Use. 5 The last use of this Doctrine is for exhortation. You see the means that God appointed ⟨p. 125⟩for the conveyance of grace,1 and mercy to you, nay, that Christ himself may take possession of you, and it is the way and means that will never deceive you. Would you have Christ to dwell in you? then be humbled, and be not wanting to your selves, and then Christ will never be wanting to you: labour to get this humiliation, and Christ will come immediately into your souls. Have a heart but rightly disposed, and without all question Christ will come to comfort and refresh thee upon all occasions. You see the way to get a Saviour to come and dwell in you, then walk in that way, and give no rest to thine eyes, or any quiet to thy heart, before thou hast gotten this frame of heart. Take heed of all distempers, do not think the time long, and say, I have waited long, and many a year, and I have looked many a wishly long look and yet I cannot hear of the Lord Jesus to visit this poor perplexed heart of mine. If the Lord seem to delay in the performance of his promise, say as David did, Ah, when wilt thou comfort me? Psal. 119.82. Nay, lay the blame where the blame is, and consider thy own sturdiness and vileness: it is thy own fault why Christ comes not: thou wilt not open, and therefore Christ is not come: thou dost not prepare for him, and for this cause it is that thou dost not enjoy ⟨image 69⟩[…] ⟨image 69⟩[…] ⟨p. 124⟩[…] ⟨p. 125⟩[…] ⟨p. 126⟩the company of such a blessed Saviour: at St. Peter saith, 2 Pet. 3.•. The Lord is no• slack, as some men count slackness, but the Lord takes the be• season, and is long suffering towards us. When the season is, we shall have it; for it is not his slackness. The time is not long, do not think so, he hath not forgotten to be gracious to a poor humbled soul: but look into thy own heart and way and see thy own folly there Hast thou prepared often, and waited long, and yet thou hearest no news of a Christ, and of mercy? Ah go to thine own heart, and say, Surely I am in fault, the wound is in my self: others have received a Christ, and he would have come into my heart too for ought know. Nay, he is as willing to come to thee as to any, but thy own hasty heart shuts the door against him: therefore be a based kindly, and the Lord will come, and not tarry. Did you ever account of the coming of Christs presence to you?
Vse. 5 The last use of this Doctrine is for exhortation. You see the meanes that God appointed ⟨p. 125⟩for the conveyance of grace,1 and mercy to you, nay, that Christ himselfe may take possession of you, and it is the way and meanes that will never deceiue you. Would you have Christ to dwell in you? then be humbled, and bee not wanting to your selues, and then Christ will never bee wanting to you: labour to get this humiliation, and Christ will come immediately into your soules. Have a heart but rightly disposed, and without all question Christ will come to comfort and refresh thee upon all occasions. You see the way to get a Saviour to come and dwell in you, then walk in that way, and give no rest to thine eyes, or any quiet to thy heart, before thou hast gotten this frame of heart. Take heed of all distempers, doe not thinke the time long, and say, I haue waited long, and many a yeere, and I have looked many a wishly long look and yet I cannot heare of the Lord Iesus to visit this poore perplexed heart of mine. If the Lord seeme to delay in the performance of his promise, say as David did, Ah, when wilt thou comfort me? Psal. 119.82. Nay, lay the blame where the blame is, and consider thy owne sturdinesse and vilenesse: it is thy owne fault why Christ comes not: thou wilt not open, and therefore Christ is not come: thou dost not prepare for him, and for this cause it is that thou dost not enjoy ⟨image 69⟩〈…〉 ⟨image 69⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 124⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 125⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 126⟩the company of such a blessed Saviour: at St. Peter saith, 2 Pet. 3.•. The Lord is no• slacke, as some men count slacknesse, but the Lord takes the be season, and is long suffering towards us. When the season is, wee shall have it; for it is not his slacknesse. The time is not long, doe not thinke so, hee hath not forgotten to be gracious to a poore humbled soule: but loke into thy owne heart and way and see thy owne folly there Hast thou pepared often, and waited long, and yet thou hearest no newes of a Christ, and of mercy? Ah goe to thine owne heart, and say, Surely I am in fault, the wound is in my self: others have received a Christ, and he would have come into my heart too for ought know. Nay, he is as willing to come to thee as to any, but thy owne hasty heart shuts the doore against him: therefore be a based kindly, and the Lord will come, and not tarry. Did you ever account of the comming of hrists presence to you?
- 1They that would have Christ dwell in them must be willing to be humbled.They that would haue Christ dwell in them must be willing to be humbled.
