Now then, to conclude this part of the work that relateth unto trial; I say to all these who complain of the want of the precious out-lettings or the spirit, 1st, Bless God if you want nothing essential for making out of a saving interest in Christ. God hath given unto you Christ Jesus, the greatest gift he had; and since your heart is shapen out for him, he will, with him, give you all things that are good for you in their season. 2dly, I do believe, upon a right search and trial, after you have understood the communications of the spirit, you are not so great a stranger ta many things as you did suspect yourself to be. But, 3dly, remember the promises of life and of peace with God are no where in scripture made unto these special things whereof you alledge the want: the promises are made unto faith followed with holiness; and it may be presumed, that many heirs of glory do not in this life partake of some of these things, "but are in bondage all their days through fear of death," Heb. ii. 15. so that there should be no mistake about these things; we may seek after them, but God is free to give or withhold them. 4thly, Many do seek after such manifestation before they give credit by faith unto God's word. He hath borne record that there is life enough for men in Christ Jesus; and if men would by believing set to their seal that God is true, they should partake of more of these excellent things. 5thly, I may say, many have not honourable apprehensions and thoughts of the spirit of God, whose proper

P

work it is to put out the foresaid noble ope rations. They do not adore him as God, but vex, grieve, quench and resist him; and many people, complaining of the want of these things, are not at the pains to seek the spirit in his outgoings, and few do set themselves apart for such precious receipts: therefore, be at more pains in religion, give more credit to his word, and esteem more highly the spirit of God, and so you may find more of these excellent things.

HOW TO

ATTAIN

UNTO A

SAVING INTEREST IN CHRIST.

PART II.

HAVING, in the former part of this treatise, put every man's state to trial, it now remains that, in this following part, we give advice to those, who neither can nor dare lay claim to the marks formerly mentioned.

QUEST. II. What shall they do who want the marks of a true and Saving Interest in Christ, already spoken of, and neither can nor dare pretend unto them.

ANSW. If men miss in themselves the marks of a saving interest in Christ, spoken of before, then it is their duty, and of all that hear this gospel, personally and heartily to close with God's device of saving sinners by Christ Jesus, and this shall secure their state.

CHAP. I.

Some things premised for the information of those who are more ignorant.

For the better understanding of this, we shall premise some things for information of those who are more ignorant, and then speak more directly to the thing. As for the things to be premised:

1st. The Lord did, at the beginning, out of his bounty, make a covenant with man in Adam, Gen. ii. 16, 17. and did enable man to abide in that covenant, Eccles. vii. 29. "God hath made man upright;" but man, by eating of that forbidden fruit, Gen. iii. did break that covenant, Hosea vi. 7. 64 They, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant," and made it void forever, Rom. iii. 20. "By the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight; and involved himself into all misery thereby, Rom. v. 12. "As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

2dly. The Lord did most freely, from everlasting, purpose and intend to save men another way, viz. by Christ Jesus, and the covenant of grace, in which he intended reconcilement with the elect through Christ Jesus, God and man, born of a woman in due time, to make this agreement effectual. And this device of satisfying his own justice, and saving of the elect by Christ, he did at first intimate to our parents in paradise, Gen. iii. 15. where he saith, 66 that the seed of the woman shaH bruise the

serpent's head." And the Lord hath in all generations made this known to his church.

3dly. The Lord hath in all ages covenanted to be the reconciled God of all these, who by their subjection to his ordinances did profess their satisfaction with this device, and oblige themselves to acquiesce in the same, and to seek salvation by Christ Jesus, as God doth offer him in the gospel; so all the people of Israel are called the Lord's people, and are said to avouch him to be their God, and he doth avouch them to be his people, Exod. xix. 5. 8. Deut. xxvi. 17, 18. Yea, the Lord doth also engage himself to be the God of the seed and children of those who do so subject themselves to his ordinances. The covenant is said to be made between God and all the people, young and old, present and not present that day, Deut. xxix. 10-15.; and all are appointed to come under some seal of that covenant, as was enjoined to Abraham, Gen. xvii. 10. Not only was it so in the Old Testament, but it is so in the New Testament also. The Lord makes offer of himself to be our God in Christ Jesus; and the people professing their satisfaction in that offer, and in testimony thereof subjecting themselves unto the ordinances, they are reckoned a covenanted people, and are joined unto his church in thousands, receiving a seal of the covenant, without any further particular previous trial, Acts ii. 38-41. Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins.Then they that glad