumphed over all his enemies, and reconciledGod by his death,then'IgotomyFatherandyourFather.'ThenheisacommonFather,byvirtueofChrist'ssatisfactiontodivinewrathandjustice,andvictoryandtriumphingoverallhisenemies.SowemustnotconceiveofGodasourFather,butinreferencetoChrist'svictoryoverdeath.GodisourFatherby virtue of Christ's satisfaction to justice and conquest over all ourenemies. 'TheGodofpeace,'saiththeholyapostlePaulintheepistletotheHebrews,intheconclusionofthatexcellentepistle,'thatbroughtyoufromdeathtolifethroughourLordJesusChrist,'John5:24.Howcomethhe tobe theGodofpeace tous,whichbroughtus fromdeath to lifebyourLordJesus?Why, the resurrectionofChristmakeshim theGodofpeace. Who raised him? He raised himself. But who together withhimself?theFatherraisedhim.AndcouldtheFatherraisehimifhewerenotreconciled?Butnowheisthe'Godofpeace;'forpeaceismadebythecrossandbloodofChrist,Col.3:15,thegreatpeace-makerofheavenandearth;nowwemayconceiveofGodunderthesweetrelationofaFather.

Now this relation of a father teacheth us as what wemay expect fromGod,sowhatweoughttoreturntoGodagain,andhowweoughttocarryourselvesonetowardsanother.

I.WhatwemayexpectfromGodbeingaFather.

(1.)Wemay expect whatsoever a childmay expect from a father. Godtakethnotuponhimemptynames.HesaithhewillbeaFather,notonlycalledaFather, 'but IwillbeyourFather, andyou shallbemysons,'2Cor.6:18.Allthefatherhood,andallthekindredinheavenandearththatisspiritual, thecomfortof itcomethfromGodtheFather,reconciledtousinChrist.Thewordintheoriginalissostrongthatwecannotexpress

it in English. Fathers on earth are but poor fathers, and they be butbeamsofthefatherlyaffectionthatisinGod.Godwillletusseebythesebeamsofcompassionthatisinafathertoachild,whatrealcompassionhebearethtous.ThetruerealityoffatherhoodisinGod.Andtherefore,whenwehearoffather,thinkofwhatsoeverliethinthebowelsofafatherto a child; and that we may expect from God our Father, and infinitemore.Itisagreatindulgence;asafatherpitiethhischild,soGodwillpityus,Mal.3:17.Willafathercastoffhischild.?Indeed,hewillcleansethechild. SoGodwill take away our abominations, and purge uswhenwedefileourselves.Itisbecauseofaneternalrelationhecastethusnotoff.We may expect from him indulgence; and it is an indulgence ofindulgence.Godneededno sonwhenhemade us sons. Yet he had hisSonandangelstopraisehimselfwithal.Canwepityandpardonachild?andwillnotGodpardonandpityus?Whyshouldweconceiveworseofhimthanofourselves?Willwegivepity toa father,andnotpity to theFatherofallbowelsandcompassion?Andtherefore thinknot thatGodwillcastusoff.Godpardonsus,andhealethourinfirmities,andpitiethusasafatherpitiethhisownchild,Ps.103:13.Itisanameunderwhichnomanmustdespair.What!Despairunderthenameofafather?DespairofmercywhenwehaveaFathertogoto?Thepoorprodigal,whenhehadspenthispatrimony,hisbody,hisgoodname,had lostall,andnothingleft,yethehadafather,and'Iwillgotohim,'Luke15:18.Andso,whenwebeatthelastcast,andhavespentall,wehaveaFather.Thereforegoto him. What saith the church? Isa. 63, 64, 'Doubtless thou art ourFather,' when the church was in a poor condition; 'Though ourrighteousnessbeasamenstruouscloth,andwebedefiled,yet thouartourFather;wearetheclay,thouartthepotter,'&c.Sothatitisanameofhisindulgence.

Youhavehisdispositionsetdownbythefatheroftheprodigal.Thesonsaith,hewillgotothefather;thefatherrunnethtohimandmeetethhimwhenheiscoming.Godrunnethtous,andisreadytomeetus,whenwebegintorepentofsin,andaresensibleofourfaults.Heismorereadytopardon,thanwetoaskpardon.

I touchonly someprincipal things, thatyoumayrememberagainst theevildayandhourof temptation.Hetakethnotonhimtherelationofa

Father for nought, but will fill it up to the uttermost. It is no emptyrelation.

(2.)Itisanamelikewiseofcomfort.Itisthespeechofanaturalman,'Alittlepunishment isenoughfroma father.' 'Heknowethwhereofwearemade, he remembers we are but dust,' Ps. 103:14, and Heb. 12:6; heknowethwearenotironorsteel;heknowethourmaking;andthereforehewilldealgentlywithuswhenhedothcorrectus.Itisasnecessaryasourdailybreadtohavegentlecorrection,toweanusfromtheworld;yethedothitgently.Alittlepunishmentwillservefromagraciousfather.

(3.)Itisanamelikewiseofprovision,thatwemayexpectfromGod;thathewillinallourexigencesandnecessitiesprovideforuswhatsoevershallbeneedful.WhatsaithourSaviourChristtothepoordisciplesdoubtingof want? 'It is your Father's good will to give you the kingdom.'Whatthen?'Fearnot,littleflock,'Luke12:32.Hethatwillgiveyouakingdom,will not he give you daily bread, viaticum, provision for a journey?Hethat intendeth us heaven, certainly he will provide for us here. AndthereforeintheLord'sprayer,beforeallpetitions,asagroundofall,heputteth in 'our Father'; and therefore, 'Give us our daily bread, ourFather.'Andthereforehewillgiveusgracetosanctifyhisname,anddohiswill,andforgiveusoursins.ExpectallfromourFather,whichistheground of all. Christ hadmuch ado to persuade his disciples that theyshouldnotwantnecessaries;and thereforehemakeswhole sermons tostrengthen their faith in this: 'Your heavenly Father knowethwhat youstand in need of,' Mat. 6:8. The son cannot ask, but the Father caninterpret any sigh, any groan, and knoweth what we would have. Andtherefore beingGod's children,wemay fetch provision fromhim in allconditions.

(4.)Andwithprovisions,protectionlikewise;andthereforemakethisuseof it. In the temptationsofSatan, lieunder thewingofourFather.WehaveaFathertogoto;makeuseofhim,makeuseofhisprotection,thatGodwouldshieldus,thathewouldbeatower,asheisatower,and'therighteousmanmay fly tohim,'Prov. 11:8.Lieunderhiswings.He is agracious Father, and he hath taken this sweet relation on him for thispurpose,thatwemayhavecomfort inallconditions.YouseethenwhatwemayexpectfromGod,bythissweetrelationhehathtakenonhimin

Christ,tobeourFather.

II.Thisword,itisawordofrelation.ItbindethGodtousandustoGod.We are to honour him as our Father. This one word is sufficient toexpress our duty to a father, and that is a word of reverence; for itincludethamixedaffectionof fearandlove.Andit isanaffectionofaninferiortoasuperior.Heisgreat, thereforeweoughttofearhim.Heisgood,thereforeweoughttolovehim.Thereiswithhimbeamsofmajestyandbowelsofcompassion.Asthereisbeamsofmajesty,weoughttofearhim;asbowelsofcompassion,weoughttolovehim.Sothatfearandlovemixed together is the affection we owe to God as our Father. If wetremble,andareafraidtogotohim,weknownotheisloving.Ifwegotohimover-boldlyandsaucily,weforgetthatheisgreat.Thereforewemustthinkofhisgreatness,thatweforgetnothisgoodness.Wemustsothinkofhisgoodness, thatweforgetnothisgreatness.Thereforegoboldlytohim,withreverencetothethroneofChrist.Intheword'Father,'thereismore saving power than in ten thousand. It toucheth his very bowels.Whenachildwantethanything,andisindistress,letitbutsay,Father,orMother,andtheparentsyearnuponhim.IfGodbeourFather,gotohimboldly; but with reverence go with affiance* to his bowels. Oh, it is apersuasive word! What cannot we look from† that majesty that hathcondescended to be called 'Father,' and to be a Father to us in all ournecessities?Eitherweshallhavewhatwewantandlack,orelseweshallhavethatwhichisbetter.HeisawiseFather.Heanswerethnotalwaysaccordingtoourwills,butalwaysaccordingtoourgood.Heseethitisforour good that we are not presently comforted. The physician giveth asharp potion. Oh, I cannot endure! And the chirurgeon lanceth. Oh, Icannotendureit!Butthechirurgeonknowethitisnothealingtime.Evensowewouldbepresentlytakenofffromundercrosses;butGodisawiseFather,andknowethhowlongitisfitforustocontinueunderthecross.

Come tohimboldly therefore,under thenameofa father, thathemaymove his bowels, and surely will hear us. For in Ps. 27:10, when allforsookme,'Myfatherandmotherforsookme,buttheLordtookmeup.'Fathersintheflesh,andmothers,die,buttheLordtakethusup.HeisaneternalFather,andthereforeagroundofeternalboldnesswithGod,andofeverlastingcomfort.HewasourFatherbeforewehada father inthe

world,andhewillbeourFatherwhenweshallceasetobeintheworld,TheybebutinstrumentsunderGodtobringusintotheworld.GodisourtrueFather.OurotherfathersarebutunderGod,togiveusabeing,tofitusforheaven.Heprovideththebest inheritanceandpaternity forus inheaven.Andthereforeneverbedisconsolate,butremember, 'IgotomyFatherandyourFather,'whichisawordofeternalcomfort.HewasourFather from eternity in election; he will be our Father to eternity inglorification.'Canamotherforgetherchild?yea,thoughsheshould,yetcanInotforgetthee,thouartwritteninthepalmofmyhand,'Isa.49:15,16.Godhathusalways inhiseye.Amothercannotalways thinkofherchild.She sleepeth sometimes;butGod isaFather thatnever sleepeth.'ThekeeperofIsrael,neitherslumberethnorsleepeth,'Ps.121:4.Andthisis our comfort in all times and for eternity. And thereforewe ought tocarryourselvestoGodreverently,andgoboldlytohim,andalwaysmakeuseofhim.

And this we should learn likewise, tomaintain a sweet frame betweenGodandus.ShallGodopensuchanadvantagetous?ShallGodbeourFather,andbearthegraciouseternalaffectionofafather?andshallnotwe,byprayerandfaith,fetchfromourFatherallwestandinneedof?Asour Saviour saith, 'You that be earthly fathers, when your children asksuchathing,willyoudeny?'Mat.7:9,10.AndhaveweaFathersorich,so loving, and shall not we have intercourse with him in our dailynecessities?Whatatradeisopentous,ifweknowwhatacomfortislaidupinthesweetrelationofafather!'YourFatherknowethwhatwestandinneedof,'Mat. 6:8, andhewill give thee the springof all graces,notonlyabrokenheart,aspiritoflifeandvigourinhisservice,butgotoGodandhewillgivetheehisHolySpirit,whichisthebestthingnextChristthat canbe.And therefore be encouraged tomake intercourse betweenthee and God, considering we have a brother in heaven, our nature isthere, and our spirit is below.We have the best things in heaven, nextChrist, on earth, and God hath our flesh in heaven by Christ; andthereforewhyshouldwenotbemuchinprayer,andmuchinpraisesinallournecessities?Beloved,itisacomfortofthatlargenessthatIcannotexpressit.Iratherleaveittoyouradmiration,thatyoumayseewhatusetomakeofthissweetrelationofafather.

(1.)Butwemustknow,thateveryonecannotsay, 'myFather,'forthereareacompanyofmenintheworldthatmaysay, insomerespects, 'ourFather;' but in other respects they cannot. As our Saviour Christ saithperemptorily,John8:44,'Youareofyourfatherthedevil.'TheybraggedofGod theirFather,and theywereof their 'father thedevil.'Therefore,considerwhoisfittotakethisnameintotheirmouths,'MyFather.'MarkthedispositionoftheScribesandPharisees,andthenyoushallseewhobe fit tobragofGodas theirFather.Theybe very formalmen; look totheiroutwarddevotion,whosodevoutasthey?Theystudiedit;butwhatwerethey for the inside?Theyweremaliciousmen, theywereSatanicalmen,men opposite to the power of religion, arrant hypocrites, paintedsepulchres.Itisnomatterforcomplimentorformality.Anhypocritemayhavemuchofthatintheeyesoftheworld,yetmaybeachildofthedevilforallthat,andaPhariseeforallthat.Thoumayestbemaliciousagainstthe truth, as the Pharisees sought Christ's blood. A man may be likeHerod,seekingthebloodofChristinhismembers,persecutingChrist,asallcruelmendo.TheyseektodevourChristinhisprofessors.Whattheycan,theydisparageanddisheartenthem.TheyareenemiestothepowerofreligionandtotheordinancesofGod.Theybethechildrenofthedevil,and therefore have no reason at all to brag that God is their Father.Indeed,aninwardbitterdispositionagainstthepowerofreligion,thoughunderanyformality,isacharacterofaSatanicalspirit,andsuchcannotsay,'OurFather.'Iftheydo,itisanusurpation,fortheirtruefatheristhedevil.

(2.)Whocansay,OurFather?ThosethatbytheSpiritoftheFatherandthe Son, by the Holy Ghost, are ingraffed into Christ by a spirit ofadoption,andhave thestampof theFatherupon them.The likenessoftheFatherandofChrist,whomGodbegetstohisownlikeness,thatare,inaword,likeChrist.ChrististhefirstSon,andinhim,andforhissake,we are sons.He is thenatural Son, and theymay say 'OurFather' thatlabourtoexpressthedispositionofChrist,whoisthefirstSon.Seethisdisposition of Christ in the gospel, how marvellously patient he wasunderthehandofhisFather,obedienttothedeathofhiscross,humbled,fulloflove,fullofgoodness.'Hewentaboutdoinggood,'Acts10:38.Dowe thenwalk asChrist did?Carrywe the image of the 'secondAdam'?Havewethepatient,humble,meekdispositionofChristinourmeasure?

Do we love Christ in his members, God in his image? Do we love theordinancesandthepowerofreligion?Thisshewethwhatweare.Andisourconversationsuitabletoourinwarddisposition?Dowewalkinlight?Doweshewbyourconversationwhosechildrenweare?Doourspeechesgiveacharacterof the inwardman?If thisbe inus, though inneversosmallameasure,withcomfortwemaysay,'OurFather.'

Butmaynotanotherman, that isnot inChrist, cometoGodunder thesweet name of 'our Father?' Yea, hemay come to him as his father bycreationandprovidence,orsacramentallyafather,orasbroughtintothechurch,andhavingGodtocreatehimandtoprovideforhim.Lord,thouhastshewedthyselfagraciousFatherthusfar,thoughIcannotfromanyinwardpersuasionsay, 'MyFather.'ThusfarasIcanIsay, 'MyFather.'Striveagainstour spiritual infidelity,believeGodandcastourselvesonhisgraciouspromisesinChrist.Godwillmeetusatthesametime,andhewillsendushisSpirittomakeushissons.AndthereforeletnomanthathathbeenawickedliverbediscouragedfromgoingtoGodinthenameofa father, in thatwhereinhe isa father.Lord, thouhast createdmeandpreservedme,anditisthymercyIamnotinhell.YetthouofferesttobemyFatherinChrist—thouhastmadegraciouspromisesandinvitedme;anduponthis,whentheheartyieldethtothegraciousapprehensionsofGodasaFather,thereisaspiritoffaithwroughtintheheartpresently.Thereforethinkof thenameofa father,andtheverythoughtsof itwillbringthespiritofadoption.

