Heart of Stone to a fleshy Table he can soften and melt the Heart and make it pliable and flexible Isa 51.4 Hearken unto me my People and give ear unto me O my Nation for a Law shall proceed from me and I will make my Judgment to rest for a light of the People When may the Son of God be said to make his Judgment to rest I Answer when he engrafts his Word and causes it to joyn unite and close with the Stock of the Heart James 1.21 When the Seed is turned into a new and Divine Nature when in this Noble Effect of it it dwelleth and abideth in the Soul for ever 1 Pet. 1.23 When it is mixed with Faith Heb. 4.3 when it molds and fashions the Soul into a Conformity to God and a compliance with his Will then it may be said truly to rest and abide A Graft that is not implanted into the Stock a Stone that is not joyned to the Foundation may be spurned to and fro but when the Graft is united with the Stock and the Stone is laid into the Building then it hath rest None can give a Rest in this sense to to the Doctrine of the Gospel but the Son of God and how weak soever Instruments are yet he can produce mighty Effects when he speaks in them and by them * 2 Cor. 13.3 Out of the mouths of babes and sucklicks he ordains strength Psal 8.2 The Disciples of Christ were but as Babes and Sucklings they were not trained up in the Schools of Philosophers or Rhetoricians but were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 4.13 Men unlearned and ignorant in the Eyes of their Adversaries the word translated Ignorant is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ideots and those by the Graecians are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ideots that have a very low Talent of Reason a scanty measure of Understanding at utmost fitting them to manage their own Private Affairs and small Concerns but disabling them from being employed in any Great High and Publick Affairs How Observable is it then that the Son of God should choose and employ Men of such mean Parts in the most high weighty and important Matters of his Kingdom and accomplish such great and Noble things by them The Son of God did speak in them 2 Cor. 13.3 and work with them Mark 16.20 so that they proselyted a world of Enemies and discipled Barbarous Nations to the Faith of Christ They famished the Heathen Gods of the Earth Zeph. 2.11 They drew away their Worshippers and deprived them of their Sacrifices The Hands of these Husbandmen cultivated and manured a barren and horrid Wilderness and reduced it to be a Spiritual Paradise and Garden of God The word of the Cross signified by the Living Water that came out from the side of the Altar Ezek. 47.1 2. flowing out into the salt and dead Sea of the World did heal these brackish unpleasant and unwholsom Waters O how wonderful was the Son of God in this that a little stream of Doctrine concerning Christ crucified should heal and make fresh the Waters of the great Sea of this corrupt and degenerate World How strange and surprizing is this that such few and weak Hands should pull down Satan's Kingdom should build the Ruines of many Generations and wrest the Captives from the Srong and the Prey from the Mighty The Arrows that the Son of God did shoot by his Ministers did hit right pierce deep and cause sinners to fall under them 2. If we consider the Office the Son of God doth sustain and is invested with this fits him to Preach to a sinful and lost World He is styled a Mediator 1 Tim. 2.5 If he had not undertaken to satisfie Justice and make Peace God would have kept silence as to any gracious or comfortable speaking to the World Had not he interposed between guilty Creatures and an angry God we could have heard nothing else from Heaven but denunciations of Vengeance threatnings of Punishment and messages of Death But now lively Oracles come from the Mercy-seat sprinkled with the Blood of the Mediator He that hath made a Testament and sealed it with his own Blood is fittest to open publish and declare it He that was intimate with God and acquainted with all his deep Designs and Bosom-Secrets was fittest to bring them forth and make them known to the World He that was to execute God's Purposes was meetest to reveal them God had Designs of Grace Counsels of Peace Purposes of Redemption and Salvation that were conceived in his Mind and formed in his Heart from Eternity But these could not step forth into execution but by the Interposition and Sufferings of Jesus Christ The pleasure of the Lord was to prosper in his hand Isa 53.10 And what his Hand was to accomplish his Mouth was to reveal He that satisfied Justice was fittest to discover Grace and Mercy The Lord Jesus is styled the High-Priest and Apostle of our Profession Heb. 3.1 What he merited as an High-Priest that he is meetest to reveal and declare as an Apostle We may see infinite Wisdom in this He that makes Peace by the Blood of his Cross Col. 1.20 He speaks Peace Zech. 9.10 He preaches Peace Ephes 2.17 He that paid the Ransom Matth. 20.28 He preaches Deliverance to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound Isa 61.1 He that was taken from Prison and Judgment himself Isa 53.8 He calls Prisoners to come forth Isa 49.9 He bids those that are in Darkness to shew themselves in the Heavenly Sanctuary and the Glorious Presence of God He that was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief he is the Consolation of Israel and comforts those that mourn Isa 53.3 with Isa 61.2 He that became the Father's Servant himself Isa 42.1 Proclaims the Acceptable Year of the Lord publishes a Spiritual Jubilee to us for the release of our Souls from the Servitude of Sin from the Bondage of Satan Man being fallen under the Wrath of God the Curse of the Law the Sentence of Death none but a Mediator that was made Sin and a Curse for us could bring us any good News could publish any glad Tidings that might be a Foundation for our Faith and Hope relieve and revive our fainting and sinking Souls He that is the Wisdom of God and knows all was fittest to be the Word of the Father to reveal all 2dly I shall now consider what it is that the Son of God Preaches 1. Jesus Christ Preaches the Doctrine of Faith and calls Men to believe it He Preaches good Tidings and that to the Poor Luke 4.18 The Law promises Life and publishes good Tidings only to those that are Rich in Habitual Righteousness and perfect Active Obedience But Jesus Christ Preaches good Tidings to those that are exceeding Poor to such as have no good dwelling in them Rom. 7.18 or good done by them Rom. 3.12 Compare those two Expressions Paul saith In me even in
