own lusts They are blinded and deluded the Devil putteth the greatest cheat upon them and beguileth them worse than children are beguiled of such things that when their eyes are opened at the last and they perceive what they have lost by their sins which the Devil hath drawn them unto and that their loss is irreparable and when they are awakened to feel the pain and torment which the Devil by sin hath brought them unto and they see that now it is unavoidable and though so intollerable yet will be eternall they will then be ready to tear themselves to pieces for their folly and madness that they should hearken to the Devil and not hearken to Christs Ministers that when the Devil proffered only Counters but Ministers Gold that which is more precious than fine Gold when the Devil proffered Pebbles Ministers the Jewel of the greatest price when the Devil proffered Pictures such as all worldly vanities are but Ministers proffered Deeds of Conveyance to a great Inheritance even a conveyance of the eternal Inheritance by the deed of the King of Heaven O the folly and sottishness of sinners that they should choose the former and refuse the latter that they should sow the windes all their dayes grasp a shaddow pursue a Fâ—ather follow lying vanities through Satans perswasions and hereby not only neglect and miss of mercy which Ministers brought to their doors but also run headlong into the flames of everlasting burnings when Ministers warned them so frequently hereof and entreated them so earnestly to close with Christ who alone could deliver them they will then perceive too late and rue to no purpose their desperate madness in complying with Satans temptations and neglecting the calls and counsels of Christs faithfull Ambassadours 2. It reproveth such as hearken to the Devil when he perswadeth them unto damnable errours and will not hearken to Christs Ministers who would teach and establish them in the soul-saving truths of the Word Satan doth appear many times like an Angel of light 2 Cor. 11.14 not as the Angel did to Cornelius to direct men unto Christs Ministers but to draw them away endeavouring the subversion of the Ministry and Ordinances of Christs Institution Satan hath his Ministers who appear like Ministers of righteousness when indeed they are Wolves in Sheeps cloathing who by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16.18 who are deceived themselves and labour to deceive others First endeavouring to prejudice them against Christs Ministers and then privily bringing in damnable heresies wresting the Scripture to their own and others destruction Where people do turn away their ears from the truth and open them to their errours and delusions when they forsake and cannot endure the sound teaching of Christs Ambassadours but with itching ears are delighted with the pretended new discoveries of false Teachers and greedily drink in the poyson of their false doctrines and follow the pâ—rnicious waies of such as are given up to the efficacy of errour to believe lyes they chuse the Devil for their Teacher instead of Jesus Christ by his Ministers and then you may easily guess whither he is like to lead them SECT III. Vse 2. FOR Exhortation 1. Of Ministers 2. Of People 1. For exhortation of Ministers Doth God make use of Ministers to preach the Gospel rather than Angels It is a great honour the Lord hath put upon us and there is great duty which the Lord doth expect from us Let this consideration 1. Qâ—icken us to diligence and faithfulness in Preaching 2. Engage us to a blameless and exemplary conversation 1. Let us be diligent and faithful in preaching the Gospel Let us be instant in season and out of season to reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine 2 Tim. 4.2 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if peradventure the Lord will give them repentance 2 Tim. 2.25 Let us fulfill the Ministry the Lord hath entrusted us with Col. 4.17 serving the Lord and the souls committed to our charge with all humility of mind and faithfulness keeping back nothing which is profitable for them that we may keep our selves pure from the blood of all men Let us testifie repentance towards God and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ and open the treasures of the Gospel and mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven with all plainness and perspicuity dealing forth wholesome food unto hungry souls as faithful Stewards of the manifold grace of God Let us not use deceit or guile or flattering words or a cloak for covetousness or uncleanness or boasting words but as we are allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel so let us speak and preach not as pleasing men but as pleasing God who searcheth the heart being so affectionately desirous of the salvation of souls as to be willing to impart unto them our souls with the Gospel if we could and it would do them good And let us not count estate or liberty or life it self dear to us that we finish our course with joy and the Ministry we have received from the Lord Act. 20. 1 Thes. 2. 1 Pet. 4. 2. Let the honour the Lord hath conferred upon us engage us unto a blameless and exemplary conversation Let our conversations shine with holiness as well as our Sermons shine with truths Let us teach by our life as well as by our doctrine Let us be examples to the Believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity 1 Tim. 4.12 Let the way to Heaven be read in our steps Let us be blameless and harmless the Sons of God and Ministers of Christ without rebuke in the midst of a crooked generation amongst whom let us shine as lights as we hope hereafter to shine like stars We are employed to preach rather than Angels let us live as if we were Angels on earth and as those who hope to live with Angels in Heaven 2. For Exhortation of People Doth God make use of Ministers to preach the Gospel rather than Angels Be exhorted then 1. To love and esteem Your Ministers 2. To Hear Your Ministers 3. To Believe Your Ministers 4. To Obey Your Ministers 1. Esteem and love your Ministers 1 Thes. 5.12 13. We beseech you Brethren that you know them which labour amâ—â—gst you and are over you in the Lord that you esteem them very highly in love for the works sake How beautiful should the feet of them be that bring glad tidings of good things How welcome should their voice be that preach the Gospel of peace Rom. 10.15 We read of some who had so great love to the Apostle that they could have plucked out their eyes and given to him yet his affection was greater for he could have plucked out his heart and given to them How should people love their Ministers who are their spiritual Fathers and Nurses and Physitians Love them they are your soul-friends and therefore your best friends Esteem them
these words may have the Holy Ghost fall upon you and feel such a wonderfull power going along with them as shall draw you unto Christ and bring you out of the estate of spiritual death and damnation in which you are by nature into a state of life and salvation whilest I am speaking to your ears God may speak to your hearts whilest I am presenting these words before you and holding forth the light unto you God may open your eyes and give you by his Spirit such a spiritual discerning of these things as you never had before and so affect your hearts as no word of man is able to do hear then a Sermon of God out of the mouth of the Apostle Peter which hath been effectual for conversion and who knoweth but it may produce the same effect in some of you in the repetition and explication of it as it did in the Gentiles in the first preaching of it It is said the Holy Ghost fell upon all them which heard these words when Peter preached them O that the Holy Ghost might fall upon some of you whilest I am preaching them The Gentiles had extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost given unto them in their hearing Peter O that you might have a true work of conversion by the Holy Ghost given in the hearing of me They are the Words of God receive them as his words which may effectually work to your salvation if the Lord give faith in the hearing Look up then to the Lord for his blessing on which the efficacy of the Word doth depend The words are in Act. 10. from the 34th to the 44th Vers. I shall first read them and then open these words of salvation to you After that Cornelius had sent for Peter to Ioppa he sent for many of his friends to his house and when they were come together and Peter was come and had a relation from Cornelius of his â—ision and they had told him that they were all there present before God to hear the things which were commanded him of God Vers. 34. he begins his Sermon Then Peter opened his mouth and said Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him The Word which God sent unto the Children of Israel preaching peace by Iesus Christ he is Lord of all That Word I say ye know which was published throughout all Judea and began from Galilee after the Baptisme which John preached How God