The Wells OF SALVATION OPENED OR WORDS WHEREBY We may be Saved By THOMAS VINCENT Minister sometime in Maudlins Milk-street LONDON Act. 16.29 Then he called for a Light and sprang in and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas Vers. 30. And brought them out and said Sirs What must I do to be saved V. 31. And they said Believe on the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy House V. 32. And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord and to all that were in his House LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst and are to be sold at his Shop at the Golden Bible on London-bridge 1668. TO THE Citizens of LONDON I Have sounded two Trumpets of Iudgement in your ears the former signifying Gods terrible Voice to the City in the late terrible Iudgements of Plague and Fire which have devoured so many Inhabitants and Habitations as the space of many Ages should the World so long continue would not blot out the remembrance of the later signifying Gods terrible Voice to the World at the second appearance of Christ to the last and Universal Iudgement of all the Children of Adam which is both sure and near the dreadfulness of which Iudgement to the Wicked no Tongue is able to express The chief intent of both my Treatises concerning the late and future Iudgement hath been to awaken sleepy Sinners out of their carnal security and to prepare them for the great Salvation purchased by Iesus Christ and proclaimed proffered and promised in the Gospel therefore having at first purposed and in my last Book of Christs Appearance to Iudgement promised to treat more largely of Salvation than in the close of a Vse I could do I have here endeavoured to fulfill my Promise in telling you Words whereby you may be saved We read 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the World to save Sinners And Heb. 2.3 4. that this Salvation began to be spoken of by the Lord and was confirmed by them that heard him The Lord speaketh to you from Heaven by his Spirit in his Word and Ministers that you would accept of this Salvation See then that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth much more shall not ye escape if ye turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven Heb. 12.25 They that seek this Salvation diligently shall finde it certainly but they that refuse or neglect it must needs perish unavoidably and be miserable eternally That this little Piece may be blessed by the Lord and made use of as a Means to promote your Salvation is the Prayer of him whose great desire is that you might be saved Thomas Vincent WORDS Whereby we may be Saved ACT. 11.13 14. And he shewed us how he had seen an Angel in his house which stood and said unto him Send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose sirname is Peter who shall tell thee Words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved WEE read in the second and third Verses of this Chapter of the contention which some of the Circumcision had with the Apostle Peter because he had gone in to and eaten with such as were uncircumcised Whereupon Peter giveth an account to them of his reason and the occasion of his so doing rehearsing the matter more briefly from Verse 4. to the 18th which is related more largely in the whole foregoing tenth chapter First he telleth them of his Trance at Ioppa and the Vision which himself had of the Vessel descending from Heaven with unclean Beasts in it and the command from Heaven to eat not calling that common and unclean which God had cleansed the Lord hereby giving him to understand That like as under the Law though there were divers kinds of meats forbidden and therefore unclean and unlawfull to be eaten yet under the Gospel that prohibition being taken off and the meats sanctified by the word of Gods command or allowance believers might freely eat of them without sin So also though under the Law before the coming of Christ the people of God in the Nation of the Iewes where only the Church of God was to be found were to separate themselves from all heathen Nations as unclean and it was unlawfull for them to go in and eat with Heathen or Gentile persons lest they should be defiled and enticed by such familiar converse with them unto their Superstitions and Idolatries yet God having before foretold and promised the accession of the Gentiles unto the Church and under the Gospel having sent his Son who brake down the middle wall of partition between the Iewes and the Gentiles and having sanctified the Gentiles by his Spirit and Faith they were no longer to be accounted unclean and therefore it was as lawfull for the believing Iewes to eat and converse with them as one with another Moreover he he telleth them of the Circumcision of the Vision which Cornelius a Gentile had of an Angel and the command which he had from the Lord by the Angel to send for him to preach the Gospel of salvation unto him together with the effect of his preaching namely the falling of the Holy Ghost upon the Gentiles as upon themselves at the beginning and therefore that it would have been no less than a withstanding of God himself for him still to have kept at a distance from the Gentiles Which answer of Peter gave such satisfaction that it did not only put to silence them which contended with him but also caused them to glorifie God in behalf of the Gentiles My Text is a brief rehearsal which Peter giveth of Cornelius his Vision which he had from his mouth And he shewed us how he had seen an Angel in his house which stood and said Send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose sirname is Peter who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved I might present you with divers Doctrines from the words but because I intend to handle but two I shall mention but two which to me are the most observable Doct. 1. That God doth make use of Ministers to preach the Gospel rather than Angels Doct. 2. That Ministers are to tell people such words whereby they may be saved It is the latter of these which I intend chiefly to insist upon yet the former lying in the way and being so worthy of note and may be of such use I shall spend a little time about it SECT I. Doct. 1. THat God doth make use of Ministers to preach the Gospel rather than Angels The Angel appeareth to Cornelius doth not preach the Gospel to Cornelius but from the Lord directeth him to send to Peter to Peter who was one of Christs Ministers and He should preach unto him and tell him such words whereby he and his should be saved The Angel could have told him such words himself he could have