and turned the Flint into a Fountain of Waters Psal 114. last So in vain would Christ's Ministers smite on the Rocky Hearts of Men to draw Penitential Tears from thence if the Son of God doth not stand on this Rock and so melt and dissolve it into Floods of Godly Sorrow In vain would our hands knock at the Door of Mens Hearts if Jesus Christ had not a Hand to open them Acts 16.14 The Lord opened the heart of Lydia and then she attended to what Paul spake The Prophet Isaiah saith The Lord spake to him with a strong hand and that he should not walk in the way of that People Isa 8.11 The Lord speaks with a strong Hand when he levels Mountains of Opposition conquers Enmity and effectually Plants the Word in the Heart The Bridegroom did not only give sweet Names to and use strong Arguments with the Church why she should rise and open to him but he put in his Hand by the hole of the Door he touched her Heart he stirred her Affections he moved her Bowels towards him and then she rose to open to him Cant. 5.2.4 5 6. This is a great Encouragement that Ministers do not speak alone but Christ speaks in them 2 Cor. 13.3 And they do not act alone but the Lord Christ works with them Mark 16.20 Use 3. Doth the Son of God Preach as well by Instruments as when he Preaches immediately in his own Person Then 1. Be convinced that whoever Preaches that you have to do with the Son of God it is he that speaks to and deals with your Souls Noah he treated with and preached to the Old World he is styled A Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2.5 But in the Text Peter doth over-look him and keep silence concerning him and saith The Son of God went by his Divine Nature and preached to the old World that were disobedient in the days of Noah As the light of the Sun doth obscure darken and hide the Stars so this Sun of Righteousness by his Glorious Light doth darken all the dim and little Candles he doth make use of O! how should this awe our Hearts and make us to tremble at the Word that it is the Son of God that Preacheth and dispenseth it to us 2. This should make us forward willing and ready to hear because it is the Son of God that Preacheth If Christ were now on Earth and was to Preach at such a place to day and at another place to morrow would not Men and Women run and flock to hear him Should we not charge folly on and impute sin to those that would not lay aside Excuses neglect their little petty Affairs and Concerns in the World to hear the Son of God Incarnate And yet when the Son of God Preaches by Instruments how ingenious are Persons to invent Pretences to neglect and hinder themselves from hearing Christ speaking by his Ambassadors They will not with the Eunuch * Acts 8.38 cause the Chariot of their Trade and Worldly Business to stand still to attend on an Ordinance of God and listen to the Word of Jesus Christ The Queen of the South came from the ends of the Earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon Mat. 12.42 But how few now will step without their Doors to hear the Son of God Preaching by his Servants It is said in Prov. 8.33 34. That they are blessed that do hear Wisdom watch daily at her Gates and wait at the Posts of her doors Men should be as willing and forward Scholars that come to School before the Gates or Doors of the School are opened that stay and wait there when the Doors will be opened and they be let in to be instructed and learn Thus should we run to and wait at the Doors of Wisdom's House where she teacheth School and gives saving Instructions to ignorant Souls 3. Doth the Son of God Preach by his Instruments as truly as in his own Person O then how should we attend and listen to the Word Hearken O Daughter encline thy ear Psal 45.10 As those that are somewhat deaf are thick and hard of Hearing how do they bow down their Ears and put them near to the Mouth of the Speaker So we should with the greatest care attend to Christ's Word Isa 55.2 We should hearken diligently to Châ—â—st and eat that which is good The Word that we hear is the Bread of Life and the Food of our Souls and shall we not therefore listen to it We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things we hear lest at any time we should let them slip 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there seems to be an Allusion to Water-Glasses that were anciently used to measure Time by and as the Water in the upper Glass did drop into the lower till all was run out So we are apt to lose the Word of God by our negligent and careless hearing of it so it leaks and flows away from us and we get no saving Benefit by it We must hear with that Attention as those that have to do with the Prince of Life with the Lord of Glory as those that hear Matters of Infinite Consequence and everlasting Concernment You must attend as those that hear for their Souls and Eternity Take heed of a sleepy Ear a drousie Mind a Heart wandring and roving Will you bring Bodies only into God's Presence Will you leave Carcasses before him and let your Thoughts stray and your Minds run to the ends of the Earth Would a condemned Malefactor hear his Pardon read as you hear Jesus Christ offering Grace and Remission of Sins to your perishing Souls 4. We should readily receive the Word of the Son of God as the good Ground is said to drink in the Rain and Dew that cometh oft upon it Heb. 6.17 O how should you drink in the Word of Jesus Christ O how should it soak and sink into your Hearts That Doctrine that came out of the Bosom of the Father should it not be lodged in your Breasts and be received into your Hearts Job 22.22 Receive the Law from his mouth and lay it up in thy heart We must entertain the Word as coming immediately from the Mouth of Christ and you must let it into your Hearts Psal 119.20 My Soul breaketh for the longings it hath to thy righteous Judgments at all times As the dry Ground so thirsteth after Rain that it chappeth cleaveth breaketh and with open mouth Petitions Heaven for Rain So our Souls should even break for the Longings we have after the Rain of Christ's Word Matth. 11.12 The Kingdom of Heaven suffered violence and the violent took it by force the Doctrine of a Spiritual and Heavenly Kingdom was earnestly catched at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the violent do catch at and snatch it away If Bread were thrown among the Hungry if Pieces of Gold and Silver were thrown among the Poor O how would starving and perishing Poor catch at this Bread and these Pieces
own Person when he appeared here in the World The Second Doctrine that rises from the latter words is this That the Souls of wicked Men after they are departed out of the Body are confined to and shut up in God's Prison 1. Doctrine The Son of God preached before he was Incarnate and doth as truly Preach by Instruments as he doth immediately in his own Person We may here distinguish three Preachings of Jesus Christ 1. He preached before his Incarnation So in the Text the Son of God is said to Preach to those that were disobedient in the days of Noah The Gospel was preached to them that formerly lived but were dead in the days of Peter 1 Pet. 4.6 And who did then Preach it It was the Son of God He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not John 1.10 He was in the World and that to Teach and Instruct the Souls of Men. His being in the World relates to the time before his Incarnation then he treated with and revealed a way of Salvation to the perishing Souls of Men. He was in the World to give light to straying Sinners to awaken sleepy to apprehend flying to rescue and save sinning Souls He was in the World before Abraham was chosen and his Seed was taken as a Peculiar People or the Son came to them as his own 2. The Son of God preached when he was manifested in the Flesh At Nazareth where he was brought up Luke 4.26 he seems to Preach his first Sermon and then he chose that Text Isa 61.1 This Scripture evidences his Mission and contains his Commission As Ambassadors first shew their Credentials before they enter into a Treaty with those to whom they are sent So Christ as the Father's Ambassador produces his Credentials he saith The Spirit of the Lord was upon him for he anointed him to Preach glad tidings unto the meek And Christ in pursuance of his Commission and Instructions went about preaching the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God Luke 8.1 Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom Matth. 