we repent and believe in Christ. Page 218 224 Directions to those that are Reconciled Page 24 250 They that are Reconciled had need beg pardon of sin v. Pardon Page 225 Redeemer The necessity of a Redeemer Page 163 Religion must be our Business and Recreation Page 74 Renovation the Nature of it Page 207 The Object of it Page ib. That it is the work of God's Spirit Page ib. The Effects of it Page 208 Its Connexion with Reconciliation Page ib. v. New Creature Repentance what it includes Page 243 v. Faith and Repentance Respect to Christs Person in the days of his flesh was not all he looked for Page 196 Religiously to respect men for external carnal advantages condemned Page 194 Respect Civil due to carnal men Page ib. Respect of persons not with God Page 110 199 Resurrection of the Body Reasons of it Page 36 Resurrection of Christ the Example Pledge and Cause of the Spiritual Life Page 189 The likeness between Christ's rising from the dead and Christians rising from the death of Sin Page ib. Rewards Sinful respect to the Rewards of Religion how it bewrayeth it self Page 151 Right God hath a Right to us Page 186 Righteousness Why men are prone to establish a Righteousness of their own Page 257 Gospel-Righteousness what it is Page 72 Gospel-Righteousness a Garment to cover our nakedness Page 28 Righteousness as it respects the precept or the sanction of the Law opened Page 252 Why the Righteousness by which we are justified is called the Righteousness of God Page 253 What is that Righteousness by which we are justified Page 253 254 257 Christ is made sin for us and we are made the Righteousness of God in him Page 254 In what this exchange doth agree in what it differs Page ib. The Love of God herein Page 256 This Righteousness of Christ is made ours when we believe in him Page 254 The Priviledges depending on our being made the Righteousness of God in Christ. Page 257 S. SAcrifices were offered by Adam Page 28 Satisfaction of Christ the truth of it Page 170 The Sufficiency of it Page 171 Scope of a Christians Life Page 71 72 v. End Self-Love only cured by the Love of God Page 230 Sight what Sights we shall have in Heaven Page 60 In what manner shall we Behold Christ. Page ib. v. Faith and Sight Sin a wrong to God how to be understood Page 86 Sin and shame always go together Page 28 The greatness of the Burden of Sin Page 257 Why Sin is a Burden Page 33 In what manner Sin is to be checked Page 205 The aggravations of Secret Sins Page 95 Secret Sins to be avoided because of future Iudgment Page 95 In what sense Christ was said to be made Sin Page 252 Sin taken for a Sacrifice for sin and for Punishment of sin Page ib. Christ was made sin but not a Sinner Page ib. Christ was made sin for us and we the Righteousness of God in him Page 254 Christ being made Sin is the cause of our being made the Righteousness of God in him Page 255 Sincerity how evidenced Page 102 Paul's Testimony of his Sincerity Page 118 Soul that it is distinct from the Body proved Page 66 It can live apart from the Body Page 67 The Souls of the Saints at Death immediately go to God Page 67 Spirit How he dwells in us Page 42 Strangers how to carry our selves as Strangers in this World Page 52 Sufferings of Christ what they were Page 256 They show the heinousness of sin Page 174 How we are to be affected when we read the story of Christ's sufferings Page 198 Suitableness between Christ and Believers Page 190 Surety Christ the Surety of Believers Page 171 Christ dyed as a Surety Page 179 T. TAbernacle our frail Condition set forth by a Tent or Tabernacle Page 2 Terror of the Lord is ground of Fear Page 110 How it is so to the godly Page 113 The Terror of the Lord should have an influence on us while in the flesh Page 113 V. VEracity and Faithfulness of God manifested at the Day of Iudgment Page 98 Union to Christ Internal and External explained Page 203 How the New Nature flows from our Union with Christ. Page 203 W. WAlking by Faith those who have Faith must walk by it Page 61 Reasons of it Page ib. Will God will not do any man good against his will Page 235 Nor doth he force man's will but deal by Persuasion Page 236 Wisdom wherein Wisdom lyes Page 128 Wherein the Wisdom of a godly man appears Page 128 Evidences of Spiritual Wisdom Page 129 How Wisdom is to be justified by her Children Page 128 Wisdom of Christ. Page 83 Word of God is an Instrument fitted to gain the consent of man's will Page 236 Work the Work of a Christian. Page 72 74 Why Works are produced at the Day of Iudgment Page 97 What room and place Works have with respect to our final sentence and the Rewards and Punishments that follow it Page 100 101 Works good the Principle of them Page 101 Good Works cannot be performed by men in a state of Nature Page ib. The aim and scope of them Page ib. Good Works Imperfect Page 99 They merit nothing Page ib. What respect Good Works have to our future Reward Page 102 Worship External Pomp in the Worship of God is not that he looks after Page 198 A TABLE OF SCRIPTURES EXPLAINED In the SERMONS on 2 CORINTHIANS 5.  Chap. Verse Page GEnesis 1 31 216 3 11 28 4 7 252  13 252 Exodus 32 25 28 Deuteronomy 6 5 163 30 6 167 1 Kings 5 26 95 Psalms 1 5 92 27 4 64 31 1 233 33 15 93 51 4 92 115 1 133 130 3 92 Proverbs 16 14 112 29 27 246 Ecclesiastes 3 21 129 5 6 93 12 7 66 Canticles 8 6 146 Isaiah 56 4 76 65 17 200 66 22 200 Jeremiah 23 6 253 Hosea 2 3 28 4 8 252 6 7 96 10 1 183  11 152 Amos 6 3 112 Habakkuk 2 11 96 Malachy 2 15 168 Matthew 3 11 112 Matthew 11 19 128 20 23 40 22 37 163 250 24 12 160 25 31 78 Mark 6 11 94 9 44 105 Luke 2 40 191 10 27 250 12 20 4 16 9 68  22 68 20 37 38 68 23 43 67 John 2 24 25 84 5 45 93 7 â—4 63 14 2 4 15 2 203 20 27 197 Acts 16 14 175 20 21 224 Romans 5 14 171  25 223 6 3 4 5 180  6 177 179  13 180 6 19 131 8 2 164 9 3 141 11 36 134 14 7 8 183 15 3 187 1 Corinthians 3 8 40 1 Corinthians 4 4 5 82 11 22 195 15 21 179  45 179 16 32 169 2 Corinthians 1 12 117 4 7 238  16 60 5 21 171 6 11 12 13 145 Galatians 2 20 178 3 1 59  20 80 4 14 â—41 5 17 180 Ephesians 1 3 51 4 18 190 Philippians 1 23 67 2 13 209 Colossians 1 20 68  21 217 3 3 5 179 180 191 1 Thessalonians 1 10 112 1 Thessalonians 2 12 39  13 241 1 Timothy 6 12 19 6 2 Timothy 2 21 204 Hebrews 3 1 235 4 13 84 7 22 179 9 28 252 10 31 111 13 4 95 James 4 1 195 1 Peter 1 17 110 2 9 129 157 4 1 178 2 Peter 1 3 39 3 14 29 1 John 2 5 145 3 19 45 Revelations 2 5 162  3 4 38  5 9 76  12 12 93 FINIS Secondly Fourthly Thirdly Secondly Secondly ☞ That which follows being Printed Sermon XXX is the Conclusion of this 29 th Sermon
other must complement Antiquity at a great rate if himself hath any judgment and doth not say that Multitudes in the last Age have been as to Preaching greater than they In the former are to be found many judicious Explications of Scripture many honest and spiritual Discourses In the latter not these things only but a pleasantness of Wit and Fancy but for plenty of Matter clearness of Iudgment Orderliness of Method and many other things they have not been a little exceeded by men of this last age Nor is it any disparagement to them more than it was to John the Baptist that the least in the Kingdom of Heaven was to be greater than he or to Christ that the Apostles Joh. 14.12 were to do greater things than he had done In the middle Ages of the Church Preaching generally was turn'd into trifling about Scholastick nicetyes and to the very dawning of the Reformation the Priests Texts were out of Scotus or Aquinas and we remember they were not ashamed when Luther Melancton c. restored in some degree the true kind of Preaching to petition Magistrates for the suppression of it and a liberty to trifle still in that great work of God with discourses upon Scotus and Aquinas Thô Luther Zuinglius and others in Germany and Mr. Calvin Farellus and Viret and Beza in France about a hundred and fifty years since mended this matter in a great degree yet we all know how ill their Examples were followed So as Mr. Perkins who began to flourish about the year 1580. is generally judged to have been the first who amongst us restored Preaching to its true use and taught us the true manner of it whose Piety was followed by many but as their Number hath vastly increased since that time especially in the fifty or sixty years last past so God hath seemed to pour out his Spirit upon Ministers as to spiritual Gifts in a more plentiful measure Yet in very different proportions that he might have some to feed his Lambs as well as others to feed his Sheep The Generality of good Preachers have made it their business to preach Christ and the exceeding Riches of his Grace and to study matter rather than words upon Mr. Perkins his old Principle Verba sequentur res But all have not had alike ferâ—ile Invention or solid Judgment or alike Skill and Learning in Languages and Arts c. Some particular Persons have been blessed with them all by which they have made Stars of the first Magnitude in the Church of God Such Reader we take the Reverend Author of these Sermons to have been in all whose Writings thou shalt find a quick and fertile Invention governed with a grave and solid Iudgment and the Issue of both expressed in a grave and decent Style so as it is not easie to say what one would desire in a Divine that was wanting in him He had an Heart full of Love and Zeal for God and his Glory and out of the abundance of his Heart his Mouth continually spake So frequent yet so learned and solid Preaching by the same person was little less than miraculous But he was a Scribe fully instructed in the things of the Kingdom of God and like a good Housholder was continually fetching out of the Store-house of his knowing and judicious Soul things both old and new He was no studyer of Words and Phrases he abhorred such a Pedantry and debasing the Authority of Gospel Propositions but a grave and serious Soul fitted with his skill in Arts and Languages neither ever did nor could want Expressions above the scorn of the most wanton Word-dressers thó beneath the expectations of such as can be pleased with the timeableness of Paranomasiaes or the rollings of six-footed words He was a good and learned a grave and judicious person and his Auditory never failed thô he laboured more than the most Preachers his constant course of Preaching being for many years Five times and till near his End three times a Week to hear from him a pious learned and most judicious Discourse This those who never heard him may easily believe by his printed Commentaries and Sermons in which we never met with any that complained for want of any thing fit for a Divine So that he is one of those Authors upon the credit of whose Name not only the plainer and less intelligent sort of people but even Scholars may adventure to buy any Book that was his and be assured they will see no cause to repent of the expence of their Money His late large Folio upon the 119 th Psalm is a plentiful Evidence of this and a great part of our English World hath given their suffrage to this by making it so scarce in so short a time as the Price of it is inhanced above a fifth part We here offer a 2 d Volume of a greater Bulk thô no greater price which contains his Discourses upon the 25 th of Matth. the 17 th Chapt. of John the 6th and 8th Chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans and the 5th Chapt. of his 2 d Epistle to the Corinthians five Chapters than which possibly in the whole New Testament there will not be found five others more full of Gospel Doctrine in the Knowledge of which Gods People are more concerned In the first under the Parable of the Ten Virgins five of which were wise five foolish our Lord represents to us the state of the Members of the Church waiting for Christs Second coming to Iudgment Amongst whom some are sincere some are Hypocrites the different actions and issues of whom are excellently represented to us and most worthy to be learned and considered 2. Vnder the Parable of the Talents we are instructed in Gods different dispensation of his Gifts to men their different use of them and the Account they are like to be called to about them To which is subjoyned an Hypotuposis of the day of Judgment fit to be continually in our Eyes and Ears In the second we have our Saviours last Prayer for his Elect as well those that to the end of the World should believe as those who at that time did believe It was our Lords Legacy what good Christian desireth not a full understanding of it that he may know what to hope and pray in Faith for at being first secured to him 〈…〉 Prayer of him whom the Father heareth alwayes In the 6th and 8th of the Romans are contained great Treasuries of Gospel Truth Vpon both the 〈…〉 many learned men have spent their labours to great advantage But the Scripture is such a Book 〈…〉 never know when we fully comprehend it and if he may judge to whose share it fell to peruse some of those 〈…〉 the Reader will find some things here discovered which he will hardly meet with elsewhere His way of 〈…〉 it is rather Dogmatical and Practical than Polemical yet he now and then judiciously resolveth a 〈…〉 But all along in the handling of it
thou hast given me to do Have you been adding one Grace to another so that now you have nothing to do but to wait for the Crowning of all III. We should Improve it as to Christs general Coming If it be so that the Bridegroom will certainly come but at his own time 1. Then be not of the Number of those Scoffers and Mockers that either deny or doubt of his coming The most part of men expect no such matter the Prophane scoff at it and would fain shake off this bridle and restraint upon their Lusts 2 Pet. 3.3 Therefore take heed of the whispers of Atheism which would tempt us to turn unto the World and present things and give over our hopes Most mens Faith about the eternal Recompenses is but pretended at best but too cold and speculative an Opinion rather than a sound Belief as appeareth by the little fruit and effect it hath upon them for if we had such a belief of them as we have of other things we should be other manner of Persons in all Holy Conversation and Godliness Two things are to be wondred at viz. That any man should doubt of the Christian Faith that is acquainted with it and that having embraced it should live sinfully and carelesly Therefore believe it as if you saw it Rev. 20.12 I saw the dead c. 2. Take heed of apprehending it as a thing afar off look upon it as sure and near to hasten your Preparation It cannot be long to the end of Time If we compare the remainder with what is past and the whole with Eternity Psa. 90.4 A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when 't is past alas 't is nothing to the true measure of things He that shall come will come and will not tarry Therefore we should have more quick and lively thoughts and apprehensions about it such as will awaken us out of our security 3. Take heed of a cold and ineffectual thinking of it There is a certain time appointed and when that appointed time is come he will certainly appear therefore look for it and long for it The Saints are described by their looking for it Titus 2.13 Looking for the blessed hope Phil. 3.20 From whence we look for a Saviour and Heb. 9.28 Actual expectation enliveneth all our actions Rebecka espied Isaac a great way off Faith and Hope standeth ready to embrace him And also by their longing for it 2 Tim. 4.8 Revel 22.17 Come Lord Jesus come quickly Long for it for Christs sake and your own sakes For Christs sake his Interest is concerned in it that the glory of his Person may be cleared His first coming was obscure but now he will come in great splendor accompanied with his holy Hosts ten thousands of Saints and Angels 1 Pet. 4.13 That when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad with exceeding joy His Justice will then be demonstrated Acts 17.31 He hath appointed a day in which he will Judge the World in Righteousness And 2 Thes. 1.6 7. 'T is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you and to you that are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed with his mighty Angels And long for it for your own sake 't is a day of the manifestation of the Sons of God Rom. 8.19 Then you shall receive your reward to the full 1 Pet. 1.13 Hope to the end for the Grace that is to be brought to you at the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Then is the fullest manifestation of the Love of God Now we are pressed with the remainders of Corruption within and Temptations and Persecutions without wait for his coming The People tarryed without for the High Priest 'till he came forth to bless them so must we look for his return when he will come to bless us SERMON VI. MATTH XXV v. 7 8. Then all those Virgins arose and trimmed their Lamps And the foolish said unto the wise Give us of your Oyl for our Lamps are gone out THe meaning of this part of the Parable is that the Virgins being roused by the Cry made went to trim their Lamps and fit themselves for their March while they were so doing some of them had Oyl left but others had spent all their store and their Lamps were going or gone out Three things are remarkable in these Parabolical Expressions 1. That which is common to them all All those Virgins arose and trimmed their Lamps which must be differently interpreted of the wise and the foolish The arising and trimming their Lamps noteth in the wise their actual preparation for the Lords coming in the foolish it noteth the strength of their Confidence and Self-conceit The foolish think they are as prepared and ready for Christs coming as the wise they arise and Address themselves to meet the Bridegroom 2. On the part of the foolish they found their Oyl spent 3. That they go to the wise for a supply give us of your Oyl First The Effect of the Cry that is common to them all They arose and trimmed their Lamps Which is first to be considered on the wise Virgins part and so it will teach us this Note Doct That the Faithful as often as they think of the coming of the Lord should more rouze up themselves and prepare themselves to meet him with Ioy and Comfort For the trimming of the Lamps on their part it noteth the rousing up of themselves out of their negligence and security and a serious preparation for his coming To evidence this to you we shall consider 1. How the Scripture presseth this upon us 2. What reasons there are in the thing it self to awaken us to this serious Preparation First How the Scripture presseth this upon us In the Word of God we have not only the Doctrine of Christs coming to Judgment but the Uses and Inferences built thereupon I shall instance in two places in one Chapter 2 Pet. 3.11 and 14. v. 11. What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness Where Observe 1. That 't is not enough to believe the Doctrine of Christs coming but we must improve it to the use of holy Living The Improvement is pressed in Scripture as well as the Doctrine is revealed In Gods account no Faith will go for Faith but the working Faith all else is but Opinion and cold Speculation whatever Truths we believe we must bring forth to practice Therefore if we believe stedfastly we must live accordingly live as men that look for such things A bare apprehension or assent to the truth is nothing worth unless it be accompanied with that care and diligence which belongeth to the truth so apprehended The Christian Religion consisteth not in word but in deed And our belief of it is not tried by a speculative assent especially in the absence of temptations but by a constant and diligent practice of those duties whereunto this belief bindeth us
to be in Prayer if we be not careful to glorifie his Name zealous to promote his Kingdom ready to do his Will earnest for pardoning Grace watchful against Temptations A Christians life is a Comment upon his Prayers and his Prayers do interpret his life We understand the one by the other Our endeavours and diligent use of means do shew what we really desire For what we pray to God for we bind our selves to seek after Secondly There is a Watching with respect to our future Estate that we may be ready to meet Christ at his Coming Now this consisteth 1. In a deep and lively sense of Christs Appearing and the whole state of the World to come We look for nothing but what we believe Faith is a realizing sight of things not yet in being and maketh them in some measure to work as if they were at hand and ready to be enjoyed Now the more lively sense we have of the concernments of the other World the more diligent and serious shall we be in our preparation when we have a deep sense of these things as if presently to be Arraigned and walk as before the Judge to whom we are to give an account of all our actions Most men live as if there were no day of reckoning no God to see and punish no Books to be opened the careless spending their time sheweth they have no deep sense of these things no sound belief of them But Faith looketh upon these things as great sure and near and so keepeth the Soul awake and alive It greateneth our Apprehensions of these things For 't is no slight matter for the Creature to meet with his Creator the Sinner with his Judge from whom he must now receive his final doom Faith doth speak aloud to a sluggish Soul Thou must be judged Rom. 14.12 So then every one of us must give an account of himself to God And as 't is sure so 't is near The Judge is at the door Phil. 4.5 You must hear of what you now speak and do another day Mat. 12.36 For every idle word that a man shall speak he shall give an account of at the day of Judgment It suppresseth sin and quickeneth and awakeneth to Duty 2 Pet. 3.11 12. Without Faith we have no sensible awakening practical knowledge of these things The sight of Faith differeth from the sight of Sense Sense can discern little more than we see taste smell hear and feel We are affected with these things so are the Beasts who only see things before their eyes by the eye of sense We see nothing but what Dogs may see and Beasts may see that 't is comfortable to eat well and drink well and sleep well and be well cloathed and walk up and down at pleasure and pursue the advantages of the Animal life There is a mist upon Eternity How acute soever men be in worldly things they are blind here 2 Pet. 1.9 He that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off Sharp-sighted in things that concern the back and belly and this present World but know nothing of the hazard of perishing for ever or the worth of Salvation their need of Christ and making serious preparation for their great account Faith is a Perspective by which we