anoynted Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil for God was with him And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of Judea and in Jerusalem whom they slew and hanged on a tree him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly not to all the people but to witnesses chosen before of God even to us who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testifie that it was he which was ordained of God to be the Iudge of quick and dead To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins This Sermon of Peter's which is the first Sermon which was preached unto the Gentiles after the partition-wall was broken down is but brief but it hath much sweet and soul-saving doctrine in it and it is likely that the Scripture doth bâ—t briefly rehearse the heads of that which the Apostle discoursed of more largely unto them and therefore I shall endeavour to open this Sermon unto you which is like a rich Cabinet of most precious treasure wherein is to be found the Pearle of the greatest price which the wise Merchant-man will sell all that he hath to obtain because it is not only desireable to enrich him but also necessary to save him I mean the Lord Jesus Christ whom the Apostle doth describe and hold forth unto the Gentiles We read Luk. 24.31 that the Disciples hearts burned within them whilest our Saviour spake to them by the way and opened to them the Scriptures and O that you might feel your hearts burn within you whilest I am opening unto you this Scripture which doth relate Peters Sermon The Sermon of Peter may be reduced to Four general heads 1. Concerning God 2. Concerning the Word 3. Concerning Iesus Christ. 4. Concerning the way of salvation by Christ. SECT VI. 1. THE Apostle speaks unto the Gentiles concerning God v. 34. and 35. Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him Two things he gives them to understand concerning God 1. His gracious disposition to accept of Men. 2. His good will towards the Gentiles 1. He lets them know how gracious God was in being willing to accept of men of any men without respect of persons whatever their sins had been so that they did turn from them in his fear and wrought righteousness for the future This is needfull for sinners to know that they might be encouraged to seek after salvation For if they apprehend God only as he is holy and just and jealous if they are told only that he is powerful and furious and a sin-revenging God when they reflect upon their guilt they will be ready to fly away from him under a slavish fear of punishment and in discouragement and despair go on in the practice of sin as long as they can Therefore Ministers must represent God unto sinners as gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness pardoning iniquity transgression and sin as he sets forth himself to Moses Exod. 34.6 7. they must tell sinners that God is gracious and ready to accept of all those that fear him and turn from their evil waies and resolve to work righteousness for the time to come and that he will be found of and give a reward unto all such as diligently seek him Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of all them that diligently seek him O that you who are going on in sin were perswaded of this how gracious and merciful the Lord is whom you do so highly offend by sin and how ready he is to accept of you if you would but turn from sin He hath given us Ministers commission to tell you that there is an accepted time and a day of salvation for your souls which he yet lengthens out unto you Yea we are sent as his Embassadours to entreat and beseech you that you would be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5.20 And when God declares by us that he is so willing to accept of you that he desires you to accept of his salvation and beseecheth a reconciliation when he can so easily avenge
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
Authors may be quoted when there is real need so it be done rarely and soberly but for Ministers to enterlard their Sermons all over with Greek and Latine and sayings of men they must needs leave out much of the Word of God which they might use and it cannot be so profitable for the Hearers 3. Ministers must not use such words and speeches as gender strife I mean the perverse disputings which Sceptical Philosophy will put them upon whereby they may be spoyl'd and deceive both themselves and others through the errors and mistakes which hereby they may run into 4. Ministers must not use in preaching too much neatness of speech and humane Eloquence The most excellent and enticing words of mans wisdom the Apostle did forbear 1 Cor. 2.4 It is not needfull for a Minister to read all Heathen Poets and Orators that he may fill his Sermons with their fancies and rhetorical expressions but he should chiefly fetch his Rhetorick from the Bible Indeed Apollos was commended for his Eloquence Act. 13.24 not humane Eloquence but divine It is not said he was mighty in other Learning but mighty in the Scriptures not mighty in the writings of Heathens but mighty in the writings of God his Eloquence was drawn from the Word which is most persuasive The Lord doth not require that his Ministers should preach the Gospel neatly but plainly the former may make them esteemed as the better Scholars but the latter wilâ— make their hearers the better Christians That way of preaching thâ—y should use which is most intelligible and profitable not that which is most learned and Scholastical Melius est ut nos reprehendant Grammatici quà m non intelligant populi saith one that could speak in an eloquent strein It is better that Grammarians should reprehend us than that the people should not understand us and he desired that since the vulgar could not ascend so high as to understand a more refined language that learned men would stoop so low as to accommodate their speech to their capacities Thus Ministers must preach the Gospel not with wisdom of words but with plainness of speech There is a light in the Gospel the purest and most glorious that ever shined wisdom of words doth darken and obscure this light it doth â—ully the truths which shine most when they are naked without such ornaments It is like a bright Cloud between us and the Sun which keeps off the greater light like painting of a Diamond or a beautifull face There is a power goâ—th along with the Word preached to convert sinners Heb. 4.12 The Word is compared to a sharp two-edged Sword piercing and separating between the joynts and the marrow between sin and the soul which are more neer than marrow is to the bone but wisdom of words or humane Eloquence doth guild as it were the edge of the Sword which takes away its sharpness or is like to a rich Scabbard which delights the eye and pleaseth the fancy but keeps the Sword from entring the bowels and wounding the Conscience It is in plain preaching that the Sword is drawn forth naked which makes the sinner slie or yield Plain preaching is the most effectual means to pull down the strong holds of sin and Satan and to draw men unto a closure with Jesus Christ. Humane wisdom usually puffeth up both them that use it and those that hear it Humane wisdom is apt to beget an humane faith which standeth in the wisdom of men plain preaching begetteth faith which standeth in the power of God There is no such edification as in plain preaching In plain preaching the bread of life and wholsom food of the Word is distributed but humane wisdom is like hey and stubble which is food for horses and not for men so humane wisdom may please and best agree with natural and bruitish men but true Christians cannot feed upon it it is no more suitable to their spiritual appetite than hey and stubble is to their naturall It is like Pictures in learnâ—d books which may delight children a Scholar doth not regard the Pictures but the writing the word of God doth feed and edifie a gracious heart when it is preached plainly and homely humane wisdom or wisdom of words in preaching doth take away much of the taste and relish and doth hinder its vertue and operation The Word is compared to milk which must be sincere to food which must be simple and uncompounded that it may nourish and strengthen the body It is compared to Wine that must be unmixed that it may chear and refresh the spirits wisdom of words is like water or rather like some fulsome liquor mingled with the wine which doth much invalidate and render it nauseous unto the Appetite of the New Creature Ministers therefore must preach the word plainly that they may do it edifyingly they must not use wisdom of words which will evacuate the Cross of Christ and render their preaching ineffectual and put a cloud between the light and the eye especially of the ordinary hearers much less may they use mysteriousness of words dark sayings and high-â—lown notions that shall puzzle the mindes of the wisest to guess at the meaning of They must not in preaching make plain things difficult by their way of expressing them as many do but make more difficult things plain they must preach plainly I have been more large