4.23 Jesus was not idle did not loyter or trifle away his time but was daily casting his Net to take Souls and calling Men from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to God * When the Son of God was Incarnate then Wisdom cried without Prov. 1.20 And the first-born of Gods new Family declared his Name to his Brethren Ps 22.22 Then the Church found him without Cant. 8.1 That is come forth into our Nature And where he did not Convert Men yet he did convince and somewhat awaken and terrifie sinners with the fear of Hell In this sense he is said To smite the Earth with the Rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips to slay the wicked Isa 11.4 3. Now Christ is in Heaven he still continues to Preach Take heed saith the Apostle Heb. 12.25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh we shall not escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven It was foretold that our Lord Jesus should speak Peace to the Heathen Zech. 9.10 So it was fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Paul saith That Christ came to Ephesus Preaching Peace to them that were afar off Ephes 2.17 Jesus Christ was then ascended to Heaven yet even then he came to Ephesus and preached Peace As he went to the Old World and preached before his Incarnation so he came to Ephesus after his Ascension and proclaimed Peace though he came into the World to wage War with Satan and to destroy his works yet he daily comes and preaches Peace to Sinners and wooes and beseeches them to be reconciled to God * 2 Cor. 5.20 Thus you see that the Son of God preached by Instruments and by his Ambassadors before and since his Incarnation as he preached immediately when he was here in the World For the prosecuting of the Doctrine I shall insist upon these three things 1. How fit the Son of God was to Preach 2. What it was he did Preach 3. To whom he did Preach 1. I shall shew you how fit the Son of God is to Preach and that in respect 1. To the Divine Nature he possesses 2. As to the Office he is cloathed with 1. As to the Divine Nature he hath 1. As he is God he knows all things as he was in the bosom of the Father from Eternity John 1.18 He is conscious to all his Secrets he is privy to all his Thoughts of Grace and Counsels of Peace that did spring up in his Heart from Eternity concerning the Sons of Men. None knows the Father but the Son and he to whom he will reveal him Mat. 11.27 The Son knows the Father immediately perfectly and infallibly As the Wisdom of God he hath a full Acquaintance with the Father nothing is hid or concealed from him what he hath seen with and heard from the Father that he testifieth John 3.32 A Witness that reports what he hath heard and seen is surely to be credited and such a Witness is Jesus Christ Isa 55.4 Rev. 3.14 He was to bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles Isa 42.1 The Doctrine of the Gospel is God's Judgment concerning a way of Relief Reconciliation and Salvation for Sinners This Doctrine Christ was to bring forth and that out of the bosom of the Father * Vid. Piscal in loc These great Secrets he was to reveal to the World 2. None but the Son of God can give sufficient Authority and Efficacy to the Word 1. The Son gives Authority to the Gospel he that Preaches out of the bosom of the Father John 1.18 He that speaks from the Throne of Majesty and Glory * Heb. 12.25 is to be regarded The Word ought and is to be received as the Word of God 1 Thess 2.13 It is to be entertained as a Law from his Mouth Job 22.22 What the Son Preaches is stamped with a Divine Authority All should tremble at and stand in awe of his Word 2. The Son of God only can give Efficacy to the Word He that brought forth the Gospel out of his Father's Bosom can bring it into our Hearts He can sow cause the Seed to take Root and change the Soil he can write in the Tables of our Hearts 2 Cor. 3.3 Jesus Christ did not write the Gospel with his own Hand in any Paper or Book he intended and reserved a more Noble Writing to himself which is most becoming of him and peculiar to him He writes in the Minds Consciences and Wills of Men and he writes not Letters Syllables bare Words or Sentences but he writes Divine Truths Supernatural Mysteries Spiritual Principles Dispositions and Inclinations in the Souls of Men. The Son can come at and write in that Table that no other can reach or make impressions on And the Son of God can write so effectually as to change a
whole World is his Diocess This Husbandman goeth forth to sow Matth. 13.3 and the large Field that he sows in is the World Matth. 13.38 The Field is the World This Noble Fisherman doth not Fish in the Rill of a Village in the Rivulet of a City in the River of one Country but in the Sea of the wide World Mat. 13.47 The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Net cast into the Sea It is observable what the Son of God saith Psal 40.9 I have preached Righteousness in the great Congregation What is this great Congregation It is the Church made up of Jew and Gentile it is Men of all Nations He did not come only to call the Jews to raise up Jacob and to restore Israel Isa 49.4 5. but he was to gather the Kingdoms of the Earth Psal 102.22 To gather all Nations Jer. 3.17 To call and bring home Sheep that were not of the Fold of the Jewish Church John 10.16 The Son of God preached to the Heathen Zech. 9.10 caused Barbarous People and the Inhabitants of Wildernesses to bow to his Sceptre and to submit to his Authority Psal 72.9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him and his Enemies shall lick the dust yea the Kings and Great Ones of the World shall fall down before him as Subjects and Worshippers And the Son of God preached with such Authority Efficacy and Success that those that knew him not before did at his call run to him Isa 55.5 And fly as the Clouds and Doves to their windows Isa 60.8 As the Jews did formerly attend on the Ministry of God's Prophets Zech. 11.11 The poor of the Flock that waited on me So now the Gentiles should wait on the Son of God listen to his Doctrine and receive his Law Isa 51.5 The Isles shall wait upon me And Isa 42.4 The Isles shall wait for his Law By the Isles we are to understand the Gentile Nations that were beyond the Seas and lived remote from the Land of Canaan even these should wait for the Rain of Christ's Doctrine for the Dew of his Word they should submit to be Scholars when the Son of God did Teach and become his Disciples when he did call As Isa 2.2 3. The Gentiles should exhort one another and say Come let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord's House for he will teach us his ways and we will walk in them This is observable that the Lord is not said to Teach alike every where but in the Mount of his House that is in his Church he Teaches here it is Day when it is Night with other Parts of the World Darkness doth cover the Earth gross darkness the People but the Glory of the Lord ariseth on and shines in the Church Isa 60.1 2 3. Therefore the Gentiles are said to repair to the Churches Light with a full Resolution to yield submit and obey what the Son of God should teach as Truth and dictate as Duty I shall come now to the Use of the Doctrine Use 1. The Son of God preached by Instruments and hath also preached immediately in his own Person this may inform us of the wonderful Grace and Kindness of Jesus Christ As a Priest he purchases Good Things for us and as a Prophet he Preaches them to us He bought precious things dearly at God's hands and he proposeth and proffers them freely to our hands he procured an Inheritance provided a Feast and prepared Salvation and he promulgates and declares them to us O what a