ed and served. This is the great diguity stancy, Activity, and Alacrity, and all these and happiness of the soul; all other preten- flow from the enlargement of the heart. sions are low and poor in respect of this. Here then is enlargement to see the purity and beauty of his law, how just and reasonable, yea, how pleasant and amiable it is; that his commandments are not grievous, that they are beds of spices; the more we walk in them, still the more of their fragrant smell and sweetness we find.

And then, consequently, upon the larger and clearer knowledge of these things, the heart dilates itself in affection; the more it knows of God, still the more it loves him, and the less it loves this present world; love is the great enlarger of the heart to all obedience. Then nothing is hard, yea, the harder things become, the more delightful.

1. Constancy: A narrow, enthralled heart, fettered with the love of lower things, and cleaving to some particular sins, or but some one, and that secret, may keep foot a while in the way of God's commandments, in some steps of them; but it must give up quickly. is not able to run on to the end, to the goal. But a heart that hath laid aside every weight, and the most close-cleaving and besetting sin, (as it is in that place to the Hebrews,) hath stripped itself of all that may falter or entangle it; it runs, and runs on, without fainting or wearying; it is at large, hath nothing that pains it in the race.

And

2. Activity: Not only holding on, but running, which is a swift, nimble race. It All love of other things doth pinch and stands not bargaining and disputing, but contract the heart, for they are all narrower once knowing God's mind, there is no more than itself. It is framed to that wideness question or demur. I made haste and deat its first creation, capable of enjoying God, layed not, as in this Psalm the word is ; though not of a full comprehending him. did not stay upon why and wherefore; he stood Therefore all other things gather it in, and not to reason the matter, but run on. straiten it from its natural size, only the this love, enlarging the heart, makes it love of God stretches and dilates it. He is abundant in the work of the Lord, quick large enough for it, yea, it, in its fullest and active, dispatching much in a little time. enlargement, is infinitely too narrow for him. 3. Alacrity: All done with cheerfulness, Do not all find it, if they will ask them- so no other constraint is needful, where this selves, that in all other loves and pursuits overpowering, sweet constraint of love is. in this world, there is still somewhat that I will run, not be hauled, and drawn, as pinches? The soul is not at its full size, by force, but skip and leap, as the evangelic but as a foot in a strait shoe, is somewhere bound and pained, and cannot go freely, much less run; though another that looks on cannot tell where, yet each one feels it. But when the soul is set free from these narrow things, and is raised to the love of God, then it is at ease, and at large, and hath room enough; it is both elevated and dilated. And this word signifies a highraised soul, and is sometimes taken for proud and lofty; but there is a greatness and height of spirit in the love of God and union with him, that doth not vainly swell and lift it up, but with the deepest humility joins the highest and truest magnanimity. It sets the soul above the snares that lie here below, in which most men creep and are entangled, in that way of life that is on high to the just, as Solomon-speaks.

Good reason hath David to join these together, and to desire the one as the spring and cause of the other: an enlarged heart, that he might run the way of God's commandments.

promise is, that the "lame shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: For in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert," Isa. xxxv. 6. The spouse desires her beloved "to hasten as a roe and hind on the mountains of spices,' and she doth so, and each faithful soul runs towards him, to meet him in his way.

It is a sad, heavy thing to do by any thing as in obedience to God, while the heart is straitened, not enlarged towards him by his divine love; but that once taking possession, and enlarging the heart, that inward principle of obedience makes the outward obedience sweet; it is then a natural motion. Indeed, the soul runs in the ways of God, as the sun in his course, which finds no diffi. culty, being naturally fitted and carried to that motion; he goes forth as a bridegroom, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race."