Only it speaks no comfort to the bitter malicious satanical enemies ofChrist,andthepowerofreligion.Theybechildrenofthedevil.Butnowpoorsouls,thatgroanundertheburdenofsin,letthemthinkthatGodisa Father, and of the mercies of God, though they do not see they beinterested in them.By the very contemplationof themerciesofGod inChrist, and his inviting them to receive them, the Spirit ofGodwill bewroughtinthesoul,wherebytheymayhaveconfidencetocometoGodasaFather.

I desire you therefore to remember this. It is the first sermon of ourSaviourChristafterhisresurrection,andthereforeforgetnottothinkofGodasaFatherandChristasaBrother.Indeed,whatsoevercomfortisinany relation, God and Christ have taken it on them. A father is more

comprehensivethananyother title:Christ isFather,andHusband,andSpouse.AndGodisourRockandShield;andwhatsoeveriscomfortablehehathtakenonhim,andinChristwemaycommandhimtobeso.Andif we had ten thousand worlds, they could not be compared to thecomfortsthatarisefromhence,thatwecancallGod,Father.Itismoretous,ifwecouldimproveitinourspiritualtradeforheaven,thanifwehada thousand worlds, especially in days of affliction and in the hour ofdeath. For it improveth whatsoever is in the bowels of God for poordistressedsouls.Whennothingelsewillcomfort,thiswillcomfort,ifwecansaytoGod,'Father.'Thoughwecannotmakeadistinctprayer,yetifwecansay'Father,'Godcanpickmatteroutofourbrokenlanguage.NowChristisascendeduptoheaven,hedothusmoregoodthanhedidwhenhewas upon the earth. The sun in the firmament yieldeth us heat andcomfort;butifitwereneareritwoulddoushurt,oriffurtheroffitwouldnotdoussomuchgood.Godhathplacedit,beingacommonlightoftheworld, high, to enlighten inferior bodies, and to convey influence bymeans into them. And so Christ, the Sun of righteousness, beingascended and advanced toheaven, dothmore good thanon earth.Andthereforesaithhe,'ItisforyourgoodthatIascend.'ItisforourgoodthatwehaveChristinheaven,toappearthereforus.

'I ascend to my Father, and to your Father.' 'Father' is here takenpersonally,notessentially;thoughitbetrueinthatsense,'tomyFather,'asthefirstpersonoftheTrinityespecially.Christmaywellsay,'IascendtomyFather'now;forhewasrisenagain,andwasmightilydeclaredtobetheSonofGodbyhisresurrectionfromthedead. 'ThouartmySon;thisdayIhavebegottenthee;'thatis,thisdayhaveIdeclaredthee,Rom.1:4,andHeb.1:5.Itissaidofthings,fiunt,cumpatefiunt,theyaredonewhentheybeopen,anddeclaredtobedone.ChristwastheSonofGodwhen he rose again, because he was discovered by his gloriousresurrectiontobesoindeed.AndthereforeChristmaywellsayafterhisresurrection, 'I go tomyFather, andyourFather.'Observe fromhence,thatGodinChristisourFather.Wesay,relationsareminimœentitatis,*they are little entities founded upon others, but they are maximœconsequentiœ,ofgreatconcernment.

I beseech you, before I leave the point, giveme leave to go on a little

further in this, to shew thatwonderfulmercy, that admirable goodnesswhichthetonguesandheartsofall themenintheworld,andangels inheaven,arenotabletoexpress;thatloveofGodwhichiscontainedintherelationhehathtakenonhiminChristtobeourFather.

(1.)Considerwho,andwhom.Who,thegreatGod,thathaththeSontosolacehimself in.Hedidnotadoptusbecausehewantedsons.Hehadsonsofhisown,andsonsofhislovetosolacehimselfin.Whatneedhehave took traitors, rebels, enemies, to make them his sons? Oh it is amarvellousadvancementofournature,thatGodshouldinChristbecomeour 'Father.' It is said,Ps. 113:6, 'God abasethhimself to behold thingsbelow;' and indeed sohedoth,with reverencebe it spoken tohis greatmajesty: he abaseth himself in regard of things below, in regard of uswormsoftheearth,thatbeenemies,yea,devilsbynature.Formany,yeshallseethedevilinthem,intheirlyingandopposingofgoodness.AndGodwillalwayshavesomeamongstmen,toshewotherswhattheywouldbe,ifGodleftthemtothemselves.Godabasethhimselftobeholdthingsbelow.Not that it isadiminutionofmajesty todo it,butGod inChristhath stooped so low, that he could go no lower, and he is advanced ashighinournatureascanbe.HowcouldGodbecomeaman,acurse,Godinthesecondpersonwithus,GodinthefirstpersontobesoneartousasaFather,andGod in thesecondpersontomakehimaFather, tobesolowasChristwas,whichistobeaslowashellitself.

(2.) Consider to whom thismessage is sent. He is your Father, even aFathertoyouthedisciples,nowyouaredisconsolate.Godownethusforhischildrenattheworst.Hetookourconditionnotwithstandingallourinfirmities. When we be pronest by a work of the Spirit to condemnourselves,thenGodisnearesttojustifyus.Whenthepoorprodigalsaid,'Iamunworthytobeason,makemeanhouseholdservant,'youseehowthefatherentertainethhim,Luke15:19.Sothepoorpublicandarethnotliftuphiseyes,andyetwentawayjustified,Luke18:13.David,whenhecouldnotpray,butmurmurandrebel,andsaidinhisheartallmenareliars, 'yet thou heardest the voice of my prayer,' Ps. 116:11; even then,whenhecouldnotpray,butgroanandsightoGod:'Isaid,Iamcastoutofthysight,yetthouregardestthevoiceofmyprayers;'whenhesaid,outofamurmuringspiritandrebelliousnessofnature,Iamcastoutofthy

sight—aspeech that tended todesperation,—yetGodheard thevoiceofhisprayer.WhenJobsaid,'Iclothedmyselfindustandashes,'Godsaidtohim, 'Ihaveacceptedthee,'Job42:6,8.WhenwebytheSpirit thinkourselvesunworthytobeaccepted,ortolooktoheaven,ortotreaduponthe earth, then God looketh on us worthy in his Son; and nevermoreworthy than whenwe acknowledge our own unworthiness. 'Go tellmydisciples,' at this timewhen theyhaddealt sounworthily, 'I go to theirFather.'

Itisfromhisownbowels,andnotanygoodnessinus,thathelovethus.He loveth theworkofhisownSpirit,hisownnature, that that isofhisown. Though the child hathmany infirmities, yet the Father seeth thenature of the child, and therefore loveth it. God seeth his image ofholinessinusinsomepoormeasure,andhelovethhisowninus.Andhelovethour love tohim,which is insomemeasure.Though thediscipleshadgotintocorners,aftertheirunkinddealingwithChrist,yetheknewtheylovedhim.Aswherethereislove,therewillbeareflectionofhislovebackagain.

AndthenGodknowethifheshouldnotshewmercytosinners,heshouldhave none to serve him on earth. And therefore saith the psalmist, Ps.130.ver.4,'Thereismercywiththeethatthoumayestbefeared;'thatis,worshipped. IfGodwerenotmerciful to sinners,where shouldhehaveanytoworshiphim?AndthereforeGodshewethhimselftobeaFather,even to sinful creatures; even in their wickedness, he seeth his ownnatureinthem.Heseethsomelove,someworkofrespectinthem,andifheshouldnotlovethem,hewouldhavenonetofearhim.

Beloved, liveupon this. I spakebeforeof the loveofChrist.Here is theloveofGodtheFather,whoiscontenttobeaFathereveninoursinfulcondition.IfGodbeaFathertous,astoChrist,thenletnotourheartsbediscouragedinafflictions,persecutions,temptations.GodwasaFathertoChrist in his desertion.God leavethus to ourselves sometimes, andwefearhislove.DidnotheleavehisownSonuponthecross—'MyGod,myGod,whyhastthouforsakenme?'Mat.27:46—andyetheceasednottobeaFather.

For persecution of enemies: was not Christ's whole life filled up with

persecution, and yet a Son? For temptations: thou art tempted, andthinkest thou art none of God's children. Satan did tempt our blessedSaviour, thathemightbeamercifulSaviour,andknowhowtosuccourtheeintimesoftemptation.Therefore,benotdiscouraged.Saynot,whenthouartdeserted,persecuted,afflicted, tempted,God isnot thyFather;forby that reason thoumayest argue,GodwasnoneofChrist'sFather.Godwas Christ's Father, notwithstanding his desertion for a time; andnotwithstandinghisafflictions intheworld,hispersecutionsofallsortsofmen, and notwithstanding his temptations,Godwas his Father still.Thiswemustobserve,'father'isnotarelationto-day,noneto-morrow.Itis an eternal relation. 'Dum percutis, pater es; dum castigas, pater es,'saithAustin(h):'Whilethoustrikestus,thouartourFather;whilstthoucorrectest us, thou art our Father.' Parents are tender to their weakestandsickchildren;andGodismosttenderofalltothemthatbeweak.'Go,tell Peter.' And therefore, never be out of conceit ofGod orChrist.Wecannot be in a condition wherein, on any sound grounds, wemay runfromGod.

Butifthisbeso,letuslearnofGodtobeindulgent.IfIweretospeaktoministers, I should be large to advise them to preach the law and thegospel. The very law is preached in mercy. The Lord taketh a severecourse,butit istoorderus.AllGod'sseverityisreducibletomercyandChrist; all his afflictions, humiliations, and abasements, do they comefrom unfatherly affection? No; but to draw us home to him. Andtherefore,neverbe terrible toany,butwithabowelofcompassion,butwithamindthattheymayseethemselves,andseethecomfortstheyhaveinChrist.Weoughttobeofhisaffection,thegreatPastorandBishopofthechurch.AndsoforordinaryChristians;theyshouldbeindulgentoneto another. Some are always cutting in ulcers; always wounding andtearing themselves with ill usage and misconstruction; keepingthemselvesfromgrowingupinabetterlife,byobservingtheinfirmitiesofthemthatbebetterthanthemselves.Oh,but'go,tellmybrethren'thatmy Father owneth them for his children, which may be a use ofmarvellouscomforttous.

Shall a child be always prowling for itself? We think there is neitherfathernormothertotakecareforit:yourheavenlyFatherknowethwhat

youneed.Weoughttolabourforcontentmentinallconditions;forGodisourFather.Andforothers, ifGodbeourFather, letuslooktoothersthatbeourbrethren;ownthem,andcarryourselvestothemasbrethren.Letthestrongcarrythemselveslowlytotheweak.Itisasignofgreateststrengthtobemostindulgent.Manyaccountitgreatcommendationsontheirpart tobecensoriousandtobesevere.Ay,but that is thegreatestpartof theirweakness, if theyhaveanygoodness inthem.ForwhowasmoreindulgenttothedisciplesthanChrist,whosawtheirweakness?Hebe rewith all their infirmities.Wherewe see any goodness, let us bearwith many weaknesses. We ought to be peaceable men: Beati suntpacifici.*Theythatbeappeasedintheirconsciences,insenseofthenownpardon, are ready to shew mercy to others. Busy, contentious,quarrelsome dispositions argue they never found comfort from Godhimself.

IfGodbeaFather,andwearebrethren,itisalevellingword;itbringethmountains down and filleth up valleys. All are brethren, take them inwhat condition youwill. If theybe great in theworld, brethrenof highdegree;yet'brother'levelleththem.Iftheybeoflowdegree,yetitfilleththem up, and raiseth them to the height in this brotherhood. Andtherefore, 'Go, tell my brethren;' tell them all, for they be all equallybrethren.

IfIweretospeaktopersonsofqualityandgreatparts,asIamtospeaktomean,letthembeputinmindoftheircondition.Nothingshouldraiseusup so high, as to forget the everlasting relation of brother. Infirmityshouldnotsofarprevailwithus,astoforgetthatwhichthechildrenof.Godhavetoeternity.Andforotherpersonsmoreeminent,ifhebeaking,lethimnotsomindthat,astoforgetallother.Forallrelationsdetermineindeath, andmustbe laid in thedust; allmust standon equal groundbeforeGod'sbar,andtheythathavemosttoanswerfor,havethehighestaccountofall,andthereforeitisgroundofhumilitytoall.Letthemthatareingreatesteminencyconsiderthis.Paul,afterconversion,couldsay,'Henceforth,Iknownomanaftertheflesh,'2Cor.5:16.Thereisagreatdealofhumanityintheworld:complimentisveryordinary,whichisthepicture and outside of humanity; but Christian love, which is a degreeabovehumanity,theapostlecallethitΦιλαδελφὶα,'brotherlylove,'thatis

thescornoftheworld.Theywillownabrotherinoffice;butowningthemin thesweetbondsofbrotherhood,as theyare thesonsofGod,here isheaven;makemuchof them in thatkind, that is a strange thing in theworld.Butwemustknowwhatitmeaneth,beforewecometoheaven.WemustrespectaChristian,behewhathewillbe,underallhisinfirmities,ifhehathagoodspiritinhim,whichGodtheFatherseethandChristseeth.Wemustbearlovetoallsaints.Somewillmakemuchofaneminentman,thathathexcellentparts,becausetheremaybesomecountenance fromsuch persons; but here is sincerity that beareth love to all saints. Hewraps themup all in the general term, 'Go, tell Peter,' among the rest,thathathoffendedmorethantherest.

Ifyouwillknowwhetheryoubetruebrethrenorno,orsonsofGodorno,makeauseoftrial,bywhatisformerlydelivered.Ishallenlargemyselfinthat point, because all dependeth upon it. God is the Father of all bycreation; he is the Father in a general covenant, of all that receive thesacramentandarebaptized.ButiftheyhavenootherrelationtoGodbutso,theymaygotohell,asJudasandothersdid:thereforewemustknowwhetherwemayclaimthisrelationofFatherongoodgroundsorno,elseitisanusurpation.

1. Those that belong toGod, the Spirit ofGodwitnesseth to them thattheyaresons.TheythatareadoptedhavetheSpiritofadoptioninsomedegree.God sendethhis Spirit into their hearts, that assures them thatthey beGod's children. And howsoever this is the first, yet God givethsome intimationbyhisSpirit, that they look toGod inanother familiarmannerthanbefore;andhelooksontheminafatherlymanner.Sotherebe some intimations, and insinuations, and hints, though the Spirit ofadoptionwitnessethnot fullyandgloriously to thesoulalways,becausewearenotfittedforit;butsometimesingreatafflictionsanddesertions.WheretheSpiritofGodis,thereiscommunionwithGodintheSpiritofadoption.AndwhenthevoiceoftheSpiritofadoptionspeaksnotloudly,yetthereisaworkoftheSpirit.ThereissomethingtousrenewedbytheSpirit; there issomethingof thenewcreature.WhenaChristiancannothearGodsaytohissoul,'Iamthysalvation,'yetamanmayseeaworkofgrace.Thereisa lovetoGod,totheordinances,tothepeopleofGod;amourning,becausehecannotmourn;asighing,becausehehathnotan

heartpliable.Heisdiscordantwithhisconditionwhenheisdisconsolate.SothatthereisaworkoftheSpirithelpethhiminhisworstcondition.

Besides, there is a spirit of supplication in some measure. Though hecannotmakesetdiscoursestoGod,yethecaninasweetmannerlayopenhissorrowandgrieftoGod,andleavetheminhisbosom.Theybebrokenwords,perhaps,butGodcanplucksenseoutofthem.GodknoweththemeaningofthesighingofhisownSpirit,thoughbrokenspeeches.Sothatwhere there is any tongue forGod inaman, there is a spiritofprayer;thereisnotastrangenessofGodtogoaltogetherby,butthespirithathakindofacquaintancewithGod;anditgoethtoGodinafamiliarity,andlayethforthgrief,andputtethforthpetitions,inanothermannerthantheworlddoth.

