The marrovv of the oracles of God. Or, diuers treatises containing directions about sixe of the waightiest things can concerne a Christian in this life. by N. Bifield, late preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.

CHAP. V.

The tryall of a godly man by such heauenly gifts as serue him in his iourney to Heauen.

THus of his tryall in his hu∣miliation, and in his faith, It followeth in the third place, to try him by his gifts, which are the fruits of faith. The true Christian differs from the wick∣ed man, in two sorts of gifts: Some of them are such gifts as are bestowed vpon him from aboue, but serue him onely for spirituall vse, while he is on the way in his iourney to Heauen, and so onely in this life; such as are the sacred thirst: The loue to the word and meanes of his holinesse: The spirit of supplication: The loue of his enemies; and his de∣sire after the apparance of Iesus Christ. Other gifts hee hath, which will accompany him home

into his heauenly Countrey, and abide vpon him for euer, and are not abolished by death: such as are sauing knowledge, the loue of God, and the loue of the godly. First therefore of those heauenly gifts, which will passe away; and so he is qualified with fi•…•…e distinct ho∣ly gifts, which cannot be found in any reprobate.

The first is, his holy thirst; which is an heauenly kind of ap∣petite, by which hee is carried to the desire of things aboue nature; such as are the merits and righte∣ousnesse of Christ: the fauour of God: the presence of God: the full deliuerance from all sin: the remo∣uing of spirituall iudgements: the saluation of other men, and the like; and this thirst is a signe the more infallible:

1 Because it is constant and indelible in this life. There is no part of this life, but it continueth either in the sense of his affecti∣on, or in the iudgement of his vn∣derstanding,

so as hee accounts spiritu•…•…ll things to bee the best things: and though at some times his affection may be the lesse mo∣ued after them, yet his appetite is daily renewed, as it is in the hunger or thirst that is bodily.

2. Because it is industrious. For this holy thirst will guide him to a carefull vse of all the meanes, by which good things may bee at∣tained; and doth not breathe it selfe out onely with sudden and vaine wishes, or flashes of desire, Psa. 27. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Psa. 63. 1, 2. Psa. 1. 2. Acts 2. 37.

3. Because it workes a constant and secret meditation of heauenly things desired, the heart fre∣quently seekes after God day and night, Esa. 26. 9. Psal. 63. 1, 6. For what wee desire feruent∣ly, wee thinke on almost con∣tinually:

4. Because if the Lord quench his thirst, and satisfie his desire in spirituall things, the soule becomes

as a watred garden; and then fol∣lowes in him an heauenly kinde of satisfaction and contentment, with singular delight in the soule, and vowes and wishes of in∣finite and eternall thankfulnesse, Psalme 63. 4, 5. Ieremiah 31. 25, 26.

And thus much of the first gift.

Secondly, The loue to the Word is another signe that hee is the Child of God, and a cleare euidence of his saluation. Now because all sorts of wicked men may resort to the exercises of the Word, and those that haue but a temporarie faith may shew a great estimation of the VVord, and find ioy in the hearing of it, and shew much zeale in things that concerne the word, and may yeeld some obedience to the di∣rections of the VVord also: it is profitable to consider how the true Christian may proue that his affection to the VVord is more

sincere then that affection which any wicked man can bring to the word. And thus he may find that his heart is sound in his loue to the Word, by these markes.

1 By his manner of receiuing it, when hee doth receiue the Word, as the Word of God, and not of men: setting his heart before Gods presence, & being affected as if the Lord himselfe should speake vnto him. This no wic∣ked man dares doe: he dares not present himselfe with the whole intendments of his heart before the Lord. For this signe the A∣postle Paul acknowledgeth the Thessalonians to bee true Chri∣stians, 1 Thess. 2. 13.

