136 CONCERNING FALLING AWAY. You that are concerned herein, pray consider what good beginnings of the work of true grace did these want, but they might fall. I therefore tenderly desire all that know a true work of grace, that they do not presume as if all were done, or that they were now in no danger. For, suppose they have been enlightened, and seen their own corrupt estate, and somewhat of the sinfulness of sin, and have had a true sense of the defect of their own righteousness, and have prayed that the Lord would send his Holy Spirit to sanctify them, and had indeed been made partakers of the Holy Spirit in some measure, yet they may be still in danger; for those the Apostle here describes had received the Holy Spirit as certainly as any now, and yet might fall. Nay, few of these will pretend the Holy Spirit is received by them in this day, whereby they shew themselves abundantly short of these who might fall, (as the Apostle notes) which certainly had known a great work of the grace and Spirit of God; and, therefore, true beginnings are no further a security than as men go on to know the Lord, to believe in him, to rely upon him, and subject themselves unto the leadings of his Holy Spirit; for as the Apostle saith, "He became the author of salvation unto all them that obey him."1 CHAPTER XLII. The conclusion. THIS Divine life, which, under the Scripture names of the Spirit, the Gift of God,3 Light, Power of (1) Heb. v, 9. (2) Ezek. xxxvi, 27. (3) Rom. vi, 23. (4) John i, 6. THE CONCLUSION. 137 God, and Wisdom, so often mentioned in the foregoing pages, is that which works that wonderful change in the soul called regeneration, or the new birth, in the whole progress of it; enlightening men to see their sins, and their state of wrath therein, in the sense thereof to cry for mercy in the name of Christ; and, in obedience to this divine life or grace, learn to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to proceed to a Christian life, to live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world.3 In the progress of this work, the sinful habits are broken off, the inclinations to evil mortified, the conscience purged from the guilt of sin, and forgiveness of the sins that are past received; and through the mercy of God these enjoy the benefits of the sufferings of Christ, that as he was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also (being guided by him) should walk in newness of life, knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin should be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. This crucifying the old man, or mortifying the deeds of the body,5 is the work of this divine life or spirit, although we are not to be unconcerned therein. It is thereby that men come to grow up in a true Christian life, to love God, to delight to serve him. to wait daily for heavenly bread from him, even bread of life, and to drink of the living waters; to sit at the table of the Lord, to partake of the feast of fat things, and wine well refined upon the lees; to know the communion of saints, and the fellowship with the (1) 1 Peter i, 5. (2) Prov iv, 6. (3) Titus ii, 12. (4) Rom. vi, 4, 6. (5) Rom. viii, 13. (6) John vi, 48, 50, 51. (7)——————vii, 37, 38. (8) Isaiah xxv, 6. 138 THE CONCLUSION. living members of the mystical body of Christ,1 who worship God in spirit, pray with the Spirit, sing in the Spirit; and, as God requires, speak of his wonderous works to their immortal souls. Here are no images, no image-making, but a pure dependence on the living word, and from thence a declaring what their eyes have seen, 3 what their ears have heard, and what they have tasted of that word of life, which gives life to the world, and without which men have not eternal life abiding in them, but are in the death of the old Adam, shut out of the paradise of God, and by their own strength unable to return thither again. This is the state of men in all professions, who do not know this life, and are not born again of it, though abounding in ceremony; or, although they hold as opinions true doctrines of religion, yet not being born of this divine life, this living and immortal word, they are dead unto God, though alive in the world, and busy in outside shews of religion. Whose state soever this is, I tenderly recommend them to seek the spiritual knowledge of God, who is a Spirit;5 observe what God calls thee from by his spiritual voice inwardly. Perhaps some may say, I do not know that God speak spiritually to me. What! dost thou not know a secret voice in thee, 6 that calls to amendment of life, that calls thee to forsake some darling sin which no mortal is privy to ? Whose voice is this, but His, who searcheth the heart and knows the secret thoughts of men? He is God, and there is none besides him. Turn at his reproofs, and he will pour out of his Spirit upon thee, and make (1) Phil. iii, 3 (2) 1 Cor. 14, 15. (3) 1 John i, 3. (4) Heb. vi, 5. (5) John iii, 24. (6) Acts xvii, 30. THE CONCLUSION. 139 known his words unto thee. It may be thou hast been a secret mourner for thy transgressions, and hast said in thy soul, No one's sorrows are like my sorrows.. Well, the Lord is near, who hath thus taught thee to mourn; turn thy heart towards him, and learn of him the ways of uprightness, so he will guide thee in his unerring path, and by his light lead thee through the valley of the shadow of death, and bring thee to behold his light.. Many, with eloquence of speech, and great composure of argument, have treated largely of religion; yet but few have taken notice of and recommended (to the observation of men) that power which enables a man to live a true Christian life, and without which man is unable.. Too many seem secure as they are, and either do not expect, or do not believe so great a mercy may be now received by men; but when, with seriousness, they shall observe that divers not of our persuasion have asserted so plainly this truly scripture-doctrine, what then can hinder men from being guided by it, but a love to their evil ways, and satan's leadings, till they become miserable for ever. Why should so sad an end he still the choice of men ? And yet their choice it is, who either hate or else refuse to be reformed. Satan of old beguiled Eve, insinuating-ye may sin and not die; but why should any go on still and choose to be beguiled, since Christ is come, and help by him, to resist and overcome the evil one, and having overcome, to sit down with Christ in his throne, as he hath overcome, and is set down with his Father in his throne. 3 (1) Prov. i, 23. ́ ́ (2) Isaiah lxvi, 4. (3) Rev. iii, 21. 140 THE CONCLUSION. To doubt the possibility of this attainment, is to question Holy Writ, wherein it is so plainly testified of, as the experience of God's faithful people, so much commended, so strongly commanded, and such helps of the Holy Spirit promised, with the rewards of everlasting blessedness to those who thereunto arrive. Thou, therefore, who indeed desirest these eternal blessings, trust in the living God; be guided by his counsel, and he will afterwards bring thee to glory. When men thus come to the knowledge of Christ in Spirit, or the Spirit of Christ, and are led thereby into all truth, can they be ignorant of true gospeldoctrines? Will these doubt which are the gospel⚫ ordinances, what is the spiritual baptism that baptizeth into Christ? Will they thirst any more after material water, or will the bread that perisheth be any more depended on by them for spiritual food? Or may we not safely say, having tasted of the bread that Christ breaks and blesseth, their prayer will be, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And our gracious Lord, who taught us to pray for it daily, will answer the prayers of his true children; they shall eat and drink in his presence, and be satisfied from his fulness, and in the enjoyment of his abounding goodness have in their souls to praise his glorious name. To whom. for his unmerited love, merciful favours, and renewed blessings, be hallelujahs, holy and eternal, world without end, Amen. O Lord, bring in thy other sheep that are not yet so of thy fold with us; that they also, partaking of thy divine goodness, may in the sense thereof glorify thy name here and hereafter for ever. THE END. |