condescention is this that the Son of God should be a Herald to Proclaim Peace and the King of Glory should deign to be the Father's Ambassador to treat with Rebels and beseech Enemies to be reconciled to him Use 2. Here is great matter of Consolation that the Son of God Preacheth as truly by Instruments as in his own Person He can give Efficacy and Success to his own Word Our case were deplorable yea desperate if Men only did Preach Could they open blind Eyes unstop deaf Ears quicken dead Souls As Eglon's Servants did wait till they were ashamed for his rising and opening the Parlour-door to them Judges 3.23.25 But their waiting and expectation was in vain Ehud had killed Eglon the King of Moab Judg. 3.21 22 and a dead Man could not open the Door to his waiting Servants without So Sinners are dead in Trespasses and in the uncircumcision of their Flesh Col. 2.13 And can such arise and open the doors of their Hearts to the Son of God Free-will ruined Mankind when the Image of God was drawn on their Souls and the Law of God was written in their Hearts and will Free-will now raise and recover Man again out of his Ruins with the aids of Common Grace when the poor Sinner is a Captive under the Law of Sin and Death This was the great Encouragement that Christ gave his Apostles to go forth into the World and Teach all Nations That he was and would be with them to the end of the World Matth. 28 19 20. He that had all Power both in Heaven and Earth could make way for his own Word and cause it to be received and entertained Ministers need the special Presence and the powerful Working of the Son of God with them Weak and degenerate Man doth not only need an Auxilium sine quo non such an aid without which they cannot believe or come to Christ but an Auxilium cum quo as Jansenius * In his August excellently and truly distinguisheth We need such an aid as will certainly produce the Effect Such an aid as Free-will is Lord of and is to Husband and Improve will not suffice for our Recovery but such an aid of Grace we need as will Lord it in our Will and effectually incline it to yield and submit to Christ Ezek. 20.37 I will cause them to pass under the Rod I will bring them into the bond of the Covenant Blessed is he whom thou choosest and causest to draw nigh Psal 65.4 Christ can so influence the Will as to undertake it shall and cause it to comply Ars Coelestis Medici est Demonstrativae as Alvarez * De Auxiliis gratiae truly asserts it is in the Hand and Power of the Heavenly Physician to Cure the Will of its Malignity Enmity and Rebellion Surely he can Cure whom he will and when he will else he were not infinitely Wise and Omnipotent He could undertake that the Gentiles though deaf Isa 29.18 yea though dead John 5.25 should hear his Voice and be joyned with his Flock and gathered into his Fold God bids Moses to smite the Rock and it should give forth Water for the Thirsty Israelites to drink Exod. 17 6. But would the Rock yield Water if Moses alone had been there and smitten it with his Arm No a struck Rock would yield rather sparks of Fire than floods of Water had not the Lord stood on the Rock and caused it to cleave
and enjoyed in this City It is farther said that this City shall be Holy to the Lord that is consecrated and devoted to God and that it should never be pluckt up nor thrown down the Rage of Men the Fury Policy and Power of Satan should never prevail against it And this commends this City yet the more to us that it is greater larger and wider than the Earthly Jerusalem The Building-Line for the raising of this City should go forth and be stretched over the Hill Gareb The Hill Gareb signifie the Hill of the Scabby or of the Lepers Such diseased Persons were to be shut out of the Earthly Jerusalem and it seems at least probable that such Lepers pitched their Tents on this Hill Yet the Hill Gareb should now be taken into the Spiritual Jerusalem besides the Valley of dead Bodies and of the Ashes was to be inclosed within the Walls of this Spiritual Jerusalem We Gentiles were as Spiritual Lepers Ulcers and Scabs were upon us we had even Plague-sores on our Hearts we were dead in Sins and Trespasses vile Dust unclean Ashes And is not this most surprizing Love that Jesus Christ will Preach to gather all Nations into this Holy and Spiritual Jerusalem Jer. 3.17 Jerusalem shall be called the Throne of the Lord and all Nations shall be gathered unto it to the Name of the Lord to Jerusalem neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil hearts Here is an excellent Exposition what is meant by building a Jerusalem with larger Walls that the Gentiles should be brought into and joyned with the Church John 10.16 be in the same Fold of the same Flock under the same great Shepheard And that though the Gentiles were in themselves unclean Creatures as wild Beasts and polluted creeping things Acts 10.11 12 13 14. yet they should be transformed into Sheep and be wrapt up in the same Sheet of the Church with the Jews And why doth the Son of God Preach but to build up Spiritual Jerusalem to enlarge its Walls and increase the number of its Citizens And what Love hath the Son of God expressed that he Preaches to call the Gentiles to make them Fellow-Citizens with the Saints Members of God's Family and partakers of his Promise in Christ Jesus Ephes 2.19 and 3.6 3. The Son of God is Lord of all Acts 10.36 He sits on a Throne above and speaks from his Heavenly Glory Heb. 12.25 1. Will you not listen to him speaking to you from Heaven whose Blood must speak for you in Heaven or else you must perish everlastingly Heb. 12.24 2. Will you not regard his Voice that can call you out of the World when he pleaseth If he saith Return ye Sons of men Psal 90.3 we can continue in the Body we can stay on Earth no longer If he speak the word we must return to the Earth and be crumbled to Dust his Command cannot be gainsaid or contradicted 3. Will you not listen to him that can and will call you out of your Graves at the last day John 5.28 29. All that are in their Graves shall hear his voice and come forth Job saith to God Thou wilt call and I will answer thou wilt have a desire to the work of thy hands Job 14.13.15 O what Authority and Power hath the Son of God that can make the dead to hear and obey 4. Will you not listen to him that will give the last and perfecting call to Saints Mat. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World How much is it our Interest to regard believe and obey him who can at the last day call us into his Eternal Kingdom and Glory 4. Will you not listen to the Son of God when his Word is the Rule of Judgment and the very Ground of the Eternal Sentence of Men and Women Christ saith The Word that I have spoken shall Judge you at the last day John 12.49 Men shall be sentenced to Life or Death be adjudged to Heaven or Hell as they receive or reject Christ's Word 5. Those that Receive not Christ's Word and Reject his Person have one that will Judge them John 12.48 The Father will call such to a strict Account will enter into Judgment with them and execute Vengeance on them Moses did Prophecy of Christ Deut. 15.18 19. That God would raise up a Prophet like to him And God saith That he would put his words into his mouth and he shall speak all that I command him and it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my Name I will require it of him God will require an Account of his Unbelief and Disobedience and will requite him for it Christ seems to have a respect to these very words when he saith He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that will Judge him Will you not dread the Impartial and Righteous Judgment of God and fear Punishment from his Hand 6. Consider the Matter that Christ Preacheth He speaks excellent things Prov. 8.6 Wonderful things Psal 119.18 Open thou my Eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law The Apostles filled with Christ's Spirit did Preach the Mighty Works of God Acts 2.11 Jesus did Preach the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God Matth. 