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The Saint's Duty in Evil Times.
think? Aſk at Solomon, and he will tell you, Prov. 18. 10. The name of the Lord is a ſtrong tower, the righteous run into it and are ſafe. It is Jeſus Chriſt that ye are invited unto.
Doct. 2. Theſe chambers are ſafe, and they who are therein, need not fear wrath; ſee for the confirmation of this point, Iſa, 32. 2. A man ſhall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempeſt, as rivers of water in a dry place, as a ſha dow of a great rock in a weary land.
There is the deſcription of theſe chambers, they are chambers of ſafety, no wind can win there into them, no tempeſt can over-take there who are there, ye are without the flood-mark of the wrath of God, and they are chambers of delight; ye will not want refreſhing: They are rivers of water in a dry place, the ſhadow of a great rock in a weary land; we cannot commend them
unto you, for they paſs the cloquence of angels to do it; but enter theſe, and ye ſhall find more than we can tell you; enter, and ye fhall find more than ye will be able to tell yourſelves : Enter, we ſay, that is the invitation: But ye will ſay, How ſhall we enter? What is requiſite for our entering? What will take us in? Anſwer, faith, that is the thing will take you in; that is the key that opens theſe doors, the uſe of the means, and the exerciſe of faith, the hand of duty, and the key of faith; but take notice, it is true ſaving faith, whereby Chriſt is only received and reſted upon; it is faith, as the inſtrument apprehending the object, Chriſt: It is that, I ſay, which taketh you in.
But for your more clear uptaking whereof, conſider what is requiſite in true ſaving faith. Firſt, A deep fight and ſenſe of your loſt condition, that ye are deſtroyed, liable to the wrath of God, and all the curſes in the law. Secondly, A ſenſe of this, that there is nothing in you, or that ye can do, that will help you; it is beyond all created power to recover you; and ſo, not at all ſeek-ing to eſtabliſh a ſelf-righteouſneſs; it is, come unto me ye tha labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt. Thirdly, A right fight of the all-ſufficiency that is in Jeſus Chriſt, and his ex-cellency drawing the heart out after him, as all the deſire of the Soul, and ſo cloſing with him. Therefore, ye who remain ſenſe-leſs of your loſt condition, have a care; ye are not yet in theſe chambers.
But that it may be made clear unto you, conſider moreover, if ye would enter into theſe chambers, Firſt, Ye muſt cloſe with Chriſt alone, there moſt nothing have of a ſhare in the meritorious cauſe in bringing you there, but himſelf only; ye muſt not lay part of the weight upon him, and part upon yourselves and your duties: No, no, be muſt either have it all on his back, or elſe he will have none of it; therefore take heed to yourſelves. Secondly, You muſt cloſe with a full Chriſt, as a prophet, prieſt and king; as a prophet
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