An offer of farther help to suffering saints, or, The best work in the worst times wherein the necessity, excellency, and means of preparation for sufferings are clearly evinced, and prescribed : in which, as in a glass, the people of God may see how to dress themselves for death, or any other suffering to which the Lord shall call : added as an appendix to the Sufferers mirrour.

CHAP. XI. Wherein is shewed the necessity of going out of our selves, even when our habitual and actual Preparations are at the greatest height; and depending as constantly and intirely upon the Spirit, who is Lord of all gra∣cious Influences, as if we had done nothing: Toge∣ther with the means of working the Heart to such a frame.

THus you have seen your habitual and actuall readiness for Sufferings, and blessed is the Soul that gives diligence to this work: But now, least all that I have said, and you have wrought, should be in vain, I must let you know, that all this will not se∣cure you, unless you can by Humility, Faith, and Self-denial, go out of your selves to Christ, and live upon him daily for supplies of Grace, as much as if you had none of all this Furniture and Provisi∣on for Sufferings. I confess, Grace is a very beau∣tiful and lovely Creature, and it's hard for a man to look upon his own Graces, and not doat upon them. But yet know, that if you had all these excellent preparations that have been mentioned, yea, and all Angelical Perfections superadded, yet are you not compleat without this dependance upon Christ, Col. 2.10. When ever you go forth to suffer for Christ, you should say in the Head of all your excel∣lent Graces, Duties, and Preparations, as Jehosaphat did, when in the head of a puissant and mighty Ar∣my,

2 Chron. 20.12. O Lord, I have no might nor strength, but my Eyes are unto thee. This was one thing in which Paul excelled, and was a special part of his readiness. See 1 Cor. 15.10. What a poor Creature is, the eminentest Saint left to himself in in hour of trial; the Hop, the Ivey, and the Wood∣lind, are taught by Nature to cling about stronger Props and Supporters: What they do by Nature, we should do by Grace.

The necessity and great advantage of this, will appear upon divers Considerations.

1. The Christians own imbecility and insuffi∣ciency, even in the strength and beight of all his Acquirements and Preparations: what are you, to grapple with such an Adversary? Certainly, you are no Match for him that conquered Adam hand to hand in his state of integrity. It is not your in∣••erent strength that enables you to stand, but what ••ou receive, and daily derive from Jesus Christ, Joh. 15.5. Without me, or never so little separated from me, ye can do nothing, all our sufficiency is of God, 2 Cor. 3.5. Upon this very consideration it was, that the Apostle exhorts the Ephesians, to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, (i.e.) not to de∣••end upon their own stock and furniture, but Di∣••ine Assistances and daily Communications; for we westle not with flesh and bloud, but Principalities and Powers, Ephes. 6.10, 12. in his own strength shall ••o man prevail.

2. It is the great design of God in the Gospel, to exalt his Son, and to have all glory attributed and ascribed to him, That in all things be might have the preheminence, Col. 1.13. That Christ might be all in all, Col. 3.11. Hence, no Saint must have a self∣sufficiency, or be trusted with a stock as Adam was; but Christ being filled with all the fulness of God,

and made the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or first Receptacle of all Grace: For it pleased the Father, that in him all fulness should dwell; all the Saints are therefore to go to him for Supplies, and of his fulness to receive, John 1.16. This fulness being a Ministerial fulness, like that of the Sun, or of a Fountain, intended to supply all our wants. And hence is it that Faith, a self-emptying and denying Grace, is appointed to be the Instrument of fetching our Supplies from Christ. All must be derived from him, that all the praise and glory may be ascribed to him, Phil. 4.14. And this is a most wise and congruous Ordina∣tion of God; for hereby not onely are his People the better secured, but by this also the reproach that lay upon Christ is rolled away: He was re∣proached on Earth, as barren, empty, weak. Can any good come out of Nazareth? He was looked upon as a Root springing out of a dry ground; but by this shall his Reproach be wiped away: So that unless you will go about to cross the great design of God, in the exaltation of his Christ, you must go out of your selves, and humbly, and constantly rely upon sup∣plies from Christ, and his grace to help in the times of need.

