The sure mercies of David: or, a second part of Heart-treasure. Wherein is contained the supream and substance of gospel-mercies purchased by Christ, and promised in the covenant of grace, together with the several ways how they are made and are to be improved for the saints fort and defence, settlement and incouragement in shaking and back-sliding times. Being the fruit of some meditations upon Isa. 55. 3. By O. Heywood an unprofitable minister of the gospel.

CHAP. X.

V. THE fifth Use of Exhortation is to all sorts of persons to look after their share in these sure mercies of David; and oh that I had a Tongue and Pen to drive this nail home; Oh what a mercy now would it be if by these sure mercies of David, and Discourses about them, some soul were enamoured therewith, and set in good ear∣nest to make them its own. But shall I need to use many arguments to perswade any poor soul to accept of mercy? Yes certain∣ly, the most part of the World forsake their own mercies by observing lying vanities; and they that can experimentally distinguish betwixt a gracious and graceless heart, find that 'tis the hardest thing in the World to close in with mercies in Gods way: 'tis an easie thing for a secure sinner to presume upon mercy, to make mercy a pillow to sleep upon with ease, to build Castles in the Aire, and feed our selves with groundless conceits of the mercy of God, this any one can do; but to be got of our own bottoms, to despair in our selves, to accept of Jesus Christ; give up our selves to God in Cove∣vant; venture a troubled heart upon the

promises of Free-grace; this is an high and hard work, an arduous and difficult under∣taking: but this is done by every convert∣ed sinner: and a soul never obtains mercy till it be indeed savingly converted, 1 Tim. 1.13. if you be Lo-ammi, * 1.1 not Gods people by way of Covenant, you are Lo-ruhamah, i. e. persons that have not obtained mercy. Oh look after an interest in these sure mercies of David: Consider,

1. Nothing else in the World can be made sure; we live in an inconstant World; every thing is upon the wheel of change; sublunary comforts are like the Moon; sometimes at the full, and sometimes in the wane, nothing continues in a fixed station; a man may be rich to day, and poor to mor∣row, therefore the Apostle calls them uncer∣tain riches, or uncertainty of riches in the abstract; now then saith the Apostle, Chri∣stians must lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, * 1.2 1 Tim. 6.17, 18. Alas, riches were never true to any that trusted to them; the things of the World are like smoak or sand, with which you cannot fill your hand: who would be so fond of that which a man knows he cannot keep? 'tis the part of a wise man to purchase such an estate as he may enjoy; friends, goods, honours, health, pleasures have their periods, but these mer∣cies are sure and everlasting. Oh the vast

difference; it's very considerable, that the things that make us happy, can only be made sure; but the things of this World which cannot make us happy cannot be made sure; and indeed whatever may be lost is not capable of making any truly happy: now Heavenly things are durable as well as suitable to the soul, therefore let us all take the counsel of our Lord Jesus in Mat. 6.19.20. Lay not up for your selves trea∣sures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where Thieves break through and steal—But lay up for your selves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

2. Except you have an interest in these sure mercies, common mercies are accursed to you, nor indeed have you any real Co∣venant-title to any thing you enjoy, what∣ever interest you have before men [in foro humano] yet [in foro Dei] you are in the Court of Heaven (in a sort) usurpers, however you have forfeited all by actual rebellion, and have but what you enjoy as condemned Prisoners or Malefactors to keep you alive till execution of the righteous sentence of condemnation. Oh the woful condition of Unconverted sinners! they are accursed with a Gospel-curse, * 1.3 and under a dreadful sentence of excommunication: there's a curse in their houses, on their actions, on their relations, as to them; there's a curse upon their very blessings,

Mal. 2.2. there's a plague in their appa∣rel, poison in their meat; and we may say, death is in the Pot as to all their enjoy∣ments; my meaning is, nothing is truly sanctified or perfumed with Covenant-mercy; and if God give it a commission, whatever they enjoy may be their bane: whithersoever they go, a curse goes with them; whatever they partake of, a curse meets them in it; whoever they are with, a curse attends them. Oh fearful state! it was sad to be under the curse of a mortal man; Cham found his Father Noah's curse heavy; but oh how heavy is the curse of Almighty God, who with a word can send the soul into Hell; and fol∣low his stroke into another World? dear friends, who would live in this cursed state another hour? on the contrary, whosoever hath these mercies of the Covenant hath all blessings blessed; yea, and also crosses; and, in a sort, curses are turned into blessings: who would not be covetous of such a state? But to hasten.

