not listen to the Son of God as opening promulgating and declaring his own Testament and the Riches and Fulness of it Other Men's Testaments do make Heirs but they cannot make Children But in the Testament of Christ a new Heart a new Spirit and the Holy Ghost to sanctifie and quicken are bequeathed Ezek. 36.26 27. Those that are savingly renewed are regenerated by vertue of this Promise and so are styled The Children of Promise Gal. 4.28 We Brethren as Isaac was are Children of Promise as Isaac was born by vertue of God's Promise Rom. 9.9 At this time will I come and Sarah shall have a Son So Saints now are Children of Promise they are born again by vertue of this Promise A new Heart will I give to them a new Spirit will I put into them Ezek. 36.26 And as all the Grace we have is from the Womb of the Promise so all the Glory we hope for is by the Promise and therefore Believers are also styled The Heirs of Promise Heb. 6.17 18. O how is Christ's Testament ordered first to make us Children and then to make us Heirs First to make us Holy and then to make us Happy And will you not believe on and submit to the Son of God that Preacheth his own Testament First to impart to us a Divine Nature and then to communicate to us an Eternal Kingdom an Everlasting Glory I shall proceed to Propose a few Directions and so conclude my Discourse on the first Doctrine 1. If the Son of God Preaches as well and as truly by Instruments as in his own Person immediately then believe it is the Voice of the Son of God that sounds in your Ears and believe soundly and deeply what he Preacheth 1. Believe it is the Voice of the Son of God that you hear Heb. 3.7 To day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts There is not only the Voice of Ministers and Ambassadors but also the Voice of the King of Glory Christ draws near and comes with them Ephes 2.17 He came and preached Peace to you that were afar off And Jesus Christ speaks in them 2 Cor. 13.3 2. Believe soundly and sincerely what Christ Preacheth Rom. 10.10 With the heart Man believeth unto Righteousness Acts 8.37 If thou believest with all thy heart You should believe so as to be sure and fully perswaded in your own Minds John 6.69 We believe and are sure that thou art Christ the Son of the Living God Let us draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith Heb. 10.22 We may confidently relye on the Word and we may boldly lean on the Arm of the Son of God This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 It is a Faithful Saying the Understanding may acquiesce in it and it is worthy of all Acceptation therefore the Will may embrace it 2. Make Particular Application of Christ's Word and Doctrine to your own Souls Account that Christ as truly Addresseth himself to you as if he did from Heaven call you by Name and apply himself to you John 10.3 He calleth his own Sheep by Name Jesus Christ with an effectual Call makes Persons to know that he speaks as expresly to them as if he did from Heaven mention their very Names Do not divert or turn off the Word to others Do not think that a Portion is divided to them but not to thee that their Conditions are pointed at their Sins reproved but not thine As Pictures in a Room do seem to look on every Person whose Eye is fixed on them So we should Account that the Word of the Son of God hath a particular Aspect on us that it directs our Hearts into the Love of God that it guides our Feet into the ways of Peace it speaks to all that hear it We should account that what is written is written for our Learning and what is spoken is spoken for our Practice 3. Obey the Son of God hear his voice presently Heb. 3.7 To day if you will hear his voice harden not your Hearts excuses delays will harden the Heart Audience and Obedience should be presently yeilded and rendred Jesus Christ we must not put off adjourn our Obedience to a longer day or to years hereafter to come David saith He considered his ways and turned his Feet to God's Testimonies he made hast and delayed not to keep his Commandments Psal 119.59 60. The Gentiles when they were Enlightned Convinced Converted they Exhort they Incourage one another Zech. 8.21 the Inhabitants of one City shall go to another saying Let us go speedily to Pray before the Lord and to seek the Lord of Hosts I will go also those that are sensible of their Duty and Danger cannot defer or put off the great concernment of their Souls any longer Isa 49.17 it is said to Zion Thy Children shall make hast that is to joyn themselves to Christ and his Church This hast is set down by many Similitudes in Scripture it is said The Gentiles should as waters Flow to the Mountain of the Lords House Isa 2.23 Tho Waters they do run downwards naturally yet the Nature and motion of the Heathen Nations should be so chang'd that they should run upwards ascend the holy Hill of God the Nations should flow unto it 2. It is said The Gentiles should run to Jesus Christ Isa 5.55 Behold thou shalt call a Nation that thou knowest not and Nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the Holy one of Israel for he hath Glorified thee 3. It is said that the Converted Gentiles should fly to the Church Isa 60.8 Who are these that fly as a Cloud and as the Doves to their Windows How swiftly do the Clouds move when driven by the Wind How swiftly do the Doves fly when pursued by the Hawk or any other Bird of prey so convinced and awakened Spirits will fly from the wrath that is to come and will fly for refuge to take hold of the hope set before them Matt. 3.7 Heb. 6.18 Are your Souls sick Are your wounds bleeding Are your Consciences burdened Are your Hearts broken And can you delay turning to Jesus Christ presently O! consider how great that Person is that speaks to you it is the Prince of Life the King of Glory and is he to be shut out or put off till a longer time O! think how great matters Jesus Christ speaks and treats about is Reconciliation to God espousals to Christ cutting off the Entail of the Curse reversing the Sentence of Death and setling upon you an eternal Inheritance small matters Are they unnecessary or inconsiderable things that you should delay to mind them till hereafter Is it not great mercy that the Son of God will open his Mouth He might have kept silence towards us as he doth to many Nations of the World at this day Why should we