3. A Christian is constantly to depend upon Christ, notwithstanding all his own preparations, and inherent qualifications; because the activity even of inherent Grace depends upon him: Inhe∣rent Grace is beholden to exciting and assisting Grace for all it is enabled to do. You cannot act a Grace without his Spirit, * 1.1 John 15.5. It may be said of Grace in us, as it was of the Land of Ca∣naan, Deut. 11.10, 11, 12. It is not as the Land of Egypt whence ye come out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a Garden of Herbs: But a Land of Hills and Vallies, drinking water of the

Rain of Heaven, a Land which the Lord thy God careth for: his Eyes are always upon it, from the beginning of the year, even to the end of the year. As the life and fragrancy of Vegetables, depends on the Influences of Heaven, so do our Graces upon Christ. And hence, he is called, (1) a Root, Isa. 11.10. (2) An Head, Col. 1.18. (3) A Sun, Mal. 4.2. (4) A Foun∣tain, Zech. 13.1. all which Comparisons do fully carry this Truth in them.

4. Lastly, In this life of dependance lies your security: And indeed, this is the great difference, betwixt the two Covenants: In the first, Adam's stock was in his own hands, and so his security or misery depended upon the unconstrained choice of his own mutable and self-determining Will: But now in the New Covenant, all are to go to Christ, to depend upon him for supplies, and so are secured against all destructive dangers, Jude 1.1 Pet. 1.5. Should you go forth in your own strength against a Temptation, either your Grace would fail, and you fall in the Conflict: Or if you obtain any Victory over it by your own strength, yet it's a thousand to one but your Pride would conquer you, when you had conquered it: Like him that slew an Elephant, but was himself slain by the fall of that Elephant which he slew. But now, by this way, as God hath secured you against the Dangers without; so also the frame and constitution of this New Covenant is such, as prevents the danger arising from our own Pride too. Not, Ego, & Deus meus; I and my God did this: as was once said by a prophane Mouth; But Self is abased, and the Lord lifted up in his own strength, 1 Cor. 4.7. And thus I have briefly evinced the necessity of this daily dependance.

But next it concerns you to know, what this de∣pendance we speak of is: This also I shall briefly

open to you, laying down somewhat negatively, and somewhat positively about it.

It is not to deny the Grace wrought in us by the Spirit; [Neg. 1] this were both injustice and ingratitude: We may know our own Graces so, as to be thank∣full for them, though not so as to be proud of them, 1 Cor. 15.10.

It is not a la•• excuse from our duty: [Neg. 2] You do not depend, but rather dishonour Christ by so doing. You must not say, Because Christ must do all, there∣fore I must do nothing: but rather work out your salvation, because it's he that worketh both to will and do, Phil. 2.12, 13. These are noi opposed, but sub∣ordinated.

But then positively, it lies in three things.

In seeing and acknowledging the infinite suffici∣ency and fulness that is in Christ: [Posit. 1] To acknowledge him to be all in all; not onely by way of Impetra∣tion procuring all, Heb. 9.12. but also by way of Application, bringing home to the Soul all the bles∣sings purchased by his blood, and setling us in the possession of it, John 14.3. and so from first to last to eye him as the Authour and Finisher of our Faith.

2. In seeing the necessary dependance that all our Graces have upon him. That look as you see the Stream depending on the Fountain, the Beam upon the Sun, the Branch upon the Root, the Building upon the Foundation, even so do our Graces upon Christ: On him they live, and cut off from him they die. Our life is hid with Christ in God, Col. 3.3. When you see this, and also see that all your activity and striving is but as the hoysting up of the Sails, in order to the motion of the Ship, which can do nothing till there come a Gale: When you look upon your Grace as a Creature that must be

upheld, fed, acted, and preserved by Christ, Col. 2.19. Then you are prepared for this act of dependance: As for instance; You can never depend upon Christ for the acting of that Grace of Hope, un∣till you see Christ to be the prop and foundation of it, and that it depends upon him, as upon its cause, 1 Pet. 1.3. as upon its object, Hebr. 6.19. and as upon its foundation and ground-work, Col. 1.27.