This is the great point that our souls should be studious of,-to attain more evenness, and nimbleness, and cheerfulness, in Sensible joys and consolations in God do the ways of God, and for this end we ought encourage and enlarge the heart; but these to seek above all things this enlarged heart; are not so general to all, nor so constant to it is want of this makes us bog, and drive any. Love is the abounding, fixed spring heavily, and run long upon little ground. of ready obedience, and will make the heart Oh! my beloved, how shallow and narrow cheerful in serving God, even without those are our thoughts of God! Most even of felt comforts, when he is pleased to deny or those that are truly godly, yet are led by a withdraw them. kind of instinct, and carried they scarce know

In that course or race is understood Con-how, to give some attendance on God's wor.

heart be more enlarged, and that cannot be but by thy hand-When thou shalt enlarge my heart.” Present this suit often; it is in his power to do it for thee; he can stretch and expand thy straitened heart, can spread and hoist the sails within thee, and then carry thee on swiftly; filling them not with the vain air of man's applause, which readily runs a soul upon rocks and splits it, but with the sweet breathings and soft gales of his own spirit, that carry it straight to the desired haven.

ship, and to the avoidance of gross sin, and fore God by way of request: "See what is go on in a blameless course. It is better my desire; I would gladly serve thee better, thus, than to run to excess of riot and open and advance more in the way of thy comwickedness, with the ungodly world. But, mandments. Now this I cannot do till my alas! this is but a dull, heavy, and languid motion, where the heart is not enlarged by the daily growing love of God. Few, few are acquainted with that delightful contemplation of God, that ventilates and raises this flame of love. Petty things bind and contract our spirits, so that they feel little joy in God, little ardent, active desire to do him service, to crucify sin, to break and undo self-love within us, to root up our own wills to make room for his, that his alone may be ours, that we may have no will of our own, that our daily work may be to grow more Findest thou sin cleaving to thee and like him in the beauty of holiness. You clogging thee? cry to him, "Help, Lord, think it a hard saying to part with your car-set me free from my narrow heart. I strive nal lusts and delights, and the common ways but in vain without thee, still it continues of the world, and to be tied to a strict, ex-so.-I know little of thee, my affections are act conversation all your days. But Oh! dead and cold towards thee.-Lord, I desire the reason of this is, because the heart is yet to love thee; here is my heart, and lest it straitened and enthralled by the base love of fly out, lay hold on it, and take thine own these mean things, and that is from the ig-way with it; though it should be in a painful norance of things higher and better. One way, yet draw it forth, yea draw it that it glance of God, a touch of his love, will free may run after thee." All is his own workand enlarge the heart, so that it can denying, and all his motive is his own free grace. all, and make an entire renouncing of all, Let who will fancy themselves masters of to follow Him. It sees enough in Him, and their own hearts, and think to enlarge them in Him alone, and therefore can neither by the strength of their own stretches of quietly rest on, nor earnestly desire any thing speculation; they alone, they alone are in besides Him. the sure and happy way of attaining it, that humbly suit and wait for this enlargement of heart from His hand that made it.

SERMON XVI.

ROMANS viii. 33, 34.

God's elect? It is God that justifieth, &c.

Oh! that you would apply your hearts to consider the excellency of this way of God's commandments. Our wretched hearts are prejudiced; they think it melancholy and sad. Oh! there is no way truly joyous but this: They shall sing in the ways of the Lord, says the prophet. Do not men, when their eyes are opened, see a beauty in meekness, and temperance, and humility, a present delightfulness and quietness in them? Whereas in pride, and passion, and intem-Who shall lag any thing to the charge of perance, there is nothing but vexation and disquiet. And then consider the end of this way, and this race in it-rest and peace for ever; it is the way of peace, both in its own nature, and in respect of its end. Did you believe that joy and glory that is set before you in this way, you would not any of you defer a day longer, but forthwith you would break from all that holds you back, and enter into this way, and run on in it. The persuasion of these great things above, would enlarge and greaten the heart, and make the greatest things here very little in your eyes.

OTHER men may fancy and boast as they please, but there are none in the world but the godly alone that are furnished with suffidiently strong supports and comforts against all possible hazards, and of these doth the apos tle treat most freely, sweetly, and plentifully in this chapter. He secures believers in their Christ, touching these two great evils, aftercondemnation and present affliction, that the one cannot befal them, and the other cannot hurt them.