3. Without these Covenant-mercies the soul is not accepted in its choicest duties: neither person nor performance is owned by God; it is only upon a Covenant-account that any are accepted; indeed in the Co∣venant of works the person was accepted for the works sake, but in the Covenant of Grace, God accepts the person first, then the work; if the man be in Christ, then

the offering is taken in good part, though it be but a Turtle-dove or young Pigeon, though but a sigh or groan; God takes a Posie of Flowers [of sweet-smelling Graces] though mixed with stinking Weeds, and pricking Bryars of vanity and corruption, gathered by a Child, and per∣fumed by Christs Mediation, and is better pleased therewith, than with the most odoriferous gifts of uncoverted souls, where the heart is destitute of Covenant graces: * 1.4 alas, the prayer of the wicked is abomination to God, the great and jea∣lous God challengeth the wicked man that hath not Covenant-mercies in his heart, for taking Covenant-promises into his mouth: * 1.5 What hast thou to do? saith God, q. d. thou poor graceless sinner, thou profanest my holy name, and provokest the eyes of my glory in the works and wor∣ship by which thou thinkest thou dost most honour and pleasest me: in the state wherein thou art, I cannot endure to look towards thee; I abhorr thy person and performance, thy costly incense is a smoak in my nose; I can see through thy paint∣ed beauty, at thy rotten inside; thy guilded Eloquence and Rhetorical Flourishes are no more to me than the roaring of Bears or howling of Doggs; get out of my sight thou sorry whining hypocrite; all thy duties are as Cyphers, and signifie nothing except the Mediatour as the prin∣cipal

and only figure be set before them, and the spirit of God write and indite them, which are two of the greatest mercies of the new Covenant. Ah sirs, God doth despise the most melodious Tunes of wicked men, * 1.6 but a broken and contrite heart he de∣spiseth not; that's sweet Musick in his blessed ••ears; for a broaken heart is a Covenant-mercy: these mercies are brave Ornaments ••o believing souls, and render them lovely and amiable in the sight of God: every penitent Tear is a rich Pearl; every Prayer pierceth Heaven and fetcheth down abun∣dant incomes from the Throne of Grace. Oh what a difference do these mercies make ••n persons, performances and acceptance with God?

4. Without these mercies you have no solid ground of peace, comfort, or satisfa∣ction: for without these you are not only under the sentence of condemnation; but ••ou have no real ground to hope that the sentence shall not be executed this very ••our; 'tis a wonder to think that graceless ••ouls should be so merry that are hanging over the pit of Hell, but by the rotten ••read of a mortal life: Oh how suddenly ••ay this brittle glass be broken, and they ••e gone for ever! for ought they know ••hen they go to bed; God may say (as ••ce he did to one as rich and secure as ••ese sensual sots) this night shall thy soul 〈◊〉〈◊〉 required from thee: 'tis a wonder to me ••ow souls can rest quietly that are conscious

to themselves or groundedly suspect they are not in Covenant with God; and so know not that they shall be another moment out of Everlasting tor∣ments: * 1.7 but God leaves them to seared Consciences, and Sa∣tan and the World joyn with their deceitful lusts to lull them asleep, till God awake them by true repentance or eternal vengeance: but God hath •• time to shake the foundations of this bastard-peace, and set the soul upon the sure bottom of Covenant-relation, and interest in Jesus Christ, which only brings true content and comfort, peace that passeth understanding, joy in the Holy Ghost, and a sweet Sabbath of refreshment to the tossed soul: here the noble soul may (as i•• were) terminate its desires, and expatiate its largest faculties upon its only portion God in Covenant; and thence will resul•• continual ground of triumph and exaltation for these mercies are suitable and adaequate to the immortal soul, and will support i•• under greatest outward pressures, and i•• the hour of death; therefore I may con∣clude this Exhortation with ver. 2. of this Chapter, Wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not, hearken diligent∣ly unto me, and cat ye that which is good, an•• let your soul delight it self in fatness.