it must not be a doubtful Opinion but a rooted Perswasion God is wronged by wicked Men and he must right himself they have pressed him with their Iniquities as a Cart is pressld under the sheaves and he must ease himself Isa 1.24 Ah I will ease me of my Enemies and avenge me of my Adversaries Sinners rise up proudly against God Psal 138.21 Am I not grieved with those that rise up against thee and God must humble and abase them Psal 73.29 Thou settest them in slippery places thou castest them down into destruction Ungodly men break God's Yoak Jer. 5.5 and therefore must be broken with that Rod of Iron that is in Christ's hand Psal 2.9 God will draw near to them in Justice Mal. 3.5 I will come near to you to Judgment that are gone far from God as to Obedience Psal 73.27 Lo those that are far from thee shall perish 2. Acknowledge that you have deserved to be thrown into this Prison Have you not lived without God in the World Eph. 2.12 and and so have you not begun your Hell on Earth have you not executed a great and grievous part of the Eternal Punishment on your selves by neglecting Converse with God and cutting your selves off from Communion with him Have you not contentedly been without God in Time and is it not righteous that you should be without him to Eternity 3. Submit to the Spirit of God when it becomes a Spirit of Bondage to your Souls Rom. 5.15 It is then a Spirit of Bondage when it arrests the Conscience with a deep heavy sense of Sin when it sets home the Threatnings and Curse of the Law when it seals to a Sinner a Sentence of Condemnation and fills the Soul with the Terrors of God Gal. 3.22 The Scripture hath concluded all under Sin the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 might as well be rendred shut up The Scripture hath shut up all men and all the Acts of the Natural man under sin it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things that appertain and belong to the Natural man and flow from him For they that are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.8 The Sacrifice of the Wicked that is his best Religious Service is an Abomination to the Lord And the Prayer of the Wicked that is all his common Actions are also an Abomination to the Lord Prov. 15.8 9. If the Sacrifice and the Way of the Wicked be an Abomination then the Scripture may well conclude his All under Sin Ungodly men seem to walk at Liberty to be secure merry and unconcerned at Sin the Wrath of God and an Eternal State but the Spirit of God comes and arrests secure Sinners and shuts them up under the bitterness of Sin and the dreadful sense of the Wrath of God in this Case it is dangerous for Persons to shake off the Terrors of God to despsse his Threatnnings and to break God's Prison Those that quench Convictions and return to a loose and licentious Life are in great danger of undoing themselves to Eternity Be therefore perswaded that the Spirit and the Scripture do mercifully shut up Unregenerate Men and all their Actions under sin it is not that they may sink under their Guilt languish under their Disease and perish everlastingly but all this is to humble their proud Minds and break their hard Hearts that they may sue to Free Grace to remit their Debt break their Chains heal their Disease and save their Souls The Scripture shuts up all under sin that the Promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe The Spirit of Bondage prepares Persons for the Spirit of Adoption that Men may act Faith on Jesus Christ lay hold of the free Promise and so have Justification and Salvation as an Alms of Mercy 4. Listen to Christs Voice that calls you out of the spiritual Prison Isa 49.9 That thou mayst say to the Prisoners Go forth and to them that are in darkness Shew your selves O desire and cry to Jesus Christ to speak this effectually to your Soul You need he should speak with a strong hand Isa 8.11 Look to Jesus Christ to open the door of Gods Prison Isa 61.1 and also to open the door of your hard heart Acts 16.14 God opened the Heart of Lydia O desire Jesus Christ to speak so that your Chains may fall off your Doors fly open and you be brought out of darkness and the Prison-house Isa 42.7 You need to be sprinkled with the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep destroying Justice out The Blood of the Paschal Lamb sprinkled on the Door-posts of the Israelites was a Sign to the destroying Angel that he was not to break into that House or kill any there Exod. 12.22.23 It is the Blood of Jesus Christ the True Paschal Lamb 1 Cor. 5.7.8 that must be our Guard Security Protection and where this is sprinkled God sets a Sign on those Souls that they shall not perish but escape that they are not appointed to Wrath but to obtain Salvation by Jesus Christ God saith in Isa 66.19 that he would set a Sign among the Jews Calvin on the Place thinks that there is an allusion to the Blood of the Paschal Lamb sprinkled on the Israelities Doors that was a Sign they should be safe So Christs Blood applyed to us and sprinkled on us is a sure Sign and Token of our Salvation that we shall not come into Condemnation but find Mercy with the Lord O therefore apply your selves by Faith to Jesus Christ as a Redeemer Isa 59.20 that you may be Ransomed by the Blood he hath shed by the Price he hath paid address your selves to Jesus Christ as a Deliverer Rom. 11.26 that you may be Rescued by that Power he can put forth Jesus Christ is a Redeemer by Price and a Deliverer by Power these two conjoyned do render him a Compleat and perfect Saviour If Jesus Christ be a refining Fire to you in this World Mal. 3.2 3 4. God will not be a Consuming Fire to you in the world to come Heb. 12. last 5. Repent unfeignedly of and truly break off from your Sins Mark 1.15 Repent and believe the Gospel O wash your Hearts from Wickedness put away the evil of your doings escape that Corruption that is in the World through Lust Jer. 4.14 Isa 1.16 17. 