The tempestuous soul calmed by Jesus Christ;: being an extract of several sermons, / preached by Anthony Palmer, pastor of the church at Bourton on the Water in Gloucester-shire.

When Christ draws in a Soul to himself he usually raiseth a tempest in that soul.

The word for a tempest in the Originall is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which properly signifies an Earthquake which causeth a shaking of che Earth; The same word is used by the Septuagint in Ezekiel frequently to sig∣nifie a rushing winde, a noise, a shaking: Now then this doth very well fit our pur∣pose to discover this tempest upon a poor soul as drawing in to Christ, which is a kinde of earthquake, a shaking of an ear∣thy heart (whose principles and aims were earthly) as promised by the Lord Christ, Isa. 11.4. And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, when he comes in with a rushing, and a noise, like the voice in Ezekiels Vision, Cap. 3.22. when the awakenings and enlightenings of the Word and voice of God fall in (shaking the spirit of a dead sinner) like the noise of many waters, Rev. 11.15, Thus when the fear of a miscarrying soul laies hold upon it, such a kinde of sha∣king

and tempest is upon it. Now the Lord ordereth it to be thus with a Soul for these Reasons.

1. God causeth a glimpse of his holi∣nesse to passe by a Soul, that the Crea∣ture by such a reflexion from God, may see in some measure what sin hath done upon him, at what an infinite distance it hath set him at with the most holy God, how unlike unto him sin hath made him; That he may in some measure see and feel what he is, when the great and righteous God takes him in hand, which makes him ready to cry out with Peter at the appea∣rance of Christ to him, Depart from me, for I am a sinfull man, Luk. 5.8. And as Moses in his self-abasement, when God appeared to him, Exod. 3.6. Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God: And ver. 11. Who am I that thou shouldst send me? A glimpse of God cau∣seth such an abasement upon a soul, and even a shaking to be upon it, That the creature may magnifie the greatness and purity of God, and be vile in its own eyes before him: This is the first Reason of it.

2. He raiseth such a tempest and sha∣king upon a sinfull worm, To cause him

in part to taste what a bitter cup it was, he could so delightfully and boldly quasse of, yea, to have a taste of that bitter cup that Jesus Christ drank brim full of his fathers wrath, that if one dram of it be so unsupportable to a soul, what were the full vials of it that were poured forth upon the sinless soul and body of Christ? that thence when we come to see him we may be pierced and be in bitternesse for him.

Yea 3. That a Soul may truly and in earnest feel and discern its need of such a Jesus to bear and deliver from that wrath; When such a glimpse of God upon it, such a shaking, such an abase∣ment in its own vilenesse, such a tasting of wrath, then a Christ to quiet and calm a desolate soul is worth looking after in∣deed.

But it will presently be enquired whe∣ther every Soul is brought into Christ this way?

I will first open the height of this tem∣pest upon a Soul, and then I will satisfie this Query. It is thus, When God mu∣sters up our sins, and sets them in order before our eyes, Psal. 50.21. When he will make sin appear exceeding sinfull to

be abounding sin; When God writes bit∣ter things against a Soul, and makes it to possesse the iniquity of its youth; I need seek no further then the 38. Psalm, for this tempest, and the 88. In both of them you have a description of this tem∣pest upon a poor creature; Thine arrows stick fast in me, There is no rest in my bones because of my sin; Mine iniquities are gone over my head, and are a burthen too heavy for me to bear; Troubled, and bowed down, and go mourning all the day, filled with his terrours, as Heman: To this (as it may be conceived to have been the case with David and Heman, in both these Psalmes) is usually added some sharp af∣fliction, either of sicknesse, or of the im∣bittering some choice creature-comfort our spirits were inordinately let out un∣to, which causeth this shaking and tem∣pest to be the more grievous, that we be∣come (as David speaks) even as broken vessels under the mighty hand of God.