look into the other World None have such a sharp sight as Believers have for they can see beyond the limits of time the corruption and changes of all things that are in the World even to that blessedness which God hath reserved for them that love him And the light of Faith differeth from Reason That can only see things by ghess or see things in their Causes and that as probable but Faith can look thorough the mists and Clouds of intervening Ages Heb. 11.13 Having seen them afar off embraced them and with certainty and such a sure perswasion as if the things we are perswaded of were in hand and actually enjoyed Reason corrects Sense A Star to the eye of Sense looks to be no bigger than a Spangle but Reason sheweth it must be of a vast bigness because of its distance from us But Faith is an higher light and compare it with the light of Prophesie Rev. 20.12 they agree in the common Object divine Revelation They agree in their common Nature that they are both for things future and things future to us but they differ that Faith depends upon the common Revelation which God hath made to all the â—aints whereas Prophesy hath more of Extasie and Rapture in it and the light is like the lumen Gloriae the beatifical Vision in some measure and degree We do not see him face to face but are desirous of this blessed Estate and perswaded of it and are affected with it as if we saw it The sight of Faith is not a full enjoyment but as sure and so proportionably affects the Heart Nay this lumen Fideâ— is somewhat like the sight God hath of things God seeth all things in his own design and Faith seeth them so far as they are manifested in the Promises of the Gospel There is no hope to get rid of our dead-heartedness and security till we have this reallizing light of Faith 2. This Watching consisteth in Preparation If we expect a thing to come and do not prepare accordingly we do not watch for it but neglect it Now this Preparation must be speedy thorough and constant 1. Watching implyeth a speedy Preparation That we may be in a fit capacity to receive Christ at his Coming we must take the next advantage lest we be surprized and called home before we are ready This is not a work to be put off to Age or Sickness Why should we provide a burden for that time when we are weakest and least able to bear it And therefore now we should begin it Every day brings burden enough for it self He is an unthrifty Tenant that suffers the Rent of one year to run into another How shall that Crop discharge two years Rent that cannot pay one If it be tedious now to turn to God it will be more tedious when thou art hardened in sin and thy neglects of God and Christ will provoke him to deny his Grace And what assurance have we of another year we have this by the favour of Providence Our life was forfeited and lost in Law the first moment and therefore we have but a Reprieve during pleasure What warrant have I to expect another day but my own hope and fancy He that is Security for himself to himself is no whit the better secured he doth but take the word of a Spend-thrift If we had a Lease of our Lives yet what hope of Grace when we have resisted the Spirit of God all our lives what hope that he should assist us at death we do but provide matter of Despair to our selves Every day will prove worse and worse A Traveller may easily pass over the Head of a Brook but when he goeth down thinking to
the same Office some an Eye some a Hand some a Head some a Foot Magistracy Ministry are distinct offices in the Church which ought not to be confounded or invaded Eph. 4.11 12. And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying the Body of Christ And Isa. 54.11 I will lay thy Foundations with Saphires and thy Windows of Agates and thy Gates of Carbuncles and all thy Borders of pleasant Stones Here are variety of Employments Foundations Windows Gates Borders to hold forth the variety of the gifts and graces of the Members of the Church 2. There is a Diversity in the Kind of gifts in the general some are common some saving Heb. 6.5.9 Carnal men have great Abilities for the good of others the stamp may be Iron and Brass though the Impress be on Gold and Silver some bodily some spiritual some are called to glorify God with their Honour and Estates so Luk. 9.11 Others with the gifts of the mind The gifts of the Mind are common or saving Among the common gifts One hath the word of Wisdom another the word of Knowledge 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10. Some are able to lay down the Truth soundly others able to apply it forceably Some have the gift of Prayer and Utterance others are able to inform the Judgment or convince Gainsayers some to clear up Doctrines others to stir Affections As the three Ministers of Geneva Vireto nemo docuit dulcius Farello nemo tonuit fortius nemo doctius locutus est Calvino Among hearers some have more wisdom some more knowledge some more affection amongst the Pen-men of Scripture there is a great variety John is sublime and Seraphical Paul spiritual and argumentative Peter in an easie fluent and mild way Isaiah more Court like and lofty Jeremiah more Priest-like and grave Among the saving gifts there is a diversity of Graces though all have all in some measure The new Creature is not maimed yet some are more eminent some for one Grace some for another Abraham for Faith Job for Patience Moses for Meekness Timothy for Temperance Every Grace working according to the Diversity of tempers some are modest and mild others bold and Zealous some are Mourning for Sin others raised in the Admiration of the Grace of God in Christ others exemplary for Strictness and weanedness from the delights of the Animal Life 3. There is a Diversity as to the Measure and Degrees Every Bark that saileth to Heaven doth not draw a like depth There is the Measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4.7 and the Measure of every part verse 16. to some it may be said Great is thy Faith to others Oh ye of little Faith Some are Fathers some Young men some Babes in Christ 1 John 2.13 14. and in Heaven there are degrees of Glory suitable 4. That this Diversity cometh from the same free Love of God and therefore not to be used contrary to the mind of the giver This is the free gift of God flowing from his undeserved Grace there being nothing foreseen in any that can merit the least good at Gods hand 1 Cor. 4.7 Who made thee to differ Rom. 12.35 For of him and through him and to him are all things The Sun oweth nothing to the Stars nor the Fountain to the Streams 5. Our Account must be answerable to our Receipts there is a proportion of return expected Hezekiah rendered not according to what he received They that have received much shall account for much and they that have received little shall account for little he that received five Talents must look to reckon for five As he comforted his Friend that had but one Eye that he should account but for the Sins of one Eye Now for the Reasons of this Diversity 1. To shew the Liberty of his Councels Christ may do with his own as he pleaseth he will be known to be the Sovereign Lord in the distribution of his Gifts and giving out his Grace to his Creatures as he shall see good Matth. 11.26 Even so Father for so it seemeth good in thy Sight 1 Cor. 12.11 For all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit distributing to every man severally as he will Not as you will but as he will The Spirit is compared to wind not only for its force but its liberty John 3.8 when and how he pleaseth to some he giveth Riches to some Gifts common Knowledge and Utterance some have this Gift some that some in a lower Measure some in a higher some have a peculiar Excellency in Gifts and Graces others only the common Sincerity 2. That all may know that all Fulness is only in Himself Col. 1.19 The greatest degree of Gifts and Graces that God bestoweth upon any is far below that fulness that is in Christ they have a measure but Christ without measure John 3.34 He giveth to none so much but there is always something wanting and they that have received most are capable of receiving more 3. God will have this Difference for the Beauty and Order of the whole Variety is more grateful Hills and Valleys make the World Beautiful so do distinct Orders Ranks and Degrees of men all Eye or all Belly is monstrous difference with Proportion maketh Beauty therefore one excelleth another and several gifts and ranks there are for the service of the whole 4. That every one in the Sight of his own Wants may be kept Humble When we are singular for any Excellency we are apt to grow proud and unsociable the Eye is apt to say to the Hand or Foot I have no need of thee 1 Cor. 12.21 Every man hath something to commend him to the respects of others therefore God hath so scattered his gifts that every one should need another that we may have the use of that Gift which we have not the possession of 1. To maintain Love and mutual respect and that there might be no Schism in the Body The Apostle saith Eph. 4.16 The whole Body compacted and joined together by that which every part supplyeth 2. Diversity of Gifts was most intended not to dissolve the bonds of Vnion but to Strengthen them rather and therefore the Apostle when he had reckoned up the bonds of Union he presently addeth But unto every one of us is given Grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4.7 First he speaketh of what is one in all and then of those things which are not one in all but divers in every one Every one hath his distinct Excellency to endear him to the respects of others Diversity of Gifts are an ordinary occasion of Division and Strife Contempt Envy Pride Discouragement ariseth from hence but in its self one of the strongest bonds of Union Whilst all in their way contribute to the good of the whole and make use of that Excellency in another which themselves