therefore the world hate and contend with his Disciples because he hath chosen them out of the world wicked men have an enmity in their hearts against Believers and will not be at Peace with them But Christ preached Peace with God Christ came from Heaven to bring this glad tydings to earth that the God of Heaven was willing to be at Peace with sinfull men It would not have been an easie thing to have made sinners believe especially if they had been convinced of sin how heinous it is in its own nature how highly it affronts and provokes the highest Majesty if they had been awakened with a sense of the dreadfulness of the punishment which God hath threatned and they had deserved for their sins that so great and holy a God should be willing to put up all affronts and forgive all iniquities and be at Peace with sinners yea that he should seek after it They might have questioned not only how this could be but also how any could have known it But to put all out of doubt Christ the eternal Son of God hath come forth from Heaven declaring what he hath heard of the Father and hath made known this that God is willing to be at peace with us Christ was sent from the King of Glory upon the Embassage of Peace and he preached Peace therefore unto men not unto all men for Isa. 57.21 There is no Peace to the wicked that is to such as are impenitent and senseless of their sins and go on still in their trespasses Christ threatned the wicked as severely as Iohn Baptist he tells the impenitent that they should perish Luk 13.3 and the unbelievers that they should die in their sins Ioh. 8.24 And he calls the hypocritical Pharisees who persevered in their opposition of him and his waies Serpents and Vipers that could not escape the damnation of Hell Matth. 23.33 But Christ preached Peace to all that repented were troubled for their sins that mourned and turned that believed and yielded up themselves to the obedience of the Gospel He preached the Gospel to the poor to the bruised and broken that is such as were sensible of their sins and their need of a Saviour Luk. 4.18 And we Ministers have commission from the Lord to preach Peace to the children of men we are Ministers of the Gospel of Peace unto us is committed the Word of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 Indeed we must sound the Trumpet of War from Heaven in the ears of secure sinners to awaken them but we are to hang out the white flag and to come with Olive branches of Peace from God to them that tremble at Gods Word and are humble for their sins Sinners are there any among you whose hearts the Lord hath touched and bruised for sin yea broken to shivers and melted and filled with grief and sorrow for a life of past-wickedness that have not only legal terrours but true Evangelical repentance I have a word of Peace to deliver to such of you from the Lord. God is willing to be at Peace with you through his Son There is an Advocate with the Father who is ready to make up the breach which sin hath made between God and your souls and God doth call you to lay hold on his strength that you may make Peace with him and he promiseth that you shall make peace with him Isa. 27.5 Thus concerning the word of Repentance and Peace which Peter tells Cornelius and them which were with him SECT VIII 3. PEter speaks to them of the Lord Jesus Christ by whom this Peace was purchased and the Word of Peace preached and that 1. Concerning his Vnction 2. Concerning his Life 3. Concerning his Miracles 4. Concerning his Death 5. Concerning his Resurrection 6. Concerning his Ordination to be the Iudge of the World 7. Concerning his Mission of them to preach 1. Peter speaks to them concerning the Vnction of Christ. He tells them that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with Power God poured forth his Spirit without measure upon Christ which qualified him for his offices and he gave him power and authority to execute them There is a Threefold Office which Christ was anointed unto 1. The Priestly Office 2. The Pâ—â—phetical Office 3. The Kingly Office 1. Christ was anointed to the Priestly Office who offered up sacrifice to God even a sin-offering and Peace-offering â—o make reconciliation for sin not the sacrifice of Bulls and Goats or Lambs or Rams which could never of themselves take away guilt but he through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God he offered the sacrifice of himself for a sweet-smelling savour and shed his own blood for the remission of sins by which blood having obtained eternal redemption for his people he entered into the Holy place not made with hands which was but figurative but into Heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God to make intercession for them Christ is the great High priest not after the order of Aaron who were many and mortall and sinfull and their Priesthood changeable but he is a High-Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec hath an unchangeable Priesthood therefore is able to save all those to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession in their behalf Heb. 7.25 Moreover v. 26. he is holy harmless undefiled seperate from sinners and yet very tender and compassionate towards sinners being touched with the feeling of our Infirmities and knows how to pity them which are tempted he is mercifull and he is faithfull too in this Office which the Lord hath anointed him unto Having therefore such an High-Priest over the House of God sinners have encouragement to draw neer unto God with full assurance of acceptance through him Hebr. 10.21 22. 2. Christ was anointed to the Prophetical Office Christ is that Prophet whom the Lord promised to raise up to his people like unto Moses Deut. 18.15 but is far greater than Moses who came down from Heaven to preach the Gospel of salvation to lost sinners who revealed the counsels of the Father which were hid from ages and generations and kept secret untill his time from the foundations of the World who discovered the purposes of Gods Love and the promises of his Grace and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel Christ is the great Prophet anointed by the Father to teach his people by his Word and Spirit who opens the eyes of the understanding which naturally is dark and blinde and leads his people into all truth who of themselves would wander into errour without whose teachings there can be no saving light nor spiritual discerning and relish of Gospel Mysteries 3. Christ was anointed unto the Kingly Office Peter in his Sermon calls him Lord of all God hath given him a Name above every Name he hath exalted him above all Principalities and Powers and Might and Dominion both in Heaven and
the Kingdom of Heaven sooner than the Pharisees who boasted in their own righteousness Matth. 21.31 He conversed with and called the worst of sinners to repentance Matth. 9.11 13. Indeâ—d when the Apostle maketh mention of notorious sinners he telleth us that such whilest such could not be saved 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor â—ffeminate nor Abusers of thâ—mselves with Mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous noâ— Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Those that are such notorious sinners and continue in the practice of such sins without repentance they cannot be saved but withall he addeth in the 11. verse that some of them had been such sinners but were now in a state of Salvation through their interest in Jesus Christ and the operation of the Spirit of God upon their hearts And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our God they were justified their sins pardoned and persons accepted in the name of the Lord Jesus through the imputation of his righteousness unto them and they were washed and sanctified by the Spirit of God through infusion of Grace by the Spirit into them I might add further instâ—nces of notorious sinners who have been saved as Manasses Mary Magdalen Paul who before Conversion calleth himself the chiefest of sinners yet obtained Mercy and Salvation and let me tell you moreover that if you repent now and apply your selves to Christ the greater your sins have been the more will Gods glory be illustrated in your Salvation and the abounding of your sins will make way for the super-abounding of his grace 3. All of you that hear these words may obtain Salvation it is possible that every one of you in this place may be saved it would be a rare thing but it is a possible thing indeed there are but few that shall be saved but who knoweth but all of you may be found in the number of those few and O how would it rejoyce my heart to see all those faces in Heaven whom I see here this day to hear the words of Salvation Be encouraged to seek after your salvation by the possibility of obtaining Now salvation is possible for all of you that have not as yet attained it but let me add that it will not be possible long for you all whilst you are in the land of the living it is possible though you be condemned to Hell for sin whilst unbelievers Ioh. 