2 Pet. 1.4 Break and shake off the bond of Iniquity Acts 8.23 Get out of the Snare of the Devil 2 Tim. 2. last and you need not dread the Eternal Prison God will not condemn those that bear his Image live his Life wage War with his Enemies As you seek to Jesus Christ to quench the Fire of God's Wrath by putting his Blood on it so do you pluck away the Fuel of this Fire by Repentance and continual Mortification suffer in your Flesh in your corrupt Nature here 1 Pet. 4.1 that you may not suffer in your Soul for ever hereafter dye to sin that you may not dye for sin If your Lusts do still find Favour with you how can you hope to find Mercy with God Curb your Flesh restrain your selves from Carnal Liberty and you shall be safe and secured from eternal Bondage Make a Covenant with your Eyes Job 31.1 restrain them from wandring and gazing on tempting and enticing Objects Cry to God Lord turn away mine Eyes from beholding Vanity Psal 119.37 Keep your Hearts with all diligence Prov. 4.23 suppress vain thoughts that spring up quash sensual desires that are ready to sprout forth The old man is a stock still budding In-dwelling sin is still tempting this Womb would still conceive and bring forth Fruit to death there is a Law in us Rom. 7.21 that Satan hath enacted Members that he hath made Col. 3.5 Lusts that he hath kindled 1 Joh. 2.15 16. Our daily Work therefore must be to contend with our corrupt Wills and vile Affections to fight against sin to conflict with and overcome our selves He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second Death Rev. 2.11 You must restrain your Tongues and set a Watch before the door of your Lips the Psalmist said he would take heed to his ways that he did not sin with his Tongue he would keep his Mouth with a Bridle Psal 39.1 Much sin would be prevented if we did watch over our Words Christs great silence when he was falsly accused points at Sinners great sin in abusing their Tongues in rash and evil speaking We must also refrain our Feet from the ways of Sin and Death Psal 119.101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way that I might keep thy Word By the Word of thy Lips I have kept my self from the Path of the destroyer Psal 17.4 Wicked men take Liberty to themselves to say or do what they please Jer. 14.10 They love to wander they have not refrained their Feet It is dangerous for you to affect a Liberty for your corrupt Hearts roving Senses and wandring Feet If you give Liberty to your Lusts God will proclaim Liberty to the Sword Jer. 34.17 Would you have Gods punishing hand at Liberty to destroy you would you have his Glistering Sword at Liberty to cut you off shall all banks be cut and the Flood of the Wrath of God be at Liberty to overwhelm and swallow you up for ever Abridge your selves deny carnal Liberty to your Flesh and it's Lusts If you walk in the Narrow Way of the Law-giver you shall not fall into the strait Prison of the Judge FINIS
of Gold and Silver And should not we more greedily and earnestly catch at the Doctrine of Reconciliation and the Promise of Eternal Life 5. We should yield submit to and obey Christ's Word The Scripture speaks of receiving Christ's Testimony John 3.33 34. and of receiving Christ John 1.12 If we receive the Doctrine of Christ we shall receive Christ himself on the other hand we reject Jesus Christ if we receive not his Word John 12.48 The Natural Man receiveth not entertaineth not the things of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though Men do exercise Hospitality and take in Natural and Moral Truth yet how is the door of the Heart shut against those supernatural Doctrines and Mysteries that the Spirit revealeth There is no room no Lodging or Entertainment for these wonderful and Divine Truths But we must comply with and yield Obedience to these things that the Spirit makes known We must believe them that they may work effectually in us 1 Thess 2.13 The Word of the Gospel must be a Mold to shape and fashion our Souls Rom. 6.17 You have obeyed from the heart that mold of Doctrine into which ye were delivered for so it is in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Gospel of Christ is elegantly compared to a Mold into which the Hearts of Men as melted running Metal are delivered that they may be fashioned aright and conformed to the Word that they may be Holy Spiritual and Heavenly as the Word is The Gospel must leven all the Powers and Faculties of your Souls Mat. 13.33 and so give them a new taste and relish as a Graft doth meliorate improve the Sap of the Stock and makes it to bring forth better Fruit than ever it could otherwise do so the Gospel heightens ennobles and advances all the Faculties of the Soul to better and more excellent Operations than otherwise they would rise to or bring forth We must steadily look into this Spiritual Glass and behold the Glory of Christ in it 2 Cor. 3. last So by beholding the Glory of the Lord we shall be changed and transformed into the same Image Yield therefore to Christ and his Word let Christ erect his Tribunal in your Souls suffer him to Judge your State Condemn your Sins to pass Sentence on your Lusts that when he hath wounded he may heal you when he hath cast you down he may raise you up Isa 2.4 It it said of Christ That he shall Judge among the Nations and Rebuke many People Christ executes a Judicature by his Word to this you are to stand by this you are to be sentenced to Life or Death O therefore when you come to hear do not carp cavil and judge the Word because it thwarts your Foolish Notions or crosseth your vise Affections but yield and submit to Christ Judging and Commanding of you by his Word I shall now