out that word in Isa. 65. 1. Behold me behold me O may wee not summond Angels and these twenty four Elders about the Throne to help us to wonder that ever such a command as this came forth that wee should believe on the Name of the Son of God after that wee had broken that first and primitive command That we should not eat of the forbidden tree Was not this indeed to make mercy rejoyce over judgement And O may wee not wonder at the precious oath of the everlasting Covenant whereby he hath sworn That hee delighteth not in the death of sinners What suppose yee were poor Adams thoughts when at first the Doctrine of Free-grace and of a crucified Christ Jesus a Saviour was preached unto him in Paradise What a divine surprisal was this that heaven should have preached peace to earth after that earth had proclaimed war against heaven Was not this a low step of condescendency to behold an offended God preaching peace and good will to a guilty sinner What could self-destroying Adam think of these morning and first discoveries of this everlasting Covenant Christ as it were in the morning of time giving vent to that infinite love which was resting in his bosome and precious heart before the foundation of the world was laid Wee know not whether the infinitenesse of his love the eternity of his love or the freedom of it maketh up the greatest wonder But sure these three joyned together make up a matchlesse and everlasting wonder Would any of you ask the Question What is Christ worth Wee could give no answer so suitable as this it is above all the Arithmetick of all the Angels in heaven and all the men on earth to calculate his worth all men here must be put to a divine non plus This was Iobs divinity Iob 28. 13. Man knoweth not the price of wisedome And must not Jesus Christ who is the precious object of Faith and wisedome of the Father bee a supereminent and excellent One who hath that Name of King of kings and Lord of lords not onely ingraven on his vesture which pointeth out the conspicuousnesse of his Majesty but even also upon his thigh to point out that in all his goings and motions hee proveth himself to bee higher then the Kings of the earth And howbeit the naked proposing of the object doth not convert yet if once our souls were admitted to behold such a sight as Christ in his Beauty and Majesty and to bee satisfied with the divine rayes of his transcendent glory then certainly wee should finde a blessed necessity laid upon us of closing with him for Christ hath a sword proceeding out of his precious moâ—â—h by which hee doth subject and subjugate his own to himself as well as hee hath a sword girded upon his thigh by which hee judgeth and maketh war with his enemies Wee confesse it is not only hard but simply impossible to commit a Hyperbole in commending of him His worth being alwayes so far above our expressions and our expressions alwayes so far beneath his worth therefore wee may be put to propose that desire unto him Exalt thy self O Lord above the Heavens But now to our purpose being at this time to begin our discourse upon that radicall and precious grace of Faith wee intend to speak of it under this twofold notion and consideration First We shall speak of it as it is justifying or as it doth lay hold upon the righteousnesse of a crucified Saviour makeing application of the precious promises in the Covenant of free grace which wee call justifying Faith And in the second place we shall speak a little-unto Faith as it doth lay hold upon Christs strength for advancing the work of mortification and doth discover the personal excellencies of Iesus Christ by which wee advance in the work of holinesse and divine consormity with God which wee call sanctifying Faith However it is not to bee supposed that these are different habits of Faith but different acts flowing from the same saving habit laying hold and exercising themselves upon Christ in different respects and for diverse ends Now to speak upon the first we have made choice of these words The Apostle Iohn in the former verse hath been pointing out the precious advantages of the grace of obedience and of keeping of his commands that such a one hath as it were an arbitrary power with God and doth receive many precious returns of prayer As likewise that one who is exercised in the grace of repentance is Gods delight which is included in this that he doth these things that are well pleasing in his sight And now in these words hee doth as it were answer an objection that might bee proposed about the impossibility of attaining these precious advantages seeing his commands were so large and that hardly could they bee remembered This hee doth sweetly answer by setting down in this one verse a short compend or breviary both of Law and Gospel viz. That wee should love one another which is the compend of the Law and The we should believe on the Name of His Son which is the compend of the Gospel And by this he sheweth the Christian that there are not many things required of him for attaining these excellent advantages but if he exercise himself in the obedience of these two comprehensive commandments he shall find favour both with God and man And as concerning this precious grace of Faith Wee have 1. the advantages of it implied in the words and clear also from the scope as no doubt all the commands have infinit advantages infolded in their bosome which redounds to a Believer by his practising of them And 2. the excellency of it holden forth in the words in that it is called His command as if hee had no other command but this And the Greek particle is here prefixed which hath a great deal of emphasis and force in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But 3. There is this also the absolute necessity of this grace holden forth here in this word His Commandment as if he would have said by proposing of this command I do set life and death before you and that ye would not conceive that it is an arbitrary and indifferent thing for you to believe or not But be perswaded of this that as an infinite advantage may constrain you to the obedience of it so absolute necessity must perswade you to act that which is of your everlasting concernment And lastly Yee have the precious Object upon which Faith which is justifying doth exercise it self and that is upon the Name of the Son of God And no doubt Faith is that excellent grace which doth elevate the soul unto a sweet and inseparable union with Christ and is that golden and precious knot that doth eternally knit the hearts of these precious friends together Faith is that grace that draweth the first draughts of Christs precious Image on our hearts and by love doth accomplish
house and his banner over her was love Believe mee more communion with an absent Christ would make more intimation in a divine manner of our peace with him wee desire to blesse these that are above the reach of all these disputings and questionings that wee are so much subject unto III. This is a sealing time to a Christian when hee is much in the exercise 〈◊〉 secret Prayer and of much conversing and corresponding with God in that duty as is clear from that word in Dan. 9. 21. when Daniel was praying at the evening oblation in the â—3 verse he meets with a divine intimation of his peace with God O man greatly beloved of God as the Original hath it O man of great desires for he was desirable indeed and precious to him who holdeth the Saints in his â—ight hand IV. This is also a sealing-time to a Christian when hee is called to the exercise of some great work and is to be put upon some eminent holy employment this is clear Ier. â— 5. Where Ieremiah being called to preach the Gospel unto such a rebellious people â—hen hee hath this eternal election declared â—nto him Before thou wast formed in the womb I knew thee Christ as it were giveth them that to be meat to them for fourty dayes and that in the strength of it they may go many a dayes journey V. There is also another sealing time When â— Christian is first begotten to a precious and everlasting hope for when at first Christians begin to be acquaint with Christ even then sometimes he declareth to them his boundless and everlasting love And that is the ground why some of those who are but babes in Christ â—re so much in the exercise of diligence so much in the exercise of the grace of love and â—o much in the exercise of the grace of tendernesse it is even because of the solemn impression of their interest in Christ that as it â—ere they are daily taken in to read their own names in legible letters in the Lambs book of life VI. And there is this last time that is â— sealing time to a Christian and that is when he is put under some sad and afflicting dispensation When the furnace is hot seven times more then ordinary Then doth God condescenâ—â—o manifest himself to his own When was it that Iohn met with most of the revelationâ— of Heaven Was it not when hee was in the Isle of Patmos for the testimony of Jesus Christâ— Kingdom and patience of our blessed Lord Rev. 1. 9. And in that place 2 Cor. 4. 16. Though our outward man decay yet our inward man is renewed day by day Now wee would presse you to bee more serious in the exercise of this precious grace And I shall tell you the compend of Christianity in these few words 1. By faith to solace your selves in Christs invisible vertues and excellencies And 2. by hope to beâ— viewing that precious Crown and these everlasting dignities that are to bee given to the Saitns And 3 by mortification to be crucifying your idols And 4. by patience to bee possessing your souls untill once yeâ— shall passe through that dark land to thaâ— valley of everlasting delight And as foâ— those that contemne and undervalue thâ— bloud of this everlasting Covenant and 〈◊〉 would have all these that delight not in closing with Christ and these who have noâ— misbelief as their crosse to consider this The wrath of the living and eternal God doâ—â— abide upon them who do not believe according â—â— that word Ioh. 3. 