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already yet the sentence of condemnation is traversible you may appeal from the Court of the Law to the Court of Chancery you may fly from the bar of Gods justice unto the throne of grace and if you heartily repent of sin and by faith lay hold on Christ you may obtain pardon and salvation Whilst the reprieve of your life lasteth salvation is attainable but when once your life is come to an end which you know not how soon it may be and you be found in a state of impenitency and unbelief then the percullis will be shutt down upon you for ever then the black flag will be hung out then the talent of lead will seal up the measure of your wickedness and your condemnation will be irreversible when the day of your life is spent the day of grace will be spent too and the door of mercy will be shut upon you for ever and it will be impossible for any of you that have not attained then to attain salvation 5. This salvation is a neer Salvation Say not in your heart Who shall ascend up into Heaven to learn what it is there or who shall descend into the deep to bring notice of it from thence or who shall take the wings of the morning and fly into the uttermost parts of the earth thence to bring tydings of it to you for the word of salvation is near unto you it is brought home to your own doors it is that word which is now sounding in your ears even the words which we Ministers preach unto you read what those words are which are brought so nigh Rom. 10.8 9 10 11 12 13. The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation For the Scripture saith Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed For there is no difference between the Iew and the Greek for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him for whosoever calleth upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved Heretofore salvation was only amongst the Jews and whoever of other Nations would be saved they must travel to Ierusalem and worship the Lord in his Temple and enquire for salvation in that place then salvation was afar off from the Gentiles especially from these Brittish Isles but now since the revelation of Jesus Christ as those which were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ so the word of salvation is brought nigh unto us you have many Messengers of Peace which bring the glad tydings of salvation near unto you and this may further encourage you to seek after it 6. This salvation is an Evident Salvation I mean that it is more clearly and evidently made known unto us than it hath been in former ages unto any or than it is in other places unto many In former ages this salvation was not made known so clearly unto any I mean in the ages before the coming of Christ the Prophets themselves who prophesied of it did not fully understand what the Spirit in them did signifie when it foretold of this grace which should come unto the Church in after ages 1 Pet. 1.10 11. And therefore the first preaching of the Gospel of salvation is called a revelation of the mysterie which had been kept secret since the world began unto that time Rom. 16.25 And a manifestation of that mysterie to the Saints which had been hid from ages and generations Col. 1.25 26 27. The Gospel of salvation was indeed revealed in the dispensation of the Law upon Mount Sinai by Moses but it was more obscurely it was wrapt up in types and figures and as there was a vail before Moses his face so there was a vail before the truths of salvation so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look unto the end of those things which were after to be abolished 2 Cor. 3.13 but this vail is done away in Christ v. 14. When Christ suffered upon the Cross the vail of
the Temple which kept the people off the Holy of Holies was rent from the top to the bottom of it and then the way into the Holy of Holies was made manifest and Christ by his appearance abolished death and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 Then darkness did pass away and the true and marvellous light did shine upon the Church 1 Ioh. 2.8 And now with open face believers do behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord 1 Cor. 3.18 The scope of which places is to shew the obscurity of former revelations and the clearness and evidence of the revelation of the Gospel in these latter daies In other places this salvation is not made known so clearly unto many it is not made known at all unto the most in the world a thick darkness of ignorance doth overspread the greatest part of the face of the earth and even amongst those that call themselves by the name of the Church of Christ there are in many places such fogs and mists of errour and heresie that the truths of salvation are darkened and peoples minds are blinded but now unto you this salvation is made so clear and evident the thing and way of it is made so manifest that it is a great encouragement to seek after this salvation 7. This salvation is a Free Salvation it will cost you no money you may have it for nothing you may have it for accepting If you were taken captive by men if you were slaves to the Turks possibly you might not be delivered without some considerable summ for your ransom but you may be delivered from the slavery of the Devil and your own lusts you may be saved from sin and Hell without money Indeed a price hath been paid for your ransom not silver or gold but that which is ten thousand times more precious and that was the blood of Jesus Christ which was shed upon the Cross for you yet though your salvation cost Christ dear it is free unto you it will cost you nothing pardon is free and grace is free and eternal life unto you is a free gift you are invited to come unto the waters and to buy wine and milk but it is without money and without price Isa. 55.1 The Spirit saith come and the Bride saith come and whosoever is a thirst let him come and take of the waters of life freely Rev. 22.17 There is sufficiency of grace in God for the salvation of you all and you may come and partake of this grace in your salvation freely You may have it without money if you be poor the gifts of God cannot be bought and you may have it without merit if you conceit that you deserve any thing you shall be sure to have nothing if you are sensible of your unworthiness and apply Christs merits and righteousness