5. These mercies of the Covenant will render your condition safe whatever befalls you; we little know what may befall us be∣twixt this and the grave, who knows what a day may bring forth? man is born to trouble, a Saint is born again to more; bad news may come as Jobs Messengers, tread∣ing in each others steps; losses and crosses may put us on sad discouragements: Oh but now to have a Covenanted God, a Christ and all the fore-mentioned Covenant-mercies to solace the soul, what mercy will this be? when the true Christian can say, I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine; my flesh and heart fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever: let the Sea roare, Men rage, Heavens look black, and Earth tremble, I lye at Anchor in a sure Port, I trust in God, * 1.8 and fear no evil tidings from below; God is my refuge and help, yea my present help in time of trouble; evils shall either miss me or mend me; all winds blow my soul nearer my Haven, all dispensa∣tions hitch me a step nearer Heaven, for all things work together for my good; my Covenanted God will teach me to profit by Word, Rod, by Mercys, Crosses, Ordinances, Providences: God is my Sun and Shield, to enlighten me in times of darkness, to protect me in times of danger, he will command a guard of Angels to attend me; yea, his wings shall cover me, his comforts shall refresh my soul; he will guide me here by his counsel, and afterwards receive

me to glory. Oh happy soul that hath the God of Jacob for his God; and these Co∣venant-mercies his portion: who can hurt such a soul? But oh the woful state of one that hath not the name of God as a Tower or Chamber to run unto when evils are approaching? how dreadful was Sauls state, when the Philistines were upon him and God had forsaken him? just such will be the condition of a soul destitute of Covenant-mercies in the day of publick or personal calamity; alas all they bore up their carnal hearts with is gone, and God is gone, and now they must either burst with grief, or through despair make away themselves, as Judas and Achitophel. * 1.9 Oh forlorn state of such as took not God for their God; sirs think seriously of these things.

6. These Covenant-mercies will have mighty influence upon your spirits in Gods service; and in your conversation, an inte∣rest in the mercies of the Covenant will make you fear God, and tremble to offend so good a God; there is forgiveness with thee that thou maist be feared, Psal. 130.4. nay, fear to offend God is one great mercy of the Covenant: these will melt your hearts into tears of Evangelical repentance for offending God; as you may gather from Zech. 12.10. nay, brokenness of heart is one of the mercies of the Covenant: sence of these mercies will make your souls love God clearly, Luk. 7.47. nay, love to God is one of the mercies of the Covenant;

and so for the rest of the Graces; there's not an useful disposition requisite to qualifie us for Gods service, but 'tis contained in the Covenant; hereby we shall know Gods will, be willing to obey it; delight our selves in Gods service, as David, Psal. 5.7. I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy, and in thy fear will I worship towards thy holy Temple: we shall then sing in the ways of the Lord, and in the height of Zion, and flow together for the goodness of the Lord— Jerem. 31.12. i. e. the goodness of the Lord will engage the Saints to come with chearfulness into Gods presence, and thank God for an op∣portunity of waiting on so good a God: holy hearts delight in holy works; grace fits the soul for God; Covenant-mercies render a soul capable of and suitable to Covenant-duties; and the more you partake of these mercies, the more delight will you take in duty: the more like you are to God, the more delight will you take in God; and God will delight more in you; and so there will be sweet fellowship betwixt God and your souls: on the contrary, carnal spirits cannot endure spiritual exercises; they come to duties as a Bear to the stake, and when they are therein, they are upon a Rack; Lord be merciful to such a soul.