in this head I shall be more brief in the rest 3. Ministers must preach the words of Salvation Convincingly They should preach so as to convince the Judgement of truth and to convince the Conscience of sin and therefore they should preach in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.4 1. Ministers should labour to speak so as to convince the Judgement of the truth which they preach They must not only assert Truths but prove them they must hold forth the Word of Faith with a clear evidencing light and hold fast the Word in a strenuous defence of it against opposers and with sound doctrine they must not only exhort but also convince gainsayers Tit. 1.9 Ministers should make manifest the words of salvation which they preach that they are the words of the God of truth with whom dwells no errour or falshood They should prove by undenyable Arguments that the Scriptures are of Divine Authority and therefore as full of truth as the Sun is full of light and then they should prove the doctrine which they preach by the Word and that with such reason for the belief of it that no reason may be left to contradict it Ministers should be shining lights in the places where they live dispersing abroad the bright beams of Gospel-truths with such power and conviction as may be sufficient through the concurrence of the Spirit to vanquish and dispell all those clouds of ignorance which the minds of men naturally are filled withall 2. Ministers should preach so as to convince not only the Judgement of truth but also so
as to convince the Conscience of sin and that they may do this they must not rest in general discourses of the nature of sin but particularly apply themselves to their hearers and reprove them homely and sharply for their particular sins They must not sow pillows under the elbows of secure sinners and deal gently fearing to touch the soars of some lest they lift up the heel against them but with all faithfulness they must tell all of their sins and endeavour to awaken them by discovery of their danger their words must be like Nails and Goads which will prick unto the quick they must lance and rip up the soars that they may be healed they must cry aloud and spare not they must lift up their voice like a trumpet and cause the people to know their iniquities they must bend the bow and shoot the arrows of bitter and sharp reproof into guilty Consciences they must draw forth the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and therewith lay about them in Gods Name and as those which are in Gods room and lash and wound sinners to the very heart that have been so audacious as to break Gods Law they should endeavour to make the sword enter into the Soul with such a force that sinners being convinced judged and condemned may with trembling fall down and in perplexity cry out as those did whom Peter had convinced of their great sin in crucifying the Lord of glory Act. 2. Men and brethren what shall we do 4. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Boldly This the Apostle desires prayers for himself to the Lord that he might be enabled to do Eph. 6.19 20. And for me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an Ambassadour in bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak Ministers should deliver their Message with all boldness and authority as being the Ambassadours of the King of glory they should speak boldly without shame and without fear 1. They should speak boldly without shame as Paul Rom 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth the preaching of the Gospel is accounted folly by some of great account in the World for wisdom and the Preachers of the Gospel are accounted Fools and despised Some reproach them others mock and deride them especially when they preach in such plain language as is most easie for all to understand but Ministers must preach boldly notwithstanding all the scoffs of the ungodly and profane and in a good sense they may glory in their shame for indeed that which the wicked do make the matter of scorn and shame is matter of the greatest glory it is the honour of Ministers to preach the Gospel of salvation such an honour as the Lord hath not conferred upon the Angels as hath been shewn and therefore they should preach boldly without shame 2. Ministers should preach boldly without fear they must deliver the message they are entrusted withall by God without fear of the face of men 1 Thess. 2.2 We were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much contention Though the wicked contend with them and oppose though they persecute and do what they can to hinder them though they command them to preach no more and would stop their mouths and threaten imprisonment banishment death yet being intrusted with the Gospel they must preach the Gospel with all boldness This was the practice of the Primitive Ministers when they were threatned for preaching Act. 4.29 And now Lord behold their threatnings and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy Word and this is the duty of all Ministers if God open to them a door of opportunity to preach they should open their mouths boldly to declare the mysteries of salvation whatever danger they may incurr of sufferings hereby Men may say Wo be to you if you do preach the Gospel but when God saith Wo be to you if you do not preach they have reason to fear and obey God rather than Men. 5. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Compassionately The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians with many tears 2 Cor. 2.4 and he preacheth to the Ephesians with many tears Act. 20.19 O what tender bowels of compassion should Ministers have towards poor souls in preaching the Gospel of salvation to them how should they pity sinners that lie wâ—ltring in their blood that have no pity for themselves that are cruel to their own Souls that are wounding themselves as being more distracted than the man we read of who tore his own flesh and cut himself with stones Mark 5.5 How should they commiserate sinners that are wounding their Consciences by sin not knowing what they do and are posting on in the broad way unto destruction and eternal misery not knowing whither they go that are running against a rock which will dash them to pieces and ready to leap into flames where they must burn for ever Ministers should weep and bleed over such and with the greatest tenderness tell them of their danger and shew them the inevitable ruine which is before them and beseech them to turn from their evil wayes that iniquity may not be their ruine and accept of Jesus Christ by whom they may attain salvation Ministers should be ready to beseech sinners upon their knees if that would do that they would not destroy themselves O Turn ye turn ye why will you die and be ready to lay their hands under their feet if that would move them to put their feet into the narrow way of salvation 6. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Warmly and that both with a warm love to the Souls they preach unto and with a warm sense of what they preach upon their own spirits 1. They must preach with a warm love to Souls as the Apostle with other Ministers to the Thessalonians 1 Thess. 2.8 So being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospel of God only but also our own souls because ye were dear unto us Ministers should preach the Gospel with such ardent affection to Souls and thirsting desires after their salvation so as to be willing to pluck out their hearts and give them to their hearers if this would promote their salvation they should be ready to spend themselves and be spent and not think much to consume themselves with fervour of heart towards and for the good of poor souls 2. Ministers should preach with a warm sense of what they preach upon their own spirits as those that have been under the impressions of the Word and have experienced the powerful operations thereof unto their own salvation Moreover they should get their hearts affected more and more with the words which they