For their immunity from the former, they But would you attain to this enlarged have the clear word of the gospel, and the heart for this race, and as you ought to ap-seal of the Spirit: and that former privilege ply your thoughts to these divine things, and made sure, as the far greater doth secure stretch them on the promises made in the the other as the lesser.

word, above all, take David's course, seek They are freed from condemnation, and this enlargement of heart from God's own not only so, but entitled and insured to a hand, for it is here propounded and laid be-kingdom. And what hurt then can afflic

tion do? Yea, it doth good; yea, not only two be not sufficient furniture against them, it cannot rob them of their crown, but it I know not what is.

carries them on towards it, is their high-way Men are commonly busied about other to it: "If we suffer with him, we shall also events concerning them and theirs, what be glorified together." Yea, all things to the shall become of this or the other, and what children of God do prove advantageous; if this or that fall out; but the conscience severally taken, in their present sense, they once raised to this inquiry, the soul being may seem evil, but taken jointly in their awake to discern the hazard of eternal death, after issue, their workings together are all all other fears and questions are drowned for good. In their simple nature possibly and lost in this great question, "Am I they are poison, yet contempered and prepar- condemned or not? Is my sin pardoned ed, they shall prove medicinal. All these or no ?" things are against me, said old Jacob, and And then a satisfying answer received yet he lived to see even all these were for concerning this, all is quiet, the soul reposes him. The children of God are indeed so sweetly on God, and puts all its other conhappy, that the harshest things in their way cernments into his hands. "Let him make change their nature, and become sweet and me poor and despised, let him smite and profitable. This much is effected by their chastise me he hath forgiven my sin; prayers, that have a divine incantation in all is well." That burden taken off, the them. They breathe forth the expressions soul can go light, yea, can leap and dance of that their love to God, by which they are under all other burdens. Oh! how it feels itcharactered, them that love God; and that self nimble, as a man eased of a load that he is put on their hearts, the impression of his was even fainting under. Oh! blessed the love to them, to which they are here led, man whose sin is taken off, lifted from his by the apostle, as to the spring-head of all. shoulders, (that is the word, Psalm xxxii. All their comforts and privileges flow thence, 1,) laid over upon Christ, who could bear yea, all their love, and their faith, appro- the whole load, and take it away, take it out priating those comforts and privileges. Yea, of sight, which we could never have done; the very treasury of all together, Jesus Christ no, they would have sunk us for ever. That himself, is the free gift of this free love; he, as the greatest, ascertains all things besides as unspeakably less, ver. 32.

one wordag, John i. 29, signifies both, and answers to the two, Isa. liii. 4. "He hath borne our grief, and carried our sorrow ;" These two are such mighty arguments, lifted them away. Oh! how sweet a burthat no difficulty nor grief can stand before den, instead of this, is that engagement of them. The love of God; he is with us, obedience and love to him as our Redeemer, who then against us? All the world it may and that is all he lays on us. If we follow be; but that is all nothing. Once it was him, and bear his cross, he is our strength, nothing; it was that God that is our God, and bears both it and us. So then this is that loves us and is for us, that made it the great point, the heart's ease, to be desomething, and if he will, it may again be livered from the condemning weight of sin. nothing. And as it is at its best, it is no- And certainly, while men do not think thing, being compared with another gift thus, their hearts have very slight impresthat he hath bestowed on us; and having sions of the truth of these things. I fear bestowed that, sure if there be any thing in the most of us scarce believe this condemnathis world can do us any good, we shall not tion to come, at least very shallowly, and want it." He that spared not his own Son, so they cannot much consider the deliverbut gave him to the death for us, will he not ance from it provided to us in Jesus Christ. with him give us all things ?" I cannot see how it is possible for a heart And to close all, he makes these two great persuaded of these, to be very careful about immunities good to us in Christ. He fixes any thing besides. You that eat and drink, there; there we are freed from all fear of and labour and trade, and bestow all your condemnation, or of being hurt by affliction. time, either in the pains or the pleasures of No accusation nor guiltiness can annul the this earth, what think you of eternity? Is righteousness of Christ, and that is made it a light thing for you to perish for ever? ours; no distress nor suffering can cut us After a few days vainly spent, to fall under off from the love of God: and if it cannot the wrath of God for ever? Oh! that do that, we need not fear it; all other hazards you would be persuaded to think on these are no hazard, that being sure. things.