This also, by the sufferance of God, is often heightned by Satans violent as∣saults, black and horrible suggestions, blasphemous accusations, representing sin as unpardonable, joyns with an ac∣cusing conscience and all our fleshly rea∣sonings,

that God is in a way of destroy∣ing and beginning of wrath here, and therefore is apt to suggest self-destru∣ction, so crossing Gods design, perswa∣ding the Soul to fly from God as an Ene∣my, when Gods main design is mercy to turn it to him.

Now then, take all these, the appear∣ing of a great and holy and terrible God, shaking a poor earthly creature, the powerfull awakenings and enlightenings of his Word, a sense of his fierce wrath, the dread of a miscarrying soul, the bur∣then of sin, the accusations of conscience, the afflicting hand of God, the desperate assaults of Satan, these like several windes make a tempest in the whole man, and make it to cry out, Thy waves, O Lord, and thy billows go over my soul, who is able to abide thine appearance? These, like se∣verall windes meeting in a cranny of the earth, make a concussion and mighty sha∣king upon the spirit of a sinner, when the Lord thus takes him in hand.

Now to answer the question, whether every Soul be brought in to Christ such a way in the height of this tempest?

This is more then I dare assert, yet that many a poor Soul comes thus shipwracht

Christ, thus tempestuous and forlorn, I know I need not insist to prove; This I may call the storming of a Soul, when Christ takes a Soul by his great power, suddenly breaks down all the strong holds and high things, 2 Cor. 10.5. This is usually the way of an open sinner, though not in the same height, neither in every open sinner at his first conversion; But then sometimes Jesus Christ takes a Soul, as I may so speak, upon easier terms, brings it in, leni afflatu, with a more gentle gale, yet so, that in the pro∣gresse of it there will be some shakings, something of this tempest upon it, though the Soul hath a glimpse of Christ, and his hand more sensibly supporting it; which I clear thus.

First, If the seed of grace be sown ear∣ly in the heart (as sometimes it is) that some Souls cannot remember the first work of it, yet if the Soul grow up to any measure of experience, it must be more shaken in order to its further sub∣duing and purifying; It will meet with some kinde of tempests ordinarily, I ne∣ver spake with any as to this Point, but more or lesse did allow of it: But when the work of God is begun at some fur∣ther

ripenesse of years, then certainly it shall meet with what I have set forth in some measure; Consider, for a Soul to be awakened out of the deep sleep of car∣nall security, which sin hath bound him in, To have Satan the strong man dispos∣sest by a stronger then he, To have the guilt and filth of sinne discovered by the holy Spirit, To have Christ destroy the works of Satan, the power and peace of corruptions that will set against him, with all the reasonings of flesh and bloud mu∣stered up, To have, in a word, the se∣cure, dead, earthy, dark, hard, proud, a∣theisticall, unbeleeving heart of an obsti∣nate wretch, of death to become life, of darknesse, light; of a stone, flesh; To have a grain of faith, break through all naturall impossibilities, spirituall wicked∣nesses, all discouragements within and without, when nothing within us to help forward beleeving, but every thing a∣gainst us (as I shall further shew:) Though all these be not enough to hin∣der the Lord Jesus, when he by his strong arm will work, Isa. 43.13. I will work, and who shall let it? yet certainly this work is not wrought forth in a dream (as we use to speak of things insensibly done) not

without some shaking and concussion upon the spirit, something of this tempest upon it, partly in the beginning, and partly in the progresse of conversion; Fides non fit sine multo motu, saith Melan∣cthon, faith is not wrought forth without much motion in the Soul; Yea, I might here shew into how many tempests from without and within, many a poor Soul (specially such whom God will most humble and fit for some speciall service) fals into, how many overwhelmings of spirit and gusts of temptations it is fre∣quently shaken with, but I intend to keep my self chiefly to the discovery of the souls first approach to Christ.

