are the Temple of the Holy Ghost Well then this is the Glory put upon us 2. Why is it called the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 1. It is purchased by Christ we were Redeemed or bought by the prâ—ce of his Blood that we might attain to his Glory Ephes. 1.14 In whom we have Redemption through his Blood even the forgiveness of Sins according to the riches of his Grace 2. It is promised by Christ. John 10.28 I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish All that obey this Call have Eternal Life already begun nay compleated 1 John 2.25 And this is the Promise that he hath promised us even Eternal Life 3. It is Prayed for by Christ which is a Copy of his Intercession John 17.14 Father I will that they also whom thâ—u hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me 4. It is actually bestowed by Christ on his Followers and called People He receiveth our departing Souls as soon as they fleet out of the Body Acts. 7.59 Lord Iesus receive my Spirit They are with him Pâ—il 1.23 and 2 Cor. 5.8 when absent from the Body they are present with the Lord which is a mighty comfort to us At the last day he will solemnly introduce us into Heaven Joh. 14.3 I will come again and receive â—ou to my self that where I am there ye may be also The great Shepherd of the Sheep will lead the Flock into their everlasting fold 5. We have not only Glory by Christ but with Christ we shall have the same Glory Christ now hath but in our measure The same Glory in kind whereunto Christ's humanity is advanced referring to him only his priviledg in the degree So Rom. 8.17 And if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and joint-Heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Trone even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne We share with him in his own Blessedness so far as we are capable 2. That all those who are elected and chosen by God are thus called Election and Vocation have a great respect one to another and though we cannot say that none are called that are not elected for the Lord calleth others not only by the voice of Nature but the Gospel Matth. 22.14 Many are called but few are chosen Yet we may say that none are chosen but they are in time called so that Vocation is as it were actual Election they are often put one for another as Joh. 15.19 I have chosen you out of the World therefore the World hateth you That is called them or pursued his choice So 1 Cor. 1.26 Ye see your Calling Brethren that not many wise Men after the Flesh not many noble not many mighty are called for God hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the World to confâ—und the things which are mighty vers 27. as if choosing calling were all one So Rom. 11.28 29 As concerning the Gospel they are Enemies for your sake but as touching the Election they are beloved for the Fathers sake for the gifts and calling of God are without Repentance So that Calling is an infallible consequent of Election And Rom. 8.30 Whom he did Predestinate them he also Called Reason sheweth it 1. Effectual Calling is that powerful operation of God wherein he beginneth to execute the purposes of his Grace Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the Called according to his purpose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The first discovery of it to the Creature 〈◊〉 by drawing us to himself 2. This act proceedeth immediately from his Choice as anteceding all that we can do all worthiness of ours or supposed worthiness 2. Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy Câ—lling not according to our Works but according to his own Purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Iesus before the World began Nothing induced God to do it on our part for what good thing could we do before wâ— were made good by calling 3. The effect doth infallibly follow John 6.37 All that the Father hath given me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out In due time they are Called and are obedient to the Call Rom. 8.28 Vses 1. If it be so then here is Advice to all 1. Let us apply our selves to the Means with reverence and seriousness because God's Power is shewn in them in converting Souls to himself Psal. 65.4 Blessed is the Man whom thou choosest and causest to draw nigh unto thee that he may dwell in thy Courts It is a good thing to be in Graces way The Means have a ministerial efficacy Acts. 14.1 They so spake that a great multitude of the Jews and Greeks believed With such clearness and force so far God is with the Minister A Dart flung by a skilful Hand will pierce deeper than by its own weight But yet if you can but tarry the Hand of the Lord may be with you also you do not know the seasons of the Lord's Grace all are not called at the first hour some lie long at the Pool but yet wait still Ere ever you are aware the Holy Ghost may fall upon you and open your Hearts that Heavenly Doctrine may have its effect upon you 2. Let us mind not only Privileges but Duties We have great Priviledges we are called to enjoy sweet fellowship with Christ here 1 Cor. 1.9 Faithful is he who hath called you to the Communion of Christ Iesus our Lord and to a glorious Estate hereafter But we are also called to the Sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of the Truth and we cannot obtain the one without â—he other Do not so mind Comfort as to slight Holiness and divide one part of your Calling from the other Comfort is consequent to Holiness and followeth it as heat doth Fire The Spirit is more necessarily a Sancâ—â—fier than a Comforter For our duty and obedience to God is a greater thing than our own Peace Holiness is the Image of God upon the Soul and the blessed perfection wherein we were created Gen. 1.27 So God â—reated Man in his own Image And when it was lost by Sin Christ came and payed our Ransom that he might renew us by his Spirit Tit. 3.5 According to his Merâ—y he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Yea much of our everlasting Blessedness lieth in it For Heaven is to be looked upon not only as a state of compleat Felicity but exact Holiness 1 John 3.2 We know that when he dâ—th appear we shâ—ll be like him for we shall see him as
presents God terrible and taketh away all confidence from us so that we are obnoxious to his Wrath and righteous Vengeance Who is able to stand before this Holy God 1 Sam. 6.20 And who can dwell with everlasting Burnings Isa. 33.14 We cannot approach God in any friendly manner 2. I shall shew what Provision God hath â—ade for us The Lord Jesus took this Office at God's appointment of reconciling God to us and appeasing his Wrath and us to God by bringing us back again our alienated and estranged Affections to God How so what hath he done 1. The Distance is in truth taken away by his very Person he is God-Man God and Man meet together in the Person of Christ God doth condescend and come down to Man and Man is incouraged to ascend to God God in Christ is nearer to Man than he was before that we may have more familiar thoughts of him The pure Deity is at so vast a distance from us that we are amazed and confounded when we think of it and cannot conceive an hope that he should concern himself in our â—ffairs But the Son of God is come in our Nature John 1.14 The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us 1 Tim. 3.16 Grace is the Mystery of Godliness God manifested in the Flesh So that he is more acceptable to us and nearer at hand and more readily inclined to help us for he will not be strange to his own Flesh. 2. The Difference and Controversy is taken up by the Work of his Redemption for God hath set him forth to be a Propitiation or a means of appeasing his Wrath Rom. 3. 25. and to be the Foundation of that New Covenant wherein Pardon and Life is offered to us It is not enough to our Recovery that God be reconciled but Man must be renewed otherwise we remain for ever undeâ— the displeasure of God Now he hath purchased the Grace of the Spirit to be dispensed by the Covenant to bring us home to God Titus 3.5 6. Nor by Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Iesus Christ our Saviour And Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death Vse Let us be sensible of this unspeakable Mercy that God hath provided a Mediator for us that we may come to God by him Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able to save unto the â—ttermost all that come unto God through him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for us That the legal Exclusion is removed and a way opened to the Father John 14.6 I am the Wâ—y the Truth and the Life no Man cometh to the Father but by me Otherwise we could not immediately converse with God nor trust in him 1. We see God in our Nature as near at hand and ready to help he came down amongst us and became one of us was bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh And though he hath removed his dwelling into Heaven again it is for our sakes he hath carried our Nature thither to take possession of that blessed Place in our Name if we have a mind to follow him Iohn 14.2 I go to prepare a Place for you 2. Here we see the means of appeasing God's Wrath 2 Cor. 5.19 God â—as in Christ reconciling the World unto himself There is a full Ransom paid all that enter into God's Peace shall have the benefit of it 3. By him we are encouraged to come to pray for every Blessing we stand in need of Ephes. 2.18 Through him we both have an access by one Spirit unto the Father Liberty to approach unto God is a priviledg which we cannot enough value the Wall of Partition between God and us is broken down by Christ he hath compleatly satisfied God's Justice Heb. 10.19 He is now at the right Hand of God interceding for us 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Iesus and remaineth with God as the great Agent of the Saints Heb. 8.1 2. We have such an High Priest who is set on the right Hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens a Minister of the Sanctuary c. Perfuming their Prayers with the smoke of his Incense Rev. 8.3 4. And another Angel came and. stood at the Altar having a Golden Censer and there was given unto him much Incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Throne And the smoke of the Incense which came with the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angel's hand V. Mark the distinct Titles given to God and the Mediator Christ is called our Lord and God our Father Let us see what these Titles import of Lord and Father 1. Christ is represented to us as the Lord so he was set forth by the Apostles at the first preaching of the Gospel Acts 10.36 We preach Peace by Christ Iesus he is Lord of all 2 Cor. 4.5 We preach Christ Iesus the Lord. Col. 2.6 If ye have received Christ Iesus the Lord so walk in him Christ is Lord two ways 1. By that right which belongeth to him as Creator and is common and equal to him with the Father and the Spirit Surely the Creator of the World is the Soveraign of it this Right continueth still and shall continue while Man receiveth his being from God by Creation and the continuance of his being by daily preservation and providence 2. There is novum jus Dominii Imperii a new Right of Empire and Government which belongeth to him as Redeemer and this accrueth to him 1. Partly by the Donation of God Acts 2.36 Let all the House of Israel know that this Iesus whom ye have crucified is made Lord and Christ. This Office of Lord is derivative and cannot be supream but subordinate it is derived from God All Power is given to me both in Heaven and Earth Matth. 28.18 and it is reffered to him Phil. 2.11 That every Tongue should confess that Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father The supreâ—m right of governing is still in God and sâ—bjection to him is not vacated but established and reserved 2. It is acquired by his own purchase Rom. 14 9. For this end Christ both died and rose again and revived that he might be Lord both of Dead and Living 1 Cor. 6.19 20. Ye are not you own for ye are bought with a price therefore glorify God in your Body and in your Spirit which are God's He had a full right in us before but this Lordship and Dominion which the Redeemer is possessed of is comfortable and beneficial to us and the end of it is to effect Man's Cure and Recovery We could not by our sin make void God's Right and