Again,AChristian in theworstcondition,Godnotonlyshinethonhimthroughthecloud,butthereisaspiritinhimthatsighethtogothroughall thick clouds to God. There is a spirit of supplication and of love insomedegree, for that ispromised. 'TheSpirit shallhelpour infirmities,when we know not how to pray,' Rom. 8:26. The intercourse andcommunion with God is never broken off where there is any Spirit ofadoption.ThereforeJonasandDavid,andtherest,thoughtheycouldnotpray, yet they sighed to God, and would not leave him. If they couldembrace Christ, they would not leave him. If they could not embraceChrist, theywould touch thehemofhisgarment.Theywillnotyield tothe streamaltogether, but strive against it.And though they be carriedawaywiththestrengthofthestream,andseenogoodnessinthemselves,yettheythatbewiththemshallseeaspiritstrivingtoanotherconditionthan theyare in.SomethingofChrist's, somethingofGod'sSpirit therewillbeinthem.Andtakethemattheworst,theywillappearbetterthanthecivilman,thatthinkshimselfagloriousman,thoughhehathnothingbut for show and fashion. Who would be in such a man's conditionwithoutsomebrokennessofheart,somesighs?

2. Likewise we may know it by our sympathy and antipathy—oursympathywiththemthatbegood,andantipathytothatwhichisnaught.*There is a love of that which is good. So things, good things, areconnatural toagoodman.There isa relish ingoodcompanyandgoodthings.Asthereissweetnessinthebestthings,sothereissomethingin

thechildrenofGodthatisanswerabletotheGodwhomtheyserve.Heisneversooutoftastebuthefindethhischiefcomfortinthisthing,andheisneverhimselfsomuchaswhenheisconversantinthesethings,thoughindifferentmeasure: sometimesmore,andsometimes less.There isaninwardantipathy toGod inaproudcarnalman thathathnothisheartsubduedbygrace;thereisacontrarietytothepowerofthatgracewhichoutwardlyheprofesseth,andasympathywiththeworldandthespiritoftheworld.TakeagoodChristianattheworst,heisbetterthananotheratthe best. I beseech you, therefore, examine our dispositions; how westandaffectedtothingsofanhighernaturethanthethingsoftheworld;tospiritual things,howwecanrelishspiritual things,God'sordinances,andanythingthatisholy.SurelyiftherebethelifeofGodandChristinus,therewillbeakindofconnaturalnessandsuitablenessoftastetothesweetnessthatisinholythings.

To come to the next,mark the order here, 'Go tomy Father, and yourFather.'WearethesonsofGodatthesecondhand.GodistheFatherofChristfirst,andthenours.HeishisGodfirst,thenourGod.

Thisisaweightypointfordirectingofourdevotions,thatwemayknowinwhatordertolookonGod.SeeGodinChrist;seeallthingsinChristfirst,andtheninus.LookuponhimasFathertoChrist,andthentous.LookonhimasaGodtoChristfirst,andinChristaGodtous.Lookonhimashavingelectedus,butelectinChristfirst.Seeourselvesjustified,butseeChrist justifiedfirst fromoursins,andhis justificationdeclaredbyhisresurrection.Seeourresurrectionandascension,andglorificationin heaven, not directly, but in Christ our head, who is in heaven, andtakethupplaceforus.SeeGodlovingus,butlookonitinChrist,whoissedesamoris.*ThenextthingtoGodishisSon,andhelovethnonebutinhim.When we consider of any spiritual blessing, say with the apostle,'BlessedbeGod,thathathfilleduswithallspiritualblessingsinChrist,'Eph. 1:3.Otherwisewe do not know ourselves norGod.Whatsoever isderivedfromGodtousisthroughChrist.Allpromisesarehisfirst.Theyaremadetohim,andtoournatureinhim,andtheyareperformedforhissake.HetakeththemfromGodtheFather,andtheybeperformedforhissake.Heis thetrueAaron.Wearebuttheskirts.Theoil that ispouredupon his head runneth down to his skirts. It runneth to the meanest

Christian;but theointmentof grace is firstpouredonhishead. 'Ofhisgracewereceivegraceforgrace,andofhisfulness,'John1:10.Thefirstfulness isGodhimself; the second receptacle of all isChrist,God-man;thethirdarewe;wehaveitatthethirdhand.GodemptiethhimselfintoChrist,asmediator.Inhimarethefulnessofallriches,thetreasuresofallwisdomandknowledge.Wearecompletedinhim,andinhimwearefull.Hisisnotonlyafulnessofthevessel,asoursis,butafulnessofthefountain.

And it is for our comfort that it is so, thatGod's love is toChrist first.There is a firm foundationwhenGod loveth us in his Son, andwe arechildren inhisnaturalSon, inwhomweareadopted.Thenour state isfirm.OurfirststateinthefirstAdamwasnotfirm,butnowournatureistakenintotheunityofthesecondperson,itisfirm.SothattheloveandcareandfatherlydispositionofGodtowardsus,itissweettous,becauseitistendertohisSon.Itiseternaltous,becauseitiseternaltohim.HecanassoonceasetolovehisSon,asceasetoloveus.Forwiththesamelove he loveth all Christmystical, head andmembers. There is not theleast finger of Christ, the least despised member of Christ, but GodlookethonhimwiththatsweeteternaltendernesswithwhichhelookethuponhisSon,preservingtheprerogativeofthehead.Oh,thisisasweetcomfort, that now all the excellent privileges of a Christian are set onChristandthenonus;andthereforeweshouldnotlosethem,forChristwill lose nothing. When the favour of a prince is founded on his sonwhom he always loveth, the affection is unalterable on the son, andthereforethecaseisgood.SoGod'sfavourtousisfoundedonhislovetohisSon,andthereforeunalterableandeternal.WeshouldthereforelookuptoGodinhisSon;putupallourpetitionstohiminhisSon;expectallfromhiminhisSon.Heisinheavenforus,todothatthatbelongethtous.ExpectallfromGodthroughChrist,anddoalltoGodthroughChrist;loveGodinChrist,andChristinGod;ourselvesinChrist,andourselvesintheloveofGod.ChristisinGod,andGodisinChrist.GodandChristareinus.ThereisamarvelloussweetrelationandcommunionbetweenGodandus,andChristandus.Itisasweetcommunion,andmysterioustous.Howsweet is thecommunionbetweenthesoulandthebody, thesoulbeingsospiritual,andthebodyapieceofearth!Butwhatisthistothemysteryofmysteries,whenGodtakesclayanddustintounityofhis

person; and all this is for this union. The great and glorious union ofChristtoournaturesisthathemaytakeusintohismysticalbody,andsomakeusonewithhimself,andonewiththeFather.HetookournaturesthathemightconveyhisfatherlygoodnessandloveandSpirittous.ThesweetunionofthetwonaturesofChrististoconfirmunionbetweentheFather and us, and Christ and us. And we are never happy till we beassured thatwe are onewithChrist,which is the issue of his excellentprayer,John17.

Our blessed Saviour fetcheth the comfort of our Father from this, thatGodishisFatherfirst,andsotojoinbothtogether;thatGodisourGod,becauseheishisGodfirst.Itisapointveryconsiderable,thatwhatsoevercomfortwelookforfromGod,andinGod,wemustseeitinChristfirstbeforeweseeitinourselves,becausewebebutsonsbyadoption,andwehaveallwehavefromGodthroughChrist.WhatsoeverweseeinChrist,thinkthiswillbelongtous.Andwhatsoeverwelookshouldbelongtous,seeitfirstinhim.Asverilyasheascended,weshallascend;asverilyasherose,weshallarise;asverilyasheisatGod'srighthand,weshallbetheretoo;forbyfaithwesitnowinheavenlyplaceswithChrist;and'weshall judge the world, and be for ever with the Lord,' 1 Cor. 6:3.Whatsoeverwe see in Christ, interest ourselves in it. And thereforewemustnotconceiveofChristasasevereperson,butconceiveofourselvesinunionandcommunionwithChristourhead;andtoconceiveofChristas ourhead and surety, and 'secondAdam,' and as a quickening spirit,that communicateth all to us. And therefore when we are to deal withGod, be sure to go through Christ; as we expect all fromGod throughChrist,sogivealltoGodthroughChristagain.BesuretotakeBenjaminwith uswhenwe go; and come clothedwith the garments of our elderbrother, and do not doubt when we come with Christ, for else wedishonourChrist.Shall I come in the sweetnameandmediationofmySaviour,thathathperfectedsalvation,andnotbeacceptedofGod,whenGod hath ordained him for that purpose? If we stagger, and doubt toreceive anything at God's hand, we wrong not only God's bounty, butChristthemediator.Carrythisthereforeallalongwithus.Doallinhim,anddesireGodtopardonallforhissate,andGodwillregardus.

Use.Letus thereforemakeuseof it, andadd this further, that if sobe

GodisfirsttheFatherofChristbeforeheisourFather,andfirsttheGodofChristbeforehe isourGod,andthatallourgoodisdependentuponwhatGodistoChristfirst,thendothnotthisfollowfromhence,thatweshouldnotonly thankGod forourselves,but thankGod forwhatsoeverhehathdonetoChrist;notonlycomfortourselvesinit,butletGodhavethegloryof it?AndthistheSpiritofGodintheholyapostlesPeterandPaul led them to.Eph. 1:3, 'Blessedbe theGodandFatherofourLordJesus Christ.' What, and nothing but so? Nay, with a reduplication,'BlessedbeGodtheFatherofourLordJesusChrist,'evenbecauseheistheFatherofourLordJesusChrist;becauseoutofhis infinitedepthofwisdomandgoodnesshehathfoundoutawaytosaveusinChrist,tobeaFathertohim,andinhimaFathertous.ItissaidoftheVirginMary,'Allgenerationsshallcallherblessed,'Luke1:48.Why?BecauseshewasthemotherofthepersonthatwasGod;shewasthemotherofChrist inhumannature,andofGod,becausewemaynotsever thepersons.AndshallweblesstheVirginMary,asmotherofGod,andnotGodasFatherofChrist?IfshebethemotherofChrist-man,thenGodistheFatherofwholeChrist;andthereforeblessedbeGod,notonlythatheisourFatherandourGod,butthathemightbethuswithsatisfactiontodivinejustice,hehath foundout suchaway tobe theFatherofChrist;andChrist,asman, is an object of God's love and predestination as well as we. WedeservednothingatGod'shands,buthefoundoutsuchawaybytakingthe nature of man into unity of his second person, and so became aFather of Christ and of us. And therefore bless God, who hathpredestinatedChristtobetheLambofGod,thathathfreedhimfromsin,andsethimathisrighthand,raisedhimfromthedead;thathathcarriedhim intoheaven,andordainedhim tobeJudgeofquickanddead.Arethesethingsseveredfromus?No.TheybefavoursthatbeoursinChrist;hisfirst,thenours.AndthereforewhensoeverwethinkofanythingChristhathofhisgloryinheaven,asheiskingofheavenandearth,andhathallpowercommittedtohim,glorifyGodforit,andthinkofit,Thisismine;he is mine husband, my head; he hath taken up that glory, andwhatsoeverisinheaven,andenjoyeththem,hehathtakenitupforme,andthereforeweshouldblessGodforit.SotheapostlePeter:'BlessedbeGodtheFatherofourLordJesusChrist, thathathbegotusagaintoaninheritance immortal, undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in theheavens,' 1 Peter 1:3. He hath begot us to a lively hope, 'through the

resurrection of Christ from the dead.' So it is from the resurrection ofChrist from the dead that Christ saith, 'God is my Father and yourFather.' Since God's justice is satisfied by my resurrection; that is,declaredtobesatisfied; 'IascendtomyFather,andyourFather; tomyGod, andyourGod.' I beseech you, let usnot lose the comfort of thesethings,sinceourSaviourChristintendedthemforcomfort.

Tocometothewords.First,Christsaith,GodwashisGod,andourGod,becausehisGod.InwhatsenseisGodChrist'sGod?Asmediator,asman,both in regardof his person and in regardof his office,God isChrist'sGodeveryway.SeePs.22:9,whichisapsalmofChrist,Davidbeingbutatypeofhiminit:'ThouartmyGodfrommymother'swomb;'andsoGodisChrist'sGodinhisparticularperson,fromhismother'swomb.

(1.)For,first,GodwasChrist'sGodwhenbyhisHolySpirithesanctifiedhiminhismother'swomb,andbroughthimout intotheworld.Letthefoolishdisputesoffriars,anddreams,anddotagesofdunsicaltimesgo.'ButthouartmyGodfrommymother'swomb.'

And(2.)HeisChrist'sGod,becausehesavedhimfromthemassacreofthe infants. Our Saviour Christ makes that prayer in Psalm 22., Mark15:34,onthecross,'MyGod,myGod,whyhastthouforsakenme?'

(3.) Godwas Christ's God in protecting of him in his young time, andafterward in going alongwith him still to his death; and in death, 'MyGod,myGod'still.HewouldownGodtobehisGodstill;whenGodhaddeserted him to his sense and feeling, yet 'My God' still. So God wasChrist'sGod,asChristwasman.TakeChristasmediator,GodistheGodof Christ; for God the Father hath by his authority put on Christwhatsoeverhehath.TheFatherhathsenthimintotheworld;theFather'sealed'him; theFather senthimout as apropitiation forour sins; theFather hath declared him and 'anointed' him; and all these terms ofauthority, whereby the Father hath shewed himself to be Christ's God,eveninhisofficeofmediatorship.Soinregardofthecareofhispersonfrom his mother's womb, and for ever; and in regard of his office asmediatorhemightwell say, 'I go tomyGod.' In regardof the intimatefamiliarityandacquaintancemaintainedevenonthecross,hemightsay,'MyGod.'

Butthecomfortofitliethinthesecondclause,thatasGodistheGodofChrist,soheisourGod,becauseheistheGodofChrist.

WhatisittobeaGodtoany?Inaword,tobeaGodistobeall-sufficienttoany;tobesolesufficient,andtobeself-sufficient.

TobeaGod is tobeall-sufficient foreverycreature; tobeall-sufficientwhen nothing else can be sufficient. And to be self-sufficient, to besufficient of himself, and therefore to reduce all back again to himself.Now, God is a God of himself, for himself, and by himself. God is all-sufficient, self-sufficient, sole-sufficient; and whatsoever the creaturehath,ithathitfromhim.Thereis,inaword,inGodasufficiencyforallgood and happiness, and an efficiency to apply that sufficiency for thegoodofthecreature.AndinparticulartobeaGodtoany,istodoforacreature that no creature in the world can do but God. To make it ofnothing,tofreeitfrommiserythatitisbesetwithal,whennoothercanfreeit, torecoveritagain.GodisJehovah,thathathabeingofhimself,givethbeingtothecreatures,thatcanmakethecreatureofnothing,andbeingsomething,canmakeitnothing.