13.11 He revealed the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 11. And did declare the Wisdom of God hid in a Mystery 1 Cor. 2.7 and manifest the Name of the Father John 17.6.26 There is a Name of the Father that the World would never could never have known had not the Son declared it The Law declares That God loves Righteousness and hath a delight in Righteous Men and that he will do good to those that be good But if Men break his Laws cast off his Yoke reject his Authority the Law denounceth Wrath and Vengeance threatens Sinners with Perdition and Destruction Those that rob God of his Honour and Glory must make Restitution to him by their Eternal Sufferings and Misery The Light of Nature or the Law of God gives us no. Account that God hath Grace to exercise towards the underserving yea ill deserving that he hath any Pity to extend to those that have provoked his Anger and affronted his Infinite Majesty This is a great Secret that God will stretch out his Hand from Heaven to raise up fallen Man that he will provide a Laver to wash foul and filthy Sinners in that he will out off his own Plea against Offenders sheath his Sword and provide a Satisfaction for his own Justice and pay himself out of the Blood of his own Son And how deep a Mystery is this that the God that might have required us to be Sacrifices to his Revenging Justice should call his own Son to make his Soul an Offering and lay down his Life for Sinners Isa 53.10 John 10.18 That he should be just in bruising and
be Visited when others are passed by and neglected Why should the Son of God come to and knock at our Doors when he is far off from others and makes no Address to them And will you slight and abuse Christs Kindness Will you break off the Treaty of Peace and reject the offers of Mercy If you delay Jesus Christ may withdraw he may utterly depart from you the Bridegroom may no more woo you the Physitian may no more offer his Help to you but suffer you to die of your Diseases the great Shepherd may break his Staff of Beauty take no more care of you but leave you to be a prey to Satan that roaring Lion O! consider if you delay and put Christ off Sickness may suddenly seize you Death may in a moment snatch you away your Flower may soon Fade your Lamp of Life be quickly blown out an Apoplexy may surprize you your Reason may be Clouded your Understanding darkned your Speech may fail you some sudden accident that you never thought of may cut off your Life in an instant will not your delays then be pernitious and fatal to you What then will become of all your Promises and all your purposes to Believe Repent and turn to God Will not Satan then catch away the Soul to Hell Will you not then fall into the Hands of the Living God Will you not be the objects of his Eternal Frowns and Fury Will you not then too late understand your Folly and Madness in puting off Jesus Christ O! will not Conscience then twit upbraid reproach you what did you think it was too soon to be Cured of your Diseases Was it too soon to have your Bonds and Satans snares broken Was it too soon to be made wise Too soon to be set at liberty Too soon to be Pardoned Too soon to return from your wanderings and get into the way of Salvation and Eternal Life How did Satan blind your Eyes How did Sin charm and bewitch your Souls You that once thought it too soon do now understand and feel that it is too late It is a very observable Sentence in Cyprian Sero credunt in aeternam paenam Contra Demetr qui noluerunt credere ad aeternam vitam Those too late will believe the truth of Gods word to their Eternal Punishment who would not timely believe to their Eternal Life they that would not see their Danger shall see their Destruction They that would not fear the Threatnings of Gods Mouth shall feel the Blows of his Hand Is it not better to hear now the sweet noise of the Bridegroom than hereafter to hear the terrible Voice of an Angry and Condemning Judg. Take heed that you be not Cheated and Beguiled by Satan he tells thee thou maist listen to Christ and Repent hereafter but his design is to harden thy Heart and that thou shalt never listen or turn to Christ As the Levite rose early to go his Journey Judges 19.5 but his Father in Law incouraged him to stay and comfort his Heart with a morsel of Bread and afterward he should go his way so Satan and sin are first modest in their Temptations and Suggestions They tell sinners they need not rise early and soon set out in the way to Heaven That it is best first to Comfort their Hearts with the Pleasures and Enjoyments of the World after they have Eaten a Morsel and Drunk a Draught of Stolen Waters they may go on in their way to another World and as the Levites Father in Law that first asked but for the Morning afterward desires the whole day and would have the Levite tarry all Night and so he did even thus Sin and Satan deal with wicked men after they have prevailed with them to mis-spend and vainly Consume the Morning of their Lives they afterwards insinnate desire and demand the whole Day of Life to be spent in Estrangement from God in the service of vile Affections and base Lusts so that the Night of Death comes on them and they drop down into the bottomless Pit The Levite tho he did not depart and journey one day yet he might Travel away the next but when our one day of Life is past and spent in sin there is no day of Life or Grace that will succeed to amend our Folly or repair our loss Psal 49.19 careless and negligent sinners go to the Generation of their ungodly Fathers they that never see the Light there will be a morning for Judgement and Condemnation but none for Repentance Delays are exceeding dangerous the Heart it more hardened Heb. 3.13 the old Man is more corrupted Ephes 4.22 As a Dead Body doth every day grow worse more corrupt and putrified even so the old Man in us doth more corrupt in its desires and affections it is great Policy in a Captain to hold an Enemy in a Treaty about a Surrender while he doth Portify his Garrison so it is a deep Policy of Satan to put thee on Fair Promises and faint purposes of yeilding to Jesus Christ while thy Heart is more Fortified with prejudice and enmity against God and Christ O! therefore soon stretch out thy Hands to Christ Psal 68.31 Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands to God in the Hebrew it is shall make her Hands run to God O! that thy Hands may run to Christ to receive precious Gifts from him and to offer up a Living Sacrifice to him The Second Part of a Discourse on 1 Pet. 3.19 The Second Doctrine that the last words of the Text afford us is this 2. Doct. The spirits of Wicked Men when they go out of the Body are confin'd to and shut up in Gods Prison THree things here are to be spoken to and insisted on 1. That God hath 2 Prison 2. That the Souls of wicked Men when they go out of the Body shall be cast into this Prison 3. I shall shew how Dreadful and Terrible this Prison is 1. That God hath a Prison Earthly Princes have places of Durance and Restraint for such as offend them and Transgress their Laws Gen. 1.2 3. two of the Officers of Pharaoh offended the King of Egypt their Lord was wroth with them and expresses his Displeasure by puting them in Prison And is it not highly reasonable and just that the King of Heaven and Earth should have his Prison to confine Transgressors to and to punish delinquents in Should Sinners that do their own wills fulfil the Devils Lusts Rebel against Gods Laws still be at liberty to Contract more Guilt and provoke more wrath if Iniquity were for ever joyn'd with Impuâ—ity would not the Majesty of God be still affronted his Laws trod under foot his threatnings derided and scorn'd Tho sinners own God in word and cannot utterly race and extirpate the Notion of a Divine Being out of their Souls yet they hold it in unrighteousness Rom. 1.18 They are as Dark Lanterns to shut in and hide the Light of this great Truth they
