nothing it is not such eating as the Idolatrous Papists dream of it is by the Holy Spirit by the indwelling of the quickning Spirit whereby we have a real participation of Christ He is in us by his Spirit as a Vital Principle changing our Hearts and working in us his own Holy Image infusing Gracious Dispositions and Sacred Habits in the Soul and we are in him by Faith in a gracious hidden and mystical manner and this Union cannot be dissolved Secondly This Union must needs be most intimate near and strong if we consider by what Metaphors it is set forth in God's Word 1. It is a Marriage-Union like as a Man and his Wife are said to be one Flesh so he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit No Man ever hated his own Flesh but nourished and cherished it as the Lord the Church He that loveth his Wife loveth himself a Man and his Wife is but one Mystical Self and what is in Nature as to the Perfection of it is much more eminently in Christ Now since God hath fitted to our Nature a Care of our Body this Care be sure is much more in Christ when the Apostle shews what the Love of the Husband should be unto the Wife and that a Man leaves both Father and Mother and cleaveth to his Wife and they two shall be one Flesh Saith he This is a great Mystery but I speak concerning Christ and his Church or of Christ and every believing Soul The Union between Husband and Wife is near ay but Death dissolves this Union because they can be united or be one no longer than both live But Christ lives for ever and the Soul of a Believer lives for ever Nay Believers have Eternal Life in them and they shall never die therefore it follows this Union abides for ever He hath betrothed his Saints his Spouse unto himself for ever And can any then dissolve this Marriage-Contract and Conjugal Union Is Christ able to preserve his Souse or the Soul that is united unto him Is it in the Power of his Hands Pray Brethren consider it well Will any of you that have a Spouse a Wife that you dearly love suffer her to be torn into pieces and basely murdered before your Eyes if you could prevent it And do any think that Christ who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth Power over Sin the World the Devil yea over Hell and Death will he I say ever suffer his Spouse to be destroyed and murdered by Sin World or Devil Strange did he die for her and has he married her and made her one Spirit with himself and will he leave her to conflict to fight and war with an Enemy that he knows is too strong and mighty for her and not come in rush in to her assistance to save and rescue her from such bloody cruel and barbarous Enemies No doubt but he will rise up with Indignation and Jealousy to save every Soul that is so related and united to him Thirdly This Spiritual Union between Christ and every believing Soul is set forth by that near and intimate Union which there is between the Natural Body and every Member thereof The Head and Members make but one Body even so Christ is the Head of his Saints and they being many are all Members of that one Body Christ and all Believers make but one Mystical Christ Even as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so is Christ that is Christ Mystical Now this Relation of Head and Members I say holds forth this Spiritual Union between Christ and every Believer We are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone And it is from their Head Jesus Christ that every Member receives Divine and Saving Influences of Life Strength Government and Guidance as the Apostle shews From whom the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every Joint supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh encrease of the Body unto the edifying of it self in Love Our Union with Christ brings us into a fixed Settlement and secures us from all Fears or danger of miscarrying let all Enemies do what they can Can the Members be lost that have such a Head Our Union with Christ cannot consist in the communication of any thing unto us as Members from him the Head But it must be in that which constitutes him and us in this Relation saith a Reverend Minister he is our Head antecedently in order of Nature to any communication of Grace from him as a Head yet not antecedent to our Union it self Herein then consists the Union of Head and Members that tho they are many and have many Offices Places and Dependencies yet there is but one living quickning Soul in Head and Members The same Life that is in the Head is in the Body and in every Member thereof in particular and he that offers Violence to one Member offers Violence to the Body and the Head also And as one living Soul makes the natural Head and Members to be but one Man one Body so one quickning Spirit dwelling in Christ and in his Members gives them their Mystical Union and makes them but one Body As the first Man Adam was made a living Soul so the last Man Adam was made a quickning Spirit It is he that quickens by his Spirit or conveys a vital Principle to all his by which they live spiritually as from Adam all his live naturally Because I live ye shall live also So long as there is Life in Christ the Head there shall be Life in the Members because that Life that is communicated to the Head without measure as Mediator was to this very End that it might be communicated to every believing Soul that is united to him Now then if it be thus if this be the Nature of the Soul's Union with Jesus Christ that it is set out and opened to us by the Union that there is between the Body natural and its Members then I infer 1. That by the Life that is in the Head the Members live and because of that Life that is in him they cannot die it was by that Spirit that is in him that we were first quickned and Life is in us and shall be continued to us 2. I also infer That if Christ be able or can do it he will prevent his losing of any one of his Members And for any one to say it is not in his Power is Blasphemy and to say he can and will not is a like Evil to assert because it renders Christ less tender and careful of his Spiritual Members than we are of the Members of our Natural Body Which of us would suffer his Hand or Foot to be torn from us nay a Toe or Finger if we could prevent it 3. Furthermore I infer That all the Members of Christ's Mystical Body
said of the Wrath of God as some other things or of Death it self i. e. that the fear is worse than the thing No no acording to the fear so is the the Wrath and Vengeance of an angry God The fears of a dreadful Deity are not vain Bugbares and the effects of ignorance or of a crasie head of Folly Melancholly or Superstition as some Atheistical Wretches are ready to say No no but it is grounded and built upon solid Foundations as it is in part made manifest sometimes by the terrible effects upon mankind as I have hinted Wrath bears proportion unto the greatest fear of it nay doth far exceed the fear thereof and what prepared Plagues infinite pains intollerable anguish have some self-accused and self-condemned mortals seared and looked for what is the nature of that certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignation why now according to the fear of it so will the thing it self be Some have felt much Sorrow but have feared much more Mans thoughts and fears exceed all that can be expressed c. Thirdly The Wrath of God will be intollerable in Hell and the extremity of the damned amazing if we compare that misery and anguish with all or any nay the worst of Plagues and Punishments that can be undergone in this World I mean of all temporal Miseries as Pestilence Famine War or any tormenting Disease as the Stone Gout c. 1. These may be but the Fatherly Rebukes and Chastenings of the Almighty not from a Sin-revenging hand but a Sin-correcting hand of God not in Wrath but in Love but if his Anger be so terrible when he chastizes as a compassionate Father what is his fury when he punishes as a severe Judge if he deals thus sharply with those he loves what will their portion be whom he hates if his Wisdom leadeth him forth thus to corect in mercy what will be the strokes of his Justice and incensed Wrath and Fury 2. The Miseries of this present Life are abated or mitigated with the mixture of some Sweet None are so universally afflicted so deplorable but some thing remains to ease their sufferings and tormenting pains Judgments are tempered with Mercys No man as one observes is tortured with all Diseases nor forsaken of all Friends besides if the Malady be incurable and remediless yet their grief is a little allayed by the Sympathy of Friends and Neighbours But in Hell the damned are tortured and surrounded with pain and horror and incompass'd with flames without any mixture nothing to refresh their distressed Souls and Bodies no not one drop of water to cool their Tongue The rich Man desired but so much water that Lazarus could bring upon the tip of his finger and it was denyed him Fourthly The State of the Damned is void of the least degree of Comfort Ease and Refreshment The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of his holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb They shall have Judgment without Mercy Sorrow without Joy Pain without Ease Darkness without Light all felicity is totally withdrawn Pitty is the cheap and smallest relief any here can meet withal in misery not denyed to the most guilty notorious Criminal but yet this is not afforded to the damned all their bitter Crys cannot move the Compassion of God nor the Blessed Angels or Saints in Heaven toward them for they are not Objects of Compassion their Miseries being the just punishments of an offended God whom they wilfully and of their own choice contemned thro' love to Sin and this present World besides in Hell all humane affections are extinguished for ever Ah this is the quintisence and perfection of Misery the excess of Anguish and Sorrow to be deprived of all good things pleasing to our desires and to suffer all evils from which we have the deepest aversation and abhorrence for as in Heaven all Good all Felicity all Joy is inconceivable so in Hell all evil is felt and endured to the highest degree and nothing but what is evil Some of the greatest miseries that Mortals have met with here in this World have been inflicted upon them by the hand of Man whose power is but little and oft-times restrained and mittigated by the Lord as in the case of the poor Martyrs But in Hell the pain and punishment the of damned will be from the immediate hand of Almighty God whose power is Infinite nay and it shall be according to his glorious Power or the greatness of his Power Who knows the power of thine anger When infinite power is exerted in punishing the offending Sinner who can conceive of that what are the Lashes of a small Whip to that with Scorpions or the stroaks of a Child to the blows of a Giant but alas this will not reach it because the Stroaks of Gods Wrath are incomprehensible in Hell he lets out the perfection of his Wrath as in Heaven the perfection of his Love c. The Sorrows and Miseries we endure here from the hand of God may by Repentance by Cryes and Tears through Christs Blood be taken off God hath promised to ease such who fly unto him and look up to his Son of their burthen as he did those that were stung with fiery Serpents in the Wilderness who looked up to the brazen Serpent but no Tears no Cries no Repentance will do in Hell there 's no Gospel preached no means of Grace afforded no Christ held forth Fourthly The Torments of the damned will be dismal intolerable and amazing because they shall be cast into a lake of fire or be tormented with fire O how amazing is it to be thrown into a fierce fire look into a Glass-house behold their burning Furnaces or into a hot Oven can you bear the thoughts of being thrown into one of them whether the fire of Hell be material or metaphorical Fire however the reality and extensiveness of the Torment is signified by it held forth by it and as in other tropes in the Scripture the things signified or held forth by those Metaphors far exceed what they are borrowed from so no doubt it is here our ordinary fire is not an adequate Representation of the fire of Gods Wrath tho' it may seem to set it forth to our Capacities in some measure what is the fire that man kindles to the fire that God kindles nay to that Divine Wrath doth kindle The breath of the Lord like a stream of brimstone doth kindle it It is mingled with the most tormenting Ingredients and not a little of it but a River this serves so Illustriously to set it forth that as one hints as some of the Ancient Fathers expressed it if one of the damned might pass out of Hell flames into the fiercest fires here it were to exchange a
I sin God forbid 5. Hath God raised me from the lowest Hell and set me on High made me his own Child and espoused me to his Blessed Son Hath he set a Crown upon my Head and put Chains better than those of Gold about my Neck Has he clothed me with a Robe that shines like the Light and sparkles beyond all precious Stones Has he given the Flesh of his Son to me for Food and his precious Blood to me to drink and shall I sin against him God forbid 6. Hath God given me himself given me a Taste how good he is Hath he allowed me to have free access to the Throne of Grace and to have Communion with himself and with his Son and shall I sin against him God forbid 7. Hath God given me his Holy Spirit to destroy the Body of Sin and do I confess my self dead to Sin and as being dead have I been buried with Christ in Baptism and shall I live in Sin God forbid 8. Have I seen and do know the detestable Nature of Sin how evil a thing Sin is and am by the Graces of the Spirit compleatly armed to oppose resist and overcome Sin and all the Enemies of my Soul and shall I commit Sin and cowardly yield to the Temptations of Satan and acquit the Field to the Reproach and Disgrace of my Blessed Lord and Captain of my Salvation and destroy mine own Soul that Christ hath done so much to save and shall I sin God forbid 9. Am I an Heir of Heaven an Heir of Glory and have the blessed Angels to minister to me and to wait upon and to protect me who also observe how I behave my self and shall I sin God forbid 10. If I sin live in Sin make a trade of Sin it will appear I hate God resist his Will contemn his Authority cast Dung in his Face grieve his good Spirit and put the Devil into the very Throne of God and shall I live in Sin God forbid Brethren here is the principal and the grand Motive to keep you from Sin it is from these and such-like Grounds that we should not sin against God But I cannot further now enlarge I should have spoken of the Nature of Christ's Love and have shewn how that keeps the Saints from Sin and falling so as not to perish but I 'le proceed no further at this time JOHN X. 28. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand BRETHREN the last Day I was upon the second Argument to prove That all true Believers shall certainly be saved and none of them shall ever so fall away as eternally to perish Which was taken from the Nature of the infinite and unchangeable Love of God the Father Thirdly I shall now proceed to the third Argument taken from the Nature of the Love of Jesus Christ the Son and shew you that his Love secures the standing of all his Sheep or all the Elect Ones of God unto Everlasting Life First The Love of Christ is an early Love He loved us from everlasting I was set up from Everlasting from the Beginning or ever the Earth was Then I was with him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoicing in the habitable Part of his Earth and my delights were with the Sons of Men. It appears it was not only an early Love but a Love also of Complacency a Love of Delight Secondly Christ's Love to his Elect is a wonderful Love 1. If we consider the Person loving viz. the Son of God the Prince of the Kings of the Earth 2. If we consider the Persons beloved in their natural and fallen State for when such he set his Heart upon them When they lay in their Blood it was then he passed by and loved us Now when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy Time was the Time of Love and I spread my Skirt over thee and covered thy Nakedness c. We were his Enemies traiterous Enemies vile Rebels to him having abominable Enmity against him in our Hearts 3. Consider the wonderful Atchievements his Love put upon him to undertake and the wonderful Effects thereof 1. Even to become a wonderful Surety for us and to pay a wonderful Debt 2. To leave wonderful Glory even to come from Heaven where he lay in the Bosom of the Father and to come to the Earth to dunghil Earth 3. If we consider his wonderful Condescension and Abasement he became Man who thought it not robbery to be equal with God yet made himself of no reputation and took unto him the Form of a Servant He became wonderful Poor who was wonderful Rich yea amazingly Rich Heaven and Earth and all things in it being his own yet was born of a Poor Virgin who doubtless had little or no Money to accommodate her or to defray the Charges of a Lying-In at the Inn and therefore they turn'd her into the Stable where she was delivered of our Blessed Saviour and laid him in a Manger O what wonderful Abasement was this Moreover he also had no Money to pay the Tax that was laid upon him therefore sends Peter to the Sea to take a piece of Money out of the Mouth of a certain Fish He had no House of his own to dwell in no not a poor Cottage The Foxes of the Earth said he have Holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath no where to lay his Head Also when in his greatest Pomp on Earth he rode but on an Ass and that not his own neither but he borrowed it Moreover the good Women ministred Relief to him he had not to supply his own Necessities he was poor in his Life poor in his Death standing charged with the Debts of many thousands the least not owing less than ten thousand Talents which could he not have paid and satisfied for he must have lain in Prison for ever O what a Charge of Guilt was laid upon him Does Sin render a Man miserable doth one Sin charged on a Person render him poor How poor then was he for a Time that stood charged with all the Sins of his Elect He was for saken of all his Friends on Earth in his greatest Distress and by his Father in Heaven he was Poor and Miserable in the Sight of all that saw him they pulled off his Hair spit in his Face crown'd him with Thorns strip'd off his Garment and all this for the sake of his Sheep or for his Elect. 4. If we consider the wonderful and amazing Wrath he bore what a Curse he was made for us the wonderful Horror Pain and Anguish he felt the wonderful Sweat he sustained which were great Drops of Blood the wonderful Passion and Sufferings on the Cross he endured He loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood He
Surety yet he hath not let go his own hold of them he will see not one of them be lost for whom I lay down my Life If any would get them out of my Father's Hand it must be against his Will his Purpose his Decree and they must do it by Force by Violence they must pluck them or rend them out of my Father's Hand Mind the word pluck twice mentioned Neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's Hand Not that any are able to pluck them out of the Hand of Christ as Mediator But our Saviour adds that in this 29 th Verse as a farther Confirmation and as an assurance of their safe standing Who is too strong for Omnipotence it self Can any bring his Counsel to nought or destroy such that he holds in the Hand of his Eternal Decree in the Hand of his Everlasting Love and Affection and also in the Hand of his amazing inconceivable and irresistable Power That Enemy that will destroy one Saint must be a Match for the Infinite God and overcome him and rob him of his chiefest Treasure or of his precious Jewels O who dares to say this can be done Well then assure your selves that not one Sheep of Christ can perish Sin must be stronger than God if it destroys one of the Elect and Satan more mighty greater in Power than God which to think is Blasphemy Why should our Saviour here add My Father is greater than all were it not to signify the impossibility of their perishing or to shew how impossible it is that any Enemy should destroy them Thirdly By their being in the Father's Hand may be meant Jesus Christ who is called the Power of God and the Wisdom of God because by and through him God exerts his Power or his Strength to save or the Glory of his Power is manifested as well as of all his other Attributes Sin seem'd to eclipse the Power of God in saving his People because Divine Power could not save in a way of Omnipotence to the Impeachment of his Justice and Holiness but in Christ Justice and Holiness is as much magnified as Mercy and Goodness and thereby so too that the Power of God might shine forth in its full Glory Father glorify thy Name saith Christ Then came a Voice from Heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorify it Thy Name that is however thou art made known or glorify all thy Glorious Attributes Almighty Power was seen in creating the World and also as it wrought in conjuction with Divine Justice it shone forth in casting the Angels out of Heaven and Adam out of Paradise as also in the Flames of Sodom And as Divine Power joined with Divine Mercy and Goodness it shone forth in saving the Israelites at the Red Sea But the Strength and Glory of every Attribute never shone forth in their equal brightness and splendour as all are united and in conjunction together and meet in sweet Harmony as they do in the saving of Man by Jesus Christ so that Jesus Christ may be well called the Wisdom of God and the Power of God Christ is the first-born of every Creature And as the First born is the Strength of the Parent so is Christ the Strength of God The transcendent Excellencies and Glories of the Divine Being that were scattered as it were in the Creation are all united and gathered in Christ that like as when a bundle of Rods united and bound up together cannot be broke or as so united are very strong so God in Christ shines forth as having all his Glorious Perfections united in one and in this sense Believers may be said to be in the Father's Hand and so that none can pluck them out God hereby appearing in his united Strength And thus Christ may be said to be that Branch that God hath made strong for himself And again The Man of thy right Hand the Son of Man whom thou hast made strong for thy self in whom thou shewest the greatness of thy Power to save or to manifest his Almighty Power by O what a Hand is the Hand of God in Christ Who can pull one Soul out of the Father's Hand or out of Christ who is the Father's Hand of Power to save all his Elect Believers are in Christ's Hand and Christ is the Father's Hand yea the Father 's Right Hand the Power and Glory of all the Divine Attributes are united together in Christ herein they shew the Perfection of their Strength and are all exerted in the Salvation of every Believer therefore it is impossible one of them should perish In the uniting of all the Attributes of God together doth the strength of God appear to save And in this respect Believers are in God's Hand God is concerned to see the Salvation of his People perfected by Christ as Mediator who is as so considered his Right Hand or the Greatness of his Power or the Perfection of his Power and Strength Secondly To proceed as they are in the Father's Hand so he hath you heard put them into Christ's Hand as their great Sponsor Mediator and Surety and that before the World began in that Covenant and Blessed Compact the Father and Son entered into in order to the Eternal Salvation of all his Saints And the Holy God hath fixed on such Ways and Means and in such manner that the Thing designed cannot miscarry Men indeed may miss of their Ends they aim at but what is directly in the Hand of God and is put by him into the Hand of his Son to effect and finally to accomplish shall never miscarry it being as I have told you done according to his Eternal Counsel God's Absolute Purpose shall stand let it be what it will much more that Grand Purpose and Design of his of saving all true Believers by Jesus Christ First There is a proof of it already as to Matter of Fact Many thousands of the Souls of his Elect are gone to Heaven in spight of Sin Hell Death World and Devils Secondly In the Salvation of Believers by Christ all Interests concerned are secured 1. God is Just and herein he declares his Justice with a Witness And 2. Yet the Sinner is justified 3. Vengeance hath to the full took hold of Sin And yet 4. Mercy is magnified to the highest Degree in saving the Sinner Justice is satisfied and yet the Sinner is forgiven 5. The Law of God hath its full and just Sanction and the Violence offered to it is retrieved 6. And Jesus Christ who did all this in beholding his Seed and Fruit of his Soul and their Eternal Blessedness secured for ever is well pleased and fully satisfied Thirdly The way of accomplishing this Design is such as will certainly compass the End Divine Power being ingaged in it which resteth not in the least on the Concourse or Compliance of any frustrable Instruments nay every Attribute being