36. He that believeth â—â—ot the wrath of God abideth on him It is a remarkable phrase because of this the wrath of God will not bee a Pilgrime to a mishbeâ—ever that will turn aside to tarry but for 〈◊〉 night but the wrath of God to them who will not believe shall bee their houshold â—ompanion and shall dwell with them and â—o wo to them eternally who have this sad â—nd everlasting companion to abide with â—hem the wrath of a living God There is â—ne thing we would have these knowing that among all these who are eternally to bee dearted from Jesus Christ misbelievers are put â—â— the foremost rank Rev. 21. 8. There he is to â—ut away the fearful and unbelieving And â—om 2 Thess 1. 18. When Christ shall come from heaven with ten thousand of his Saints What â—o do It is even to execute vengeance on thâ—se â—hat obey not the truth of the Gospel that is who do not believe And I pose your own hearts with this whether or not your names â—ee written there in that â—oll among these sho shall be cut off And that word 2 Thes. â— 12. That they might be damned who believed â—ot but took pleasure in unrighteousnesse O but â—he wrath of a dying Christ and of a crucifiâ—d Saviour is dreadful It is more sad and terâ—ible then the wrath of God should have been 〈◊〉 Christ had not died I will tell you O â—ypocrites in Sion the worst news that ever were published in your eâ—â—s and it is this Christ died and rose again and to those that â—re begotten to a lively hope they are glad â—â—dings of great joy and therein they may comfort themselvs but ye may wear a rough garment to deceive and go to heaven in your own apprehension But O the sad disappointment that is waiting on many such And to close with this we would obtest you as ye would answer to your terrible dreadfull Judge that shall stand one day upon his Throne which he shall fix in the clouds we obtest you by all the joyes of heaven and we obtest you by all the everlasting pains of hell and we obtest you by all the curses that are written within the volume of this Book and by all the sweet comfortable promises that are in this everlasting Gospel and by the love that ye owe to your immortal souls and as ye would not crucifie Christ afresh believe and imbrace the offers which are presented now unto you Know ye whether or not this shall be the last summonds that ye shall get to believe That so if ye do reject it Christ shall come from heaven and pronounce that sad and lamentable sentence to you Depart from me 〈◊〉 cursed I know you not Now to him that caâ— blesse these things to you we desire to give praise SERMON III. 1 Joh. 3. 23. This is his Commandment that ye should believe on the Name of his Son Iesus Christ c. IT was a command that Solomon gave unto his Son Prov. 22. 26. That he should not be surety for debt nor should be one of those that stricketh hands But O! what spotlesse breaches of that Command hath our blessed Lord Jesus committed when he did condescend to be surely for our debt and to pay that that was impossible for us to satisfie Hath not Christ made a precious exchange with sinners He wreathed about his own precious neck that
placeth a Christian upon the top of mount Pisga and there letteth him see a sight of the promised Land And doth open a door in Heaven thorow which a Christian is admitted to see Christ sitting upon His Throne And Faith hath not only a kind of Omnipotency as is clear That all things are possible to them that believe but it hath a kind of Omnisciency and all knowledge that it can take up and comprehend the greatest mysteries of heaven according to that word Prov. 28. 5. He that seeketh the Lord shall understand all things As if hee said there is nothing dark to a believing Christian as there is nothing impossible to â— believing Christian. As likewise Faith â—s that grace that must take aside the vail that is spread over the face of a crucified Christ. And Faith is that precious spy that goeth forth and taketh up these wonderfull excellencies that are in him The grace of love as it were is born blind and it hath nothing wherewith to solace it self but that which is presented unto it by this noble and excellent grace of Faith Now before wee shall speak any thing to these things that wee did propose to speak of it at the last occasion wee shall yet speak a little unto some things which are necessary to be known for the distinct up taking of the nature of justifying Faith which is the great commandement of this everlasting Gospel and that which wee would first speak to shall be this What is the reason and ground that the Gospel conveyance of righteousnesse and life and of the excellent things of this everlasting Covenant should be through the exercise of the grace of Faith For it is not said in the Scripture that repentance justifieth that love justifieth or that mortification justifieth but it is Faith only that justifieth and it is Faith by which a Christian inheriteth the promises so that is clear that Faith is that Conduit-pype through which are conveyed to us the great blessings of this everlasting Covenant I. And the first ground of it is this it is through Faith that all our blessings may be known to be by love and by free and unsearchable grace as is clear Rom. 4. 16. While the Apostle is giving a reason why the inheritance is conveyed to a Christian through Faith It is of faith saith he that it might be of grace for if the inheritance were conveyed to a Christian through a Covenant of Works then these spotlesse draughts of infinite love and of unsearchable grace should not be written on our inheritance as is clear Rom. 4. 25. And it is that great designe of Christ to make his grace conspicuous in conveying salvation to us through Faith II. There is this second ground likewise of it that all the promises and blessings of this everlasting Covenant might be sure and stedfast to us therefore they are conveyed to us through the exercise of the grace of Faith as is clear Rom. 4. 16. They are of Faith saith he that they might be sure or as the word is that they might be settled when the promises of life and of eternal salvation were conveyed to us through mans obedience were they not then most uncertain and unstable But is not heaven your everlasting crown now stedfast unto you seeing you have that golden pillar of Christs everlasting righteousnesse to be the foundation of your Faith and the strength of your confidence in the day of need III. There is this third ground why the promises and excellent things of this Gospel are conveyed to a Christian through the exercise of Faith that all boasting and gloriation might be excluded according to that word Rom. 3. 27. By what law is boasting excluded Not by the law of works but by the law of Faith And certainly seeing Christians have all the great things of heaven conveyed to them through the exercise of Faith think yee not that this shall be your first song when yee shall be within the gates of that new Jerusalem Not unto us not unto us but unto thee doth belong the glory of our salvation O what a precious dignity were it but for one half hour to be admitted to hear these spotlesse songs that are sung by these thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy Angels that are round about His Throne Doth not David that sweet singer of Israel now sing more sweetly noâ— he did while he was here below Doth not deserted Heman now chaunt forth the praises and everlasting song of him that sitteth upon the Throne And doth not afflicted Iob now sing sweetly after his captivity is reduced and he entered within that land where the voice of joy and gladnesse is continually heard Would ye have a description of Heaven I could give it no tearm so suitable as this Heaven is a rest without a rest for though there remain a rest for the righteous yet Rev. 4. 8. These four beasts that stand before the Throne they rest not night nor day crying holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty yet there is much divine quietnesse in that holy unquietnesse that is above IV. There is this last ground why the blessings of the Gospel and life and righteousnesse are conveyed to us thorow the exercise of Faith that the way to attain to these things might be pleasant and easie we are certainly perswaded that the way of winning to Heaven by a Covenant of Works was much more unpleasant and difficult But is it not an easie way of entring into the holy of Holies to win unto it through the exercise of Faith Are not all wisdoms wayes pleasantnesse and are not all her paths peace Was not that just self-denial in one that said he would not take up a Crown though it were lying at his foot But oh that cursed self-denial doth possesse the breasts of many so that though that Crown of immortal Glory and eternal blessednesse be lying at your feet yet ye will not imbrace it nor take it up Is not the hatred of many to Christ covered with deceit and therefore Your iniquity shall be declared before the Congregation Now that what we have spoken upon this might be more clear and that the nature of â—ustifying Faith be not mistaken We would have you taking notice of these things 1. That the grace of Faith doth not justifie Christian as it is a work or because of any inherent excellency and dignity that is in this grace above any other graces of the Spirit â—ut Faith doth alone justifie a Christian instrumentally and objectively that is it is â—hat by which a Christian is just by laying hold â—n the precious object of it the righteousness of Christ. And to clear this we would only have you knowing this That Faith doth juifie as it closeth with Christ but not because 〈◊〉 closes with Christ which some vainly are â—old to assert because there is not any digâ—ity or worth in the act of Faith in closing with Christ