preach that they may preach the more feelingly that they may speak as if they were in earnest as those that believe and know those things to be true which they deliver unto others Cold or lukewarm preaching usually makes little impression upon the hearers when the Word doth little affect the heart of the Minister it doth seldom affect the heart of the people When Ministers preach Sermons as Scholars speak Orations in which they have no concernment only to shew their good language and ingenuity they may possibly gain applause amongst some of a slight and trivial spirit but they are not like to gain souls the Word must come from the heart that is likely to reach the heart Ministers must preach warmly if they would preach affectingly 7. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Earnestly Ministers must be very earnest in their preaching with souls to endeavour after their salvation they must use all the persuasive arguments and motives they can think of that they may prevail tell them of the necessity hereof of the manifold advantages of the honour they shall attain hereby and the unspeakable pleasures tell them of the great evils they are under and the greater evils they are exposed unto whilest they are out of a sâ—ate of salvation And then they must urge arguments as fully and press upon them as homely as they can and use the greatest importunity with them as if they were begging for their own lives as if their own salvation and happiness were bound up with their hearers they should take no denyal if possibly a grant may be obtained they must call and cry and pray invite and wooe and intreat that sinners would come to Christ that they may be saved by him 8. And lastly Ministers must preach the words of salvation Frequently they must lay hold on all opportunities to call sinners to Christ they must be instant in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.2 on the Sabbath-day on the Week-day In the Morning they should sow the seed of the Word and the Evening they should not with-hold their hand because they do not know which the Lord will prosper Thus you see how Ministers are to tell people Words whereby they may be saved SECT XI 4. THE Fourth thing is to shew Why Ministers must tell people Words whereby they may be saved Reas. 1. Because they have a Commission to do it Mark 16.15 16. And he said unto them Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel unto every Creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved he that believeth not shall be damned They are the words of our Saviour who being the King and Head of the Church had power to make Church-officers and to give Commissions he commissioneth his Apostles in the first place to preach the Gospel of salvation and in them all his other succeeding Ministers unto the end of the World with whom he promiseth to be so long as the Sun should endure Math. 28.20 Ministers they are Christs Ambassadours 2 Cor. 5.20 and they have a Commission from Heaven to declare the glad tydings of salvation to give notice to the World out of the Word of the Saviour which God hath provided for fallen lost sinners and the way of salvation by him to make known the Covenant of grace which the Lord hath made with men through his Son and the exceeding great and precious promises of pardon and grace and salvation all which promises are yea and Amen in Christ who hath purchased with his blood whatever is promised in the Covenant Ministers have a Commission to preach the Gospel and they may do it authoritatively and they ought to do it it being their duty and the great work they have to do in the World Reas. 2. Because the Lord hath qualified them for this work not only by bringing them into a state of salvation but also by pouring forth his Spirit more plentifully upon them and bestowing ministerial gifts upon them utterance in preaching prayer c. for this end that they might shew men the way of salvation Reas. 3. Because they must give an account of the souls which are committed to their charge and wo be to them if they do not preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.16 Ministers that neglect to shew men the way of salvation will have a fearfull account to give they draw upon themselves the guilt of the blood of Souls They are the Lords Watchmen and if they do not blow the Trumpet and tell sinners of their sin and danger and how they may be saved by Jesus Christ sinners indeed will dye in their sins but their blood will the Lord require at the Watchmans hands Ezek. 33.8 Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade men saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.10 knowing the terrour of the Lord not only in respect of the people which we preach unto how terrible the Lord will be unto them at the last day if they be found under the guilt of sin but also knowing the terrour of the Lord in respect of our selves how terrible the Lord will be unto us â—f we be found unfaithfull we perswade men to endeavour their salvation and to flee from the dreadfull wrath which is to come Reas. 4. Because by telling people words whereby they may be saved Ministers may be instrumental not only to save themselves but also to save them that hear them God is most glorified in the salvation of Souls and it is the greatest glory of Ministers to be made instrumental herein it is better to be the Father of one Soul than to be Heir to the largest Revenues upon the Earth But if they be instrumental to turn many to Righteousness they shall receive a Crown of glory which fadeth not away at the appearance of the great Shepheard 1 Pet. 5.4 they shall shine not only as the brightness of the Firmament but also like Starrs for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 SECT XII Vse 1. ARE Ministers to tell People Words whereby they may be saved Hence learn what a Priviledge such People enjoy that have liberty to hear such Ministers as are faithfull in declaring the glad tydings of salvation We read of some temporal blessings which render a people subordinately happy Psal. 144.12 13 14 15. when their Sons spring and grow up like pleasant Plants in their Garden when their Daughters are like the polished Corner-stones of a Palace when their Garners are full and replenished with all manner of store when their Sheep increase in their Fields by thousands and ten thousands when their Oxen are strong to labour when there is a hedge about their substance without any breaches when there is no complaining in the streets through wrong and injury happy are the people saith the Psalmist that are in such a case but far more happy are the people that enjoy spiritual priviledges that hear the joyfull sound of the Gospel that have Ministers to shew them how they may be saved from
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
be acquainted with God in Christ you must acquaint your selves with the Scriptures Read the Scriptures daily and search them Ioh. 5.39 read not only the history of the Word but labour to understand the mystery of Godliness therein revealed 1 Tim. 3.16 endeavour after a spiritual discerning of the things of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.14 when you meet with Doctrines in your reading the Word labour to understand and believe them when you meet with Precepts labour to obey them when with Prohibitions and Threatnings be cautioned against sin by them when you meet with promises labour to apply them to draw vertue from them Read this Book as the Word of God and hide it in your heart lay it up there as a choice treasure get your hearts cast into the mould of it get it written upon your hearts and let it have an influence upon your whole conversation and that you may the better understand and apply the truths of the Word read as you have time other good books which open the Scriptures and treat of needfull points of Religion especially such as direct in the great work of Conversion and give Rules out of the Word for the ordering of your whole conversation but above all Books read and study the Scriptures Means 3. Hearing the Word Preached It is by the foolishness of Preaching that God saveth such as do believe 1 Cor. 1.21 however the preaching of the Word is to them that perish foolishness yet unto Believers it is the power of God unto salvation therein God doth put forth his power and maketh bare his arm in bringing salvation to lost souls Hear and thy Soul shall live Isa. 55.3 Faith cometh by hearing Rome 10.17 Lydia's heart was opened whilest she attended upon the Word preached by Paul Act. 16.14 Attend therefore diligently upon the Word preached by Christs Ministers as an Ordinance of his own institution for the working and increase of Grace Look upon Ministers as Christs Ambassadours he that heareth them heareth Christ and he that turneth away his ear from hearing them turneth away his ear from Christ who by his Spirit in them speaketh from Heaven unto men and how impossible it is for such to escape the wrath of God see Heb. 12.25 Much more shall not they escape that turn away their ear from him that speaketh from Heaven Hear the Word with reverence as the Word of God as if the Lord should speak to you from Heaven with an audible voice hear the Word with diligence and attention as for your lives as for the salvation of your Souls hear the Word with faith and love without which it will not profit and work effectually in your hearts and in hearing look not so much for those things which may please as for that which may edifie I mean do not regard so much mens fancies as the wholsom Truths of the Word which tend most to conviction edification to the killing of sin quickning and increase of Grace and nourishment of the spiritual life Means 4. Meditation The Word like Food must be digested by Meditation that it may turn to spiritual nourishment you must ponder and consider in your mindes the Truths of the Word that you may both understand them and get your Hearts affected with them and your Lives ordered by them Meditation is a great help in Heavens way such as are remiss herein cannot walk so steddily nor chearfully accustome your