Now,ifGodbeaGodtoany,heisnotonlytogivebeingtous,inacertainrankofcreatures,asweareadvancedaboveothercreatures,astohaveabeing,oralifeofgrowing,oralifeofsense,ortoadvanceustoalifeofcreaturesendowedwithreason,wherebywearecommoninthatfashionwithangels,andunderstandGodhimself.Alas!thiswereapoorprivilegeifitwentnofurtherthantosetusinthatrankofcreatures,thoughagreatfavour.Butconsideringusinalapsedestate,itisapoorfavourtoleaveushere. And thereforeGod is said to be ourGod now in a state of grace,whenheadvancethus toanhigherbeingand life thanall this,a lifeofgracehereandofgloryhereafter;whenoutofhissovereigntyandpowerhe reduceth all to help forward his main end, the salvation of his inparticular.SoGodisaGodinpeculiarofsomethathetakethoutofbasemankind. There is a world taken out of the world, as Austin useth tospeak (i). And thus he is a God not to bestow a life of grace andsupernatural being here, but a glorious condition hereafter in heaven;andtomakeall thingsserviceable to that, thatwemaysay, 'All isours,because we are Christ's, and Christ is God's,' 1 Cor. 3:22, 23. So thatwhatsoever befalleth a Christian, is serviceable and conducible to the

mainandlastend.AndthatisforGodtobeGodindeed,tomakeushisinChristJesus, togiveusanowcreationandanewstate,better than thefirst.

Now,whatisthefoundationofthis,thatGodisourGodinthecovenantofgrace?Wesay it is foundedonChrist.God isChrist'sGod,and thenourGod;andthatisthereasonwhyChristiscalled'Immanuel,'whichisasmuch as to say, as it is expounded, 'Godwith us.'Not only becausewhenhetookournatureonhim,therewasGodandmaninoneperson;but themeaning of the word is, Christ is Immanuel, 'Godwith us;' bybeingGodinournature,andsatisfyingdivinejusticeinournature,hathbroughtGodtheFatherandusintoasweetcovenant.SothatGodmaybeour God and our Father, notwithstanding his justice; because all issatisfiedbyChrist,whotookournaturetodieforus.ChristisImmanuel,becausehehathmadeGodandusone.SothatGodisourGod,andnotonlyso,butourFatherinhim.ThusyouseehowitcomethtopassthatGod isourFatherbyChrist,whocame tobringusagain toGod,ashiswholeofficewastobringafewthathadbeensingledoutofmankindtoGodagain,fromwhomtheyfell;forweallhadcommunionwithGodinAdam,butwelostit;andnowmustbebroughtagaintoGod,whichmustbedonebyChrist,Godandman.

Thusmuchforthefoundationofthepoint,thatGodisChrist'sGod,andGodinChristisourGod,todoallthingsforus,tobringustoanhappyconditionhereandaneverlastinghappyconditioninheaven.

Weseehereitisbroughtasagroundofcomfort,andsoindeeditis.Andwemayobservefromhence,thatnowbytheresurrectionofJesusChrist,God is not only become a Father to us, but aGod. This is a ground ofmany comforts. 'Go, tell my disciples,' now I am risen again; andtherefore justice is satisfied; and now they may have lively hope of abetter conditionhereafter.ForGod ismyGod, thathath raisedmeup,and who will raise up mine too. So that now we are copartners withChrist, sharers with him in the fatherhood of God, and God is God incommonwithChristandus.

This may well be brought as a ground of comfort. If there were anycomfortintheworldofsweeterefficacythanthis,ourSaviourwouldhave

sentittohisdisciples.Comfortbeinghismainofficeandhismainend,hewouldhavethebestcomfortafterhisbestresurrection.Andhepicksthisfrom amongst them all, 'Go, tell them, I go to my Father, and theirFather;tomyGod,andtheirGod.'Andthereforeitisapregnantcomfort;andindeednoheartcanconceivethecomfortofit,thatwehaveinteresttogetherwithChrist inGod,andwiththeFatherhoodofGod.AndboththesetheScripturejoinethtogether:2Cor.2:6,'IwillbeyourFather,andyourGod.'

Tounfold thecomfortsmore,God is said tobeourGod incovenant inChrist.HeistheGodofChrist,andthereforeofus,becausehehathmadehimselfover tous.A thing is said tobeanotherman'swhen the title ispassedtoanotherman.Now,GodhathasitwerepassedoverhimselftohisbelievingchildrenandmembersofChrist.HehathmadeoverhimselftothemtobetheirGod;ashewastheGodofAbraham,Isaac,andJacob,and all the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, so he is of every good,believingChristiantotheendof theworld.Godmakethhimselfovertobe theirs; and, as the Scriptures' style is, he is their portion and theirinheritance;ablessedportion,ablessed inheritance,more tous than ifall theworldwereours, than ifheavenwereours, than if ten thousandworlds were ours, for he is our God that can createmillions of worldsmore than this if it were needful. Habet omnia, qui habet habentemomnia:hehathallthingsthathathhimincovenantthathathallthings.AndthereforewhentheScripturesaith, 'IgototheirGod,' it implieth,Igotohimthatisallinalltothem,thatislargerthantheirheartscanbe;for what heart can conceive the fulness of the comforts arising fromhence, 'thatGod is ourGod'?Many know they need comfort of such atranscendentnature.Theheartofmanissodistrustful,sofaithless,andtheconscienceissuchaclamorousthing,andthereforehecannotthinkthis is toomuch.Ibeseechyou, therefore,donot lose thecomfortof it,that in ChristGod is ourGod; thoughwe can say of nothing else, it isours.Perhapswecannotsay,greathousesareours,orfriendsareours,orinheritances ours. That is nomatter.We can say, that is ourswhich isinfinitelymore than that.Wecansay,God isours inChrist.Nay,beingexhortedtosaybytheSpiritoffaith,thatGodisoursinChrist,allthingsintheworldareours.AsyouhaveitinthatplaceofScripture,'Allthingsareyours.'Why?'BecauseyouareChrist's,andChristisGod's.''Whether

thingspresent,orthingstocome,Paul,Apollos,Cephas,life,death,allisyours;youareChrist's,andChristisGod's;'thatis,allthingsmustbyacommand fromGodconspire tomakeushappy: affliction,orSatan,ordeath,ortroubleofconscience,ordesertion,oreverythingtohelpustoheaven.Thecurseistakenaway,andthereisablessinghidineverythingthat befalleth a Christian, to bring him to heaven. Therefore it is acomfortofinfiniteextent.Allisyours,becauseGodisyours.

Youshallseetheextentofthecomfortsfurtherbyretail,asitwere.IfGodbeours,thenallisourstoo.Whatbethey?TheScripturetellethyou,andIshouldspendtoomuchtimeinunfoldingofthem.

1.IfGodbeours,hiswisdommustneedsbeours,tofindoutwaystodous good; for his infinite wisdom hath found out a way in Christ, bysatisfaction of his justice, to bring us to heaven. He can make us gobeyondallthepolicyofourneighbours,forhiswisdomisours.

2.Ifwe[are]indanger,hispowerisours,tobringusout.

3. Ifwehave sinned,hismercy is ours, to forgiveus.Hehimself beingours,hismercymustneedsbeours.Thewholebeingours, it followethoutofthestrengthofreasonthatthepartsalsomustbeours.

4.Inanywant,hisall-sufficiencyisours,tosupplyitortoturnittogood,andmakeitupinabetterkind.

5.Inaword,Godbeingours,whatsoeverisinGod,whatsoeverGodcando,whatsoeverhehath,isours,becausehimselfisours.Andtherefore,Ibeseechyou,makethisuseofit,togetintoChristbyfaith;tobeonewithChrist,thatsoGodmaybeourGod:Getfaithaboveallgraces,thegraceofunionandthegraceofcommunion;thatbeingonewithChrist,weareone with him. God being ours, all is ours; yea, the worst thing in theworldisours.

IfGodbenotours,itisnomatterwhatelseisours.Alas!allthingsmustbe taken fromus,weknownothowsoon,andwe taken fromall thingselse.Whatifwehadakingdom,asSaulhad,ifwebeforsakenofGodashewas?Whatifwehadparadise?IfweoffendGod,weshallbecastout.

Whatifwehadthedignitytobeapostles?IfwithJudaswehavenotGod,whatwillallcometo?Whatifamanenjoyalltheworld?IfoutofChrist,itwouldyieldhimnocomfort!Astheemperorsaid,Ihavegonethroughall varieties of condition, et nihilmihi profuit, but it hath doneme nogood.*Ifwehadall,whatisitbut'vanityofvanities'?andnotonlyso,but'vexation'?Eccles.1:2,2:17.Now,whenwehaveGodtobeourGod,heisabletofillthesoul.Heislargerthanthesoul,andheisabletoquietthesoul;heistherestofthesoul,thesoulisquiet;inhimisthecentre,astheplaceofquiet.IfGodbeours, thenthesoulresteth in it; forGodfilleththesoul,andquietsthesoul,andhathalwaysfreshcomfortsforthesoul,infinitestilltoalleternity.Thereisnothingintheworldbutwedoasitweredeflorare, takeawaythe flowerof itbyuse,and itbecomethstale.Thoughamancontinuemanythousandyearsintheworld,yethewillbewearyofallthingsintheworld,becausethereisnofreshnessinthem.Itisfinite,andthesoulislargerthanthecomfortsoftheworld.ButinGodis a spring of fresh comforts to everlasting. Consider the things thatenablehimtobeourGod,tofillthesoul,andtobelargerthanthesoul;toquietandcalmthesoulinallthetroublesofit;andthentohavefreshspringsofcomforts.Whatacomfortisthis,tohaveGodfortheirGod!

LetitthereforeraiseupoursoulstolabourafterGod,andneverresttillwehavesomeinterestinthisgreatportion,ofGodtobeourGod.WhenwecanbyfaithgooutofourselvestoChrist,andlayarightandjustclaimtoGodtobeourGod,thisisacomfortwhichreachethfromeverlastingtoeverlasting. It givethus forgivenessof sinswhenwehad lostourselves;because we are in Christ, he hath forgiven us. In all extremities andtroubles,whennocreaturecancomfortus,itishisglorytoshewhimselfaGod.Itreachethtotheresurrectionofthebody.GodisAbraham's,andIsaac's, and Jacob's Godwhen dead, because hewas theGod ofwholeAbraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and therefore of soul and body. And itreacheth fromall favours of thisworld, so far as is for our good, to alleternity. Being our God, he will protect us from all extremities in thisworld;hewillspeakcomforttooursouls,whichnothingcandobutGod.Whenwebedeadhewillraiseupourdust,becauseheisourwholeGod,theGodofoursoulsandbodies,andweshallbeforeverwiththeLord.Itisacomfortofwonderfulextent.

Use.1.Letusthereforemakethisuseofit.Labourtomakehimsotous;for as he is to us, so God by his Spirit is our comforter, who beingsatisfied,givethushisSpirit.WemustmakeGodourGod,andthenhewillbeaGodtous.Thesebemutualwheresoever theybe;wheresoeverGod is God to any, they by the Spirit obtained by Christ have grace tomakehimsotothemselves.WhatisitforustomakeGodaGodtous?Itis this: to set upGod a throne in our hearts; to give him a sovereigntyoverallthingsintheworld,thatwemaysayintruthofheart,Godisourjoy,Godisourcomfort,Godisourrock,Godisallinalltous.Whenwegivehimsupremacyofaffectionaboveall theworld,weesteemnothingabovehim;wevaluehimaboveallesteem;his loving-kindness isbetterthanlifeitself;forelsewedonotmakehimaGodtous,andthenitisnocomforttohearallthecomfortsspokenofbefore.ForalltowhomheisaGodinthecovenantofgrace,andhaveheartstomakehimso,theSpiritraisethuptheiraffectionstomakehimaGodtothemselves.Amortuus,deustuus,asitissaidofold,whatwelovemostisourgod.Whatwejoymost in isourgod,whatwerelyandtrust inmost isourgod,as itwassaidofthe'wedgeofgold,'Job31:24.AndthereforeifanythinghathouraffectionsmorethanGod,orequalwithGod,thatwemakeourgod.Itisa quære of the greatest concernment in theworld to put to our hearts.Whatdo Imakemygod?asDavidputteth thequære tohimself: 'Now,Lord, what is my hope? is it not in thee?' And so put this quære toourselves:Lord,whatismyjoy,whatismyhope,whatismytrust,whatismycomfort?isitnotinthee?Ifourheartscannotmakeananswertothisinsomesincerity,surelyasyetwehavenotmadeGodourGod.Timemaybethathemaybeso;buttillbytheSpiritofGodwebebroughttosee an emptiness and vanity in the creature, and nothingness in all incomparisonofGod,thatwecansay, 'WhomhaveI inheavenbutthee?'we have not comfort, because we do notmake him ours by a spirit ofmutuality.Where there is a covenant of grace theremust be amutualmakingofGodourGod,ashemakethhimselftous.

Alas!wemaybeashamedof it; thebestdooften forget themselves.Ohhowdomenvaluethefavoursofaman,andthepromisesofaman;thesealofamanforsuchandsuchabenefice;andhowdothitgrievethemtohave the frowns of flesh and blood, the frowns of greatness! Butwhentheirconsciencestellthemtheyareunderguiltofmanysins,andGodis

notingoodtermswiththem,howdoththisaffectthem?AndwhentheirconsciencescannotsaytheyhavepromisessealedinChristofthefavoursandmerciesofGodhereandhereafter,alas!it isdeadcomfort:Ἐμοὶτὸπαρὸν,Givemethatwhichispresent,andtakeyouthatwhichistocome,isthelanguageofboth.Howfewcansayfromsincerityofheartthattheymakegood*tobetheirGod?Andthereforeit isofgreaterconcernmentthanwetakeit.

Use2.Asitisagroundandfoundationofcomfort,soofallobediencetoGod, as it is prefixed before the commandments, 'I am the Lord yourGod,' Exod. 20:2, 'you shall have no other gods butme,' and do all inobediencetomefromthisground.Butmuchmorenow.ThenhewastheLordGodthatbroughtthemoutofEgypt;butnowGodmayprefix,'IamyourLordGodinChrist,'thathavebroughtyoufromhellanddamnation,thatintendyouheavenandhappiness,andthereforedosoandso.Sincethisisthespringofallobedience,weoughttolabourtomakeitgood,andoftentoexamineourselves,asbefore,whatwemakeourgod,andwhatwepitchouraffectionson.Alas!isoursoulforanythingbutGod?HathnotGodmade us for himself? andwill our hearts rest in anything butGod?Whythenshouldwelovevanity,andbesotourselves?Whendeathcomes,theymaysay,asSaulsaid,'ThePhilistinesareuponme,andGodhath forsaken me,' 1 Sam. 13:12. Death is on me, trouble, sickness,vexation of conscience is onme, andGodhath forsakenme; I havenoGod to go to.What amiserable estate is this!And therefore, I beseechyou, let us labour to have interest in the covenant of grace, tomake itgoodthatGodisourGodinJesusChrist.

WhogivethusabeingtobeChristians, tohaveanewnature, tohaveagood being, but God?Whomaintaineth and preserveth that being butGod?Andwhokeepethandpreservethustillwegetintoagloriousbeingin heaven but God, who is all-sufficient, self-sufficient, sole-sufficient,onlysufficient?ThisGodisourGodnowinChrist.