has promised thee Victory but thou must sight Grace teacheth us to deny all Vngodliness He that is not under the Influence of Grace never had the Truth of it in him Fourthly Always consider this in thy Heart that thy standing is by Grace and that thou art in Christ's Hand O depend on him for all and fly to him for whatsoever thou dost need JOHN X. 28. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand BRETHREN I closed the last Time with the Consirmation of the Doctrine which I have for several days been upon I shall now proceed to consider of the Objections and give an Answer to them that are usually brought against this great and comfortable Doctrine of the Saints final Perseverance Several of which I have answered already as I met with them occasionally under divers of those Arguments I have spoken to in clearing up the Truth of the Proposition therefore shall labour to answer such that remain which take as they here follow Object 1. If Christ did not die for all how could the Birth of our Saviour be said to be Matter of Joy unto all People And the Angel said unto them Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great Joy which shall be to all People For unto you is born this Day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Answ 1. I answer All People doth not intend every individual Person to all People that is the good News is not to you only but to both Jews and Gentiles I have shewed you before that all and every and whole World is taken in many places of Holy Scripture with restriction and takes in but a part as on the contrary when the Vniversality of the Subject is intended it is expressed by singular If a Man die shall he live again Which refers to every Man He that believeth shall be saved it signifies all that so do So I will pour out of my Spirit upon ALL Flesh as you have it in Joel that is upon Persons of every Age Sex and Degree upon Young Old Masters Servants Sons and Daughters so it may be taken here and in several other places as that in 1 Tim. 2. 4. Who will have all Men saved c. that is Kings as well as Peasants Noble as well as Ignoble Rich as well as Poor Gentiles as well as Jews or some of all sorts The Gospel is said to be preached in Paul's Time to every Creature under Heaven whereas it reached then but to a small part of the World one great part not being at that time known or found out as one well observes 2. Was the Birth of Christ Matter of Joy in the Effects of it to Judas and to the unbelieving Jews and to many more 3. I argue thus If the Birth and Death of Christ was cause of greatest Joy to all Persons individually considered it must be thus either in respect of the Design Purpose and Intention of God because of such Joy unto them or else in respect of the certain Effects of his Birth and Death But 1. Who will say that God according to his Eternal Purpose and Design did intend it for the Salvation of every individual Person None can be so weak sure to assert that for who shall resist God's Will or withstand God's absolute Design Purpose and Intention Christ must accomplish or effect the Salvation of all if in that sense it was Matter or Cause of Joy unto all or that he died for all or that God would have all that is every individual Man and Woman in the World saved 2. And as to the Effects of the Death of Christ it is evident quite otherwise for Multitudes have no saving Benefit thereby Therefore it follows clearly that that is not the sense of the Text nor Mind of the Spirit of God though in some sense the Birth and Death of Christ was Cause of Joy to all since every one received all that Good thereby whatsoever it is they are possessed of 4. Did not Simeon by the Holy Ghost say that this Child speaking of Christ is set for the Fall and rising again of many in Israel Unto some the word is a Savour of Death unto Death and Christ a Stone of stumbling the Reason is because they that believe in him shall be saved and they that believe not shall be damned We freely grant the intervening of Mens Unbelief Malice and Opposition to Christ and his Gospel is the proximate meritorious Cause of the Fall and Ruin of any Soul 5. Also it is said Every Man shall have praise of God 1 Cor. 4. 5. which can refer to none but to good Men or godly Men only So it is said God is the Father of all One God and Father of all Eph. 4. 6. Yet as Mr. Cole observes on that place the Devil is the Father of the greatest part of the World Christ is said to reconcile all things to himself whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven Col 1. 20. Yet what a multitude are not nor ever shall be reconciled to him All certainly intends none but the Elect So it is said it is written in the Prophets they shall all be taught of God John 6. 45. It respects only Believers or God's New-Covenant-Children Now seeing the word all and every in many Places refers only to the Elect and is taken with such Restriction why should it be taken Universally here and in those other Places mentioned especially considering the Arguments I have laid down to prove that Christ did not die for any but those that were given to him by the Father we having also proved he died in their stead for whom he suffered Death so that they might never die Eternally Object 2. If there be such a Decree of Election and that none shall be saved but those that God hath ordained to Eternal Life what need Men seek after or regard the Salvation of their Souls Answ This Objection we have largely answered under our first Argument to prove the Saints final Perseverance taken from the Election of Grace to which I refer you Object 3. This Doctrine of Election and Final Perseverance tends to make Men loose and remiss in the Service of God Answ 1. What can be a greater Mistake Do the certain Grounds of Hope of obtaining the Victory tend to make a Souldier remiss and careless when engaged in the Battel Or do they not much more animate him to fight couragiously 2. Shall a Child be taken off from his Duty or be remiss in serving his Father because his Father tells him he shall never be disinherited 3. Did not Christ know that the Angels had Charge over him yet was he less careful of his own Preservation And did not Paul assure all that were in the Ship with him that they should all be saved yet did that take him
go no further they will never come there and if they totally fall away their State will be worse in the end than it was at the beginning nay far worse than their Condition who never were enlightned at all but remain under the Power of natural Blindness c. 3. You that are Professors may also from what hath been briefly hinted perceive whether you have had a right taste of God and of his good Word or not Whether you have received Christ and do live upon the Bread of Life or not Or whether you have by Faith applied the Word and by Meditation digested it or not 4. Hath the Word changed your Hearts Have you got Power over your Corruptions and Temptations thereby Doth nothing satisfy your Souls short of God and Jesus Christ and it is as well a Likeness to him as an Interest in him Will not the Word and Ordinances quiet you unless you meet with Christ in them 5. This may be for a use of Terror to such who rest satisfied with the common Operations of the Word and Spirit of God they may go far yet fall away nay so fall as it may be impossible for them ever to be renewed by Repentance But 5 thly I shall now come to the fifth and last Thing or Attainment mentioned in our Text concerning these Professors who are in danger of Final Apostacy And of the Powers of the World to come They have not only tasted of the good Word of God but also of the Powers of the World to come Two things I shall propound to do here 1. Shew you what is meant by the World to come 2. Shew what a kind of taste these Persons may be said to have of it 1. Some by the World to come assert is only meant the Gospel-Church-State or Spiritual Kingdom of the Messiah which begun in the Apostles Days Nay I find Reverend Dr. Owen is much of this Perswasion as you may see in his Exposition of the first Chapter to the Hebrews By the World to come saith he the Apostle in this Epistle intends the Days of the Messiah that being the usual Name of it in the Church at that time as the New World which God had promised to create whereof these Powers by Signs Wonders and mighty Works were then wrought by the Holy Ghost according as it was foretold by the Prophets that they should be so Joel 2. Acts 2. These the Persons spoken of are supposed to have tasted either they had been wrought in and by themselves or by others in their sight whereby they had experience of the glorious and powerful working of the Holy Ghost in the Confirmation of the Gospel Yea saith he I do judg that they themselves in their own Persons were partakers of these Powers in the Gift of Tongues and other miraculous Operations which was the highest Aggravation possible of their Apostacy I will not deny this to be intended by the Powers of the World to come But this Exposition seems too much to interfere with the second and third Attainment mentioned of these Persons and if this be granted to be intended hereby yet it must be carried also further I mean to the after-State of Christ's Kingdom for the Kingdom that is now expected and the latter-day-Glory we all allow to be the Kingdom of the Messiah Nor can any doubt of a World yet to come or glorious visible Kingdom of Jesus Christ to be set up in the last Days the Holy Ghost positively affirming That the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ And that when the seventh Angel soundeth his Trumpet and not till then which brings in the third and last Wo upon the Antichristian State and Kingdom Yet I question not but that the beginning of the Kingdom of the Messiah was in the Apostles Days and did commence from the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ being ushered in and established with the miraculous Gifts and Operations of the Holy Spirit Which wonderful Appearance of God's Power doth no doubt appertain to the Kingdom of Christ as such And at the pouring forth of the latter Rain we may expect as great nay a greater miraculous working-Power than ever accompanied it to this Day because the Glory of the latter House shall exceed the Glory of the former And there seems to me to be the like Parity of Reason for those miraculous Operations in the last Days in order to the spreading the Gospel over all the World and the establishment of Christ's more visible Kingdom as there was at first the Appearance of Christ will be with Power and great Glory 2. Therefore let it be considered and not doubted of but that there is yet a World to come and another kind of World than this World is and a more glorious Kingdom of Christ than at present we behold That the World to come will consist of a new Heaven and a new Earth which we look for as the Apostle Peter observes is evident according to God's Promise this present World yea these Old Heavens and Old Earth shall pass away and be dissolved Nevertheless we according to his Promise look for a New Heaven and New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness It was not then come but expected to be revealed in the last Days 3. It will be a World between this and the ultimate Glory in the Kingdom of the Father I mean when Christ shall give up his Kingdom to the Father that God may be all in all that is Christ will yield up his Rule and Government as Mediator for his Mediatorial Kingdom shall cease and the Kingdom and Glory of God i. e. Father Son and Holy Ghost shall only be magnified Christ shall then as Mediator no longer sit and rule upon his Throne his Work will be done and the Date of his Commission be expired 4. Let it also be considered that the World to come in the Glory of it shall not be revealed until this present World passes away is burnt up and dissolved and therefore cannot be expected until the Resurrection of the Just For Man lies down and rises not till the Heavens be no more This the Holy Ghost clearly shewed also to John And I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first Heaven and the first Earth were passed and there was no more Sea And that the World to come shall begin in its greatest Glory at the Resurrection doth appear by our Saviour's own words But they which shall be worthy to obtain that World to come and the Resurrection from the Dead neither marry nor are given in Marriage Neither can they die any more for they are equal unto the Angels and are the Children of the Resurrection It appears the World to come or Kingdom of the Messiah in its greatest Glory and the Resurrection commence together or at one and the same time And this is further confirmed because in one Place it is
said that those who follow Christ and suffer for him shall be rewarded at the Resurrection of the Just as Luke 14. 14. And in another Place it is said in the World to come as Luke 18. 30. So much shall serve to shew you what is meant by the World to come but before I speak to that Taste of the Powers of the World to come which the Persons spoken of in our Text are said to have let me add a word or two as touching the Nature and Glory of the World to come though we have as yet but only some dark glimpse of it But to proceed 1. It shall be a World not under the Curse of Man's Sin as this World is The Earth is under the Curse Briars and Thorns are the Fruit of the Curse and all Creatures groan under the Curse the Sin of Mankind hath brought upon them But when the new World comes in there shall be no more Curse instead of the Thorn shall come up the Fig-tree and instead of the Briar shall come up the Myrtle-tree The Creature groans under the Curse But it shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God Envy shall depart from the Creatures they shall not tear and devour one another in the World to come as they do in this World see Isa 11. 6 7 8 9. It is in the World to come that all things shall be restored to that glorious State signified by the Restitution of all things Whom the Heavens must receive until the Times of the Restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the Mouth of all his Holy Prophets since the World began That which all the Prophets have spoken of and expected shall certainly come or be fulfilled 2. The World to come shall be a World without Sin a Holy World a Righteous World this present World is a wicked World an ungodly World but all the Inhabitants of that World to come shall be Holy they shall be all filled with Righteousness Hence it is Peter saith We according to his Promise look for a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 3. The Government of that new World shall be alone in the Hands of the Saints no wicked Man shall be in any Place of Power there no corrupt Judges nor Justices Righteousness shall then bear Rule The People also shall be all Righteous they shall inherit the Land for ever the Branch of my planting the Work of my Hands that I may be glorified The Kingdom and Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints of the most High Whether they shall have the Kingdom before Christ comes or not I cannot determine though I suppose part of this Prophecy will be fulfilled before then but besure then they shall have all Kingdoms under the whole Heavens and the Glory and Greatness of them for ever 4. The World to come shall be a World without Sorrow and that is because it shall be a World without Sin whilst Sin remains Sorrow will remain but then no more Pain nor Misery shall any of God's Children indure for ever And God shall wipe all Tears from all Faces and there shall be no more Death neither Sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more Pain for the former things are passed away The Inhabitant of that City shall not say I am sick 5. There shall be no Devil to perplex to tempt nor to disturb God's People Satan shall be bound though others think that shall be before this World begins in the greatest Glory of it 6. It shall be a World of great and wonderful Light which may be taken as I conceive both literally and mystically The Sun shall no more be thy Light by Day neither for Brightness shall the Moon give Light by Night but the Lord shall be unto thee an Everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory Compare it with Revelation 22. 4 5. And there shall be no Night there and they need no Candle neither Light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them Light and they shall reign for ever and ever God will never withdraw himself from his People nor hide his Face in that World as oft-times he doth in this 7. It shall be a joyful World nothing but Joy and Singing in that World those who will not sing now if Godly shall sing then Behold my Servants shall sing for Joy of Heart but ye shall howl for Vexation of Spirit The World to come will be a sad and woful World to the Ungodly for there is a World to come for them I mean Eternal Misery in Hell But Believers shall sing in the Heights of Sion and flow together in the Goodness of the Lord. In the Heights of Sion or in the Time of the greatest Glory of the Kingdom of the Messiah Moreover it is said They shall rejoice even with joy and singing 8. They that dwell in the World to come shall have good and blessed Company glorious Company Christ's Company and the Company of all his Saints They shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God Behold the Tabernacle of God is with Men and he will dwell with them He shall come then in the Clouds with Power and great Glory and we shall be taken up to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. To meet him in the Air he does not meet us we shall not be going up to Heaven as soon as raised no no but Christ will come down to us to dwell and reign with his Saints on Earth when that World begins Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the Earth He hath made us Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the Earth All the Godly are under this Promise therefore it must refer to the World to come and not be fulfilled till the Day of the Resurrection 9. It will be a World of great Riches Wealth and Glory the chief City in that World the Walls of it shall be Jaspar and the City was of pure Gold Though this City may be a Figure of the Church yet no doubt there is more intended it is that City Abraham Isaac and Jacob sought for that had Foundations every Saint in that World shall have a Kingdom and a Crown of Glory though it be all but one Kingdom yet it shall be as if every one only possessed it himself Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the Righteous Judg will give to me in that Day and not only to me but to all them also that love his appearance Some Saints have hardly enough Bread to eat in this World that shall have a Crown a Kingdom in the World to come Hearken my beloved Brethren Hath not God chosen the Poor of this World rich in
