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Lastly,1 If Satan shall persuade thee that thou hast been doubting a long time, and that it's ⟨p. 413⟩best for thee now to despair, seeing thy sins increase, and thy judgment draweth near; meditate,
Lastly,1 If Satan shall perswade thee that thou hast been doubting a long time, and that it's ⟨p. 413⟩best for thee now to despair, seeing thy sins increase, and thy judgment draweth near; meditate,
1. That no sin (though never so great) should be a cause to move any Christian to despair, so long as God's mercy by so many millions of degrees is greater: and that every penitent and believing Sinner hath the pardon of all his sins confirmed by the Word and Oath of God;* two immutable things, wherein it is impossible that God should lye. His Word is, that at what time soever a sinner, whosoever, doth repent of his sin, whatsoever, (for both time, and sins, and sinners are indefinite) from the bottom of his heart, bGod will blot forth all his sins out of his remembrance, that they shall be mentioned unto him no more. 3If we will not take his word (which God forbid we should doubt of) he hath given us his Oath: As I live, I desire not the death of the wicked,
but that the wicked turn from his way and live. As if he had said, will ye not believe my Word? I swear by my life, that I delight not to damn any sinner for his sins, but rather to save him upon his conversion and repentance.
The meditation hereof moved Tertullian to exclaim: O how happy are we, when God sweareth that he wills not our damnation! O what miserable wretches are we, if we will not believe God when he sweareth this truth unto us! Listen, O drooping Spirit, whose soul is assailed with ways of faithless despair; how happy were it to see many like thee, and Hezekiah?
for the sense of sin, and chatter like Cranes and Swallows for the fear of God's anger) rather than to behold many who die like Beasts without any feeling of their own estate, or any fear of God's wrath, or Tribunal Seat, before which they are to appear? Comfort thy self, O languishing soul; for if this earth hath any for whom Christ spilt his blood on the Cross, thou assuredly art one Cheer up therefore thy self in the all-sufficient atonement of the blood of the Lamb, which speaketh better things than that of Abel.
And pray for those, who never yet obtained the grace to have such a sense and detestation of sin. Thou art one indeed, for whom Christ died, and from whom a wounded spirit (judging rather according to his feeling than his faith) hath wrung that doleful voice of Christ,
1. That no sin (though never so great) should be a cause to move any Christian to despair, so long as God's mercy by so many millions of degrees is greater: and that every penitent and believing Sinner hath the pardon of all his sins confirmed by the Word and Oath of God;* two immutable things, wherein it is impossible that God should lye. His Word is, that at what time soever a sinner, whosoever, doth repent of his sin, whatsoever, (for both time, and sins, and sinners are indefinite) from the bottom of his heart, bGod will blot forth all his sins out of his remembrance, that they shall be mentioned unto him no more. 3If we will not take his word (which God forbid we should doubt of) he hath given us his Oath: As I live, I desire not the death of the wicked, 4but that the wicked turn from his way and live. As if he had said, will ye not believe my Word? I swear by my life, that I delight not to damn any sinner for his sins, but rather to save him upon his conversion and repentance.5 The meditation hereof moved Tertullian to exclaim: O how happy are we, when God sweareth that he wills not our damnation! O what miserable wretches are we, if we will not believe God when he sweareth this truth unto us! Listen, O drooping Spirit, whose soul is assailed with ways of faithless despair; how happy were it to see many like thee, and Hezekiah? 6(who mourn like Doves ⟨p. 414⟩for the sense of sin, and chatter like Cranes and Swallows for the fear of God's anger) rather than to behold many who die like Beasts without any feeling of their own estate, or any fear of God's wrath, or Tribunal Seat, before which they are to appear? Comfort thy self, O languishing soul; for if this earth hath any for whom Christ spilt his blood on the Cross, thou assuredly art one Chear up therefore thy self in the all-sufficient atonement of the blood of the Lamb, which speaketh better things than that of Abel. 7And pray for those, who never yet obtained the grace to have such a sense and detestation of sin. Thou art one indeed, for whom Christ died, and from whom a wounded spirit (judging rather according to his feeling than his faith) hath wrung that doleful voice of Christ, aMy God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And doubt not but ere long thou shalt as trulyb reign with him as now thou dost suffer with him, forc Yea andd Amen hath spoken it.
No sin bars a man from salvation, but only Incredulity and Impenitency: 1nothing makes the sin against the Holy Ghost unpardonable, but want of repentance. Thy unfeigned desire to repent, is as acceptable unto God, as the perfectest repentance that thou couldest wish to perform unto him.
No sin bars a man from salvation, but only Incredulity and Impenitency: 1nothing makes the sin against the Holy Ghost unpardonable, but want of repentance. Thy unfeigned desire to repent, is as acceptable unto God, as the perfectest repentance that thou couldest wish to p•r•orm unto him.
Meditate upon these Evangelical comforts, and thou shalt see that in the very agony of death God will so assist thee with his spirit, that when Satan looketh for the greatest victory, he shall receive the foulest foil; yea, ⟨p. 415⟩when thy eye-strings are broken, that thou canst not see the light, Jesus Christ will appear unto thee to comfort thy Soul, and his Holy Angels will carry thee into his Heavenly Kingdom. 1Then shall thy Friends behold thee, like* Manoah's Angel, doing wonders indeed, when they shall see a frail man in his greatest weakness (by the mere assistance of God's Spirit) overcoming the strength of sin, the bitterness of death, and all the power of Satan; and in the fire of Faith, and perfume of Prayer, ascend up with Angels victoriously into Heaven.