Oâ— are there not many of us that are in a golden dream that suppose we are eating but when we awake our soul is empty whose faith is a metaphysick notion that hath no foundation but mans apprehension and this shall never bear us through the gates of death nor convey us in into eternity of joy 2. May not this presse you to follow after assurance that it is the compendious way to sweeten all your crosses As is clear from Hab. 3. 17 18. where the convictions of this made Habbakuk to rejoyce in the God of his salvation Though the fig tree did not bear fruit and the labour of the olive did fail and there were no sweetnesse to be found in the vine and from Heb. 10. 34. where they took joyâ—ully the spoiling of their goods knowing within themselves that they had a better and an enduring substance This is indeed that tree which if wee cast into the waters of Marah they will presently become sweet for it is not below the child of hope to be much anxious about these things that he meets with here when he sincerely knoweth that Commandement shall come forth Lift up your head for the day of your eternal redemption draweth near even the day when all the rivers of his sorrow shall sweetly run into the ocean of everlasting delighâ—s 3. A Christian that is much in assurance he is much in communion and fellowship with God as is clear from the Song 1. 13 14. and Song 2. 3. where when once she cometh to that to be perswaded that Christ was her beloved then she sat down under his shaddow and his fruit was pleasant â—nto her taste for the assured Christian doth taste of these crums that â—all from that higher Table and no doubt these that have tasted of that old wine will not straight way desire the new because the old is better And then 4. It is the way to keep you from Apostacy and making defection from God Faith is that grace that will make you continue with Christ in all his tentations as is clear from 2 Pet. 1. 10. where this is set down as a fruit of making our calling and election sure that if we no these things we shall never fail Faith makes a Christian to live a dependent life for would you know the motto of a Christian It is this self diffidence and Christ dependence as is clear from that word in the Song 8. 5. that while we are walking through this wildernesse we are leaning upon our welbeloved 5. This assurance will help a Christian to overcome many tentations There are four sorts of tentations that assâ—ult the Christian there are temptations of desire temptations of love temptations of hope and temptations of anxiety all which a Christian through this noble grace of Assurance may sweetly overcome he that hath once made Christ his own what can he desire but him As Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord What can he love more then Christ or love beside Christ all his love being drowned as it were in that Oâ—ean of his excellencies and a sweet complacency found in the enjoyment of him And as to hope will not assurance make a Christian 〈◊〉 forth Now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee And when the heart is anxious doth not assurance make a Christian content to bear the indignation of the Lord and patiently submit unto the crosse since there is a sweet connexion betwixt his crosse and his Crown Rom. 8. 35 36. If he suffer with him he shall also reign with him And lastly There is this argument to presse you to assurance that it sweemeth the thoughts of death it maketh death unto a Christian not the king of terrours but the king of desires and it is upon these grounds that assurance maketh death refreshfull unto a Christian. 1. He knoweth that it is the funerall of all his miseries and the birth-day of all his blessed and eternal enjoyments 2. That it is the Coronation day of a Christian and-the day when he shall have that Marriage betwixt Christ and him sweetly solemnized And that when he is to step that last step hee knoweth that death will make him change his place but not his company And O that we could once win unto this to seal that conclusion without presumption My beloved is mine and I am his We might without presumption sing one of the songs of Sion even while we are in this strange land and taking Christ in our arms might sweetly cry forth Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for my eyes have seen thy salvation Comfort your selves in this that all your clouds shall once passe away and that that truth shall once come to passe which was confirmed by the oath of an Angel with his hand lifted up towards Heaven That time shall be no more Time shall once sweetly die out in eternity and ye may be looking after new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse O long to be with him for Christ longeth to have you with him SERMON VI. 1 Joh. 3. 23. This is his Commandment that ye should believe on the Name of his Son Iesus Christ c. THere are three most precious and cardinal graces which a Christian oughâ— mainly to pursue There is that exalting grace of Faith that comforting gracâ— of Hope and that aspiring grace of Love and if once a Christian did take up that heavenly difference that is between those sister-graces hee might be provoked to move after them most swiftly as the chariots of Aminadab And there is this difference between those graces Faith is a sober and silent grace Hope is a patient and submissive grace Love is an ambitions and impatient grace Faith cryeth out O my soul be silent unto God Hope cryeth out I will wait patiently for the Lord untill the vision shall speak but Love it cryeth out How long art thou a coming and it is waiting to hear the sound of his feet coming over the mountains of separation That is the Motto of Hope Quod defertur non aufertur that which is delayed saith Hope is not altogether taken away and made void and that may be the divine embleme of the grace of Love It is sight infolding desire in its armes and it is desire cloathed with wings â—reading upon delay and impediments There is this second difference between these graces the grace of Faith it embraceth the truth of the promises the grace of Hope it embraceth the goodnesse of the thing that is promised but that exalting grace of Love it embraceth the Promiser Faith cryeth out Hath hee spoken it Hee will also do it Hope â—ryeth out Good is the Word of the Lord be â—â— unto thy servant according to thy promise And Love it cryeth out in a higher note As is the apple tree amongst the trees of the â—ood so is my well-beloved amongst the sons â—hirdly There is that difference between â—hese graces Faith it
overcometh temptations Hope it overcometh difficulties but Love stayeth at home and divideth the spoil There is a sweet correspondence between those graces in this Faith it fighteth and conquereth and Hope it fighteth and conquereth but Love it doth enjoy the Trophies of the victory And Fourthly there is this difference the noble grace of Faith it shall once evanish into sight That noble grace of Hope it shall once evanish into possession and enjoyment But that constant grace of Love it shall be the eternal companion of a Christian and shall walk in with him unto the streets of the New Ierusalem And I would ask you that question What a day shall it be when Faith shall cedâ— to sight What a day shall it be when Hope shall yeeld its place to Love and love and sight shall eternally sit down and solace themselves in these blessed mysteries these everlasting consolations of Heaven world without end And fifthly there iâ— this difference lesse will saâ—isfie the gracâ— of Faith and the grace of Hope thaâ— will satisfie the grace of Love Faith iâ— will be content with the promise and Hopâ— will be content with the thing that is promised but that ambitious grace of Love iâ— will be onely content with the promiser Love glaspeth its arms about that Preciouâ— and noble object Jesus Christ Love is a â—â— spicious grace It oftentimes cryeth forthâ— They have taken away my Lord and I knoâ— not where they have laid him So that Faiâ—â— is oftentimes put to resolve the suspicions â—â— love I can compare these three graces to nothing so fitly as to those three great Worthies that David had These three graces they will break thorow all difficulties were it a host of Philistines that so they may pleasure Christ and may drink of that Well of Bethlehem that Well of everlasting â—onsolation that â—loweth from beneath the â—hrone of God Love is like Noah's dove â—t never findeth rest for the sole of its foot â—ntill once it be within that Ark that place â—f repose Jesus Christ. And sixthly There is this last difference between them Faith taketh hold upon the â—â—ithfulnesse of Christ Hope taketh hold â—pon the goodnesse of Christ but Love it â—â—keth hold upon the heart of Christ. And â—hink yee not it must be a pleasant and soulâ—â—freshing exercise to be continually taken â—â— in imbracing him that is that eternal adâ—iration of Angels Must it not be an exâ—ellent life dayly to bee feeding on the finest the wheat and to bee satisfied with honey â—â— of the rock O but Heaven must be a pleaâ—â—nâ— place And if once we would but taste â—â— the first ripe grapes and a cluster of wine â—â—aâ— groweth in that pleasant land might not â—â—e be constrained to bring up a good report it But now to come to that which wee purâ—â—se mainly to speak of at this time The 〈◊〉 thing concerning Faith that wee proâ—â—sed from the words was the object upâ—â— which Faith exerciseth itself which is 〈◊〉 set down to bee the Mame of his Son Iesus Christ. And that we may speak to this more clearly wee shall first speak a little to the negative what things are not the fit object of Faith and then to the positive shewing you how this Name of God and of His Son Christ is the sure ground upon which a Christian may pitch his Faith For the first yee must know that a Christian is not to build his faith upon sense nor sensible enjoy ments Sense may bee an evidence of Faith but it must not bee the foundation of Faith I know there are some that oftentimes cry out Except I put my fingers into the print â—â— the nails and thrust my hand into the hole â—â— his side I will not believe and indeed it is 〈◊〉 mystery unto the most part of us to bee exercising Faith upon a naked word of promise abstracted from sense to love an absent Christ and to believe on an absent Christ are the two great mysteries of Christianity But that sense is no good foundation for Faith may appear 1. That Faitâ— which is builded upon sense is a most unconstant a most fluctuating and transient Faitâ— I know sense hath its fits of love and as were hath its fits of Faith Sometimâ—â— sense is sick of love and sometimes sense 〈◊〉 strong in Faith but ere six hours go about sense may bee sick of jealousie and sick 〈◊〉 misbelief as yee will see from Psal. 30. 