kind of taste they may have of those Powers c. 1. By the Powers of the World to come of which they are said to have a taste I understand are meant the Glorious Effects of God's mighty Power that was and shall be further exerted in bringing in the Kingdom of the Messiah first in those miraculous Operations which being to assure us of the certainty of the new World were wrought before these Mens Eyes 2. The Powers of the World to come do doubtless consist also in the dissolving of this present World and all the States and Kingdoms of the Earth Thou hast of old laid the Foundation of the Earth and though the Heavens are the Work of thy Hands they shall perish but thou shalt endure yea all of them shall wax old like a Garment as a Vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed compared with 2 Pet. 3. 10 11 12 13. The mighty Power of God shall be put forth in dissolving this old World 3. And not only so but also that God by his Almighty Power will bring in and establish the Kingdom of the Messiah in the Glory of it for as the dissolving of the old World appertains to the Power of the great God so doth also his bringing in according to his mighty Power the new Heavens and the new Earth The Heavens shall pass away with a great Noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent Heat and the Earth and the Things therein shall be burned up And all this is but to make way for the World to come or for the new Heavens and new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 4. The Resurrection of the Dead also appertains to the Powers of the World to come and in it lies no small part of God's mighty Power neither Who shall change our vile Body that it may fashioned like unto his own glorious Body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself 5. The Power of the last Judgment and definitive Sentence together with the eternal Punishment of wicked Men and Devils may also be here intended Who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and the Glory of his Power 6. Moreover the exerting of God's mighty Power the Power of his Grace Divine Love and Goodness in his glorifying of the Saints may be meant also here by the Powers of the World to come When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe For as the letting out of the Power of his Wrath and Vengeance in the World to come upon the Wicked as was hinted before may hereby be comprehended so likewise the letting out of the Power of his Love and Goodness on the Godly Secondly I shall shew you now what a kind of taste the Persons in our Text may be said to have had of the Powers of the World to come 1. They had or might have a taste of the Truth and Certainty of the World to come which they clearly saw confirmed by those miraculous Operations in the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit and wonderful Works that were wrought by the Apostles nay which perhaps some of them had Power to do themselves for many shall say at the last Day Have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name cast out Devils and in thy Name done many wonderful Works To whom Christ will say I profess I never knew you depart from me ye that work Iniquity No doubt but as Saul and Balaam prophesied so Judas might as well as the other Apostles cast out Devils and do other wonderful Works 2. And as by those miraculous Operations they might have a taste of the Powers of Christ's Kingdom as it began then so this might cause them stedfastly to believe the Truth of the Powers of the World to come in the future State and Glory thereof Many Persons do not firmly believe this and therefore regard not how they live here in this present World but say let us eat and drink for to Morrow we shall die So also in another Place by the same Prophet it is said Come say they I will fetch Wine and we will fill our selves with strong Drink and to Morrow shall be as this Day and much more abundant These ungodly Wretches fear nothing of those Judgments that are come but lay their Hearts loose upon the Neck of their Lusts But the enlightned Persons in our Text did believe or give stedfast Credit to the Truth of that future State both of the Resurrection and Judgment-Day even of that Day of Reckoning when Sinners shall be punished for all their abominable Wickedness they believed God's Word and the Revelation thereof touching what will come upon the Ungodly in the World to come and so are said to taste of the Powers of it and this Persons may do and yet perish 3. They might not only have a taste of the World to come by a common Faith or by giving stedfast Credence to the Truth and Certainty of it but might also be under great Convictions of the Evil of Sin knowing that all the Sweet thereof will be turned into Bitter and that Sin in the World to come will be punished and the Sinner condemned to Everlasting Burning and that God will reward every Man according to his Deeds and might know also that some shall find greater Condemnation or a hotter Hell than others more intolerable Pain in that Day As 1. All such who draw others into Sin whether it be Drunkenness Pride Theft Uncleanness c. 2. All such who sin after strong Convictions and great Illuminations or that sin against Light and Knowledg 3. Such who have been often reproved and yet live in their wicked Practices and harden their Hearts let Ministers and godly Parents say what they will they regard it not 4. Such who have greater Means of Grace than others or who live under an awakening and powerful Ministry and yet go on in their Sins in Pride Swearing Drunkenness Uncleanness c. 5. Such who sin under Judgments or when God's Hand is lifted up and his Wrath poured out upon Men for their Abominations and greater Wrath denounced and ready to break forth 6. Such who sin boldly impudently in the Face of the Sun Shew their Sin as Sodom and hide it not 7. Such who expose the Holy Name of God which they profess to Reproach and harden the wicked World in their Sins and open the Mouths of many to blaspheme God and speak evil of his Ways and People 8. Such who delight in Sin or take pleasure in their Wickedness do boast and glory in that which is their shame 9. Such who despise and contemn Jesus Christ and his Ministers in their Hearts and wilfully cast off all Counsel 10. All thâ—se who abuse God's Patience Goodness and Long-suffering and make that an encouragement to them to continue in their evil Ways which should
And because it is mainly from this Foot of account that the Apostle in the Text draws his Inference and calls Gospe-Salvation Great Salvation I shall a little further enlarge upon this particular 1. Jesus Christ hath a great Name given to him yea a Name above every Name that is he is so highly exalted as he is Mediator that he is clothed with Power Glory and Majesty above all Creatures in Heaven and Earth so that all in Heaven above and in Earth beneath must bow down before him and adore and worship him and be in subjection to him For unto us a Child is born a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his Shoulders And his Name shall be called Wonderful c. This his Name is according to his Person he is a wonderful or an admirable Person Wonderful in his Incarnation God man Wonderful in his Birth Wonderful in his Life Wonderful in his Death and in the Effects End and Design of his Death he is not only called Wonderful but also Counsellor Never such a Counsellor for Wisdom and Knowledg for he is the Wisdom of God it self and the only Wise God He is called the Mighty God the Everlasting Father or the Father of Eternity and the Prince of Peace Moreover he is called Immanuel God with us God in our Nature and also called the only begotten Son of God and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the only Potentate he is called the Desire of all Nations Elect Precious And he is made so much better than the Angels as he hath by Inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they for unto which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my Son this Day have I begotten thee He is called the one Mediator time would fail me to speak of all his Names And 2. As is his Name such is his Nature He is God's Fellow he is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father he thought it not robbery to be equal with God O what a kind of Salvation must this be that such a Person is sent to work it out One clothed with such a Name with such a Nature with such Glory He is called a Saviour a great One He shall that is God shall send them a Saviour a great One and he shall deliver them He as he is God-Man is ordained Heir of all Things and all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to him nay he is the Upholder the Sustainer or Preserver of the World he is not only the Brightness of the Father's Glory and express Image of his Person but he upholdeth all things by the Word of his Power He is one and the same God with the Father the express Character of the Father's Pérson so that they that see and know him see and know the Father also He supports sustains feeds preserves governs throws down and raises up kills and makes alive whom he will he has the Keys of Hell and Death He is the Wonder of Angels the Consternation and Dread of Devils and the Joy and Delight of the Saints there is not such another Person in Heaven nor Earth perfect God and perfect Man and yet but one Christ one Person certainly here 's some great and wonderful Work to be done when such a Person is substituted ordained and so qualified and sent into the World to work out the actual Accomplishment thereof Nay God himself who delighteth in him put the Prophet to propound this Question concerning him Who is this that cometh from Edom with died Garments from Bozrah this that is glorious in his Apparel travelling in the greatness of his Strength Christ himself as I conceive answers I that speak in Righteousness mighty to save O happy Mortals that God hath sent us such a Saviour he is mighty to save 3. Consider also that none but he could save us procure and work about this Salvation for us There was none in Heaven nor Earth able nor worthy to open the Book and loose the Seals thereof but the Lion of the Tribe of Judah he hath prevailed 4. Jesus Christ is such an Almighty Saviour that he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him He has the Perfection of Power with him he can save to the full let the State of the Soul that comes to God by him be whatsoever it will or can be 1. Though a Man is sunk down to the very Gates of Hell under the pressure and sense of God's Wrath. 2. Though he hath the Guilt of Millions of Sins like Mountains of Lead lying upon him yet Christ can save him 3. Though Satan says there is no Hope and the Heart of the Sinner joins in with him and says there is no Hope no Pardon no Help no Salvation hang thy self drown thy self saith Satan thou art damn'd there is no Mercy for thee yet Christ can then save that poor Soul and many such he hath saved when but a little before all hope of Relief seemed to be gone 4. Though the Devil should raise up all the Force and Powers of Hell and Darkness against a Person to destroy him yet Jesus Christ can save him if he will work upon the Soul by stretching forth his Almighty Power nothing can obstruct or hinder him 5. Christ can save from the Sin from the Guilt the Filth and Power of it and break into pieces all the Bonds Chains and Fetters of the Enemy nay let the Sins of a Person be never so many never so great yet he can save to the uttermost though they are such Sinners as Manasseh and Mary Magdalen were nay such that put to death by wicked Hands the Lord of Life and Glory 't is as easy with him to save great Sinners as the least or less guilty Ones he can save the stout-hearted such who are far from Righteousness 6. He can save from the Curse of the Law and from the Wrath of God he is every ways furnished fitted and enabled to save 7. He is a Mighty Saviour and able to save to the uttermost in that he can save by himself alone by his own Power it is not if we will begin the Work if we will do what we can he can and will save us no but he takes the whole Work of Salvation into his own Hand he is the Author and Finisher of it 't is he alone 7. Moreover Christ is as willing to save poor lost and undone Sinners as he is able he had his Name given to this end i. e. because of his Power willingness and readiness to save Sinners Brethren this doth not only bespeak this to be a great Salvation but also it discovers the greatness of God's Love even the greatest Pity Power and Wisdom that ever was manifested Thirdly The third Person that is concerned in this Salvation is the Holy Ghost The Father chuses the Son
with Vnquenchable Fire Together with an Account how Professors may know whether they are Wheat or Chaff By BENJAMIN KEACH Pastor of a Congregation at Horsly-down Southwark LONDON Printed in the Year 1694. A Trumpet blown in Zion OR An Allarum in God's Holy Mountain Containing an EXPOSITION of that Metaphorical Scripture MATTH III. 12. Lately delivered in Two Sermons and now Published as an Allarm to the Drousie and Chaffie Professors of this Age. MATTH III. 12. Whose Fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his floor and gather the Wheat into his Garner but the Chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire OUr Text is Metaphorical and as touching the main Scope and Coherence of it it is one and the same with the 10 th verse of this Chapter which I have already spoken unto and lately published the Sermons unto the World John the Baptist endeavoureth to take off the Jews from their pretended Priviledges of having Abraham to their Father or their being his natural Seed or Offspring and as so considered in Covenant with God and thought their State and Condition good Which he strove to convince them was a mistake and this he doth by that Tropical Expression in ver 10. Now also is the Ax laid to the root of the Trees And in this 12 th verse Whose Fan is in his hand c. As if he should say You shall e're long see your selves deceived for all your great confidence in the flesh touching your external federal relative holiness and legal priviledges For Christ with his Ax will now quickly cut you down And with his Fan fan you away as Chaff if you have no better right to Church-membership on Earth and to the glory in Heaven than that which is derived to you from the account whereof you boast viz. Having Abraham to your Father So much only shall now serve as to the Scope and Coherence of the Words 1. I shall proceed to give you the parts of the Text. 2. Open the Terms thereof 3. Note two or three points of Doctrine therefrom 4. Apply the whole 1. As to the parts you have First The person speaking and that is John the Baptist Secondly The person spoken of and that is Jesus Christ Thirdly The Predicate or what is spoken of Christ i. e. Whose Fan is in his hand c. John the Baptist was a great Prophet yea the greatest Prophet that was born of Women having greater Light and Knowledge of the Messiah than any of them that went before him in that he could tell them this is he He was sent to prepare the way of the Lord as his great Messenger or Harbinger He therefore was well instructed into the Nature and Excellency of his Masters Kingdom which was suddenly to be set up upon the removalof the old Jewish Church and Church-Membership this John was he that the Prophet Malachi spoke of that God would send as his Messenger to prepare the way of the Lord as also how he would do this even by a spirit of Burning that should consume that People and leave them neither Root nor Branch i. e. burn up all their hopes in respect of their Root viz. That external Covenant God made with Abraham on which they stood and of which they boasted as also all that confidence they had in their own good works and inherent Righteorsness And this John's Ministry clearly held forth and thereby discovered the grand Effect and glorious Design or Christs Doctrine and Nature of his spiritual Kingdom which was near at hand Secondly As touching Jesus Christ who is the person John speaks of I shall not now treat of his Office Power Dignity and Glory which are more fully hinted at in the Context Whose shooes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with Fire v. 11. But I shall pass by that and shall explain the Terms 1. Shew you what is intended by Christs Floor 2. What is intended by the Fan in his hand by which he doth purge his Floor 3. What is meant by the Chaff and why so called 4. What is intended by the Wheat and why so called 5. What we are to understand by Christs Garner and gathering the Wheat into it 6. And lastly what is intended by the Fire and by Burning up the Chaff First I said before our Text is Metaphorical therefore no doubt by floor the holy Ghost alludes to that which in common acception is well understood by Husbandmen i. e. A floor is a heap of Corn that is threshed out of the Straw and laid in a Barn Wheat and Chaff together this usually is called a floor Quest But what is intended or meant by it here what is Christs floor which he is said to purge Answ I answer By floor is doubtless intended hereby more directly and immediately the Jewish Church but in a more remote and comprehensive sense any spiritual community of Christians Church or body of People professing religion 1. The Jews were then Gods floor or Gods People as God himself is called an Husbandman and they were a great Heap a mighty floor But almost all Chaff very Lees i. e. loose vain empty carnal and unbelieving Men and Women A more prophane and ungodly generation was hardly ever in the world and but a very few godly ones among them but a very little wheat viz. few sincere ones or believing persons in all that floor who waited for Christs Coming and did when he came in truth receive him But now the Lord Jesus was come with his Fan in his hand to separate the Wheat from the Chaff and not let them remain any longer together on that floor in that old Barn i. e. in the Legal Jewish Church state according to the external Covenant of peculiarity God made with Abraham and his natural Seed as such Which had stood near its full period of time perfixed by the Almighty but now must be pulled down Jesus Christ being come and just a going to build a new spiritual Garner or Gospel Church to put all his choice Grain or Wheat into viz. all believing and true penitent persons this primarily I am satisfied is intended by floor For the Jewish Church was not to abide or continue any longer than till the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ it being a Typical Church when the Antytype was come that must needs vanish away 2. Yet in a remote sence floor may refer to any Spiritual Community Church or people in the times of the Gospel professing themselves to be Christians Among which may be Chaff as well as Wheat Evil and ungodly Persons as well as Believers gracious and true Religious ones and the truth is there is more than one floor of this sort in our days For First If we cast our eyes abroad we shall soon espy a very great old and decayed Barn that hath a mighty floor or heap of People in it called Christians and
direct young Men to reform their Lives and Ways according to the Precepts of God's Word nor to think by any degree of moral Righteousness or inherent Holiness they could be cleansed no no but to take heed according to the mysterious and sublime Doctrine of God's free grace in Christ Which was the only way of Salvation as well under the Law as under the dispensation of the Gospel Sirs this was and still is Christs Fan namely the glorious Doctrine of God's Grace thro' the Redemption that is in Christ's blood and it was by this fan Christ cleansed that Jewish floor to which my Text primarily refers For the Jews were his floor in which was abundance of Chaff and now Jesus Christ was come with his fan in his hand to purge this floor and evident it is his holy Doctrine severed or separated the Wheat from the Chaff and by this means was the Wheat gathered into Christs Gospel-Garner and the Chaff blown away for as Chaff cannot endure the wind of the fan so could not those unbelieving Jews and hypocritical Pharisees endure Christs holy and heavenly Doctrine See Joh. 6. 52. to v. 60. How can this Man give us his flesh to eat They thought he spake of a Natural eating of his flesh as we eat the flesh of Beasts or Fish His Doctrine was not understood by them Then Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you ver 53. Now the eating of Christs flesh and drinking of his blood is no other thing than the receiving Jesus Christ by Faith for Righteousness and eternal Life Believing in Christ coming to Christ looking to Christ leaning trusting or staying on Christ receiving of Christ and eating of Christ imply one and the same thing It is our going out of our selves to him or feeding by faith on him or resting or relying on his Merits on his Obedience in his Life and in his Death for Justification and eternal Life without any Works done by us or any Righteousness wrought in us as the Apostle speaks But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifies the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness But this mysterious and sublime Doctrine the Jews could not bear but it was such a Fan as fanned them all away that believed not For they being ignorant of God's Righteousness going about to establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God They thought their own personal and inherent Righteousness was that by which they must be justified accepted and eternally saved they had meat of their own to eat and therefore saw no need to go to their Neighbours door for it they were full and increased in Goods and thought they had need of nothing And hence the Doctrine of Justification by the Righteousness of Christ alone was rejected by them it was not understood by them that Christ's flesh should be Meat indeed and his blood Drink indeed was a strange Doctrine in their apprehensions they could not conceive how such things could be as Nicodemus spake of Regeneration Nor can any Man whatsoever who will receive no point of Faith but what his natural reason can comprehend and thus this Doctrine of our Lord Jesus was a Fan in his hand and it fanned away all the Chaff of that mighty Jewish floor even all that received not that Doctrine or who believed not in Christ received not Christ by Faith for righteousness and eternal life Nay it was such a Fan that it fann'd away some of Christs Disciples not such who were his Disciples indeed but many that followed him and who are said to believe on him they believed he was the true Messiah had some kind of faith tho' not the Faith of Gods Elect Many of his Disciples when they heard this said This is a hard saying who can bear it It seemed hard to them because they could not comprehend it by their own carnal reason From thà t time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him Such a Fan was this Doctrine then and such a Fan it is now that it may be said to make a discrimination between the pure Wheat and the Chaff for no doubt all that receive not this holy Doctrine whatever fair shew they make in the flesh are but Chaff in the sight of God and will be found such at the last day Nor ought they to be suffered to abide in Christ's Garner on Earth as they shall not be gathered into his Garner in Heaven but be esteemed as Chaff or drossy professors whatsoever their conversations may be I mean such who eat not Christs flesh and drink not his blood i. e. wholly feed not upon Christ rely not alone upon the Merits of a crucified Christ or seek not Justification by his Righteousness only but go about to bring in their own Works and inherent Holiness with Christ's Merits in point of Justification in God's sight But to proceed But like as a Husbandman hath more Fans than one even so also in the Second place Jesus Christ hath another Fan also and that is I doubt not likewise intended here viz. The dispensation of God's Providence for this was as a Fan in Christ's hand by which he fann'd away those unbelieving Jews and so purged his floor I mean the time was now come that their national legal and external Church-State must be pulled down and dissolved the Dispensation was changed the Priesthood changed and right of Church-membership changed they having Abraham to their Father or being the Seed of professing Parents would do them no good nor avail them any thing Because the Covenant of Peculiarity God made with him and his natural seed as such as to the Date of the Duration thereof was now run out and expired the Ax being now laid to the root of the Tree ver 10 th So that unless they receive Christ believe in Christ and are found gracious persons fit Wheat for Christs spiritual Garner or Gospel-Church which is built up of lively stones as Chaff the Gospel-dispensation like a Fan purges them out as indeed it did and blew them all away And we are not alone in respect of this great Truth for many of our worthy Brethren who in some things differ from us assert the same particularly Reverend Mr. Cotton who speaking of this Text Mat. 3. 10. saith The first is the root of Abraham's Covenant which this people much trusted upon and of that it is which John Baptist speaketh Now is the Ax laid to the root of the Tree think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father so that all their confidence that they had in Abraham's Covenant Temple and Tabernacle and such things are burnt up and so they have no Root left them to stand upon and this is one thing intended by the Root Secondly There is saith he