And in confidence of this, the apostle, And you that have an interest in this free gives the defiance, casts a challenge to angels, and blessed estate, why are your spirits so to men, to all the world, upon these two cold, so unfrequent in the thoughts of it? points, Who shall accuse? Who shall se- Why are you not rejoicing in the Lord; parate; accuse to God, or separate from him? gladdening yourselves in secret when you reWhatsoever times may come, the hardest member this: " Go the world as it will, that any can apprehend or foretel, if these my sin is forgiven me ; mistake me, accuse

me whoso will, my God hath acquitted me when souls are once set upon this search, they in his Christ, and he loves me, and lives to commonly wind the notion too high, and subintercede for me.' tilize too much in the dispute, and so entangle Methinks I hear some say, "Aye, they and perplex themselves, and drive themselves that could say that, might be merry indeed; further off from that comfort that they are but, alas! I have no such assurance. Who seeking after; such measures and marks of can lay any thing to the charge of God's grace, they set to themselves for their rule elect ? That is true; but here is the great and standard; and unless they find those point of so hard a resolution, am I one of without all controversy in themselves, they these ?" will not believe that they have an interest in That the apostle doth thus specify the Christ, and this blessed and safe estate in him. owners of this consolation, by this high and To such I would only say, Are you in a hidden character of their election, is not to willing league with any known sin? Yea, render it doubtful and dark; for his main would you willingly, if you might be saved aim, on the contrary, is both to extend it as in that way, give up yourself to voluptuousfar as it can go, and to make it as clear as ness and ungodliness, and not at all desire to may be to all that have interest in it: but he follow Jesus Christ in the way of holiness? designs them by the primitive act of love Then truly, I have not any thing as yet to fixing on them, so as it is now manifested say for your comfort, only there is a salvation to them in the subsequent effects that flow provided, and the door is yet open, and your from the elect, called and sanctified, and heart may be changed. But, on the other conformed to Jesus Christ, both by his side, are the desires of thy soul after Christ, Spirit within them, and the sufferings that whole Christ, to be righteousness, and withal without arise against them in the world; sanctification to thee? Wouldst thou willsuch as, being "the sons of God, are led by ingly give up thyself to be ruled by him, and the Spirit of God, and walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

have him thy King? Hadst thou rather choose to suffer the greatest affliction for his And these things indeed considered as sake, to honour him, than to commit the least their characters, the stamp of God on them, sin to displease him? Doth thy heart go out the impressions of their election to life, after him, when thou hearest him spoke of? do check the vain confidence of all carnal, Dost thou account him thy treasure, so that ungodly professors of the name of Christ, all the world sounds but as an empty shell and tell them that their pretended title to to thee, when he is named? Says thy soul him is a mere delusion; certainly, whoso- within thee, Oh! that he were mine? and, ever lies in the love of sin, and takes the flesh for his guide, that accursed blind guide is leading him into the pit. What gross folly and impudence is it for any man, walking in the lusts of his own heart, to fancy and aver himself to be a partner of that redemption, whereof so great a part is to deliver us from the power of our iniquities, to renew our hearts and re-unite them to God, and possess them with his love!

oh! that I were his, that I could please him and live to him? Then do not toss thy spirit, and jangle and spin out thy thoughts in fruitless, endless doubtings, but close with this as thy portion, and be of good comfort; thy sins are, or will be, forgiven thee.

I add yet further, if thou sayest yet, that thou findest none of all this, yet I say, there is warrant for thee to believe and lay hold on this righteousness here held forth, to the end The great evidence of thy election is love. that thou mayest then find those things in Thy love to him gives certain testimony of thee, and find comfort in them. Thou art his preceding eternal love to thee; so are convinced of ungodliness, then believe on him they here designed, they that love God; that justifies the ungodly; thou art condemnthy choosing him is the effect and evidence ed, yet Christ is dead and risen; fly to him of his choosing thee. Now this is not la- as such, as the Lamb slain, he that was dead borious, that needs to be disputed, amidst and is alive, and then say, Who is he that all thy frailties; feel the pulse of thine condemneth? It is Christ that died, or affection, which way beats it, and ask thy rather that is risen. Who shall accuse ? heart whether thou love him or not; in this It is true, they may clamour and make a thou hast the character of thy election. noise, both Satan and thy conscience, but

Know you not, that the redeemed of Christ how can they fasten any accusation on thee? and he are one, they live one life, Christ If they dare accuse, yet they cannot condemn lives in them; and if "any man hath not when the Judge hath acquitted thee, and dethe Spirit of Christ, he is none of his," as clared thee free, who is greater than all, and the apostle declares in this chapter? So then, this we are plainly to tell you, and consider it, you that will not let go your sins to lay hold on Christ, have as yet no share in it.