It may yet be further enquired, What is the lowest measure of such conviction, in the bringing in of a Soul to Christ? In this there have been extreams, somtimes, I presume, gracious men giving forth the tenour of their own conversion as a ge∣nerall rule to all others; But in this case I may safely assert, that the first work of the Spirit is to convince of sin, Joh. 16.7. And that such a convincement that shall give a creature such a sight of sin, that it must appear exceeding sinfull, to be a∣bounding sin, Rom. 5.18. to be tyranni∣zing

fin, filthy sinne, condemning sinne, which must not only flote in the head, but convince the conscience, and affect the heart, that it must needs humble and a∣base a creature as he goes out of himself and rowls upon Jesus Christ; yea, he shall come in a perishing condition, as I am to shew in the next Point; To deny such preparations and qualifications (not such I mean as of our selves but from the spirit) is to reason against the method of the Spirit witnessed by Scripture and ex∣perience; If the spirit of a sinner be na∣turally bound up in blindenesse, hardness of heart, insensiblenesse, security, peace, then it will not make out for salvation by Christ, till the Spirit of God comes upon that blindenesse, &c. and so causeth the Soul to discern its own condition; and this, as the rebellions of our hearts begin to be subdued by that spirit, causeth a mu∣tiny, distemper, some kinde of tempest in the whole inward man, till the Spirit draweth vertue from Jesus Christ more and more to work some measure of sere∣nity and composure upon it, as we are to shew in the close.

3. Say some, This is a way to bring a Soul into bondage and tormenting fear,

No such matter, 'Tis the way to bring him out of it: in order to the delivery from bondage, that bondage must be first discovered to and owned by the captive, which naturally he feels not, as above; To shew the captive his bondage, in or∣der to his suing for deliverance, is the way for liberty, this clear Rom. 8.17. Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of A∣doption, implying, ye are not now under the Law, and so in bondage again, as once you were, intimating they were so, and felt themselves to be so, and that the Spirit did reveal it, and so brought them out of it, and wrought forth and witnes∣sed Christ to them, whereby they cried Abba, Father,

4. How long is a Soul to lie in his bon∣dage humbling himself? Till he cast up an eye to Jesus Christ to seek liberty in in him; Certainly, though a Soul is to renew his humblings under his bondage, ye not so to lie under it, but presently to make in to Jesus Christ to be freed from the guilt, condemnation, bondage, service of sin, pleading his own gracious pdrposes to him, as expressed, 1. Joh. 3.8. 'twas his purpose to destroy the works

of the devill, as I will pursue in the third point.

And thus briefly I have opened what I here mean by this tempest in a poor soul, seeking Christ, and life, and peace in him, the way, and lowest measure of it.

If Jesus Christ by his Word and Spirit doth thus awaken, enlighten, convince, raise some kinde of tempest in a poor soul, before it truly seeks out for life and peace in him; Let me in the first place speak to the secure peacefull soul that perswades it self it hath hope enough for heaven, good interest enough in Jesus Christ, and yet is not acquainted in any measure with such workings of the spirit as this coming in with an awakning voice upon the naturall blindenesse and securi∣ty, and bondage thou art bound up in. Let me tell thee, Soul, Better were the fiercest tempest upon thy spirit then such a calm: 'Tis sitting with folded arms un∣der the shadow of death; 'Tis sinne in its power, bondage, peace upon thy spi∣rit, the strong man Satan keeping peace, that thou maiest sleep the sleep of Death.

But you will say, What, will you disturb

the peace of my conscience that I have enjoyed all the daies of my life?