proceed to give and press some Motives to urge you to listen to comply with and obey the Son of God that Preaches to you 1. It is Wisdom that Preaches to you Prov. 1.20 21 22. The Son of God is the Wisdom of God and Wisdom is now come forth into our Nature and cries without in our Streets Doth not Wisdom deserve to be styled A wonderful Counsellor Isa 9.6 who is so fit to advise us how to fly from the Wrath to come to escape the Corruption that is in the World through Lust Who is so meet to Teach and Direct us how we may come out of Debt and get out of Prison as Infinite Wisdom Who can so well Instruct us how our Consciences may be purged the fore-skin of our Hearts cut off our Diseases healed our Guilt and Filth purged away as the Wisdom of God Shall we exalt our vain Minds and our foolish Understandings in Opposition to the Counsels and Dictates of Wisdom We are entangled in a Wilderness of Woe we are in a Labyrinth of Iniquity and Guilt and Wisdom only can teach us the right way to get out and lead us to the Glorious City of God above We knew not how God should be Just and yet justifie the Ungodly how his Righteousness should be glorified in Punishing and yet his Mercy magnified in Pardoning how Sin should meet with a Hell of Punishments and yet Sinners enjoy a Heaven of Blessedness Yet the Son of God that is Wisdom doth reconcile these things and make them to consist with each other 2. The Son that Preacheth is Love it self Cant. 3.5 The Church chargeth the Daughters of Jerusalem not to stir up nor awake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Love Christ is called by way of Excellency that Love that admirable that transcendent Love O will you not listen to him that is Love it self If he had not been Love it self he could never have stooped so low have drank so bitter a Cup have endured so heavy a Burden have exposed himself to so dreadful a Storm He that was Rich became Poor 2 Cor. 8.9 He that was the Holy One of God and without spot and blemish was made Sin he that was God over all blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 Was made a Curse John 3.14 And in order to all this he that made all things was made Flesh John 1.1 2.14 He shewed himself to be Love that as a Head he would choose and take a Body below and as a Bridegroom be related to a Spouse on Earth O how wonderful is this that Nobility should wooe Vileness and Baseness That Riches should court Poverty And Beauty be enamoured with Deformity O! is it not wonderful Love that the Heir of all things should make Addresses to those that had nothing yea were indeed worse than nothing For nothing cannot go Astray cannot run a Whoring cannot Rebel and Provoke yet sinful Men and Women are guilty of all these If the Son of God were not Love would he have dyed to open a Fountain to wash us Zech. 13.1 to provide a Remedy to heal us Isa 53.5 By his stripes are we healed If he had nor been Love would he have been a Sacrifice 1 Cor. 5.7 8. that we might have a Feast on his Altar Heb. 13.10 If Jesus Christ were not Love would he cast his Net to draw us out of a dead Sea * Ezek. 47.10 Would he speak to raise us out of a Spiritual Grave * John 5.25 Would he call us out of a dark and doleful Prison Isa 49.9 If he were not Love would he Preach to raise Sinners out of their Ruins and to build them up as a House and Temple for God 1 Pet. 2 4 5. Would he enclose and take us within the Walls of the Spiritual Jerusalem Jer. 31.38 39 40. Jerâ—miah Prophesies of a Jerusalem that should be built to the Lord that is for him to dwell in the Name of this City is Jebovah Shammah Ezek. 48. last It is an Honourable and Glorious Name that Jehovah is there that his special Presence is to be found
Soul of Jesus Christ being separated from the Body did go and Preach to some of the Fathers of the Old Testament that were not as they say yet admitted into Heaven but were reserved in some out-rooms of Hell where they felt no pain but did not yet see the Glorious Face of God nor enjoy his Blessed Presence But this cannot be the true genuine sense of the words For 1. If Spirit signifies here the Soul of Christ and quickned imports his Resurrection then Jesus Christ must Preach to these Spirits not while his Body was dead but after his Resurrection which the Papists themselves will not own or admit 2. Spirit in the 18th Verse signifies Christ's Divine Nature and it was not in this or by this that he preached to the Spirits of the Old Testament after their Souls were separated from their Bodies 3. Those that Christ preached to lived and were disobedient in the days of Noah it is not said they did Repent of or break off from their sins but were hardned in their Unbelief and dyed in their Iniquities they went down uncircumcised in Heart into the Pit and so Eternal Death was their Wages and Hell was their own Place Now even Papists dare not say that Christ preached to the Damned their state is remediless the Sentence irrevocable their Loss irrecoverable there is no Year of Jubilee no Goal-delivery for imprisoned Spirits confined to and shut up in Hell Jesus Christ would not Preach to those that God had cast off for ever and doomed to Eternal Misery for their continued and obstinate Disobedience they whose Nature was not changed on Earth their Condition could not be altered in Hell 4. If the Soul of Christ had preached to Souls in the Prison of Hell what Reason can be assigned why he should Preach rather to those that were disobedient in the days of Noah than to those that were disobedient in the days of Abraham Moses or in the after-times of the Prophets This one Argument may shame this Notion and confute this ungrounded Exposition of the words that the Soul of Christ went down to Hell to Preach to Spirits there Before I come to the main Doctrines that the words afford I shall observe several other great Truths that the words do offer to us 1. That the Scripture is a most Excellent and Divine Book in that it gives us such a true Account