have an unction from the holy one and ye know all things A Child of God hath something in his bosom that will not permit him to hearken to Popery the very life in us is opposite to this dead shew and mummery of trashy Devotions Now I come to the Author with the means of Consuming The Lord shall consume him with the Spirit of his mouth The Lord that is the Lord Christ. But what is meant by the Spirit of his mouth or the breath of his mouth as some render it Two things may be meant hereby either his Providential Word or his Gospel accompanied by his Spirit 1. His Providential Word that is when Christ faith Let it be done it shall be done Isa. 11.4 He shall smite the Earth with the Rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked those that are called wicked they are also called the Earth because they are earthly minded and have their portion here and possess much on earth and have great power by the advantage of which they oppress his People Now to execute Judgment upon them Christ needeth no more than the Rod of his mouth that powerful Word whereby he created all things Ps. 33.6 By the words of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth Upholdeth all things Heb. 1.3 Upholding all things by the word of his Power And brings all things to nothing again John 18.6 As soon as he had said to them I am he they went backward and fell to the ground one word of his powerful Providence is enough Or secondly 2. It is meant of the Efficacy of his Gospel as it is accompanied by his Spirit called the Sword of the Spirit Eph. 6.17 and it is said to be quick and powerful Heb. â— 12 and Rev. 2.16 Repent or I will come against thee quickly and smite thee with the Sword of my mouth by this word he shall confound the falshood and cunning practices which are carried on under this myâ—â—â—â—y of Iniquity and give it such a deadly and incurable wound that it shall languish before it be utterly destroyed Doct. That Antichrists Destruction is by the preaching of the Gospel and the victorious evidence of Truth It must needs be so For his Kingdom and Tyranny is upheld by Darkness which is dispelled by the Light of the Truth And therefore the Papists as all other Hereticks are lucifugae Scripturarum Dei cannot endure the Scriptures deny them to the people and seek to make them contemptible by all the means they can Again his Kingdom is carryed on by Falshood and his Cheats and Impostures and Wickedness and Usurpation and false Interpretations and Delusions are discovered by the truth and simplicity of the Gospel and so is consumed yet more and more Lastly Popery is a dead form of Religion and there is not only Truth in the word of God but Life we are not only enlightened but quickened by it and converted to God and made partakers of his Spirit And these will go against their own experience and inclination if they should sit down with such empty beggarly Rudiments But here ariseth a Question shall Antichrist be consumed no other way â— but by the Spirit of his mouth We read in the Prophecy of Wars by which the Antichristian State is brought to nought I answer The pure and powerful preaching of the Gospel is the principal means whereby the Spirit of the Lord consumeth Antichrist in the hearts of men but this is not exclusive of other means which God in the ways of his Providence may use to weaken his Worldly Interest But we must distinguish between the means God may use and we must use Simply to put down a Religion by force of arms is not our way it is not lawful certainly to invade other Nations upon the pure and sole title of Relâ—gion But if they invade us on that account no doubt a Prince and People so invaded may defend themselves But when a War is commenced on other occasions it is the most chearful cause to ingage in when we War against the Abettors of Antichrist we War against an Enemy whom God will consume Constamine warred against Licinius his Collegueâ— not because an Infidel but because he persecuted the Christians contrary to their Capitulations Lewis the XII caused it to be disputed in a Synod at Tours Num liceret Papae absque causa Principi bellum inferre when it was answered Non licet a second Question Num tali Principi sua defensione fas sit euâ— invadere Their Answers were Licet which he undertook and caused money to be stamped with this Inscription Perdam Babylonem 1. Vse We learn hence not to be discouraged in our greatest extremities when all temporal hopes seem to fail and we have nothing left us but the word of our Testimony let us not distrust our spiritual weapons for they are mighty through God to bring down all the strongs holds of sin and Antichrist 2 Cor. 10.4 5. Oh incourage your selves in the Lord you have the merit of his Humiliation and the power of his Exaltation Merit what cannot the blood of Christ do to fetch off men from their inveterate prejudices and superstitions 1 Pet. 1.18 We are redeemed by the blood of Christ from our vain Conversations so for the power of his Exaltation there is his Spirit the success of his Spirit on the pouring out of the first Sermon Acts 2.41 fetched in 3000. Souls that had embrued their hands in the blood of their Saviour and were in no very devout posture at that time his Word that is the Rod of his strength Psal. 110.2 which hath a mighty power to convince transform and convert Souls Rom 1.16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto Salvation Then there is the power of Providence all Judgment is put into Christs hands for the advancement of his own Kingdom Iohn 5.22 if all be in Christs hands why should you distrust your cause or the success of it 2. If you would defend your selves and wound the Enemy be much acquainted with the word of God which is the Sword of the Spirit Eph. 6.17 thereby you may ward off every blow of a Temptation Surely then we should be much acquainted with this woâ—d that it may dwell in us richly that we mâ—y have it ready this is enough to make wise the simple for all necessary duties and defence 3. Pray heartily that the word of God may have a free course 2 Thess. 3.1 and tâ—at God would send forth labourers into his Harvest Matth. 9.38 2. The final destruction of Antichrist and destroy him by the brightness of his coming This coming is most likely to be the coming of Christ so often mentioned 2 Thess. 1.7 8. When the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on those that know
Negatively they believed not the truth That is received not the Gospel in the simplicity of it as revealed by Christ and his Apostles and recorded in the Scriptures but wilfully and for their interests sake gave up themselves to these corruptions 2. Positively had pleasure in unrighteousness in the 10 th verse it was They received not the love of the truth Now when the meritorious cause is repeated there is something more added They had a love to and delight in other things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here two things must be explained 1. What is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unrighteousness 2. What is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taking pleasure in unrighteousness 1. What is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unrighteousness Righteousness is giving every one his due and denying them their due is unrighteousness There is a giving man his due and a giving God his due Matth. 22.21 Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesars and unto God the things that are Gods Righteousness is often put for giving man his due Titus 2.12 That we should live soberly righteously c. and giving God his due which is worship and reverence Psal. 29.2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name And again Ps. 96.8 Give unto the Lord the glory due to his name bring an offering and come into his Courts Now this unrighteousness here spoken of is principally meant in the latter sense False ways of worship are the greatest unrighteousness that can be practised For the duty that we owe to God is the most righteous thing in the World Now by false worship you withdraw the Glory of God from him and communicate it to another Worship is his own proper due both by the light of nature and Scripture and therefore the Gentiles which had the light of nature are said to detain the truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 1.18 why the reason is rendred in the after Verses 23. They changed the glory of God into an Image made like a corruptible man Ver. 25. They changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the Creature more than the Creator This was their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their unrighteousness or injurious dealing with God So the Antichristians that had the light of Scripture though under palliated pretences changed the truth of God into a lie loved their own errors more than simple and plain Christianity or the true knowledge of God and diverted the worship from himself unto an Idol 2. They had pleasure in unrighteousness in these things they please themselves not lapse into it out of simple ignorance and error of mind And so the Apostle parallels the two great Apostasies That from the light of nature and that from the light of the Gospel Light of nature Rom. 1.32 Not only do these things but have pleasure in them that do them Light of Scripture Have pleasure in unrighteousness they are mad upon their Idols and Images not only are Idolaters but delight in Idolatry and Image-worship Psal. 97.7 That boast themselves of Idols Now to observe some things 1. Errors of Judgment as well as sins of practice may bring damnation upon the Souls of men All sins do in their own nature tend to damnation Rom. 6.23 For the wages of sin is death And Errors of Judgment are sins for they are contrary to the rule or law of God 1 Joh. 3.4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Law for sin is the transgression of the Law Any swerving from the Law is sin And they are inductive of other sins for if the eye be blind the whole body is full of darkness Matth. 6.23 It perverâ—s our zeal There is nothing so mischievous wicked and cruel that a man blinded with error will not attempt against those that differ from him Ioh. 16.2 They shall put you out of the Synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service A blind Horse is full of metal but ever and anon stumbleth Therefore if a man be not guided by sound Judgment his zealous affections will precipitate him into mischief As the Jews that persecuted Christ and his Apostles had a zeal of God but not according to knowledge Rom. 10.2 So the Popish Zealots with what fury have they persecuted the innocent and sincere servants of Christ The Papists would be angry if we should not reckon St. Dominick a zealous man and the poor Albigenses felt the bitter effects of that zeal in the destruction of many thousands by inhumane Butcheries and Villanies about Tholouse c. The Lord deliver us from the furies of transported brain-sick Zealots 2. Though all errors may bring damnation upon the Souls of men yet some more especially than others may be said to be camning As 2 Pet. 2.1 Some shall bring in damnable Heresies Now this may be either from the matter or manner of holding them 1. From the matter if destructive of the way of Salvation by Christ. Some are utterly inconsistent with Salvation and eternal life as errors in the fundamentals in Religion As suppose that a man should reject or refuse Christ after a sufficient proposal of the Gospel to him there is no question but this is damning unbelief Joh. 3.19 And this is the condemnation that light is come into the World and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil But yet we are not to say that alone damneth There are other things necessary to Salvation contained under that general truth The Scripture saith Joh. 17.3 And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent There is the sum of what is necessary to Salvation That God is to be known loved obeyed worshipped and injoyed and the Lord Jesus to be owned as our Redeemer and Saviour to bring us home to God and to procure for us the gifts of pardon and life and this life to be begun here and perfected in Heaven Other things are of moment to clear these necessary truths but they may be all reduced thereunto The truth is the question about the matter to be believed is not what divine Revelations are necessary to be believed or rejected when sufficiently proposed for all points without exception are so but what are simply and absolutely necessary to eternal life and these are points of faith and practice and obedience The points of Faith are a knowledge of God in Christ and practice that we be regenerated Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And live an holy life Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. 2. For the manner 1. When men profess what they believe not and voluntarily chuse error for Worldly ends though it be a less error against the Scripture and consistent with the main tenour of Salvation yet it taken up against Conscience for by-ends
temporal Favours and the Comforts of this Life but a renewed Heart is most taken up with spiritual and heavenly Blessings A Man may give thanks carnally as well as pray carnally A carnal Man in Prayer giveth vent to the desires of the Flesh. Iames 4.3 So in Blessing God he may speak from the relish of the Flesh though usually carnal Men seldom give thanks to God Hosea 12.8 I am become rich I have found me out Substance c. Surely Spiritual Blessings should have the preheminence because they concern our well-being and they discriminate us from others which temporal Mercies do not Eccl. 9.1 2. For all this I considered in my Heart even to declare all this that the Righteous and the wise and their works are in the Hand of God no Man knoweth either Love or Hatred by all that is before them All things come alike to all there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked to the good to the clean and to the unclean to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not as is the Good so is the Sinner and he that sweareth as he that feareth an Oaâ—h The wicked have many of these Mercies Psal. 17.14 From Men of the World which have their portion in this Life and whose Belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure they are full of Children and leave the rest of their Substance to their Babes And they may own God in them as pleased and well satisfied with the prosperity of the Flesh or a desirous to have more 3. That the best prospect we have of God's Goodness to us as to those spiritual Mercies is in Election 1. There we see all our Blessings in their rise fountain and bosom-cause which is the eternal Love and Grace of God Dulcius ex ipso Fonte Waters are sweetest and freshest in their Fountain there we see that antecedent Love which provided a Redeemer for us which should be matter of continual Love and Reverence to us Ioh. 3.16 There we see the rich preparations of Grace in the new Covenant which could never have entred into our Hearts if elective love had not provided them for us 1 Cor. 2.9 There we see what it was that disposed all those Providences that conduced to our good Biâ—th Education Acquaintance Relations alas we knew not the means of all these things but elective Love was at work for us to cast all circumstances that we might be best taken in our Month. Rom. 8.28 There we see what it was that made all the means effectual to draw us unto God Jer. 5.3 He loved uâ— with an everlasting Love 2. It sheweth us the Lord's distinguishing Grace and who it was that made us differ from others who are left to perish in their Sins All are not called and why we Joh. 14.22 Iudas saith unto him not Iscariot Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us and not unto the World yea many mighty and many noble are not called 1 Cor. 1.26 God taketh not all nor any of the highest in esteem among Men not many wise and prudent Matth. 11.25 26. At that time Iesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes even so Father for so iâ— seemed good in thy sight Yea many others arâ— left to perish by their â—wn delusions The Reprobates are Specula Iudicii Divini Thâ— Judgments of God on the wicked do exceedingly amplify his Mercies towards us It was the meer elective love of God issuing forth by his powerful and differencing Grace that puâ— the distinction between us and others Surely his peculiar Love to our selves doth most affect us 3. There we see that Grace tâ—at doth take off all self-boasting Eph. 2.8 9. 