Meditate upon these Evangelical comforts, and thou shalt see that in the very agon• of death God will so assist thee with his spirit, that when Satan looketh for the greatest victory, he shall receive the foulest foil; yea, ⟨p. 415⟩when thy eye-strings are broken, that thou canst not see the light, Jesus Christ will appear unto thee to comfort thy Soul, and his Holy Angels will carry thee into his Heavenly Kingdom. 1Then shall thy Friends behold thee, like* Manoah's Angel, doing wonders indeed, when they shall see a frail man in his greatest weakness (by the mere assistance of God's Spirit) overcoming the strength of sin, the bitterness of death, and all the power of Satan; and in the fire of Faith, and perfume of Prayer, ascend up with Angels victoriously into Heaven.
They who come to visit the sick, must have a special care not to stand dumb and staring in the sick person's face to disquiet him; nor yet to speak idly, and to ask unprofitable questions, as most do.
THey who come to visit the sick, must have a special care not to stand dumb and staring in the sick person's face to disquiet him; nor yet to speak idly, and to ask unprofitable questions, as most do.
If they see therefore that the sick party is like to die, let them not dissemble; but lovingly and discreetly admonish him of his weakness, and to prepare for eternal life. One hour well spent, when a man's life is almost out-spent, may gain a man the assurance of eternal life. Sooth him not with the vain hope of this life, lest thou betray his Soul to eternal death. Admonish him plainly of his estate, and ask him briefly these or the like Questions.
Dost thou believe that Almighty God, the Trinity of Persons in Unity ⟨p. 416⟩of Essence, hath by his Power made Heaven and Earth, and all things therein? and that he doth still by his Divine Providence govern the same? So that nothing comes to pass in the world, nor to thy self, but what his divine hand and counsel had determined before to be done.
DOst thou believe that Almighty God, the Trinity of Persons in Unity ⟨p. 416⟩of Essence, hath by his Power made Heaven and Earth, and all things therein? and that he doth still by his Divine Providence govern the same? So that nothing comes to pass in the world, nor to thy self, but what his divine hand and counsel had determined before to be done.
2. Dost thou confess that thou hast transgressed and broken the holy Commandments of Almighty God, in thought, word, and deed? and hast deserved for breaking his holy Laws, the Curse of God, which containeth all the miseries of this life, and everlasting torments in Hell fire, when this life is ended, if so be that God should deal with thee according to thy deserts.
3. Art thou not sorry in thy heart, that thou hast so broken his Laws, and neglected his Service and Worship, and so much followed the world, and thine own vain pleasures? And wouldest thou not lead a holier life, if thou wert to begin again?
3. Art thou not sorry in thy heart, that thou hast so broken his Laws, and neglected his Service and Worship, and so much followed the world, and thine own vain pleasures? And would'st thou not lead a holier life, if thou wert to begin again?
4. Dost thou not from thy heart desire to be reconciled unto God in Jesus Christ his blessed Son, thy Mediator, who is* at the right hand of God in heaven, onow appearing for thee in the sight of God, and making request unto him for thy Soul?
5. Dost thou renounce all confidence in all other Mediators, 1or Intercessors, 2Saints or Angels, 3believing that Jesus Christ the only Mediator of the New Testament, is able perfectly to save them that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them? And wilt thou with David say ⟨p. 417⟩unto Christ, 4whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.
6. Dost thou confidently believe and hope to be saved by the only merits of that bloody death and passion, which thy Saviour Jesus Christ hath suffered for thee? not putting any hope of Salvation in thine own Merits, nor in any other means or Creatures, being assuredly persuaded,1 that there is no salvation in any other; 2and that there is none other name under Heaven, whereby thou must be saved.
6. Dost thou confidently believe and hope to be saved by the only merits of that bloody death and passion, which thy Saviour Jesus Christ hath suffered for thee? not putting any hope of Salvation in thine own Merits, nor in any other means or Creatures, being assuredly perswaded,1 that there is no salvation in any other; 2and that there is none other name under Heaven, whereby thou must be saved.
7. Dost thou heartily forgive all wrongs and offences done or offered unto thee, by any manner of Person whatsoever? And dost thou as willingly (from thy heart) ask forgiveness of them whom thou hast grievously wronged in word or deed? And dost thou cast out of thy heart all malice and hatred, which thou hast born to any body; that thou mayest appear before the Face o• Christ (the Prince of Peace) in perfect love and charity.1
8. Doth thy Conscience tell thee of any thing, which thou hast wrongfully taken, and dost still withhold, from any widow or fatherless Children, or from any other persons whomsoever? Be assured, that unless thou shalt restore, like Zaccheus, those goods and lands (if thou beest able) thou canst not truly repent: and without true Repentance thou canst not be saved, nor look Christ in the face when thou shalt appear before his Judgment-seat.
8. Doth thy Conscience tell thee of any thing, which thou hast wrongfully taken, and dost still withhold, from any widow or fatherless Children, or from any other persons whomsoever? Be assured, that unless thou shalt restore, like Zaccheus, those goods and lands (if thou be'st able) thou canst not truly repent: and without true Repentance thou canst not be saved, nor look Christ in the face when thou shalt appear before his Judgment-seat.