through him you may have salvation freely 8. And lastly This salvation is a Sure Salvation you have the promise of God for it and there can be no greater certainty of a thing than the word of God especially if you consider that God is infinite in power and therefore can do whatever he will and that God is infinitely true and therefore will do whatever he hath promised God is most powerful and therefore able to save you there is strength sufficient in his Almighty Arm to bring salvation unto you and God is most faithfull in the promises of salvation which he hath made in the Covenant of Grace if you get faith to apply the promises you shall certainly have the thing There is an uncertainty in every thing else in the world but there is a certainty in this salvation that there is such a thing is certain from the revelation of the Word of God who cannot lye and that you may have it if you will accept of it is certain from the nature and firmness of the promises and when you have attained unto any degrees of this salvation the perfecting of it will be most sure for he that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 Thus I have laid before you the properties of this salvation it is a great salvation it is a rare salvation it is a necessary salvation it is a possible salvation it is a near salvation it is an evident salvation it is a free salvation it is a sure salvation all which being laid together may be a strong motive and inducement to you to labour that you may attain a share in this salvation SECT XVII FRom the consideration of the Damnation of all such as do not obtain salvation The damnation of all such persons will be Dreadfull and Certain 1. The Damnation of such as are not saved will be dreadful 1. The Day of their damnation will be dreadful 2. The Sentence of their damnation will be dreadful 3. The Execution of their damnation will be dreadful 1. The Day of the damnation of such as are not saved will be dreadful and that is the last day the day of judgement O how dreadful will this day be to you that are wicked and ungodly when the Heavens shall be opened and the Lord Jesus Christ the Judge of the world shall descend with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and the loud sound of a Trumpet when the Earth shall be opened and you shall be raised out of the dust and summoned to appear before Christs Tribunal and the Books shall be opened and all your sins shall be made manifest before the whole world when the Heavens shall be on fire and melt down upon you and pass away with a great noise and the Earth shall be on fire and burn under you and every Mountain and Hill shall flee away before Christs face and Christ shall be on fire and come in flames of anger to take vengeance upon you for your sins Think O think how dreadful this day of damnation will be unto all such of you as shall not then be found in a state of salvation O what dread will seize upon you so soon as your eyes are opened and you find the predictions of the word which you formerly slighted to be true and perceive that now indeed the day of Gods wrath is come when you shall be dragged like so many malefactors before the Judgement-seat and there stand naked horribly lashing your selves in the reflections of conscience upon your fore-past wickedness how will you be ready to tear your selves to pieces for your folly and madness that you did not provide for this day and flee from this wrath of God which then you will not be able to escape how willingly would you creep into some rock or under some mountain or abide still in your grave or cast your selves into the Sea if possibly any place could be found to hide you in this terrible day but shall be able to finde no hiding-place for your selves Think what hideous thoughts what
sinking fears what horrible perplexity of mind you will on this day be filled withall it will be a dreadful day 2. The Sentence of the damnation of such as are not saved will be dreadful when the Books are opened where your sins are recorded and you are convicted by the Judge then he will proceed to pass sentence upon you Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Matth. 25.41 O dreadful words the voice will be loud with which they will be pronounced such as shall reach the ears of all the wicked together of all generations and how will they all quake and tremble at the sound thereof You may cry it may be to the Lord for mercy but it will be in vain you may say Lord open to us and receive us into thy Kingdom that we may participate in the joyes thereof but he will say unto you Depart from me I know ye not all ye workers of iniquity But if you must depart you may wish for his blessing as Esau though it were but an inferiour blessing no depart ye cursed depart with a curse If then you must depart with a curse you may wish for some convenient place of abode and good company as Cain when he went forth from the presence of the Lord with a curse he built a City to dwell in and took some comfort it may be in his habitation and wife and children no depart into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels you must dwell in devouring fire and inhabit everlasting burnings and your companions will be the Devil and his Angels and fellow-damned sinners in whom you will not find the least comfort which leads to the third particular 3. The Execution of the Damnation of such as are not saved will be dreadful and this will be in Hell when the irreversible sentence of damnation is passed upon you immediately the execution will follow and you will be haled from the Judgement seat and the everlasting doors of the prison of Hell will be lifted up where a horrible fire is burning which can never be quenched into which you must enter and be shut down and shut in to take up your eternal abode in that place of torment there every part will be tormented every member of your bodies every faculty of your souls and that in the highest degree of extremity beyond your now capacity and your torments will have no intermission neither will you have any hopes of their conclusion I have already treated in my Book of Judgement of the universality extremity and eternity of the torments of the Damned and therefore shall not here inlarge From what hath been said you may evidently perceive that the Damnation of such as are not saved will be dreadfull which should awaken you to endeavour after your salvation especially if withall you consider 2. That the Damnation of such as are not saved will be Certain where there is no Salvation there will be unavoidable Damnation because between these two hereafter there will be no middle condition such as are not saved will most certainly be damned Heaven or Hell eternal happiness or eternal misery will be the portion of all the Sons and Daughters of Adam I might shew that Gods Justice and Holiness and Truth doth require the Damnation of all such as do not obtain Salvation by Jesus Christ so that either God must prove unholy and unjust and false in his Word which is impossible or you which are not saved must be damned therefore this is most certain there is no escaping of the damnation of Hell by such as neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel Heb. 2.3 And methinks by this time I should hear some of you cry out as the Iews when Peter preached or the Jaylor O what shall we do to be saved SECT XVIII III. I Am to tell you Words to guide you in the way to attain Salvation And here I shall 1. Direct what things you must do that you may be saved 2. Shew what Means you must make use of to help you in those things 1. What Things you must do that you may be saved Take this in these Ten Directions 1. You must see your selves lost 2. You must mourn for sin 3. You must turn from sin 4. You must believe in Iesus Christ. 