Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Reader, dost thou view this, and never ask thyself whether it be thus with thee? Pause a while, and breathe on this great concernment.

(2.) The election also is changed, so that he chooseth another way, Psa. cxix. 13. He pitched upon God as his blessedness; and upon Christ as the principal, and holiness as the subordinate means to bring him to God, John xiv. 6, Rom. ii. 7. He chooseth Jesus for his Lord, Col. ii. 6. He is not merely forced into Christ by the storm; nor doth he take Christ for bare necessity, as the man begged from the gallows, when he takes the wife, rather than the halter; but he comes off freely in the choice. This match is not made in a fright, as with the terrified conscience, or dying sinner, that will seemingly do any thing for Christ, but doth only take Christ rather than hell; but he deliberately resolves, that Christ is his best choice, Phil. i. 28, and would rather have him to choose, than all the good of this world, might he enjoy it while he would. Again, he takes holiness for his path; he doth not, out of mere necessity, submit to it, but he likes and loves it; I have chosen the way of thy precepts, Psa. cxix. 473. He takes God's testimonies, not as his bondage, but as his heritage, yea, his heritage forever, ver. 111. He counts them not his burden, but his bliss; not his cords, but his cordials, 1 John v. 3, Psa. cxix. 14, 16, 17. He doth not only bear, but take up Christ's yoke he takes not holiness as the stomach doth the loathed potion, (which it

will down with rather than die) but as the hungry doth his beloved food: no time passeth so sweetly with him (when he is himself) as that he spends in the exercises of holiness; these are both his aliment and element, the désire of his eyes, and the joy of his heart, Job xxiii. 12, Psa. cxix. 82, 131, 162, 174, and lxiii. 5.

Put thy conscience to it as thou goest, whether thou art the man? O happy man, if this be thy case! But see thou be thorough and impartial in the search.

Thirdly, It turns the bent of the affections, 2 Cor. vii. 14. These run all in a new channel: the Jordan is now driven back, and the water runs upwards against its natural course.

Christ is his hope, 1 Tim. i. 1, this is his prize, Phil. iii. 8, here his eye is, here his heart is. He is contented to cast all overboard, (as the merchant in the storm, ready. to perish) so he may but keep this jewel.

The first of his desires is not after gold, but grace, Phil. iii. 13, he hungers after it, he seeks it as silver, he digs for it as for hid treasure he had rather be gracious than be great he had rather be the holiest man on earth, than the most learned, the most famous, most prosperous. While carnal, he said, Oh, if I were but in great esteem, and rolled in wealth, and swimmed in pleasure, if my debts were paid, and I and mine provided for! then I were a happy man. But now the tune is changed: Oh, saith the convert,if I had but my corruptions subdued, if I had such measures of grace, such fellowship with God, though I

were poor and despised, I should not care; I should account myself a blessed man. Reader, is this the language of thy soul?

His joys are changed. He rejoiceth in the ways of God's testimonies as much as in all riches, Psa. cxix. 14. He delights in the law of the Lord, wherein once he had little savour. He hath no such joy, as in the thoughts of Christ, the fruition of his company, the prosperity of his people.

[ocr errors]

His cares are quite altered. He was once set for the world, and any scraps of by-time (nothing too often) was enough for his soul.Now he gives over caring for the asses, and sets his heart on the kingdom. Now all the cry is, What shall I do to be saved? Acts xvi. 30. His great solicitude is, how to secure his soul. Oh, how he would bless you if you could but put him out of doubt of this!

His fears are not so much of suffering, but of sinning, Heb. xi. 25, 26. Once he was afraid of nothing so much as the loss of his estate, or esteem, the pleasure of friends, the frowns of the great: nothing sounded so terrible to him as pain, or poverty, or disgrace. Now these are little to him in comparison of God's dishonour or displeasure. How warily doth he walk, lest he should tread on a snare! He feareth alway, he looks before and behind; he hath his eye upon his heart, and is often casting over his shoulder, lest he should be overtaken with sin, Psa. xxxix. 1, Prov. xxviii. 14, Ecel. ii. 14. It kills his heart to think of losing God's favour; this he dreads as his only undoing, Psa. li. 11, 12,

Psa. cxix. 7. No thought in the world doth pinch him, and pain him so much, as to think of parting with Christ.

His love runs a new course. My love was crucified, (said holy Ignatius) that is, my Christ. This is my beloved, saith the spouse, Cant. v. 16. How doth Augustine often pour his loves upon Christ? O eternal blessedness, &c.

He can find no words sweet enough. Let me see thee, O light of mine eyes. Come, O thou joy of my spirit. Let me behold thee, O the gladness of my heart. Let me love thee, O the life of my soul. Appear unto me, O my great delight, my sweet comfort, O my God, my life, and the whole glory of my soul. Let me find thee, O desire of my heart! Let me hold thee, O love of my soul! Let me embrace thee, O heavenly bridegroom! Let me possess thee.

i

His sorrows have now a new vent, 2 Cor. vii. 9, 10. The view of his sins, the sight of a Christ crucified, that would scarce stir him before, now how much do they affect his heart!

2

His hatred boils, his anger burns against sin, Psa. cxix. 104. He hath no patience with himself; he calls himself fool, and beast, and thinks any name too good for himself, when his indignation is stirred up against sin, Psa. lxxiii. 22, Prov. xxx. 2. He could once swill in it with too much pleasure; now he loathes the thought of returning to it, as much as of licking up the filthiest vomit.

Commune then with thine own heart, and attend the common and general current of thine affections, whether it be towards God in Christ above all other concernments. Indeed, sudden and strong commotions of the affections and sensitive part are oftentimes found in hypocrites, especially where the natural constitution leads thereunto; and contrarywise, the sanctified themselves are many times without sensible stirrings of the affections, where the temper is more slow, dry, and dull. The great inquiry is, whether the judgment and will be standingly determined for God, above all other good, real or apparent; and if the affections do sincerely follow their choice and conduct, though it be not so strongly and sensibly as is to be desired, there is no doubt but the change is saving.

3

a

are

2. Throughout the members. Those that were before the instruments of sin, are now become the holy utensils of Christ's living temple, Rom. vi. 16, 1 Cor. iii. 16. He that before made, as it were, a bawd or a barrel of his body, now possesseth his vessel in sanctification and honour, in temperance, chastity and sobriety, and dedicated to the Lord, 1.Thes. ix, 4, Gal. v. 22, 23, 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. 007 20

The eye that was once a wandering eye, a wanton eye, a haughty, a covetous eye, is now employed, as Mary, in weeping over her sins, Luke vii. 38, in beholding God in his works, Psa. viii. 3, in reading his word, Acts viii. 30, in looking up and down for objects af mercy, and opportunities for his service.

« PreviousContinue »