know now the things that belong to your peace before they are hid from your Eyes Behold now is the accepted time c. 3. Close with Christ whilst the Spirit strives with thee and before Conscience is feared or let out against thee to tear thee into pieces 4. Attend carefully upon the means of Grace and know assuredly that the Wages of Sin is eternal Death even everlasting burnings therefore renounce it with the greatest abhorrence know all the Pleasures and Honours of this Life are but the Elements of carnal felicity and according to the Judgment of Reason and sense would any one chuse the enjoyment of the greatest Pleasures for a day and afterwards be satisfied to suffer the most exquisite Torments for a year much more folly and madness it is for momentary brutish delights to incurr the fiery Indignation of God for ever 1. One word to you that are Believers and I have done O bless God for Jesus Christ who has born the wrath of God for you and in your stead that you might never seel the bitterness of it even Jesus who delivered us from wrath to come 2. Admire the distinguishing Grace and special Love of God We love him because he first loved us It was his Love that overcame you The meer fear of Hell is not sufficient to Convert the Souls of men tho' it may stop them in their way and prevent great Abominations in the gross acts thereof yet does not cannot renew their Nature regenerate and make holy their hearts and lives that Religion that is the meer effect of fear will be according to the nature of its principle even legal wavering and inconstant yet the fear of Hell may awaken the sinner and in some sence prepare for Grace When the Soul is stormed by the terror of Wrath and the fear of Hell has made a breach Divine Grace enters but it is the Love of God and hopes of Heaven that works spiritual affections as the Obedience that flows therefrom is Evangelical free and voluntary from the entire consent of the Soul and are abiding 3. Be content with your Condition tho' poor in this World remember Lazarus how much better was his state than the Rich Glutton's O do not envy the wicked that are Rich they will pay dear for their Wealth when they come to Hell which they with greedy covetous minds heap up I remember a Passage which is related in History A General with an Army passing through another Princes Countrey gave strict Order that no Person should offer to touch the least thing which belong'd to the Inhabitants but nevertheless one Souldier as they were upon their March stole a Bunch of Grapes which the General being informed of gave Order that he should immediately be put to Death as he was going to Execution he fell a eating his Grapes and some Persons looking greedily on him he observing them said Do not envy me my Grapes for they cost me dear they cost me my Life 4. Let it appear to all that you do love Jesus Christ and preferr the honour of God and his interest above all things in this World let the main end and design of your Souls in desiring Grace Gifts Knowledge c. and in all you act and do in his Service be that you may advance his Glory Sirs the time is near when it will be known who are Christs Wheat true Christians and who are not but let all that are but Chaff tremble for Hell is prepared for them He will gather the Wheat into his garner but the Chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire FINIS THE BLESSEDNESS OF Christ's Sheep OR No final Falling from a State of true Grace DEMONSTRATED In Several SERMONS lately Preached and now for general Good Published Wherein all the grand Objections usually brought against the Saints final Perseverance are fully answered By BENJAMIN KEACH Heb. 10. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto Perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul London Printed in the Year 1694. THE BLESSEDNESS OF Christ's Sheep c. JOHN X. 27 28. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand BELOVED these Words are the Words of our Blessed Saviour and they contain no small Comfort to all true Believers who are the Sheep and Lambs of Jesus Christ My main Purpose or Intention is to speak to the 28 th Verse and to defend the sweet and comfortable Doctrine of the Saints final Perseverance but shall begin with the 27 th Verse viz. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me In our Text are two Parts 1. Something Implied viz. Christ is a Shepherd and that he hath a People that are his Sheep 2. Something that is Expressed viz. That all such who are his Sheep hear his Voice and do follow him You have in the Words 1. The Property of Christ's Sheep 2. Their Security and happy State and Condition 1. Their Character or Property viz. They hear his Voice and do follow him 2. Their Security and happy State and Condition 1. He knows them that is he approves of them 2. He gives to them Eternal Life 3. They are in his Hand and shall never perish Our Saviour in this Chapter calls himself the Shepherd of the Sheep yea the Good Shepherd Ver. 11. I am the Good Shepherd the Good Shepherd giveth his Life for the Sheep Now if it be demanded who are the Sheep of Christ I answer All that the Father hath given to him and that believe in him Christ's Sheep may be considered as his two manner of ways 1. Decretively See Ver. 16. And other Sheep I have which are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my Voice The Lord Jesus meaneth the Gentiles these he calls his Sheep by virtue of God's Eternal Election Them also I must bring They are given unto me and all that the Father hath given me shall come unto me I lay down my Life for them or in their stead that they might not perish I therefore as if he should so say must bring them call them renew or regenerate them The Covenant I have made with my Father is such that it cannot be broken the Purpose Counsel and Promises of God shall stand This agrees with that Word of the Holy God to St. Paul Be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace For I am with thee and no Man shall set on thee to hurt thee for I have much People in this City They are called the Lord's People though then in a state of Darkness and Unbelief decretively or according to his Eternal Purpose they were his 2. Actually or such who are already brought in or who do believe and are visibly of his Fold The Doctrine I shall prosecute shall be
this Bread it feeds and strengthens our Faith and also our Love to the Lord Jesus Who can forbear to love that Christ who poured forth his precious Blood for us He was made a Curse for us by hanging on the Tree and bearing our Sins When you take this Bread and this Cup you declare you take and accept of Christ as the only Food of your Souls and that way of Salvation God hath been graciously pleased to find out and when you eat the Bread and drink of the Cup you shew that you feed alone upon him and that he is your Saviour Indeed Christ doth in effect say to you Soul take all this in token that I have satisfied the Justice of God for thy Sins I have made thy Peace take this Bread and this Cup as a Pledg of it and of my Eternal Love to thee and as a Token that all thy Sins are forgiven and that thou art mine also 1. By this Ordinance we learn and clearly see the horible Evil of Sin the cursed Nature of Sin in that nothing could atone for it nor satisfy the Law and Justice of God but the precious Blood of the Son of God himself 2. Here likewise we see that infinite Love of the Father in giving of Christ to die for us He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all 3 Here also we perceive the wonderful Love of Jesus Christ who willingly laid down his Life for us 4. Moreover here we see how we come to be saved or the Way of Life and that it is only by a Sacrifice and that by the Sacrifice of Christ himself alone 5. Here we see our near Union with Christ and blessed Union one with another as the Bread and Wine is turned into Nourishment the first is held forth and as many Corns of Wheat do make one Loas so we being many Members are but one Body and therein the latter Union is held forth also I mean our Union one with another Thirdly The Ordinance of Prayer is also as a Pasture for Christ's Sheep to feed in If we pray in Faith we receive what we desire and stand in need of That Soul that goes to God in Christ's Name believingly never comes away empty handed We have not because we ask not or else ask amiss that we may consume it on our Lusts to please the Flesh and gratify our Carnal Appetites and so an evil End spoils good Means So long said a good Woman in distress as I have a praying Heart God will have a helping Hand It argues we have not hungry Souls if we have not praying Souls You may as well live without eating as spiritually live without praying and as it is a sign you are not well when you cannot eat so it is a sign your Souls are not well when you cannot pray And as it is a sign the Body is faint when the Breath is short or breaths not freely so it is a sign of a faint and languishing Christian when his Prayers are short or prays not freely He that believes savingly will pray servently He that thrives not in this Pasture will thrive in none As be cannot live naturally that breaths not no more can that Soul live spiritually that prays not He that casts off Prayer casts off God No wonder God withholds Mercies from us when we restrain Prayer from him Pure Prayer is only pleasing to a pure God our Prayers must be directed to the right Object O thou that hearest Prayer to thee shall all Men come We must always direct our Prayers to God but must not forget to come unto him by Jesus Christ and we must see to the Matter of it as well as the Object If we ask not that which is lawful our Prayers must needs be unlawful as it is a Sin to do any thing God commands not so it is a Sin to ask any thing God allows not We must also be right in the Manner as well as in the Matter of our Prayer When our Spirit prays not our Hand receives not And we must if we would thrive in this Pasture also see that our End be right Our great End should be that our Prayer may be accepted and God may be glorified The first thing we should ask in Prayer is that the Name of God may be hallowed O Soul haste into this Pasture Whatsoever ye ask saith Christ in my Name I will do it that the Father may be glorified To pray in Christ's Name 1. Is to know we come to have this Privilege to draw near to God only by Christ i. e. through the Vail that is to say his Flesh he hath purchased us this Liberty 2. 'T is to pray in his Strength i. e. by the Spirit which he hath procured for us and given to us 3. 'T is to pray in the Virtue of Christ's Mediation Whatsoever we ask on Earth Christ obtains for us in Heaven 4. To ask in Christ's Name is to ask for his Sake for his Worthiness 'T is not what our Deservings are but what Christ's Merits are Fourthly The Promises of God are another Pasture where the Sheep of Christ do daily feed The Promises of God are of a Soul-fastening and Soul-strengthning Nature But there is no feeding here without believing A Sheep may as well feed on Grass without Teeth as a Christian can feed on the Promises without Faith The Reason why the Soul cannot get into this rich Common or rather fat Medow is because he cannot get over the Slough of Unbelief Man lives not by Bread alone but by every Word that proceeds out of the Mouth of God He can feed his People and support them by a Word of Promise when their Bread faileth Nor must we take unlawful Means to supply our Necessities nor distrust the Care and Providence of God tho we do not see which way we shall subsist Trust in the Lord and do good so thou shalt dwell in the Land and verily thou shalt be fed We must depend upon the Providence and Promise of God for Supplies both of Body and Soul The young Lions lack and suffer Hunger yet they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing We must let God judg and chuse for us 't is better for us sometimes to want than to abound There are Promises as I have sometimes shewed you that answer every Condition we can be in Fifthly The Providences of God and the Saints Experience are another Pasture for Christ's Sheep How oft have they been fed this way I have been young and now am old yet have I not seen the Righteous forsaken nor his Seed begging Bread This was more especially David's Experience and under that Dispensation when the Promises of God were of temporal Blessings ours under the Gospel are better Or else take it thus Not begging in vain If they are such Children that walk in the Steps of their godly Parents or not so begging
our Duty to love God with all our Heart and Soul What Advantage brings Christ's Death to abrogate one perfect Law and establish another here is little Gospel A second Difficulty is we must either say Christ has purchased to us Pardon for Sins against the Gospel-Law or none at all but that one Sin of Adam's if the Moral Law be abrogated after the Fall we never sinned against any Law but the Gospel for we were under no other Law according to him c. The Sum of that I drive at is this viz. There is a necessity we must be justified and saved by Grace only because we cannot be saved by a Law of Obedience but by Christ and Grace alone If we sly not to Christ by trusting believing and depending on him and the Grace of God in him who hath satisfied the Justice and Law of God for us and brought in Everlasting Righteousness the Law of God will cut us down and throw us into Hell for ever 2. It is by Grace alone that we are saved because all boasting is excluded and cause of boasting And this is the Design of God in the Gospel viz. That Man might not have whereof to glory but in the Lord alone Nor could this be done any other way but by his contriving our Salvation to be wholly by his own free Grace Where is boasting then it is excluded by what Law of Works nay but by the Law of Faith not of Works lest any Man should boast 3. It is only by Grace that we are saved or Eternal Life is the free Gift of God and Gift of Christ because he will have all the Glory of it God will not give the Glory of our Salvation unto others Having predestinated us to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ according to the good Pleasure of his Will to the Praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved 4. It is by Grace only because God would magnify his Son by whose Righteousness and Obedience imputed to us we are justified and saved and it is to this end I say that God might exalt Jesus Christ his Design was to magnify Christ in our Salvation and to abase Man Thou hast given him Power over all Flesh that he should give Eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him 5. And lastly It is by Grace because God would have Salvation sure to all Believers Therefore it is of Faith that it might be by Grace to the end the Promise might be sure to all the Seed c. If Salvation were by our Works and Obedience it might be very uncertain or if the whole of our Happiness and Eternal Life be not in Christ's Hand but that it dependeth on the Will of Man or on the condition of our Faith and Holiness or in the improvement of our Abilities and it is possible that we may or may not answer the Condition thereof it might so fall out that not one Soul might be saved Besides should it be so those that are saved would then have something to glory in or boast of in the Great Day They in effect may thank themselves and admire their own Wisdom Care and Industry that brought them to Heaven Fourthly Why doth and will Christ give Eternal Life to all his Sheep to all his Saints Answ 1. Because Eternal Life was purchased for them by his Death But by his own Blood he entred once into the Holy Place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us 2. Because all that are given unto Christ are ordained unto Everlasting Life 3. Because Christ was sent into the World to this End to give Life unto them I am come that ye might have Life and that ye might have it much more abundantly It was that he might give his People the Knowledg of Salvation and save them from their Sins 4. Because Life is given to Christ to this End viz. to communicate it to all his Elect he is made a quickning Spirit that he might quicken all his As in Adam all die so all that are in Christ shall live Spiritually here and Eternally hereafter Because I live ye shall live also 5. Because all his Elect were quickned together with him virtually when he rose from the Dead yea and also virtually they entred into Heaven with him for he ascended as their Head and blessed Representative 6. Because Eternal Life was promised to them in Christ before the World began and they have many firm and sure Promises made of it to them since also 7. Because they are united to him and Christ hath prayed That they may all be made perfect in one and he hath prayed that they may have Eternal Life Now Union with Christ gives right to Glory a whole Christ shall be glorified and not a part only Quest What doth Eternal Life import Answ I answer It doth import a Deliverance from all Evil present and to come and a full and perfect possession and injoyment of all true spiritual and everlasting Good and Glory above Quest But doth not this seem to diminish or lessen the Glory of God the Father to assert That it is Christ that gives Eternal Life c. Answ No not in the least for all things are of God and through Jesus Christ All things are of God who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ It is God that hath reconciled us unto himself 't is by Christ we are reconciled his Blood being the Price of our Reconciliation God the Father gave Christ for us and also gives him to us And this is the Will of him that sent me that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him may have Everlasting Life and I will raise him up at the last Day And thou hast given him Power over all Flesh that he should give Eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him It is the Father that gave Christ the Power as Mediator to give Eternal Life unto his Sheep APPLICATION First This may serve to reprehend those that would not have Salvation to be wholly of Grace it clearly condemns Free-Will for if it be only by God's Grace it is not at all of Man's Will They 't is true do acknowledg the Contrivance of our Salvation to be of God's Grace alone or the Effects of his great Love and his sending of Christ into the World to be an Act of Infinite Grace but withal deny Regeneration and effectual Vocation to be wholly the Effects of God's special and distinguishing Love but do affirm that Grace which those Men have who perish at last would have been sufficient to have renewed them had they improved it They assert that all Men have Power to believe and that that Grace which God affords to Men to save them 't is in the preaching of the Word or consisteth in no more than Moral Swasions Arguments or Excitements in a rational way But