6 〈◊〉 sense that bold thing it will instantly 〈◊〉 out My mountain standeth strong I will â—â—ver be moved but behold how soon it chanâ—eth its note Thou hides thy face and I 〈◊〉 troubled At one time it will cry forâ—â—â— Who is like unto him that pardoneth iniquity and that passeth over transgressions but ere many hours go about it will sing a song upon another key and cry out Why art thou â—ecome unto mee as a liar and as waters that â—ail 2. That Faith which is built upon â—ense it wanâ—eth the promise of blessednesse â—â— this is annexed to believing that is founded upon the Word according to that in â—oh 20. 29. Blessed are these that have not â—en and yet have believed nor hath that â—ith that is built upon sense such a solide â—y waiting on it as faith that is built upon â—he naked word of promise as may be cleared from that word 1 Pet. 1. 8. where faith exercising it self upon Christ not seen maketh a Christian to rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory a joy that doth not atâ—â—nd believing founded upon sense 3. That â—ith that is built upon sense it giveth not â—uch glory to God for faith that is built â—â—on sense it exalteth not the faithfulnesse 〈◊〉 God it exalteth not the omnipotency of â—od I will tell you what is the divinity 〈◊〉 sense let me see and then I will believe 〈◊〉 it knoweth not what it is to believe â—â—on trust and because the Lord hath spoken 〈◊〉 his holinesse And in effect Faith that is â—â—ilt upon sense is no Faith even as â—â—m 8. Hope that is seen is no hope And therefore when the Lord seeth a Christian â—â—king sense an idol that hee will not beâ—â—ve but when hee seeth or feeleth this doth â—â—en provoke the Majesty of the Lord to withdraw himself from that Christian and to deny him the sweet influences of heaven and these consolations that are above so that in an instant hee hath both his sense and hiâ— faith to seek 2. A Christian is not to make his grace the object of his Faith that is when a Christian doth behold love burning within him when hee doth behold influences to pâ—ayâ—â— encreasing and mortification waxing stroâ—â— hee is not to build his faith upon them thiâ— was condemned in the Church in Ezek. 16 14. compared with the 15 verse I mâ—â— thee perfect with my comlinesse but the usâ— that thou didst make of it thou didst put 〈◊〉 trust in thy beauty and then thou didst plaâ—
the harlot It is certain that grace when 〈◊〉 is the object of our Faith it doth provoke God to blast the lively exercise thereof and to make a Christian oftentimes have thâ—â— complaint Wo to me my leannesse my leaâ—â—esâ—â— testifieth to my face I will tell you thrâ—â— great mysteries of Christianity about grace The first is to ride marches between theâ—â— two not to deny what they have anâ— yet to bee denyed to what they have maâ—â— times there is grace-denying and not selâ— denying but this is that wee would presâ—â— upon you to bee denyed to grace according to that which is recorded of Moses his faâ—â— did shine and he knew it not hee did misâ—eâ—â— as it were and did not at all bee puffed â—â— with it for so the words wee conceive mâ—â— run Secondly it is a great difficulty fâ—â— a Christian to bee denied to his self denial 〈◊〉 â—ee humble in â—his being humble for if priâ—â— â—â—n have no other foundation it will build â—â— self upon humility and a Christian will â—â—ow proud in this that hee is growing humble Thirdly It is a difficultie for a Christian to examine his growing in grace and not bee puffed up It is certain a Christian ought to examine his growth in grace humbly according to that Psal. 63. 8. My â—â—ul followeth hard after thee thy right hand â—â—holdeth mee Hee doth not only take notice â—f this that his soul did follow after God â—ut of the measure of that pursuit my soul â—â—lloweth hard after thee and yet sweetly acknowledgeth it was not his own feet which â—â—rried him nor his own hand that kept him â—â—om falling 3. Yee are not to build your Faith upon â—our works and upon the righteousnesse â—f the Law I need not stand long to reâ—ure â—â—at practicall Popery that is amongst us â—â—at thinketh wee can go to heaven through 〈◊〉 Covenant of Works I told you not long â—â—â—e what your going to heaven through Covenant of Works speaketh even this â—â—râ—id blasphemy That it was an act of â—onstruous folly to send Christ to die for â—â—ers for if you can go to heaven withâ—â—t him was not Christ then crucified in 〈◊〉 And I would tell you now that â—â— is speaketh out your damnable ignorance 〈◊〉 the weaknesse and deceitfulnesse of your â—â—n hearts O yee that are so great deâ—â—ders of Salvation by the Covenant of â—orks I beseech you What is the reaâ—â—â— that yee break the Covenant of Works oftner then any for there is none thâ— thinketh they will go to heaven this way but these that are the greatest breakers of thâ— Covenant of Works And is not that inconsistent and most contradictory divinity yoâ—â— faith contradicting your practice and youâ— practice telling you that your faith is a lie Fourthly We must not mix our owâ— righteousnesse with Christ as the object oâ— our believing This is indeed an evill thaâ— often lodgeth in the bosome of the most refined hypocrite when Satan cannot prevaâ—â— to exclude Christ altogether then he is content with that whorish woman to divide thâ— childe and let the object of our faith be haâ— Christ and half of self And the truth iâ— many of these poor unwise sons who stâ—â— long in the place of the breaking forth â—â— children do willingly hearken to this oveâ—ture for fear it be presumption for such poâ—â— wretches to meddle too boldly with the righteousnesse of Christ but it were good sucâ— weak ones would consider that word Râ—â— 10. 2. where the Holy Ghost calleth thâ— making use of His righteousnesse an act â—â— submission They have not submitted saith hâ—â— unto the righteousnesse of Christ. O will yâ—â— not lay this to heart that our Lord will taâ—â— your believing or your putting on his righteousnesse for an act of great humility aâ—â— will take your misbelief as a marvelous act 〈◊〉 the highest pride and presumption Fifthly We are not to make providencâ— the object of our faith I know there â—â— some that ask the ground of their right 〈◊〉 heaven they will tell us that God hath been â—ind to them all their dayes I would only â—ay to such He may be feeding you unto the day â—f slaughter and no man knoweth love or hatred â—â—y any thing that is before him This much of â—he object of Faith negatively And now to speak to it positively we see â—he Text holdeth out Christ himself as that excellent and compleat object of Faith This â—s his Commandement that we believe on the â—ame of his Son and thus Faith closeth with Christ in a fourfold consideration First It â—oseth with God in Christ not with God immediatly and nakedly for hee dwelleth in â—â—ght inaccessible that no man can approach unto He is higher then the heaven what can we do â—nd deeper then hell what can we know Job 11. â—herefore wee must approach unto Him â—hrough a vail even the vail of Christ His â—esh Heb. 10 God is a consuming fire and of â—â—rer eyes then that he can behold iniquity and therefore we must first cast our eye upon that â—essed Days-man that laid his hand upon us â—â—th and look upon God as in Christ reconâ—ling the world to himself and so draw near â—nto him through a Mediator who is the first â—â—d the last and he that liveth and was dead â—â—d is alive for evermore able to save to the â—termost all that come unto God by Him â—eing he liveth for ever to make intercessiâ—n for them Secondly Faith closeth with â—hrist as tendered freely in a Covenant of â—omise We could have had nothing to do â—â—th Christ if he had not been given of the â—ther and offered himself in a free Covenant of promise but he being thus holdeâ— forth upon tearms of free love which dotâ— utterly abominat hyre and so nodle a proclamation issued forth under the great seâ— of Heaven That whosoever will may come anâ— drink of the water of life freely Upon thâ—â— the poor creature draweth near by vertue 〈◊〉 a right and stretching out the armes of moâ—â— enlarged affections doth run upon him witâ— that joyful shout My Lord and my God anâ— then maketh an absolute resignation of it seâ— unto him which is holden out in the Scripture by that sweet expression of kissing 〈◊〉 the Son And there are three parts of Chrisâ— blessed Body that the Christian must endeavour to kisse and imbrace the mouth â—â— Christ the hand of Christ and the feet â—â— Christ the kissing of his feet importing thâ— exercise of love the kissing of his hands thâ— exercise of subjection and the kissing of hâ—â— mouth the exercise of communion and fellowship with him Thirdly Faith closeâ— with Christ as the purchaser and meritorious cause of all the good we receive He is the person that hath purchased all these thiâ—â— unto us and there is not one blink of lovâ— there is not the smallest enjoyment that Christian meeteth with but it is the price the blood of Christ Christs precious bloâ— was laid down