God is tous inamorespecial singularmanner than toothercreatures,becausehehathraisedustobeamoreexcellentbeing,notonlyasmen,webeinginthehighestrankofcreaturesnexttheangels;andsoheisaGodtousmorethantoinferiorcreaturesthathaveamorecircumscribedandnarrowbeing.Manhathalargebeing,areasonablesoul,andisfitted

bynaturetohavecommunionwithGod,whoiswisdomitself,andwithangels; but all thiswere little comfort unlesswe had higher degrees ofbeing than this. IfGodbeourGod inChrist,wehavea spiritualbeing,whichisasmuchabovethedignityandprerogativeofourordinarybeingasourbeingbynatureisabovethebasestcreatureintheworld.AndsoGod setteth a style upon us suitable to the excellency of our spiritualbeing. There is nothing excellent in the world but we are termed by itnow, to set out the advancement and excellency of the dignitywehavefrom God in a special manner; to be 'sons,' 'jewels,' his 'portion,' his'diadem,'tobewhatsoeveryoucanimaginethatisgloriousandexcellent:an excellent condition, though spiritual and concealed from the world.God's children are concealedmen, as you shall see afterward. They behiddenmen.Theworldtakethnonoticeofthem,becausetheirexcellencyis seen with another eye than the world hath. 'The God of the worldblindeth the eyes of worldlings,' 2 Cor. 4:4. They cannot see into theexcellencyofGod's children,nomore than theyknowGodhimself andChristhimself.SoyouseewhatitistobeaGodinnatureandingrace;tobeallinalluntous;tohaveourwholesubstanceanddependenceinhim.'Inhimwelive,move,andhaveourbeing,'andwell-being.

Inthisourexcellencyconsisteth,thatGodisourGodinChrist,whowasGod;andthathemightbringGodandustogoodtermstogether;thathemightmakeGodourGod.HewasImmanuel,Godwithus,tomakeGodwithusinfavourandlove.TheGodheadisnearestthehumannatureofChristofanycreature. It isnearer toChrist than to theangels; forGodhath not taken the angels into hypostatical union, to be in the sameperson; but God in Christ is so near our nature, that there is anhypostaticalunion.Theymakeoneperson, ournaturebeing taken intothe secondperson.By reasonof thisnearunionof theGodhead toournaturecomeththatcomfortandnearunionbetweenGodandournature,wherebyGodhathsweetcommunionwithusinChrist.GodbyhisSpirit,though not hypostatically, yet graciously, is one with us, and hathcommunion with us now as his children. So that sweet intercoursebetweenGodandusnow,isfoundeduponthenearnessoftheGodheadto our nature in Christ, in whom it is nearest of all, in whom it isadvancedabove theangelicalnature.AndthereforeourblessedSaviourmightwellsay,'IgotomyGod,andyourGod;'tohisGodfirst,andthen

toourGod.

Nowwemaysay,GodisourGod;andupongoodgrounds,becauseGodisChrist'sGod,and inhimourGod,which isapointofsingularcomfort;andthereforeIwillenlargemyselffurtherinit.

Doct. For God to be our God, especially in having that in our heartsunfolded,inregardofourspiritsandbestbeing,isthemostfundamentalcomfortthatwehave.Forfromthis,thatGodisourGod,comethallthatwe have that is good in nature and grace. Whatsoever is comfortablecometh from this spring, thatGod in Christ is ourGod, our reconciledGod;thatGod'snatureandoursnowareingoodterms.

Beloved,whatcannotweexpectfromGod,thatisnowbecomeourGod!Whathe is,whathe isable todo,whathehath,all isours,consideringhimself isours. Ifwehave the field,wehave thepearl in the field.Andthereforethewisemerchantinthegospelsoldallforthefieldwhereinthetreasurewas,Mat.13:44.WehavethefielditselfinhavingGod,andwehaveallthatGodisorcandoforusforourgood,evenaswehaveChrist,and all that Christ is, or hath done, and suffered, and enjoyeth; 'all isours,becauseweareChrist's,andChristisGod's,'astheapostlesaith.SothathavingGodwehaveall,becausewehavehimthatpossessethall,thecreatorofall,andpreserverofall,anddisposerofall.

Buttocleartheobjectionalittle:ifGodbeours,andallthingselse,howcomesitthatwewantsomanythings?

Ans.Ianswer,Itisourownfaultforthemostpart.Wewantfaithtomakeuseofandimprovethiscomfort.Andthenagain,wewantnothingthatisforourgood;wantitselfisforourgood.Andobservethis,ourGodissopowerful aGod, that hemaketh theworst thingswe suffer ameans toconveythegreatestgoodoftentimestous.IfGodbeourGodandFatherinChrist,whyhavewesins?Whyvexedwiththedevil?Whypersecutedwithmen?Why frightened thus, and thus, and thus?All this is for ourgood.God is ourGodby these, and in themidst of these; and isnevermore our God than in the greatest extremity of all, for then we comenearestthefountain.ThereisanearandsweetcommunionbetweenthisGodandus,whenwe takeof the fountain.When themeansaredrawn

away,theconduitsofconveyance,andwehavenothingtogotobutGodimmediately,thereissweetcommunionandsweetestcomfortinheaven;weshallhaveGodinChrist,whowillbeallinalluntous.Weshallneednomagistracy,ministry,food,raiment,ordefenceagainstcoldorinjury;weshallbeoutofthereachofSatanandallenemies;Godwillbeallinallimmediately. The same God is all in all to us, either by means orimmediately.Whenmeansfail,heconveyethhissweetnessandhispowerimmediately, but ordinarily bymeans. Andwhat sight doth in heaven,faithdothnow in someproportion; foras sight inheavenseethGod inChristallinall,andenjoyeththathappyvision,sofaithseethGodtobeallinall,andChristtobeallinall.Thoughinaninferiordegreetosightandclearnessofvision,yetforthecapacityofthislifeweenjoyGodnowastheydoinheaven.Wehaveinwardcomfortswhenmostdeserted.Godwas never more near our blessed Saviour than on the cross, when hecried, 'My God, my God,' &c., for then he found invincible strengthsupportinghim in thegreatundertakingunder thewrathofhisFather.AndsoGodisnevernearerthaninextremity;instrength,thoughnotinsenseandfeeling;andoftentimesinfeelingitself.Weneverhavesweetercomforts than in the want of all outward comforts whatsoever, whennothingelsecancomfortusbutthepresenceofGod.Andwemustknowbesides,thatthestateofaChristianinthisworldisanhiddencondition;foritistotheeyeoffaith,notofsense;andthereforeGodisaGodtohis,thoughtheworldseeitnot.Thereisasecret,hiddeninfluence,asecretpassagebetweenheavenandearth, thatnoneseeth.Whoobserveth theinfluenceof thesun,or thesweet influenceof thestarsupontheearth?Lightwesee,butthereisasecretinfluencepiercethdeeperthanthelight,to the very bowels of the earth, whence metals come. Where no lightcomes,thereisaninfluence,thoughnotdiscerned;andmuchmorecanthere be influence of strength and power and hidden comfort, thoughthere be no sight. Cannot God be our God in regard of strength,supporting and supplying, though there be no visible and sensiblecomfort, thoughwesee itnotourselves?Certainlythesoul isupheldbyaninvinciblestrengthintheworstconditionthatcanbe.Thereforethisistrue,thatGodisourGodinallconditions.

Use.Letusmakeuseofthis.Towhatuseisrichesandfriends,ifwedonot use them? To what use is God and Christ, if we use them not?

Nostrorum*est,utamurnostrobono.He isours, letususehimforourspecial good on all occasions. Oh that we had faith answerable to ourprerogative.It isaprerogativemorethanheavenandearth, thatGodisours; and hadwe faith suitable, what kind of persons shouldwe be ingraceandcomfort,andwhatsoeverisgood?Thereforelabourtomakeuseofit.Butmoreofthisafterwehavespokenofsomerulesoftrial,becausewhatsoever I may say this way may be misapplied. They be excellentcomforts.Butperhaps,saiththedistressedsoul,theybelongnottome,towhomitdothbelong.Perhapsitbelongethtome,saithanotherthatisastranger and a carnalman, towhom it doth not belong. Therefore ourSaviourgiveth somenotesofdistinctions, toknowwhetherGodbeourGodorno.Nottobemuchintheargument,yettobeplaininit.

(1.) God is their God in this peculiar manner I speak; that is, in thecovevantofgrace,nototherwise;andIspeaknotwhatGodisbycreationofman,forsothedevilisGod's,andeverycreature.Butthequestionis,WhomGodisaGodtointhenearestbondofthecovenantofgrace?Thatistheonlycomfortablerelationthatcanbe;forifGodbenotourGodinthat,allothercomfortswillbenothing.Itisbetterwebenocreaturesatall,thannotcreaturesinthecovenantofgrace.Itisthereforeworthythecommendingtoyou,especiallyconsideringournaughtyheartsareproneto deceive us. Satan, and melancholy, and temptations do make somerefusethecomfort,andsomepresumptuouspersonstosnatchatitwhenit doth not belong to them. Those to whomGod is a God indeed, in asweet relation of the covenant of grace to be their God, as to thepatriarchs, prophets, and Christ and the apostles, he giveth his HolySpirit towitnesssomuchto them.Thoughthevoiceof theSpirit isnotalways heard in the best children of God, yet he giveth them theHolySpirit, that though it doth not always witness, yet it always workssomethinginthemwhichmaybeanevidencethattheyareGod's.

(2.) Now the spirit of adoption and sonship is known by a spirit ofsupplicationespecially.WhomGodisaGodto,hevouchsafethaspiritofprayer,togotohiminalltheirnecessities,whichisanissueorbranchoftheirfaith.Hegiveththemfaithtobelieveit,andprayertomakeuseofit;forGodwillnotgivethisgreatprivilegewithoutheartstomakeuseofit,whichisdonebyfaithandprayer;andprayerisnothingbuttheframeof

faith, Acts 9:11. As soon as Paul was a good man, presently after hisconversion,'beholdheprayeth.'Thechildcriethassoonasborn,andthechild of God is known by his praying; as soon as he is converted, anintercourse isopenedbetweenGodandthesoul,whichaChristiansoulwillneverneglect.Iftheyareplacedintheworstcondition,theywillpraytoGod,orat leastsighandgroan,whichisaprayerthatGodcanmakesenseof.

Thosethathaveanystrongplacesofdefence,introubletheywillbesureto fly to that; in times ofwar theywill betake them to their castle andplace of munition. And so they that be God's, in time of danger runpresently to God; he is their rock, their refuge, and place of defence.[They]repairtohimbyfaithandprayer.'ThenameoftheLordisatowerofdefence: the righteous in trouble fly thither, and theyare safe,'Prov.18:10. A man may know what his god is by his retiring in times ofextremity.Yourcarnalman, ifhehathanyplace toretire to, it is tohisfriends, to his purse, to bring him out. He will go to that which hisinstinctwill specially leadhimto in timesof trouble.Aseverycreature,togetherwiththenatureofit,hathreceivedaninstinctfromGodtogotothe place of refuge wherein it is safe—as the weakest creature hathstrongestrefuge—theconies,apoorweakcreature,hidethemselvesmoststrongly,outofinstincttheyhaveoftheirownweakness—soGod'schild,beingprivyofhisweakness,andneedofsupportandstrength,haththestrongestsupportthatmaybe,andrunnethtohisGod.Worldlymenhavemanyshifts,asthewilyfoxhath;butaChristianhathbutone,butthatisagreatone:hegoethtohisGodintimeofneed.AndthereforeyoumayknowwhoisincovenantwithGodintimesofextremity,especiallybyaspiritoffaith,aspiritofprayer.

Intimesofextremity,nomanbutaChristiancanpraywithanycomfort,withanysweetfamiliarity, 'Abba,Father;'buttheybelikePharaoh,'Go,Moses,pray toyourGod,'Exod.9:28.Hehathnosuch familiaritywithGodastoprayforhimself.Andsocarnalmenwillsay,'PraytoyourGod.'And many, like devils, will have no communion with God in theirprosperity, but their whole life is a provoking of God to enmity, byswearing, loose, debauched, irregular carriage, hateful even to moralmen. Their hearts tell them they be even like Satan, 'What! dost thou

come to torment us before our time?'Mat. 8:29.What hast thou to dowithme?What have they to dowithGod?They have scarce aBible intheir chambers; if one, it is for fashion's sake. And that they may notappeartobenaught,theywillholdconformityinpublicassemblies;butfor private familiarity, they have nothing to do with it. The show ofreligiongoethunderanopprobriousname,butiftheywouldputofftheshowitwerenothing,andnotmakeostentationofwhattheyarenot;butthey have no communion with God in prayer. They will go for God'speople,andownhimfortheirGod,whentheyhavenotradingwithhimsomuchasbyprayer.Takeheedwedeceivenotourselves,Ibeseechyou;salvationdependethuponit.

(3.)WemayfurthertrywhetherourclaimofGodtobeourGodbeagoodclaim, on good grounds, by our siding, by our part-taking; for thosewhomGodisaGodtoinapeculiarmannerwillbesuretosidewithGod.Godhathtwothingsintheworldheprizesmorethanalltheworld;thatis,hischildrenandchurch,hiscauseandreligion.TheythatbeGod'swillbesuretosidewiththechurch,theywillstandandfallwiththechurch;and the cause of religion, they will live and die with it. But a carnalpolitician, that hath perhaps great parts of nature, he is Ἀλλὰ πρόςἄλλοῦς,as theGreciancallethhim; theybe forall turns; theycanbringthemselvestoanyfigure,likewaterthatwillreceiveanyfigure(j).Takeit,put it into a vessel that is square, itwill be square; put it into a roundvessel,itwillberound.HowcantheyownGodfortheirGodwhentheywillnotseekhim,andtheyareyettochoosetheirGodandreligion?Andbecausetheywillbesuretobesafeinalltimes,theywillownnoreligionin any time. And, beloved, is it possible any such should say withconfidence,God is theirGod?Willheown themthatwillnotownhim,norhischurch,norhiscause?YouknowJehucriethout,'Whoisonmyside,who?'Castherout.AndsoGod,indoubtfultimesofdanger,criethout,'Whoisonmyside,who?'Standout;appear,ifyoubeonmyside;ifyoubeonmyside,ownmycause;ifyoubenotonmyside,ifyouhavenodegreeofgoodness,itwillappear.Christianwisdomisonething,carnalpolicy is another thing. 'The wisdom of the flesh is enmity with God,'Rom. 7:8. Many applaud, and think themselves for somebody in thiskind;but thiswisdomisenmity itselfagainstGod.Whenamanwillbewise in adistinctkindofwisdom fromGod,whenhewillhavea cause

severedfromGod,andwillnotsidewithGod,hemustlookthatGodwillaccounthimhisenemy,andmakehimhis;butespeciallyinthehourofdeathanddeepextremity,heshallnotbeabletolookGodintheface,towhomhehathbeena traitor in thechurchand in thecauseof religion.And therefore,aswewillbeable toownGod forourGod,especially indoubtful and dangerous times, side with the church, and side withreligion.ItwasobjectedtothatgoodJehonadab,agoodman, 'Haveweanything to do with God's enemies?' Jer. 35:6, seq. Now there be twosortsofenemiesthatweareespeciallytohavenothingtodowithalifwesidewithGod:enemieswithinus,andenemieswithoutus.Sinwithinus.Wemusttakepartagainstoursins;takeGod'spartandtheSpirit'spartagainstcorruptmotionsandaffections.Divinitymustbeginfromwithin,elseitisfactionwithout.Itisnotreligion,butfaction,ifthereligionbeginnotinourhearts,andifwehatenotsininourselves.Wherethereistrueantipathy,theneareranythingisthatisoppositetoournature,themorehatefulitis.Hethathatethatoad,hatethitinhisbosommostofall.Andhe that hates sin as sin, hates it in his own heart most of all. Andtherefore they that will pretend religion, and be naught in their ownparticular,itcomethnotfromatrueprinciple;fortheythatwillsidewithGod, sidewithGod in their ownhearts, andbe goodmen in their ownparticulars. Therefore, I beseech you, try yourselves by this. Likewise,whenmen esteem God's enemy wheresoever they see it, and so far astheir authority and power reacheth, they will take God's part inthemselvesagainstthemselves,andintheworldtoo.Iwillnotenlargethepoint,becauseitcomethinbywayoftrial,andIcannotbuttouchitasatrial. Thus you see how wemay know whether we be God's or no, byowning his cause and siding with him. You have some expressions inScripturetothispurpose:Micah4:5,'Allpeoplewillwalkeveryoneinthenameofhisgod,andwewillwalk in thenameof theLordourGod foreverandever.'Everymanwillwalkandconverseinthenameofhisgod;theywillowntheirgodandtakepartwithhim;andwewillwalk inthenameofourGod foreverandever,andownhiscauseatall times,andconstantly,foreverandever.