long and given us a large space of time wherein to employ our selves but what have we done for his glory Alas either we do nihil agere or male agere or aliud agere either we do nothing or nothing to the purpose or that which is worse than nothing which will undo us for ever Oh what thoughts will we have of a careless and mispent life when we come to die Many do not think of the end of their Lives till their lives be ended and then they moan and bewail themselves when they lye a dying Oh rather think of your last end and great account betimes 'T is lamentable to begin to live when we must die Quidam tunc incipiat vivere cum desinendum est they end their lives before they begin to live Therefore if hitherto you have been pleasing the flesh idling and wantoning away your precious time say 1 Pet. 4.3 Let the time past suffice I have been long enough dishonouring God and destroying my own soul hath my Master tarryed so long and shall I still abuse his patience This is an holy and right use of this delay Secondly His Work what he will do when he cometh He reckoneth with his Servants Doct. II. Those that have Talents must look to reckon for them For though he be long first yet at length the Lord cometh 1. Consider the certainty of this Account his Wisdom Justice Goodness and Truth require it His Wisdome requireth it for no wise man would put hiâ— Goods to trust and never look after them more and shall we imagine that the wise God would send reasonable Creatures into the World and furnish them with excellent Gifts and Endowments and never consider how they imploy themselves Is man Gods Servant then certainly he is liable to an account You had never come into the World but for this business to serve and please God For God maketh nothing in vain but all things for himself Prov. 16.4 And do you think that after you are made for this end you may live as you lift and never be called to a reckoning So absurd a thought cannot enter into the heart of a reasonable man Eccl. 11.9 Rejoyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth and walk in the wayes of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes But know thou for all these things God will bring thee to judgment Man would be but a sort of Beast if he had no other end of his Actions but to eat and drink and sleep and no other account to give surely the most wise God would not have given us such excellent faculties in vain He fitteth all Creatures for their use Every Workman fitteth his work for the end for which it serveth so God hath made Man for some end and use And Gods Justice requireth it that it should be well with them that do well and ill with them that do ill In the World it is not so his Servants are very often abused while doing their work most faithfully the World thinks them mad hateth them They that neglect their own work beat their Fellow-servants therefore the honour of his Justice requireth they should be called to an account 1 Pet. 4.5 Who must give an account to him who is ready to judge the quick and the dead There is not a thought in wicked mens Hearts nor a word in their Mouths contrary to God and his People but he taketh notice of it and will exact an account thereof a strict and impartial account of all their hard speeches And the Goodness of God requireth it His goodness to the World in general the World would be a Wilderness and Men like ravenous Beasts if there were not some Bridle and awe of a World to come upon them but every one that had power would prey upon others but that there is an higher Judge God hath appointed a supream Tribunal where Causes are judged over again otherwise those that have power enough to do mischief would be under no restraint But 't is goodness to his people whom he hath set a work and therefore hath appointed a day when he will give them their wages his goodness will not permit that they should be any losers by God their love and obedience to him that deny themselves their own affections and interest for his sake Therefore certainly the great God of Recompences will come and call the VVorld to an account that the faithfulness of his Servants may appear with praise and honour This is a supream Truth Heb. 11.6 That he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him And his Truth requireth it 't is laid at pledge in the VVord that 's the proper ground for Faith to build upon Now there we have not only Gods VVord but Gods Oath Rom. 14.10 11. For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God There we have plentiful evidence 2. 'T is a personal Account Rom. 14.12 So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God VVe should not look to others what they be and do As to our selves we must give an account of our selves our life our heart our own thoughts words and actions 'T is personal partly because every one must give his Account apart not every one shuffled together and in gross but every Servant apart and severally first he that had five Talents then two then one And partly because every one unavoidably must answer for himself Here we may have our Attorney or Advocate to appear for us in Court but there every one for himself every man must in person give an Account of his own fidelity 3. 'T is an Impartial Account every one without exception Revel 20.12 I saw the Dead both small and great stand before God Small and great King and Peasant they shall all one day be called to an Account whether Faithful or no. None so high as to be exempted from this Account none so mean as to be neglected in it he that received five Talents and he that received one both gave an Account The poor Beggar is not left out nor the King excused 4. 'T is a particular Account God will not take our Accounts by the heap and lump but there is a narrow search into all our Hearts and Ways the the great thing is What we have done in that place and Relation where God hath set us our Stewardship Luke 16.2 But that 's not all we are to give an Account of every Action Eccles. 12.14 For God shall bring every work into Judgement Every idle Word must be Accounted for Mat. 12.36 All the time we have spent degrees of Grace we received what we have done proportionable to our Trust five for five two for two 5. 'T is an exact
of the same Mould To bridle the Excesses of Power the Scripture often telleth us of the Day of Judgment how the great Men of the Earth shall tremble and the Hearts of the Powerful then be appalled Revel 6.15 16 17. They shall then understand the distance between God and the Creature when his Wrath and Terrour is in its Perfection Who can stand when he is angry Psal. 76.7 'T is a wonder Men will live in a way Controversie with him and are so little moved at it No Wrath so considerable as the Wrath of the Lamb When their Mediator is their Enemy none in Heaven or Earth can befriend them Those that in the Thoughts of Men are most secure Ring-leaders to others in Sin that swear and swagger and bear down all before them and persist in their Opposition to Christ with the greatest Confidence will be found the greatest and most desperate Cowards then Now these Gallants ruffle it as if they would bid defiance to Christ and his Wayes Oh! how pusillanimous and fearful then Appear they must though they cannot abide it What Torture do they endure between these two The necessity of Appearing and The impossibility of Enduring Oh! the Great Ones then would gladly change Power with the meanest Saint Then they know what an excellent thing it is to have the Favour of God and of what worth and value Godliness is and how much a good Conscience exceedeth all the Glory of the World and what an Advantage it is to have Peace made with God 6. Not only some of all sorts or of all Nations but every individual Person In one Place the Apostle saith All of us collectivè 2 Cor. 5.10 in another Place distributivè Every one of us Rom. 14.12 Not only all but every one Not all shuffled together in gross but every one severally and apart is to give an Account of his Wayes and Actions to God VSE If these things be so That all Places shall give up their Dead and all those Nations that differ so much one from another in Tongues Rights and Customs of Living and distance of Habitation shall be gathered together into one Place and not left scattered up and down the World there are many wayes to shift Mens Courts and Tribunals they may fly the Country or bribe the Judge but there is no shunning the Bar of Christ Oh then let the Thought of this make us more watchful and serious 1. In this Judgment there is no Exemption For all summoned small and great and whether they will or no they shall be gathered together The Faithful shall willingly come as to Absolution the Wicked shall be violently halled as to Condemnation 2. There is no Appearing by a Proctor or Attorney but every one in his own Person must give an account of himself to God 3. No Denying For the Books shall be opened Revel 20.12 4. No excusing or extenuating For Christ will judge the World in Righteousness Act. 17.31 according to terms of strict Justice 5. No Appealing For this is the last Judgment No suing out of Pardon or no Time of shewing Favour For this is too late the Day of Grace is past Sinners are in termino Their Work is over and now come to receive their Wages Oh then Now let us take care that this day may be comfortable to us God's Children have more cause to look and long for it than to dread it Secondly We now come to the Segregation and there First As to Company He shall separate them one from another as the Shepherd divideth between the Sheep and the Goats In these Words there is 1. A Point intimated and implyed That Christ is represented as a Shepherd and the Godly as Sheep but the Wicked as Goats 2. There is a second Point expressed That though there be a Confusion of the Godly and Wicked now yet at the Day of Judgment there will be a perfect Separation For the First of these That Christ is represented to us under the Notion of a Shepherd So he is called Zech. 13.7 Awake O Sword against my Shepherd I will smite the Shepherd and the Sheep shall be scattered And 1 Pet. 2.25 But are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls First A Shepherd among Men is one that is not Lord of the Flock but a Servant to take care of them and charge of them This holdeth good of Christ as Mediator for he is God's Elect Servant the Servant of his Decrees The Flock are his not in point of Dominion Right and original Interest but in point of Trust and Charge So Christ is Lord of the Faithful as God but as Mediator he hath an Office and Service about them and is to give an Account of them to God when he bringeth them home and leadeth them into their Everlasting Fold Joh. 6.37 to 40. with 1 Cor. 15.24 25. Heb. 2.13 Behold I and the Children which God hath given me Jude 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the Presence of his Glory And Col. 1.22 To present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight Secondly The Work of the Shepherd is to keep the Flock from straying to choose fit Pasture and good Laire for them yea not only to fodder the Sheep but to drive away the Wolf To defend the Flock is a part of his Office as David fought with the Lyon and the Bear and slew them for the Flock's sake All these concur in Christ as you may see Psal. 23.1 2 3 4. The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want He maketh me to lie down in green Pastures He leadeth me besides the still Waters Thy Rod and thy Staff they comfort me There is guarding and feeding and defending So Joh. 10. there is Leading Vers. 3 4. then there is Feeding them Vers. 9. and Defending them Vers. 12 27 28 29. Thirdly Christ is not an ordinary Shepherd He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The good Shepherd Joh. 10.11 And Heb. 13.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The great Shepherd of the Sheep And 1 Pet. 5.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The chief Shepherd When the chief Shepherd shall appear c. 1. He is the good Shepherd Other Shepherds are said to be good when they perform their Office well or quit themselves faithfully in the discharge of their Trust. But besides the resemblance in these Qualities there are certain Singularities in Christ's Office that denominate him the good Shepherd 1. A good Shepherd is known by his Care and Vigilancy If he know the State of his Flock Prov. 27.23 This Resemblance holdeth good in Christ He hath a particular Care and Inspection of every Soul that belongeth to his Flock Calleth his Sheep by Name Joh. 10.3 He hath a particular exact Knowledge of every one of them their Persons their State their Condition their Place their Countrey their Conflicts Temptations and Diseases 2 Tim. 2.19 The Lord knoweth who are his Joh.