is called a Great Salvation in respect of the many difficulties and oppositions which ly in the way of bringing it about What great impediments suppose ye lay in Christs way before he could accomplish and bring about this Great Salvation Was not the Justice of God to be satisfied Was he not to die and be made like unto one of us Was he not toâ—ly in the grave And was he not to bear the toâ—ments of hell before this Great-Salvatioâ— could be accomplished and brought to passe 〈◊〉 There were such impediments in the way oâ— bringing about this Great Salvation that â—â— all the Angels in Heaven had been set to the work they had been all crushed under 〈◊〉 had it been but that one great impedimentâ— to satisfie the Iustice and pacifie the wraâ—â—â— of God even that was a passe through which none could go but the eternal Son of God It was so guarded that none durst adventure to enter it much lesse could any win through it save he only who was mighty to save III. Thirdly It is called a Great Salvation in respect of that high estimation which the Saints have of it O what an high estimation have the Saints of this Gospel Salvation There is no mercy which they think comparable to this all other mercies are but little Zoars in comparison of this great Mercy and Gospel Salvation IV. Fourthly It is called a Great Salvation in respect of these noble effects which this Salvation bringeth about and producethâ— Some of the great effects of the Gospel David hath cleared Psal. 19. 7 8 9 10. Is not this â— great effect of this Gospel Salvation to â—ring us out of nature into an estate of grace And that is an effect of this Great Salvation â—s not this a great effect to make us who were enemies become friends And that is â—â— effect of this Great Salvation Is not this â— great effect to make us who were moving â—â— the way to hell move in the way to heaâ—â—n And that is an effect of this Great Salvation Is not this a great effect to make us who were far off to be now made near And â—â—t that is an effect of this Great Salvation And is not this a great effect to make us who were darknesse become light in the Lord and â—â—at is the great effect of this Gospel Salvation Yea I may say time would fail me to tell â—f all the great effects of this Great Salvation â—ut O will yee come and see and that will â—est resolve the question unto you what the â—ble effects of this Great Salvation are V. Fifthly It is called a Great Salvation 〈◊〉 respect of the great advantages which â—oth redound to the person who imbraceth 〈◊〉 First Is not Heaven a noble advantage â—â—d that is the gain which attendeth the â—â—bracers of this Great Salvation Secondly 〈◊〉 not Jesus Christ a notable advantage â—â—d yet hee is the advantage which attendeth â—â— imbracers of this Great Salvation â—â—irdly Is not eternall communion with â—â—d a notable advantage And that advantage attendeth the imbracers of this Great â—â—vation Fourthly Is not eternal liberation from the body of death a great advantage and that attendeth the imbracers oâ— this Great Salvation Fifthly Is not eternall singing in the enjoyment of God a greaâ— advantage and that attendeth the imbracerâ— of this Salvation Sixthly Is not eternal seeing of God as he is a great and noble advantage And yet this as all the former attendeth the imbracers of this Great Salvation Yeâ— would ye be rich O then imbrace thiâ— Great Salvation Would ye be honourable Come and imbrace this Great Salvation Would ye be eternally happy O then comâ— and partake of this Great Salvation VI. Sixthly It is called a Great Salvatioâ— in respect of all other Salvations that eveâ— were accomplished There was never a salvation or victory obtained by any General 〈◊〉 Captain unto a Land or People that coulâ— have the name of Great Salvation in compâ—rison of this VII Seventhly It is called a Great-Salvation in respect of the authority of it Wâ— have spoken of the greatnesse as to the mâ—ritorious cause of it and how great things doth effectuate and also in respect of tâ—â— authority of it it is a Great-Salvatioâ— Would ye know who is the Author of thâ— Great-Salvation It is Christ Heb. 5. 9. 〈◊〉 became the Author of eternal Salvation to 〈◊〉 them that obey him And must not this Salvation be suitable to him who is the Author it This is one of the most noble and irraâ—â—ant beams of the Majesty of the Son of Gâ—â— the Mediator that he is the Author of 〈◊〉 Great Salvation VIII Eighthly It is called a Great Salvation in respect of the continuance and duration of it It is not a salvation which is but 〈◊〉 a day but it is an eternal Salvation Heb. 〈◊〉 12. He obtained eternal redemption for us Now the second thing whereunto we shall â—peak for clearing of the words is this viz. How it is said That Christ was the first â—reacher of this eternal Salvation We do â—ot think that the words are thus to be understood that the Gospel and this Great Salvation was never preached before Christ came â—â— the flesh but we think the meaning of the â—ords may be one of these three if not all â—f them I. First That all the preaching of this Great Salvation under the Law did come â—ery far short in the point of fulnesse in â—omparison of Christs preaching of it Thereâ—ore is Christ said to be the first Preacher of his Great Salvation As if he had said I â—now Adam he preached of this Great Salvation and Enoch he preached of this Great Salvation And the twelve Patriarchs they â—reached of this Great Salvation And all â—he Prophets who went before Christ and 〈◊〉 now in heaven they preached of this Great Salvation But all their preaching deâ—erved not the name of preaching in compaâ—ison of Christs for Never man spake as he â—pake Thus Christ was the first great preachâ—r of this Great Salvation II. Secondly This may be the meaning â—f it that Christ was the first Preacher of â—â—is Great Salvation in respect of his clear way of preaching of it for hee was the first Preacher of it without Types and Shadows hee was the first Preacher of it clearly and fully with so much demonstration and power of the Spirit III. Thirdly The meaning of this that Christ was the first Preacher of this Great Salvation may relate to his appearing to Adam in Paradise when he became the first and great Preacher of this Salvation wheâ— hee did speak that word unto him The Seeâ— of the Woman shall tread down the head of the Serpent The first glorious preaching of thiâ— Great Salvation was when Christ preached iâ— to Adam in Paradise And that was the firsâ— and glorious morning of this blessed Gospel Now we shall speak a little to the first oâ— these six things which we have observed froâ— the
at the pains to imbrace it but I say unto you there is but small pains in the way oâ— Godlinesse I say unto you it may so easilâ— be had that it is in your offer to day and 〈◊〉 ye will ye may put forth your hand and take it Consider therefore what yee will do O will ye despise it I say will ye still negleâ— and despise it will ye but read that dreadâ—â—ll word Act. 13. 40. 41. Behold ye despiâ—â—s and wonder and perish Tell me freely would ye have us to return this answer to him who sent us that ye are despisers of the Great Salvation Say to it Are there none of you who for all this will consent to partake of this Great Salvation O captives and prisoners and ye who are in the bonds of â—atan will ye come and partake of this Great salvation and you shall be made free I have 〈◊〉 act of release for you to day If ye will â—ome and make use of it ye shall be set at â—â—berty But Oh shall the prison doors be â—st open and yet none come forth But that I may come to a close I say yet unto â—â—on O poor prisoners go forth go forth and partake of this Great Salvation Oh will â—e not come forth What holdeth you in The foundation of your prison house is taken to day therefore if ye will but come â—orth and cast a look to Christ your very â—â—kels shall fall off your hands and ye shall â—â— as those who were never bound Now I â—ave this with you and to make you think â—pon it I shall speak these five words unto â—ou and I intreat you think upon them 1. First I have excellent tidings to tell â—â—u I hope some of you will give ear to â—â—em viz. There is a great Person come â—ere to day and that is the mighty Author â—f this Great Salvation who hath brought â—erlasting righteousnesse with him desiring â—ou to make use thereof It is his desire that yee would take his excellent Gift at his hand These I say are the tidingâ— that have to preach unto you and I hope never to be declared a liar for what I preach untâ— you I say yet unto you that Christ thâ— Author of the Great Salvation desiâ—eth to give it freely unto you if ye will but take it But O will yee not take it I think â—â— yee did see an hundreth men lying in prison or dungeon without all light bread oâ— water and a great Prince coming to them saying I desire you all to come forth anâ— partake of this Great liberty which I bring unto you and every one of them should answer I scorn to come forth at this time would yee not think them exceeding greaâ— fools And yet I fear this act of great foll fall out in many of your hands to day thaâ— when Christ hath given us the keyes of youâ— prison doors and they are opened yee wiâ—â— not come forth But I must intreat you yâ—â— to come forth and shew your selves Foâ— who knoweth but wee may bee commandeâ— to shut your prison doors again and to seâ— them with seven seals with an unalterabâ—â— decree from heaven never to bee recalled Wherefore O ye prisoners go forth go forâ— from your prison house 2. Secondly I would