And likewise in Isa. 44:5, speaking of gracious times there, whenmenshallbeboldfortheLord,asinalltimessomemenwill.'Oneshallsay,IamtheLord's,andanothershallcallhimselfbythenameofJacob,and

another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord, and term himselfIsrael.'Godshallhavehis tongue,hishand,andall.Heshall say, 'IamtheLord's,'heshallcallhimself 'bythenameofGod,'heshallsubscribetoit,andownthecause.

(4.)Again, Ifwewould knowwhetherGod be ourGod,wemust knowwhetherwemaylayjustclaimtoourGodasapeculiarGodtous,orno,and that way in which God sheweth himself to be a God in peculiarrespectstous.

Quest.NowhowdothGodshewhimselfaGodinapeculiarrespecttohischildren?

Ans.Heshewethhimselftohaveapeculiarrespecttothem,—

[1.]Bypeculiargifts,whenhegivestothemthatwhichhegivethtononeelse.ShallweimagineGodtobeourGodbycommongiftsandcommongraces? No. For thou comest to hear the word; so Herod did. Thoureceivestthesacrament;sodidJudas,sodidSimonMagus.Thouhearestthetruthwithsomejoy;sodidthe'thirdground,'Mat.13:20.Thouhastexcellentparts;sohaththedevilhimself.

Butthouartinsuchaplaceofthechurch,teachestothers;sodidJudas.AretheseevidencestotrywhetherwebeGod'sorno?Whatthenisthepeculiargiftandlove-tokenthatGodbestowsuponhisfavourites?TheybethegracesofhisSpirit,especiallyinregardofGod:anhumblebrokenheart, and a believing heart, and a lowly heart, that goeth out of itself,thatgoethuntoGodbyfaith,andtowardsmanfulloflove,whicharguethagreatdealofself-denial,whenamancanloveotherswithdenialofhisownprofitandease.Hethathathahumble,believing,lowlyheart,hathmore than all the world besides, for he hath God's peculiar gift.ManypoorsoulscomplainasifGodhadnoregardtothem,andyetinthemeantimetheyhavehumble,brokenhearts,whichismorethaniftheyhadallthewealthandworththattheworldhath,whichhaveproudhearts,neverbroken.Thereturnofthesefavourswillbecomfortindeathandgloryinheaven. What will the fruit of a believing heart be? He hath God andChrist.Ifhehathalowlylargehearttodogood,hedoththatwhichintheissue shall furtherhis account at theday of judgment; and there is the

loveofGodshewedinhisspecialfavour.

[2.] So the love of God especially shall be a peculiar comfort that theworld is ignorant of, especially in times of extremity. Inward peace ofconscience,inwardjoy,andinwardcomforts,thesearesignsoflovethatGodbestowethupon aman,whenhewill ownhim in theworst times,andspeakpeacetohissoulwhennothingintheworldwillspeakpeace.Whenthelionsroar,[when]thegreatlionsoftheworldroarinextremity,he hath inward peace and joy, and comforts of the Holy Ghost. ThatinwardintercourseofGodwiththesoul isasignofGod'speculiar love.WhenGodspeakethpeaceto thesoul,whenhesheweththe lightofhiscountenance,whichDavidinPs.4:7prefersbeforealloutwardcomfortswhatsoever—God'srevealingofhimself,astheScripturecallethit—whenGodrevealethhimselftohistobetheirs,withpeace,andjoy,andcomfortaccompanyingit,thisispeculiar.

[3.]Again,Apeculiarfavourandlove-tokenofGodistohaveseasonableandsanctifyingcorrection.Tohavecorrectionswhentheybeseasonable;when we be in a way of straying, and God will bring us home bycorrection;andwhenwehavesanctifiedcorrection,wefindbyexperiencethat all is turned to our good. If I find anything turnme tomyGod, IknowIamhis;ifmycrossbeseasonableandsanctified,heismyGod,forhetakesthatcoursewithmewhichhetakeswithhisownpeople.Thesebe singular signs of God's love, when he bestoweth the graces of hisSpirit, his comforts, peace, and joy, thoughnot largely, yet somuch asshallsustainthesoul.Andthen,whenheseasonablymeetethus,andwillnotsufferustothriveinanevilcourse.Ohitisajudgmentofjudgmentstohehardenedinsinfulcoursesoflife;howcanitbutendindesperationatlength?Andthereforeitisagreatfavourtobechastised;itsheweth'weare sons, andnot bastards.' Thuswe see howwemay lay just claim tothis,thatGodisourGodinapeculiarmanner.

(5.)Tonamebutonemore,todistinguishaspiritofpresumptionfromaspiritoffaithandtruth,thatGodisourGod,isthis,

[1.]Ifwehavegracetoanswerhisdealingstowardsus,whenwecanechotoGod'sdealings.Godhathchosenus,ifwehavegracetochoosehimforourGod.Wemay know he hath called us effectually, whenwe answer

God'scall.Whenhebiddethusbelieve,hegivethaninfluenceofpowertobe able to say, 'I believe; Lord, helpmy unbelief,'Mark 9:24.Wemayknow he loveth us, whenwe reflect love again, and love him.Wemayknow he compasseth us, when we embrace him. We may know hedelightethinus,whenwedelightinhimandhisservants.Whenceisthestrengthof thisargument?Fromhence.Allgood things,whatsoeverwedofromGod,*isbyreflection.Godshinethonusfirst;Godownethusforhisfirst,andGodmustdosoinorderofcauses.Godbeingthespringofall goodness, hemust begin. 'We love him because he loved us first,' 1John 4:19, elsewe could never love him. Therefore ifwe love him andtruth,helovethus.Thatissure.'WhathaveIinheavenbutthee,andinearthofcomparisonofthee?'Ps.73:25.Surelyheownethus,becauseinorderofcauseswecanhavenothingbutfromhimfirst.

[2.]Andthenagain,outofthenatureofconscience;ifwecangoboldlytohimasareconciledGod,notwithstandingguiltofconscience,itisasignhe hath obtained peace of conscience, because it is the nature ofconscience,ifithathnotpeacefromGod,nottodaretoappearinGod'spresence. So then, when there is inward peace and love answering toGod's love, choice answerable to God's choice, apprehending of himanswerable to his apprehension, this reflection, and return, andrebounding back to God, is an invincible argument that God hath firstshineduponthatsoul.Godsometimeswillletusseethingsintheeffect,andhide them in the cause. Perhaps hewill not persuade by his Spiritthathe lovethus,hathchosenus,andthatwearehis;buthewillworksomethinginourhearts,becausehewillhaveussearchourspirits,whatgoodthinghehathwrought,whatlove,whatchoiceofthebestsideareinany of these. Surely then God is theirs. Though there be not an openvoice,yet theymayknowGodhath lovedthissoulandspokenpeace tothatsoul,becausewecanreturnnothingtoGod,buthemustshineonusfirst.

Therefore, beloved, let us make use of this, and let us take heed ofsacrilegioususurpations,thatwedonotusurpuponGod'shouseorGodinapeculiarrespect.Indeed,wemaycometoGodashiscreatures—Wearetheworkmanshipofthyhands—andsaythetruth,thoughwebeinawickedcourseoflife.Buttosay,'ThouartmyGodinChrist,''Iamthine,

thou hast chosenme for thine,' whenwe have not chosen him for ourGod, nor loved him nor his cause, nor sided with him, nor have anystamp of him on the soul, have nothing but common favour, thatcastawayshaveaswellaswe,andthedevilsaswellaswe—forthedevilsgo beyond allmen in parts—and yet to usurp the prerogative of beingGod'sinapeculiarmanner,andtobeboldwiththeholythingsofGod,asifwewereofhis family, this isadangeroususurpation; takeheedof it.And therefore they that live in courses of rebellion, and resolve not tomend,theytaketheholythingsofGod,asthepsalmistspeaks,Ps.50:16,17, in an holy indignation, 'What art thou, that takestmy word in thymouth,sincethouhatesttobereformed?'ThouartanenemytoGodandgoodness,andwiltbeso;thouartinacourseofrebellion,andwiltbeso.The devil'sworks youdo andwill do. Canwenot take theword of thecovenant into ourmouths, and shall we take the seal of the covenant?Thereforeresolvetoamend,elsehavenothingtodowithGod;donotaddonesintoanother.'Itisthechildren'sfood,andnotfordogs,'Mat.15:27;itbelongethtothemofthefamily.Ifthoubenoneofthefamily,whathastthoutodowiththem?Ifthoubeofthefamily,whatsoeverthyinfirmitiesare, thoumayest comeboldly, for the seals are to strengthen ourweakfaith.Whenthefatherisfatherofachild,thefatherwillnotcastawaythechildforbreakingoutwithdeformityorlameness.WhenGodhathtakenusintohisfamily,infirmitiescannotdiscardus.ButIspeakofthemthatinawilfuloppositecourseofsinshewtheyneverhadtodowithGodinfamiliarintercourse.Godnevergavethemaspirittoaltertheirnatures.Propriety,* andproportion, and suitablenessofdispositiongo together:propriety joineth with suitableness; where God owneth any man, hemakesthemlikehimselfbyhiswordandSpirit, that theirnaturesshallbe even and agreeable to holy things, shall have a taste of holy things.Andwherethereisnotsuitablenessofholythings,thereisnopropriety.Will God own a man, and not make him suitable? Will God take hisfriend,andnotgivehimafriendlynature?Hewillnot,forhefirstfittethournaturesforcommunionwithhimself,elsetherecanbenopropriety.Letusnotdeceiveourselves,butifwefindsomebeginningsofgrace,andcansaywithoutarrogancyorusurpation,'DoubtlessthouartourFather,ourGod,'Isa.63:16;webenotworthytobethine,butwebethine;ifwefind something that castaways cannothave, somegrief ofheart for sin,somefaith,somelittlemeasureoflove,someloveoftruthandinclination

to thebest things, thenwemay comeboldly to increaseour familiarityandcommunionwithGod.ButotherwiseitisdangeroustocometoGod.We approach 'a consuming fire,' Heb. 12:29. 'Who shall dwell ineverlastingburnings?'Isa.33:14.SaytheyinIsaiah,AndifGodbenotincovenantwithus,Oh,hewillbe'aconsumingfire,'everlastingburnings,andwebutstubble;anditwillincreasespiritualjudgmentinus,hardnessof heart, and going on from sin to sin, till we be accursed for sin.Therefore it is a fearful thing tobegivenup tohardnessofheart.Theythatdocontinue in sin,Godgiveth themup tohardnessofheart, tobeinsensibleofhisdealingswithhim.

Use3.IfwecaninanydegreemakeitgoodthatGodisourGodandwehispeople,thenletusmakeuseofitforourcomfortinalltimes,thatwehaveaGodtogoto.Thoughwehavenofriendintheworld,yetwehavehim inwhomall friendsmeet. Ifwehavenocomforthere,yetwehavehiminwhomallcomfortsmeet,forallconcentreinhim.Hehathfatherandfriends,andworthandgrace,andpeaceandcomfortinhim;andallisinhim.Ifwegotohim,weshallfindaconfluenceofeverythingthatisgood,suitabletoanynecessityofours.

AndthereforeletuslearntosingleoutofGodwhatsoevermayhelpustobeincovenantwithhim.Hehavingmadehimselfovertobeours,letuslearn this wisdom, to single out of God whatsoever is peculiar to ourpresentcondition;forconsideringhehathmadehimselfaGodtous,heisall-sufficienttoeveryturn.Thereforeoutofhisall-sufficiency,takeoutwhatsoever is fit foranyparticularexigency. 'Lord,Iaminastrait,andwantwisdom.'ThouinChristhastabundanceofwisdom.Christhathinhimalltreasures.Inowwantfriends,Iwantcounsel,Iwanthelp,Iwantstrength.Godhathafulnessofallthisforhischildren.Hehathitnotonlytocontenthimself,andlookonhisownhappiness,butforhisfriendsthatbeincovenantwithhim,thatbesonearhimthathewillownhimtobetheir God. If you ask,What is religion? it is to knowGod, to have all-sufficiency in him for any good, and then to make use of him bydependenceonhimforthatgood,andbyadvancingofhimingivinghimtheduehonourandthanksofit.Andthereforewedeservenotthenamesofreligiouspersons,ifwedonotstudywhatheistohiscreaturesinthecovenant of grace. Thenmake use of it by a spirit of dependency, and

alwaysgivingpraiseandthanks.This isourwholeman,andwhat isallelse?Nothingbuttroubleandvanity.GetourbondssealedthatheisourGod,andthenbreakwithalltheworldbeside.Comewhatcancome,orwhatwillcome,wearesuretobesafe.Itisacomfortofwonderfullargeextent. The use of the sacrament is to seal that God is our God inparticular,andthatChristisoursasverilyasthebreadandwineareours.And letusdesire theLord to seal to everyoneofour souls, that are tohavecommunionwithhiminparticular,thatheinChristisours:Christwith all his merits and fruits of them, forgiveness of sin and lifeeverlasting,asverilyas theoutwardmanpartakesof theoutwardseals;andthenweshallcomeandgoawaywithcomfort,andbemadepartakersof that end and use of the sacrament for which our blessed Saviourinstitutedit.

Having spoken before of common favours, which devils and castawaysmayhaveaswellaswe,Ishallenlargemyselfalittleinthis,becauseitisapointofconcernment.Asinothersinswebelikethedevil,sointhissinamanisworsethanthedevilhimself,ifamanwillbeacommonswearer,and opposer, and malicious against goodness, being only in love withsomeidleconceitofhisown,whichhewillhaveGodhimselfstooptoelsehewillnottoheaven;hewillnotbesavedbutbyhisownfoolery.Amanthat hath a bitter spirit against the power of grace, that is a commonblasphemer,thatcarriethaspiteagainstreligion,forhimtosay, 'GodishisGod,'thedevilwillaswellsayso.HewillsayofPaulandSilas,ThesearethepeopleofGod;buthewillnotsayhimselfis,Acts19:15.Foramantoliveinsinsagainstconscience,defendthem,opposeallthatopposethhissins,andyetclaimaninterestwhilethatdispositionstandethinhim,it ismorethanSatanical impudency,and it isextremehardeningof theheartagainstallgoodness;forhowmanythousandsinthechurchperishandsinktohellunderthispresumptuousconceit,'IamGod's,andGodismine,'whenthetitleisfalse,andtheevidencefalse.Andthereforeitisapoint deserving thoroughly to be examined continually, what thoseevidencesofgracesbethatweventureoursoulsandsalvationupon.Iwillnot stand much to press the point. But you see the necessity of it.Considertherefore,Ibeseechyou,whatIhavesaid.IfGodbeours,therewillbeaseparation.WherethereisanowningofGodfortheirGod,therewillbeaseparationfromallthatisnothis,aswellasagatheringtothem

thatbehis.TheworkofGod'sSpiritinhischildrenislikefire,whichhathtwoproperties:toseverallheterogenealandstrangestuff,anddross,andthe like, and gather all thehomogeneal stuff of onenature.And so theworksoftheSpiritgatherethtothesoulsomuchasisgood,andrefinesthat,andsevereth thatwhich iscontrary.TheSpiritofGod, that telleththem that they be God's, it is a severing Spirit and a uniting Spirit. Itsevers contraries, and it uniteth things of the same nature. There is ajoiningtowhatisgood,andaseparatingofwhatisevil.