not to the sinful and inordinate love of themselves It is mens Lust that is active in this Adultery the Creature is only Passive it groans under this Force put on it but cannot decline and avoid it the Creature is innocent but it is a Mans Unchast and Filthy Heart that is guilty For this Spiritual Whoredom men deserve to be cast into Gods Prison if God be broken by their whorish Heart Ezek 6.9 then surely they are worthy to be wounded and broken for it 2. Men are debtors to God every sin is a Debt Matt. 6.12 Forgive us our Debts as we forgive our Debtors we primarily owe to God a Debt of Love and Obedience but for default in the Payment of this Debt there arises another Debut we owe God Glory to be raised out of our Sufferings Eternal Misery and Torments all Creatures must bow to God and some way or other serve him Isa 45.32 Either as Vessels of Honour or as Vessels for Dishonour God must have glory either by his Mercy or our Misery it is but just that God should enter his Action against his Debtors that he should Sue Arrest and Imprison them If those that owe Mony to Men and do not pay it are cast into Prison much more those that owe Service and Obedience to God and not render it are to be thrown into an Eternal Prison 3. Sinners are now already in Prison they are called Prisoners Isa 24.6 Isa 49.9 they are Styled Captives Isa 61.1 they are said to be taken Captive by the Devil at his will and to be held in his Snare they are in the Bond of Iniquity Acts 8.23 The Sins of Men do take them and their iniquities do hold them Prov. 5.22 we read that Paul and Silas were cast into the inner Prison Acts 16.24 This Expression of the Inner Prison implies the Prison was divided into two parts there was an outer and an inner Prison so I may distinguish God hath an outer and inner Prison his outer Prison is in this World his inner Prison is in Hell here sinners are in the outer Prison they are bound Isa 61.1 they are held Rom. 7.6 They are taken captive 2 Tim. 2 last They are shut up under sin Gal. 3.22 Loaden with Dead Works Heb. 9.14 Guilty before God Rom. 3.19 And Condemned John 3.18 He that believes not is Condemned already and if men stay and continue in the outer-Prison and Death finds them here how just is it that God should cast them into his inner Prison and shut them up and hold them there for ever 4. Jesus Christ himself when he was a surety for Sinners and stood in their room and stead was made a Prisoner was under a restraint and confinement Isa 53.8 It is said He was taken from Prison and Judgment Jesus Christ could not have been taken out of Prison if he had not first been in Prison But how was Jesus Christ in Prison I answer 1. The great sorrow that was in the amazing fear that was on Christs Spirit was as a Prison about his Soul Matt. 36.37 38. he was sorrowful and very heavy he said My Soul is sorrowful to the Death He was sore amaz'd Mark 14.33 taking a prospect of the dreadful storm that did hang over him the deep and bitter Cup reach'd out to him the vast Ocean of Sorrows and Sufferings that were before him yet he was heard in that he feared Heb. 5.7 This implies that he was under fear yet he was deliver'd from it that it did not sink him or overwhelm him 2. Jesus fell into the hands of his Enemies they seized on him led him him away to Annas and Caiaphas they held him under their power for several hours till they Condemned and Executed him John 18.12 13. the Captain and band of Soldiers took Christ bound him and led him away as a Prisoner 3. Jesus was buried he was laid in the dust and shut up as a captive of Death in the prison of the grave but such was the dignity of his person the value of his Blood the satisfactory nature of his Suffering that his Captivity was short his Imprisonment lasted but a little while yet this confinement and prison of Christ doth teach us what sinners deserve doth instruct us what they must expect if they are not washed from their Sins in Christs Blood and reconciled to God by his Death his Person being infinite and his Sufferings satisfactory his Prison could only be temporary and short but the nature of Sinners being Finite and their sufferings not able to expiate their sins their Prison must needs be Everlasting 5. God threatens sinners with this Prison and he must needs be just to himself and true to his word the Lightening of Gods Threatning is not without a Thunderbolt of Execution and Vengeance Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God God hath not only said it but also sworn it That he will never forget any of the deeds of impenitent Sinners Amos 8.7 the Lord hath Sworn by the Excellency of Jacob that is by himself that is Jacobs Excellency surely I will never forget any of their Works Tho men forget God and his Laws yet he will not forget their Crimes and Iniquities Gods Threatning must stand therefore sinners must fall into the Bottomless Pit Gods word must take hold of them Zack 1.5 6. therefore they will be cast into the Eternal Prison If we confirm not Gods Command by doing it Deut. 27. last God will confirm his threatning by executing it Dan. 9.12 6. The Spirits of Sinners departed out of the Body must be shut up in Gods Prison for God hath mighty Officers of Justice he hath powerful Bayliffs and Serjeants to Arrest to Seize on to carry away departing Souls Luke 12.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they shall require and demand thy Soul of thee they that shall require it will not be denied will not be rejected and sent empty away they will take hold of guilty Creatures drag them to the highest Tribunal and present them to the Sovereign Judg of Heaven and Earth good or bad Angels seize on dislodging and removing Souls I have been credible informed concerning a wicked man that I knew my self That when he was on the brink of the Pit and on the Borders of Eternity Something in the likeness of a Crow appeared in his Chamber and sate on the Testar of his Bed and could not be driven away till the sick man gave up the Ghost and then it suddenly Vanished away The Antient Rabbins have talked of the Angel of Death that did appear to Sick and Dying Men and was very Terrible to them by this Angel of Death they seem to mean some good or bad Angel sent to fetch the Soul to God's Tribunal to give its Account and to receive its final Sentence God doth not want Means or Messengers to attach and apprehend guilty Souls and to Conduct them into his Terrible and glorious