selves unto this duty set apart time for it I know that some complain of barrenness in their thoughts when they endeavour to meditate such I would advise if they have not that fruitfulness of thoughts themselves to supply them with matter that they would make use of others help let them meditate on the Scriptures they read on the Sermons they hear moreover I would offer some general heads for Meditation which you may make use of 1. Sometimes meditate on God his Attributes his infinite Majesty power holiness omnipresence omniscience eternity unchangeableness his infinite wisdom truth faithfulness justice goodness mercy and loving-kindness his Councels especially his eternal decree of Election which is of most sweet consideration to Believers his works of Creation and Providence 2. Sometimes meditate on Christ his near relations of Friend Brother Husband his needfull Offices of Priest Prophet and King 3. Sometimes meditate on the Spirit his way and workings on the minde and heart how he enlighteneth enliveneth strengtheneth comforteth c. 4. Sometimes meditate on the Covenant of Grace and the rich free suitable sure Promises of pardon grace salvation therein 5. Sometimes meditate on the Gospel and its priviledges Justification Adoption Sanctification Assurance of Gods love peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost communications of grace c. 6. Sometimes meditate on the four last things namely Death Judgement Heaven and Hell 7. Sometimes meditate and that frequently daily of such Arguments as tend to the mortifying of your particular sins which are most strong and prevalent and to the strengthening of your graces which you finde most weak and deficient Means 5. Prayer Pray secretly retire your selves from company into your Closets or some private place and there confess your sins and make known your requests to God that seeth and heareth in secret and hath promised an open reward to such as secretly and sincerely seek him Pray frequently be often upon your knees give your selves unto Prayer begin the day conclude the day with Prayer and recover some other time to visit and speak to God at least mingle ejaculatory Prayer with every other work and labour that your minds may be always in a praying frame and do not withdraw but be glad when an opportunity offereth it self to come to the throne of grace Pray fervently pour forth your hearts before God in the duty wrâ—stle with God in Prayer like Iacob be earnâ—st in your Petitions as for your lives be instant and importunate take no denyal follow hard after God stir up your selves to take hold on him use arguments in Prayer to plead with him Pray believingâ—y mingle your prayers with Faith make use of the name and mediation of Jesus Christ and make application of the Promises which God hath made to his People which he hath made to Faith and which he hath made to Prayer Means 6. Christian Conference Take heed of the company of the wicked from such turn away if â—â— and when you are there labour to mourn for sin which hath pierced the Lord to hunger after his righteousness to receive him by Faith to apply the Promises of the Covenant of Grace whereof the Sacrament is a Seal endeavour after a burning love to him whose love hath been so great as to dye for you and let your hearts be filled with joy and your mouths with Praises and deliver up your selves in Covenant unto the Lord in this Ordinance After you come from the Lords Table reflect upon your carriage towards the Lord if you have been straitened endeavour to find out the cause mourn and by after-pains and application of Christ endeavour to get some benefit and prepare better against the next time if you have been enlarged be humble be thankfull be watchfull live up to Obligations draw vertue from Christs death for the crâ—â—cifying more and more of your flesh with its affâ—ctions and lusts and fetch influences of grace and spiritual nourishment that you may encrease with the encreases of God Finally be diligent in the use of these and all other means and helps and so at length you shall attain the ultimate end for which they are appointed even your Salvation and Eternal Happiness FINIS Motive 3.
death for it or discovereth our death and utter insufficiency of our selves to obey its injunctions and have instead thereof their necks put under the sweet and easie yoak of the Law of Christ which is called the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus because life and strength is given by the Spirit of Christ to yield obedience thereunto As Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death And vers 3 4. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit The Law could not give strength against sin because of the strength of the flesh the Law discovered sin but it could not subdue sin but God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh in which flesh he suffered and offered a sacrifice for sin by which sin or sin-offering as the word sin doth elsewhere signifie as Hos. 4.8 They eat the sins of my people that is the sin-offerings of my people he condemned sin in the flesh sin was hereby judged and condemned to lose its power in his people it was condemned to death which death or sin-offering of Christ hath vertue and influence upon sin to kill it to crucifie it like as Christ was crucified for it and so Gods people are said to be delivered from the Law from the irritating and provoking power of it unto sin that being dead wherein they were held and whereby the Law did stir up such motions that they might serve in newness of spirit Rom. 7.6 that they might yield the fruits of new obedience that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in them sin having lost its strength they have strength from the Spirit of Christ to yield such obedience to the Law as through Christ shall be accepted And with this deliverance of people from the rigour and irritation of the Law is conjoyned their deliverance also from the curse and malediction by Jesus Christ who was made a curse for them instead whereof the blessing of Abraham the father of the faithfull is given unto them as it is expresly said Gal. 3.13 14. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through Faith 4. When they are saved from the eternal damnation of Hell all unbelieving sinners are under the sentence of damnation Ioh. 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already they are condemned by the great Judge unto an utter exclusion from the glorious presence of the Lord in that place of joy and happiness which is above and to endure most horrid extream and endless anguish and torment in soul and body in the place of utter darkness which is beneath where their worm shall never dye and where the fire shall never be quenched This sentence is dreadfull and all unbelievers are lyable every moment to the execution thereof upon their souls So soon as God shall give commission to the Serjeant Death to arrest them and clap up their bodies into the Prison of the grave then their souls being found guilty will be delivered into the hand of the Devil the Jailor of Hell whither he will drag them and where they must remain full of anguish through sense of Gods immediate wrath wherewith they will be filled and bound up in chains of darkness and wo untill the Judgement of the great day on which great day the Lord Jesus Christ will be sent by God to judge the whole world together and they shall be brought forth in chains to his barre and having reassumed their bodies shall be judged by him soul and body unto the flames of everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels and O the dread and horrour which will then possess them O the howlings and bitter lamentations which then they will make when the God of Heaven shall execute the fierceness of his anger upon them for their sins in the extream and remediless torments of Hell which shall never have an end The sentence of eternal damnation which all unbelievers whilest such are under here is dreadfull yet whilest here it is reversible whilest the reprieve of execution lasteth a repeal of the sentence may be obtained by an appeal from the Court of the Law to the Court of Chancery from the Barr of Gods Justice to the Throne of Grace by application of themselves unto Christ to be their Advocate and of his Righteousness to themselves by Faith whereby Justice hath been satisfied and they may be acquitted People are saved from eternal damnation when through an interest in Christ they obtain pardoning mercy and so are freed from all obligation to punishment by their sins hence it is said that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus Rom. 8.1 and they that believe are not condemned Joh. 3.18 and that because Jesus is their Saviour and hath delivered them from the wrath which is to come 1 Thess. 1.10 Believers have a title to eternal salvation here through their title to Christ it is sure and they may be assured of it but hereafter they shall actually obtain it at the day of Judgement and perdition of the ungodly when the wicked shall be condemned and thrust into the place of torments they shall be acquitted saved and received into Heavenly Mansions prepared by their Redeemer for them in his Fathers house where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore and so they shall march along with him unto the Zion which is above with shouting and the voice of triumph with Songs in their mouths and unspeakable delight in their hearts they shall then obtain everlasting joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away and no place be found for it to dwell where they shall take up their eternal abode This is the Salvation which is here meant and which God hath promised to shew unto them who believe and order their conversation aright And thus you see what it is for a people to be saved SECT V. 2. THE second thing is To shew what those Words are which Ministers are to tell people whereby they may be saved And here I shall for the present speak only of those words which the Apostle Peter told Cornelius whereby he and his house were saved there was great power and vertue which went along with them for it is said whilest he was speaking of them the Holy Ghost fell upon the Gentiles unto whom he preached as upon the Apostles themselves at the beginning chap. 10.44 and therefore they are worthy your serious regard possibly you that are unconverted in the hearing or reading