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 Elective Love prevented all actual or foreseen worth in us And from first to last it is carried on in a way of Grace the Means the Efficacy all is of Grace This was God's great end that Grace might be admired and esteemed by us and be matter of eternal Praise and Thanksgiving Eph. 1.6 To the praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved The whole Design is to shew us how we are beloved of God and that we may love him again 1. Vse If Election be the great matter of Thanksgiving to God Then surely this Doctrine should be heard in the Church for the Life and Soul of Christian Religion is Gratitude and what feedeth Gratitude is of great use unto us our Gratitude doth not rise high enough till it come to the first cause that stirred and set all the Whâ—â—ls awork in the business of our Salvation Surely this is a very profitable Point 1. To detect the pride of Man for here we see the true and proper cause of difference between us and others 1 Cor. 4.7 Who maketh thee to differ The difâ—erencing Grace of God proceeding from his Election is the only true Grace 2. Nothing more extolâ—eth the Glory of God in our Salvation For if Man can assume nothing to himself the Glory alone redoundeth to God The more reason and cause why some are chosen and others past by is God's good Pleasure Matth. 11.26 Even so Father because it pleased thee Christ himself consents to it giveth Thanks for it as an act of free and undeserved Mercy 3. No greater incentive to Holiness For here we see the absolute necessity of it together with the strongest sweetest motive to enforce it 1. The absolute necessity of it because it is a necessary means to bring God's purposes to pass Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen us that we should be holy and without blame before him in love He hath chosen none to enjoy everlasting Glory after this Life but such as he hath chosen to be holy here First they must be sanctified and renewed by the Spirit and then walk in all holy Conversation and Godliness And whatever assurance of Election is pretended unto them who lead an unholy Life it is but a vain presumption or ungrounded Perswasion yea a strong Delusion Secondly Here is the sweetest and strongest Motive to enforce it and that is the singular Love of God which breedeth in us a sincere Love to God again and all serious endeavours to approve our selves to him in purity of Living There is no such constraining force in any thing as there is in Love 2 Cor. 5.14 For the Love of God constraineth us c. And no such Holiness as that which floweth from it this is thankful and Evangelical Obedience 4. It is the ground of our solid Comfort in the midst of all the Calamities and Temptations of the present Life because our final happiness is appointed to us by God's electing Love Luk. 12.32 Fear not
little Flock for it is your Fathers good Pleasure to givâ— you the Kingdom And this is accompanied with his active Providence and Care over us all the way thither So that all things are sanctified to us that we may be sanctified to God Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the Called according to his purpose 2. It sheweth us that the Elect have cause to bless God if they be chosen to Salvation though not to Wealth Pleasure and Honour These Thessalonians endured great Afflictions for the Gospel sake yet Paâ—l looked upon himself as bound to give thanks always to God for them because he had chosen them to Salvation God disperseth his Gifts variously some are shall I say chosen or condemned rather to Worldly Felicity It is the Will of God they should attain great Wealth and Honour here and will you envy them and repine against Providence though God hath reserved you for a better Estate hereafter Compare two places one is Ier. 17.13 All that forsake thee shall be written in the Earth The other is Luke 10.20 Rejoyce in this that your Names are written in Heaven Which is the better Privilege to be written in Earth or to be written in Heaven To have a great Name in the Subsidy-Book or to have our Names written in the Book of Life The one is their Punishment the other your Blessedness Second Use is Exhortation It presseth you to two things 1. Put in for a share and interest in this Mercy that is to say in the Apostle's words 2 Pet. 1.10 Give deligence to make your Calling and election sure God hath told us who are Elected and who are not Therefore our way is to accept of the general Grace offered and to devote and resign our selves to God and to depend upon the Merits of our Redeemer and put our selves under the Discipline of his Spirit in the use of the appointed Means humbly waiting for his renewing and reconciling Grace and every Day more and more by diligence in the holy and heavenly Life getting your Interest more assured For by this means do we come to know the purposed Love of God and that he hath not appointed us to Wrath but to obtain eternal Salvation by our Lord Iesus Christ. We need not say who shall go up to Heaven to know the Mind of God Our Election is known to us by our Vocation and our Vocation by the Fruits our walking before him in Holiness and Righteousness all our Days Surely the knowledg of our Election is a thing greatly to be desired because our Eternal Happiness and all Spiritual good Things depend upon it Election is the free Love of God by which he intendeth these Blessings to us This is manifested by Calling by which they begin to be applied to us then the effectual Operation which these Blessings have in us discovereth Calling when we call on the Name of Christ and depart from Iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 2. We should praise and admire and esteem this glorious Grace and shew our Thankfulness both in Word and Deed. 1. In Word because that is a means to kindle in our Hearts the Love of God and to stir up a Spiritual rejoycing in him Psal. 103.1 2 3. Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name Bless the Lord O my Soul and forget not all his Benefits Who forgiveth all thine Iniquities who healeth all thy Diseases c. 2. But chiefly in Deed you are more obliged to live to God than other Men whâ—n passing by thousands who in outward â—espects were better than you and you as deep in Sin as they Not only without but against all merit of yours by his singular Grace set you apart for himself Shall I sin against God and grieve his Spirit No Let me glorifie him as long as I have a Day to live SERMON XII 2 Thess. 2.14 Whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Iesus Christ. AFter the Doctrine of Antichrist and God's dreadful Spiritual Jâ—dgments on his Abetters and Followers the Apostle interposeth some matter of Consolation to the Thessalonians As before he comforted them from their Election so now from their Vocation Therefore as we saw the Doctrine of Election set forth in the former Verse with all its appendant Branches and Circumstances So now the Doctrine of Vocation with what belongeth to it Here Calling is set forth 1. By the Author of it he called you that is God who from the beginning hath chosen you to Salvation 2. The outward Means by our Gospel 3. The End which is double 1. Subordinate in the word Whereunto to Faith and Holiness 2. Ultimate to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Iesus Christ. Whereunto he called you c. Doct. All that are Elected by God are in time effectually called by Faith and Holiness to obtain Eternal Life 1. I shall open effectual Calling by what is said of it in the Text. 2. That all chosen by God are called in this Way 1. Let me explain Effectual Calling 1. The Author of it he called you Namely God spoken of in the former Verse I prove it by these two Reasons 1. None else hath Authority to call 2. None else hath Power to call 1. Authority to call either to Duties or Priviledges for Calling is an earnest invitation to Duties upon the offer of several Priviledges 1. Duties 1. God is our proper Lord and rightful Soveraign He may justly challenge our Obedience being our Creator he is our Owner and being our Owner he is our Soveraign and Law-giver and may enact what Laws he pleaseth Certainly Creation giveth him an interest in us For every Man taketh himself to have anâ— Authority over what he hath made to dispose of it as he pleaseth Now he that properly made all things is God Man is said to make a thing as he bestoweth Arâ— upon it but God bestoweth Being upon it A Potter may form his Clay into what Vessel he pleaseth to make one Vessel unto Honour and another unto dishonour Rom. 9.21 that is either a Dish for Food or a Vessel to serve the vilest uses of Nature for Meat or Excrements But we speak of Rational Creatures that are capable of proper Government Surely God made us and hath a right to govern us Our Parents are but Instruments of his Providence they know not how the Child is framed in the Womb c. Now he calleth upon us to do our Duty with Original Supreme Authority we may refuse others if they speak not to us in his Name they have no right over our Consciences to impose new Duties upon us James 4.12 There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy Now his Calling being a powerful Excitation to do our Duty it originally belongeth to God 2. As to Priviledges The Blessings God offereth are so great and glorious
that the condition of the Wicked should be changed yet there is no Reason at all why the state of the Godly should be changed who have past the Pikes and are triumphing with God that they should ever lose that Estate again 2. They depend on everlasting Foundations such as are these 1. The everlasting Love of God Psal. 103.17 The Mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on them that fear him Not only from the beginning of the World to the end of the World but from Eternity to Eternity It was an ordinary Form of praising God in the Old Testament for his Mercy endureth for ever 2. The everlasting Merit of Christ which never loseth its force and effect Heb. 9.12 He hath obtained eternal Redemption for us Not that Christ is always propitiating No the Work was performed in a short time but the Virtue of it is of everlasting continuance 3. There is an eternal and unchangeable Covenant Heb. 13.20 Through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant Though the Covenant made with Israel was abolished yet this is everlasting and continueth for ever and shall never be altered because it was able to reach the end for which it was appointed which is the eternal Salvation of Man That was a Temporary Covenant this Eternal Now because this is the main Circumstance and the next ground of our eternal Consolation the Covenant of Life and Peace that God hath made with us in Christ I shall prove the eternal truth and immutable constancy of this Covenant That a Promise be immutable certain and firm three things are required 1. That it be seriously and heartily made with a purpose to perform it 2. That he that hath promised continue in his purpose without change of Mind 3. That it be in the power of him that promiseth to perform what he hath promised Now of all these things there can be no doubt 1. God meaneth as he speaketh when he promiseth to give eternal Life to those that believe and obey the Gospel There is no question but he is so minded when he sent the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven to assure us of it by his Doctrine to die the Death to purchase it for us and afterward to rise again and enter into that Happiness that he spake of and assoon as he was ascended up on High gave gifts to Men to give notice of this blessed Estate to be had upon the Terms of his New Covenant his Spirit attesting the truth of it by divers Signs and Wonders partly to alarm the drowzy World to regard it and assure the incredulous World that it is no Fable and because they live not for ever did inspire those holy Men before they went out of the Body to write a Book of thiâ— Salvation for the use of the World in all Ages To think that God is not serious in all this yea to make him a Lyar indeed yea to establish a Falshood with the greatest solemnity and demonstration that can be offered to Mankind yea to make a Lye necessary not only to the Governing but Sanctifying of the World Surely then there is a truth in that great Promise which he hath promised us even Eternal Life 2. That God doth continue in his Purpose without change of Mind there is no doubt of it if we consider his Eternal and Unchangeable Nature Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not James 1.17 With him is no variableness neither shadow of turning And what should alter his Purpose Doth he meet with any thing that he foresaw not or knew not before No This is a weakness incident to Man God doth never repent and call back his Grant which he hath by this condescending Act of Grace ensured to the Heirs of Promise 1 Sam. 15.29 The strength of Israel will not Lye nor Repent for he is not as Man that he should Repent Psal. 110.4 I have Sworn and will not Repent thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek Christ is by Oath instated in full power of entertaining and blessing his Faithful Servants which shall never be retracted and reversed To take off all doubt he hath given double Assurance his Word and his Oath Heb. 6.17 18. God being willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of Promise the Immutability of his Counsel confirmed it with an Oath That by two Immutable things wherein it is impossible for God to lie we might have strong Consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope that it is set before us That we might know that the New Covenant is Unchangeable and Irrevokable and so our Comfort be the more strong certain and stable God was pleased to give sincere Believers this double Assurance by his Word and Oath having regard to our Infirmity and those many Doubts wherewith we are haunted about the World to come God hath ever bin tender of his Word above all that is famed or believed of him this is most conspicuous Psal. 138.2 Thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name And Matth. 24.35 Heaven and Earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away And an Oath is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Apostle tells us it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is interposed usually indeed in a doubtful Matter But though here it needed not God would shew his extraordinary care for our Salvation We see his good Will in the Promise his solicitude in the Oath In short God wouâ—d never be so fast bound but that he doth and will still continue his purpose 3. That he is able to perform it Faith looks to that also for this was the ground and prop of Abraham's Faith Rom. 4.21 Being fully persuaded that what God had promised he was able to perform So must all Abraham's Children that would give glory to God in believing The Way of Salvation is so rare and mysterious and so many difficulties object themselves to our view that we are soon puddered unless we reflect upon the Power of God God is able to find out a way whereby Sinners may be reconciled our corrupt Hearts sanctified and our Sins subdued by his Spirit whereby his Interest in us may be preserved against the Assaults and Temptations of the Devil World and Flesh he is able to receive our Souls to himself after they flit out of the Body And finally He is able to raise our vile Bodies after they are eaten out by Worms and turned into Dust Phil. 3.21 Who shall change our vile Bodies that they may be like unto his own glorious Body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself Matters of Faith being wholly or mainly future or to come and difficult to be performed And in the mean time we being exerciseâ— with so many Trials an express belief of God's Power is necessary to convert such an obstinate Creature as Man is to sanctify such a sinful Creature to preserve us in the midst of
