Images de page
PDF
ePub

of the LORD. Some prefs to Duties fo, that they feem to think, That their Reafonings are able to enforce a Compliance; or at leaft, they do not take Care to keep up upon themselves and Hearers, both a conftant Senfe of the Contrary, in order to engage to Eagernefs in Dependence upon the Spirit of the LORD: This is legal Preaching. O LORD, thou knows how much of it is in this poor Church. The Gofpel's Glory is, That it is the Miniftration of the Spirit: The gieat Privilege of Believers is, That the LORD manifefts himself to t them, as he does not to the World: When he manifefts his Authority in the Command, 'tis then powerful. When he manifefts his Goodness and Truth in the Promife, 'tis full of Sweetness: When he manifefts his Wrath in the Threatning, it aws the Soul: When he manifefts his Glory in the Face of Chrift, 'tis ravishing, reforming, attracting.

[graphic]

T

Atheism the Root of Sin.

Wo Things I fhall note, 1. The LORD gave me a fweet Difcovery this Day in Lecture, of the Atheilm of the Hearts of Men in rejecting the Word (notwithftanding there are noe, and more evident Prints of God on it, than on all his other Works of Creation) because they cannot get thorow fome Difficulties in it; whereas there are many nioe Difficulties in the Works of God: The Light whereby this was fet Home and illuftrated in particular Inftances, was fweet. 2. Some Days ago, reading Exod. 9th and 10th Chapters, and finding this, That ye may know that I am God, frequently repeated, and elfewhere in Places innumerable, as the End of God's manifefting himfelf in his Word and Works; I obferve from it, That Atheism is deeply rooted even in the LORD's People, feing they need to be taught this fo much.

That it is a high Attainment in Religion, Deut. 4. 35. to win to know that God is the LORD; and to believe that all Sin is refolvable in Darknels. and Unbelief as to this one Point, That God is the LORD, and confequently, That all Sin is reducible to Atheism.

That the great Difficulty which the Whole of the divine Revelation grapples with,is Atheism; and that its Struggle is to recover Man to his firft Impreffions of a God: This

[graphic]

one

one Point comprehends the Whole of Man's Recovery; as Atheism the Whole of Man's Apoftafie.

The LORD faw meet to bring him through many fharp Trials, and to keep him under much Soul-exercise in the Viciffitudes of difcouraging Damps, and refreshing Revivals upon his own Spirit; that in his minifterial Station hé might from his own Experience be the more capable of dealing fuitably with others, according to their various Cafes and Conditions: He alfo ftudied much a closs Acquaintance with his own State and Frame, and was obfervant of the LORD's gracious Dealings with him, as may be gathered from the following fhort Hints.

July 2, 1702, The LORD about this Time giving fome-. what of a Revival from a long Deadness, I think my felf concern'd to notice the Means by which I obtain'd this Benefit; and,

ft, It was fignally promoted by Converse with lively Chriftians: As Iron fharpneth Iron, fo a Man fharpneth the Countenance of his Friend, Pro. 27. 17.

2ly, By fome heavy Strokes laid on me, the LORD did chaften me, and, in fome Measure, teach me out of his Law. 3ly, By terrible Providences, with Refpect unto the Publick, the LORD did awaken me in fome Measure, Awake Sleeper, call on the Name of thy God, Jonah 1. 6.

Aly, The LORD providentially brought unto my Hands fome Papers, containing the Exercife of fome noted Chriftians, wherein I saw how far fhort I was of others, and alfo not a few of the Causes of niy fadly wither'd and decayed Cafe: For this fall every godly one pray unto thee in a Time when thou mayeft be found, Pfal. 32. 6.

sly, By fome Difcovery of the Vanity of my fweeteft Enjoyments: Therefore I will go and return unto my first Huf band; for then it was better with me than now, Hof. 2. 7.

6ly, By leading me to fome Subjects which I choos'd for others, wherein my own Cafe was also remarkably touch'd, the LORD did in fome Measure awaken me. Thus while with David, I heard only a Parable at firft, I was quickly told in the End, That I was the Man.

March 11, 1705, This Day I preached on my Ordinary, I was far out of Order; Lord pity and shine on me, At Night I was fomewhat refreshed in Family-worship. In. Meditation on my Cafe, I faw Unbelief to be the Root of

K 2

all

all my Mifery, and was broken on Account of it; I cry'd to the LORD for Relief againft it, and that he might manifeft himself to my Soul: LORD hear. I was much griev'd with this, That in a Time when fo many ftrange Evils abound, there fhould be fuch a ftrange Stupidity on my Spirit, that I could not mourn for the Difhonour done to God; I cry'd for a Spirit of Supplication and Repentance.

April 7, 1705, I was much difordered in Body this Day, and in little Cale for any Work through Indifpofition, till towards 7 at Night, and then I was a little relieved as to bodily Disorder, and began to think of preparing for the Sabbath; and bowing my Knees to Prayer, I was full of Perplexity, the LORD hid himself, my Spirit was like to fink, Icomplained, and my Spirit was overwhelm'd. I got ne Relief till after I had made fome Preparation for the Work of the Sabbath, and then my Spirit was refreshed with that Scripture, Heb. 10. 19, 20. Having therefore, Brethren, Boldness to enter into the Holieft by the Blood of Jefus, by a new and living Way which he hath confecrated for us, through the Vail, that is to fay, his Fleft; which I a little explain'd in my Sermon: hereby I found my Mind compos'd; but, O that it were with me as in Months paft!