Believers is Holiness Therefore if his Judgment be right by producing this Fruit and Effect it must be justified A Judge is to proceed Secundum regulas Juris allegata probata as to the partyes judged And because in the day of Judgment the Covenant of Grace hath the force of a Law therefore it belongeth to Christ as a Judge to see we have fulfilled the Condition of it which is Faith And that our Faith is true is proved by Works When we are first pressed with Sin because the Promise of Justification or Remission of Sin requireth Faith it must be embraced by Faith and taken hold of by Faith our Faith must pitch upon it draw Comfort from it even before good Works are done by us But because the next Accusation will presently arise as if our Faith were not true we must be justified from this Accusation by good Works Not be contented with one or two good Works but abounding in all that thus we may be justified more and more and approved by our Judge 4. That Faith is implyed in all the Works mentioned is evident 1. From Christ's scope The Manner of judging those in the Visible Church is intended And 2. The Expression sheweth it for 't is Christ they respected in his Members Now it requireth Faith to see Christ in a poor Beggar or Prisoner to love Christ in them above our worldly Goods and Actually to part with them for Christ's sake Self-denyal is the Fruit of Faith 'T is not meerly the Relieving of the Poor but the doing of it as in and to Christ. 3. There is a near link between Faith and Works Faith is not sound and perfect unless it produce these Works and these Works are not acceptable unless they were the VVorks of Faith and done in Faith II. The Second Doubt is Whether the good Works of the Faithful shall be only mentioned and not the Evil I Answer So some would collect from this Scheme and Draught set down by Christ 'T is a Probleme disputed with Probabilities on both sides by good Men. Some reason from the terms by which Pardon is expressed As by the Blotting out of Sin Remembring Transgressions no more Cast into the depths of the Sea 'T is like God will cover them because repented of and forgiven in the World On the other side they urge The exact Reckoning Rev. 20.11 The general Particles 2 Cor. 5.10 and â—ccles 12.13 And that for every Idle word that men shall speak they shall give an Account thereof in the day of Judgment Matth. 12.36 I would not interpose I cannot say absolutely that their Sins shall not be mentioned at all for Acts 3.19 't is said Repent â—e therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of Refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Certainly not to their Trouble and Confusion Possibly not particularly These Scriptures are not cogent to prove they shall For it may be meant distributively All the Evil of the Wicked and the Good of the Godly Howevever these Scriptures should breed an Awe in our Hearts III. A Third Doubt is That only Works of Mercy and Charity rather than Piety are mentioned by our Lord and Saviour I Answer 1. 'T is clear that the Special is put for the General and an Act of Self-denying Obeaâ—nce is put for all the rest In other Places a more general Expression is put as Matth. 16.27 For the Son of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels and thâ—n hâ— shall reâ—ard every Man according to his Works And 2 Cor. 5.10 For we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad And Rev. 20.12 And I say the Dead small and great stand before God and the Books â—ere opâ—ned and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life And the Dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their Works And therefore Acts of Mercy are not intended to be cryed up alone as separate from all other Acts of Piety and Charity to God and Men yea all Acts of Charity for which we are accountable unto God are not mentioned Comforting the Afflicted Reproving the Faulty Instructing the Weak Counselling the Erring Praying for others Therefore under these Works of Charity all the Fruits of Faith are understood and the real gracious Constitution of the Heart that must produce them 1 Cor. 13.3 And though I bestow all my Goods to feed the Poor and though I give my Body to be burned and have not Charity it profiteth me not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But Christ doth not express that so plainly because he would shew that this Judgment shall proceed according to what is visible and sensible 2. Christ singled out Works of Mercy for the Evidence because the Jews had been more exact and diligent in the observing the Ceremonies of External Worship but negligent of these things Therefore doth God so often by the Prophets tell them of Mercy above Sacrifices Hosea 6.6 For I desired Mercy and not Sacrifice and the Knowledge of God more than burnt Offerings And Mercy above Fasting Isa. 58 6 7. These are Duties never out of Season and including a real Benefit to Mankind God preferreth them before External Rites of Worship 3. These are most evident and sensible Discoveries and so fitted to be produced as Fruits of Faith There is a Demonstration of the Soundness of it A signis notioribus These are most conspicuous and so fittest to justifie Believers before all the World who reckon Good and Evil most by the Bodily Life Therefore doth Christ instance in Acts of Bodily rather than Spiritual Charity Not in Reproving Converting Counselling but in Feeding and Cloathing 4. These are Acts wherein we do exercise Faith and Self-denyal In imparting Spiritual Gifts to others we lose nothing our selves as our Candle loseth nothing by communicating Light to another Christ would have us venture something on our Heavenly Hopes and not please our selves with a Religion that costs us nothing and puts us to no Charges Alms is an expensive Duty here is something parted with and that upon Reasons of Faith Eccles. 11.1 Cast thy Bread upon the Waters for thou shalt find it after many Dayes Prov. 19.17 He that hath pity upon the Poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he giveth them will he pay it again 5. Christ would hereby represent the Excellency of Charity and commend it to the Covetous niggardly World 'T is the Duty wherein we do very much resemble God and Christ And all his Followers should be like him These are all Works of God To Feed the Hungry Cloath the Naked Visit the Sick we imitate him in this are Instruments of his Providence Mercy is a very lovely thing an imitation of the Divine Nature Our Lord told us Act. 20.35
if in want we would relieve him Christ is so nearly conjoyned with his Servants that in their Afflictions he is afflicted in their Comforts he is comforted he looks upon it as done to him The Godly of old time thought themselves much Honoured if they could get a Prophet or an Apostle to their Houses Heb. 13.1 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares Here 's Christ himself will you refuse him who is Heir of all things 3. 'T is the great Question Interrogated by him at the great day of Accounts 'T is not Have you Heard have you Prophesyed have you Eat and Drank in my Presence But have you Fed have you Cloathed have you Visited We are one day to come to this Account and what sorry Accounts shall we make So much for Pleasure for Riot for Luxury for Bravery in Apparel and Pomp in Living and little or nothing for God and his People As if a Steward should bring in his Bill So much spent in Feasts in Rioting in merry Company when his Masters House lyeth to ruine the Children starved and the Servants neglected We are very liberal to our Lusts but sparing to God A man that expecteth to be posed is preparing himself and would fain know the Questions aforehand Christ hath told us our Question SERMON XXIII MATTH XXV v. 37 38 39 40. Then shall the Righteous answer and say Lord When saw we thee an Hungred and fed thee and Thirsty and gave thee Drink When saw we thee a Stranger and took thee in and Naked and Cloathed thee Or when saw we thee Sick and in Prison and came unto thee And the King shall answer and say unto them Verily I say unto you In so much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done it unto me WE have handled the Sentence and the Reason The Reason is amplified in some Parabolical passages which contain a Dialogue or interchangeable Discourse between Christ the King and his Elect Servants In which you may observe First Their Question verses 37 38 39. Secondly Christ's Reply and Answer verse 40. Not that such formal words shall pass too and fro at the day of Judgment between the Judge and the Judged but only to represent the matter more sensibly and in a more lively and impressive way to our minds First For their Question certainly 't is not moved 1. By way of Doubt or exception to the Reason alleadged by the Judge in his Sentence there being a perfect Agreement and harmony of mind and will between them Neither 2. Out of Ignorance as if they knew not that Christ was so much concerned in their works of Love done to his Children for his sake for this they knew aforehand that what was done to Christians is done to Christ and upon that account they do it as to Christ and such Ignorance cannot be supposed to be found in the glorified Saints 3. Some say the Question is put to express an holy wonder at what they hear and see and no question Christ will then be admired in his Saints 2 Thes. 1.10 And three Causes there may be of this wonder 1. Their humble sense of their own Nothingness that their Services should be taken notice of and rewarded that he should have such a respect for their mean offices of Love which they little esteemed of and had no confidence in them 2. The greatness of Christs Condescention that he should have such a care of his mean Servants who were so despicable in the world 3. The greatness of the Reward Christ shall so incomparably above all that they could ask or think reward his People that they shall wonder at it This sense is pious taken up by most Interpreters I should acquiesce in it but that I find the same question put by the Reprobates afterwards vers 42 43 44. they use the same words therefore I think the words are barely Parabolical brought in by Christ that he might have occasion further to declare himself how they fed him and cloathed him and what esteem he will put upon works of Charity and to impress this truth the more upon our minds that what is done to his People is accepted by him as if it were done to his Person However because the former sense is useful I shall a little insist upon it in this note Doctrine That when Christ shall come to Reward his People they shall have great cause to wonder at all that they see hear and enjoy 1. They shall wonder at the Reason alleadged They that are holy ever think humbly of their own works and therefore considering their no deservings their ill-deservings they cannot satisfie themselves in admiring and extolling the rich Grace of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that he should take notice of any thing of theirs and produce it into Judgment see how they express themselves now Psal. 143.2 Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant Non dicit cum hostibus tuis So Psal. 130.3 If thou shouldest mark Iniquity O Lord who shall stand So 1 Cor. 4.4 For I know nothing by my self yet am not I thereby Justified Isa. 64.6 But we are as an unclean thing and all our Righteousnesses are as filthy rags This thought they have of all they do and their minds are not altered then for this is the Judgment of Truth as well as of Humility Luk. 17.10 When we have done all we are unprofitable Servants Their Lord hath taught them to say so and think so they did not this out of Complement And for their works of Mercy they were not to let their left hand know what their right hand did Math. 6.3 'T is a Proverb that teaches us that we should not suffer our selves to take notice of what we give in Alms nor esteem much of it as if there were any worth therein and therefore when Christ maketh such reckoning of these things their wonder will be raised they will say Lord when saw we thee an hungry or athirst Their true and sincere Humility will make them cast their Crowns before the Throne saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour Lord 't is thy Goodness what have we done The Saints when they are highest still shew the lowest signs of Humility to their Redeemer and confess that all the glory they have they have it from him and are contented to lay it down at his feet as holding it by his Acceptance and not their own Merit they have all and hold all by his Grace and therefore would have him receive the Glory of all 2. They shall wonder at the greatness of Christs Condescention and hearty Love to his Servants though poor and despicable for in the day of Judgment he doth not commemorate the Benefits done to him in Person in the dayes of his Flesh but to his Members in the time of his Exaltation he doth not mention the Alabaster box of precious Oyntment poured