Iwill add this farther, thatwheresoeverongood titlewecansay, 'I amGod's,'thereisareflectactofthesoultosay,'Godismine.'Godhathputa light of reason and friendship intoman. Now friendship standeth inmutualofficeofdutyandgift.Wherethisisnot,thereisnofriendship,noreconciliation, no owning on good terms. The end why God saveth acompanyofmen,andbringeththemtoheaven;thebodyofChrist,whichwecallthechurch;itis,thathemayhaveeternalcommunionwiththemintheheavens,ashehathwiththeblessedangels;andinChristanearercommunionthanhehathwiththem.Nowhowcanthiscommunionbe,unlessweturntoGod,unlesswehavesomethingtoanswerGod'slove?

Again,Note,God is ours,becauseChrist is ours.The covenant ismadefirstwithChrist,andthenwithus.Whenceweseeagroundofparticularapplicationof thatwhichwecallparticular faith;agroundofparticularapplicationbyaSpiritoffaithofGodtous,andChristtous;thatGodinChristismyGodandyourGod.

Thegroundofthisis,asGodofferethhimself,wemustapprehendhim;butChristoffersGod,andheknowethhowtoofferhim.HeteachethushowGodis tobepresented,andhepresentethhimasourGodandourFather;and therefore letusentertainhimasours.Thusyouseeagoodground of particular application ofGod the Father, andChrist to us inparticular,intworespects;notonlythateveryoneinparticularoughttohave a particular faith, and not to think a general faith is enough, tobelieveasthechurchbelieveth,buttohaveaparticularfaithoftheobject;notonlyofthesubject,butoftheobject;thatthatishisinparticular,'IgotomyFatherandyourFather.'

GodistheFatherandtheGodofalltheelect,andonlytheelect,andof

everyoneoftheelect,aswesay,insolidum.Thatissaidtobeinsolidum,wheneveryoneapplieththewholetohimself,withoutdiminutionofanypart. The sum is in solidum to every one that will make use of it, toenlighteneverycreaturethatshuttethnothiseyes.Asacommonfountainisnoman'sinparticular;fornomancansay,Thisismyfountain,andyeteverymancansay,Thisismine;soeverysaintcansayofGod,Heisminein solidum. Though he were alone, he may say, God is mine. If tenthousandhavehim,yetGodishisGod.Godcarethforall,asiftherewerebutone,andforone,asifnonebuthe.Godoffershimself,notonlytohiswholechurch,but toeveryone inparticular,andthereforeofeveryoneheoughttobeapprehended.

This is founded in all the great points andmysteries of religion.As forinstance,whatisthegroundofallthepetitionsintheLord'sPrayer?'OurFather.'Whatinteresthavewetoallthepetitions,andtoeveryarticleofthe creed? If there be not a particular application,—'I believe God theFather to be my God, Jesus Christ my Saviour, the Holy Ghost mysanctifier;remissionofsinsandlifeeverlastingismine,'—wedonomorethanthedevils.Noweverytruth inScripture iswrittenforourcomfort,and shall it be no more comfort to us than to the devils? Doth theScripture intendusnomorecomfort thanthedevils?Yes.But thedevilmaysay,forthechurchthereisremissionofsins,andaGodandSaviour,butnotforme;andthatishistorment;hecannotcometoparticulars.Sothe sacraments are to seal a particular faith.As every one in particulartaketh the bread andwine, so by a particular faith every onemay say,Christismine;hisdeathismine;bloodshedmine;remissionofsinsandinterestofChristismine.Itdothnotsealageneralfaithintheclouds,butaparticularassurance,thatitbelongethtoeveryone.Andsointhewordsofthecatechise,*theministerialquestioningofsinnersisintended,thatevery one that believeth should apply it, If thou believest, and if thoubelievest,thoushaltbesaved;andthysinsshallbeforgiventhee.Sothatifweregardprayerandfaith, ifweregardthesacraments,ortheuseofthecatechise,allenforceaparticularfaith.Ifwehavenotparticularfaith,welosethevirtueofall.Soitisforthecommandments.Putcase,nomaninparticular,yeteveryoneoughttoplyinparticular,thattheyoughttoabstainfromsuchasin,andperformsuchaduty.Iftheydoso,theyshallbeglorified;ifnot,theyshallbepunished.Andthereisthesamereason

infaithasinobedience.Amaniscondemnedinlaw,thoughnotnamedin law; because the general is set down here, and every man oughtparticularly to apply it; I ought not to have done so and so. So that itoverturneththeendofall,ifamanlabournotforaparticularfaith.Togofarther.NowifIdisablethisinterestofparticularfaithofGod'slove,andChrist's love, I lose the comfort of weak faith where it is true. Whatconditionweretheyinnow,whenChristbiddethMarygo?Hadnotsomeof them denied Christ, and had they not all forsaken him? And yetnotwithstanding,'GotellPeter,'andtellthemall,'IgototheirFatherandtheirGod.'SothattheinterestthatasoulhathinChrist,whohathtruefaith, though aweak faith joinedwithmany infirmities, the interest hehathinChristisnotbrokeoff,asyouseebytheexampleoftheapostles.And therefore Ibeseechyou, letus comfortourselves in this, labouringfor a particular faith, and then labour to maintain our interest,notwithstandingourinfirmitiesandfaults,notwithstandingoursinspast.Let not Satan rob us of our claim, that God is our God and Father inChrist.LetuslearnofChrist;wecannothaveabetterpattern.WhatdothChristonthecross,whenhehadthesinsofallthebelievingworlduponhim,andhadtherebeententhousandtimesmore,ithadbeenallonetoso infinite a person, God-man; he had made full satisfaction to God'sjustice.Buthavingsomuchuponhim,didittakeawayhisclaimofGod,ashisGod?Itdidnot,butstillhesaid,'MyGod,myGod.'Wasitaclaimthatdidhimanygood?Wasitausefulclaim?Yes.Foritwasmadegoodbyhisresurrectionandascension;andthereforehemightwellsay, 'IgotomyGodandyourGod.'IhaveovercomethewrathofGoddueforsin;and therefore when I, that had all the sins of the world upon me,acknowledged God to bemy God, and underwent the burden of God'swrath,andsatisfiedforallsin,youmaywellsay,'MyGod;'notonlyfromthepatternofChrist,becausehedidso,butasacause.Imaysaysonow,becauseChrist said so then. For he hath fully satisfied his Father,whohadlaidthatburdenonhim.You,therefore,thathaveparticularburdensofyoursins,andhavenotthatother,buthaveaconsciencetroublingyou,itisforgood;becauseifyoubelieve,thatistakenaway.Butputcaseyouhadtheguiltofyourownsins,andmanysinsbeside,whatisthattothisofChrist,whohadtheguiltofallsin?Andtherefore letnoguilehinderyou from a spirit of faith, to say, 'My Father, and my God.' Is Christascended to heaven, to be a mediator of intercession to appear before

God?Forwhom?Isitnotforsinners?Whatworkisthereinheavenforamediator,ifwewerenotdailysinners?Christthathathsatisfiedforsin,biddethus,aftersatisfaction,tothinkofGodasaFather,andthinkofhisascension; even for this end to appear before God for us as our highpriest,tomakedailypeaceforus.Hisbloodisofeverlastingefficacy.AndifAbel'sbloodcriedforvengeance, thebloodofChristcriethformercy,Heb.12:24.AstheappearingofthebloodofAbelspakeforvengeance,sotheveryappearingofChristspeaksenoughformercytothesinner.

It is a comfortable clause that inHosea2:19,whereGod saith, 'Hewillmarrythemineverlastingmercy.'Sothatmercyisapartofthejointureof the church. God will marry them in mercy; in what mercy? Inpardoningmercy; as the husband is to bear with the wife, the weakervessel, not to put her away for infirmities. Shall we attributemercy tomen,andnottoGod?Canafriendbeartheinfirmitiesofafriend,andahusbandofawife?AndcannotChristbeartheinfirmitiesofhisspouse?Andthereforeneverthinkthatourinfirmitiesmayhinderourclaim.Youseeitdidnothere.But'gotomyFather,andyourFather.'Thiscomfortweshallbedriventomakeuseofsometimeorother,andthereforemakeuseofitnow.

Butyouwillsay,ThisisnotcomfortforcommonsortofChristians.Itisnot,andIintenditnotforthem.Itischildren'sbread,anditmustnotbecasttodogs.ThereforetheythathavenotGodfortheirGod,andliveinanysin,theycanlaynoclaimtohim,fortheyserveanothergodintheirhearts.Theirvilecoursesareinsteadoftheirgod,andintheiraffectionsabovetheirGod,andthereforeletthemnotthinkanypromisebelongethto them in that course.Let them thinkofGod as 'a consuming fire,' as'everlastingburnings,'while theybesuch,and that theirpeace isas thepeacethatthesoulhathwhenthestrongmanholdethall inpossession;when the conscience is speechless, and God hath given them up tohardness of heart, which is a desperate peace. This belongeth to themthatareresolvednottoliveinanysin,thathavegiventhemselvesuptoGod;andyetbyreasonoftheremainderofcorruptionaredriventomakeuseofthatpetitionwhichChristbidsthemtopray,'Forgiveusourdailysins.'

Use. Hence issueth this truth, that a Christian may be assured of his

salvationinthisworld.For,firstofall,grantthatweoughtparticularlytoapply,asGodoffershimselftous,andthatnoinfirmitiesnorsinshindersthisclaim,thenwhatfollowethbutaChristian,believingandrepentingofhissinsdaily,maybeassuredthatheisinastateofgrace,becausetherebe grounds of particular application. That, therefore, which seems todisablethatinterest,hindersnotatall.Andthereforelabourtomaintainthat comfortable state of assurance by allmeans. The grounds of it is,particular application, notwithstanding of all sins and infirmitieswhatsoever,becauseSatanenvieth itmost,because it isastatewhereinwehonourGodmost.

Iwillnotenterlargelyintothepoint,becauseIhavespokenofitinothertexts; but, forasmuch as concerneth this time,wemust labour for that,withoutthewhichwecannotgothroughthatwhichGodcallethusto.

(1.)Therebemanyduties anddispositions thatGod requireswhichwecannot be in without assurance of salvation on good grounds.What isthat?Godbidsusbethankfulinallthings.HowcanIknowthat,unlessIknowGodismineandChristismine?CanIbethankfulforthatwhichIdoubt of and think I ought to doubt of? Therefore it is such a state,withoutwhich I cannot perform other duty; and particularly the granddutyof thankfulness.Andwhatapitifulstate is this, thatamanshouldnotbethankfulforChrist,norheaven,norforthestateofanotherworld,thatthereshouldbesuchgreatmatters,andyettheycannotthankGodforthem.

(2.)Again,Godenjoinethustorejoice.'Rejoice,andagainIsay,rejoice,'Philip,4:4.Canamanrejoicethathisnameiswritteninheaven,andnotknowhisnameiswrittenthere?Thediscipleswereveryweaknow;andyet, notwithstanding all their infirmities, they loved Christ; they castthemselves upon him, and had not chosen another Saviour. Therefore'rejoicethatyournamesarewritteninheaven,'Luke10:20,andhowcanamanrejoicethatknowethitnottobeso?ByGod'swritingofthelawinaman'sheart, hemayknowhisname iswritten inheaven.Canamanalwaysrejoiceifhehathnotgroundswhy?

(3.)Again,Godrequirescheerfulness.'Godlovethacheerfulgiver,'2Cor.9:7, and a cheerful doer. It is the disposition that is required in

everything.'Givemethyheart'ineverythingthoudost,Prov.23:26.Alas!howcanIperformcheerfulservicetoGod,whenIdoubtwhetherhebemyGodandFatherorno?ShallnotIlabourforahearttoyieldcheerfulobedience? Doth it not come deadly off? Surely it doth. We ought tocomfortourselves;andhowcanamancomforthimselfinaconditionfullofuncertainties?No comforts are comfortablewithout this, thatGod isourGodandourFather.Unlessweknow this, comforts themselvesarenotcomfortableuntous.Noneofthecomfortswehave,thecomfortsofthis life, arenot comforts touswhen the soul saith,PerhapsGod feedsmetoslaughter;and,perhaps,Ihavethesemerciesasmyportioninthisworld;andhowcanhebecomfortablewhenheapprehendethnot, thatthey issue from a spring of love? Alas! comforts themselves areuncomfortable.AndthereforeshallnotIlabourforthatwithoutwhichIcannotbecomforted?especiallyitbeingadispositionforourgoodtobethankful,andcheerful,andjoyful,andlarge-hearted.

(4.) God requires a disposition in us that we should be full ofencouragements, and strong in the Lord; and that we should becourageous forhis cause inwithstandinghis enemies andour enemies.How can there be courage in resisting our corruptions, Satan'stemptations? How can there be courage in suffering persecution andcrosses in theworld, if therebenotsomeparticular interestwehave inChristandinGod?Itcannotbeso.Unlesswewilldenyobediencetoalldutyenjoyed,*wemusthavethisassurancewhichentersintoall,whichisthespiritthatquickenethandenlivenethall.Thereforelabourforit.

Use 2. Else we shall take away the grounds that God enforceth goodduties from inScripture, ashedoth enforceduty from this ground, 'Aselect, seeyeputonbowelsof compassion,'Col.3:12. Ibeseechyou, 'bythemerciesofGod,offeryourselvesasacrificetoGod,'Rom.12:1.Alas!IknownotwhetherIshallhavemercyorno.Whytakeawayyourgroundandoverthrowyourprinciples?Andthereforeshallnotwelabourforthatstate of soul wherein we are fitted to be in that disposition, and toperformdutyasGodwouldhaveus?Ithereforebeseechyou,labourforassuranceofsalvation.

Thatwemaymaintainitthebetter,seethegroundsofit.Itisnotinourperfection, for then thepoordisciples,wherehad theybeen?Alas! they

haddealtunfaithfullywithChrist.ButthegroundoffirmnessisonGod'sside,thecertaintyisonGod'spart,notours.Tellthem,'IgotomyFather,andmyGod;andtheirFatherandtheirGod.'Thoughwemakebreacheseveryday,yetGodbreakethnot,asMal.3:6, 'Verily, I theLordamnotchangeable; and therefore you are not consumed.'We change, ebb andflow,aretoandfro,upanddowneveryday,varyinginourdispositions.Thoughtherebesomerootandseedofgraceinusalways,yetthereisachange inourdispositionseveryday;but itholdethonGod'spart.AndthereforeChrist namethnot any qualification in them to build comforton,but'myGodandyourGod'willyetmaintaintherelationofaFathertoyou,thathavenotdealtasyoushoulddo;andmaintaineththerelationof a God, notwithstanding your fall. So that we maintain not ourassurance on any part in us, but on God's love. 'Whom he loveth, helovethtotheend,'John13:1.OurGodunchangeablylovethus,inwhomthereisnotsomuchasashadowofchange.AndthereforeinthelastoftheHebrews,itiscalledan'everlastingcovenant.''TheGodofpeacethatbroughtagain from thedeadourLordJesus, thegreatShepherdof thesheep,throughthebloodoftheeverlastingcovenant,'Heb.13:20.BythebloodofChrist there isaneverlastingcovenant.GodwillbeourGodtodeath,and indeath,and forever.For thisrelationbeingonGod'spart,extendeth itself from forgivenessof sins to life everlasting. It is always.ThebloodofChrististhebloodofaneverlastingcovenant.'Iwillmarrytheetomeforever,'Hosea2:19.ItholdethsureonGod'spart.