7. These Covenant-mercies will not leave the soul till they have brought it to Heaven: Gods mercies are in the Heavens; that's their proper Element; and they never

cease moving and mounting the soul up∣wards till they have raised him up into the highest Heavens: where they shall drink of the River of his pleasures, Psal. 36.5, 8. now Covenanted souls do but taste that the Lord is gracious, but then they shall eat and drink abundantly, and shall be satisfied with marrow and fatness; yea, bathe their souls in that fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore, Psal. 16.11. these mercies will make you rich towards God, and rich with God to all Eternity: if you dye with Co∣venant-mercies in your hearts, you depart like Old Simeon with Christ in your arms, and dye in peace, and rest with God: these sure mercies lead the van to eternal glory, which comes in the rear of a temporal life and spiritual graces: yea, eternal life is be∣gun here, as Scripture testifies; how is that? why no otherwise than by the possession of these spiritual mercies, and Communion with God thereby: this is eternal life, to know the only true God and Jesus Christ, Joh. 17.3. You lay hold on eternal life here by laying hold on these best blessings and Covenant-mercies: * 1.10 he that hath the Son hath life, and by be∣lieving on the name of the Son of God, he may know that he hath eternal life; for he hath the record in himself; See 1 John 5.10-13. what is this witness? it is con∣tained in some of these sure mercies of David. Oh therefore, for a share and in∣terest therein? on the other hand he that hath nothing to do with these sure mercies

hath nothing to do with eternal glory: such as are strangers from the Covenants of promise, * 1.11 have no hope of a better life; as the Tree falls so shall it lye; and such as are found without mercies in their hearts at death, shall be found destitute of mercy at the great day.

There is one sort of persons, I would more particularly press to look after their share in these sure mercies of David, and those are the Children of Godly Parents; and hence Solomon prays, Remember the mer∣cies of David thy Servant, 2 Chron. 6.42. so you that are the posterity of godly pre∣decessours, cry out for and apply the mercies of your Fathers; and there are two cogent arguments in the quality of these mercies the Text mentioneth, for here they are said to be sure; consider, 1. Your Parents found them sure to them. 2. The Promise will make them sure to you.

1. Consider your Religious Ancestours found these Covenant-mercies sure to their own souls: our Fathers trusted in thee, cryed to thee, they were delivered, were not ashamed, Psal. 22.4, 5. Heathens did pertinaciously adhere to the Religion of their Predecessors; and shall Children of Godly Parents for∣sake their Fathers God? and such a God as never failed them; Moses in his Song, saith, he is my God and I will prepare him an habitation; my Fathers God and I will exalt him, Exod. 15.2. enquire and search;

you that are the seed of his servants, had your fathers ever cause to complain of God? was he not as good as his word to them? did he not punctually keep touch with them, and make good all his promises to them? did not your Godly Parents breath their last with good speeches of God? did they not affectionately commend his ser∣vice to you upon their death-bed? reflect upon their dying words; did they not pro∣claim to all the World, that God was a faithful Covenant-keeping God to them? and did they not assure you he would be as good to you if you embrace him and keep his ways! yea, cannot you bear witness for them, that their last words were speak∣ing well of God; as Jacob and Jo∣seph both did upon their death-bed? did not they in the faith and sense thereof com∣mend you into the hands of their gracious God, as Jacob, Gen. 48.15, 16. the God which fed me all my life long unto this day; the Angel which Redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads — did they not express particular perswasions of some mercy, as those blessed Patriarchs, * 1.12 Behold, I dye, but God shall be with you, and bring you again to the Land of your Fathers? Yea, cannot you that are Children bear your Testimony for God that he hath been and done accord∣ing to your Parents faith and hope? Solo∣mon could say, after Davids death, thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my Father, great mercy, or bounty — but that's not

all, and thou hast kept, saith he, for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a Son to sit upon his Throne, 1 King. 3.6. and I question not but many of you can say as much for God, that God hath had respect to you in Temporals because you were the seed of such as were dear to him. Oh follow their steps and you shall fare as they fared.