Life of Grace here and the Life of Glory hereafter Arg. 8. If there is no Condemnation to such who are in Jesus Christ or have Union with him if they have Everlasting Life because they have Union with the Son and are passed from Death to Life and shall not come into Condemnation then this Sacred Union secures and saves all that are united to Christ from falling away so as eternally to perish But that all this is true we have proved and it is in plain words asserted by the Holy Ghost therefore this Sacred Union secures and saves them all from eternal perishing Arg. 9. If Christ in us is a certain and sure Ground of the Hope of Glory and that Hope is the Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast that cannot be lost then Union with Christ gives all such an assurance of Salvation and that none of them that have Union with Christ or have Christ in them can eternally perish But that this is so the Holy Ghost doth positively assert therefore none of them can so perish Arg. 10. Lastly If Faith in the Habit of it through which by the Spirit we come to have this Actual Union with Christ can never be lost or shall not fail then none that have Union with Christ shall ever perish But that Faith in the Habit of it cannot be lost or shall not fail our Saviour affirms it being one part of his Prayer when on Earth and no doubt it is part of his Intercession now in Heaven I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not And he never asked any thing of the Father but it was granted him And I know thou hearest me always Therefore they can never perish I might add here that Communion which flows necessarily from this Union which affords a strong Argument for the Saints final Perseverance Union cannot be without Communion for whilst the Members are united to a living Head there will be as one observes an Influx of Animal Spirits whereby they shall partake of Life and Motion and though a Believer I grant may lose the sensible Experience of Communion with Christ yet the Spirit from their Mystical Head will be working in them providing for them and standing by them To conclude with this Argument I argue 1. If our Union be by the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit 2. If our Union with Christ be a Conjugal Union a Marriage-Union 3. If it be as near a Union as is between the Body the Members of the Natural Body 4. If it be such a Union as is between the Tree and the Branches 5. If it be such a Union as is between the Father and Son as Christ is Mediator 6. If it be a Union of Spirits as if but one Soul was in two Bodies 7. If it be such a Union that Believers partake of the Divine Nature 8. If it be a Vital Union 9. If it be such a Union that cannot be dissolved by all the Powers of Darkness the Seed of Grace remaining Then it is impossible for any Believer that hath Union with Christ to perish Eternally But all these things are true therefore no true Believer can Eternally perish APPLICATION First These things being so we may infer that our Union with Christ is a most glorious Spring of the greatest Comfort to Believers imaginable 1. From hence Brethren comes in your Actual Justification No Man is personally justified before he receives Christ by Faith before he has actual Union with him But every Soul that is in Christ is actually justified and discharged from all the Guilt of his Sins and stands in Christ compleat in his perfect Righteousness without Spot before the Throne of God 2. Such are made near and dear to Christ O how near is the Wife to the Husband or the Members to the Body even so near and dear is every Soul that hath actual Union with Christ unto him 3. From hence flows our Communion with Christ for by virtue of our Union we come to have our Natures changed It is hereby that we come to behold as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord and are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. It is impossible that a brutish and swinish Creature as all unrenewed Men and Women are should have Communion with the Holy God or with the Holy and Blessed Jesus What Fellowship hath Righteousness with Vnrighteousness Or what Communion hath Light with Darkness Or what Concord hath Christ with Belial If we would have Communion with Christ we must be Holy and touch not the unclean thing And impossible it is that we should be Holy until we come to have Union with Jesus Christ by which means we come to partake of his pure Nature and have the evil Habits of our vile and filthy Hearts and Souls changed The Tree must be first made good and then the Fruit will be good Man naturally is united to the Devil and to his own Sin and Iniquity and hath Enmity in his Heart against God The Prince of Darkness is the Head of this dark and wicked World The Vnderstandings Wills and Affections of all Men are under diabolical Influence ever since Adam betrayed us into the Enemies Hands and abide so until that Union be dissolved by the Power of Divine Grace and the Soul united by the Spirit unto Jesus Christ We are united to the first Adam by a Likeness of Nature and how can we be united to the Second without a Principle of Life by which another a new Nature is formed in us We were united to the First by a living Soul and we must be united to the other by a quickning Spirit By Nature Man is dead in Sins and Trespasses and how can he have Communion with a living Christ without a Principle of Life Would any go about to join a stinking Carcass to the Holy Jesus Would not any think it a great Plague to him if he had a dead and rotten Carcass united to him O remember it is from your Union with Christ your Communion with him follows yea and your Communion with the Saints too you can take no delight in Heavenly Company nor Heavenly Things without an Heavenly Heart 3. By this Union you that are Believers come to have interest in and a right unto all things Jesus Christ hath purchased by his Death nor shall any ever have any share or part in all those Spiritual and Eternal Blessings except they obtain this Union As the Cyon cannot partake of the Sap and Fatness of the Olive-Tree without it is grafted into the Stock no more can we partake of the Fatness and glorious Fulness of the true Olive Jesus Christ unless we are grafted into him by Faith and have the Indwellings of the Spirit and then all things that Christ merited for us and are laid up in him for us are ours 4. It is by virtue of this Union that we have
hereby magnified they join hand in hand for the effecting of it Fourthly No Power can supersede God's Decree nor obstruct Jesus Christ in his compleating the Whole of his Work I will work and who shall let And again it is said He shall bring forth Judgment unto Victory He shall not fail nor be discouraged The Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his Hand And seeing then that the Final Accomplishment of the Salvation of every Believer is put into Christ's Hand for a farther Demonstration how this tends to secure them all from Danger and to preserve them to Eternal Life Take here a short Induction of Particulars 1. Consider the Nature of that Covenant by virtue of which all the Elect are put into Christ's Hand It is a Covenant made and entered into by the Son as Mediator with the Father not only to redeem and purchase Life for them and to infuse Life in them but to preserve them in a State of Life so that none of God's Covenant-Children might depart from him any more for ever which the first Covenant failed in and therefore God found fault with that or rather with them with whom it was made who failed in continuing their Obedience thereunto but sinned and fell from God Now say I God to prevent the like again hath entered into a New Covenant with his Son for us which is so well ordered in all things and sure as that not one Soul shall ever eternally miscarry that is comprehended therein O remember that this Covenant was the Result of Infinite Wisdom as well as it resulted from inconceivable Love and Goodness in God and it was to frustrate and destroy the Works of the Devil for ever so that he might never have Cause to insult over the Majesty of God in getting out of his Hand one Soul that he designed in his Eternal Counsel to make happy and save for ever 2. Consider Jesus Christ to this End in this Covenant hath took all that the Father gave unto him into his Hand as their Surety Pray consider all Believers are thus in the Hand of Christ Hence he is called the Surety of a better Covenant He is their great Sponsor if any be lost he must answer for them Let me read that Text in 1 Kings 20. I shall only allude to it to clear up this Matter the better to weak Capacities Thy Servant went out into the midst of the Battel and behold a Man turned aside and brought a Man unto me and said Keep this Man if by any means he be missing then shall thy Life go for his Life I know this was spoken by the Prophet parabolically yet it may serve to shew you the Nature of Suretiship where one engageth for another or for others Thus Judah became Surety to his Father for Benjamin I will be Surety for him of my Hand shalt thou require him if I bring him not unto thee and set him before thee then let me bear the blame for ever Reuben also became Surety for Benjamin And Reuben spake unto his Father saying Slay my two Sons if I bring him not to thee and deliver him into thy Hand This was more indeed than was required of him or that his Father Jacob could accept of without Sin had he failed But O see the Nature of Suretiship Jesus Christ hath taken all his Saints into his Hand as their Surety to the Father and God hath accepted him in this Case and looks for them all at his Hand the Father substituted him not to be a Shepherd only but a Surety also 3. And let it be considered that Jesus Christ became not our Surety to pay our Debts or to satisfy for our Sins which we stood charged with before our Conversion but also for all our Sins after we believe his Blood was a plenary Satisfaction for all so that Christ says as it were to the Father as Judah to Jacob I thy Servant am become Surety for these and every one of these that thou hast given to me and if I bring them not to thee and set them not before thee in Heaven then let me bear the blame for ever Or he may say as Paul speaketh concerning his Son Onesimus If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee ought put that on my Account I Paul have written it with my own Hand I will repay it c. Thus Christ may say Father charge the Sins the Debts that my Saints have and shall commit to me I will be accountable for them And indeed he hath already done it once for all and not only so but to bring them all to Heaven and this in a most high and sublime Covenant and Holy Compact he made with the Father before the World began therefore not one Soul of them can perish 4. Consider also that in pursuit of this Covenant and Suretiship Jesus Christ hath suffered Death spilt his own precious Blood which the Father doth accept of as their full Discharge and shall any once suppose that one Soul of his People for whom he thus struck Hands and died for and took into his Care and Charge shall eternally miscarry 5. Consider that as they are in Christ's Hands and he hath suffered Death for them and in their stead so also that the Merits of his Blood might become effectual to them he is every ways fitted endowed and qualified with all things whatsoever that is necessary in order to his actual Discharge of this great Trust he hath taken upon him 1. He hath received the Spirit without measure to the end he might have that and all Grace that is needful to communicate to every one of his Saints as he sees necessary for them and it is laid up in his Hand not given all at once to them but they shall have all their Wants supplied according to his Riches in Glory 2. He hath Wisdom enough also for he is Wisdom it self 3. He is clothed with Power also he is a Saviour a great One Pray hear what he himself saith I that speak in Righteousness mighty to save All Power is given to me in Heaven and Earth c. He cannot fail for want of Power as Mediator let the States or Straits of any Soul of his be what they will or of any that relie upon him or come unto him Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him Nay and this Power is given to him to this very end namely not only to quicken and renew them but also to perfect Holiness in them and to bring them to Heaven at last As thou hast given him Power over all Flesh that he should give Eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him 6. Consider the strict Charge the Father hath given to Christ as he hath put all Believers into his Hand 1. A Charge to redeem them he laid down his Life as the Father commanded him 2. See that in Isa 49.
Grace as I may say is the Off-spring of Heaven And what doth God love on Earth above his own Grace in the Souls of his People 'T is God's Gift though it be Christ's Merit And as Reverend Charnock notes Grace hath great Allies the greatest Power that ever yet acted upon the Stage of the World had a Hand in the birth of it Should we see all the States of the World engaged in bringing a Person to a Kingdom and maintaining therein his Right we could not rationally think that there were any likelihood they should be baffled in it The Trinity saith he sat in Consultation about Grace For if there were such a Solemn Convention held about the first creating of Man much more about the new and better creating of him and raising him somewhat above the State of Man the Father decrees it the Son purchaseth it the Spirit infuseth it The Father appoints the Garison what Grace should be in every Soul Christ raiseth this Force and the Spirit conducts it the Trinity hath a hand in maintaining it and all this is but the carrying on the New Creature The Father is said to beget us John 1. 13. and we are said to be the Seed of Christ Isa 53. 10. and born of the Spirit John 3. 6. therefore that which hath so strong a Relation and Allies cannot be lost Thus Charnock 2. The Father is the Root and Foundation of Grace as it is the Effect of his free Love and Favour and every Grace is part of the Divine Nature in it there is an imitation of one or other of the Divine Attributes and it exemplifies the Divine Perfections in its Operations The Design of God in infusing of his Grace into our Souls is to shew forth his Vertues or his Praise and Glory in all the Parts of it and doth glorify one or another Attribute of God 3. What is Grace and the Work of Grace in the Soul but God's Workmanship which as you have heard he hath shewed much Skill and heavenly Wisdom about and also hath been at more Cost to effect in us than in making the World he will not therefore suffer that Work to be marr'd and brought to nought We are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good Works Did he give his Son purchase Grace and will not the same Love engage his Power to preserve and perfect it in us 4. And since God's Power is concerned in preserving Grace in us and us in a State of Grace can it be thought that Satan that strong Man armed when he had full possession of the Soul and also had so strong a Party in us on his Side and yet could not prevent an overthrow he being vanquished and turned out should ever get possession again especially since now the Soul is so well armed and hath the strongest Party on its Side against him besides such wonderful Allies to stand by it to oppose its Enemies and to aid and assist it against him and all his Abetters If Grace when a Babe gave Satan such a fatal Defeat and Overthrow certainly now it hath got such strength in the Soul it will never be overcome by him We are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation And Christ hath prayed that our Faith fail not and was heard therein Brethren is the Power of the Omnipotent God limited to a Faith of the Creature 's getting and to his Care in securing If so it is as much as to say the Nurse will keep the Child in her Hand if it doth not get out of it and stray away from her We say God keeps us by his Power through Faith because he hath ordained Faith and Holiness to be the Means which he by his Power will maintain in us as well as Happiness or the Salvation of our Souls to be the End 5. God hath promised to help us to uphold us to strengthen us and to preserve us unto the End The Steps of a good Man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his Way Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his Hand If he falls into Sin into Temptation or Affliction the Lord will not leave him but help him up and bring him out of all his Distresses He hath promised never to leave us nor forsake us He hath also promised to be our God and our Guide even unto Death and hath assured us That the Righteous shall hold on their Ways and he that hath clean Hands shall grow stronger and stronger and to put his Fear into our Hearts that we shall not depart from him Again the Apostle asserts That he that hath begun aâ— good Work in us will perform it to the Day of Christ 6. In a word it cannot stand consistent with the Wisdom Love Faithfulness Holiness nor the Glory of God to suffer any of his own Children and redeemed Ones to be pulled away from him by Sin Satan the Flesh or this World or any Enemy whatsoever and Grace to come to nothing in them 1. Can it stand consistent with his Wisdom to suffer his own Eternal Counsel to be frustrated Or hath any Man the true Grace of God and yet not as the Result of God's Purpose from Eternity If so how comes it to pass that Paul tells the Saints That they were saved and called with an holy Calling not according to our Works but according to his own Purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ before the World began Can it stand consistent with Divine Wisdom to let Satan insult over God himself and boast after this manner Thou hast sent thy Son to die for these Persons thou hast renewed them by thy Grace and made them thy own Children and espoused them to thy own Son and this according to the greatness of thy Love and thy Purpose before all Worlds and didst it also to destroy and bring to nought my Design and laborious Work in seeking to devour them but see how thou art defeated and frustrated in all thou hast done I have tempted them to Sin I have again deceived their Souls and set thee against them and thy Design in saving of these is by me made of none effect I have turned those Saints into Swine and robbed them of all that Grace and rich Treasure thou gavest to them notwithstanding thou hadst put them into the Hand of thy own Son to preserve and keep 2. Can it stand consistent with his tender Love to leave his Saints in the midst of so many cruel Enemies who are unable to save themselves as poor Babes of two or ten Days old out of their Hands and yet suffer them by Sin and Satan to be torn to pieces whilst he stands by and looks on and yet they are such that are his own Children begotten and born of him by his Spirit Or shall his Love be so great in begetting Grace or in infusing
Grace and no more Love shewed in keeping and preserving that Grace in their Souls What! purchase such Riches for them by the Blood of his Son and let them be robbed of it all in a Moment 3. Can it stand consistent with the Faithfulness of God who hath said I will help thee I will uphold thee by the right Hand of my Righteousness and I will not suffer thee to be tempted above what thou art able c. The Work I have begun in thee I will perform to the Day of Christ and as thy Day is thy Strength shall be and yet notwithstanding all this will leave them and let their Grace wither and come to nothing and Sin and Temptations be too hard and strong for them and so cast them off for ever 4. Can it stand consistent with his Holiness to let his precious Grace which is an Impression of his own Image and Likeness in the Soul be blotted blurr'd and defaced for ever this Likeness being a Likeness unto him in that most high and beloved Perfection of his Nature viz. his Holiness which Work on the Soul is curiously wrought by his own Spirit and more valued by him than ten thousand Worlds will he I say neglect that which is so dear and like unto him and suffer it to be crush'd under the Foot of filthy Corruption by the Lusts of his implacable Enemy 5. Can it stand consistent with the Honour of God's most Sovereign Majesty to let Grace be destroyed and come to nothing in the Soul whose End in all he doth is principally to advance his own Glory What is it I pray you that tends more to bring Honour to God in the World than that Grace which he hath infused into the Hearts of his People If Sin brings the greatest Dishonour to him then certainly Grace brings the greatest Honour to him which strives to root out and utterly to destroy Sin so that God and Jesus Christ might reign alone in the Soul If a King hath but one special Favourite that asserts and maintains his Right and seeks to uphold his Throne be sure he will if possible preserve him and suffer none to undermine and supplant that Favourite so as to root him out of the Kingdom Thirdly In regard had to Jesus Christ who is the Purchaser and immediate Author of Grace I further argue Grace shall at last become Victorious or never finally be suppressed in the Hearts of Believers 1. Christ by his Death purchased that Grace which every true Christian is possessed of He died to redeem us from all Iniquity and to purify unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works It is upon the Account of his Death as the Effects of his Death the Spirit and the Graces of the Spirit are shed abroad in our Hearts Therefore being by the right Hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which you see and hear Certainly if he purchased us and Grace for us when we were his Enemies he will preserve it in us since we are actually now reconciled to him Shall he be at the expence of his Blood to buy it as one notes and spare his Power to secure it 2. Christ was manifest to take away Sin to dispossess Satan and will he let Satan take Possession again He came to destroy the Works of the Devil And what are Satan's Works but Sin Will not Christ accomplish that which he came into the World to do 3. He is called the Author and Finisher of our Faith If this be so we may assure our selves he will perfect it he that begins it will end it he hath not left it to another after he hath begun the Work of Faith to finish it No no he still keeps it in his own Hand and he will see it done 4. It is for the Honour of Christ that Grace lives and is strengthened in his People Wherefore also we pray for you that our God would account you worthy of this Calling and fulfil all the good Pleasure of his Will and the Work of Faith with Power Part of the good Pleasure of the Will of God had been fulfilled in them they were called justified adopted and the Work of Sanctification was begun and Paul prays that with Power it might be compleated and then shews us how it tends to the Glory of Christ to have this done That the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified and you in him according to the Grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ Brethren the Glory of Christ and the final Salvation of the Saints are wrap'd up together Grace tends to Christ's Glory here and to his Eternal Praise and Glory hereafter 5. Jesus Christ's Work now he is in Heaven is to intercede for his Saints And be sure as he prayed when on Earth that the Faith of his Peters might not fail so he makes the like Intercession for them in Heaven Hence the Intercession of Christ is part of the Saints Holy Triumph in that of Romans 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who also maketh Intercession for us Now the Intercession of Christ hath great Power and Prevalency in it in order to our final Perseverance in Grace 1. Because he pleads continually with God the Virtue of his own Merits what he hath purchased for us he intercedes for but he purchased Grace for us and he prays for the final continuation of it in us therefore it shall abide in us to the End 2. By his Intercession he prevails with God that we may be delivered from all our Spiritual Enemies that they may never have Power over us of whom Sin is the chief That which Christ intercedes for he is heard and accepted in but he intercedes that we may be kept and delivered from the Power and eternal Punishment of Sin therefore Sin shall never have Power to condemn us 3. He intercedes that our Prayers may be heard and that we may be helped to pray and part of our Prayer is that Sin may not have Power over us to condemn us therefore Sin never shall so condemn us because Christ causes our Prayers with the Incense of his own Intercession to come up as a sweet Savour in the Nostrils of God 4. Christ intercedes that all our Sins may be pardoned and covered If any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father He carries this Cause for us in the Court of Heaven therefore our Sins shall never work our Ruin 5. It is by his Intercession we come to the Throne of Grace with boldness Christ our Friend and High Priest appearing evermore in the Presence of God for us 6. And also it is through Christ's Intercession that all our Good Works and Holy Services are accepted of God So much shall serve to the tenth and last Argument And from hence