folly of Sinners that will run this hazard for a little Temporal Satisfaction For as he cryed out For how short a Pleasure have I lost a Kingdom when he had parted with his Soveraignty for a Draught of Water so you out of a desire of present Contentment forfeit Heaven and run the hazard of Eternal Torments When thou art about to Sin think of this We need all kind of Helps 1. To stir us up to Godliness If Men were as they should be sweet Arguments would be enough but now we need the Scourge 'T is good to counterballance any Temptation when 't is violent My Heart will call me Fool to all Eternity Can I dwell with Everlasting Burnings 2. To rouse us up to the Consideration of our natural Misery 1. Partly that we may flee from the Wrath to come Matth. 3.7 There is no way but by Jesus Christ. We need every Day to look back In their Flight to Zoar they were not to look back upon Sodom lest there should be Relentings kindled But 't is good to look back in this Sense we shall see nothing but Fire and Brimstone behind us 2. That we may be thankful to Christ 1 Thess. â— 10. Even Jesus which hath delivered us from Wrath to come He was substituted in our Room and Place he suffered a kind of Hell in his own Soul or else this must have been our Portion 2. VSE Are we of the number There is a Catalogue of the Damned Crew Rev. 21.8 But the Fearful and Vnbelieving and Abominable and Murtherers and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Lyars have their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone The Fearful Such as for the Fear of Men swerve from the Holy Profession and Practice of Godliness The Vnbelieving All that remain in an impenitent Estate Abominable Murtherers Whoremongers Impure Gnosticks such as Ranters 1 Cor. 6.9 Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Is there any likelihood of Deceit there Corrupt Nature is alwayes devising one Shift or another wherein to harden Conscience Idolatrous 'T is dangerous not to be right in Worship The Covetous cometh in Gal. 5.5 Nor Covetous Man who is an Idolater Let no Man deceive you for because of these things the Wrath of God cometh upon the Children of Disobedience We think it a small Matter All Lyars Not only the gross Lyar but the Heretick as Heresie is called a Lie 'T is good to keep to the Pattern of sound Words The Hypocrites Hell is his Portion Matth. 24.51 Appoint him his Portion with the Hypocrites there shall be Weeping and gnashing of Teeth Hypocrisie 't is a practical Lie SERMON XXVII MATTH XXV v. 46. And these shall go away into Everlasting Punishment but the Righteous into Life Eternal THE Words are a Conclusion of a notable Scheme and Draught which Christ gives us of the last Judgment In that Day there will be 1. A Congregation 2. A Segregation 3. A Discussion of the Cause 4. A Solemn Doom and Sentence both of Absolution and Condemnation 5. And lastly Execution Without which the whole Process of that Day would be but a solemn and useless Pageantry The Execution is in the Text. Wherein observe First A Distinction of the Persons These and the Righteous See the last Sermon on 2 Cor. 5.10 Page 103 c. Secondly As there are different Persons so different Recompenses See 2 Cor. 5.10 Page 104 c. Thirdly Observe these different Recompenses are dispensed with respect to the different Qualifications and State of the Persons judged as their Case shall appear upon Tryal according to their Works Some are Wicked and others Righteous God must needs deal differently with them 1. To shew the Holiness of his Nature The Holy God delighteth in Holiness and Holy Persons and hateth Sin and the Workers of Iniquity And therefore will not deal with the one as he dealeth with the other Both Parts of his Holiness are spoken of in Scripture his Delight in Holy Things and Persons See the Fourth Sermon on 2 Cor. 5.10 Page 97. 2. The Righteousness of his Government requireth that there should be a different Proceeding with the Godly and the Wicked That every Man should reap according to what he hath sown whether he hath sown according to the Flesh or the Spirit That the Fruit of his Doings should be given into his Bosom And this though it be not evident in this Life where Good and Evil is promiscuously dispensed because now is the Time of God's Patience and our Tryal Yet in the Life to come when God will Judge the World in Righteousness Act. 17.31 it is necessary that it should go well with the Good and ill with the Bad or as the Apostle saith 2 Thess. 1.6 7. It is a righteous thing with God to recompense Tribulation to them that trouble you And to you that are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels Mark Both Parts of the Recompense belong to the Righteousness of his Government to give Rest to the Troubled as well as Tribulation to the Troublers Indeed with the one he dealeth in strict Justice to the other he dispenseth a Reward of Grace Yet that also belongeth to his Righteousness that is his New-Covenant Righteousness For so 't is said Heb. 6.10 God is not unrighteous to forget your Work and Labour of Love As he hath bound himself by gracious Promise to give Life and Glory to the Penitent Obedient and Faithful 3. The Graciousness of his rewarding Mercy and free Love to his faithful Servants Though they were involved in the same Condemnation with others as to their Original and first Estate and the Merit of their evil Actions and the constant Imperfection of their best Works yet since it was the sincere Bent of their Hearts to serve and honour God he will give them a Crown of Life They might have perished everlastingly as others do if God should enter into a strict Judgment with them But when others receive the Fruit of their Doings he dealeth graciously with them pardoning their Failings and accepting them in the Beloved God is not bound in Justice from the Right and Merit of their Actions to reward them that have done him most faithful Service but meerly of his Grace upon the Account of Christ. 1 Pet. 1.13 Hoping unto the End for the Grace is is to be brought unto you at the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ And Jude 2â—0 Looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal Life And 2 Tim. 1.18 The Lord grant that he may find Mercy of the Lord in that Day Namely when the Lord shall judge the Quick and the Dead and shall distribute Punishments and Rewards In some measure we see Grace here but never so fully
Jam. 4.17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do Good and doth it not to him it is Sin III. In many Cases Sins of Omission may be more hainous and damning than Sins of Commission They are the ruine of the most part of the Carnal World They are described to be without God Ephes. 2.12 Of the Wicked within the Pale 't is said Psal. 10.3 4. The Wicked through the Pride of his Heart will not seek after God God is not in all his Thoughts Of the careless Professor Jer. 2.32 My People have forgotten me Dayes without number Sins of Omission may be more hainous than Sins of Commission 1. Partly because these harden more Foul Sins scourge the Conscience with Remorse and Shame but these bring on insensibly Sleightness and Hardness of Heart And therefore Christ saith Publicans and Harlots should enter into the Kingdom of God before Pharisees that neglected Faith Love and Judgment Matth. 21.31 2. Partly because Omissions make way for Commissions Psal. 14.4 They that called not upon God did eat up his People as Bread They lie open to gross Sins that do not keep the Heart tender by a daily Attendance upon God If a Man do not that which is Good he will soon do that which is Evil. Oh then let us bewail our Unprofitableness that we do no more Good that we do so much neglect God that we do no more edifie our Neighbour so that God's best Gifts lie idle upon our hands That Child is counted undutiful that doth wrong and beat his Father so also he that giveth him not due Reverence How seldom do we think of God! Every Relation puts new Duties upon us but we little regard them every Gift every Talent II. The Godly by their Fruitfulness in good Works and Acts of Self-denying Obedience They fed they refreshed they harboured they cloathed they visited vers 35 36. The question is not Have you heard prayed preached These are disclaimed Matth. 7.22 Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesyed in thy Name and in thy Name have cast out Devils and in thy Name have done many wonderful Works And then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work Iniquity Luke 13.26 Then shall ye begin to say We have eat and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets but he shall say I tell you I know you not depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity Nay nor have you Believed Jam. 2.20 Wilt thou know O vain man that Faith without Works is dead No Christ telleth us of another Tryal Well then a Religion that costs nothing is worth nothing A Notional Religion a Word Religion is not a Christianity of Christs making Surely Heaven is worth something and it will cost us something if we mean to get thither There is more in these Works of costly Charity than we usually think of 1 Tim. 6.18 19. Luke 16.9 1 Joh. 4.19 Hereby we knew that we are of the Truth and shall assure our Hearts before him Hereby by what If we love not in Word and Tongue only but in deed and in truth Refresh the Bowels of the Poor own Brethren though with danger of our Lives Heaven is but a Fancy to them that will venture nothing for the Hopes of it What have you done to shew your thankfulness for so great a Mercy tendred to you A cold Belief and a fruitless Profession will never yield you Comfort Good words are not dear and a little countenance given to Religion costs no great matter and therefore do not think that Religion lyeth only in hearing Sermons or a few cursory Prayers and drowsie Devotions We should mind those things about which we shall be questioned at the day of Judgment Have you visited fed cloathed harboured owned the Servants of God when the World hath frowned on them Comforted them in their distresses Wherein really have you denyed your selves for the Hopes of Glory Fifthly Observe The Notions whereby their different Estate in the other World is expressed Punishment and Life See Serm. last on 2 Cor. 5.10 Page 104 105. Sixthly Observe Eternity is affixed to both Everlasting Punishment and Eternal Life See last Sermon on 2 Cor. 5.10 latter end of Page 105. and beginning of Page 106. Seventhly Observe These are spoken of not only as Threatned but Executed When the Cause hath been sufficiently tryed and cleared and Sentence passed there will be Execution The Execution is certain speedy and unavoidable See last Sermon on 2 Cor. 5.10 Page 107. Eighthly Observe Sentence is Executed on the Wicked first It beginneth with them for 't is said These shall go away into everlasting Punishment and the Righteous into Life Eternal Now this is not meerly because the Order of the Narration did so require it See