2. Yet further, you that are the Chil∣dren of Godly Parents, * 1.13 you lye directly un∣der the influences of these sure mercies; the promise is made to believers and to their seed, Gen. 17.7. Act. 2.38, 39. such pro∣mises bear up the hearts of Gods poor ex∣piring servants, concerning their surviving Children: Well then, let Children claim their interest; plead this grant; none of you will lose your inheritance for want of looking after it; if your Landlord pro∣mise you a Lease of your Tenement after your Father's decease if you sue to him for it, and pay the accustomed fine, will you be so mad as to be turned out of your Farm, and the Heritage left by your Fathers, than own your just and loving Landlord according to the Laws of the Land? no man is so fond in Temporals, and why should you be so foolish in Spirituals? Ah Christians, look after your Patrimony; despise not your Birth-right; is it nothing to you to be born of believing Parents? remember your Parents Prayers and Tears, their Hopes and fears. Oh consider, how it comforted

their hearts upon their death-bed, that they left you under a good Covenant, and be∣queathed to you a goodly heritage; and why should your Parents be deceived in their hopes, and meet you strangers at the great day to God and Christ, to be set with filthy Goats upon the left hand for ever? why will you embezzle or sin away this fair estate? why will you not sue out this blessed Charter for your own souls in the Court of Heaven? God is as willing to make it over to you, as ever he was to bestow it on your Parents; he is loath to cut off his kindness from their seed; he looks after you in your soul-destroying practices; and saith, as once to Israel that did so wofully degenerate, Jer. 22.5. q. d. I remember the kindness that in former times there was betwixt thy ancestors, and me. Oh their zeal in running after me, the holy services they did perform to me? thy Father, or Grand-father and some former Generations, maintained entercourse with me, and I with them; there was love of espousals betwixt us; and I am sure I was not want∣ing to them; I lookt carefully to them; all that sought to devour them, were my enemies, they did offend me; and I brought evil upon them; I pleaded their cause while they lived, and I took them seasonably to Heaven, and if thou that art their off-spring, wouldest have put me to't, I would have done as much for thee; if thou hadst but laid hold of that Covenant; those very Covenant-mercies should have been thine, but thou art gone back, thou wilt have none

of me, but walk after new upstart vanities; thou wilt not vouchsafe so much as to enquire after the God of thy Fathers that was so faith∣ful to them, and did so much for them: but let me ask thee, * 1.14 since thou wilt needs leave me, what iniquity have either thy Fa∣thers or thou found in me? produce thy rea∣sons, testifie against me, did I ever do thee any wrong? have I not always done thee good? Oh soul, whithersoever thou goest from me, thou missest of such a God as thy Fathers served. God seems in that Scripture to speak after this manner: Oh hearken to the eternal God, if you will not heed the dying words of your mortal Parents, that dyed in the Lord; though one would think those should move and melt your hearts into tears of Gospel sorrow, why should your dear deceased Parents rise up in judgement against you at the day of judgement? when it shall be enquired whether they did their duty, they must needs answer according to truth, that they did instruct, correct, coun∣sel, admonish their wandring Prodigal Chil∣dren, they brought them to Ordinances, prayed for them, wept and travelled again for them, and yet could not prevail; and now must come in to bear witness against them, and must rejoyce in Gods just venge∣ance upon them. Oh what a sad case will these rebellious Children be in? 'tis no plead∣ing priviledges by means of believing Pa∣rents at that day; the higher you were ad∣vanced therein, the lower will you be cast

down to Hell, Matth. 11.23. oh how terrible will it be to see godly Parents in Heaven, and themselves cast into utter darkness; yea, to see strangers (or the Converted Chil∣dren of Heathenish Parents) come from East, and West, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven but the Children of these Kingdoms (posterity of Covenanted Parents) cast out into utter dark∣ness — See Mat. 8.11, 12.

