4. If the serious thoughts of this do not draw thee, at least not so fully; look up to the Lord to reveal himself unto thee to be thine. For as no man can take Christ until God gives him, so no man can say he is his, until the Lord shows him that he is his. And as the creature cannot re••st, but take when the Lord gives: so it cannot but see the Lord when he reveals himself as indeed he is. And look to see him to be yours by some Promise; for there is a seeing Christ mine in great fulgor without the light of a Promise, and Spirit in it. Is Christ yours? Yes, I see it. How? by any word or promise? No, this is a delusion. The other is by promise, & that opened in the Gospel, Eph. 1. 13. 14. He saith not in whom after the were sealed you believed, but è contra. And how believed? by hearing the Gospel. Hence Saints return to this, Psalm 51. 8. Let me hear the voice, 1 Pet. 2. 1, 2, 3. And this is that which hath knit the hearts of Saints to Christ for ever▪ Oh thou hast the words of life: For there is a voice of love to the Saints engraven in all mercies, in all afflictions, in all Gods leadings of them, though it be in a Wilderness; but Beloved, only the Word can tell me the meaning of these words of love. So there is love of Christ revealed according to a Promise, not by it, and love spoken in mercies, but the Word interprets them and clears them to be no delusions; I mean the Spirit there: This is judged to be a good answer to Papists, who shall be judge of controversies? We answer that which shall be judge at the last Day, must be judge now: but so, Rom. 2. 16. John 12. 48. So whether doth Gods Spirit seal, or the Devil delude? It's a great controversy if you have no• a word to see Gods love by, but think you have a way to see it without, this Word shall judge you. Oh look therefore for the Lord by a word to do it, and say Speak Lord; and if by word, look not for it without a work on your own heart. Some Christians have rested with a work without Christ, which is abominable; but after a man is in ⟨p. 88⟩Christ not to judge by the work, is first not to judge from a word. For though there is a word which may give a man dependence on Christ, without feeling any work, nay when he feels none, as absolute promises, yet no word giving assurance, but that which is made to some work, He that believeth, or is poor in spirit, &c.
4. If the serious thoughts of this do not draw thee, at least not so fully; look up to the Lord to reveal himself unto thee to be thine. For as no man can take Christ until God gives him, so no man can say he is his, untill the Lord shews him that he is his. And as the creature cannot re••st, but take when the Lord gives: so it cannot but see the Lord when he reveals himself as indeed he is. And look to see him to be yours by some Promise; for there is a seeing Christ mine in great fulgor without the light of a Promise, and Spirit in it. Is Christ yours? Yes, I see it. How? by any word or promise? No, this is a d•lusion. The other is by promise, & that opened in the Gospel, Eph. 1. 13. 14. He saith not in whom after ye were sealed you believed, but è contra. And how believed? by hearing the Gospel. Hence Saints return to this, Psalm 51. 8. Let me hear the voice, 1 Pet. 2. 1, 2, 3. And this is that which hath knit the hearts of Saints to Christ for ever▪ Oh thou hast the words of life: For there is a voice of love to the Saints engraven in all mercies, in all afflictions, in all Gods leadings of them, though it be in a Wilderness; but Beloved, only the Word can tell me the meaning of these words of love. So there is love of Christ revealed according to a Promise, not by it, and love spoken in mercies, but the Word interprets them and clears them to be no delusions; I mean the Spirit there: This is judged to be a good answer to Papists, who shall be judge of controversies? We answer that which shall be judge at the last Day, must be judge now: but so, Rom. 2. 16. Iohn 12. 48. So whether doth Gods Spirit seal, or the Devil delude? It's a great controversie if you have no• a word to see Gods love by, but think you have a way to see it without, this Word shall judge you. Oh look therefore for the Lord by a word to do it, and say Speak Lord; and if by word, look not for it without a work on your own heart. Some Christians have rested with a work without Christ, which is abominable; but after a man is in ⟨p. 88⟩Christ not to judge by the work, is first not to judge from a word. For though there is a word which may give a man de•endance on Christ, without feeling any work, nay when he feels none, as absolute promises, yet no word giving assurance, but that which is made to some work, He that believeth, or is poor in spirit, &c.