last Sermon on 2 Cor. 5.10 Page 108. The VSE Is to press us 1. To Believe these things 2. Seriously to consider of them 1. To Believe them Most mens Faith about the Eternal Recompenses is but pretended at best too cold and Speculative An Opinion rather than a sound Belief as appeareth by the little Fruit and Effect that it hath upon us for if we had such a sight of them as we have of other things we should be other manner of Persons than we are in all holy Conversation and Godliness We see how cautious man is in tasting Meat in which he doth suspect Harm that it will breed in him the Pain and torments of the Stone and Gout or Chollick I say though it be but probable the things will do us any Hurt We know certainly that the wages of Sin is Death yet we will be tasting forbidden Fruit. If a man did but suspect an House were falling he would not stay in it an Hour We know for certain that continuance in a carnal Estate will be our eternal ruine yet who doth flee from Wrath to come If we have but a little hope of Gain we will take pains to obtain it We know that our Labour is not in vain in the Lord Why do we not abound in his work 1 Cor. 15.58 Surely we would do more to prevent this Misery to obtain this Happiness when we may do it upon such easie Terms and have so fair an Opportunity in our hands if we were not strangely stupified we would not go to Hell to save our selves a labour There are two things which are very wondrous 1. That any should suspect the Christian Faith so clearly promised in the Predictions of the Prophets before it was set a-foot and confirmed with such a number of Miracles after it was set a-foot Received among the Nations with so universal a consent in the Learned part of the World notwithstanding the meanness of the Instruments first employed in it and perpetuated to us throughout so many Successions of Ages who have had experience of the Truth and Benefit of it That now in the latter end of Time any
that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him whose Names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World Rev. 21.27 None shall enter in who are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life The Book of Life is there attributed to Christ because he took this solemn Charge upon himself to conduct the Heirs of Salvation to Glory He is to see they come to him John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me He knoweth them by Head and Poll Isa. 49.12 Behold these shall come from far and lo these from the Land of the North and from the West and these from the Land of Sinim Man by Man they are told out to him 2. He is to keep them and look after them Though there be many thousands yet every single Believer falleth under the care of Christ and accordingly he knoweth their Names and their Necessities John 10.3 He calleth his own Sheep by Name and leadeth them out He knoweth his Sheep by Name John Anna Thomas As the High Priest carried the Names of the Tribes upon his Bosom so Christ knows the Names of all the Flock of God There is not a poor Servant or Scullion who are despicable Creatures in the World but Christ looks after him Psal. 34.6 This poor Man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his Troubles Poor Soul he is under such Temptations encumbred with such Troubles in such a Task or Service my Father gave me a charge of him I must look to him So many Lambs as there are in the Flock of Christ there is not one forgotten 3. Christ is to give an account of them unto God He doth it by his constant Intercession of which this Prayer is a Copy They have kept thy Word I am glorified in them Christ is speaking good words of them to the Father He giveth you a good Report behind your back Satan is an Accuser he loveth to report ill of Believers but Christ telleth the Father how his Lambs thrive It is a grief to your Advocate when he cannot speak well of you in Heaven But solemnly he will do it at the last Day when he is to present the Elect to the Tribunal of God Heb. 2.13 Behold I and the Children which God hath given me Oh it is a goodly sight to see Christ and all his little Ones come together to the Throne of Grace There is not one forgotten in the presence of Christ and all his Angels Christ will not be ashamed to own a poor despicable Boy a Man-Servant or a Maid-Servant so they be faithful Luke 12.8 Whosoever shall confess me before Men him shall the son of Man also confess before the Angels of God I died for this poor Creature and shed my Blood for him This is intended 1 Cor. 15.24 Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father A Kingdom is sometimes put for the Form of Government sometimes for Subjects governed the Kingdom that is the Church is solemnly presented as a Prey snatched out of the Teeth of Lions Ephes. 5.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Christ will present his Bride in triumph Vse 1. Comfort to Believers 1. Concerning the safety of their eternal Estate Christ bargained for thee by Name That the Father and the Son should pitch upon such a forlorn and wretched piece of the Creation as thou art and they should talk together of thy Heaven Son this is one for whom thou must die that thy Name should be in the Eternal Register written with the Lamb's Blood in his own Book of Life I must have a care of him Ay you will say this were an excellent Comfort if I were sure I were one of them that is given to Christ. I Answer If he hath given Christ to you he hath given you to Christ. God maketh an offer in the Gospel Are you willing to receive him for Lord and Saviour then you put it out of question To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Children of God You are Fellow-Heirs with Christ Christ is given to you in time 2. In your particular straits Christ hath a care of you Do you think he will break his Engagement Christ hath plighted his Truth to God the Father Our groundless Jealousies question the truth of Christ's Word and Solemn Agreement When we say the Lord hath forgotten me this is in effect to say Christ is not faithful in his Charge The Prophet chideth them Isa. 40.27 Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel my Way is hid from the Lord and my Judgment is passed over from my God God doth not take notice of my Case such mistrust is a lie against the care of Christ. Vse 2. To press us especially humble Sinners you that walk in darkness to come under these sweet Hopes God hath laid Souls to Pledg in the Hand of Christ Why should we be scupulous All the Father's Acts are ratified in time by Believers He ordaineth we consent he chuseth Christ for Lord and King They shall appoint themselves one Head Hosea 1.11 So he hath given Souls to Christ so should you 1. Commit your Souls to him by Faith this answereth to Christ's receiving the Elect by way of Charge 1 Pet. 4.19 Let them that suffer according to the Will of God commit the keeping of their Souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator A Man ventureth upon Duty and trusteth God with his Soul Psalm 31.5 Into thy Hands do I commit my Spirit Paul knew Christ was an able and trusty Friend 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day Committing the Soul to God is a Notion often used in the matter of Faith and doth most formally express the nature of Trust and Adherence He is willing to receive your Souls and he is able to make good the Trust. Therefore in all Times of Distress and Danger when all things are dark to us upon the Warrant of the Gospel let us commit the Soul to Christ to be kept to Salvation Refer your selves to his care for Pardon Defence Support and Glory 2. Consecrate your selves to Christ. Committing noteth Trust Consecrating Obedience You commit your selves to his Care you resign and yield up your selves to his Discipline Committing answereth the Charge but Consecration the Grant Rom. 12.1 I beseech you therefore Brethren by the Mercies of God that you present your Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable Service By full consent a Man imbarketh with Christ and is resolved no longer to be at his own keeping and disposal Psalm 119.94 I am thine save me for I have
he was Wise Powerful and Good but they were unhappy in their determination of his Worship they sat a brood and proved but Fools They professed themselves to be Wise but became Fools Rom. 1.22 While they intended him Honour they carved to him the greatest contempt whilst they would express him in the Image of the Creatures they dishonoured him Natural Light is but small in it self and Corruption maketh it less They knew nothing of the misery of Man and the Remedy by Christ our Fall in Adam Original Sin and the Work of Redemption were Mysteries to them they could not dream of these things when they were revealed they counted them Foolishness They spoke of Vertue as a moral Perfection of Vice as a stain of Nature but nothing of Righteousness and Sin as relative to the Covenant of God God used the Heathen as Instruments to put Nature to the highest extent How may we pity them that they could go no further and admire God's Mercy to us that we being weaker than they in natural Gifts are yet stronger in Grace that a Boy out of a Catechism should know more than they Their Misery was great in abusing the Light of Nature our Misery will be greater and Damnation double if we abuse the Light of Nature and Grace 2. Above the Jewes whom God acquainted with his Statutes above all other Nations They knew little of the Name of God in comparison of what we know Therefore Moses desires to know God's Name Exod. 3.13 And it is said Judges 13.18 Why askest thou after my Name seeing it is secret The Divine Glory was hidden and under a Vail In those Appearances of Christ little was known in respect of what was known at his Incarnation It is spoken in reference to the present Dispensation Some notice they had of this Mystery God acquainted them with his Name by degrees as Exod. 6.3 I appeared unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob by the Name of God Almighty but by my Name IEHOVAH was I not known to them God had made himself known by other Names to the Fathers by the Name of God Almighty the Name IEHOVAH that should be an Appellation among his gathered People giving a Being to his People and making good his Promises Afterwards I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac the God of Jacob as more relating to the Covenant Afterwards Jer. 23.5 6. I will raise up to David a Righteous Branch this is the Name whereby he shall be called THE LORD OVR RIGHTEOVSNESS Then God will be known by his Grace justifying his People and accepting them for Christ's sake But in the New Testament all is open and clear he is called the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephes. 