5. You must get a new Nature 6. You must lead a New Life 7. You must resolve upon sufferings for Christ if called 8. You must study and apply the Promises of the Covenant of Grace 9. You must give up your selves in Covenant unto God 10. You must be stedfast and persevere in the Wayes of God unto your lives end Direction 1. You must see your selves lost if you would be saved Luk. 19.10 our Saviour telleth us that he came to seek and save that which was lost You must be lost if you would be found We read Luk. 15. of the lost Sheep the lost Groat and the lost Son all which were found again and that with joy When sinners perceive themselves to be lost and undone and know not what to do then they are neer to be found and saved by Jesus Christ O then as ever you expect Salvation by Christ you must see and be sensible of your lost estate whilest you are in a state of Nature And for this end you must get a Conviction 1. Of your sin 2. Of the Punishment you have deserved for your sin 3. Of your Insufficiency to satisfie Gods Iustice. 4. Of your inability to make resistance and defend your selves 5. Of the Impossibility of your fleeing and escaping Gods wrath 6. That as yet you have no Interest in Christ who alone is able to deliver you from the wrath to come 1. That you may be sensible of your lost estate you must get a Conviction of your sin your eyes must be opened to see your selves guilty of sin before God and your mouths must be stopped so as to have nothing to say if the Lord should condemn you You must not only understand the nature of sin in the general that it is a transgression of the holy and righteous and good Law of the holy and glorious God of Heaven and Earth but also you must be particularly and thorowly convinced that you have transgressed this Law of God you must be convinced of your particular sins As to the kinds of your sins you must 1. See your selves guilty of Original sin of Adams first transgression by a just imputation you being in his loyns and parties in the first Covenant and then you must see what inherent sin there is in your nature that you were conceived and born in sin that you are a viperous brood a Seâ—pâ—ntine generation a seed of evil doers that the Toad is not fuller of poyson than your natures are full of sin that your natures are contrary unto the nature of God and have an enmity in them against the Law of God Rom. 6.7 You must be
Calling unto our eternal Glorification 2. A second great Promise of the Covenant of Grace is That God will be mercifull unto our unrighteousness and that he will remember no more our sins and iniquities it is a promise of mercy in the free pardon and forgiveness of all our sins this is an exceeding great and precious promise without which there were no access for us unto God no attaining eternal happiness no escaping eternal misery guilt would shut us out of Heaven and sink us into Hell without a pardon This Promise is of vast extent it reacheth to all sort of sins Unrighteousness Sins Iniquities no sin is too great for God to pardon if the sinner doth believe 3. A third Promise of the Covenant of Grace is that God will give us the knowledge of himself they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest they shall not teach one another the knowledge of God that is they cannot or they shall not be able to do it they may and ought to teach one another instrumentally it is the duty of some to teach and the duty of others and they have need to learn but they shall not be able to teach effectually they may give instructions to one another concerning God and his wayes but they cannot give light they may set the light before them but they cannot set up the light in them they may open Truths but they cannot open the Understanding this is the work of God only to do and this he hath undertaken by Promise to do they shall all know me they shall be taught of God by his Spirit the knowledge of himself he teacheth by men instrumentally but he will teach us by his Spirit effectually 4. A fourth Promise of the Covenant of Grace is that God will put his Laws into our hearts and write them in our minds the Law was written before on Tables of Stone but here he promiseth to write them on fleshly Tables of the heart which is done not with Pen and Ink but by the Spirit of the living God 2 Cor. 3.3 this Promise is very comprehensive it includes not only the giving of a spiritual discovery of the minde and will of God but also the giving of spiritual dispositions affections and strength to perform it and by consequence the removal of indispositions the purging out of corruptions the mortifying of lust the taking away the heart of stone and giving a heart of flesh the giving a new heart the putting the Spirit within us and causing us to walk in his Statutes and to keep his Judgements and do them as this Promise is branched forth Ezek. 36.25 26 27. These in brief are the chief Promises of the Covenant of Grace labour to understand them and apply them that you may be saved Direct 9. You must give up your selves in Covenant to God if you would be saved God hath put his hand and seal to the Covenant which he hath made through his Son with you and you should put your hand to the Covenant and engage your selves unto the Lord you were dedicated to the Lord by your Parents when you were bâ—ptized then you understood not what was done now you are arrived to years of understanding you should make it your own act and dedicate your selves to the Lord and the more solemnly you enter into Covenant with God the more strong Obligation it may be upon you to walk closely with God all your dayes Some have directed to do it under hand-writing subscribing the name and some have put words into your mouths which you may do it in if you are not so well able to express the terms your selves you have this done in Mr. Guthry and Mr. Allen's books if those Books be not at hand I shall set before you this Platform which you may make use of in entring solemnly into Covenant with God I A.B. do acknowledge my self to be the Creature and Subject of the great and glorious Majesty of Heaven and Earth in whom I live move and have my being and from whom I receive every good thing which I receive and therefore am obliged to conform my minde will and affections to order my words wayes and whole conversation according to his most wise and good most righteous and reasonable Laws Besides which natural Obligation however born in sin and thereby disenabled yet being born in the Church and Baptized in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and by my Parents dedicated unto God when I was an Infant I am further obliged by Covenant to be the servant of the Lord. But having proved a Rebel and Traytor against the Highest Majâ—sty breaking his Laws and Covenant-ties which have been upon me spending years of my life in a state of strangeness and