2 By his appetite to his Word. For there is in a godly man as true an hūger after the Word, as the food of his soule; as there is in his stomacke after the food of his body; which shewes it selfe to be the more sincere, because it is constant; hee desires the

Word at all times, and as his ap∣pointed foode daily; as it is in the bodily appetite, though after feeding, the stomack may seeme to bee full and satisfied, yet the hunger reuiues againe euery day, so is it with the heart of a Child of God: whereas wicked men regard the Word but by fits, and in a passion, and then at length fall cleane away from the af∣fection to it, Psal. 119. 20. Iob 23. 12.

3. By his loue to them that loue the Word.

4. By his sorrow, because other men keepe not the Word, Psal. 119. 136.

5. By his vnfained estimation of the Word aboue all worldly things, accounting it to bee an happy portion to enioy the word in the power and profit of it, Psa. 119. 14, 72, 111.

6. By his desire and delight to exercise himself in it day and night, that is, constantly, Psa. 1. 2.

7. By his griefe, either for the want of the m•…•…ans by which the Word might be taught vnto him with power, accounting such want of the meanes to be a sore famine; or for want of successe in the vse of the meanes when he doth enioy it, Psalm. 42. 3. Amos 8. 12.

8. By the extent of his loue to all the Word of God, euen the Law, that with threatning shews him his sin, and searcheth out his most secret corruptions; being most affected with that ministe∣ry that doth most sharply rebuke sinne.

9. By his resolution to labour as hard for the food of his soule, as men doe, or he would doe for the food of his body, Iohn 6. 27. Amos 8. 12.

10. By the cōstant sweet taste he finds in it, especially when it is powerfully preached, Psal. 19. 10 2 Cor. 2. 15.

11. By the end hee propounds

vnto himselfe in the vse of the word, which is, that hee might not sin: and that his wayes might be pleasing to God, hiding the word in his heart to this purpose, Psal. 119. 11.

12. By his willingnesse and re∣solution to deny his owne reason and affections, his credit, his car∣nall friends, his profites, or his pleasures in anything, when God should so require it of him, and vpon any occasion to shew his heartie respect of the Gospell, Marke 10. 29. 1 Cor. 1. 18.

13. By the effects of it: as,

1. When for the loue he bears to the Word, hee will seperate himselfe from the wicked, that might any way with-draw his heart, or endanger his disobe∣dience, Ps. 119. 115.

2. When he accounts the Word to be his chiefe comfort in affli∣ction, and finds it to be the maine stay and solace of his heart, Psal. 119. 23, 24, 50, 51, 54, 143.

3. When it workes in him effe∣ctually the redresse of his wayes, and freedome from the domini∣on of sinne, Iohn 8. 32. Psalme 119. 45, 9, 59, 1 Thessalonians 2. 13.

4. When it workes in him cer∣taine and sensible assurance of heart before God. This assurance is an infallible signe of the right vse of the Word, 1 Thessalonians 1. 5.

And thus of the second gift.

The third gift is the spirit of praier or supplication, as the Pro∣phet Zachary cals it, Zach. 12. 10. and this gift hee hath aboue all wicked men, which hee shewes many wayes: as,

1. Hee askes according to Gods will, 1 Iohn 5. 14.

2. He prayes with perswasion that God will heare him. Hee beleeueth in some measure that hee shall haue what hee prayes for. Hee prayes in faith, Marke 11. 24. Iames 1. 6, 7. Psalme 6. 9.

1 Iohn 3. 22.

3. He prayes in the Name of Christ, and is affected with the sense of his owne vilenesse, and relies vpon the merits and medi∣ation of Iesus Christ, Iohn 14, 13. Psa. 86. 1, 2. and 143. 1, 2.

4. He will pray at all times, Iob 27. 9. Psal. 106. 3.

5. He is feruent in prayer: his heart praieth: he hath the affecti∣ons of prayer, Iames 5. 16. Psalm. 6. 8.

6. Praier makes him exceeding weary of the world: it giues him such a taste of his owne sin∣fulnesse, and of Gods goodnesse, and of the glory of Heauen, that he is vehemently carried with desire to bee absent from the body, that hee might be present with the Lord, Psa. 39. 12.

