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. XIV.

IV. THE fourth and last head of Di∣rections, that I promised to pro∣pound is an answer to this Question, How a gracious soul that is interested in these mercies is to behave himself? though this be a necessary point, yet I must cut short in it, having insisted too long on the former Heads.

1. Believe and receive these mercies, this is a faithful saying and worthy of all ac∣ceptation, * 1.1 that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, 1 Tim. 1.15. is it the pro∣position only that is to be credited, em∣braced? is it not Christ and the rest of the Covenant-mercies held forth in this precious maxim, which is the sweetest flower in the Garden of Scripture, the choicest Pearl in the Word, and most glorious Star in the whole Constellation of Gospel-promises? who dare doubt what God hath spoken? and who dare refuse what God doth offer? he is so wise that he cannot be deceived, and he is so good that he will not deceive you; you may better believe God than your own sense; give glory to God by em∣bracing these mercies, deny or dispute no longer: be not ingrateful to that Grace of God, that hath condescended so low to give you evidences, on purpose that you might believe.

2. Improve these sure mercies, make use of them in all your particular needs, if a man have a good spring he will order it for convenient supplies of many houshold wants, and draw it through several chanels for several uses: so a Christian must branch out the several mercies of the Covenant to his various cases and uses, as enlightning mercy to his darkness, enlivening mercy to his dulness, pardoning mercy in case of guiltiness, purging mercy in case of strong corruptions, * 1.2 — because Gods grace is suf∣ficient for us in all exigencies; in all storms there is Sea-room enough in Gods infinite mercy for faiths full sail, * 1.3 our God supplies all wants; Religion is a spiritual bond to tye God and a soul together, and a Christi∣an in the exercise of his Religion singles out that in God which is needful to him on all occasions: the life of faith is a retailing of Divine commodities, as the Covenant of grace gives a soul a title thereto (as it were) by whole-sale. Oh let the heirs of promise improve these mercies.

3. Be content with these mercies, these are sufficient to make you happy, seek not further to eke out your contentment in the Creature, as though you had not enough in having these; what a strange passage is that of good Abraham, Gen. 1••.2. Lord God, saith he, what wilt thou give me seeing I go childless? give him! why had not God given him himself, and was not that an ex∣ceeding great reward? ver. 1. and could

Abraham desire more? O yes, all this is no∣thing unless God give him a Child, he takes no notice of this in comparison of a Son; this is just our case, let God give us himself and Covenant-mercies, we can overlook all these in our distempered fits, and look upon them as of no worth if he deny us some outward comfort that our hearts are set upon: but this is our sin and shame, can∣not God himself content us? can we go from Covenant-mercies to mend us with common-mercies? nay do we not thereby weaken our interest, dishonour our portion, and dis-ingage God to help us? is not God a jealous God, and can he endure to have any corrival with him in your affe∣ctions.

4. Walk worthy of these sure mercies; * 1.4 oh do not disparage them by your unsuita∣ble carriage; live after the rate of heirs of Promise, walk exactly, spiritually, self-de∣nyingly and soul-resignedly, God hath given himself and these best blessings to you in mercy: oh give your selves and best services to God in a way of duty; if you give your selves to God as a whole burnt-offer∣ing, 'tis but a reasonable service, for he hath given you more than you can give back to him: walk holily, steadily, cheer∣fully as becomes these mercies, do much for God that hath done so much for you, let nothing discourage or disquiet your spirits, since yo•• have mercies, sure mercies to lodge in your bosomes; why should that

soul be sad that enjoyeth an interest in the father of consolations, the purchaser of sal∣vation, and comforting spirit? sure mercies with propriety beget solid comfort and assurance for ever. * 1.5 Oh Christians, learn the lessons much inculcated to walk worthy of God, of your vocation, relation, and this Kingdom.

5. Be active and passive for these mer∣cies, they cost Christ dear to purchase them; do not you think any thing too dear to do or endure for promoting or preserving of them: kindness is very endearing to a grateful heart; your pains cannot be spent to bet∣ter purpose than in the cause of God, we must always be paying our debt, though we can never fully pay it, we must be be∣hind-hand with God, but let a soul under the sense of mercies sweat blood for God, if he call to it: you sow not in a barren soul, as showrs of mercy ingage you to fruit∣fulness; so an abundant crop of mercy will be your sure reward: and in your saddest Winter you shall have the sweetest harvest of mercy; if Christians knew what grapes of Coelestial Canaan they should taste in their Wilderness-sufferings for Christ, they would not be so afraid of them as they are; these mercies run most freely and sweetly when other streams are stopt: fear not sufferings, mercies will meet and support you.