enmity to God in the service of the Devil and my own Lusts I do now solemnly reâ—ew my Covenant with God that the breach may be made up which sin hath made between God and my Soul Being in the First place convinced of the guilt of my sins whereby I have affronted and offended the highest Majesty whose Iustice must be satisfied and withall convinced of my own utter inability to make the least satisfaction either by doing or suffering and that my Righteousnesses are as filthy rags and therefore altogether insufficient to procure for me the pardon of sin the favour of God and the peace of Conscience as also fully perswaded that no meer Creature is able to give unto me any help and relief in this case And being informed by the Word of God what the Lord Iesus is hath dâ—ne and suffered for poor sinners That there is no Name undâ—r Heaven given amongst men whereby we can be saved but only the Name of Iesus Christ that he is able to save all them unto the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing be ever liveth to make intercession for them that he is a mercifull and faithfull High-priest in things pertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the sins of the People that whosoever cometh unto him he will in no wise cast out and finding a Promise in the Covenant of Grace that God will be mercifull unto our unrighteousness and that our sins and iniquities he will remember no more which Covenant is of full force through the death of Christ the Testator thereof and having Christ set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood and his Righteousness declared for the remission of sins which are past through the forbearance of God and this Christ freely tendered unto me and being invited earnestly yea entreated that I would be reconciled unto God through him and by the Spirit being perswaded of the truth of these things and hereby encouraged to apply my self unto Christ and the Promises through him unto my self I do now grieving that I have offended God groaning under the burden of sin renouncing
set forth the Lord Jesus Christ in his Divinity and eternal abode with God in his Humanity with which he cloathed and vailed himself and abode for a while here amongst men in his Life so holy his Works so powerfull his Love so great his Death so painfull his Resurrection so soon his Ascension so wonderfull his Session and Intercession at the right hand of God and the Glory which he hath with the Father in Heaven however he had been vilified by some men when he was upon the Earth The Angel could have preached the Law with such Thunder and Lightning as should have made the Conscience of Cornelius to tremble even as the Israelites did when the Law was given by their ministration on Mount Sinai He could have shot the arrows of the Almighty so deep into his Spirit as no balm on earth should have been able to heal his wounds The Angel could have represented the God of Heaven in a more terrible way than man can do as Lord of an innumerable host of mighty Angels of which he was but one and as set in battel-array against Christless sinners and told Cornelius what dreadfull threatnings were denounced and what heavy Curses did belong unto such as had broken Gods Law and hereby could have put him into such terrors and consternation in reflection upon the least guilt as should have sunk him down to the very brink of the burning Lake in his own apprehension and forced him in the anguish of his spirit to cry out O what shall I do to be saved And then he could have represented the Lord Jesus Christ unto him as the only and an all-sufficient and most mercifull Saviour of Mankinde who had undertaken the Office of Mediatour and Advocate and was faithfull He could have described his beauty and excellency in such high expressions and invited Cornelius to come to Christ with such sweet words and pressing arguments as never proceeded out of the mouth of any man But the Angel had no commission to preach the Gospel to Cornelius only to speak to him from God that he would send men to Ioppa and call for Peter and he should preach the Gospel unto him And as it was in the beginning so it is still God doth not send Angels down from Heaven to preach Christ and Salvation by Christ unto the people but he sendeth Ministers men whom he qualifieth and commissioneth for the work The Reasons why God doth make use of Ministers to preach the Gospel rather than Angels may be chiefly these three 1. Because of our Infirmity 2. For the honour of the Ministry 3. That he might secure his own Glory Reas. 1. Because of our Infirmity We could not in this state of darkness weakness and sinfulness bear the preaching of Angels that are so holy and glorious Our eyes would be dazled our spirits would be amazed and hearts sink within us at the voice of Angels should they appear unto us in their glory Manoah thought he should dye when an Angel came to him and foretold him of a Son which should be born to him Iudg. 13. Zacharias was sore troubled at the appearance of an Angel with the like message Lâ—k 1. The Shepheards in the Field were exceedingly afraid when the Angel came to them to bring tidings of the birth of our Saviour Luk. 2. And Christs Disciples were no less afraid when the Angels brought news to them of his Resurrection And if holy men could not bear the appearance of Angels much less could the unholy and wicked whose guilt and defilement would make them a thousand-fold more fearfull If an Angel should immediately descend from Heaven into this place and taking my room should preach unto this Auditory before me would not fearfull thoughts arise in the hearts and paleness get upon the checks of the best amongst you But what dread would there seize upon the spirits of such of you as are graceless and profane who are yet in your sins and have not made your peace with God How would you shrink and croud out faster than you crouded in as not being able to endure When Moses had been forty dayes upon the Mount with God and had seen only his back-parts yet his face did shine with such lustre by reflexion of the beams of Gods Majesty upon him that the children of Israel could not look upon his face without a Vail And if Angels who continually behold the face of God in Heaven should come down and appear and preach men would not be able to hear and bear Therefore God maketh use of Ministers to preach the Gospel men of like passions and infirmities with our selves for our infirmities sake Men who will not affrighten us with their glory whom we may look upon without dazling our eyes whom we may speak unto and converse with familiarly without dread and terrour As Elihu said of himself to Iob chap. 33.6 7. So it may be said of Ministers they are in Gods stead and yet formed out of clay and their terrour shall noâ— make us afraid Reas. 2. For the honour of the Ministery Jesus Christ himself the Son of God was a Minister when he was upon the Earth and his employment was to preach the Gospel and the highest spiritual honour that can be conferred upon any is to be Christs Embassadours Representatives and to succeed him in this office and work of the Ministery which honour he hath conferred upon some men rather than Angels I am not of their opinion who think that Gods people are exalted to a higher dignity than the Angels neither do I think the