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
they would find mercy Prov. 28.13 The wicked must forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn to the Lord and then he shall have pardoning mercy abundantly Isa. 55.7 When men cease to do evil and learn to do well then though their sins have been as scarlet they shall be white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be like woâ—ll Isa. 1.16 17 18. Sinners turn from your evil waies you have done iniquity do so no more you have gone on hitherto in a way of sin proceed no further it is the way to Hell turn out of it Let him that hath stoln steal no more and him that hath been filthy be filthy no more and him that hath been unjust be unjust no more Drunkards forbear your drinking swearers refrain swearing lyars teach your tongues to speak truth Break off your course of sin turn from all gross sins as to the practice and turn from all sins as to the affection Direction 4. You must believe in the Lord Iesus Christ if you would be saved This is the direction which Paul gave to the Jaylor when under conviction of sin he came in to him and cryed What shall I do to be saved he saith to him Believe in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Act. 16.30 31. So in Peter's Sermon Act. 10.43 To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of sins There is no Saviour but by Christ and there is no salvation by Christ bâ—t by faith and therefore we are said to be saved through faith Ephes. 2.8 As faith is the instrument to apply the merits and righteousness of Jesus Christ. Let me then exhort you to get faith which is absolutely necessary unto salvation Get faith of the right kind there is a general common historical temporary hypocritical dead and ineffectual faith but do you labour after a special lively unfeigned effâ—ctual justifying and saving faith and that you may not be mistaken in this great point on which your salvation doth depend I shall describe that faith which is of the right kind and will certainly save you if you obtain it Faith is a grace wrought in the heart by the Spirit of God whereby a poor sinner being made sensible of the guilt and power of his sins and the utter insufficiency of himself or any creature in the world to give him any help or succour and having in the Gâ—spel a discovery and proffer made unto him of the Lord Iesus Christ as an all sâ—fficient most merciful and faithful Advocate and Saviour doth go quite out of himself and accâ—pt lay hold rely and rest vpon him and him alone for pardon and grace and eâ—erlasting happiness Or more brâ—efly thus Faith is a grace of God wherâ—by the humilâ—d sinner doth accept and rely upon Christ alone for salvation as he is held forth in the Promises of the Gospel If you would attain this grace of Faith take these Directions 1. You must be fully perswaded that the Scriptures which reveal Christ are indeed the word of God this is the foundation of all faith therefore I shall briefly suggest some Arguments to prove the divine Authority of the Scriptures As 1. Because of that majesty purity holinâ—ss heavenliness which doth appâ—ar in the Sâ—râ—ptures beyond all other writings 2. Because of the design and drift of the Scriptures to debase man and exalt God and his glory above all 3. Because of the admirable contexture and contrivance and sweet harmony of the Scriptures in all the parts thereof though written by so many several men in several ages and places which sheweth that they were all acted by the same Spirit of God 4. Because of the wonderfull work of mans Redemption there set forth at fiâ—st more darkly afterwards more clearly which no mortal bâ—ain could have invented much less could any created power have effected 5. Because of the great power which this word hath to convince convert and comfort 6. Because of the confirmation of the Scriptures by miracles 7. Because of the acknowledgement of the Scriptures to be Gods Word in all ages 8. Because of the many millions of Martyrs who have sealed the Truths of the word with their blood 9. Because of the witness of the Spirit in and with the word which doth bear testimony to the hearts of Gods people that the Scriptures are his Word and were indiâ—ed by his Spirit Whence it followeth that the Scriptures are true because God the Author of them is true and cannot lye and whatever is there revealed is as certain as those things which are most demonstrable to sense or reason This is the first step to your believing in Christ who is made known in the Scriptures to believe that the Scriptures are Gods Word 2. If you would attain a saving faith in Christ you must be convinced and fully pâ—rswaded of your lost estate without Christ and your absolute need of him of which before 3. You must be perswaded that it is not in your own power to believe that it is not of your selves but is the gift of God Ephes. 2.8 and therefore must apply your selves to God that he would not only give you his Son but also give you the hand of faith to lay hold on him that he would work in you this grace of faith by his Spirit 4. You must consider those Arguments of Scripture which encourage faith As for instance I shall mention four heads of Arguments for faith from the consideration 1. Of God 2. Of the Promises 3. Of Christ. 4. Of the Saints 1. From the consideration of God who hath given his Son to save sinners it is an encouragement to â—aith to consider 1. That God is mercifull and therefore willing to pardon and save otherwise he would not have sent his Son he doth not delight in the death of sinners Ezek. 18.23 but delighteth to shew mercy see Micah 7.18 19. Exod. 34.6 7. Psal. 103.8 9 c. 2. That God is faithfull in his Promises of salvation which he hath made through his Son in his Covenant of Grace God needed not have made the Covenant nor promised mercy to any sinners but having made the Covenant he is engâ—gâ—d to make it good 3. That it is for his glory to save sinners through his Son the glory of his free grace yea and justice too which hath been fully satisfied by Christs death 2. You have encouraging Arguments for faith from the consideration of the Promises which are 1. Large made to all sorts of persons and all sorts of sinners none are excluded 2. Full they extend to all sorts of sins though never so many and great Isa. 55.7 3. Free nothing is required on your part but accepting 4. Sure being the Promises of God in Christ. 3. You have encouragement to believe in Christ for salvation from the consideration of Christ the proper object of faith 1. The quality of his