6. Plead these mercies for your posterity, though you should leave your Children thousands a year, yet these Covenant-mercies

will be the best portion; you cannot assure your estates to your heirs, but these are sure mercies, so that if you take hold of Gods Covenant, plead it, live up to it, you shall have the benefit of these your selves, and some (at least) of your Children and Suc∣cessours shall enjoy the same mercies, for God will remember these unto a thousand generations, though he be not bound to every individual soul of your natural off∣spring, however the Scripture fully shews that this is the surest way to obtain a por∣tion for your Children; tell God, they are more his than yours, you are but Nurses for his Children; tell the Lord, that thou must dye and leave them, but he lives for ever, intreat him to be their loving everlasting Father; tell him that though thou leave them something in the world, yet that is neither suitable nor durable, but these sure mercies will not fail them, and comfort your hearts for your house and family with the last words of dying David, 2 Sam. 23.5. oh labour to transmit your title unto God to future generations, as the two Tribes and an half did to future Ages by their Altar Ed. Joh. 24.24, 28. see 1 Chron. 28.9.

7. Breathe after a full possession of these sure mercies, they are from everlasting to everlasting, follow them to the spring in admiration and thankfulness, and follow this stream of Covenant-mercies to the Ocean of Eternity; indeed the streams are in time to the Sons and Daughters of men,

but the original is without a beginning, in God eternal thoughts of love, and the end is without end in those everlasting embraces in Heaven; oh long to see the end, if these mercies be so sweet here, what will they be in Heaven, in their proper Element, as it were? oh that blessed state, that Paradice of pleasure, that joy of our Lord, Abraham's bosome, an house not made with hands, a City with foundations, a Crown, a King∣dom! art thou the happy product of these sure mercies of David? do these mercies bring forth such felicity? oh happy day that my soul hath an interest in these sure mercies, but how long shall my soul be kept from the full possession of these mercies? when shall I come and appear before God? how long shall I sojourn in Mesech, and be detained from my Fathers plenteous Table above? shall not a Captive long for his deliverance, and a young heir for his full inheritance? and shall not my soul long to be with Christ above? shall my body be so weary, and hath not my soul more cause to be weary of its burden and absence from home? * 1.6 shall creatures groan, and shall not I much more to be delivered into the glori∣ous liberty of the Sons of God? shall the Spirit and the Bride say come, and shall not my soul that hears these things, eccho, come? shall he say himself, * 1.7 I come quickly, and shall not I answer Amen, even so come Lord Jesus, Come Lord, I long to see the and of these wonders of grace, I much desire

to enjoy those mercies which eye hath not seen, ear heard, or heart conceived, after ano∣ther manner than here I am capable; come, my God, I beseech thee shew me thy face; and because none can see thy face and live, let me dye that I may see thy face, and be swallowed up in the Ocean of mercy, whence these Covenant-mercies flow. Dear Lord, either come down to me, or take me up to thee: Make haste my beloved, * 1.8 and be thou like a Roe, or to a young Hart upon the Mountains of Spices.

Thus I have at last dispatcht this sixth Use of Instruction and Direction to sinners and Saints.

Notes

• * 1.1

  De iis quae cognovit, futuris, & quae adhuc sub visum non cadunt, tam certum habet per∣suasionem cognitione praedictus, ut ea mag is adesse putat, quam quae sunt prae∣sentia—Clem. A∣lex. Strom. lib. 7.
• * 1.2

  2 Cor. 12 7.
• * 1.3

  Phil. 4.19.
• * 1.4

  Cum id prae∣stiterit gra∣tia ut mo∣remur pe••∣cata, quid aliud facic∣mus stvi∣vemus in eo, nisi ut gratiae si∣mus ingrati. Aug. de Sp. et lib. c. 60. Rom. 12.1.
• * 1.5

  Col. 1.10. Eph. 4.1.1 Thes. 2.12.
• * 1.6

  Rom. 8.19-23.
• * 1.7

  Rev. 22.17, 20.
• * 1.8

  Song 8.14.