and such sure Notions about a future and eternal state after Death As it tells us what is the Condition of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the Holy Prophets that they are in the Palaces and Kingdom of God Luke 13.28 so it informs us what is become of the Sinners of the Old World that these are cast into the Prison of God He that appoints Portion in the Paradice above and assigns places in the Prison below and adjudges to each of these by an irrevocable Sentence can best tell what is become of Saints and Sinners now they are departed out of the World 2. This Evidences the Immortality of the Soul that the Spirits of wicked Men are said to subsist after Death and to abide in God's Prison though their Garments of Flesh were pluckt off their Houses of Clay thrown down to the Dust yet their Souls did not expire or sleep as a Man can live though his Garments are put off or his House be demolished or drop down So the Soul hath no such necessary dependance on the Body but can exist though this Garment be put off this House be pulled down This Candle will burn though taken out of the Lanthorn of the Flesh Death doth not blow out only it removes this Light into another World 3. We may observe the Mercy and Goodness of God that though he had threatned a Flood and adjudged all the World besides eight Persons to be drowned by it yet the Son of God Preaches to this degenerate and wicked World before he destroys them though God designed Severity against their Bodies yet he offers Mercy to their Souls that though they could not avoid the first yet that they might decline the second Death and though their baser part were cast away yet that their Souls might swim to and Land safely on the Shoars of a blessed Eternity and God's means do not use to be totally ineffectual and in vain The Word is seldom if ever preached but that some are to be drawn out of the dead Sea and called out of their Graves by it Peter seems to tell us that the Word was not wholly lost on the Old World but that some received saving Benefit by it 1 Pet. 4.6 For this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that were dead that they might be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the spirit This may be Vid. Piscal in locum and is expounded to relate to and point at the state of the Old World the Gospel was preached to them that though they were judged were drowned and perished in the Eye of Men as to their Flesh yet they might live to and with God in their Spirits Though God proclaimed War against their Bodies yet he tendred Peace to their Souls 4. We may further Observe that even those that the Son of God Preaches to may stop their Ears close their Eyes harden their Hearts and for their Unbelief and Impenitency may be cast into God's Prison and perish everlastingly The Gospel is to some the savour of death unto death 2 Cor. 2.16 They did shut Christ out of their Souls and for this are shut up under the wrath of God and are the Subjects of Eternal Vengeance 5. We may Observe what a hainous Evil Sin is and what a terrible Adversary God is He did not only sweep away the sinners of the World and drown their Bodies in a Flood of Waters but he imprisoned and punished their Souls God drowned their Spirits in Destruction and Perdition 1 Tim. 6.9 Sin is committed against an Infinite Majesty and cannot be sufficiently punished or satisfied for in a Finite Time by a Finite Creature It is an Axiom in the Civil Law Accusatio rei morte finitat An Accusation is finished by the death of the guilty Person all Process and Proceedings then cease against the Delinquent But it is otherwise here God's Accusation is not let fall his Actions are not withdrawn his Controversie doth not cease when sinners dye he pursues and overtakes them in another World there he meets them as one bereaved of his Authority Honour and Glory by them he resents the wrongs done to him he pours out the full Vials of his Wrath on them and fights against them for ever They are that they may be Miserables a bare Stock of Being is continued that God may graft Misery and Eternal Torments on it The words afford us two Doctrines First That the Son of God did Preach before he was Incarnate and doth as truly Preach by Instruments as he doth immediately in his
snare till he takes up his snare Amos 3.5 seizes on the prey he hath caught and carries it away to Hell As the Lord liveth there is a place of Misery there is a dreadful Prison and place of Torments Do not banish it out of your Thoughts do not ridicule it as a meer Invention of Men or as vain ungrounded Fancy entertained in weak and timerous Minds Do not go on to despise or question it till God confutes your unbelief and punishes your Atheism by the woful painful feeling of that which you would not believe or fear 2. Vse Do not envy Sinners do not grudge them their full Cup of sensual Delights their calm and smoath Streams of Prosperity God hath a reckoning with them Judgments are travelling towards them Hos 5.1 Vengeance is ready to take hold of them those that now will bear no Yoak will be restrained by no bounds must shortly be laid fast in the Eternal Prison They that now swim in Rivers of Pleasures must soon be drowned in Perdition and Destruction They that suck in large draughts of sensual Delights must within a little time drink the Wine of the Wrath of the Almighty Would you envy a Malefactor a large Meal or a full Glass of Wine that next day is to be executed Would you grudge a Man Fine Cloaths or delicate Fare that next hour is to be cast into devouring Fire their Comforts are measured by Time but their Misery and Torment is to be measured by Eternity 3. Vse O examine your selves what grounded Hope you have that you shall be secured from Eternal Bondage and delivered from the wrath to come are you in the Road to the Prison or in the way to the Palace there are but these two Receptacles and places of Entertainment for departed Souls Consider well of it are you in a perishing