here for the Apostle conjureth them by all that is dear and sacred in their most holy Faith and upon this I will mainly spend the first part of this Discourse I shall prove it by these two choice pieces of Scripture which describe the Communion of the Church with Christ or the dispensations of Christ to the Church the one concerneth Gods internal the other his external Government the Canticles and Revelations The Book of Canticles is ended with this desire vote and wish Cant. 8.14 Make haste my beloved and be like a young Hart or Roe upon the Mountains of Spices the Brides last and great suit to the Bridegroom is make haste as to his coming in Glory to judge the World not that Christ is slack but the Churches affections are strong they that go a Whoring after the World neither desire his coming nor love his appearing but the Spouse would have all things hastened that he might return he cannot come soon enough to set the World to rights and compleat their Happiness it is that only that will perfect their Consolation and therefore would have the blessed and longed for meeting hastened In the other Book of the Revelations see how it is closed Rev. 22.20 Christ saith Surely I come quickly and the Church like a quick Echo saith Even so Come Lord Iesus come quickly it taketh the word out of Christs Mouth and presently improveth the Promise into a Prayer and so Christs Voice and the Churches Voice are Unisons the Acclamation of the Saints answereth to his Proclamation Christ saith I come as desiring to meet with us the Church answereth even so come as desiring his Fellowship and Company when once Faith apprehendeth the glorious coming of our Lord Jesus to Judgment Love presently desireth it as the most comfortable thing which we can ask of him that is the farewel suit of the Church to Christ if he will grant this all complaints and sorrow and sighing will be no more Now I shall give you Reasons why this is desired by all true Christians 1. In respect of him who is to come His Person that we may see him who is our great Lord and Saviour all that believed any thing of Christ desired to see him those that lived before his coming in the flesh Joâ—n 8.56 Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad and the same affection possesseth us that live after his coming in the flesh we know him by hear-say we have heard much of him he wooeth us by a Proxy as Eliezer Abrahams Servant did Rebekah Now Christians would fain see him of whom they have heard and whom they loved and in whom they have believed 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen ye love and in whom though now you see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy â—nspeakable and full of glory they do not see Christ but they have a taste of his goodness 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious They have felt his comforts and live by his Life all that is wanting is but ocular Vision that they may see him Face to Face therefore they long for his coming 2. The Excellency of Christ their head shall then be fully revealed therefore it is comfortable to his Saints to think of his second comeing it is called the Revelation of Christ 1 Pet. 1.13 Christ is now under a Vail retired within the Curtain of the Heavens the wicked often ask where is now your God and our own unbelieving hearts are apt to question the glory of his Person and the truth of his Promises when his most faithful Servants are under disgrace Christ is a glorious King but little of his Glory is seen in the World therefore they desire that he may appear in Glory and Royalty we pray that his Kingdom may come 2. The persons desiring there is somewhat in them to move them to it 1. The Spirit of Christ Rev. 22.17 The Spirit in the Bride saith come the Holy Ghost breadeth this desire in the Church nature saith it is good to be here but this is a disposition above nature the Flesh saith Depart but the Spirit saith Come the great work of the Spirit is to bring us and Christ together he cometh from the Father and the Son to bring us to the Father by the Son his business is to marry us to Christ the promise being past the Spouse longeth to see her beloved It is the Spirit kindleth a desire in us of his second coming when the Marriage that is now contracted shall be consummated when the Queen shall be brought unto the King in rayment of Needle-work and shall enter into the Palace with him there to abide for ever Well then though guilty Sinners would have Christ stay away still and if it might go by Voices the Carnal World would never give their Voice this way Even so come Lord Iesus come quickly no they are of the Devils mind Why art thou come to torment us before the time Mat. 8.29 Thieves and Malefactors if they might have the liberty to choose they would never look nor long for the day of Assizes but the Spirit in the Bride is another thing it giveth us other inclinations the sooner Christ cometh the better they can never be soon enough taken up to him nor he come to them 2. There are Graces planted in us Faith Hope and Love to move us earnestâ—y to desire his coming 1. Faith believeth Christ will be as good as his word I will come again if it were not so I would have told you John 14.2 And if Christ saith in a way of Promise I come the Church saith Amen in a way of Faith even so Comâ— If Christ had gone away in discontent and with a threat in his mouth Ye shall never see my face more we should altogether despair of seeing him again but he parted in Love and left a Promise with us which upholdeth the Hearts of Believers during his absence Would Christ deceive us and flatter us into a Fools Paradise What need that He can strike us dead in an instant if we do not please him and we have hitherto found him true in all things and will he fail us at last 2. Hope which is Faiths Handmaid it looketh for that which we do believe it is the immediate effect of the new Creature 1 Pet. 1.3 Begotten to a lively hope as soon as Grace is infused it discovereth it self by its tendency to its end and rest it came from Heaven and carrieth the Soul thither 3. Love is an affection of Union it desireth to be with the party loved Phil. 1.23 I desire to depart and to be with Christ therefore its Voice is Come Come he hath Communion with us in our Houses of Clay therefore we desire presence with him in his Palace of Glory his Voice now is very sweet when he saith Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden but much more will
3. An Aggregation They are all intended but principally the last A Congregation Mat. 25.32 Before him shall be gathered all Nations And not only all Nations but all Persons 2 Cor. 5.10 We must all collectivè appear before the Iudgment-seat of Christ that every one distributivè may receive according to the things done in his body c. All that have lived from the beginning of the World unto that day shall without exception of any one single person from the least unto the greatest appear before the Tribunal of Christ no Age no Sex or Nation or Dignity or Greatness can excuse us In the World some are too high to be questioned others too low to be taken notice of but there all are brought forth to undergo their Tryal there is no shifting or avoiding this day of appearance Adam will there meet with all his Posterity at once Take all the distinctions of Mankind Infants and grown Persons I mean Infants who die before they are in an ordinary way capable of the Doctrine of Life the Scriptures are written for grown persons the Case of Infants is more obscure those of them who are born within the Church God is their God Gen. 17.7 I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy Seed after thee Good and bad is the next distinction both forts come to receive their Sentence only the one come to the Judgment of Condemnation the other to the Judgment of Absolution John 5.28 29. Those that have done good to the resurrection of life and those that have done evil to the resurrection of Condemnation Acts 24.15 There shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust The next distinction is men of all Callings Apostles Ministers private Christians Apostles Paul expected to be judged 1 Cor. 4.4 I know nothing of my self yet am I not thereby justified but he that judgeth me is the Lord he speaketh with respect to the execution of the Apostolical Office Ordinary Ministers Heb. 13.17 They watch for your souls as those that must give an account If Souls miscarry through their negligence they are answerable to God for it Ordinary Christians Rom. 14.12 Every one must give an account of himself to God Men of all conditions poor or rich weak or powerful high and low Rev. 20.12 I saw the dead small and great stand before God I mean those that are so distinguished now these distinctions do not out-live time there all stand on the same level the rufling men of the World shall then be afraid and call upon the Mountains to cover them from the wrath of him that sitteth upon the Throne Rev. 6.16 The poor are not forgotten they are Gods Creatures and must undergo his Judgment Thus shall all people that live scattered up and down in the World how much soever they differ from one another in Rites Tongues Customs of living be brought together in one place 2. There is a Segregation Mat. 25.32 33. He shall separate the one from the other as a Shepherd divideth the Sheep from the Goats and he shall set the Sheep on his right hand and the Goats on his left There may be now a confusion and mixture of the godly and the wicked as Sheep and Goats feed in the same pasture and they may be all raised together according to the places where they lived and died but then a perfect separation good and bad are first gathered together but the good are drawn into a Company by themselves but no pure Company till the great Shepherd will judge between Cattle and Cattle Ezek. 34.17 He will gather his Saints together Psal. 50.5 Psal. 1.5 The ungodly shall not stand in the Iudgment nor Sinners in the Congregation of the righteous So Mat. 13.44 At the end of the World the Angels shall come and sever the wicked from among the just 3. An Aggregation Believers are gathered together to him for several ends 1. To make up the number of Christs Train and Attendants to wait on him Iude 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with his holy ten thousands Zech. 14.5 And the Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with him 1 Thes. 4.17 The dead in Christ shall rise first and we which are alive shall be caught up together in the Clouds with them to meet the Lord in the air 2. That after Judgment we may be solemnly presented to God by head and Poll we were given to Christ to be preserved unto the Glory we were designed for John 17.6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the World thine they were and thou gavest them me not by way of Alienation but Oppignoration recompence and charge Christ is to give an account John 6. 40. And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day The Form of Presentation is Heb. 2.13 Behold I and the Children which God hath given me 3. That in one Troop we may be brought into his Heavenly Kingdom John 14.3 And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also The whole Flock shall then follow the great Shepherd of the Sheep into the Everlasting Fold Vse 1. Believe this gathering together to him we are joined to the Church of Gods Elect now by Faith only Heb. 12.22 23. Ye are come to the general Assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in Heaven c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a meeting made up of many different Persons gathered together from several Countries into one body and one place as the meeting of all sorts of persons from all the Corners of Greece to see the Olympick Games was called the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 People of all Countries came to behold their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the mystical state of the Church of the Gospel is a general Assembly because it is not consined to one Nation but extended to Believers of all Nations and Ages they are drawn into a Body or Heavenly Society into one Fold under one Shepherd but they never meet in an actual Assembly until the last day which is the great Congregation or Rendezvouz of the Saints so that now it is matter of Faith 2. See you be of the number when some are admitted others are thrust out Luke 13.28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God and ye your selves thrust out The wicked shall not stand in this Congregation Oh it is a blessed and a comfortable thing when we are made Members of the mystical body of Christ and have hopes that we shall be in the number of