Ah Soul, miserable peace, miserable calm, none of Christs making; Spare me a little, let me then freely bespeak thee; Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light, Eph. 5 Oh, awake from thy deadly calm and peace; Hear the voice of the Son of God and live, Joh. 5. Sinner, drowsie, care∣lesse, heartlesse sinner, that hast been all thy life time subject to bondage, Heb. 2.15. Hearken, consider, arise, thy secu∣rity, safety, and peace, is the death of sin upon thy soul: a captive in a dungeon of darknesse, and with fetters about thee, and seest it not! this is thy temper, thou hast been at ease from thy youth and set∣led on thy lees, Jerem. 48.11. Thou hast heard the first work of the spirit is to awake to Christ and Heaven, to hear the voice of God in thy Soul, rushing in upon thy sinfull peace: So Adam Gen. 3. when after his sinne he had thought to lie hid from God in peace covered with his fig-leaves, he heard the voice of the Lord God in the Garden, and then they were afraid, and further saw their own nakednesse; What voices

of God were they? Adam, where art thou? Hast thou eaten of the Tree I com∣manded thee not to eat of? To the Woman, What is this thou hast done? v. 8, 9, 10. &c. So the Lord speaks to a soul at first, some∣times in an Ordinance, sometimes in a sudden voice out of it. Soul, where art thou? what is thy state and condition as to eternity? what provision for heaven, if thy soul should be now taken from thee? What is this thou hast done so presumptuously and peaceably to sinne against thy God? to side with the devil and the world against the peace of thy own soul? What is this thou hast done to neglect the care of a desolate soul? what will it profit thee to gain the whole world and lose thy own soul, and to be a castaway? a castaway from the holy, blessed, eternall rest of God into the company of devils in endlesse unredeem∣able torment: What Soul, what means thy eager pursuit of vanity, and so heart∣lesse to the things of heaven and eterni∣ty? With some such voices God speaks, and then the soul is made awake for hea∣ven, and then it cries after God, confes∣seth, humbleth, bemoaneth, chargeth it self, then the Lord directs that soul to

means ordinarily, whereby he will do it good, and reveal the way of life in Christ unto it, to destroy the power of sin in it, and then though after back-slidings and much unsetlednesse, and wavering, many reasonings and temptations, as shewd, the soul settles in some good measure in the tastings of the power and love of Christ in it, as I shall further shew; Oh that such a voice or any of these might secretly glide in the soul of any poor creature that hath hitherto withstood it, and might cause the deep thoughts of e∣ternity to seize upon thee: Let me rea∣son with thee, as in the counsel of God, to raise a tempest in stead of that peace, fear it not, for I will shew thee a Christ to calm all, to destroy sin, to set at li∣berty, to fill thy soul with joy and peace that shall never be taken away, never fear to passe through such a tempest, bet∣ter go to harbour in a storm, then perish becalmed in the sands. Why then, in thy most serious and retired thoughts be put∣ting such Questions as I have mentioned to thy self, if thou art moved and excited by these, and such like: then this is the voice of God in them, if all that is with∣in thee is stirred up to seek after Christ

and our interest in him.

First, Then Consider with thy self what it is thy heart most earnestly pur∣sues, (if thou hast not truly found and sought Jesus Christ, and life in him;) 'tis certainly to compasse some such worldly design which may render thee esteemed in the world without depen∣dance on other men, estimation with men, riches, pleasures, to make up (as thou thinkest) a full contentment, these are the goodly pearls in the eyes of a na∣turall man, consider then how empty and disquieted thy spirit is left after such a pursuit made good, and presently the thoughts of some new one, or else thy spirit will languish in the former, and grow weary of it.

Secondly, Consider the miserable un∣certainty of all outward enjoyments, how liable to spoil, lose, decay, Pro. 23. they taken from thee, or thou from them in a moment: Much might be said to this.

Thirdly, When thou hast compassed all thy designs, so much earth thou canst call thy own; thou must at last be con∣tent with just so much as will cover thy carkasse, a feast for worms. Now com∣pare this with the salvation of a soul.

First, What it is that is to be saved, A Soul, a precious darling Soul, a Soul worth more then the whole world, Luk. 9.25. Consider what a value God puts upon Souls, the whole could not be a ransome for one Soul; had the whole Creation been in mans power, and he had offered it to God for the sin of his soul, it had not been a valuable price; No, the bloud of the Son of God was the high price of Souls; Ah consider the pre∣ciousnesse of a Soul, and it will awake thee.