immediately to do with sincerity having a sincere respect to Gods glory therein and that you might be accepted by him and meet with him with vigilancy watching the sittest time in regard of the thing and the temper of your Bodies and Souls and the breathings of Gods Spirit with humility sensible of your sinfulness unworthiness weakness emptiness neediness with diligence before to prepare your hearts and in Ordinances to engage them and resist the Devil and the contrary workings of the flesh with frequency laying hold on all the opportunities as you can without neglecting other businesses which for that time you may be more necessarily called unto with fervency getting your hearts if you can raised and enlarged labouring that they may burn within you with love to God with delight and complacency in God and above all with Faith in Jesus Christ through whom alone it is that you can have strength to perform duties and that you can have any acceptance in them by the Father Direction 7. You must resolve upon sufferings for Christ if called if you would be saved you must bear the Cross if you would wear the Crown remâ—mbring that if the Cross be weighty it will work for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 you must reâ—kon upon sufferings for Christ before hand and resolve that you will stick to him and his wayes though you should lose esteem by it and become the Drunkards Song and be reproached amongst men though you lose liberty by it and be thrust into Prison though you should lose Estate by it and be brought to pinching want though you should lose Friends by it and have none to stand by you though you should lose Life by it and be cut off in the midst of your years otherwise you cannot be Christs Disciples indeed and obtain this salvation which he hath purchased See the terms which our Saviour propounds Luk. 14.26 27. If any man come unto me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his own life he cannot be my Disciple This we are to understand that a man must choose to displease Father Mother Wife Children the nearest and dearest Relations and part with any thing in the world yea with Life it sâ—lf rather than to displease and part with Jesus Christ and that we must resolve to bear the Cross whatever it be that God hath allotted for us otherwise we do not accept of Christ upon Gospel-terms you must resolve to be partakers of the affliction of the Gospel if you would obtain the salvation of the Gospel you must resolve to suffer with Christ and for his sake when called if you would reign and be glorified together with him Whatever profession you make of Christ and his wayes in time of peace and prosperity when the Sun of persecution doth 〈◊〉 upon you with burning heat you will wither and fall away and turn fearfull Apostates and then your last estate will be worse than your first and as your sin will be greater here so your punishment will be more dreadfull hereafter in Hell where you will confess that the light sufferings which you have declined for Christs sake here are not worthy to be compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight of wrath which you must endure for your Apostacy unto all eternity Direct 8. You must study and apply the Promises of the Covenant of grace if you would be saved without the Covenant of grace there had been no possible salvation for any of the fallen Children of Men the Covenant of Works which God made with Man at the first being broken by sin it doth condemn all that are under it it is by vertue of the Covenant of Grace that any are brought into a state of salvation therefore study and apply the Promises of this Covenant Now you must know that all the Promises of the Gospel which are scattered up and down the Scripture do belong unto this Covenant but I shall spread before you those few more general Promises which the Apostle doth make mention of where he treats of the New Covenant Heb. 8 10 11 12. For this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Lawes into their minde and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People and 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 for I will be mercifull unto their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Here are Four great Promises which the Lord hath made to his People which I shall explain though not in the order of the Text that you may the better understand and apply them 1. God promiseth that he will be to them a God and they shall be to him a People this includes all the rest It is a full and sweet promise that God will be our God it hath a great deal more in it than we can conceive we may look and look again and though our Faith have never so piercing an eye never so large and deep reach yet we cannot look to the bottom and fathom the depth of this Promise we may suck and suck again at this breast and though we draw never so hard we can never draw forth all the sweetness that is in this Promise To have God to be our God it is very great it is very sweet Indeed God is the God of all his Creatures yea of his enemies and the vilest sinners but to be our God in this place sounds and signifieth more than that which is common to all it speaketh a peculiar relation a special interest and propriety in God in this promise God doth make over himself and all that he hath to us so far as we are capable of receiving he giveth himself to be our portion he engageth his Power Wisdom Goodness Mercy Love and all his Attributes to be employed for our good he promiseth to be our God here and to be our God for ever it signifieth that he will be our Father to love and cherish us to preserve and provide for us whilest we live and to take our Souls to himself when we dye and to raise up our bodies at the last day and make both perfectly glorious and happy in Heaven when time shall be no more He promiseth also that we shall be his People we cannot make our selves so but he promiseth that he will make us so he will make us his Children he will adopt us he will regenerate us give us the title and give us the disposition of Children all this and much more is contained in this Promise That God will be our God and we shall be his People even the whole work of our salvation from our effectual
me with all Graces as to kinde and measure as shall be needfull for me in my place and work to testifie Gods love to my Soul to give me earnests of Glory and to seal me up unto the day of Redemption And O that I might have the presence and abode of the Spirit of God with me and never grieve quench resist and drive away the Spirit any more Also because the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God endited by the Holy Ghost the Epistle of Iesus Christ wherein he hath given notice of his love and will because they are the only sufficient and in themselves a perfect Rule for Faith and a holy Life and so fully do declare the way and means unto everlasting happiness Therefore I choose the Word of God to be the Rule of my Faith and Life and the Ordinances of God therein prescribed to be the means of my acquaintance and converse with my God so far as I am capable of and he shall vouchsafe and to be the means also of preparing of me for the full and perfect enjoyment of him beyond my present capacity And because the Ordinances are but dark glasses to see the Lord in because ignorance and unbelief do exceedingly vail God from mine eyes flesh and corruption do damp my love to God and my spiritual Ioy in him and interrupt my communion with him because of the sins sorrows temptations and afflictions which I cannot be wholly free from and therefore cannot be perfectly happy here in this World and having life and immortality brought to light by the Gospel a discovery and promise of eternal Life made unto me in the Word and withall a command of my Lord to lay up my Treasure in Heaven Therefore I choose Heaven for my Treasure and Inheritance for ever to live there in the company of all the holy Angels and Saints in the blessed sight love and enjoyment of the infinitely blessed God to see and share in the glory of my Dearest Lord Iesus Christ whither I hope my Soul shall be transported by the Angels so soon as it is separated from my Body and that my vile Body when awakened and raised in the Morning of Chrisâ—s coming shall be fashioned like unto Christs most beautifull and glorious Body and both inherit the Kingdom prepared and promised by my Father Lastly being perswaded of my Duty and encouraged by Gods promise of assistance and acceptance I now dedicate and deliver up my self fully freely and for ever unto the Lord I yield and resign up my Soul with all its powers and faculties my Body with all its senses and members to be the instruments of righteousness unto God I resign up my Minde to think upon the Lord and those things which concern his Interest and Glory to receive embrace and maintain his Truths I resign up my Memory to be a store-house and receptacle chiefly of the great things which do belong to his Kingdom and other things of a more inferiour rank as they may have a reference unto his Glory I resign up my Conscience to receive light and purity from his Word and Spirit and desire that it may act faithfully as the Lords Deputy I resign up my Will unto the Will of God to submit to his Precepts to embrace his Promises to oppose what he hath forbidden to comply with all the dispensations of his Providence towards me to be willing that I should be and do and bear and choose and lose what God would have me I resign up my Heart and Affections to fear and reverence the Lord to believe and trust in the Lord to desire and seek after the Lord to love and delight in the Lord and desire to put them all under his Government and to have them exercised according to his will I resign up my Fancy to be governed and employed by my Reason in the service of my Master I resign up my Sensual Appetite after meat and drink sleep and any pleasures to be subsâ—rvient to my Rational Appetite and no further to have satisfaction than will tend to the glory of the Lord. Iâ— sign up my Hands to work for God my Feet to walk for God my Ears to hear for God my Eyes to see for God my Tongue to speak for God I resign up all my Graces all my Gifts all my Talents