LetuslabourtomaintainthisassuranceofsalvationfromGod'slove.

Use2.Butforourcomfort,wemustdoourpartstoo,thoughitbeginwithGod. It beginneth on God's part. He loveth us first, and embraceth usfirst;andwemustloveagain,andembraceagain.WemustdesireofGodgrace to answer relation.Therefore Iwill prescribe some rules,howwemaysay,GodisourGod,withcomfort.Thatwemayhavethecomfortofit,bymakinggoodourinterestinhim,tomakeitgoodthatwearesons,aswellastocallhimFather;thatwearehispeople,aswellastocallhimourGod;his spouse,aswellas callhimourhusband.Andbecause thiscometh from God, join this with all our endeavours: Lord, thou mustbegin;Idesiretoshewmyselfasaspousetothee;butthoumustdiscoverthyselftome.Idesiretolovethee,butdiscoverthylovefirst;allIcando

is but reflection. Thoumust shine onme first. So desireGod to revealhimselfmore andmore in Christ Jesus; and thenwe cannot but carryourselvestohimasweshoulddoinourrelation.

Thisdaywemustperformtherelationonoursides.Therebetwowordsthat go to this heavenly bargain. The covenant consisteth of two parts.Now,desireGod, byhis grace, to enableus todoourpart, forhedothboth.Anddesirehim,accordingtohispromise,toteachustolovehim,and 'towritehis law inourhearts,' Jer. 31:33, todowhat is good; andcircumciseourhearts,andgivehisHolySpirit.Weasknomorethanhehathpromised,andsogoboldlytohim.Lord,thouhastmadeacovenantwith us; we cannot keep it without thee. Thou hast not only promisedgraceandgifts,butthegracetoperformthecovenantonourpartsmustcome from thee. And this God will do. Therefore in the use ofmeans,attenduponhim;andlookingtohim,weshallhavegracetodoourparts,and then maintain this assurance, without which we cannot live asChristiansshouldlive.

Thatwemay furthermaintain this relation, thatGod isourGod, letuslabour toget intoChrist, for it is inhimthatGod isourFather;and togrowupinChrist,togrowmoreandmore,togrowupinfaithandinallgrace.

AgraciousChristianneverwantethargumentsofassuranceofsalvation.Itisthedead-heartedChristian,thecarelessChristian.Thereforelabour,astobeinChrist,sotogrowupintheknowledgeofChrist.

AndsotoknowGodinChrist,labourtoseethefaceofGodinChrist;forinhimareallthebeamsofhislove.Asthebeamsofthesuninaglassaregathered,sothebeamsofallGod'slovemeetinChrist.SolovelyisGodinChrist, whatsoever we have in Christ it is from God in Christ. AndwhatsoeverwehavefromGod,itisthroughChrist;thereforegrowintheknowledge ofChrist, in faith inChrist. To this end are the sacraments,thatwemightgrowupinhim,andbefedintoChrist.Andthenwemaymake right use of it, as the ordinance thatGodhath sanctified for thisend.AndasGoddothtakeusoutandsetastampuponus,solabourtomakechoiceofGodmoreandmore,andchoiceofGodinChrist;fortherebe the two objects of our faith and love. ChooseGod for ourGod, and

esteemhimaboveall,andrenounceallother,andresignourselveswhollytohim; forall isourswhenGodisours.Hesettethusapart fromothermen—takingusout—andappropriatethustohimself,choosethusforhisjewels. Ibeseechyou, labourdaily tochooseGod tobeyourGod. Ifwesay, we are God's, let us make choice of him at the same time, andappropriate him with our choice. He is mine in particular. There isrenunciationofallothers.Ihaveservedothergodsheretofore;theworld,andtheflesh,andthefavourofmanhavebeenmygod,buttheyshallbemygodnomore.Ifwechoosehimnot,andappropriatehimasours,andrenounce all other, and give ourselves to him,we cannot say he is 'ourGod.' This we should practise every day. In the solicitation of sin, ordespair for sin, make use of this choice, and appropriation, andresignation.Ifwebetemptedtoanysin,Why,Iamnotmineown,IamGod's. I have chosenhim to bemyGod; I have appropriatedmyself tohim;Ihaverenouncedallother;Ihaveofferedmyselftohim;thereforewhat have I to do with sin, with this temptation? I have taken thesacrament on it, that God is mine, and Christ is mine, with all hisbenefits.Thereforeiftherebeanysolicitationtosin,makethisuseofit;and sowe shall grow inassuranceofour interest inGod,whenwe canmakeuseofitonalloccasions.

Ifwhenwebemoved toanysin,bySatan,orourown flesh,which isadevil within us, this is contrary tomy covenant, this is contrary to therenewing of the covenant, so often renewed in the sacrament, andthereforeIwillnotcommitit.ItiscontrarytothestateIamadvancedto,andcontrarytomyrelation.GodismyFatherandmyGod,andthereforeImustbehis;andwhathaveItodowithsin?Whathathpridetodowitha heart bequeathed to God?What hath lust and filthiness?What hathinjustice, or anything else that is sinful, to do in a heart that hathdedicatedandconsecrateditself toGod,whohathgivenuphimselfandallhecando,andtowhomwehavegivenupallwehave?andshallwegiveourstrengthtosinandSatan,hisenemies?

Thusweshouldgrowinassurance,exercisingtheincreaseandknowledgeof our interest. I beseech you, therefore, let us use these and the likethingstomakeGodourGod.Andifanytemptationtosinbe joined,asSatancannotbutsolicit tosin,sohe labourethwhenwehavesinnedto

tempttodespairforsin;fortheybethetwowaysbywhichSatanprevails.Now, fetch comfort against both from hence, 'God is my God and myFather,' and Christ teacheth them to call him so; and therefore,notwithstandingsin,ImaygotoGodandcallhimFather.Thedisciples,though their sin was great, yet on their humility they were toacknowledgeGodtobetheirFatherandtheirGod.AndthereforeanswerSatan:Ioughtnottoabuse,andbreakoff,anddenymyinterestinGodasmyFatherandmyGodforanysin,becausethedisciplesdidnotso;andChristhathtaughthowtomakeuseofGod,andtoacknowledgehimformycomfort.WecannothaveabetterguidethanGod;andthereforeneverthinkofGodbut as 'ourGodandourFather,' and labour to answerallSatan'stemptationsinthatkindfromhence.

Use 4. Again, This assurance, that God is our God in Christ, and ourFather, is wrought by the sealing of the Spirit, and sanctifying of us;thereforetakeheedwegrievenottheSpiritofGod.God'sSpiritmovethourheartsoftentimesinhearingtheword,orreading,orpraying;whenwehaveanygoodmotions,orwhenweentertainthem;andthereforedonot grieve the Spirit of God, whose office is 'to seal us to the day ofredemption,'toassureusGodisourGodandourFatherinChrist.Grievehim not, lest he grieve us, by racking and tormenting our consciences.Thatisthewaytomaintainourinterest.TakeheedofcrossingtheSpirit,especially by any sin against conscience. Conscience is God's deputy.Grieve not the Spirit. Grieve not conscience, for conscience is God'sdeputative. It is a little god within us. And therefore, if we will notalienate God from us, to whom we have given ourselves if we be truebelievers, do nothing against his deputy and agent, the Spirit thatsanctifiethandsealethustothedayofredemption.

Thisisthewaytomaintainassurance,thatGodisourGod.Formenmaybe led with a spirit of presumption, and say, God is my God. But ifconscience telleth them, they live in sin against conscience and themotions of the Spirit, and suppress them, and kill them, as births thattheywouldnothavegrowintheirhearts;thentheycannotsayGodismyGod,butconscience telleth themthey lie.And therefore, Ibeseechyou,labourforanholylife.Thatfaiththatmakeththisclaim,thatGodismyFather and my God, is a purifying faith, 1 John 3:3. It is a faith

quickening the soul, a faith purifying, a faith cleansing. Faith iswonderfullyoperative,especiallyhavingthesepromises.Whatpromises?'IwillbeyourGodandyourFather.''Havingsuchpromises,letuscleanseourselvesfromallfilthinessoffleshandspirit,andgrowupinallholinessin the fear of the Lord.' And therefore labour for that faith that layethholduponthisprivilege,GodisourFatherandourGod.Makeitgoodbythis,thatitbeapurifyingfaith,anoperativefaith,thatworkethbylove,thatshewethitselfinourconversation.Themorewelabourandgrowthisway,themorewegrowinassuranceofsalvation.

Beloved, favourcannotbemaintainedwithgreatpersonswithoutmuchindustry, and respect, and observance of distance. A man that willmaintain the favour of great persons must be well read in theirdispositions, must know how to please them, and yield them allobservanceandrespect.AndshallwethinkthentopreserverespectwithGodwithoutmuch industry and holiness? It cannot be. 'And thereforegivealldiligence,'nota little, 'tomakeyourcallingandelectionsure,'2Peter 1:10. It requireth all diligence, it isworth your pains.We live onthis, thathe isourGod,andwillbeourGod todeathand indeath, foreverandever.ThatGodisourGodtoeverlasting,thatheisofanequalextentwiththesoul,helivethtofillitandmakeithappy,oursoulsbeingof an eternal subsistence. Therefore it standeth us upon 'to give alldiligence to make our calling and election sure,' else it will not bemaintained.WhydonotChristiansenjoythecomfortsofthis,thatGodistheirGodinChrist,morethantheydo?Thereasonis,theybenegligentto maintain intercourse between God and them. We must know ourdistances, there must be reverent carriage to God, Ps. 2:11. A looseChristiancanneverenjoythecomfortsofGod.Heissogreat,andwesomean,weought to reverencehim,weought to 'lovehimwith fear, andrejoice with trembling,' Ps. 2:11.Humble thyself to walkwith thy God.Where there is a great deal of humility, it maintaineth friendship.WecannotwalkwithGodasafriend,asAbrahamissaidtobeGod'sfriend.Wemustacknowledgeourselvestobe 'dustandashes,'knowhiminhisgreatness,andourselvesinourmeanness,ifhewillmaintainthistoourhearts, thatGod isourGod. Ifwebecareful tomaintain this, surelyhethat delighteth himself in the prosperity of his servants will delight tomakehimselfmoreandmoreknowntous,thatwemaybeassuredofour

salvation.

AllthathearmearesuchashavenotyetmadechoiceofGodtobetheirGod, or havemade choice. Let me speak a word to both; for there bemanythatyethavetheirchoicetomake,thathaveotherlordsandothergodstoruleoverthem.Letthemconsiderwhatafearfulstateitisnottobe able to say, in regard of life everlasting, 'God is my God and myFather.' They can say they be God's creatures; but what a fearfulconditionisitnottobeabletosay,GodismyFather.WillnottheseknowwhomheisnotaGodtoinfavour,hewillbeaGodtoinvengeance?Hemustbea friendorenemy.There isnothird inGod.Godandthedevildivideallmankind.Theyshareall.IfthoubenotGod's,andcanstnotsaysoongoodtitles,thouartthedevil's.YetGodisdailypullingmenoutofthe kingdom of the devil, by opening their eyes to see their miserablecondition;yetallgounderthesetwograndtitles,God'sandthedevil's.Ifthoucanstnotsay,GodisthyGod,thenthedevilisthygod;andwhatafearfulconditionisittobeunderthegodoftheworldbyaworldly,carnaldisposition!Andperhapsthoumayestdieso,ifthoubenotcarefultogetout of it. If God be not ourGod, he is our enemy; and then creatures,angels,devilsareagainstus,conscienceagainstus,wordagainstus.Ifhebeforus,whoisagainstus?Ifhebeagainstus,whoisforus?Aterriblecondition,andthereforegetoutofit,Ibeseechyou.

But how shall I do? Is theremercy for such awretch?Yea, he offerethhimself to be thy God if thou wilt come in. Wherefore serveth ourministry,thewordofgrace,buttopreachlifetoallrepentantsinners.'Hethat confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall havemercy.' And thereforeGodhathordainedambassadorsofpeacetoproclaimifyouwillcomein.Andheentreatethyoutocomein,andhechargethandcommandethyou.Youberebels,notonlyagainsthim,butenemiestoyourownsoulsifyoudonot.AndthereforeIbeseechyou,ifyoubenotyetcomein.Addthismore, you be sacrilegious persons if you be not Christians in earnest.Havenotyougivenyourselves toGod inbaptism?Andhavenotyou inyourlivesgivenyourselvestolustswhichyourenouncedatyourbaptism?Now you have alienated yourselves from God, to whom you werededicated.DidnotyouengageyourselvestoGodinyourbaptism?Andisnothewillingtoreceiveyou?Hethoughtofyouwhenyoucouldnotthink

ofyourselves.Andtherefore,asitbindethyouovertogreaterpunishmentif youwill not come in, but continue sacrilegious persons fromGod towhom you have dedicated yourselves, so God preventeth* you withmercy.

He encourageth by the seal of election in baptism to make it good byfaith, without which it will do no good, being but a seal to a blank.Thereforehowmanyencouragementshaveyou to come in?TakeGod'sgracious offer. He giveth you time.Make your peace. It is nothing butwilfulrebelliontostandoutagainstGod.

For they that have given themselves to God, and now renewed theirinterest in him by the sacraments, let them conceive what a word ofcomforttheyhaveinthis,thatChrististheirsandGodistheirs.Whatanoceanofcomfortsisitwhenallthingsleaveyou,asallthingswill;yetwehaveGod, that will be a God for evermore. At the time of death, whatcomfort will it be to say, God is mine, Christ is mine. Life is mine nolonger;worldisminenolonger;friendsforsakeme,butIaminterestedinGod, andhavemade covenantwithGod,who is aGod for ever.ThecovenantIhavemadeisan'everlastingcovenant.'Itisofthatlargeness,thecomfort is, that theangels themselvesadmire it,* thedevilsenvy it,anditisamatterofgloryandpraiseinheavenforever.Thereforemakemuch of such a privilege, that is the envy of devils, the admiration ofangels,thatisthejoyofaChristian'shearthere,andmatterofglorifyingGod forever,worldwithoutend.ThatGod inChrist isbecomehisGodhere and for ever, it is a ravishing consideration. It is larger than ourhearts. Here be comforts larger than the capacity of our hearts. CorvestrumsoliDeopateredebet:ourheartsoughtalltolieopentodivinethings,fortheyhavemoreinthemthantheheartcancontain.Ifwewillshut them, shut them toworldly things. Oh the comfort of a Christianthathathmadehisstatesure:lethimgloryintheLord.

Therebethreedegreesofgloryinall.Lethimgloryunderhopeofglory,glory inafflictions,andglory inGod; that is,weglory inGod tobeourGod.ThatinthesharinganddividingofallthingsGodhathgivenhimselftous;andwhatanofferisthis,thatwhenGoddivideththisworldtothechildrenofmen,youshallhavethisandthat,butyoushallnothaveme.Buttohischildrenhehathgivenhimself,andhehathnothingbetterto

give,andindeedthereisnothingelseneeds.Forthereismoreinitthanwecanspeak.ButthatwhenGoddividethallthingsheshouldgivesuchashareashimself,isnotthisaglory,thatapoorcreatureshouldhaveGodtobehis,andallhehathtobehis,tomakeuseofitinlifeandindeath?Itisworthalltheworld;itisworthourendeavours'tomakeourcallingandelectionsure,'whenwemayhavethiscomfortfromit,2Peter1:10.

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