off from pressing Care and Diligence on the Mariners 4. That God who hath ordained the End I tell you again hath also ordained the Means Without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. We are chosen in Christ that we may be holy and without blame before him in Love Nor can any ever come to any well-grounded hope he shall be saved or know he is elected unless he is holy heavenly spiritual watchful and diligent in all Gospel-Duties which is the Fruits and Effects of Election 5. The Decree of Election considered absolutely in it self without respect had unto its Effects is no part of God's revealed Will that is it is not revealed that this Man is and that Man is not Elected This therefore can be made neither Argument nor Objection about any thing wherein Faith and Obedience are concerned 6. The Sovereign and ever-to-be-adored Grace and distinguishing Love of God is laid down in the Word of God to be the greatest Motive to Holiness imaginable Who maketh thee to differ from another O that God should open my Eyes call me by his Grace may a Believer say Shall I sin against him because his Grace so abounds to me God forbid If God hath elected me I may live in Sin walk as I list is the Language rather of a Devil than of a Man much less of a Saint I speak the more to this because I would shew you that are Believers what Improvement you ought to make of God's Free Grace and Love to you Put on therefore as the Elect of God Holy and Beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another And as Moses said Consider what great things God hath done for you Object 4. If I shall persevere to the End what need is there of those Take-heeds in the Scripture Why are we bid to watch and take heed lest we fall Answ This is all one with the former besides I answered it largely when I first entred upon my Work but yet let me add a word or two further 1. A Child of God may sin and fall grievously and greatly dishonour God and bring Reproach on the Gospel which may tend to grieve some and harden others nay he may lose his Comfort and Joy of God's Salvation therefore hath need to watch Satan is a strong a vigilant and cunning Enemy O see what Reasons you have from thence to watch and pray 2. If you grow careless carnal or indifferent in the Matters of Religion it may be a sign that your Hearts are not right with God Many of the Members of the Churches to whom the Epistles were directed were no more than Professors and if so they were liable to fall away and perish for ever Object 5. But same Branches in the Vine may bear no Fruit but may be cut off and wither c. Answ I have also fully answered this Objection already see the Argument taken from our Union with Christ There is a twofold being in Christ an External being in him by a Profession and a true Spiritual being in him Object 6. If Christ died not for all what ground have I to believe he died for me Answ 1. What doth it signify to believe Christ died for all unless thou findest the Effects of his Death in thee Many thousands shall perish notwithstanding Christ died for them in their Judgment that make this Objection yea the generality of them for whom he died therefore unless all were saved what Encouragement is there to believe from hence 2. He that believes shall be saved If thou therefore dost believe thou shalt be saved Is not this a better Ground of Faith than that of Christ's dying for all 3. A bare believing that Christ died for all I have proved is no Ground of thy Interest in his Death for that may be without any Fruits or gracious Effects 4. Thou hast the same Ground to believe as any have or as such had who do now believe before they did believe or as they had once who now are in Heaven 5. Christ died for the chiefest of Sinners and the Promises of Mercy upon believing are made to the vilest Sinners on Earth 6. Great and black Sinners have found Mercy and are now in Heaven even some of them that put Christ to Death And is here not Ground of Faith and Hope for thee 7. Remember that if thou believest not but dost continue in thy Sin and Rebellion against God thou shalt be certainly damned thy rejecting of Christ will have that Effect at last upon all Unbelievers 8. Moreover Christ calls to stout-hearted Sinners such that are far from Righteousness He brings his Salvation near to them He calls upon a People not called by his Name He hath received Gifts for the Rebellious also that God might dwell among them And is not here a good Ground to venture thy Soul upon Jesus Christ be thou who thou wilt 9. No Person is excluded by the Lord that we know of Can any Man say there is no Mercy for him unless he hath sinned against the Holy Ghost which may be not one in an Age is guilty of The Nature of which Sin I purpose to open after I have closed with this Text. Thy Condemnation O Sinner will be of thy self God will judg the World in Righteousness this we are all agreed in and set down as an undeniable Article of our Faith None shall have this to plead at the last Day I was not Elected God will vindicate his Justice and Righteous Proceedings in the Day of Judgment and all Mouths shall be then stopped and every Man's Conscience be a Witness for or against him And though foreseen Faith and Holiness is not the Cause why any are elected yet foreseen Wickedness is the Cause why Men are reprobated O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help Object 7. But is it not said Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling Answ 1. This Text the Papists do abuse as well as the Arminians who strive to make Man a Co-worker or a Partner with Christ in our Salvation But this the Apostle intends not because we are saved by Grace For by Grace are ye saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God Not of Works lest any Man should boast For we are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good Works 2. Whoever it is that brings in this Text as an Objection against the Doctrine of the Saints Final Perseverance you may be sure is a corrupt Person in his Judgment and one that pleads for a Covenant of Works or joins the Creature with Christ as a Co-workein the Salvation of Man For if it be to be taken in their sense then it would follow that Man is his own Saviour for if I procure my own Salvation by Works or by working it out for my self I save my self or am my own Saviour or I
said and so finish with this Text. 1. Inform. This may serve to inform and convince all Persons concerning the absolute Soveraignty of God He may save Man if he please and not Angels or may send a Saviour for some of the lost Sons of Adam and not for all Who shall say to him What dost thou If he had vouchsafed a Saviour for none of Adam's Posterity had he been unjust any more than he is in casting off for ever all the fallen Angels He called Abraham out of his own Country and revealed himself to him and let others remain then under the Power of Sin Ignorance and Idolatry calling them not He revealed himself to Isaac and rejected Ishmael he chose Jacob and refused Esau he afterwards chose the Children of Israel to be a peculiar People for himself and let all other Nations of the Earth abide in Darkness And in the Gospel-Days Christ chose a few poor Fisher-Men and refused the Learned and Wise Men after the Flesh nay and hid the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven from the Wise and Prudent and all this as an Act alone of his Soveraignty And in these days what Reason can be alledged why we and a few Nations more have the Knowledg of the Gospel when the greatest part of the Earth lie in Popish Mahometan and Pagan Darkness but that it is his good pleasure so to do He hath Mercy on whom he will have Mercy and whom he will he hardeneth 2. Praise God for the Knowledg you have of the Mysteries of Christ and the Gospel of Free-Grace Brethren next unto the Grace of God in my Conversion I have often said I do look upon my self bound to admire the Riches of God's Love and Goodness to me in opening my Eyes to see those Arminian Errors which when I was Young I had from some Men of corrupt Principles sucked in nay and when I was about 23 Years Old I wrote a little Book for Children in which some of those Errors were vindicated which after my Eyes were inlightned and the Book with Alterations being again Reprinted I left out and now do declare my dislike of the first Impressions and do disown what I there asserted When I was a Child I thought as a Child I understood as a Child as the Apostle speaks And let me intreat you to study the Nature of the Covenant of Grace for until I had that opened unto me I was ignorant of the Mysteries of the Gospel 3. O do not forget that the Design of God in contriving our Salvation in his Eternal Wisdom by Jesus Christ was wholly to advance his own Glory and the Freeness and Riches of his Grace and to abase and humble Man unto the Dust therefore be sure never err on that Hand And I think it is not easy for Men well to err on the other I mean in exalting God alone Christ alone though I deny not but that some good Men who in seeking to advance Free-Grace perhaps have erred and taken up some unsound Notions as that of Actual or Personal Justification before Faith and Actual Union with Jesus Christ O what need have we to ponder well the Paths of our Feet and not with Pride to magnify our selves or strive to promote any corrupt Notion under any Pretence whatsoever Our Days are Evil many dangerous Errors abound and it is cause of greatest Grief to see what a Generation of Men are risen up of late who strive to mix God's pure Gold with their Dross and his Wine with their Water Though on the other Hand let us bless and praise the Lord for raising up so many brave Champions in the mean time of our Brethren of the Congregational Way to defend the Gospel of God's Grace and the Truth as it is in Jesus Yet I could wish there was not so much Gall in some of them against us their Brethren who in all the great Truths of Christianity are of one Mind and Judgment and yet are exposed to Reproach for witnessing to a Truth of Christ that lies as plain in the Gospel as any one Truth or positive Precept of Christ whatsoever I mean that of Believers Baptism Why should we be censured for maintaining that Truth which the Holy Ghost so fully bears witness unto I long to see more of the Spirit of Love and Charity would to God that Chapter 1 Cor. 13. was more read and considered 4. This may also serve to reprehend such who strive to cast Reproach upon this Holy Doctrine and such that maintain it as if it tended to incourage People in Sin or open a Door to Licentiousness Let all for ever forbear such Reflections Is not this the Purport of that Doctrine which we vindicate 1. That there is wrought and preserved in the Minds and Souls of all Believers by the Holy Spirit a Supernatural Principle of Grace and Holiness whereby they are made meet and enabled to live unto God and discharge all Duties of Obedience which he requireth of them and accepteth through Christ which Principle or Habit of Grace is essentiaily distinct from all Natural Habits Intellectual and Moral however and by what Means so ever acquired or improved 2. That the Holy Spirit by his effectual Operations doth enable us according as we are required by his immediate Influences in all Acts of Obedience whether internal only in Faith and Love c. or External also even so that all the Powers of our Souls and Members of our Bodies are or ought to be in a spiritual manner governed and influenced thereby and unto all Duties of Holiness in our daily walking with God and that all this is the Effect of God's Free-Grace to us in Jesus Christ who hath communicated of the Spirit without measure to our Blessed Head and Mediator that he may give it forth to all his Saints that have Union with him and believe in him Brethren God hath circumcised the Hearts of his People to love him with all their Souls and with all their Strength He writes his Law in our Hearts as he promised I will put my Law in their inward Parts and write it in their Hearts This gracious Habit or Principle in the Soul is nothing but a Transcript of the Holy Law of God implanted and abiding in our Hearts whereby we are enabled with Chearfulness and ready Inclination of our Spirits to act in the Duties of Obedience and Holiness unto God as he requireth of us and also our Likeness and Conformity unto God doth consist herein I say it doth consist in this Divine and Sacred Principle or Spiritual Habit that is infused into the Soul it is our Spiritual Life whereby we live unto God it is the Foundation and Sum of all Internal Excellencies no Works no Duties are accepted where this Principle is not It is a Vital Principle of Holiness and it makes Religion co-natural to us Moreover it is a certain a permanent and an abiding Principle it is that Seed
to full satisfaction all the Pleasures of this present World are but a Shadow of the Pleasures of Heaven and of the World to come and though these satisfy not yet those will satisfy the Soul 3. They are Pleasures for evermore we shall swim in Pleasures in that World Thou wilt shew me the Way of Life in thy Presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right Hand are Pleasures for ever more 4. The Joys and Pleasures of the World to come will be so sweet that as Mr. Caryl saith a whole Eternity will seem to be but as a Moment 5. They will be Pleasures without Pain without a Sting O what a Sting have some Men found to be in or to attend their carnal Pleasures Here are Sorrows cleaving to Men as well as Joy Pain and Misery as well as Delights and Pleasure but in the World to come there will be all Sweet and no Bitter all Pleasure and no Pain all Joy and no Sorrow 6. Is God able think you to delight to rejoice and to fill the Souls of his Saints with Joy and Pleasure Be sure then he will do it God's Love is such so infinite so inconceivable to his Children that he will fill them with the fullest Joys imaginable Will not earthly Parents make the Lives of their Children as sweet and happy as they can They are called Joys unspeakable and full of Glory All the lawful Pleasures of this World are Brethren but a Figure or Shadow of them The Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive the things that God hath prepared for those that love him The Eye hath seen much and the Ear hath heard of more than the Eye ever saw and the Heart conceives of more than ever the Ear heard but the Heart cannot conceive how sweet the Joys of Christ's Kingdom will be or comprehend how transcendent the Joys of Heaven are 7. The Pleasures of the World to come are the Effects of God's infinite Love and Goodness according to the Perfection thereof And as none know the Power of God's Anger and Wrath in Hell that is let out against ungodly Sinners that hate him so none know the Power of his Infinite Love Grace and Goodness let out in Heaven to delight and ravish the Hearts of all them that love and serve him 8. The Pleasures of the World to come never will cease indeed no shorter a Time than an endless Eternity can serve to let out the infinite Goodness of the Eternal Deity and those varieties of Joys and Delights that flow and will flow like Rivers from him as none can imagine what the Nature of that personal Communion which the Saints shall have with Christ will be so also they will be Eternal Eternal Joys saith one are the longest and yet the shortest Longest in respect of Duration yet the shortest in respect of Apprehension An Eternity of Joy will seem to us no more tedious than one Minute or small Moment ' twis be so full of Joy and Pleasure 't is such Satisfaction that breed no wearisomness it doth not â—loy nor glut the Soul we living at the Fountain-head of Joy and Comfort in immediate Communion with Christ our Delights will renew as much as continue They are certainly blind or unthinking Persons that do not see how the Deity or Holy God delights in Varieties it may easily be discerned by beholding the different Varieties of Creatures Faces Colours or varieties of things to delight all our Senses here in this World O no doubt the Joys and Varieties of the World to come will be Wonderful and take up a whole Eternity for God to let out Joys will be as it were every day fresh and renewed upon us From hence saith a beloved Writer fresh Appetite and fulness of Satisfaction are perpetually interchangeable the Joys are so many the Years seem so few Eternity of Joys makes Eternity but as a Moment as eternal Pain and Torment makes every Moment seem an Eternity These things being so O who would not desire an Interest in Christ O happy happy Believer what a Choice hast thou made Exhortation Sinner what sayst thou come seek a Portion a Part in the World to come you are very busy to get a Part or Portion in this present evil World Alas alas what good can all these thing do you and how long can you keep them Come be perswaded to seek this better Country Christ hath redeemed us from this present evil World and hath purchased for us another World even this World to come Will you seek it You may have a share and part in the World to come Quest You will say which Way or how may we get a part in it Answ I answer You must marry the Prince and Heir of that World and so you shall have a Portion in it and a true Title to it you must by Faith espouse Jesus Christ there is no other way to have an Interest in the World to come Sinners you may gain the World to come and save your Souls but whilst you seek to gain this present evil World you may lose your Souls What will it profit a Man to gain the whole World and lose his own Soul Also you may have an Assurance of the World to come O strive to make it your own peculiar Inheritance take hold of the Foretop of Time Now I may say Time is hereafter it may be said Time was and then Time is past and lost for ever Remember that in this World while you are here the World to come in the Glory of it will be got or lost for ever if you obtain Grace you shall have Glory but if you have no Grace in this World no Glory you are like to have in the World to come Lastly Remember this World is near at an End 't is ready to pass away and the World to come in the Glory of it is just about to begin it is not far off He that testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus HEB. VI. 4 5. And of the Powers of the World to come THE last time I spoke of the World to come and of the Powers of it especially of the Powers Glory and Pleasures of the World to come respecting the State of the Saints therein I shall now proceed to shew you what a kind of taste of the Powers of the World to come the Persons mentioned in our Text may be said to have which is the next thing propounded to be done under this Head Secondly The Persons here meant I have proved are not true and sincere Believers though such who come very near unto such being almost Christians Now the last Qualification or Attainment they are said to arrive unto is this Of tasting of the Powers of the World to come First I shall shew you what may be meant by the Powers of the World to come Secondly Shew what a