Secondly, Compare this with what the Soul is doing till 'tis ensafed in Christ, 'tis treasuring up wrath till the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgement of God, as if not wrath enough in hell already, 'tis treasuring up more; that wrath that made the holy Son of God cry out as 'twas poured upon him; the everlasting weight of wrath of the just avenging God; all the judgements that ever thou heardst or readst of, are but as mercy to this; Now consider with deep thoughts of heart, if all thy pursuits of outward enjoyments here, will poize salvation from such, such wrath.

Thirdly, Compare it, with what the

full enjoyment of salvation is: and here we are swallowed up, the holy, blessed, full, eternall rest of God, with a weight of glory, crowns of glory, transform∣ed to be made capable of enjoying it, where we shall never be tempted to sin, nor sin any more: Oh to be in the bo∣some of Jesus Christ, filled with the full∣nesse of love, continually satisfied, and yet never nauseated, pleasures, peace, rest, joy, glory, God hlmseif, whose presence thou shalt as fully enjoy as a glorified creature can possibly be able!

Now then I say, consider, if the salva∣tion of such a precious Soul from such unsupportable wrath to such a fullnesse of glory with the infinite God, be worth hazarding for disquieting earthly acco∣modations, enjoyments, to cause thee so securely to neglect such salvation, Heb. 2.3. where mark, 'tis not said, the open scorning the means of such salvation; but the neglecting of it.

Yet a little further, Consider 3. things as to this condition here below, that thou maist not think thy good is all in expe∣ctation.

1. That the least of Jesus Christ is bet∣ter then all the world, shouldst thou on∣ly

suffer with Christ here, more glory in it then in all the world; The Spirit of God and of glory resteth upon thee, 1 Peter 4.14. The reproach of Christ is better then the pleasures of Pharaohs house, Heb. 11. how better that sweet and hea∣venly fellowship with him, thou maiest here attain unto, that thou maist be able to say, Thou hadst rather have one hour with Jesus Christ, then all the treasures of the world for ever; Ah, hadst thou one taste of his love, how wouldest thou thirst after him, though this be as a riddle to a dark carnall heart that knows and savors him not.

2. Consider, That all these restlesse desires, affections, and windings of thy heart, shall. be raised and refined, and meet with that abundant satisfaction in Jesus Christ, far above what thou canst propose to thy self in the pursuits of things here below, solid and durable soul∣contentment, Prov. 8.18. though with some disturbances by reason of distem∣pers from sinfull flesh, yet 'tis here, The more of Christ, the more composure of spirit, sweetnesse, rest; which is not so in the more gain of earthly advantages, these do only widen and enlarge, but not satisfie desires.

3. Consider, that with Jesus Christ thou hast the promise of all other things best for thee, Rom. 8. what wouldest thou have more, unlesse thou wouldst be thy own carver in the world, and not take in the wisedom of God to dispose them to thee? Say, Men of the world, they would make as sure provision as they may for themselves and families, and so contrive, design, eat the bread of care∣fullnesse; but let thy purchase, gain, and interest thou aimest at, be thy part in Je∣sus Christ, Count but all things losse to win Christ, and then thou gainest right to all things, and so if thou wantest any outward mercy, 'tis not because God thinketh it too good for thee, but not so fit for thee; God seeth that mercy would haply lessen thee in the sweeter closer en∣joyments of Jesus Christ; why then, con∣sider, if that be the reason why the Lord withholds such and such things from thee thou wilt consider now I have more of Jesus Christ for it, and so no looser by the hand, no need of repining of spirit in me, but to want them chearfully and gladly; yea, this will be thy blessednesse, that whereas now thou canst not misse such or such things, but thy heart sinks

within thee, then thou wilt know how to answer all thy cares of spirit, and see the wise hand of God ordering all for thy good; So that here's the way to provide all, to unsafe all, to sweeten all, to have part in Jesus Christ, to be earnest in the pursuit of him, till he will say unto thy soul, I am thine, and a Covenant passed between thee and him, and he is fairer then the children of men, and all beauty and goodnesse in him, then, whereas o∣thers, have meer creatures, thou hast the love and goodness of God in them, thou hast the not by common providence, but by a covenant of love, by Jesus Christ, by promise, the least mercy is sweet unto thee, for the kindenesse of God is in it.