consequences to be right from Heb. 1 1â— on which this Notion is grounded Are they not all ministring spirits speaking of Angels sent forth to minister for them which shall be heirs of salvation It doth not follow because Angels do minister to the Saints therefore they are inferiour to the Saints for Jesus Christ himself did minister to them though he be their Lord and King when he washed his Disciples feet in which act he appeared so like a servant yet then he calleth himself their Lord and Master Ioh. 13.13 Ministring to others doth not imply inferiority unless it be such as doth withall imply dependency but rather the contrary our Saviour telleth his Disciples when he perceived them to be ambitious of greatness that whoever would be the greatest amongst them should be their Minister Math. 20.26 Indeed our humane Nature in Christ is exalted above Angels but in other respects we are inferiour to Angels The Angels are above us in regard of spirituality they are all spirit we are partly flesh and but partly spirit In regard of immortality they never dye we cannot escape death long In regard of purity they have not the least tincture of sin the most holy persons on earth are not without some remainders of defilement In regard of neerness unto God they dwell with God in Heaven and behold his face continually we are on earth and see
Earth and hath put all things under his feet and all power into his hand and appointed him to be head over all unto his Church He is the King of Saints whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and whose Scepter is a Scepter of Righteousness he hath given Laws to his people with great wisdom and ruleth in their hearts with great power and whosoever will not submit to his Sceptâ—r to be ruled by his Laws he will break them in pieces with his Iâ—on Rod. Thus concerning Christs Vâ—ction to his Offices 2. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Life that he went about doing good His Life was holy free from sin he did no evil no injury to any man he was harmless his whole employment was to do good Never was there such a man living upon the face of the Earth who never committed any sin in his life neither in thought word or deed Some indeed have said they had no sin but they have lied for no man liveth that sinneth not but Christ was born without sin and lived without sin he was perfectly good and righteous and he did good His Life was exactly according to the Rule he fulfilled the Law not only by his passive but also by his active Obedience 3. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Miâ—acles whereof they were witnesses instance is given of his casting out Devils likely he told them of more of his calming the Winds and Sea with a word his feeding five thousand with five Loaves his opening the eyes of them which were born blinde his raising the dead that had been buried several dayes and the like which works were a testimony of his Divinity and that he came from the Father 4. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Death Him they slew and hanged upon a tree Christ humbled himself not only to take upon him our Humane Nature to be born of a mean Virgin and live in a low condition when he was Lord of all and God equall with the Father to take upon him the form of a servant but he humbled himself further to become obedient unto Death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.6 7 8. It was a cursed disgracefull lingering and painfull death which he endured and however it was inflicted upon him by the hands of cruel blood-thirsty men yet it was according to the fore-appointment of God for the satisfaction of Gods Justice for the expiation of Mans sin it was not only for an example of suffering to men but in the room and stead of sinners who otherwise must all have unavoidably perished and for the ratification of the New Testament and Covenant of Grace So that the salvation of Man from sin and Hell and the Inheritance of glory and happiness doth depend upon the Death of Christ which was the purchase hereof 5. Peter speaketh to them concerning Christs Resurrection Him hath God raised from the dead and shewed openly Though Christ dyed and was buried yet the bands of death could not hold him and the Holy One did not see corruption his body was not so long in the grave as to putâ—â—fie but within three dayes he arose again from the dead and was seen of Mary Magdalen first after of two Disciples as they went unto Immaus after of Peter and all the Apostles after of above five hundred Brethren at once He was declared to be Man by his death he was declared to be the Son of God with power by the Spirit of holiness in him which raised him from the dead forty dayes he remained upon the Earth after his Resurrection and then was caught up to the Throne of God in the presence of his Disciples and there he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore whose Resurrection as it hath an influence upon the spiritual Resurrection of his people from sin who when dead in sin are quickened by the same Spirit which raised him up So it is the first fruits of the resurrection of his people from the grave who in their order and Gods appointed time shall be awakened out of their long sleep of death and come forth of the dust and be caught up to meet him in the Air at his last appearance to Judge the World which is the next thing Peter speaketh of Christ. 6. Peter speaketh to them concerning Gods ordination of Iesus Christ to be the Iudge of quick and dead God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in Righteousness and hath ordained Jesus Christ to be the Judge who will so soon as the mystery is finished and the Elect are gathered come down from Heaven where now he is with a great shout and the sound of a Trumpet and awaken all the dead and summon the whole world to his barr and render unto all according to their works to them that have repented and believed and by patient continuance in well-doing have sought for glory and honour and immortality he will give eternal life but to them which have been impenitent and hard-hearted and disobedient to the Gospel he will give indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish and sentence them to eternal Death 7. Peter speaketh to them concerning Christs Mission of them to preach He sent the Apostles to preach repentance and remission of sins in his Name and he hath appointed the Office of the Ministry to continue to the end of the World for the calling and conversion of those which belong to the Election of Grace and the building up and perfecting the Saints which are called untill they all come into the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.12 13. Thus the Apostle Peter preacheth Christ unto Cornelius and them which were with him SECT IX 4. AND lastly Peter speaks to them concerning the Way of Salvation by Christ vers 43. To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of sins There is no Name under Heaven whereby we can be saved but the Name of Christ Act. 4.11 and there is no salvation by Christ but by Faith When the Jaylor with trembling enquired of Paul and Silas What shall I do to be saved they tell him Believe in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Act. 16.30 31. There are three Arguments which will evidently prove That all such as truely believe in Christ do receive remission of sins and consequently are in a state of Salvation The First may be drawn from Christs Satisfaction The Second from Christs Intercession The Third from the Promises of the New Testament I. First from Christs Satisfaction If Christ hath fully satisfied Gods Justice for the sins of men and this satisfaction be accepted by the Father in the behalf of sinners and this satisfaction be imputed unto all them that truely believe in Christ as if they bad made it themselves Then all those that