Curse can no Soul be delivered but by Jesus Christ alone Is it not a fearful Thing to be under the Curse of an offended and angry God whose Wrath is like Fire that seizes on dry Stubble But he that believes or accepteth of the Salvation of the Gospel is delivered and saved for ever from the Curse of the Law Christ hath delivered us from the Curse of the Law being made a Curse for us 2. Man by Sin is set against himself his own Conscience wars and sights against him and it is also sometimes let out upon him by the Lord to such a Degree tormenting him so dreadfully that he is not able to bear it hence some have destroyed themselves What is more dreadful and amazing than a guilty an accusing and condemning Conscience Poor Mr. Child found it intolerable and many more besides him it is that Worm that oft-times begins to gnaw here and will if this Salvation be not took hold of torment the Soul for ever for as in Hell the Fire is not quenched so the Worm dieth not But he that receives Jesus Christ believes in Jesus Christ and so gets an Interest in this Salvation is delivered from the Guilt and the Lashes the Accusation and Condemnation of his own Conscience nay his own Conscience speaks Peace to him and yields him a continual Feast For our rejoicing is this the Testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World c. O how is the Case altered Conscience before was a Tormentor but now is a Comforter before it spoke nothing but Terror but now it speaks nothing but Peace before it did accuse but now it doth excuse before it fed us with Gravel-stones but now it feeds us with Joy and sweet Food 3. The State of the Sinner is very sad and the Nature of Sin very destructive as it exposes the Soul to future Wrath the Wrath of God remains upon him that believes not The Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness and Vnrighteousness of Men. But by this Salvation we are saved from present and from future Wrath also this is done by Jesus Christ Even Jesus who delivered us from Wrath to come Wrath to come is far greater than any Wrath Mortal ever felt in this World Who knows the Power of thine Anger even according to thy Fear so is thy Wrath. But not one Drop of it shall fall upon that Soul that hath a Part and Interest in this Salvation Should God let out but a little of his Wrath upon a Soul whilst he is in the Body wo to him whither shall he fly how should he be able to bear it O 't is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the living God O what a great and glorious Salvation is this Suppose a Man was condemned to die for High-Treason or for some other great Crime nay to be burned alive or to be flead alive and just as the Sentence was going to be executed upon him one should bring him the Tidings that the King had pardoned his Offence and therefore he should not die would he not look upon this to be a great Salvation But alas what can reach or be compared to the State of condemned Sinners What is it to be thrown into a Fire or to burn for half an Hour nay to be put into a lingering Fire to be dying a whole Day nay a whole Year or if it were possible to be dying forty or fifty Years to lie burning in Hell to all Eternity Every Sinner is condemned by the Law of God to be burned to be burned alive in Hell for ever where the Damned are always dying but yet cannot die If this were well and seriously considered certainly every one must acknowledg the Gospel-Salvation to be a Great and Glorious Salvation that delivers all that imbrace it from so great a Death as the second Death or the Wrath of God in Hell Brethren this Salvation doth not only free and deliver the Souls of all that believe from Wrath from all Wrath and Misery but the Bodies also as I shall shew you hereafter before I have done with this Text. The Body shall be delivered from Sickness Lameness Blindness Poverty Hunger Nakedness nay and from Corruption it self even from whatsoever it is that is either grievous or destructive here or hereafter If a Man be but delivered from Want or from Hunger being almost starved to Death and ready to tear his own Flesh to feed himself or from Nakedness or from tormenting Pain suppose it be but the Extremity of the Tooth-ach Gout or tormenting Pain of the Stone or from Slavery in Turkey or from some grievous and cruel Imprisonment being in Bonds and Irons lying in a dark Dungeon among Toads and Serpents would he not think it a Great Salvation Or if People who feel the bitterness of War Famine or Pestilence were delivered and set at Liberty would they not account it a Great Salvation a Great Deliverance But what are all these Salvations to this Great Salvation I am speaking of What is the Sickness of the Body or Death of the Body here to the Sickness and Death of Body and Soul for ever What is an Imprisonment in the worst of Jails and to lie in Chains and Irons put upon us by Men like our selves and to bear their Wrath for a few Days to the eternal Prison What is a dark Dungeon here to the Blackness of Darkness for ever What is the Wrath of Man to the Wrath of God or Chains of Iron to everlasting Chains of Darkness What is a little outward Want or Poverty to the Want of God's Favour and Love to Eternity being separated from his Presence for ever and to lie in Fire burning and broiling and cannot have so much as one Drop of Water to cool the Tongue for one Drop is denied to the Damned in Hell The rich Glutton when in Hell begged that Lazarus might be sent to him and dip the Tip of his Finger in Water to cool his Tongue but it was not granted Alas all Miseries here are nothing as they pass away in a Moment when compared unto Eternal Wrath and burning in Hell which is the pourings forth of the unspeakable and righteous Vengeance of a provoked and angry God There is no Parallel nothing to express the Nature of that destructive Evil that is in Sin there is nothing left us to illustrate it withal therefore to be delivered and saved for ever from the just Punishment and dismal Wrath of God must needs be deemed Great Salvation and the Excellency of it will at length be known to them who slight and despise it when they come to fall and perish under the want of it He that is delivered from lying in Prison for a thousand Pound Debt where he must have lain till Death having nothing to pay it
Law perfectly is cursed but no Man can keep the Law perfectly therefore all Man naturally are cursed and impossible then to be blessed until delivered from that Curse and this therefore Christ came to do him hath God sent to bless us which Blessing we could not have 〈…〉 Christ puts himself in our place and bears the Curse away from us Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law by being 〈◊〉 a Curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that 〈◊〉 on a Tree He that was hanged on a Tree under the Law was hanged for transgressing of it and was cursed of God and when 〈◊〉 is said Christ was made a Curse for us it signifies his bearing that Wrath and indignation of God which was due to us for our Sin and his he must do if ever we are justified and eternally â—â—ved from that Eternal Wrath and Vengeance Sin had brought upon every Soul of us 5. As our Lord Jesus if he procure Salvation for us must die and become a Curse for us so he must also raise up himself from the Dead or be discharged of the Bonds of Death he must destroy Death and be freed out of Prison He therefore rose again from the Dead for our Justification His Discharge was virtually a Discharge for us or for all he died for our Lord Jesus must subdue all our Enemies and bring not Death only but the Devil also and all the Powers of Darkness under his Feet or there could be no Salvation for our poor Souls Forasmuch then as the Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the Power of Death that is the Devil And deliver them who through fear of Death were all their Life-time subject to Bondage Christ and Believers are of one and the same Nature they are as it were but one Man or are so united as to be considered as one Mystical Body This was held forth in his Incarnation in his assuming our Nature He took not only an Humane Soul but our Humane Flesh into Union with his Divine Nature that both our Souls and Bodies might be brought into Union with him and that our Bodies might also be raised from Death to a State of Life and Glory at the last Day and be fashioned like unto his Glorious Body Who hath abolished Death and hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel Had not Christ conquered Death and the Devil who had the Power of Death we had been lost for ever He hath not only taken away Sin the Sting of Death but he hath and will be the Death of Death The last Enemy that shall be destroyed is Death The Body as well as the Soul is brought into Union with Christ he is the Head of the whole Believer the Body as well as the Soul Shall I then take the Members of Christ and make them the Members of an Harlot Both Body and Spirit are the Lord's our Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost Brethren what a Conquest hath Christ made how hath he subdued all our Enemies that so he might work out a full and perfect Victory for us in every respect For this Corruptible must put on Incorruption and this Mortal must put on Immortality 1 Cor. 15. 53. So when this Corruptible shall have put on Incorruption and this Mortal shall have put on Immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory Ver. 54. O Death where is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory Ver. 55. 6. And lastly And as Christ must conquer the Devil the World Sin Death and the Grave for us and in our Nature so he must by his mighty Power destroy the Devil and Sin 's great Power in us and vanquish that natural Enmity that is in our Hearts against God and his Ways and thereby restore the Image of God in us which we had lost HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Ninthly GOSPEL-Salvation is great if we consider the Subject thereof or what is delivered and saved for ever namely the Souls and Bodies of his People First The Soul that is it Jesus Christ came to save which is very precious as I shall shew you in a deduction of several Particulars Certainly the Salvation of the Soul must needs be a great Salvation What is it to save our Estates our Liberties our Healths the Members of our Bodies our Eyes Arms Legs or our natural Lives to the saving of our precious and immortal Souls The Soul is more worth than all the World What shall it profit a Man to gain the whole World and lose his own Soul 1 st To demonstrate the great Worth Excellency and Preciousness of the Soul consider that it was first formed in the Image of God in Righteousness and true Holiness Our Souls had a glorious Impression of God's Image stamp'd upon them in the first Creation which we lost by Sin and Transgression But this Blessed Image is restored again as you have heard by the Grace of God in this Salvation 1. Pray Brethren remember that the Soul of Man is capable of a Divine Impression of God's glorious Image it is made I mean of such a Nature that it is capable of this great Blessing therefore to be deemed a very precious thing God will not stamp his Image upon low and base Metal if I may so speak with reverence 2. There are three things I find which the great God glories in as being peculiar to himself or his own glorious Prerogative alone The Burden of the Word of the Lord for Israel saith the Lord which stretcheth out the Heavens and layeth the Foundations of the Earth and formeth the Spirit of Man within him The first is his stretching out of the Heavens O what a great and glorious Work was that The second is his laying the Foundation of the Earth the hanging it upon nothing what a wonderful thing is that considering its great Weight and wonderful Body The third is his forming of our Souls Certainly the Spirit or Soul of Man is a glorious thing that God should account the Creation of it amongst those chiefest Parts of his admirable Handy-work Why is not the forming the Blessed Angels who are glorious Spirits rather mentioned it is worthy of serious Contemplation Our Bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made they are no small part of God's Wisdom and curious Workmanship if the Nature and Order of every Part was considered as some Artists who study Man's Humane Body will shew you But what is the Formation and Excellency of our Bodies to our Souls 3. The Soul is capable of Divine Union with Jesus Christ through a Communication of the Holy Spirit and by Faith of the Operation of God and thereby the whole Man partakes of the like Union also
Heaven whereby we must be saved He that receives Christ believes in Christ shall be saved and he that believes not shall be damned 3. If Life be more worth than all the World certainly the Soul is more worth than ten thousand Worlds O do not part with it on any Terms for it cost Christ dear the Price of his own Blood his Heart-Blood was let out to save our Souls Alas there are some nevertheless that are like the false Prophets of old who sold the Souls of the People for a handful of Barley and for a piece of Bread 4. How near may some of you be to Death and if you have not got an Interest in Christ before then what will become of your precious Souls 5. Will you consider what Means of Grace God is pleased to afford you for the good of your Souls and know it is by the preaching of the Gospel that God commonly saves the Souls of Men I mean that it is the Means he uses for the begetting of Faith Shall the Word have some good Effect upon your Souls this Day 6. Consider all your Prayers Tears Alms-deeds all Reformation of Life Services Duties and inherent Holiness cannot save your Souls no none but Christ nothing but the Merits of Christ it is his Blood alone that made your Peace and must wash away all the Guilt and Filth of your Sins Your Souls your precious Souls O Sinners are wounded polluted naked what will you do Nothing but Christ's Blood I tell you can heal them nothing but his Flesh his Blood can feed them and nothing but his Righteousness can clothe them and nothing but the Graces of Christ's Spirit can inrich can deck and adorn your Souls and without Faith you cannot obtain any of those Blessings O what shall I say to you if going down upon my Knees could move you to lay to Heart what a sad State you are in who have not received by Faith this Salvation and incline you now to believe I would readily do it but alas it is God's Gift O look up to him do what you can pray and attend on the Word What do you say do you believe that this is a Great Salvation Will you esteem it and look after it above all things in the World It is Sirs that one thing needful chuse with Mary that good Part that shall never be taken from you Shall there be Joy in Heaven this Day how can you slight such a precious Soul and such a precious Saviour who spilt his Blood to save the worst of Sinners Will you tread his Blood under your Feet If so what will you do at the Day of Death and in the Day of Judgment Should your Souls be lost there is no repairing that Loss no redemption of the Soul out of Hell no other Price no other Saviour no other way if this be slighted you must perish HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation I AM upon the Proof and Demonstration of the greatness of the Salvation of the Gospel I closed with the ninth Reason of the Point the last time Tenthly Gospel-Salvation is a great and glorious Salvation if we consider what such who have interest in it are raised up unto or do and shall partake of I mean what great Blessings and wonderful Privileges they are invested with by it First Pardon of Sin This Blessing have all they that receive it 1. Consider the Blood of Christ is the way of Gospel-Remission no Remission of Sin without the shedding of Blood there is remission of Sin but no Blood could procure this Remission but the Blood of Christ he paid our Debts in whom we have redemption through his Blood even the Forgiveness of Sins It was by his offering himself an Expiatory Sacrifice to God there 's no Salvation without Pardon of Sin and no Pardon of Sin without a Compensation be made by Jesus Christ to the Law and Justice of God 2. Consider who are pardoned even all that believe though they were never such great Rebels against God such were Traitors and Enemies once who are now forgiven Here is a Pardon for the vilest Sinner that sees his horrid Evil and Rebellion and takes hold of Jesus Christ or looks up to him by Faith 3. Consider the Nature of this Pardon and Gospel-Remission Such are pardoned for ever I will remember their Sins no more they are blotted out for ever God promises to all penitent and believing Sinners to throw their Sins into the Depth of the Sea 4. Consider the Terms of Pardon it is a free Forgiveness we having nothing to pay God of his meer Grace and Goodness doth forgive us through the Atonement of Christ's Blood freely Even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgression for my own sake and will not remember thy Sins This is spoke to a People that had wearied the Lord with their Iniquities O what a glorious Salvation is this that here is Remission and free Pardon for rebellious Sinners such that deserve nothing but Wrath and Hell 5. It is a Pardon of all Sins great and small Sins of Omission and Sins of Commission Sins of all sorts and sizes 6. 'T is God that blotteth out our Sins he that can forgive he whose right it is to pardon he against whom we have sinned and he who when he gives a Pardon none can supersede it nor revoke it let them do what they can Secondly Reconciliation with God is another Blessing of this Salvation God doth not only forgive us but he takes us into his Bosom he is fully reconciled to us in Jesus Christ he cries Fury is not in me Again he says This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased When we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son And none can make God our Enemy again for ever if we are Believers none can separate us from his Love in Jesus Christ our Lord as something agâ— I shewed you no not Sin nor Satan Thirdly By this Salvation we come to have Union with God and to be made one Spirit with Jesus Christ and how great and glorious is this saâ—red Union but having formerly spoken to it I shall not say more to it nâ—w Moreover we are not only brought into a State of Union but are also admitted to have Communion with the Father and the Son Brethren it is one thing for a Traitor to be pardoned and another thing for him to be admitted into the King's Presence and to become one of his great Favourites Truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ Fourthly By this Salvation also we are justified Justification is a high Privilege By him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses Let me shew you what it is to be justfied that so this Salvation may appear the more
the Law cannot no more can the Devil nor a Believer's own Heart I mean so as to bring him under Eternal Condemnation 8. And lastly All such that are justified shall be glorified see Rom. 8. 30. O glorious Salvation that brings in this blessed Privilege how happy are all justified Persons Fifthly Adoption appertains to this Salvation Every Believer is raised also to this great Privilege and hath this Prerogative he is made a Son of God a Child of God Adoption is to take such to be Children that naturally were not as a special Act of Grace and Favour So we who were the Children of Wrath by Nature are made or adopted to be the Children of God by Grace through Jesus Christ And Christ in working out this Salvation procured this glorious Blessing Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons To be Kings Children is no small Dignity yea the Children of the King of Heaven and Earth What manner of Love is this that the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God Beloved now are we the Sons of God c. God is not ashamed to be called our God nay our Father 1. Brethren this is an honourable Title What were we once how low base and ignoble before Grace 2. This Privilege it appears cost Christ dear 3. And because we are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our Hearts crying Abba Father 4. And if we be Children then Heirs Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ 5. Then Beloved we also as Children shall be cared for as Children be fed as Children be clothed as Children also be chastened God in all Afflictions deals with us as his Children 6. And if Children we shall be always Children for we are not only the Children of God by Adoption but we are also begotten and born of God and so partake of his Divine Nature which we cannot lose Sixthly By the Grace and Means of this Salvation we are espoused to Jesus Christ O what an Honour and Dignity is this Believers are the Bride the Lamb's Wife And how is and shall the Spouse of Christ be clothed Even in Gold of Ophir She shall be brought to the King in Raiment of Needle-work She is all glorious within and she shall be all glorious outwardly in Body too e're long as well as she is so now in her Soul and inward Parts Jesus Christ puts Chains about the Necks of all that are his or that he espouses I mean those precious Graces of his Spirit which he hath purchased for them For they shall be an Ornament of Grace unto thy Head and Chains about thy Neck The Father called for the best Robe to be put upon his Son as soon as he returned home and a Ring on his Finger The inward Beauty of the Spouse does even ravish the very Heart of Christ Thou hast ravished my Heart my Sister my Spouse thou hast ravished my Heart with one of thine Eyes with the Chain of thy Neck With one of thine Eyes some understand by one of her Eyes the Eye of Faith no doubt that is a precious Grace in Christ's sight Every Believer partakes of Grace and all Spiritual Gifts every Grace is a glorious Ornament and of great Price in the sight of God This Salvation makes Men and Women glorious Creatures new Creatures every one resembles the Son of a King they hereby come to partake of God's Holy Nature And as the Grace of this Salvation makes glorious Christians so it does also make glorious Churches Candlesticks of pure Gold Seventhly This Salvation brings Peace with it Peace is a precious Blessing we receive Grace first and then Peace My Peace I give unto you my Peace I leave with you The Peace of God is so excellent a thing that it passes all Mens Vnderstanding What would Spira or Child have given for true Peace and inward Serenity of Mind O it is a great and glorious Salvation Were these things considered and could be fully opened it would appear more abundantly true Peace of Conscience is never known to the Worth of it but to such who have known the want of it Eighthly I might also speak of Sanctification which Blessing all they also partake of that have an Interest in this Salvation Holiness is an Heaven on Earth it is Heaven begun here and it fits and makes every Believer meet for that blessed Inheritance of the Saints in Light the Spirit and Graces of the Spirit are given to this end I mean to make us holy in Heart and Life Ninthly Free access unto the Throne of Grace is another Blessing and Privilege which all Believers receive who have a part in this Salvation Christ hath made the Way easy for us to the Father it is by a new and living Way which he hath consecrated for us through the Vail that is to say his Flesh or by his Death Tenthly All the Promises of God belong to Believers and are procured for them in and by this Salvation They are great exceeding great and precious there is a Fulness in them the Promises as they are sure in Christ Yea and Amen in Christ so they answer every State and Condition any Believer can be in Eleventhly All the Ordinances of the Gospel belong to this Salvation and are no small Privilege they are as golden Pipes to convey Heavenly Riches or Sacred Treasure to our Souls Nay and in the last place there is a Crown of Glory that every Believer shall be raised unto that hath a saving Interest in this Salvation and not only a Crown but a Kingdom also Now is not this a great Salvation which raises poor Creatures who were fallen as low as Hell up to Heaven and of being Slaves of Sin and Satan to be Sons and Daughters of God It was a great Salvation that Joseph had when he was brought out of Prison where he lay in Irons to be the chief Ruler under the King in Egypt And it was a great Advancement of David from following the Sheep to sit on a Throne but nothing like this of Believers What is an Earthly Throne to an Heavenly one He that overcometh shall sit down with Christ in his Throne and reign for ever and ever APPLICATION 1. Admire this Salvation say it is no small thing to have a part in it I cannot particularly apply what I have insisted upon But 2. Bless God for Jesus Christ You cannot say that the Salvation he hath wrought is a barren Salvation O what is and will be the product of it 3. Particularly Consider what a Blessing Justification is and take heed you are not drawn away nor corrupted about the nature thereof 4. Be exhorted you that are Saints to strive to exercise Faith in respect of your Justification Believe the Gospel-Testimony He that believeth is justified from all things c. You have