Take then these three together, the least of Christ better then all the world, all enjoyments which are promised in the creatures eminently in him, with him the promise of all other things; What can thy spirit be opened to more? O wretch∣ed principle of Atheism and unbelief! what hath sinne and devils done upon a poor worm, that he should in the dark∣nesse, deadnesse, emptinesse, disquietness of the creatures be seeking light, life, ful∣nesse, contentment, which they are not

able in the least measure to give, and one drop of Jesus Christ and Grace brings them all as fountain'd up in him.

One word more, and (I trust) thou shalt say thou art inexcusable, O man! Rom. 2.1.

If these things be so, and there it thus but one choice in the world that can qui∣et the restlesse spirit of man, the chosen one of God, in whom his soul delighteth for ever, why do we lie doting and puz∣ling our selves in darknesse, and disquiet∣ing our selves in vain, why do we not break off these Idols from our hearts, and call them in, and set them to Jesus Christ? Oh let my soul choose him, let him be the dear, dear choice of my soul, give me him or I die!

2. If he be the chosen of God, the de∣light of his soul, Isa. 41.1. the heart of the infinite incomprehensible God can be delighted, satisfied, filled, from and to all eternity, with and by him, well-plea∣sed and never weary of him; Shall not the finite spirit of a poor creature be o∣vercome with the ocean of his goodnesse that is in him? shall it be afraid and stand reasoning, whether it shall have earth or him? Oh the folly of the sons and daugh∣ters

of men, to hear of such a prize, such an Indies of all sweetnesse and treasure, and but a short time to venture for him; (loose him now, and give a thousand worlds for him hereafter, and now gain∣ing a look from him) (though now his bowels more yearn, and his heart beats and pants after souls with more fervency then all the creatures desires can make in one) yet that wretched creatures ensla∣ved to a cursed peace, kept by Satan, ido∣lizing empty nothings, fullfilling lusts that restlesly hurry them up and down, should have lower, baser thoughts of Christ then of the basest thing they en∣joy; for they will not misse one of them to gain him; the poorest meanest thing they enjoy hath more of their heart, more care and thoughts of their spirits toward it, then Jesus Christ hath. Consider thy own heartlesnesse how seldome thou art in the thought of Jesus Christ, and eter∣nall life in him; how seldome the deep sense of salvation in him is upon thee; and this 'tis, thou must needs say, 'tis thus with me, wretch that I am! what do I be∣stow the strength of my spirit upon? why then poor creature as thou art, what shouldst thou do but like that wise Mer∣chant

man Mat. 12. who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it; Ah such a pearl the pearl of God, the pearl of heaven and earth, the pearl of souls, 'tis sweetest Jesus Christ, whatever is pre∣cious is laid up in him: Now then, sell all that thou hast, how so? that is, be contented to venture the losse of all for Christ, and thou gainest ensurest all, as shewd, yet all thy riches, pleasures, en∣joyments under thy feet for Christ, let all, all, and ten thousand times more go, so thou hast Christ; Ay, but how shall I buy him? Will gold and silver do it? The meaning is, to gain him, 'tis spoken comparatively, As Merchant men will sell all to buy a pearl of inestimable price; so will poor souls that truly be∣leeve these things to be in Jesus Christ as the holy Spirit of God, and the experiences of his own witnesse to be in him, divorce their hearts from all, venture all to winne, to winne Jesns Christ. But must I then cast off all, my calling, all my possessions? No, but subject them to the pursuit of Jesus Christ, get them loosened from thy heart, let it not be a weight upon thee to de∣presse

thy soul from soaring after him, keep them but as under-things, things thou must have or be without, and not be the lesse blessed, and so in obedience to God and submission to his good plea∣sure, be industrious in thy calling: but the motions, strength, aims of thy spirit, to win and enjoy, love and honour Jesus Christ, and such will the Father honour, Joh. 5. No losse of time to seek him in his word, no self-deniall for him, no motion or good word for Christ in sincerity, no witnesse for his Kingdom, Gospel, Peo∣ple, but the Father treasureth it up, and will put honour upon thee for it.