Ears stopt even so it hath been since those that have been in the Church and under the sound of the Word have heard tidings that should have affected their Spirits gladded their Hearts yea even ravished their Souls a year of Jubilee hath been proclaimed a day of Salvation hath been afforded sinners have been told that dead Souls may hear the Voice of the Son of God and live that Prisoners in this World may be set free Captives released Wounds may be healed Diseases cured Sinners may be justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus filthy Souls may be cleansed Conscience may be purged from dead works yet men mind not regard not seek not any of these things They make light of all the Travel of Christs Soul of the Purchase of his Blood of the Legacies of his Testament Matt. 22.5 they consider not that their Diseases threaten them with Eternal Death that the weight of their Guilt will sink them down into the Bottomless Pit that the shame of their Nakedness will expose them to everlasting Contempt and Abhorrency all this Stupidity Folly and hardness of Heart shall be renewed and reflected on as a just Cause of Eternal Punishment They shall remember how Jesus Christ called and they did not answer he knocked and they did not open he stretched out his Hands filled with pretious and inestimable Gifts but they did not stretch out the hand of Faith to receive Christ and his Benefits They would not look to Christ that they might be saved Isaiah 45.22 They turned from the Captain of Salvation to a Murtherer from a merciful Shepherd to a cruel and devouring Lion they would not come to Christ that they might have life John 5.40 they would not lean on Christâ— Arm that they might not fall under the wrath of God and the vengeance of eternal Fire This will one day sting them that sin was sweeter to them than salvation that rather than quench the fire of Lust they would run into the flames of Hell that rather than the Old Man should suffer and its Members be mortified or cut off they themselves would perish everlastingly This will to eternity wound them that their vanity of Mind their carelesness of Spirit their unbelief and hardness of Heart hath undone them that they dallied trifled away the time turned away the Physitian refused the Redeemer rejected the Bridegroom and must suffer the deserved punishment for all this to eternity they will see their opportunity is lost and never to be regained that the Door of Gods House is shut never to be opened again that the Treaty of Peace is broken off never to be revived any more that the Ladder that joined Earth and Heaven together is taken away is drawn up and will never be let down to sinners any more 2. This will aggravate the Misery of those that are in this Infernal Prison that they shall see what others enjoy but they are bereaved of and shut out from Luk. 13.28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth when ye shall see Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God and you your selves thrust out The Time was when Sinners were earnestly called upon were pressed with importunity to enter into the Kingdom of God but they neglected they contemned it but now this is their Punishment to be thrust out into Eternal Darkness and Torment and their loss will be embittered when they behold what others are arrived at and in Possession of O how will it pierce the Hearts of the degenerate Seed of Godly Men to see their Fathers possess a rich Inheritance and they themselves to be Poor for ever How will this vex incense and inrage them to see others at a plentiful Royal Feast and themselves to lie under an Eternal Famine That Saints Triumph in Glorious Triumph and they are held in Eternal Bondage That others wear Robes and Crowns of Glory but they themselves are clothed with sordid Garments and Rags of Infamy it might be a trouble to Lazarus to see Dives his Plenty and his own Penury To behold his Delicates and costly Fare and then reflect on his own hunger and wants but in the other World things are quite turned Now Dives is troubled to see Lazarus at Rest and he himself in Torments to behold Lazarus Feasted and himself Famished Luk. 16.19 20 21 22 24. O how will this Disquiet and Torment Sinners to see Saints bathing themselves in the Fountain of Life and that they cannot get a drop of Water to cool their Tongues and allay their Torments 1. Vse Of the Doctrine Is it so that the Spirits of Wicked men gone out of the Body are in Gods Prison then this Truth should awaken secure and strike a Terrour into hard Hearted Sinners O do not imagine that if you are afflicted that you receive all your evil things here Gods anger is not turned away his Sword is not sheathed his Controversie is not at an end with you there is a vast Arrear of Debt a dreadful remainder of Wrath yet behind You drink but the Top of the Cup of Gods Fury the dregs of it yet remain to be sucked into your Souls in another World Psal 75.8 God le ts fall but some drops of his Displeasure here the most dreadful storm is yet behind Psal 11.6 God now doth but Skirmish with Sinners in this World he will join Battel and come to a close fight with them in another World O Sinners will you choose the way to Gods Prison will you take the Road that leads to the Lake of Fire and Brimstone you foolishly run into the Devils snares and rush upon Hell and Destruction will you bring forth Fruit to Death Rom. 7.5 Will you bear such Fruit as will make you more worthy of Death and more fit for Destruction Will you provide evidences and prepare witnesses for your Condemnation Jer. 14.7 Mens Iniquities testifie against them The more Sins they commit the more Witnesses they raise up against themselves Will you heap up fuel for your Eternal burning Will you daily purchase for your selves a place in this Eternal Prison Will you yield your depraved Wills your vile Affections as so many Chains given into the Devils hand to lead you by unto this dreadful Prison Will you Barter and Trade away your Souls for so contemptible a price as the Wages of Unrighteousness and the Pleasures of Sin that are but for a season Will you be ignorant of Satan Devices Will you not discern his designs he seeks for he hunts after your Souls His aim is to gain and seize them that he may carry them away into this dark Prison O Sinners will you not consider will you not rouse up your selves and start out of your deep Sleep there may be but a step between you and this Eternal Prison Will you delay at the brink of the Pit will you sleep at the Door of the Prison Will you not stop your selves before it be too late Will you stay in the Devils
it must not be a doubtful Opinion but a rooted Perswasion God is wronged by wicked Men and he must right himself they have pressed him with their Iniquities as a Cart is pressld under the sheaves and he must ease himself Isa 1.24 Ah I will ease me of my Enemies and avenge me of my Adversaries Sinners rise up proudly against God Psal 138.21 Am I not grieved with those that rise up against thee and God must humble and abase them Psal 73.29 Thou settest them in slippery places thou castest them down into destruction Ungodly men break God's Yoak Jer. 5.5 and therefore must be broken with that Rod of Iron that is in Christ's hand Psal 2.9 God will draw near to them in Justice Mal. 3.5 I will come near to you to Judgment that are gone far from God as to Obedience Psal 73.27 Lo those that are far from thee shall perish 2. Acknowledge that you have deserved to be thrown into this Prison Have you not lived without God in the World Eph. 2.12 and and so have you not begun your Hell on Earth have you not executed a great and grievous part of the Eternal Punishment on your selves by neglecting Converse with God and cutting your selves off from Communion with him Have you not contentedly been without God in Time and is it not righteous that you should be without him to Eternity 