those that shall meet together in the great Assembly and Congregation of the righteous that we are trained up in the Church of Christ which is the Seminary of Heaven that we are no more Strangers and Foreigners but Fellow Citizens with the Saints 3. Let us improve it many ways 1. To comfort us against the paucity of serious walkers and real Christians Alas now they are but like two or three Berryes upon the top of the uppermost bough here one and there another in some places thinner in others thicker as God hath service for them in appearance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A little Flock Luc. 12.32 But take all together they are a general Assembly that are redeemed out of every Kindred Tongue and Nation Rev. 5.9 Yea Rev. 7.9 A great multitude which none can number of all Kindreds Tongues People and Nations As few as we are and as despised as the interest of the godly is we shall not want Company in Heaven we see few going to Heaven but when we are gathered together we shall see that our everlasting Companions are many 2. To comfort us against the dâ—stance of Christian Friends we are often separated from the Society of good Christians whom we love dearly but we shall be gathered together in one Congregation The Saints are now scattered by Providence they live in divers Countries Towns Houses have little comfort of one another They live where they may be most useful as Stars do not shine in a Cluster but are dispersed throughout the Heaven and as they are the light of the Earth so they are the Salt of the Earth which is sprinkled here and there not laid in a heap sometimes by violence of men persecution and banishment sometimes by Death which parts Friends Perfectus est quem putas mortuum like people in a wrack got to shore before us Now what a comfort is it to be united to all Gods people which have been are or shall be to the end of the World and to meet in one Assembly Mat. 24.31 They shall gather together the elect from the four winds from one end of Heaven to another The Saints shall be gathered from all quarters of the Earth though they live in several places several times many we never saw in the flesh Christ will assemble them all bring them in unto one place 3. To comfort them under the degenerate and collapsed state of Christianity 1. The mixture of the wicked the good and bad are here mixed they live together in the same Kingdoms Cities Societies Visible Church Family Bed perhaps but then a perfect separation Zach. 14. Last There shall no more be the Canaanite in the House of the Lord of Hosts Rev. 21.27 Nothing that defileth shall enter there such a difference shall there be between the State of Gods Church in this World and the World to come here Tares are mingled with Wheat good Fish with bad in the Drag Net it is hard by Discipline to keep the sound from the infected 2. Discord the Saints are divided in Affection but then perfect Harmony they are all gathered together to Christ and have no signs and badges of distinction to herd apart 3. It 's Universal with all the Saints 4. Perpetual never to part more SERMON II. 2 Thess. 2.1 2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand WE come now to the matter of the Apostles Caution which is in the second Verse That ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand In which words take notice 1. Of the error disproved that the day of Christ is at hand 2. The effect which this error might produce trouble and unsetledness of mind That ye be not soon shaken in mind or troubled 3. A removal of all the supposed Foundations of this error or the means which these Impostours used to intice them to embrace it Three are mentioned Spirit Word and Letter 1. Nor by Spirit that is pretence of spiritual Revelation be not soon shaken in mind by it 2. Nor by word some word of the Apostle which they pretended to have heard and that is another slight of deceivers some tradition or doctrine delivered by the Apostle by word of mouth 3. Nor by Letter as from us this may be understood 1. Either of some passage in the former Epistle for the Apostle saith there 1 Thess. 4.17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the air and because he joins himself with them they thought he should survive until that day or else those warnings which the Apostle gives them 1 Thess. 5.1 2 3. Of the times and season I need not write unto them for your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night c. Now these warnings they might abuse and this is one way by which men may be unsetled and unshaken i.e. by false glosses and interpretations of Scripture 2. Or rather the sence may be some spurious and counterfeit writings which was one means of deceit used in the Primitive Times supposititious or Apocryphal Legends wherein the Apostle might be said to write something as if Christ should come in that age wherein they lived Now to obviate this the Apostle is supposed to insert that passage Chap. 3.17 The Salutation of Paul with mine own hand which is the token in every Epistle so I write First From the Error disproved observe Doct. That the time of Christs coming to Judgment must be patiently expected not rashly defined or determined for this is the Error which the Apostle with such earnestness opposeth here But you will say is this such an error Do not the holy Apostles themselves say in effect the same as the Apostle Iames Chap. 5.8 The coming of the Lord draweth nigh and the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 4.7 The end of all things is at hand Yea Paul himself 1 Cor. 10.11 These are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the World are come and Rom. 13.12 The night is far spent and the day is at hand where by night is meant the state of Ignorance Sin and Paganism before Conversion and by the day is meant the state of our full Regeneration and Illumination in eternal Glory when the corrupt World shall come to an end and all shadows shall fly away As if he had said the Mornings of the Resurrection is at hand the night is far spent not quite past and the day is at hand the night is not throughly gone nor the day wholly come yet he saith it is at hand What evil was in this Opinion that the Apostle should with such vehemency argue and reason against it Ans. There is some difference in the words
mans mouth have not I the Lord. The latter cannot be said because that is contrary to his goodness Psal. 25.8 Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach Sinners the way It is not to be imagined that the great and universal King should give a Law to Mankind and speak so darkly that we should have no sure direction from thence nor be able to know his mind in any of the Duties God hath required of us or expose us to great difficulties and hardships in the World And if he had not plainly expressed his will to us man would never leave writing and distinguishing himself out of his duty surely he that will venture his All for Christs sake had need of a clear warrant to bear him out for none will hazard all that is near and dear to him but for weighty Reasons 5. Besides the Illumination of the Holy Spirit doth accompany this word and make it effectual to us to shew us God as revealed in Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath sâ—ined into our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ and for Heaven Eph. 1.17 18. Praying that the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of your understanding being inlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his Inheritance in the Saints He sanctifieth and healeth our Souls and prepareth us for the entertainment of the Truth that as natural things are naturally discerned so spiritual things are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 6. There are promises of direction made to humble and sincere minds Psal. 25.9 The meek shall he guide in Iudgment the meek shall he teach his way to the industrious Prov. 2. 4 5. If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasures then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God to the godly and well-disposed John 7.17 If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self so to them that pray much James 1.5 If any man lack wisdom let him ask it of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him They that thus sincerely endeavour to know the will of God will come to a sound establish'd Judgment in the Truth II. A Christian that is thus established is fortified against Spirit Word or Writing or all Suggestion that may perplex his mind 1. Against pretended Revelations called here spirit 1. Because having his mind thus setled he may boldly defy all Revelations pretended to the contrary Gal. 1.8 Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel than we have preached let him be accursed Any Doctrine if divers or different from or besides the written word much more contrary to it a Christian may reject it and account it Cursed Doctrine Therefore neither Church nor Angel nor Spirit is to be heard against it 2. Because a Christian is upon better terms having the written word than if God dealt with him by way of Revelations 2 Pet. 1.19 We have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more sure word of Prophecy comparing it with the voice from Heaven of which he spake before not as if there could be any uncertainty in the Lords Voice speaking from Heaven but because a transient Voice is more easily mistaken or forgotten than an authentick standing Record as Samuel thought Eli called him when it was the Lord it is quoad nos though God gave evidence of the Truth of such Revelations as he made yet we have more accommodate means Our Lord intimateth such a thing Luke 16.31 If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead This is the surest ground for Faith to rest upon of any that ever hath been or can be given to Sinners subject to forgetfulness jealousies and mistakes 3. Because it is not rational to expect new Revelation now the Canon and Rule of Faith is closed up Heb. 2.1 2. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip c. Mat. 28.20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you John 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them which shall believe on me through their word 4. Because if any such be pretended it must be tryed by the word Is. 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because they have no light in them So 1 John 4.1 Beloved believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone abroad into the World 5. Because they that despise ordinary means and pretend to Vision Revelation or Inspiration are usually such as are given up by God to a vertiginous Spirit and cast into the Dungeon of error for the punishment of other sins Mic. 2.11 If a man walking in the Spirit of falshood do lie he shall be the Prophet of this people God will permit those that are both deceivers and deceived themselves to come amongst them for a Plague to them Sleidan giveth sad instances of some given up to this phantastical frenzy that killed their own relations on pretence of inspiration and of others that murdered 50000. in one day 2. By word or unwritten Tradition this also should not shake the mind of a setled Christian for this hath no constat no evidence of its certainty and would lay us open to the deceits of men blinded by their own Interest and Passions and if such tradition could be produced as hath unquestionable Authority it must be tryed by the Scripture which is every where commended as the publick Standard and true measure and rule both of Faith and Manners 3. Not by Epistle as from us 1. Supposititious writings which the Church in all Ages hath exploded and received only those which are unquestionably theirs whose names they bear 2. False Expositions these are confuted by inspection of the Context scope of the Writer comparing of obscure places with plain and clear Thus you see what certainty God hath provided for us guide us in the way to Eternal Life SERMON III. 2 Thess. 2.3 Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first And that man of sin be revealed the Son of perdition IN these words we have these two things 1. A Caution against the errour set a-foot at that