And now having thus a little dwelt upon this, to take off all Objections from thy ensnared heart; Be not afraid to be awakened, and deeply considering the state of thy poor soul, though distempers and disquietnesse arise, though it be tem∣pestuous with thee for a time, see the blessed and glorious recompences of it, by the Lord of life and glory here and to all eternity; Aud now I will conclude thee as stupid as a worm groveling in the earth, as thou dost, if these so weighty and important considerations doe not upon thee, being such as Jesus Christ left

to move and pierce the Rocks of mens hearts, to leade them to life in himself, and such as if thou putst them off, will be as Swords in thy bones, will flash back upon thee as a thousand Witnes∣ses against thee, if thou receive them not into thy heart, if thou receive them not into thy heart, as thou wouldest do things that are most pre∣cious to thee; Why doth Christ so often knock and thou wilt not own him? thou art gone abroad or asleep: In a word then, either put in thy plea to God, or submit and own it, that 'tis better to passe through a small tempest to Jesus Christ, then to enjoy a world of empty contentments here, and be a castaway, under the furious tempests of Gods wrath for ever and ever: Ah Soul, once get hold on the skirts of Jesus Christ, and he will anchor thee to a safe harbour; windes and waves, sin, conscience, fears, unbelief; Satan, all obey him; A word from him quiets all; Be not like great debtors, afraid to enter into the conside∣ration of thy debts, thy sinfull estate for fear of disquietnesse (that is, to resist the strivings of God with thee, and he will not strive alwaies) but set the sins

of heart and life before thee, though they swell to a numberlesse summe in bloudy characters, I am yet to shew thee Jesus Christ the best and safest pay-ma∣ster in the world. But thou wilt say, What is that to thee? spread them before God and seek him to sue all thy Bonds and Debts upon Jesus Christ, and God will take him thy Surety, 'twas the good plea∣sure of Jesus Christ to cancell and kill them all, they did their worst upon him, so get to him, and in him, and the worst is over, and all the blessednesse I have pointed at is thine, but I shall prevent my self: These I have laid down as a∣wakening, exciting considerations to a poor soul, to whom the experiences of these things are yet but dark, and so the Lord blesse them to thy soul, and I passe to the next thing.

2. Saith a poor soul, Well, I have had some good thoughts Christ-ward, and have made resignment of my self unto him, but I fear I am too much asleep as yet; That may be; Therefore be more awakened, look back to the sins thy soul hath been divorced from, but not so, as to loosen the present hold thou hast on Christ, but to humble and abase thee

more, and so cause thee to pursue and prize him more: Haply thou art a soul whom Jesus Christ takes more gently to himself by degrees, with a softer hand, and so the tempest not so great: But if the least of him be better then the best of all the world to thee, a Covenant with him, He is a chosen one and pearl to thee, yea, if it be thy daily mourning he is no more a pearl unto thee, no more precious, thy heart so dull, and then thou callest to him to come and make a more powerfull and fuller abode in thy soul, then be sure he is thine, though a trembling jealousie upon thee to the contrary. Now if the Lord in much mer∣cy hath awakened thee by this or any other voice, or more awakened thee then thou wast, I would still keep thee company in this discourse till thou findest in Jesus Christ what I have here propo∣sed to thee; And so to shew thee yet fur∣ther of the dealings of Christ to thee, as thou comest as a way-faring soul to him, in the next proposition.