A

His Cafe for fome Time.

Pril 17, 1705, I was much difordered in Body, till towards Night, then I began to mufe on the State of Matters betwixt God and my Soul, and finding, 1. A great Withdrawing of Influences in Duty, in Secret, and Family, and Publick. 2. Hereon Deadnefs following. And, 3. Hereon a languishing of all Grace: And that, 4 Notwithstanding many loud Calls to Diligence, and to aim at more than ordinary Nearnefs to God; I hereupon refolved in the LORD's Strength to enquire into the Caufes, and cry for Light as to them.

July 5, 1705, This Morning in Prayer, the LORD pointed out further the Evil of a Neglect of diftinct Exercile about the Guilt of Sin. I fhall reprefent the fweet Discovery in the following Hints.

My Cafe was difcovered, 1. I felt Deadnefs. 2. Weari nefs in Duty. 3. Averfion following hereon. 4. Deadnefs of Spirit for ordinary,

[graphic]

Caufes

[ocr errors]

Caufes of prefent Deadness.

S to the Guilt of Sin, the Senfe of it impaired. z. Hereon the Discoveries of the Want of fpiritual Strength, which flows from the diftinct Obfervation of Sins weakn'd hereon. 3. The Senfe of Darkness likewise impair'd. 4. Hereon the Trade with Chrift for Light, Forgiveness and Strength, decayed. 5. This Trade being the great Mean of indearing Chrift, and the Sweetnefs of these Communications being that which keeps up Liveliness in Duty; all thefe Evils follow on the Want of it. Bless, blefs the LORD, Q my Soul..

[ocr errors]

Relief

Uly 19, 1705. This Day the LORD fhin'd on me in Duty, my Heart was much compos'd, fatisfied, and refresh'd, and in fome Measure made to hope for a Revival. Glory, glory, glory to free Grace in Chrift.

July 29, 1705, This Day I was much refresh'd with a View of the Glory of the LORD Jefus in the Ordinances : My Soul was fweetn'd with a Senfe of his Love, warm'd and compos'd in preaching on Philip. 3. 3.

February 24, 17c6, Being the LORD's Day, and he being to preach, his Cafe he relates thus. In the Morning I was fore fhaken about the Truths of God, but came to Peace as to what I was to fpeak in three Things.. LORD, thou haft fully fatisfied me as to the utter Vanity and Unsatiffactoriness of all other Courfes to Satisfaction, as to our great Concerns, befides that reveal'd in the Gospel.

LORD, Thou haft fully fatisfied me, That fuppofing the Truth of the Gofpel, there is a Plenary, and full Security as to all that I can defire, with Respect to Time and Eter'nity in it.

LORD, Thou haft given me that full and rational Evidence for the Truth of the Gofpel, far beyond what would in other Things fully fatisfie me; and therefore it muft only be the wretched Unbelief of my Heart that keeps me hefitating here. I will look for Faith to the Author of it. Of these three I am fo fix'd, that no Power of Temptation has been able to shake me,

K 3

All

All my Doubtings flow from Unbelief's Power, that will not be fuppreis'd without an overpowering Senfe of divine Authority, I preached, and was helped in publick Worship, being ftrengthned in Body, and fweetned in Spirit.

December 5, 17c6, Meditation on his taking a Journey from his own Houfe, before the Dawning of the Day.

What a different Cafe am I in now, from what I was a little while ago? Then I was in a pleasant Habitation, furrounded with Wife, Children, Conveniencies, in a Habi tation well illuminated with pleasant Light, whereby I saw my Enjoyments, difcerned the Pleasantnefs of them, and their Suitablenefs. I had Neceffaries, Quiet of Mind, and Opportunity to retire to my Clofet, to converfe with God, wherewith I was refreshed.

But what a Change do I now find! I am engaged in a Journey, my Way is dark, I find it cold: Now when I urn thoughtful, I fear every where, Fear where no Fear is! Now Ufe and Cuftoni turn me fecure, and I fear not where there is Fear, I fee no Danger, and begin to conclude, there is none.

Have I not here a View of Man's State in Innocency, and his State when fallen?

But what a Change do I find! Light begins to appear! had I never seen it, I fhould have had no Notion of it! What a Surptife is this! When did it begin! How did it grow! Where were my Senfes! Did I not look on, and yet I cannot fee, and cannot tell how it began, nor whence! So is every one that is born of the Spirit.

But fure it is, one Thing I know, whereas I faw Nothing, now I fee; I fee where I am, what is near about me; I fee where there is Hazard, and where there is Safety in the Way I am in; but what is at a Diftance I yet perceive not: The firft Dawning of faving Light is not perceivable in its Rife, in its Progrefs, but unquestionable in its Effects, and gives a View of the State 1 am at present in.

But a new Scene appears, Light grows, I fee at a Diftance, but Men appear as Trees; pleafant Trees, delightful Fields, Men fuitable to me, and Friends appear as Monfters feen with an imperfect Light, my Fears are quickned: And is it not fo with young Converts ?

Light ftill increases, it grows, every new Degree is inconceivable,

« PrécédentContinuer »