to Saints and Angels and turned into a theatrical Pomp and the Pageantry of empty Ceremonies which eclipse the Majesty and splendour of it and the Discipline of the Church into a temporal domination and all is carried in the World by sides and interests that Christianity looketh like another thing a design Calculated for the present World rather than a serious preparation for the World to come Then certainly there is an Apostasy and a defection from Christ however the corrupt manners of the Church be varnished over with the name of Christianity There is a degeneration questionless and that is Apostasy in a Mystery such as this is though not an open revolt from the Christ. But to make this more evident to you let us consider what the Kingdom of Christ is The Gospel Kingdom is a Kingdom of Light Life and Love Opposite to Light is ignorance and errour to Life a Religion that consists of shews dead rites and empty Ceremonies to Love uncharitableness malice and especially hatred of the power of Godliness now where these prevail eminently there is an opposite Kingdom set up to the Kingdom of Christ certainly a falling off from his Kingdom That is to say where in opposition to Light errour is taught and ignorance is counted the Mother of Devotion and people are restrained from the means of Knowledge as if the height of Christian Faith and Obedience did consist in an implicite believing what the Church believeth and where instead of Life men place their whole Religion on superficial Rites and Ceremonies and some trifling acts of seeming Devotion and exteriour Mortifications and instead of love to God and Souls all things are sacrificed to private Ambition and forcing Consciences with the highest penalties and persecutions to submit to their corruptions There is a manifest subversion of the interest of Christs Kingdom In short Gods witnesses were slain in that City which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt and our Lord was crucifyed Rev. 11.8 That City which answereth to Sodom for impurity to Egypt for Idolatry and to Ierusalem for persecution of the Saints there may you find the great Apostasy 5. This Apostasy from our Lords Authority and the interests of his Kingdom is some notable and discernable Apostasy and the Head and Patron thereof is Antichrist The defection is not of one or a few or many in divers Churches there have always been back-sliders from the Faith 1 Joh. 2.19 They went out from us but they were not of us and the Spirit of Antichrist wrought in the Apoâ—tles days 1 Joh. 2.18 As you have heard that Antichrist shall come even now there are many Antichrists and again 1 Ioh. 4.3 we are told of the Spirit of Antichrist and this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that it should come and even now already is it in the World Then described to be afterwards Verse 5. a Worldly Spirit They are of the World and speak of the World and the World heareth them Though they profess Christianity Carnal Worldly Hypocrites which never Conquered the fleshly mind and interest have the Spiriâ— of Antichrist These obscure the light and obstruct the life and love of the Gospel They that wholly affect a life of pomp and ease in the Church Now this hath always been in all Ages The false Christians forget their hopes are built upon a Crucified Christ and are to be derived to them from a Glorified Christ in the other World Crucified in this World and Glorified in the next which indeed are the two considerations that keep Christianity pure and lively That all was purchased by a Crucified Christ and all is dispensed by a Glorified Christ and I wish you would oftner think of it But the great Apostasy is eminently found in some external visible Church where these corruptions are generally received and defended For the head of that Church is Antichrist where Doctrine is corrupted and the worship mingled with Idolatry and the Government an Usurpation and bent against the Holy Seed that desire to worship God in Spirit and in Truth there is this manifest revolt from and a Rebellion against God and Christ though they push with the Horns of the Lamb. That the Papists are a corrupt Sect of Christians is beyond dispute to any that will try their Religion by the Scriptures and that they are far more corrupt than the Protestants 〈◊〉 Reformed Churches will also soon appear by the comparison or a view of both Churches But whether they are so corrupt as to become the Seat of Antichrist is the matter under debate Therefore let any one consideâ— where the eminent Apostasy is to be found Who are they that invade Christs Authority by setting up an Universal Head over all Câ—ristians Who are they that establish the Doctrine of Daemons or revive the worship of a middle sort of Powers between God and mortal men 1 Tim. 4.1 who through Hypocrisy â—nvent so many lies to maintain it and when Christians should keep themselves from Idols 1 Ioh. 5.21 yet in defiance of this worship Angels and other Creatures Col. 2.18 Let nâ— man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels c. and erect the Images of Saints commanding and compelling men to adore them and pray to them who are they that are not contented with the one only Mediatour 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediatour between God and men the man Christ Iesus 1 Cor. 8.5 For though there be that are called Gods whether in Heaven or in Earth as there be Gods mâ—ny and Lords many But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him but set up other Mediâ—tours of Intercession Who are they that plead for Indulgences and the supererogatory saâ—â—sfactioâ—â— of the Saints as gathered into the Treasure of the Church and so profitable for the remission of sins and condemn them who think the contrary Who are they that keep Beliâ—vers from reading the Scriptures when they are so expresly injoined to do it Joh. 5.39 and Psal. 1.2 But his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night That deny one part of the Lorâ—s Supper to his Disciples notwithstanding his Institution to the contrary 1 Cor. 11.25 26. After the same manner also he took the Cup wheâ— he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood This do ye as often as ye drink it in remembrance of me for as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this Cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come It were endless to instance in all I shall speak more of it in the following Verses 6. This Apostasy is not only forbidden but foretold as a thing that would certainly come to pass This consideration is necessary for divers reasons 1. Because the Papists
caution them as we have from God They pretend to believe the Scriptures yet how do they seek to evade the force of them by crafty distinctions that will never satisfie Conscience though they help to blind the mind and harden the heart That which I urge is this they were never interdicted this kind of worship by their Gods but these know that it is severely forbidden by our God and the second Commandement so stareth in their Faces that it is expunged out of their Catechisms and Vasquez is bold to affirm that the second Commandement is Ceremonial Lactantius of old said Non est dubium religio nulla est ubi cujusque simulacâ—rum est 3. The Pagans did adore their Gods in their Images but never was any so sottish among them to imagine that an Image was to be adored with the same degree of worship as God himself but this is the corrupt Doctrine of the Papists that an Image is to be worshipped with the same worship wâ—erewith God himself is worshipped Imagini Christi Latria debetur Aquinas That is the proper worship of God 1. Vse to shew how necessary it is to take heed that we be not found among the followers of Antichrist since these errors are damnable Salvation and damnation are not trifles nor matters to be played withal Surely we need have our eyes in our head and not to be hood-winked when we are upon the brink of a bottomless Gulph Both sides lay damnation at one anothers Door they for our departing from the Catholick Church out of which is no Salvation as they pretend we upon their departing from the Catholick Faith and simplicity of the Gospel Now external order is not of such consideration as Faith but when they will be able to prove that Christ hath setled this order in the Church that all his Subjects should be obedient to one universal visible head and that this head is the Pope and therefore when their very Order is an incroachment and usurpation to depart from them is to return to Christ Again where is Salvation most likely to be found rather with them who seek all their Religion in the Scriptures aâ—d stick there or with those who not contented with the Apostolical Doctrine contained in the Scriptures have brought in unwritten Traditions as an equal rule of Faith with Scripture and the Sacrifice of the Mass and Purgatory the Religious Invocations of Saints and many other enormities and uphold these Innovations with all manner of Tyranny and Cruelty exercised upon Christs faithful Servants If men go to Heaven without Prayers which they understand and Scriptures half Christs Sacrament a piece of his merits and some supeâ—stitious observances yea plain Idolatry then the way to Heaven is sooner to be had in Popery but he that hath but half an Eye may soon see which is the surer side Surely the surest way to avoid damnation is to avoid sin Now where are Souls so much in danger of sin as in the Roman Society where so little is given to internal life and piety and so much to external Pomp and Service and where errors are so palpable that either men do not believe them with their hearts or if their hearts were upright and not perverse and obstinate could not believe them but just so is the way of Popery to true Christianity Surely whatever it be to Papists it would be absolutely damnable to us as wilfully to thrust our selves upon apparent ruine There is a cavil or pretence which I shall speak unto on this occasion That many Protestants confess Papists may be saved in their Faith whereas they hold Protestants and other Hereticks may not be saved out of the Catholick Church And therefore it is safe to enter into that way which is safe by the consent of both parts Ans. 1. Mens opinions are no ground of Faith Persons may be in a sad woful Case that men speak well of Luke 6.26 Wo unto you when all men shall speak well of you It is not what Man saith but what the word of God saith Now the word speaketh terrible things to them Them that perish and That they all might be damned who believed not the truth c. Secondly The word of God teacheth us to judge of the way rather than persons who stand or fall to their own Master The way is damnable If on the one side there be Charity to some persons that sin of invincible ignorance and are saved as by fire 1 Cor. 3.13 which the other side will not grant to a contrary perswasion it argueth Charity on one side which hopeth all things malice on the other who rashly condemn men without evidence yea against it 3. If this argument would hold good it had been better in Christ and the Apostles time to be a Jewish Proselyte than a Christian Christ acknowledgeth Salvation is of the Jews their promises of adoption and glory but the Jews pronounced him and his followers accursed scourged imprisoned them yet did not get so far as Papists to murder and butcher them Suppose a little time that Catholicks owned Donatists as Brethren allowed their Baptism but Donatists are rebaptized and upon pain of damnation require all so to be and say Save thy Soul become a Christian. Now a Pagan should rather by this argument join himself to Donatists than Catholicks Lastly The Argument may be retorted A Protestant keepeth himself to his Bible Baptismal Covenant Creed but denieth many things which Papists believe and practise as Papal Infallibility Transubstantiation Purgatory Invocation of Saints worshipping of Images they cannot but say Protestants are in the right 2. Vse observe the degrees of obduration not receiving the truth in the love of it believing a Lie discarding Truth and then taking pleasure in unrighteousness and then cometh Damnation SERMON XI 2 Thess. 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because the Lord hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth THE Adversative Particle But sheweth what respect these words have to what went before He had spoken of God's direful Judgment of sending strong delusion on them that had no love to the pure Truth but sinned against Light and had pleasure in the false worship and superstitions countenanced by the World Now lest the Thessalonians should be troubled at this sad prediction he sheweth what cause he had to bless God in their behalf The subjoining of this consolation doth teach us three things 1. That it is a great favour of God to us to escape Antichristian Errors They are so dangerous in their own nature so insinuative and inveigling by plausible appeaâ—ance and accompanied with such worldly baits and advanâ—â—ges that it is a great mercy â—hat God hath taught us better things But then be sure you be in the right out of Conscience and Evidence not out of Faction and Interest And that you hate Popery out
we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end Their Hope is slight and fluid the Temporary loseth his Joy and Comfort which he conceived in the offers of the Gospel and so either casts off the profession of Godliness or neglecteth the Power and Practice of it But the true Christian is Serious Patient Heavenly and Holy because he is alway looking to his End and sweetneth his Work by his great Hope keepeth up his Taste or lively expectation of the Mercy of Christ to everlasting Life Nay this differenceth the Children of God those that are in their Conflict from those that are in their Triumph the Sanctified and Glorified those that are in their Way and those that are at Home They that are at Home are enjoying what we expect and in posseâ—â—ion of that Supreme Good that we yet hope for they have neither Miseries to fear nor Blessings to desire beyond what they do enjoy they see what they love and possess what they see But the time of our Advancement is not yet come and therefore we can only look and long for it this is our Work and present Happiness 2. Now the Covenant of God is contrived to raise Hope in us The Iachin and Boaz the two Pillars that support it are Mercy and Truth Micah 7.20 Thou wilt perform the Truth to Jacob and tâ—e Mercy to Abraham Psal. 25.10 All the Paths of the Lord â—re Mercy and Truth unto such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies And Psal. 138.2 I will praise the Name for thy loving Kindness and Truth For thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name And in many other Scriptures 1. The Mercy and Grace of the Covenant 1. In the frame of it where excellent Benefits are dispensed upon free Terms that our Faith and Hope may be in God the Lord would not leave the sinful Creature under Despair but hath provided a way how we may be Râ—conciled and Glorified Psal. 130.4 There is forgiveness with thee that thou mayst be feared Mercy opens the Door for us the very offer speaks much Mercy the terms are Mercy So much Duty is required as is necessary and doth arise from the nature of the thing Violence would be offered to the Reason of a serious Creature if such things were not required 2. In the dispensations of thâ— Blessings of the Covenant Now Gal. 6.16 To as many as walk according to this Rule Peace be on them and Mercy and on the Israel of God There are many Infirmities and Fraâ—lties but God passeth them by when there is Sincerity Our Faith is weak and mingled with Doubtings our Love to God clogged with much inordinate Self-love our Obedience often interrupted Too much deadness and coldness in holy Things yet these do not cast us out of the favour of God nor make void our Interest in the Covenant where the Heart for the main is set to serve him and please him Mal. 3.17 I will spare them as a Man spareth his own Son that â—erveth him 3. At the very close of all it is Grace Hope unto the end for the Grace that is brought unto you at the Revelation of Christ 1 Pet. 1.13 Then there will be the fullest and largest Manifestation of God's Love and free Grace There is Grace brought to us now by the Revelation of Jesus Christ in the Gospel but when his Person shall be revealed Grace shall be seen in all its Graciousness We see his Grace in the pardon of Sins and that measure of Sanctification which now we attain unto that he is pleased to pass by our Offences and take us into his Family and give us right to his Heavenly Kingdom and some taste of his Love and remote Service But when Pardon shall be pronounced by the Judge's Mouth when he shall take us not only into his Family but into his Palace and Father's House and give us not Right only but Possession and we shall be admitted to the immediate Vision and Fruition of God and be everlastingly imployed in Heavenly Praising and delighting in him then Grace will be Grace indeed 2. His Truth and Mercy openeth the Door for us Truth keepeth it open Mercy is the Pipe Truth is the conveyance Now God bindeth himself by Promise and hath ever been tender of his Word We may see for the present that a Covenant-Interest is no fruitless thing he hath confirmed this Hope to the World by Miracles to us within the Church by the Seal and earnest of his Spirit or the impression of his Image preparing the Hearts of the Faithful for this blessed Estate Ephes. 