say this to you that it is not without much ground thâ— this Salvation offered to you is called Great Salvation I know a little Paper two or three sheets might contain all tâ—â— salvations that ever any man obtained bâ— the world would not bee able to contain 〈◊〉 the Books which might be written to the commendation of this Great Salvation yea unto any who will imbrace it I say First If thou finde not this Salvation above thy â—aith then go thy way when thou art come But I know thou wilt finde it both above thy â—aith and hope Secondly If thou finde it not above thy desires when thou aâ—â— come â—nto it then go thy way again but were thy desires as the sand upon the sea shoare thou shalt alwayes finde more in this Salvation then ever thou could desire Thirdly If this Salvation be not above what thou can conceive then go thy way when thou art come to it But think of it as thou can it shall alwayes be above thy thoughts of it Fourthly If this Salvation be not above thy opinion of it then go thy way when thou â—â—it come unto it but I know thou wilt â—â—nd it far above thy opinion of it Therefore seeing it is so Great a Salvation as that all the world could not contain all the Books â—ight be written in the commendation of it O will ye imbrace it even to day while it is â—o your offer 3. Thirdly I would say this unto you 〈◊〉 perswaded that there is no sin that will more provoke the Majesty of God to punish you then the sin of slighting the Great-salvation Bring forth these murtherers saith the Lord of the slighters of this invitation and slay them before me I intreat â—â—en enquire at your own hearts what ye will answer when ye are reproved for slighting of it Old men will ye ask at your own hearts what ye will answer to Christ when he shall propose that question to you Why slighted ye the Great Salvation Old woman what will ye answer when he shall say to you why slighted ye the Great Salvation Young men and young women inquire at your own hearts what ye will answer when Christ shall say to you why slighted ye thâ— great Salvation Can ye imagine any answer unto that question O dreadfull shall the wrath of God be that shall be executed upon the slighters of this Great Salvation 4. Fourthly I would say this unto you that heaven is waiting to hear what acceptation the offer of this Great Salvation doth get among you Here is the Great Salvation here is the offer of it and here is thâ— commendation of it what say ye to it iâ— it not an excellent Salvation Is it not 〈◊〉 free Salvation Is it not a Great Salvation Is it not an eternal Salvation Why then dâ— ye not welcome it Can any of you say anâ—thing to the discommendation of it I know you cannot Yea I daâ— say your own heart are admiring it as most excellent Anâ— therefore O will ye accept it Alas shal theâ— be none here who will be found accepters 〈◊〉 this Great Salvation so freely offered to day 5. Fifthly I would say this to you let a the Angels praise him who the Author 〈◊〉 this Great Salvation All the Saints rounâ— about the Throne praise him who is the Aâ—thor of this Great Salvation All these whâ— are expectants of heaven praise Him who 〈◊〉 the Author of this Great Salvation All yâ—â— to whom this offer is made praise him who is the Author of this Great Salvation O heaven praise him who is the Author of this Great Salvation O all ye fowls of the air praise him who is the Author
of this Great Salvation O fire hail snow vapors stormy winds and tempests praise Him who is the Author of this Great Salvation All the tribes of the earth praise him who is the Author of this Great Salvation Our own soul praise him who is the Author of this Great Salvation and all that is within us blesse him who is the Author of this Great Salvation O who would not praise Him who is the Author of this Great Salvation Are there any here that will refuse to commend him O think upon him and let not this be a day of slighting him Now where are your hearts at this time I will tell you where many of your hearts are they are thinking upon the world but I am sure there are not many of them thinking upon this Great Salvation Now what resolution mind ye to go away with to day Oh have ye no resolution beyond what ye had when ye came hither to day Are there any here who have this resolution To whom shall we go but to him who is the Author of this Great Salvation who alone hath the words of eternal life Even the Lord breath it upon you Or is this your resolution that through Christs strength forsake him who will ye will never forsake him Or have ye this resolution That ye will esteem more highly of the Great Salvation then ever ye did O that the Lord may keep these in the imaginations of the thoughts of your hearts for ever But as for you who have no resolutions to imbrace this Great-Salvation O wherewith shall I commend it unto you Do not your own necessities commend it But if nothing can perswade you to come away and imbrace it then this place shall be a heap of witnesses against you For it hath heard all the words of the Law which he hath spoken unto you Josh. 24. Oh cast your eyes upon these pillars of the house and stones in the walls I take them as so many witnesses that they may speak and testifie against you in the great day of the Lord if ye neglect this Great Salvation to day Therefore as ye go away be thinking upon it and whether or not ye minde to imbrace it now while you may have it This day I have set life and death before you I have set before you both the Great Salvation and the great damnation And O that ye had understanding in all these things that yâ—â— being wise might be provocked at last to imbrace this Great Salvation the which we do yet again intreat you to think upon Is not heaven looking upon you at this time to see what ye will do with this great offeâ— of Salvation which I have this day from the Lord presented unto you Now â—â— Him that can perswade you to imbrace thiâ— Great Salvation this Gospel Redemption this blessed mystery into which the Angel desire to pry to Him Who can bring yoâ— back from the pit and can enlighten you witâ— the light of the living To Him who hath thâ— keyeâ— of your prison Who can open and none can shut and can shut and none can open To Him who hath all power in Heaven and in Earth communicate to Him who can deliver you from the power of the Grave and can set you free from all your enemies wee desire to give praise Amen SERMON II. Heb. 2. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him THere are two great and most ordinary complaints in these dayes 1. There are many who complain that their Estates and Persons are in bondage and that they are sold for slaves to the hands of strangers But O that wee could also turn over the complaint to this that our souls are in bondage and that we are yet in the gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity that so we might be provoked to long for the Great Salvation that is in our offer 2. There are many complaining and not without much cause that there is now such a tolleration of Errours But O will thou complain also of this that within thy heart there is a tolleration of lusts is there noâ— an act of tolleration concluded within thy breast that the devil and all his company may reign in thee at pleasure Oh have ye not need of Great Salvation Shall I tell you that Christ is couâ—ting you to imbrace it and that he putteth on all his most glorious robes and manifesteth himself unto you as a suiter making offer of himself and of his Great Salvation O tell me have ye seen him Or do ye think to see him this day What robes had he on There are five glorious Robes wherewith he cloaths himself when he condescendeth to manifest himself to his people First He cometh to his own with the garments of Salvation according to that word Zech. 9. verse 9. Rejoyce O daughter of Sion greatly shout O daughter of Ierusalem foâ— behold thy King cometh unto thee he is just and having Salvation ay your King is come here to day and will you not fall in love with him when he is cloathed with the garments of Salvation can ye ever have a more conqueâ—ing sight of Christ then when he is cloathed with such an excellent Robe and offering you Salvation Secondly He appeareth to his own sometimes in garmenes dyed in blood according to that word Isa 6. 3. verse 1 2. Who is this that cometh up from Edom with dyed garments in bloud as one that treadeth the wine fat And now I say to thee that will not look to Christ when he appears in the garments of Salvation have ye a heart to refuse him that have fought such a combaâ—e for you who hath trode the wine-presse alone and hath stained all His garments with the bloud of his enemies oâ— is there any here who dare refuse this Salvation when they see how he treadeâ—h his enemies in anger and trampleth them in his fury and thus sprinkleth their bloud upon his garments O tremble at this sight and seek quarter from him in time or he shall dy his garments with the blood of thy immortall soul. Thirdly Christ appeareth unto his own being cloathed with these humble Robes of condescendency when he came in the simititude of sinfull flesh O what a sight waâ— that to behold the Prince of Heavâ—n clâ—athâ—d with our nature What a sight was that to bâ— hold him that was cloathed with light as with a garment to be cloathed with our infirmities yet he condescended to cloath himself thus that we might have accesse unto Him and be partakeâ—â— of His gifts O can we refuse Him when love hath thus pressed him to put on the beggar weed that he might say to worms yâ— are my brethren and my sisters Fouâ—thly Christ somtimes manifesteth Himself being cloathed with the garments of beauty and ravishing Majesty such was the sight that the