7. When he knowes not how to pray as hee ought, the Spirit pre∣pares his heart, excites in him holy desires, supplyes him some∣time with words, sometime with

affections, and sometimes work∣eth inward vnexpressable groanes, which yet it presents to God, as effectuall prayers, Romans 8. 26, 27.

8. Hee findes an holy rest, and quietnesse in his conscience and heart, with spirituall boldnesse and confidence of trust in God, if he heare him graciously, and answer him in mercy, Psalme 3. 4, 5, 6. and 116. 17. and 91. 15. Ieremiah 33. 3.

9. He loues the Lord exceeding∣ly for hearing his prayer, and desires to keepe himselfe in the loue of God, Psalme 116. 1. Iude 20. 21.

10. His prayers proceed from an heart that loues no sinne, but desires to depart from iniquitie, and to doe that which is pleasing in Gods sight, 2 Tim. 2. 19. 1 Ioh. 3. 22.

11. He loues prayer in others, 2 Tim. 1. 21.

12. Hee striues against dead∣nesse

of spirit and distractions, as an heauie burthen, Psalme 86. 3. 4.

13 He makes praier his chiefe refuge: and he will pray, though prayer bee in neuer so much disgrace. Psalme 69. 10, 13. and 142. 25.

And thus of the third gift.

The fourth gift is the loue of his enemies. Any Christian may loue such as loue him; but to loue his enemies, is onely to be found in the true Christian, which he proues by these tokens of the sin∣ceritie of his loue:

1. He can pray heartily for them yea in some cases he can mourne and humble his soule before God for them in their distresses, Psal. 35. 13, 14.

2. Hee desires their conuersion so vnfainedly, that hee is sure, if they were conuered, hee could reioyce in them as heartily, as in those hee now much delights in.

3 Hee can likewise forgiue them their particular trespasses against him; being more grieued for their sinnes against God, then for the wrongs they doe him, Math. 6. 14.

4 He can freely acknowledge their iust praises.

5 He cannot onely patiently endure their reuilings, but can forbeare, when he could bee re∣uenged by bringing shame or miserie vpon them, 1. Peter 3. 9. Rom. 12. 14. 1 Sam. 24. 18, 19. yea he doth, as he hath occasion, striue to ouercome their euill with goodnesse; being willing to helpe them, or relieue them in their miserie, and doe th•…•…m any good for soule or body.

The last gift which is found in the true Ch•…•…istian, while he is in the way in this life, is, His loue of the appearing of Christ, which hee shewes:

1 By the longing after the time of Christs comming, whether

by death or iudgement.

2 By his gladnesse at the pro∣mises, or signes of his particular or generall commings.

3 By his often meditations of that day, and his hearty prayers for the hastening of it, Neuelat. 22. 10.

4 By his daily care to dispach all those godly duties which hee desires to doe before his death, and accordingly by his willing disposing of his estate, and ende∣uours to set his house in order.

And this desire of Christs comming is apparently the more sincere in him:

1 Because it ariseth out of his loue to God, and his hatred of his owne sinnes, and his wearinesse vnder the obseruation of other mens sinnes.

2 Because this desire is accom∣pained with the care of the meanes, by which he may be pre∣pared for saluation.

3 Because hee is thus affected

euen in his prosperity, when hee thrines in the world, and is not in any uotable distresse.

Hitherto of his triall in such gifts as he is endowed withall in this life onely: his triall in the gifts that will abide in him for euer, follow.

Notes

• Two sorts of graces in a Chri∣stian.
• The holy thirst that is in the godly Christian, tryed by foure signes.
• His tryall by his loue to the Word.
• 13. Signes to try his af∣fection to the Word by.
• His triall by his gift of prayer.
• 13. Rules of tryall.
• His loueto his ene∣mies tried
• His tryall by the loue to the app•…•…aring of Christ.