4.30 Grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the Day of Redemption 2 Cor. 5.5 Who hath given us the earnest of his Spirit He hath appointed Ordinances to revive our Hopes 1 Cor. 11.26 For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lord's Death till he come By daily experience we see many of God's Children have gone out of the World chearfully professing this Hope we have the same Father of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named Ephes. 3.15 are reconciled to him by the same Christ. Col. 1.20 Having made peace through the Blood of the Cross by him to reconcile all things to himself by him I say whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven If he be so good to that part of the Family that is now in Heaven he will be good to them also that are working out their Salvation with fear and trembling 3. What an advantage is it to the Spiritual Life to have good Hope wrought in us through Grace 1. It maketh us diligent and Serious Christianity implieth a serious application of our Heart and Mind to do what Christ requireth that we may obtain what he hath offered to do it as our first work and chief business Phil. 2.12 Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling Heb. 4.1 Let us labour to enter into that rest That is imply our utmost care and diligence Now all the Executive Powers are fortified and strengthened in their Operation by Hope 2. To be Patient and Mortified that we subdue our Lusts and bear the loss of our Interests with an humble and quiet Mind Rom. 12.12 Patient in Tribulation rejoycing in Hope And for Lusts 1 John 3.3 He that hath this Hope purifieth himself even as he is Pure 3. To be Heavenly and Holy the one respects our End the other our Race For it is not a few dead lifeless Thoughts now and then but the continual and delightful fore-sight of Eternal Bliss What is the way to Heaven but Hope And who more pure and holy than they that look for such things 2 Pet. 3.14 Wherefore Belâ—ved seeing ye look for such things be diligent that ye be found of him in peace without spot and blameless Vse 2. Well then get this Hope But what must we do You will say It is God's Gift Yet
In differences between God and Baal Christ and Antichrist few are valiant for the truth Ier. 9.3 And they bend their tongue like their bow for lies but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth for they proceed from evil to evil and they know not me saith the Lord. Contend earnestly Jude 3. It was needful for me to write unto you and to exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the Faith which was once delivered unto the Saints Again 2. There are many sensualists unclean and carnal Gospellers to these God oweth a Judgment Usually the Gospel is removed and given to a Nation that will bring forth the fruits thereof They that use the truth only or principally for their own turns hate to be reformed God will reckon with them Psal. 50.16 17. But unto the wicked God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant into thy mouth seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee 2. Vse shews you indeed that you love the Gospel Carentia remedii is a grievous misery or else Christ had not come as a great Blessing Neglectus remedii is a grievous sin to be lazy in a matter of such moment Those that never set their hearts to obey the truth Crassa negligentia dolus est There should be constant purpose endeavour striving and not cease striving till we in some measure prevail rejectio or contemptio remedii if we put away the word of God from us Acts 13.46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said it was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you but seeing ye puâ— it from you and judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life loe we turn to the Gentiles God will be gone if not from the Land from thy Soul This is the most hainous iniquity of all Heb. 10.28 29. He that despised Moses his Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified aâ— unholy thing and hath done despight unto the Spirit of grace So Esau's despising his Birthright Heb. 12.15 Lest there be any Fornicator or prophane person as Esau who for one morsel of meat sold his Birthright for ye know how that afterwards when he would have inherited the Blessing he was rejected for he found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with â—ears SERMON IX 2 Thess. 2.11 12. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness WE have considered the sin of those seduced by Antichrist now the Judgment It is twofold 1. Delusion in this World verse 11. 2. Damnation in the next verse 12. 1. Delusion in this World where take notice of three things 1. The Author of it God shall send it 2. The degree or nature of the punishment strong delusion 3. The issue of it that they should believe a lie 2. Their punishment in the next World That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness where take notice 1. Of the terribleness of it it is no less than everlasting damnation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. The Justice and Equity of it They believed not the truth but had pleasure in righteousness 1. I begin with their Judgment in this World For this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie Doct. That by Gods just Judgment there is an infatuation upon the Followers and Abettors of Antichrist that they swallow the grossest errors to their own destruction To clear this I shall speak 1. To the Author 2. The degree or kind of the punishment 3. The effect and issue 1. As to the Author 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here a difficulty ariseth For God is not and cannot be the Author of sin He that is essentially good cannot be the cause of evil And he that is Vltor peccati the avenger of sin cannot be Author peccati the Author of it If he should cause man to sin how will his punishment of it be just I Answ. As it is a sin God hath no hand in it but as it is a punishment of sin God hath to do in it To clear this to you consider 1. He that is the supreme Lord and Governour of his Creatures is also their Judge For Legislation and Judgment belong to the same Authority And therefore God is called sometimes our King and sometimes oâ—r Judge Gen. 18.25 Shall not the Iudge of all the earth do right Rom. 5.6 Is God unâ—ighteous how then shall he judge the World That is his Office and Prerogative 2. Gods way of judging for the present is either external or internal As for instance there are two acts of Judicature Reward and Punishment In rewarding Gods external Government is seen in dispensing outward Blessings to his people as the fruit of their obedience Micah 2.7 Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly His promises speak good and as fulfilled do good yield protection maintenance and such a measure of outward prosperity as supporteth and maintaineth them during their service David owned Gods dealing with him in this sort Psal. 119.56 This I had because I kept thy Precepts So as to his internal Government in giving them peace of Conscience and Joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Pro. 3.17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace These are the internal rewards of obedience And so also God often rewardeth grace with grace As Isa. 58.13 14. If thoâ— turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thy own ways nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Iacob thy Father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Psal. 31.24 Be of good Courage and he shall strengthen your heart all ye that hope in the Lord. Proficiency in the same grace is a reward of the several acts and exercise of it So in punishing sometimes he useth the way of external Government by the terribâ—e Judgments exercised upon men for the breach of his Law Rom. 1.18 For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness Heb. 2.2 Every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward
Sometimes the way of internal Government by terrors of Conscience or punishing sin committed with sin permitted both these parts are seen in punishing both the godly and the wicked as for instance in the godly in the way of external Government 1 Cor. 11.32 But when we are judged we are chastned of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the World In the way of internal Government the lesser penal withdrawings of the Spirit which Gods people find themselves after some sins and neglects of grace are grievous But the Judgments upon the Souls of the ungodly are most dreadful when the sinner is either terrified or stupiâ—ied terrified by horrors of Conscience 1 Cor. 15.56 The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law or stupified by being given up to their own hearts Counsels Psal. 81.12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts lusts and they walked in their own Counsels So that the Sinner is left dull and senseless and past feeling Eph. 4.18 Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart by the first by horrors of Conscience they are made to feel Gods displeasure at the courses they walk in but when that is long depised and men sin on still then the other and more terrible Judgment cometh For the giving up a Sinner to his own lusts and his losing all remorse is the last and sorest Judgment on this side Hell 3. As to Gods internal Judgments the Scripture chiefly insists upon two parts of this internal dispensation blindness of mind and hardness of heart they usually go together Blindness of mind is spoken of Iohn 12.39 40. Therefore they could not believe because that Esaias said again he hath blinded their eyes and hardned their hearts that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them All passages are obstructed whereby the word might enter and work Conversion unto God It was God laid this punishment of blindness upon them Hardness of heart in that famous instance Exod. 4.21 I will harden Pharaohs heart God doth not make them that see blind nor them that are soft hard but leaveth them to their own prejudice obstinacy and unperswadeableness and that when highly provoked The former is under our consideration 4. To understand Gods concurrence as a Judge we must not say too much of it nor too little We must not say too much of it lest we leave a stain â—nd blemish upon the divine Glory God infuseth no sin no blindness nor hardness into the hearts of men all influences from Heaven are good he conveyeth no deceit into the minds of men immediately nor doth he command or perswade men to oppose the truth Nor doth he impeâ— or excite their inward propensions so to do All this belongeth not to God but either to man or Sathan Nor must we say too little as for instance God is not said to blind or harden by bare prescience or foresight that they will be blinded or hardned because God foreseeth other things and yet they are not ascribed unto God as that men will kill or steal or do wrong and yet God is not said to kill or steal as he is said to blind and harden and therefore there is a difference between Gods concurrence to this effect and other sins Nor only by way of manifestation as if this were all the sense that in the course of his Providence God doth in the issue declare how blind and hard they are That some other thing is meant by it is seen in the Prayers by which we deprecate this heavy Judgment As when the Saints pray Isa. 63.17 Lord harden not our hearts from thy fear or David Psal. 119.19 Lord hide not thy Commandments from me They mean not thus Lord shew not to the World how hard and blind I am but cure my blindness and hardness of heart keep back this Judgment from me Again we must not say that all that God doth is a bare naked and idle permission as if it happened besides his will and intention and God had no more to do in it than a man that standeth on the shore and seeth a Ship ready to be drowned he might have heâ—ped it but permitted it No besides all this there is not a bare permission only but a permissive intention and a judicial sentence which is seconded by an active Providence Many things concur to the blinding of the mind and hardning of the heart all which God willeth but justly The wicked take occasions of their own accord to blind and harden themselves Sathan tempteth of his own maâ—ice but all this could not be done with effect and success without the will of God There is a supreme power over-ruling and ordering all that is done in the World 5. Gods concurrence may be stated by these things 1. His withdrawing or taking away the light and direction of his Holy Spirit Deut. 29.4 The Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive nor eyes to see nor ears to hear unto this day Now when God lets them loose to their own hearts Counsels then they fall into damnable errors A Greyhound held in by a slip or Collar runneth violently after the Hare when it is in sight as soon as the slip and Collar is taken away the restraint is gone and his inbred disposition carryeth him So men that are greedy of Worldly things are powerfully drawn into errors countenanced by the World when God taketh off the restraint of his Grace and giveth them up to their own lusts Now herein God is not to be blamed for he is Debtor to none and the grace of his Spirit is forfeited by their not receiving the love of the truth He is so far from being bound to give grace that he seemeth to be bound in Justice to withdraw what is given already by mens wickedness and ingratitude Voluntary blindness bringeth penal blindness And because men will not see they shall not see And when they wink hard and shut their eyes against the light of the Gospel it is just with God in this manner to smite them with blindness And since they had no love to the truth they are given up to errors and deceits And because they despise the Holy Scriptures they doat on vain Fables And would not take up a course of sound Godliness and Holiness he suffereth them to weary themselves with sundry superstitions 2. Not only by desertion but by tradition delivering them up to the power of Sathan 2 Cor 4.4 The God of this world hath blinded their eyes Sathan as the Executioner of Gods Curse worketh upon the corrupt nature of man and deceiveth them It is said 1 Chron. 21.1 Sathan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel But it is said 2 Sam. 24.1 And the Anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel and he