Pet. 3.16 Ministers must draw forth the pure waters of the Sanctuary out of the fountain of the Scripture and the sincere milk of the Word out of the two breasts of the Old and New Testament 1 Pet. 2.2 They must deal forth the wholesome food of sound doctrine which is according to godliness called words of our Lord Jesus Christ and words of faith whereby the receivers may be nourished 1 Tim. 4.6 chap. 6.3 2. As to the Design Ministers must have a sincere design in preaching the word of salvation like the Apostle Paul with his fellow-Ministers 2 Cor. 2.17 But we are of sincerity as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ. They preached neither corrupt doctrine neither had they corrupt designs but were sincere in their preaching as of God as sent of God as Embassadours of God the great King of Heaven as in the sight of God who searched the heart and could discern what their aims were unto whom they endeavoured to approve themselves as in Christ as in the room of Christ as Christ preached when he was upon the earth or as in Christ as those which were ingrafted into Christ and had an interest in Christ themselves and therefore did sincerely endeavour the bringing of others to him The chief design of Ministers in preaching should be the glory of God and the salvation of them that hear them 1. The glory of God above all should swey with them not their own glory and esteem nor of men sought we glory 1 Thes. 2.6 They must sincerely endeavour the magnifying not of their own name but the name of God and the promoting not of themselves but of their Master in the esteem of men If some kind of discourse would advance their Lords name and honour though their own reputation should hereby be lessened amongst some they must use it and if on the contrary they could gain much honour to themselves by some kind of preaching wherein they might appear in great flourish of words and give delight to the fanâ—y by the ostentation of their wit and ingenuity but their Masters were not like to be glorified nor the souls of their hearers soundly edified they ought herein to deny themselves 2. Ministers must design in their preaching the salvation of their hearers they must not use the Word as a cloâ—k for covetousness and design the gainâ—ng of filthy lucre to themselves but the gaining of souls to Jesus Christ they must not endeavour to make a gain of their hearers a gain of their souls they ought to endeavour after but not a gâ—in of their estates as the Pharisees who made long prayers that they might devour Widdows houses they must not chiâ—fly seek any profit or earthly emolument unto themselves but the profit of their hearâ—rs that they might be saved When the Apostle was crafty as he tells the Corinthians 2 Cor. 12.16 he was sincere and when he used some kind of guâ—le it was to catch them from destruction unto which they were hastening it was in spreading the Gospel Net most cunningly to draw them out of that stream of sin in which they were swimming towards the Ocean of Gods wrath 2. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Plainly not with wisdom of words as 1 Cor. 1.17 not with excellency of speech or of wisdom or with enticing words of mans wisdom chap. 2.4 but with plainness of speech such as is most intelligible and edifying such as is most likely to attain the end of preaching most effectually some kind of wisdom of words doth both obscure and enervate the Sermons that are stufft with it and therefore should be forborn Not that all wisdom of words or humane wisdom is to be forborn For 1. It is lawfull for Ministers in preaching to make use of the most apt proper and significant words there are some words which are more ponderous and weighty which carry a greater force and evidence and perspicuity than others which Ministers should make use of for the more effectual clearing and pressing their matter and of all words those which we finde in the Scripture are the most weighty which having oftentimes more significancy in the Original than in the Translation therefore Ministers should be acquainted with the Original tongues that they may have the more full understanding of the meaning of God in his Word themselves and that they may the better explain it to others 2. It is lawfull for Ministers to use some kinde of Eloquence in their preaching It was the commendation which the Scripture gave of Apollos that he was an eloquent man Act. 13.24 Variety and fluency of expression in explaining and proving in applying and pressing the truths of the Word is of singular use There is much Rhetorick and divine Eloquence especially in some parts of the Scripture which Ministers in preaching may make use of and imitate 3. It is lawfull for Ministers to make use of Philosophy and humane Reason in preaching the Gospel Logick is needfull for the regulating of thoughts the methodizing of discourse the distinguishing between things that differ the defining and explaining of things that are obscure the ordering deciding and determining of controversies Ethicks Physicks especially Metaphysicks are very usefull unto a Minister for the refining of his understanding and enabling him to speak the more clearly and edifyingly to others and to defend the truth against such as do oppose it But there is a Wisdom of Words which may not be used by Ministers in preaching 1. Ministers must not in preaching shew more wisdom in their Words than in their Matter and study more for outward shew than for inward substance more that their Sermons be well worded than that their doctrine be well proved more that their Sentences may have a handsome close than that their Arguments be conclusive It ill becomes thin and weak sense to be cloathed with fine and neat speech Ministers must take heed that their matter be not drowned and lost in the stream and abundance of words Such whose wisdom and art doth shew it self in gathering a bundle and heap of the finest words together neglecting substantiall matter their wisdom is but folly and pains to little purpose Words may fill the ear Things soak and sink into the soul to edification 2. Ministers must not ordinarily in preaching make use of words of another language which the people do not understand nor fill their Sermons with quotations and allegations out of Fathers School-men and other Authors which doth but stun and amuze ordinary and the generality of hearers and savours mostly of ostentation but tends to little edification Though the Apostle could speak with more tongues than any beside yet in the Church he chooseth to speak five words in the known tongue to edifie than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue 1 Cor. 14.18 19. Indeed Original words sometimes may be mentioned with their interpretation as the tongues were to be used in the Church 1 Cor. 14. and