You can never depend upon Christ for your joy and comfort, untill you see what a necessary de∣pendance this also hath upon him, Phil. 3.3. and that both as to its being and acting, John 16.22.

You can never depend upon him for strength in any duty, untill you see how your duties depend upon Christ, not onely for the strength by which they are performed, John 15.4, 5. but also for ac∣cettation when they are performed, 1 Pet. 2.5. It were easie to instance in any other Grace.

3. It lies in * 1.2 looking off from your own Grace, whenever you are put upon the acting off it, (I mean in regard of any dependence upon it) and looking by an eye of Faith and acceptation to Christ, Heb. 12.2. To the putting forth of which acts of dependance upon Christ, holy ejaculations in our on-sets upon duty, or those quick and vige∣rous lifting up of our souls to God that way are of special use, it being a duty fitted for the purpose, when there is no room for set and solemn Prayer. And thus briefly of its nature.

And to urge you to this duty, I shall offer these seaven Considerations; which oh that they might prevail upon your hearts, and make you for ever to clasp and cling about Christ more then ever you have done.

You have little reason to rely upon the strength [Consid. 1]

of your own Graces; for you may be easily decei∣ved in that matter, and think you have much more Grace then you have. How often are the common Gifts of the Spirit mistaken for his special Graces! The sixth Chapter to the Hebrews is able to make a man tremble in this thing.

Suppose you have much Grace, [Consid. 2] yet have you not strong Corruptions, and may you not meet with strong temptations also? He that hath less of other Graces then you, may have more humility and self∣den••al then you, and so may stand when you fall. Great Enlargements are often attended with great temptations of Pride, &c.

Whatever measures of Grace you have arrived at, [Consid. 3] yet all is not able to secure you from falling, if God withhold or withdraw his aids and influen∣ces. Abraham had more Faith then you, and yet he fell into a sin contrary to that very Grace wherein he so excelled others, Gen. 20.2. Job had more pa∣tience then you: which of you could behave your selves as he did, had you been in the like circum∣stances as he was, Chap. 1.2. He is renowned for it in Scripture, Jam. 5.11. yet he fell into that sin which was contrary to this Grace also, Chap. 3. Mo∣ses had more meekness then you: Now the man Mo∣ses was the meekest man upan the Earth. If you be but reproved, and that justly for your faults, how Waspish are you? Yet see how this Grace failed even in him, in an eminent triall of it, Numb. 11.13.14, 15. Adam was much more advantaged in this respect, then you, being made upright, and no corruption inherent in him, yet he fell: The Angels more again, yet they fell. Oh when will you learn the vanity of self-dependance!

Nothing more provoketh the Lord to withdraw his Spirit, [Consid. 4] and let you fall, then this sin of self∣confidence

doth, Luke 14.29, 30, 31. God will teach you by sad experience your own weakness, and what frail and vain things you be, if you will learn it by no other means.

If God permit you to fall (as doubtless he will if you be self-conceited) then the more eminent you have been, [Consid. 5] or are for Grace, the more will the Name of God be reproached by your fall. This will furnish the triumphs of the uncircumcised, and the lamentations of your Brethren, and make them say, How are the mighty fallen! What dismal consequents will attend your fall!

Have you not sad experience of your own weak∣ness from day to day in your lesser trials? [Consid. 6] Have you not said in some smaller conflicts, as David once did? My feet were well nigh slipt. O my thinks this should teach you to look more to God, and less to Self. If you have run with foot-men, and they have wearied you in the Land of peace; think sadly, how you shall contend with Horses in the swellings of Jordan. Do not you see that you are but Feathers in the wind of Temptation? Consult your former expe∣riences.

Lastly, hath Christ given you more Grace then others, [Consid. 7] then how much more hath he obliged you to honour him thereby? And is this your requital of his love? What! to take the Crown from his head, and put it upon your own! Certainly a great∣er injury cannot be done to Christ then this.

Well then, by all this be perswaded to cease from your selves, yea from your religious selves; and to all other your preparations, adde this as a choice one: If you do these things, you shall never fall. And thus you see the compleat Christian in his equipage for sufferings.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Cor. 15.10. 2 Cor. 3.5.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Looking off to the Au∣thour of our Faith.