way Psal 1. last or in the way Everlasting Psal 139. last Put these following Questions to your Souls 1. Are your Eyes opened Isa 42.7 This is the means to bring us out of our spiritual Prison and the first step towards our Liberty Why are Men so quiet so contented so satisfied to stay in Gods outer Prison Surely it is because their Eyes are shut they discern not where they are and how great their danger is Jesus Christ first opens the blind eyes and then he brings the Prisoners out of the Prison-House Inquire therefore did you ever come to your selves take up true Notions or form a right Judgment concerning your lost deplorable and miserable Estate Luk. 15.17 The Prodigal came to himself he conversed with reflected on himself dwelt on the sad Thoughts of what his Folly and Lusts had reduced him to and then he took up this fixed Resolution I will arise and go to my Father Luk. 15.18 19 20 21. If Men did come to themselves they would leave Sin as a bad and hard Master and would return to God their Heavenly Father The Apostle Paul speaks of Sinners recovering themselves out of the snare of the Devil 2 Tim. 2. last The Word in the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifies to recover out of Drunknness and to become sober and those that thus become sober do escape out of the snare of the Devil Sinners are drunken with false Notions with wrong Conceptions and ungrounded Imaginations concerning themselves the goodness of their own Estate the sweetness of the Pleasures of Sin the worth of the Riches of the World Men must return to sobriety of Mind to a right Judgment of their State and Ways that they may recover out of the snare of the Devil Are the Scales of Ignorance fallen off from your Eyes is the Veil drawn off from your Hearts Act. 12.7 9. A Light shined into Peters Prison and then he was raised and called out of it so here 2. Are you come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament and to the Blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than the Blood of Abel Heb. 12.24 Are you come into his Righteousness Psal 69.27 That is an observable Phrase to come into the Righteousness of the Messiah Believers come into it as their Garment that must cloath and cover them their Fortress and City of Refuge that must secure them from the Curse of the Law and Revenging Justice Those that lay hold of and come into the Righteousness of Christ are passed from Death to Life and shall never come into Condemnation John 5.20 These things are linked with and depend on each other coming into Christs Righteousness secures us from coming into Condemnation have you fled by Faith to the Mediator and his Blood so that you have received the Atonement that he made Rom. 5.11 Do you apply the Reconciliation that Christ hath made to your selves 2 Cor. 5.18 All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ 3. Are you made Free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death The Law of the Spirit is the mighty powerful effectual working of the Spirit of Life Though the Law of Sin be strong yet the Law of the Spirit of Life is stronger This Law of the Spirit can prevail and carry it against the Law of Sin have we ever experienced this mighty Law of the Spirit hath it broke our Fetters and Chains mortified our Lusts enlarged our Hearts Psal 119.32 Then will I run the way of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my Heart It is the work of the Spirit to enlarge the understanding by beaming in new Light and to enlarge the Will by kindling new spiritual Love when Christ by his Spirit doth cirtumcise the Heart then the Chains of Lust do fall off Is the Law of God written in you Jer. 31.33 Is this a prevailing reigning Principle in your Hearts and as a powerful Byass on your Wills Do you choose the way of Truth and choose Gods Precepts Psal 119.30 173. 4. Have you New Honourable and Ornamental Chains cast about your Souls Isa 45.14 It is promised the Church that the Egyptians and the Ethiopians and other Gentile Nations should come over to her and be hers they should come over to her and after her in Chains We are not to understand the Words as if Christ should force Proselites into his Church or Subjects into his Kingdom Jesus Christ never did violence to the Bodies of Men or by an outward force hale Men to him but the Phrase signifies the powerful work of Christ by his Spirit on the Minds and Consciences of Men he casts Chains of Light and Love about the Souls of Men He mightily convinces and perswades them of the Truth of his Doctrine of the Excellency of his Promises He plants strong Inclinations in them he makes powerful Impressions on them that they cannot but subject themselves to him and yield and submit to his Church Those that are bound with Chains
said to remain and so wrath doth abide Repentance in Hell will be without any Fruit their Grief without Relief their Groans Cries Petitions will not prevail can obtain nothing at the Hand of God sinners were deaf to God in time and he will be deaf to them in eternity Their Hearts were hardned and his Bowels will be shut The Fewel of Gods Anger will be everlasting therefore the Fire will be eternal an Immortal Death an ever dying Misery and endless Torments will be the Portion of the Damned The suffering Jews complain and say that God had hedged them about and they could not get out Lam. 3.7 so the damned in Hell are so hedged in by their own guilt and the just wrath of God that they can never get out Their Destruction will be everlasting their Ruin irrecoverable God will not Release them and they cannot Rescue themselves 5. This heightens the Misery of departed Souls that their Prison is a place of Torments as well as of Restraint Dives complains he was tormented in that Flame Luke 16.24 and would have his Brethren warned that they might not come into that place of Torments Luke 16.25 God will exact his debts of and execute his threatnings on sinners He will tread them in the Wine-press and press out