But, on the other side, the truth is, that

hath the absolute power of the sentence; all charges and libels come too late after he hath once pronounced a soul righteous. And who shall condemn, it is Christ that died, if the sentence of the law be brought forth? Yet here is the answer, it ought not to be twice

satisfied; now once it is in Christ, he hath | world; he lives in his Christ content and died, and that stands for the believer. Who- happy, and laughs at all enemies. soever flies to him, and lays hold on him for And he extends his triumph, he makes a life, he cannot die again; nor canst thou die, common good of it to all believers, speaks it for whom he died once, or rather is risen; in their name who shall separate us? that raises the assurance higher, and sets it And would have them partake of the same firmer; for this evidences that in his death confidence, and speak in the same style with all was paid, when he being the surety and him. It is vain that men fancy these to be seized on for the debt, and once death's pri-expressions of revelations, or some singularsoner, yet was set free. This clears the mat- ly privileged assurances; then they would ter, that there is no more to be said; and yet not suit their end, which is clearly and unfurther, in sign that all is done, he is raised doubtedly the encouragement of all the chilto the height of honour above all principa-dren of God, upon grounds that are peculiar lities and powers, is set at the right hand of to them from all the rest of the world, but the Father, and there he sits and lives to make common to them all, in all ages, and all vaintercession, to sue out the fulfilling of all rieties of condition. for believers, the bringing of them homelives to see all made good that he died and covenanted for; so now his righteousness is thine that believest; any challenge must meet with Christ first, and if it seize not on him, it cannot light on thee, for thou art in him, married to him. And the same triumph that he speaks, Isa. 1. 8, whence these words are borrowed, that is made thine, and thou mayest now speak it in him. I know not what can cast him down that hath this word to rest upon, and to comfort himself in.

SERMON XVII.

ROM. viii. 35, &c.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword, &c. 3

It is true all of them have not a like clear and firm apprehension of their happy and sure estate, and scarce any of them are alike at all times; yet they have all and always the same right to this estate, and to the comfort of it; and when they stand in a right light to view it, they do see it so, and rejoice in it.

There be indeed some kind of assurances that are more rare and extraordinary, some immediate glances, or coruscations of the love of God upon the soul of a believer; a smile of his countenance, and this doth exceedingly refresh, yea, ravish the soul, and enables it mightily for duties and sufferings. These he dispenses arbitrarily and freely where and when he will; some weaker Christians sometimes have them, when stronger are strangers to them, the Lord training them to live more contentedly by faith till the day of vision come.

him eternal life, ours: so it is the proper result and fruit of that its acting, especially when it acts any thing strongly to quiet the soul in him; then being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and from that peace, joy: yea, even glorying in tribulation, as there follows. And these springing not from an extraordinary sense or view, but from the very innate virtue of faith working kindly, and according to its own nature.

And that is the other, the less ecstatical, but the more constant and fixed kind of assurance, the proper assurance of faith. The soul by believing cleaves unto God in Christ as he offers himself in the gospel, and thence Is this he that so lately cried out, Owretch-is possessed with a sweet and calm persuaed man that I am! who shall deliver me ?sion of his love, that being the proper work, that now triumphs, O happy man! Who to appropriate him, to make Christ, and in shall separate us from the love of Christ? Yes, it is the same. Pained then with the thoughts of that miserable conjunction with a body of death, and so crying out, Who will deliver? Who will separate me from that now? Now he hath found a deliverer to do that for him, to whom he is for ever united, and he glories now in his inseparable union, and unalterable love, that none can divide him from; yea, it is through him, that presently after that word of complaint he praises God, and now in him he triumphs. Therefore many Christians do prejudice So vast a difference is there betwixt a Chris- their own comfort, and darken their spirits, tian, taken in himself, and in Christ; when by not giving freedom to faith to act accordhe views himself in himself, then he is no-ing to its nature and proper principles; they thing but a poor, miserable, polluted, perish- will not believe till they find some evidence ing wretch; but then he looks again, and or assurance, which is quite to invert the sees himself in Christ, and there he is rich, order of the thing, and to look for fruit withand safe, and happy; he triumphs, and he out setting a root for it to grow from. glories in it above all the painted prosperities, and against all the horrid adversities of the

Would you take Christ upon the absolute word of promise tendering him to you, and