is a blessed Weight or a Weight of Blessedness so there is a Weight of Misery or a miserable Weight yea it is such a Weight as will crush the strongest Giant like a Mâ—th and break the Bones of the Mighty HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation Fourthly THE last thing I proposed to do was To shew you why the Gospel is attended with dreadful Threatnings as well as gracious Promises And this I shall God assisting speak unto at this time 1. It may be in regard of him whose Word it is Where the Word of a King is saith Solomon there is Power Shall not the Majesty of God the great Law-giver be feared If I am a Master where is my Fear Brethren awful Threatnings become the Quality and Dignity of Christ's Person True in the Days of his Humiliation as touching those Personal Injuries and Wrongs done unto him he suffered and threatned not yet nevertheless for the Contempt of his Grace Salvation and infinite Goodness in the Gospel it is otherwise he doth now pronounce dreadful Threats Bring out those mine Enemies that would not have me to reign over them and slay them before me 2. Too great Lenity and Mercy we see among Men causes Contempt of the Person of a Prince it makes impudent Rebels ready to insult over him And now Brethren because it seems not to please the Wisdom of God or not to be good in his sight who is the great Soveraign of Heaven and Earth commonly to inflict Temporal Punishment on Gospel-Slighters and Gospel-Neglecters but to reserve their Punishment to another World shall not he therefore tell them what they must expect to meet with and undergo hereafter if they rebel against him contemn his Goodness Clemency and Mercy Is it meet that the Holy God should strike before he threatens or not shoot off his Warning-Piece before he lets fly his Murdering-Piece Can that stand consistent with his Infinite Goodness and Wisdom Shall he come secretly on his Enemies before he tells them of their danger Shall he condemn that in his Creatures which he allows in himself Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel and because I will do thus unto thee prepare to meet thy God O Israel It is God's good Pleasure as well as it is the Property of his merciful Nature to discover the future Misery of Rebellious Sinners to them before he brings that Misery and Ruin upon them 3. Shall the Laws of the Servant be clothed with fearful Combinations and Threatnings against the Transgressors thereof and shall the Law of the great Soveraign or Gospel of Jesus Christ himself have none at all that might seem strange indeed especially considering those that disobey or believe not the Gospel shall meet with far greater Punishment If the Word spoken by Angels were stedfast and every Transgression and Disobedience received a just Recompence of Reward How shall we escape c. This being so there is reason that the Gospel should be accompanied with awful Threats 4. Because of the greatness of the Sins of such who do refuse reject or neglect the Grace and Mercy of God offered by Jesus Christ Certainly the Abuse of the greatest Goodness calls for the severest Denunciation of Divine Wrath and Vengeance Man himself being Judg Of how much sorer Punishment suppose you shall he be thought worthy Do you judg to whom I appeal what sore what bitter what grievous and unexpressable Wrath and Judgments they deserve who contenâ—n Jesus Christ or prove Apostates Revolters and Backsliders from the Gospel and slight his precious Blood â—â—ead under 〈◊〉 the Son of God Sure such deserve worse Punishment than those who 〈◊〉 against Moses's Law Now the greatness of their Sin who sâ—iâ—ht and neglect the Salvation of the Gospel I have already opened O call to mind what you have heard and you that are secure Sinners tremble What Wisdom do such despise what Goodness do they disregard what infinite Love and Patience do they abuse that neglect this Salvation Shall the Sinner cast Diâ—t in the Face of God and not be told of it Shall he slight an Interest in Christ and not know it will be his ruin in another World 5. Threatnings are contained in the Gospel to shew that God is Just as well as Gracious Nay Brethren the Justice of God never appeared to that degree to the Sons of Men by Moses's Law or any other way as it doth in the Gospel in that Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God is not spared when he stands as our Surety in our Law-place to bear our Iniquities God spared not his own Son c. He did not spare him as an Act of Love and Mercy but substituted and appointed him to be a Sacrifice for us and he did not spare him as an Act of his Justice when he was so substituted but he put him to Grief and made his Soul an Offering for Sin the Just for the Vnjust He was made Sin for us i. e. a Sacrifice for our Sin It pleased the Lord to bruise him This shews that God is just with a witness there was no other way found out to put away Sin to pacify Divine Wrath and shall the Sinner slight and trample upon the Mercy and Justice of God and not be told he shall not escape Divine Vengeance O Sinner think of it if God spared not his own Son who had Sin upon him only by Imputation our Sins laid upon him and none of his own Canst thou think to escape his dreadful Wrath who for not accepting of this Atonement this Salvation hast all they Sins charged upon thy own Head and must bear that vindictive Wrath that was due to thee for them You that think God is only a God of Mercy and Christ only a Lamb will find your selves at last greatly deceived for you will find that God is a just a severe and Sin-revengeful Majesty and especially he will appear so when he pleads with Sinners for the abuse of his Mercy and they will find Jesus Christ like a Lion who will at length tear in pieces his Enemies I have trodden the Wine-press alone and of the People there was none with me for I will tread them in mine Anger and trample them in my Fury and their Blood shall be sprinkled upon my Garments and I will stain all my Raiment O remember that the great Day of the Lamb's Wrath will come he is a King and has a Sword as well as a Scepter a Rod as well as a Crown he is Just as well as Good and therefore it is that the Gospel is clothed with such Threatnings of Wrath and Divine Vengeance All the Perfections of the Deity appear and shall appear in our Lord Jesus Christ he being the express Image of the Father's Person 2 dly The Gospel hath its Threats as well as its Promises I might shew you in regard of Sinners 1. To awe
and usefulness of Experiences of God's Providences 136. Q. Quench Dangerous to quench the Holy Spirit Satan cannot totally quench the Spirit in Believers 228. Quickning The Spirit the quickning Principle of the Soul 228 R. Resurrection of the Body an Essential of the Christian Religion 86 Right-Hand Christ the Father's Right-Hand 274 Righteousness What Righteousness it is a Man may turn from 307 Christ's Righteousness which is the Material Cause of our Justification is an Everlasting Righteousness and therefore cannot be lost 307 Such that trust to their own Righteousness shall perish 307 Christ's Righteousness a Garment 382 383 Rod. The Rod Christ's Voice 86. S. Salvation wholly of Grace Pag. 147 Shewed and proved in eight Particulars 147 148 149 150 Salvation a Garment the Father prepared it the Son wrought it the Holy Ghost puts it on the Soul 382 383 Salvation great 369 to 435 Who neglect the great Salvation 436 to 443 From whence Salvation is neglected 443 444 Great Evil of neglecting Salvation 452 453 c. Great Evil in respect of God the Father 452 453 In respect of Christ 457 In respect of the Holy Spirit 461 In respect of the Sinner himself 468 469 470 Salvation our greatest Business proved 441 442 443. Sheep Believers Christ's Sheep 1. By Choice 2. By the Father's Donation 3. By Purchase 4. By Renovation 5. By Covenant made with the Father 6. By Conquest 7. By their Resignation of themselves to him 77 78 79 80 Characters of Christ's Sheep 11â— to 121 Shepherd What a kind of Shepherd Christ is 122 to 129 Sin The Evil of Sin opened in many Particulars 388 389 390 391 392 393 c. Sins of the Saints of a heinous Nature on several respects 168 Sins of Believers cannot separate them from God's Love 185 186 187 188 c. Why Saints cannot dare not sin 191 192 The great Evil of the Sin in neglecting Gospel-Salvation 464 to 469 Those that are born God cannot commit Sin shewed 216 217 The odiousness of Sin shewed 470 Christ died for all the Sins of the Elect. 236 241. For their Unbelief 241 No vindictive Wrath due to Believers their Sins Pag. 243 Sin the greatest Evil. 58 Socinians what their Errors are 85 Soveraignty It is God's absolute Soveraignty to chuse and call whom he will and send the Gospel to whom he will 169 172 173 314 Soul The Soul of Man very precious proved by many Arguments 400 401 402 c. The Soul proved to be Immortal by seven Arguments 406 407 Ministers and Parents have a great Charge having the Charge of Souls No impairing the final loss of the Soul 409. Spira Francis Spira's Fall what 44 Spira's natural Disposition 44 Some Passages of his fearful State 44 45 46. Spirit The great Blessings we receive by the Holy Spirit opened 259 260 261 1. The Spirit an Earnest to us 260 2. A Seal a Witness 261. A twofold Act of the Witness of the Holy Spirit 1. A direct Act. 2. A reflex Act. 261. State The State of Sinners by Nature very miserable opened in many Particulars 393 394 395. Stead Christ died not only for our good but in our stead proved by 9 Arguments 237 238 239 240. Strangers Who are Strangers and why so called 90 How Christ's Sheep will not follow nor hear the Voice of Strangers 90 91. Supper The precious Nature of the Lord's Supper opened 133 134. T. Taste What a Taste of God's Word Hypocrites may have 337 What a Taste the Saints have 340 341. Threatnings Why there are such Threatnings contained in the Gospel 483 484 485. Torments Torments of Hell what largely opened 53 54 55 56 57 Torments of Hell eternal why 58 59. Tremble What sort of Persons have cause to tremble at the thoughts of Wrath and Hell 50 59 60. U. Vnbelief the greatest Sin shewed in many Particulars 449. Vnion Vnion with Christ opened 224 225 226 Vnion with Christ secures Believers from Final Apostacy 227 228 229 230 231. Vniversal No Vniversal Redemption from Sin and Wrath proved by many Arguments 252 253 254. Voice What meant by Christ's Voice shewed in four things 80 to 86 What a kind of Voice the Voice of Christ's Spirit is shewed in 8 Particulars 81 82 What meant by hearing Christ's Voice and how the Saints hear it shewed in many Particulars 87 88 89. W. Water The Nature of Water 138 What meant by Water of Life or Spiritual Water 139. Weigh God weighs all Men and their Spirits Graces Duties 37 38. Wheat Why the Saints are compared to Wheat shewed in nine respects 27 28 29. Will. The Will of Man determines the whole Event of Man's Redemption according to the Arminian Doctrine 15â— World There is a World to come what meant thereby 343 The World to come in its greatest Glory begins when Christ comes the second time 344 The Riches Honours and Pleasures of the World to come opened 449 450 451 452 453. The World to come will consist of a new Heaven and new Earth 344 The word World sometimes refers to the Elect 256. Wrath. The Wrath of God dreadful Pag. 41 The External Wrath of God what 42 The Internal Wrath what 43 The Eternal Wrath in Hell opened 52 1. Inconceivable 2. According to the fear of it 53 3. No Misery like Wrath in Hell 53 54 4. Wrath of God in Hell without mixture 54 55 At what time Sinners shall not escape God's Wrath. 478 479 The Nature of God's Wrath opened which they shall not escape that neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel 480 481 What kind of Sinners shall suffer and undergo God's Wrath. 487 489. Y. Yoke There is a Yoke to be taken up by all such that will be saved 447 The Yoke uneasy to the Flesh or to all unrenewed Persons 447. ERRATA â—â—ge 52 line 15 read Elementary P. 53. l. 25. r. Wretch P. 118. l. 24. for his 〈…〉 P 170. l. 29. for saith r. said P. 212. l. 27. r. whosoever hath that efficacious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 transforming Soul-renewing c. P. 213. l. 26. dele sooner than Flesh P. 9. l. 10. for in self r. in it self 224. l. 4. for Thirdly r. 2. P. 236. l. 23. dele the 〈◊〉 P. 246. l. 5. for great r. 〈◊〉 l. 16. for nor r. or 〈…〉 9. dele not P. 255 〈◊〉 read it is evident that by the word All and the word 〈…〉 is only intended c. P. 302 l. 6. for thy r. the. P. 324. l. 20. read 〈…〉 things which they acted P. 368. l. 33. for only r. also P. 379. l. 38. r. Gospel-Salvation P. 381. l. 38. dele the first the. P. 405. l. 8. dele because Sermon 1. Preacht Feb. 5. 1693. Parts opened Luk. 7. 28. Mal. 3. 1 2. Terms opened What meant by Floor John 15. 1. National floor opened Pro. 6. 32. Pro. 16. 13. Mat. 4. 1. 1 Cor. 1. 18. Isa 42. 8. Jer. 10. 11. 1 Joh. 3. 10. Rom. 1. 28. 29. What is meant by Christ's Fan. John 15. 3. Act. 15.
and Pleasure O what a great Salvation is Gospel-Salvation How soon doth eternal Misery or Torment seize upon the Ungodly even no sooner do they die but their Souls are in Hell and no sooner do Believers die but their Souls are in Paradise and had not Christ came and wrought out our Salvation our Souls must have lain under Wrath and Misery for ever in an eternal separation from God and all true Joy and Happiness O what a fearful and an amazing Loss is the loss of the Soul Sirs pray remember this Salvation is the Salvation of your precious Souls thy Soul O Sinner is dearly concerned in it Our Soul is our All what have we more A Man is never utterly undone till his Soul is utterly lost if the Soul is saved all is saved but if the Soul is lost for ever lost all is lost But 2 dly The loss or losing of the Soul is the loss of the Body too that must have perished for ever with the Body of Beasts whilst our Souls must have lain in Torments had not Christ came to redeem us Moreover The Salvation of the Soul is the Salvation of the Body Christ came to save both the Soul and Body too And hence the Apostle saith Even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our Body that is for the farther Effects of our Adoption Now are we the Sons of God but it doth not appear what we shall be that is it doth not appear what we shall be when our Bodies shall be raised He shall change our vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto his own glorious Body This Salvation saves not our Souls only from Wrath but our Bodies also they shall rise to Life and Immortality the Bodies of the Wicked as well as their Souls shall be cast into Hell but the Bodies and the Souls of the Godly shall be glorified in Heaven for ever O what a grievous thing it is to think of the loss of the Body to have the Soul taken away from the Body But how sweet is it to think of that Day when those two old Friends shall meet together again and when both shall be delivered from all Evil from all Deformity and Pollution and be glorified and also shall never part more or be separated from each other to the Days of Eternity APPLICATION 1. Reproof to such who despise their own precious Souls What Fools are they who to save their Hutts lose their Heads or who to save their Goods in a fearful Fire lose their dear Child in the Cradle As I once told you of a Woman that did thus her House was on Fire and she bestirred her self to get out her best Goods and at last when she could go in no more she rejoiced that she had saved her Goods but said one to her Woman where is your Child O my Child my Child then she cried her Child when it was too late for that was burned to Death in the Cradle Just thus some to get and save their Goods to get the World lose their Souls We read of some who to save their Lives or their Bodies from being burned to Ashes for Christ denied Christ they could not burn for him What saith our Saviour He that seeks to save his Life shall lose it What Fools are they then who think that way to save their Bodies for as they lose their Souls so they lose their Bodies also And it is not worse to have the Body to â—e in Hell-Fire for ever than to be burned in Martyrdom and be consumed to Ashes in Corporal Fire 2. Consider that all such who neglect this great Salvation slight and neglect their own precious and immortal Souls What is the Hope of the Hypocrite though he hath gained when God taketh away his Soul He makes a bad Market that puts off his Soul at any Price What shall a Man give in exchange of his Soul Jesus Christ who knew the great worth of it laid down a Price of infinite Value to redeem and purchase it Witches they say sell their Souls to the Devil out of Malice to be revenged on some that have offended them What a dismal thing is that how fearful is their State But pray Brethren what do they lose who sell their Souls to the Devil as it were for the sake of their brutish Lusts or out of love to Sin Thus the Whoremongers and unclean Persons sell their Souls and Drunkards who will have their merry Bouts their Cups and Pots and silthy Companions and may be their Whores too let what will become of their immortal Souls others will have their Pride and haughty Hearts gay Clothes and their detestable Dresses though their Souls are clothed with Rags and a crawling Worm knaws on them and to Hell must be thrown at last where the Worm dieth not and the Fire is not quenched Moreover the carnal Worldling will be rich he will lay up Gold and Silver he will gain the World though he lose thereby his own Soul But remember Sinners Christ died for the Soul this Salvation is the Salvation of the Soul and does any wretched Sinner despise his Soul or is it think you not worth his Pains to part with his Cups with his sinful Companions with his or her Pride unlawful Gain or the love of this World to save it for ever 3. How does this tend to reprove such who do expose their precious Souls to eternal Wrath for the unjust Gain of Six-pence or a Shilling Are there not too many such in the World who will cheat lie and defraud their Neighbours for a small matter of profit O how dear will they one Day pay for that Gain 4. How does this reprove likewise such Parents that think they can never do enough for to enrich their Children or get them great Portions and care not what they eat drink wear or how richly their Bodies are deck'd and adorned but take no care of their immortal Souls but rather indulge them in their Sins and vain and wicked Practices and set also Soul damning Examples continually before their Eyes 5. We may also infer from hence what a mighty Charge an amazing Charge Parents have committed to them as also the Ministers of the Gospel who are to take care and watch over the Souls of such who are committed to them as such that must one Day give an Account of them 6. Moreover wo be to such who deceive and blindly lead the Souls of Men to destruction that are so exceeding precious If the Blind lead the Blind they will both fall into the Ditch 7. Shall I exhort you Sinners to look to Christ for the Salvation of your Souls 1. He bids you look to him Look unto me and be ye saved all ye Ends of the Earth 2. Consider that there is no other way to save your Souls there is but one Saviour and one way of Salvation There is no other Name given under