all that is sweet grateful and pleasant and leave only a dry Husk of Being the Damned seem to be called Carcases Isaiah 66. last Ye shall go forth and see the carcases of the men that transgressed against me The Expression is Elegant Significant and Emphatical Christ will command his Enemies that would not have him to reign over them to be brought before him he will sentence them to be slain in his presence when they are slain when all the Peace Joy Comfort of their Souls is destroyed what will remain but a meer Carcase of Being When men shall be only to be miserable to endure vengeance to suffer Torments this may well be stiled a Carcase of Being Bullinger de Triumph tells us that the day that an Emperour Triumphed the Prisoners were led in Chains and exposed as an open spectacle to the Eyes of the Spectators and that when the Chariot of him that Triumphed turned to go up to the Capitol then the Prisoners were led away to the Prison and the Triumpher staid in the Capitol till news was brought him that the Prisoners or some one of them was put to death in the Prison the Prison this day was a place of Execution among the Romans Gods Prison will be a place of Eternal Execution and Torments Dives begged that Lazarus might but dip the Tip of his Finger in Water and let fall a few drope to cool his Tongue Luke 16.24 his Request seems very modest he did not desire that Lazarus should dip his whole Hand no not his whole Finger but only the Tip of his Finger this was a very small Petition yet it is not granted but rejected and decried Sinners in Hell shall not obtain the least ease refreshment or mitigation of their Torments God will deal with sinners as they did with Jesus Christ he cried out I Thirst John 19.28 but did he receive any thing to refresh or ease him no his Enemies only filled a Sponge with Vinegar and put it to his Mouth John 19.30 this was to Torment rather than Relieve him As Christ obtained nothing from men to refresh him so sinners shall get nothing from God to ease them when once they are shut up in his Prison as the wicked Jews Priests and Scribes upbraided Christ with his words and works Mat. 27.40 41 42 43. that he said he would build the Temple that he asserted himself to be the Son of God that he saved others so a Righteous God and an Awakened Conscience will upbraid Sinners with their evil words and their sinful actions to eternity the iniquity of their Heels will compass them about the reward of their Hand will be given to them Isaiah 3.10 they shall feed on the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own inventions Prov. 1.31 They that glory in their wisdoms and applauded themselves in their inventions as of they had found out the true and chief Good as if they had discovered the true Pleasures the true Liberty the true Happiness shall smart for their Inventions and feel the woful effects of them for ever 6. This renders the Condition of those that are in Gods Prison terrible that they are under the fear and dread of future evils and of a more severe punishment As the thoughts of the Affizes are bitter and terrible to Malefactors they know that then their Crimes will be remembred accusations will be formed Witnesses will appear against them they will be Condemned and Executed So sinners in Hell may dread the appearing of Jesus Christ and the Judgment of the Great Day Sinners are not yet at the bottom of their Pit they are not yet fallen under the heaviest hottest fullest expressions of the Wrath of God they do not yet see the worst of their Condition It is said that Death and Hell shall be cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone this is the second death Revel 20.14 What is intended and meant by Death and Hell I suppose by Death here is meant the Body that died and so fell under the power of Death and Hell here signifies the Souls of the Damned that were cast into Hell The Continent is put for the thing Contained the Bodies of the wicked were held under death and their Souls were shut up in Hell but the Bodies of the Wicked shall not still sleep in the Grave they shall awake and rise be joined to and united with their Bodies but this resurrection will not be a benefit but a hurt to them it will not be a priviledge but a punishment their Bodies shall rise that they may fall into the Lake of Fire that they may feel Torments that they be obnoxious to punishment from the Revenging Hand of God those that are now in Hell do know that this will be that their Souls and Bodies must meet again that as they joined in sin so they may be Companions in misery this conjunction they dread they would rather their Bodies should dwell in the Grave for ever than that Soul and Body both should be united to be drowned in a Lake of Fire to be swallowed up of the second Death 7. Sinners shall have the misery of their Prison heightned by these two aggravations 1. They that remember what Mercy was once offered to them and was rejected by them 2. They that behold what happiness others enjoy and they are eternally deprived of 1. Sinners shall call to mind what means of Grace they once enjoyed what tenders of Salvation were made to them the Son of God preached to the old World he called them to Repentance he warned them to fly from the Wrath to come yet their Understandings were darkned their Consciences stupified their Hearts hardned their