Spouse goâ— of Christ Song 2. vers 8. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sons and Song 5. when she saw him White and rudy and the standard bearer of ten thousand and such was that joyfull sight of Him when his garments were as the light and white as the snow which he had at the Transfiguration when these glorified ones did come as it were Ambassadors from that higher house to make him a visit And fifthly Christ he sometimes appeareth to his own in Robes of dreadfull Majesty and terrible highnesse and loftinesse when the soul upon the first sight of him remains dead add there remains no more life in them Such was the sight Daniel got in his 10. Chapter and such was the sight that Iohn got of Christ Rev. 1 verse 17. And I would ask at all that are here what a sight have ye gotten of Christ to day in which of all these robes have ye seen Him in It is true we are not now to look for the extraordinary sights of Him But yet if ever thou hast seen him in any of his wooing Robes sure he hath appeared matchlesse and how shall ye then refuse him But now to come to the words I was speaking unto you oâ— The first thing in the words to wit That there are many who live under the offer of this Great Salvation that do slight it and do not imbrace it And now I shall only add a few things further unto you 1. Let me propose a few Considerations to perswade you to imbrace the Great Salvation God forbid we go a way before we imbrace this Gospel Salvation And therefore I charge you in his Name go not away before ye imbrace it And to presse it home upon you there are these eight or nine properties of this Great Salvation that is offered unto you this day And first It is a free Salvation ye have no more a do but to put forth your hand and take it O come and take it Christ hath foughten for this Salvation and there is no more required of you but â—o come and â—eap the fruits of his victory Who ever will let him come there is nothing that should move you to stay away O captives bond slaves to Satan O prisoners of hope will yee come and partake of the Great Salvation what holds you from coming away and partaking of it it is freely offered unto you â—â—y believe it Christ requires no more of you but that ye should come and take it out of his hand If yee consent to obâ—y the bargain is ended Yee shall eaâ— the good of the land Isa. 1. Secondly This Great Salvation is a compleat Salvation that is offered unto you to day this is clear Luk. 1. vers 17. That we might bee saved from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us there is not any enemy that is in thy way but if thou will come and partake of the Great Salvation thou may have victory over it so compleat a Salvation is it that is in your offer this day O shall wee passe away and not imbrace it O shall our cursed hearts undervalue this compleat Salvation that is come to your door believe it Salvation is near unto you if yee will take it Thirdly It is a wonderfull Salvation it 〈◊〉 such a Salvation as the Angels desireth â—o pry into it and it is such a Salvation â—hat all the Prophets desire to pry into it â—t is almost six thousand years since all the â—ngels in heaven fell into a Sea of wonder â—t this Great Salvation It is almost six thousand years since Abel fell into a Sea of wonder at this Great Salvation And what think ye is his exercise this day He is even wondering at this Great salvation Would ye ask at all the Angels in heaven would they not all say O imbrace the Great Salvation Would ye ask at all the Saints that are above would they not advise you to imbrace the Great Salvation Would ye ask at Adam would he not say O imbrace this Great Salvation Could ye ask at Abel would he not say O imbrace this Great Salvation And would not all the Patriarchs say unto you O imbrace the Great Salvation And do not all that have tasted of the sweetnesse of iâ— cry out unto you Come and imbrace the Great Salvation The fourth property of His salvation is that it was bought at an exceeding dear rate it is a dear Salvation Would ye know the difference between Christs coming to thiâ— Salvation and your coming to it it is this Christ was forced to travell through all thâ— armies of the Justice of God He was forced to drink of the cup of the warth of Goâ— before he could come to purchase this Greaâ— Salvation and now what is required of yoâ— to obtain this we may say no more but puâ— out your hands and take it will ye look tâ— the price that was laid down for this Salvation there is not a wound in the body oâ— Christ but it saith This is a dear Salvation There is not a reproach Christ met with bâ—â— it saith O is not this a dear Salvation Theâ—â— is not a buffeting Christ met with but it saiâ— O is not this a dear Salvation There is not a necessity that he is put into but it saith Is not this a great and dear Salvation O Sirs will ye not come and take this Great Salvation this dear Salvation What must I give for it say ye I say ye must give nothing for it come and take it without money and without price it was dear to Christ but it shall be cheap unto you O! is it not cheap to you I assure you if you will come to the market to buy the Great Salvation there is none of you that needeth to stand for the price of it O come and take it and have it and there shall be no more priging Fifthly It is an everlasting Salvation that ye shall enjoy the fruits of throughout eternity as is clear Heb. 9. 13. He became the author of eternal redemption unto us it is a Salvation that the devil can never be able to take out of your hand if ye take it ye shall never be robbed of it again O come and partake of this Great Salvation whereby the gates of hell shall never prevail against you Sixthly It is an noble and honourable Salvation it is not to be taken out of one slavery to another but it is to be taken out of prison that we may raign Luk. 1. verse 71. compared with vers 74 it is That we being saved may serve him without fear in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life I say Come come and partake of this Great Salvation that your glory may be increased and that ye may be exalted above the Kings of the earth Seventhly It is a most advantagious Salvation What are the advantages of any Salvation that are
blest beâ— He that is the Author of this Great Salvation and blesâ— be hee that gets any of the ends of the cord of the Great Salvation that we sink not under the wrath and fury of the Lord Come and imbrace this Great Salvation and again I say come and imbrace it for what can yee have if yee want it and what can yâ—â— want if yee have it I shall say no more but close with that word Isa. 62. vers 21 Behold the Lord hath proclaimed to the end of the world to those that are far off What hath hee proclaimed Say yee to the daughter of Sion behold thy Salvation cometh behold it cometh I say to you that are the ends of the world Salvation is brought near unto you Stout hearted and far from righteousnesse the Great Salvation is brought near unto you and will you send it away O consider what ye are doing And to him that can perswade you to imbrace the Great Salvation we desire to give praise A SERMON Concerning DEATH Psal. 89. 48. What man is he that liveth and shall not see death c. IT is very hard to determine where all that are here shall be within thirty years for even ere that time come many if not all of us who are here â—all have taken up our eternall lodging â—nd whether we shall take it up in the eternity of joy or the eternity of pain is also hard to determine onely this one thing I am sure of that all of us shall shortly hee gone And ere long the shadows of death shall bee sitting upon our eye lids and our eye strings shall begin to break Therefore I would the more seriously inquire at you what would ye think if death were approaching this night unto you Think yee that Jesus Christ is gone up to prepare a place for you even for you Surely I think wee are all near to eternity and there are some hearing mee to day whom I defy the whole world to assure that ever they shall hear another Sermon Therefore I intreat you all to hear this preaching as if it were the last preaching that ever yee should hear and O that weâ— could speak it as if were the last Sermon that ever wee would preach unto you Believe me death is another thing then we take it to bâ—t Oh what will many of us do in the day of our visitation when desolation shall come from a far where will we flee for rest and where will we leave our glory Old rich men where will ye flee when death assaults you Old poor men where will ye flee when death assaults you Old women where will ye flee when death assaults you Young women where will yee flee when death assaults you It was an ancient observation of David Psal. 39. 5. that God had made his dayeâ— as an hand breadth which either may relate to the four fold estate of man viz hiâ— infancy his child-hood his man-hood and his old age O it may relate to the four-fold time of his life viz. his morning his forenoon his afternoon and his evening yet all our lifetime is but a day And O think ye not that our day is near unto a close Now before that I begin to speak any thing from the words I shall speak a few things to these two questions which I conceive may not altogether be unprofitable Quest. 1. Whether is it lawfull for any to desire to die and to return unto their long and endlesse home whether it be lawfull for one to cry out O time time flee away and all my shadows let them be gone that so long eternity may come Answ. I say it is lawfull in some cases for one to desire to die for it was Pauls desire Philip. 1. 23. I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better And 2 Cor. 5. 