Let me therefore perswade all graceless Children to look about them; do you above all others take heed of miscarrying; greater expectations are from you than others; the surviving friends of your Religious An∣cestors look after you, and enquire what you do; oh rejoyce their hearts by walking in the steps of your predecessours; I shall bespeak you, yea charge you, in the words of Reverend Mr. Bolton upon his death-bed, that none of you will dare to meet us at the great Tribunal in an unregenerate state: let every Child of Godly Parents plead for Covenant-mercies, as once Solomon did, 2 Chron. 1.8, 9. thou hast shewed great mer∣cy unto David my Father — now O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my Father be established — thus do you plead with God, and say, Lord my Parents embraced the Covenant; it was thy free-grace to choose them, and set thy heart upon them; and is that Grace weary? canst thou not own me with Covenant-mercy? nay, dost thou not call that mercy to Abraham by

the surer name of truth unto Jacob? am not I a Child of the promise; Lord cut not off the entail of Covenant-mercies from me or mine for ever.

But I must hasten, let all souls seek after a share in Covenant-mercies, you that are afar off, and you that are near, Children of the good and of the bad; draw near hi∣ther, take hold of this Covenant; here's mercy for you all, these mercies are at∣tainable; let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God for he will abun∣dantly pardon, Isa. 55.7. they are mercies, fear not being made welcome, they are sure mercies; fear not disappointment: thou hast a tender of mercies, that's mercy, yea such a mercy as the fallen Angels never had, or ever shall have; and if thou refuse thou dost not only neglect a great salvation, but the Devils shall rise up in judgement against thee: it's a wonder of mercies that thou art not past hopes of mercies, thou hast run a wild course, yet, there's hope if now thou come upon the call of mercy? all the condition God requires is acceptance of Christ and Grace; it sticks at your wills, and if you wilfully reject mercy what must save you? if you will be damned who can hinder you? you must thank your selves for ever: the God of mercy stands waiting at your door, the Prince of peace purchased mercy at a dear rate; the spirit of grace knocks and

put in his blessed finger at the hole of the door, will not yet your bowels move towards him? he beseecheth you to be reconciled that might with a word command you into Hell; and will you have no bowels of mercy towards your own souls? Ministers Intreat, * 1.15 Travel, Study, Weep, and earnestly beseech you for mercies sake, to come in: and yet will you stand out? and must I after all this pains leave you short of mercy, these sure and sweet mercies? God forbid, however remember you were warned.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hos. 1.6, 9
• * 1.2

  Bavyer Emp. of Germany said, Hujusmodi com••arand••e sunt op••s quae cum na••fragio simul ena∣tent. Non est Paupertas p••curiae paucitas, sed insatiabilitas; quae si re••••sserit, qui bonus est dives quog••e fu••rit. Clem. Alexand. Strom. lib. 2.
• * 1.3

  1 Cor. 16.22. Prov. 3.33.
• * 1.4

  Prov. 15.8.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 50.16, 17.
• * 1.6

  Psal. 51.17.
• * 1.7

  Red••e praevaricatores ad cor, & inhaerete ei qui sa∣cit vos: state cum to & stab••tis: requiescite in eo & q••ie••i eritis. Quo itis in aspectu q••o itis? bonum quod amatis ab illo est: sed quantum est & illum bo∣nom est ad suave.— Vid Aug. conf. lib. 4. c. 12.
• * 1.8

  Psal. 112.7. Psal. 46.1, 2.
• * 1.9

  See Psal. 52.7.
• * 1.10

  1 Tim. 6.12, 19.
• * 1.11

  Eph. 2.12.
• * 1.12

  Gen. 48 21. chap 50.24.
• * 1.13

  Isa. 44.3.59.21. Exod. 20.6. See 2 Sam. 23.1-5. Act. 3.25.
• * 1.14

  A like Ex∣postulation see in Mi••. 6.3, 4.
• * 1.15

  2 Cor. 5.20. Rom. 12.1.