Ears stopt even so it hath been since those that have been in the Church and under the sound of the Word have heard tidings that should have affected their Spirits gladded their Hearts yea even ravished their Souls a year of Jubilee hath been proclaimed a day of Salvation hath been afforded sinners have been told that dead Souls may hear the Voice of the Son of God and live that Prisoners in this World may be set free Captives released Wounds may be healed Diseases cured Sinners may be justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus filthy Souls may be cleansed Conscience may be purged from dead works yet men mind not regard not seek not any of these things They make light of all the Travel of Christs Soul of the Purchase of his Blood of the Legacies of his Testament Matt. 22.5 they consider not that their Diseases threaten them with Eternal Death that the weight of their Guilt will sink them down into the Bottomless Pit that the shame of their Nakedness will expose them to everlasting Contempt and Abhorrency all this Stupidity Folly and hardness of Heart shall be renewed and reflected on as a just Cause of Eternal Punishment They shall remember how Jesus Christ called and they did not answer he knocked and they did not open he stretched out his Hands filled with pretious and inestimable Gifts but they did not stretch out the hand of Faith to receive Christ and his Benefits They would not look to Christ that they might be saved Isaiah 45.22 They turned from the Captain of Salvation to a Murtherer from a merciful Shepherd to a cruel and devouring Lion they would not come to Christ that they might have life John 5.40 they would not lean on Christâ— Arm that they might not fall under the wrath of God and the vengeance of eternal Fire This will one day sting them that sin was sweeter to them than salvation that rather than quench the fire of Lust they would run into the flames of Hell that rather than the Old Man should suffer and its Members be mortified or cut off they themselves would perish everlastingly This will to eternity wound them that their vanity of Mind their carelesness of Spirit their unbelief and hardness of Heart hath undone them that they dallied trifled away the time turned away the Physitian refused the Redeemer rejected the Bridegroom and must suffer the deserved punishment for all this to eternity they will see their opportunity is lost and never to be regained that the Door of Gods House is shut never to be opened again that the Treaty of Peace is broken off never to be revived any more that the Ladder that joined Earth and Heaven together is taken away is drawn up and will never be let down to sinners any more 2. This will aggravate the Misery of those that are in this Infernal Prison that they shall see what others enjoy but they are bereaved of and shut out from Luk. 13.28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth when ye shall see Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God and you your selves thrust out The Time was when Sinners were earnestly called upon were pressed with importunity to enter into the Kingdom of God but they neglected they contemned it but now this is their Punishment to be thrust out into Eternal Darkness and Torment and their loss will be embittered when they behold what others are arrived at and in Possession of O how will it pierce the Hearts of the degenerate Seed of Godly Men to see their Fathers possess a rich Inheritance and they themselves to be Poor for ever How will this vex incense and inrage them to see others at a plentiful Royal Feast and themselves to lie under an Eternal Famine That Saints Triumph in Glorious Triumph and they are held in Eternal Bondage That others wear Robes and Crowns of Glory but they themselves are clothed with sordid Garments and Rags of Infamy it might be a trouble to Lazarus to see Dives his Plenty and his own Penury To behold his Delicates and costly Fare and then reflect on his own hunger and wants but in the other World things are quite turned Now Dives is troubled to see Lazarus at Rest and he himself in Torments to behold Lazarus Feasted and himself Famished Luk. 16.19 20 21 22 24. O how will this Disquiet and Torment Sinners to see Saints bathing themselves in the Fountain of Life and that they cannot get a drop of Water to cool their Tongues and allay their Torments 1. Vse Of the Doctrine Is it so that the Spirits of Wicked men gone out of the Body are in Gods Prison then this Truth should awaken secure and strike a Terrour into hard Hearted Sinners O do not imagine that if you are afflicted that you receive all your evil things here Gods anger is not turned away his Sword is not sheathed his Controversie is not at an end with you there is a vast Arrear of Debt a dreadful remainder of Wrath yet behind You drink but the Top of the Cup of Gods Fury the dregs of it yet remain to be sucked into your Souls in another World Psal 75.8 God le ts fall but some drops of his Displeasure here the most dreadful storm is yet behind Psal 11.6 God now doth but Skirmish with Sinners in this World he will join Battel and come to a close fight with them in another World O Sinners will you choose the way to Gods Prison will you take the Road that leads to the Lake of Fire and Brimstone you foolishly run into the Devils snares and rush upon Hell and Destruction will you bring forth Fruit to Death Rom. 7.5 Will you bear such Fruit as will make you more worthy of Death and more fit for Destruction Will you provide evidences and prepare witnesses for your Condemnation Jer. 14.7 Mens Iniquities testifie against them The more Sins they commit the more Witnesses they raise up against themselves Will you heap up fuel for your Eternal burning Will you daily purchase for your selves a place in this Eternal Prison Will you yield your depraved Wills your vile Affections as so many Chains given into the Devils hand to lead you by unto this dreadful Prison Will you Barter and Trade away your Souls for so contemptible a price as the Wages of Unrighteousness and the Pleasures of Sin that are but for a season Will you be ignorant of Satan Devices Will you not discern his designs he seeks for he hunts after your Souls His aim is to gain and seize them that he may carry them away into this dark Prison O Sinners will you not consider will you not rouse up your selves and start out of your deep Sleep there may be but a step between you and this Eternal Prison Will you delay at the brink of the Pit will you sleep at the Door of the Prison Will you not stop your selves before it be too late Will you stay in the Devils