3. Submit to the Spirit of God when it becomes a Spirit of Bondage to your Souls Rom. 5.15 It is then a Spirit of Bondage when it arrests the Conscience with a deep heavy sense of Sin when it sets home the Threatnings and Curse of the Law when it seals to a Sinner a Sentence of Condemnation and fills the Soul with the Terrors of God Gal. 3.22 The Scripture hath concluded all under Sin the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 might as well be rendred shut up The Scripture hath shut up all men and all the Acts of the Natural man under sin it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things that appertain and belong to the Natural man and flow from him For they that are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.8 The Sacrifice of the Wicked that is his best Religious Service is an Abomination to the Lord And the Prayer of the Wicked that is all his common Actions are also an Abomination to the Lord Prov. 15.8 9. If the Sacrifice and the Way of the Wicked be an Abomination then the Scripture may well conclude his All under Sin Ungodly men seem to walk at Liberty to be secure merry and unconcerned at Sin the Wrath of God and an Eternal State but the Spirit of God comes and arrests secure Sinners and shuts them up under the bitterness of Sin and the dreadful sense of the Wrath of God in this Case it is dangerous for Persons to shake off the Terrors of God to despsse his Threatnnings and to break God's Prison Those that quench Convictions and return to a loose and licentious Life are in great danger of undoing themselves to Eternity Be therefore perswaded that the Spirit and the Scripture do mercifully shut up Unregenerate Men and all their Actions under sin it is not that they may sink under their Guilt languish under their Disease and perish everlastingly but all this is to humble their proud Minds and break their hard Hearts that they may sue to Free Grace to remit their Debt break their Chains heal their Disease and save their Souls The Scripture shuts up all under sin that the Promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe The Spirit of Bondage prepares Persons for the Spirit of Adoption that Men may act Faith on Jesus Christ lay hold of the free Promise and so have Justification and Salvation as an Alms of Mercy 4. Listen to Christs Voice that calls you out of the spiritual Prison Isa 49.9 That thou mayst say to the Prisoners Go forth and to them that are in darkness Shew your selves O desire and cry to Jesus Christ to speak this effectually to your Soul You need he should speak with a strong hand Isa 8.11 Look to Jesus Christ to open the door of Gods Prison Isa 61.1 and also to open the door of your hard heart Acts 16.14 God opened the Heart of Lydia O desire Jesus Christ to speak so that your Chains may fall off your Doors fly open and you be brought out of darkness and the Prison-house Isa 42.7 You need to be sprinkled with the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep destroying Justice out The Blood of the Paschal Lamb sprinkled on the Door-posts of the Israelites was a Sign to the destroying Angel that he was not to break into that House or kill any there Exod. 12.22.23 It is the Blood of Jesus Christ the True Paschal Lamb 1 Cor. 5.7.8 that must be our Guard Security Protection and where this is sprinkled God sets a Sign on those Souls that they shall not perish but escape that they are not appointed to Wrath but to obtain Salvation by Jesus Christ God saith in Isa 66.19 that he would set a Sign among the Jews Calvin on the Place thinks that there is an allusion to the Blood of the Paschal Lamb sprinkled on the Israelities Doors that was a Sign they should be safe So Christs Blood applyed to us and sprinkled on us is a sure Sign and Token of our Salvation that we shall not come into Condemnation but find Mercy with the Lord O therefore apply your selves by Faith to Jesus Christ as a Redeemer Isa 59.20 that you may be Ransomed by the Blood he hath shed by the Price he hath paid address your selves to Jesus Christ as a Deliverer Rom. 11.26 that you may be Rescued by that Power he can put forth Jesus Christ is a Redeemer by Price and a Deliverer by Power these two conjoyned do render him a Compleat and perfect Saviour If Jesus Christ be a refining Fire to you in this World Mal. 3.2 3 4. God will not be a Consuming Fire to you in the world to come Heb. 12. last 5. Repent unfeignedly of and truly break off from your Sins Mark 1.15 Repent and believe the Gospel O wash your Hearts from Wickedness put away the evil of your doings escape that Corruption that is in the World through Lust Jer. 4.14 Isa 1.16 17. 2 Pet. 1.4 Break and shake off the bond of Iniquity Acts 8.23 Get out of the Snare of the Devil 2 Tim. 2. last and you need not dread the Eternal Prison God will not condemn those that bear his Image live his Life wage War with his Enemies As you seek to Jesus Christ to quench the Fire of God's Wrath by putting his Blood on it so do you pluck away the Fuel of this Fire by Repentance and continual Mortification suffer in your Flesh in your corrupt Nature here 1 Pet. 4.1 that you may not suffer in your Soul for ever hereafter dye to sin that you may not dye for sin If your Lusts do still find Favour with you how can you hope to find Mercy with God Curb your Flesh restrain your selves from Carnal Liberty and you shall be safe and secured from eternal Bondage Make a Covenant with your Eyes Job 31.1 restrain them from wandring and gazing on tempting and enticing Objects Cry to God Lord turn away mine Eyes from beholding Vanity Psal 119.37 Keep your Hearts with all diligence Prov. 4.23 suppress vain thoughts that spring up quash sensual desires that are ready to sprout forth The old man is a stock still budding In-dwelling sin is still tempting this Womb would still conceive and bring forth Fruit to death there is a Law in us Rom. 7.21 that Satan hath enacted Members that he hath made Col. 3.5 Lusts that he hath kindled 1 Joh. 2.15 16. Our daily Work therefore must be to contend with our corrupt Wills and vile Affections to fight against sin to conflict with and overcome our selves He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second Death Rev. 2.11 You must restrain your Tongues and set a Watch before the door of your Lips the Psalmist said he would take heed to his ways that he did not sin with his Tongue he would keep his Mouth with a Bridle Psal 39.1 Much sin would be prevented if we did watch over our Words Christs great silence when he was falsly accused points at Sinners great sin in abusing their Tongues in rash and evil speaking We must also refrain our Feet from the ways of Sin and Death Psal 119.101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way that I might keep thy Word By the Word of thy Lips I have kept my self from the Path of the destroyer Psal 17.4 Wicked men take Liberty to themselves to say or do what they please Jer. 14.10 They love to wander they have not refrained their Feet It is dangerous for you to affect a Liberty for your corrupt Hearts roving Senses and wandring Feet If you give Liberty to your Lusts God will proclaim Liberty to the Sword Jer. 34.17 Would you have Gods punishing hand at Liberty to destroy you would you have his Glistering Sword at Liberty to cut you off shall all banks be cut and the Flood of the Wrath of God be at Liberty to overwhelm and swallow you up for ever Abridge your selves deny carnal Liberty to your Flesh and it's Lusts If you walk in the Narrow Way of the Law-giver you shall not fall into the strait Prison of the Judge FINIS