to be used for the Glory of my Lord and Master and my whole Man to be ruled and governed by his Laws Promising though my Flesh do contradict and rebell that I will endeavour to order my whole conversation according to his Word humbly looking up to him for strength so to doe that I may be enabled by him to every duty And now I look upon my self no longer my own or that any thing I have is at my own dispose but I wholly belong unto the Lord And therefore blessing and praising and giving thanks unto the Lord for vouchsafing to enter into Covenant with me and enclining my heart to enter into Covenant with him Bending my neck under the feet of the most glorious Iehovah I subscribe my self Witness my Hand and Seal The devoted Servant of the Lord A. B. Direct 10. You must be stedfast and persevere in the wayes of God unto your lives end if you would be saved And here you must be stedfast 1. In the wayes of Truth 2. In the Wayes of Gods Commandements 1. You must be stedfast and persevere in the wayes of Truth in the belief of the Truths of the Word without turning aside into wayes of Errour there are wayes of Errour which will lead you as certainly and more securely to Hell than the wayes of open profaneness The Apostle tells us of damnable errours as well as open damnable sins 2 Pet. 2.1 and we read of some that are damned for believing a lye that their delusion hath been the cause of their damnation 2 Thess. 2.11 12. The Devil leads as many as he can in the cords of more gross and known sins towards the place of endless misery but if any of them begin to perceive their thraldom and danger if their eyes be a little opened and Conscience awakened and hearts affected and they are perswaded to look after their salvation then he endeavours to draw them into wayes of Errour he hath his Agents and Ministers who are very subtle and crafty and lye in wait to deceive who with good words and fair speeches insinuate poysonous doctrines and pretending more glorious discoveries higher and more excellent wayes draw them out of the way of the Word and Ordinances into paths of darkness where they wander and lose themselves for ever where they are tossed up and down and beaten to and fro with every winde of doctrine unto the shipwrack of their Faith and their Souls As you hope for salvation you must take heed of Errour diligently inquire after Truth search for it as for silver and digg for it as for hidden treasures digg for it in the golden Mines of the
Scriptures let the Word of God be the only Rule of your Faith and having found the Truth keep it hold it fast labour to fix it in your mindes let it be as a girdle about your loins lay it up in your heart let it be rooted there apply your selves to Christ as a Prophet to lead you by his Word and Spirit into all Truth and to keep you from being deceived and deluded and keep close to the Ministery and Ordinances of Christs Institution which the Lord hath appointed to continue unto the end of the World for the edifying establishment and perfecting of the Saints Eph. 4.11 12 13 14. 2. You must be stedfast and persevere in the wayes of Gods Commandements you must patiently continue in well-doing if you would obtain immortal glory Rom. 2.7 you must endure to the end if you would be saved Matth. 10.22 you must be faithfull unto the death if you would gain the Crown of life Rev. 2.10 It is absolutely necessary unto salvation that you hold out in the wayes of God none but such which come to the end of the race will obtain the prize the Gate of Heaven lyeth at the further not the hither end of the Holy Path therefore you must stedfastly persevere in this way if you should fall down you must rise again and go on if you should fall back or through mistake turn aside you must return again and make the more haste but if you should fall off if you should fall away as some have done who have seemed very zealous and forward Christians as to the outward Profession you are lost you are cast-awayes and you will tumble and fall down into the bottomless Pit from whence there is no returning Be not then followers of them that draw back to perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul Heb. 10.39 Be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises Heb. 6.12 It is a glorious Inheritance that is before you that is promised and prepared in Heaven let this encourage you to diligence and perseverance unto the end I shall conclude with the words of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15.58 Therefore my beloved Brethren be stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord for asmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Thus I have given you Directions What things you must do that you may be saved SECT XIX II. THE Second and last thing for your guidance in the way of Salvation is To shew you what Means you must make use of to help you in these things There are Ten Means to be used in order to the attaining of Salvation 1. Self-examination 2. Reading the Word of God and other good books 3. Hearing the Word Preached 4. Meditation 5. Prayer 6. Christian-conference 7. Watchfulness 8. Sanctification of Fasting-dayes 9. Sanctification of Sabbath-dayes 10. Improvement of Sacrament-dayes Means 1. Self-examination You must examine your selves if you would see your selves lost you may read the mistake of the Laodiceans Rev. 3.17 Thou sayest I am rich and encreased in goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched miserable and poor and blinde and naked You must examine and prove your spiritual state that you may have a right judgement thereof that you may perceive how poor and wretched and miserable you are whilest you are in a state of Nature You must examine your selves that you may get a sight and sense of sin Ier. 8.6 I hearkned and heard but they spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying What have I done every one turned to his course as the Horse rusheth into the battel You must examine what you have done if you would repent of your sins you must search and try your wayes if you would turn from your evil wayes you must commune with your hearts and come to your selves with the Prodigal if you would return unto God and turn your feet unto his Testimonies Be serious then in this great duty of Self-examination and that you may be so I would advise that you would set apart time for it when your thoughts are most free and affections most sedate and quiet get out of the hurry of the world and lay aside other business for a while and withall separate your selves from company and retire into secret where you may be free from external disturbances and interruptions whatever indispositions and withdrawments of heart you finde force your selves to the work resist Satan who will endeavour to divert and discourage you Set your selves in the presence of God desire him to search you beg his help in the duty labour to keep your minde close to it if vain thoughts arise and would hurry you away look up to Christ to rebuke them and to bring them into captivity and obedience unto himself And then sit down and seriously consider what you have done ever since you came into the World and withall think with your selves what you will do when your life and this world shall come to an end Take a review of your sins they are noted down upon the book of your Consciences peruse this book and if you extracted a Catalogue of your sins it might be a help to you Note down your original sin your actual sins your transgressions of Gods Law in the first and the second Table thereof your disobedience to the Gospel the aggravations of your sins Means 2. Reading the Word of God and other good books The rule whereby you are to examine your selves is the Word this is like a Candle which will give light in dark corners this is like a Glass which will discover spots in the face you must search the Word and try your selves herâ—by if you would have knowledge of sin and your spiritual state and you must search the Word if you would have knowledge and acquaintance with God and his will You may arrive to some knowledge of God by reading the Book of Nature the whole world is full of God and every Creature doth represent him but the world is full of sin too and the more immediate representations of the Creatures are sensitive things which our sense layeth hold on first and is apt there to stick without further piercing and searching to finde out God and where we have one provocation from the Creatures to love and serve him through the bewitching temptations of the world meeting with the worldly lusts of our hearts we have a thousand incitements and allurements from them to sin against God but the Word is full of God and no incitement there to sin full of perswasives to holiness and obedience God is to be seen more easily and he setteth forth himself there most conspicuously In the Book of the Scriptures you have the most glorious discoveries of God in his greatness majesty power holiness love mercy and the like and the way made known of acquaintance and communion with him if you would