moved David against them to say go number Israel and Iudah How shall we reconcile these two places God gave him over to be tempted by Sathan By God as a Judge by Sathan as an Executioner Temptations to sin come immediately from the Devil but they are governed by God for holy and righteous ends So again 1 King 22.22 The evil Spirit had leave and Commission to be a lying Spirit in Ahabs Prophets Go forth and do so and thou shalt prevail with him There is a permissive intention not an effective when they grieve his Spirit God withdraweth and leaveth them to the evil Spirit who works by their fleshly and worldly lusts and then they are easily seduced who prefer Worldly things before Heavenly 3. There is an active providence which raiseth such instruments and propoundeth such objects as meeting with a naughty heart do sore blind it 1. For instruments Iob 22.16 The deceived and the deceiver are hiâ— Take it in Worldly or take it in Religious matters mans deceiving others or being deceived by others it is of God for it is said both are his not only his Creatures but subject to the government and disposal of providence how and whom they shall deceive and how far they shall deceive So Ezech. 14.9 If the Prophet be deceived that hath spoken a thing I the Lord have deceived him This is a great transaction in the World a sad judgment not to be cavilled but trembled at For mans ingratitude God raiseth up false Prophets to seduce them that delight in lies rather than in the truths of God 2. For objects wicked instruments varnish and dress up this cause with all the art they can to make it a powerful deceit and then it is befriended and countenanced by the powers of the World and so easily prevaileth with them who are moved either with worldly hopes or fears and have debauched their Conscience by worldly respects God saith Jer. 6.21 I will lay stumbling blocks before this people If we will find the sin God will find the occasion If Iudas hath a mind to buy his Master he shall not want Chapmen to bargain with him the Priests were consulting to destroy Christ at the same time that the Devil put it into his heart Matth. 26.3 being Alarmed by the Miracle of raising Lazarus Birds and Fishes are easily deceived with such baits as they greedily catch at so God by his just vengeance ordereth such occurences and occasions as take with a naughty and carnal heart 2. The degree or kind of the punishment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we render it strong delusion or the efficacy of error that is such delusion as shall have a most efficacious force to deceive them The prevalency and strength of the delusion is seen in two things 1. The absurdity of the errors 2. The obstinacy wherewith they cleave to them 1. The absurdity of the errors I will instance in three things False Image worship and Bread worship Invocation of Saints and supererogation of works 1. Adoration of Images Idolaters are usually represented as sottish as Psal. 115.8 They that make them are like unto them so is every one that trusteth in them He had described the senselesness of the Idols before They have mouths but they speak not Eyes have they but they see not they have ears but they hear not Noses have they but they smell not c. Now as Idols are senseless so the Idolaters are bruitish That is the makers Worshippers and Servers of them as void of true Wisdom as the Images are of sense and motion Isa. 44.18 They have not known nor understood for he hath shut their eyes that they câ—nnot see and their hearts that they cannot understand There is a fatal obduration upon them all along there their senselesness is set forth from ver 9. to ver 20. they that worship the work of their own hands are themselves but stocks and stones being blinâ—ed by the just Judgment of God If it be said this is meant of the Idols of the Gentiles not of the Images of God and Christ and Virgin Mary and Saints But God will not be worshipped by an Idol and there is no difference between the Images of the Papists and the Heathens but only in the name 2. The other thing that I will instance in is the Invocation of Saints a sottish error and respect payed to them that are so far out of the reach of our Commerce and a thing not only without precept promise or president in Scripture but also against Scripture which always directeth to God by one Mediator the Lord Jesus Christ. The Scripture saith Go to God if you lack any thing and they say Go to the Saints if they say not as Authors of Grace or any Divine Blessing yet as Intercessors though that be not true yet that derogateth from Christ whose Office it is to intercede with the Father So that this is to put the Creature in the place of God But it is not only contrary to Scripture but the very motion and inclination of the Spirit when he stirreth us or moveth us to pray Rom. 8.15 Ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Gal. 4.6 And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father he inclineth us to come to God and yet this they will leave 3. A third Error that I shall instance in is that man may supererogate not only merit for himself but lay in an overplus to encrease the treasure of the Church when the Scripture telleth us that our best works are imperfect yea polluted and our Lord himself hath told us that when we have done all say ye we are unprofitable Servants Luke 17.10 But what will not men believe that can believe these things There are other absurdities as gross as these but this sufficeth for a tast 2. The obstinacy wherewith they cleave to them Nothing will reclaim them not Scripture nor reason nor evidence of truth but they still cry the opinion of the Church and the Faith of their Forefathers and will invent any paltry shift and distinction rather recede from any thing than once admit that the Church hath erred Like the obstinate Jews in Christs time that denied apparent matter of fact Joh. 8.33 We were never in bondage to any man though they were in Egypt and Babylon and were now under servitude and the power of the Romans Though we prove they have erred and do err still the Church cannot err or rather like the Elder Jews in the Prophet Ieremiahs time Ier. 44.16 17 18 19. As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord we will not hearken to thee but we will certainly do whatsoever goeth out of our own mouth To burn incense unto the Queen of Heaven and to pour out drink-offerings to her as we have done we and our Fathers and our Kings and our Princes for then
we had plenty of Victuals and were well and saw no evil But since we have left off burning incense to the Queen of Heaven we have wanted all things and have been consumed by the Sword and the Famine Such sottish obstinacy is there in men that doat upon their own invented Superstitious and Idolatrous Services Custom Antiquity practice of their Ancestors the Authority and usage of their great ones their Rulers the generality of observance This is their knot of Arguments by which they confirm themselves just as the Papists plead for their Superstitions at this day and to make the Mess more compleat they add the plenty and prosperity they enjoyed what a merry World it was before the new Gospel came in when they had nothing but Mass and Mattins And all the Calamities that have faln out they impute not to their own sins but to the Gospel Now when a people are thus obstinate and measure Religion not by reasons of Conscience but the interests of the Belly it is a sign that they are under the power of delusion and error hath more efficacy with such corrupt minds than the truth 3. The Causes of it shew the efficacy of error 1. The sinning of their learned to keep out all instructions allowing the vulgar only Prayers in a strange tongue and the Scriptures in no tongue and teaching them implicitely to believe as the Church believeth When the Lord permitteth such guides to order the affairs of his Church his great Judgment of occecation and obduration is upon them Jer. 5.31 The Prophets prophesie falsely and the Priests bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so 2. When gain interests and ambition move them thereunto As those Masters in the Acts exclaim against Paul and Silas when they saw their hope of gain was gone Acts 16.19 20 21. These men do exceedingly trouble the City And Demetrius Acts 18.25 Ye know by this craft we have our wealth This is a tender point to touch interest and when once it cometh to this they will proceed in their foâ—ly and defend one falshood with another for the great Idol of the World is gain or love of money 1 Tim. 6.10 For the love of money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred from the Faith It were an happiness if such kind of Arguments did only prevail with us to embrace a Religion that might convince others that it was Religion it self that we loved That our interest did not keep others from their duty and that we could embrace a Religion for the goodness of it even to our own loss 3. Another cause is pride of themselves and prejudice against others lest they should seem to be in an error and wrong and to learn of a few Novellists shall they teach them No rather they will remain ignorant still Alas it is not easy to strike Saâ—â— and submit to the teaching of those whom they hate Therefore men continue those first prejudices they have imbibed and will rather live and die in their errors than give God glory by a submission to truth Such a proud opinion and conceit have they of their own Learning and Knowledge This cause also conduceth to make the resolution more strong pre-ingagement in a contrary way It is disgraceful to change men think it is taken notice of as a great wonder Acts 6.7 That a great Company of the Priests were obedient to the Faith But such wonder are not wrought every day they of all men are most pertinacious but God can of stones raise up Children to Abraham Now would to God these causes of error were only found in the Antichristian Estate They are every where buâ— these cause strong delusion 3. The issue and effect that they should believe a lie two things must be explained 1. The object 2. The Act. 1. The object a lie that is either 1. false Doctrines 1 Tim. 4.2 Speaking lies in Hypocrisie When palpable errors are taken for truths A man given over by God to delusion will swallow the grossest errors and fâ—ctions and that in matters dangerous and destructive to Salvation False Doctrines are often called a lie in Scripture as opposite to the truth And yet such things are received by those from whose parts the World would expect better things 2. False Miracles in their Legends a man would wonder any should have the face to obtrude such ridiculous stories and scandalous to Religion upon the World 3. False Calumnies against those Instruments whom God employed in the reformation Popery is a Religion supported by lies as that Calvin was a Sodomite and burnt in the shoulder at Noyon for that crime and the Popish Deaâ— and Chapter of that place have published his Vindicate That Luther was an Incarnate Devil begotten by an Incubus I should weary you to rake in this Dunghil but I must close it with the general observation that Antichristians will lie some among them call them pious frauds but they are Diabolical Forgeries 2. The Act is that they are given up to believe a lie This must be applied to their erroneous Doctrines as common to them all To their false Miracles and Calumnies not to the Inventers but to the seduced who swallow these things All that oppose the truth do not go apparently against Conscience but being given up to the efficacy of error they may believe that false Religion wherein they live Let us open the Term believe What is it to believe a thing you may know â—y the opposites Now opposite to Faith there is first doubtfulness when men halt between two opinions 1 Kings 18.21 If the Lord bâ— God follow him but if Baal then follow him This doubtfulness proceedeth from want of bringing the Case to a Tryal and thorow Hearing 2. Conjecture Acts 26.28 Almost perswaded Almost thou perswadest me to be a Christian. 3. Opinion Matth. 13.14 Hath not root in himself but dureth for a while c. 4. Firm perswasion They will censure nothing for if of truth Joh. 6.69 We believe and are sure c. if of error Acts 26.9 I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Iesus of Nazareth 5. Resolved adherence if to the truth that is called receiving the truth in the love of it If to error it is seen in mens obstinacy and zeal suffering in it 1 Kings 18.28 Cutting themselves with Knives and Lances till blood gushed out Suffering for it For a man may give his body to be burned for an error a man may sacrifice a strong body to a stubborn mind 1 Cor. 13.3 Though I give my body to be burned and have not Charity it profiteth nothing And persecuting the contrary Joh. 16.2 They shall put you out of the Synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service To apply this Marry that live within the Kingdom of Antichrist some are doubtful some almost perswaded soâ—e