2. We groaâ—â—arnestly desiring to be cloathed with our house which is from heaven I long greatly till the twentieth one year of my age come when my minority shall be overpast that I may be entered heir to that matchlesse inheritance But to clear in what cases it is lawfull to desire to die 1. I say it is lawfull to desire to die when it floweth from a desire of uninterupted fellowship and communion with Christ and conjunction with him this is clear 2 Cor. 5 6. Knowing that while we are present in the body we are absent from the Lord. Therefore vers 8. We are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Also it is clear Philip. 1. 23. I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far bettter It was his great end to have neat and unmixed communion with Christ. What aileth you Paul might one have said may ye not be content to stay a while here Nay saith Paul I desire to be gone and to be with Christ Wast thou never with him here Paul 〈◊〉 have been with him saith he but what is all my being with him here in comparison of my being with him above While I am present in the body I am but absent from the Lord. Therefore I will never be at rest saith he get what I will untill I get Christ untill I get these naked and immediate imbracements of that noble Plant of renowâ— the flour of the stalk of Iesse who is the light of the higher house the eternal admiration of Angels II. It is lawfull to desire to die when it floweth from the excellencies of heaven and from a desire to partake of these excellenâ— things that are there this is clear 2 Cor. 5. 4 We groan being burdened or as the word is We groan as they who are pressed under a heavy burden that we may be cloathed upon c What aileth you to groan so Paul O saith he I groan that mortality may be swalloweâ— up of life III. It is lawfull to desire to die when it floweth from a desire to be freed from the body of death and from these â—entations that assault us and from these oppressions whereunto we are subject by it Doubtlesse Paul desired to die on this account when he cryed out Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death He longeth greatly for the day Wherein hee should be made white like the wings of a dove covered with silver whose feathers are of yellow gold O saith Paul I am as one impatient till I be above where I shall be cloathed with these excellent and cleanly robes The righteousnesse of Christ. Oh saith Paul I think every day as a year till I be possessed of that Kingdom where Sathan cannot tempt and the creature cannot yeeld and where I shall be free from all my sears of sinning Now in all these respects who would not desire to die But to guard all these I would give you these
your selves II. Challenge That Death will present unto you will be for the killing of many precious Convictions which we have had What will each of you answer at death when your conscience proposeth this challenge to you thou met with such a challenge at such a time and went home and crucified it when at another time thou met with another challenge and went home and crucified it These challenges will be laid home to thy door therefore think on them III. Challenge Death will charge you for a formal hypocriticall way of going about duties I say your Conscience will then tell you that ye went to such a Communion with a selfish end and aâ— another time ye prayed hyporritically and formally and what will ye have to answer when ye meet with these challenges I confesse I know not what ye can answer to these but I charge you be thinking what ye will answer for it may be that these convictions shall ly on your consciences that even this day ye have heard two searching Sermons and did meet with some convictions but made no good use of them yea and â—â— may be ye did sleep all the time O what will ye answer when it will be said to you ye went to such a Sermon and sleeped all the time and ye went to such a Communion but had no other end before your eyes but to be seen of men I intreat you consider presently what ye will answer to these IV. Challenge Will be for your breaking of many precious resolutions It will be said to some of you that at the Communion in this place ye took on vowes and did break them I am sure ye cannot question the justice of this challenge therefore see what ye will answer V. Challenge Ye slighted many precious offers of the Gospel O men and women in this city what will ye answer to this I was often exhorted to take Christ and yet would never take him What will Conscience say to that when death shall table it before you I tell you what ye must then answer O cursed I that ever refused Christ in the Gospel and ye shall then be confounded because this is your sin Believe me there was never an offer of this everlasting Gospel and of Christ in it made unto you that shall not at death before or after be brought to your remembrance and O how sad and doleful will it be to you when Christ shall open the book where your sins are written and begin with the sin of slighting the Great Salvation thus I invited you when you were twelve years old and ye would not come I invited you when ye were thirty years old and ye would not come I invited you when sixty years old and ye would not come What will ye answer to this Have ye any thing to say Or must ye not stand speechlesse before your Judge when he shall put home this challenge unto you therefore think seriously upon it how ye will answer to it VI. Challenge will be for your sinning oftentimes against Light and O how sad and painfull a challenge will that be at the day of Death when it will be said thou sinned with a witnesse in thy bosome that thou wast doing wrong thy Conscience will say oftentimes did I tell thee this is sinfull yet wouldest thou not abstain from it And what will ye answer from this VII Challenge Oftentimes ye sinned upon every small temptations and what will ye answer to that Must ye not then confesse it and say O how often have I deserted Christ and imbraced my idols upon a small temdtation Now I intreat you be thinking what ye will answer to these seven most material Challenges which certainly shall be presented to you at death I assure you ye must either answer all your challenges in Christ else ye will not get them well answered Therefore I would exhort you to imbrace the Gospel and Christ in it that so let death propose never so many challenges unto you ye may answer them all as David did viz. God hath made with me an everlasting Covenant and that will answer all your challenges though my house be not so with God yet I have the everlasting Covenant to build my salvation upon Now to presse you to make use of Christ I shall give you these four Considerations Consideration 1. If ye imbrace not Christ now Death will be very unpleasant to you O what else can comfort thee when going through the region of the shadow of Death but this I am Christs I am Christs is there any other thing can comfort thee in that day but only this I am Christs and He is mine Consideration 2. If ye imbrace not Christ and the Great Salvation now It will be an hundred to one if ever ye get time or libertie to do it when ye are going to die For although many delay their closing with Christ till death yet scarcely one of a hundred getteth favour to grip Christ at death therefore think on it for ye will not get your mind so composed at death as ye imagine nor all things done as ye suppose therefore now imbrace the Great Salvation Consideration 3. If ye delay your closing with Christ till death seise upon you ye shall never be able to make up that losse For will the dead rise and praise God Or shall any come from the land of forgetfulnesse to take hold upon a crucified Saviour Therefor O will ye take him for your Salvation Consideration 4. If ye will take Christ now he shall be your guide When ye are going through the valley and shadow of death And O how blessed is the person that can sing that word Psal. 48. 14. This is my God he will be my guide even unto death If ye can sing that pleasant song O how may ye be comforted when your eye strings shall begin to break O how happy is hee who can say Though I walk through the shadow of death yet will I fear no ill 〈◊〉 I know that the Lord is with mee Now this is the acceptable day and the year of salvation therefore do not delay but imbrace Christ lest death surprise you ere yee be aware and so the acceptable day be lost But unto these who think they may delay till death I say surely there are many damned atheists in hell that sometime did think as yee think I will make all wrongs right when death and I shall meet I hope that three dayes repentance will satisfie for all my wrongs for I am sure there are many in hell who did never get three dayes to think upon their former wayes Therefore O come come and imbrace Christ presently Now are yee all perswaded of this truth that yee shall once see death Then study a tender walking for believe me there are many of us who shall go thorow death with many bruised bones because of untender walking before God We know it is not the multitude of words can perswade you to imbrace Christ for many of you never minded the thing but believe mee death will pâ—each these things to you in a more terrible manner then wee can do at this time Therefore I say â—o each of you O prepare to meet thy God for if death finde you in an estranged estate from God I defy the Angels in Heaven to free you out of that estate And the day is coming wherein thou shalt cry out O slighter of the Great Salvation that I am I would give ten thousand worlds for one Sermon again that I once heard wherein Christ was freely offered to me when thou shalt bee tormented without hope of remedy Therefore While it is to day harden not your hearts for your late wishes shall not bee granted when yee are gone if yee make not haste O therefore Haste haste in time and come out from the land of your captivity and from the house of your bondage and take Christ for your Redeemer the guide of your youth and old age Now unto him who can lead you thorow all these steps betwixt you and heaven be eternal praise Amen FINIS