1.5 Then God the Father and the Mediator were clearly made known Alas the Jewish Church knew little of the Doctrine of the Trinity the Distinction of the Persons the Quality of the Mediator the Way of Salvation What they knew was obscured and the Doctrine of the Messiah horribly depraved Vse Let us bless God for the Word and take heed unto it as to a Light shining in a dark Place What would be our Condition if we had not the Scriptures among us We should be no better than Salvages in the Wilderness or as the Body without the Soul the Earth without the Sun God might immediately have revealed himself to Man he that made the Heart can instamp it with the Knowledg of his Will But he would state his Doctrine into a setled Course that we might not coin Oracles to our selves or obtrude Fancies on others We have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as to a Light that shineth in a dark place 2 Pet. 1.19 He knoweth to what Liberty we incline in preaching Divine Things No more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of those divers Ways and Manners wherewith God spake in times past to our Fathers by the Prophets Heb. 1.1 After the closing of a perfect Canon there needed nothing but ordinary Revelation This is sufficient to Salvation if there were no Book else if the World were full of Books and this only were wanting there were no certain way nor Rule to Heaven Here is God's Heart discovered to us and our Hearts to our selves it is a ray of the Face of God in Christ. John 1.18 No Man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son of God that lay in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him Satan hath been ever maligning this Light that he might more securely domineer in the World Christ undertook he would declare God's Name to his Brethren and here he hath done it O let it it come with Divine Authority upon your Hearts in all the Precepts Promises Threatnings of it that you may come to a nearer sight of God and your selves 4. Observe The Necessity of a Divine Light before we can understand the Things of God I have manifested thy Name c. 1. There must not only be an outward sure Rule of Doctrine but an inward Light We can have no savory Apprehensions of the Things of God till Christ himself become our Teacher the Son of God must always be the Interpreter of his Father's Will He is the Word that speaketh to the Heart All Men by Nature are ignorant of the Name of God without any saving-Knowledg Ephes. 5.8 Ye were sometimes Darkness not only in the Dark but Darkness it self but now ye are Light in the Lord that is enlightned by his Spirit This is proper to the Elect those who are given to him The Church is Christ's open School the Scriptures our Book the Ministers are the Ushers and Christ is the inward Teacher Some are only taught by the Ministers others are taken aside and taught by Christ himself in private His Publick Lectures are read to all Hearers but the Elect are taught of God John 6.68 Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the Words of Eternal Life Others may hear the Word but they perish in their own blindness and unbelief Some play the Truants in Christ's School they will not hear they pass Judgment on themselves Acts 13.48 As many as were ordained to Eternal Life believed The whole City was met to hear but none believe but the Elect and the Apostle doth not say As many as believed were ordained to Eternal Life but as many as were ordained believed It is not given to all Matth. 13.11 It is given to you to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given All the Difference is in the Will of God so that the Scholars in this kind are the Called according to his Purpose Christ's teaching is of no larger extent than his Father's Election Some School-masters besides their common Care do teach such Children a-part as they love most they take them and point with the Finger So doth Christ manifest himself to those that are
Grace and Authority Mat. 7.29 The People were astonished at his Doctrine for he taught them as one having Authority and not as the Scribes All he did was with Heavenly Majesty and Authority a Soveraign Majesty was to be seen in Christ's teaching proper to himself Besides his Faithfulness as a Minister with such Clearness Evidence and Demonstration there was sufficient Declaration to the World at his Baptism Mat. 3.17 Lo a Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased agreeing with the Prophecy of him Isa. 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold my Elect in whom my Soul delighteth At his Transfiguration before three Persons that for the Holiness of their Lives were of great Credit Mat. 17.5 Before all his Disciples John 12.28 Father glorify thy Name Then came there a Voice from Heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorify it again To the World at his Resurrection Acts 17 31. Whereof he hath given assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the dead To which Resurrection the Jews were conscious Those that reported it wrought Miracles these Men sought not themselves had no Advantage but visible Hazards their Witness was agreeable to the Writings of the Prophets the Doctrine built on it very satisfactory there is in it what every Religion pretendeth to tho in a higher way tho Miracles are now ceased yet it is confirmed by the Truth of the Word God continually confirmeth it by the Seal of the Spirit and there is an inward Certioration whereby Believers are satisfied John 18.37 For this cause came I into the World that I should bear witness unto the Truth Every one that is of the Truth heareth my Voice that is enlightned by the Holy-Ghost receiveth and believeth it but those that have a mind to wrangle God will not satisfy And then for his Miracles they were not Miracles of Pomp and Ostentation not destructive Miracles but Actions of Relief When the Pharisees said He casteth out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils Mat. 12.24 He proveth that his main aim was to cast out Satan ver 26. If Satan cast out Satan he is divided against himself Would Satan consent that his Kingdom should fall He would not go to dispossess himself All his aim was to promote Holiness and the Kingdom of God I note this 1. That you may know that the Apostles had sufficient Means to convince the World of the certainty of the Christian Doctrine The inward Testimony of the Spirit the Apostles would not alledg it by Miracles and rational Probabilities they were fitted to deal with the World and to appear as Witnesses for him when they were to give an Account Acts 5.32 And we are Witnesses of these things and so is the Holy-Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him This inward Witness is proper to Believers the other may be alledged to Infidels By the Spirit is meant there a Power to work Miracles 2. That you may know the way of God's working with Men Usually all these three concur to the working of Faith there is the Light of the Spirit external Confirmation and the use of fit Instruments 1. The Light of the Spirit without which there can be no Grace nor Faith 1 John 5.6 It is the Spirit that beareth Witness because the Spirit is true That is That Word which the Spirit himself hath revealed is Truth for he is not only the Author and Inditer of the Word but the Witness he worketh in the Hearts of the Faithful so that he persuadeth them of the Truth of the Word 2. There is external Confirmation Tho Miracles cease yet we have the Testimony and Consent of the Church who by undoubted and authentick Rolls hath communicated her Experience to us which is visibly confirmed by the Providence of God not suffering the Truth to be oppressed 3. There is the use of fit Instruments specially gifted for this Purpose Tho the Effect of the Word doth mainly depend on the Spirit yet there is a Ministerial Efficacy in the Messengers Acts 14.1 They so spake that a multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed Not that the Faith of the Hearers doth meerly depend upon the excellency of the Preacher Yet certain it is that one way of preaching may be more fit to convert than another both in regard of Matter and Form Pure Doctrine for the Matter is more apt to convert than that which is mixed with Falshood as pure Water cleanseth better than foul and good Food nourisheth better than that which is in part tainted He that can divide the Word aright and prudently apply it is more powerful to work than he that seeth by an half Light or presseth Truth loosly and not with Judgment and Solidity Not as if they could infallibly convert but they are more likely they do not carry the Grace of Conversion in their Mouths Then for the Form with more plainness clearness strength of Argument God hath given to some Gifts above others not to bind himself to them but in the way of Instruments they are more powerful tho the weakest Gifts are not to be despised And in the quality of the Persons Holy Persons are more polished Shafts in God's Quiver 3. I observe it to press you to regard all these things 1. The Power of the Spirit if you would profit in Christ's School The watering-Pot will do nothing without the Sun nor the Word without his Testimony 1 Cor. 3.7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the Increase The Spirit is to confirm Truth to you by way of Witness and Argument By way of Witness 1 John 5.7 For there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost There is a secret Persuasion especially when you are reading and hearing that insinuateth it self with your Thoughts doubtless this is the Word of God Acts 16.14 Whose Heart the Lord opened that she attended to those things that were spoken by Paul By way of Argument working such things from whence you may conclude it is God's Word John 8.32 Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make ye free When ye are freed from the bondage of Sin then ye are enlightned to see the Truth of the Gospel by experience ye shall know the Truth 2. Take in the advantage of external Confirmation By Miracles Christ's Testimony was made valuable to the Apostles You have not only authentick Records wherein these Miracles are recorded which as an History may be believed but the Testimony of the Church which hath experience of the Truth and Power of the Gospel for many Ages The Lives of the Godly who are called God's Witnesses 1 Cor. 14.26 The Providences of God in delivering his Church in their miraculous Preservations Psal. 58.11 Verily there is a God that judgeth in the Earth Answers of Prayers grounded on the Word Upon all these
for their Author We come in God's stead to strike up a Bargain with you for your Souls this bindeth the Ear to Attention the Mind to Faith the Heart to Reverence the Will and Conscience to Obedience We are to entertain all the Doctrines of the Word without any suspence of Judgment and Contradiction We are to put to our Seal to Christ's Testimony John 3.33 He that hath received his Testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true Usually there is some privy Atheism in us we look upon the Gospel as a Golden Dream and well devised Fable This is properly Assent and should be soundly laid Lord thou wilt not fail thy poor Creatures if they venture their Souls on thy Word 3. The whole Word must be received In every Covenant there is a Precept as well as a Promise We maâ—â— the very form of it when we reflect on the Promise and neglect the Precept It is great Error in them that think that receiving of the Word is done when we apply the Promises as if nothing were needful to Salvation but to say I trust that my Sins are forgiven me in Christ. The Gospel hath not only Promises but Commands Conditions and Articles of the Covenant which are no less to be received than the Promises First receive the Commandment concerning Repentance and Conversion with a Resolution to cast thy self on Christ and then be of good confidence thy Sins shall be forgiven thee There is in Faith not only an Assent but Consent Assent to the Truth of God Consent to the Articles of the Covenant Assent to the Truth of the Contract Consent to the Terms and Affiance or confident waiting for the Promise all these are in Faith Hypocrites are said to receive the Word with Joy Luke 8.13 but they received only the Word of Promise with Joy It is pleasing to the Conscience to hear of Pardon of Sins Men may have vanishing fleeting Joys A Carnal Man would have God's Grace but he would have none of his Counsel 4. This must be received with all the Heart The Work of Faith is not confined to the Acts of the Understanding there are some Motions of the Heart Philip puts the Eunuch to this Tryal Acts 8.37 Believest thou with all thy Heart and he said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God God is as careful of the Duty of the Gospel as of the Duty of the Law he that required that we should love him with all our Hearts hath also required that we should believe in him with all our Hearts he required the whole Heart in Love and he expecteth the whole Heart in Faith Now because this is the critical Difference between True Faith and Counterfeit I shall apply this Receiving to both the Objects of Faith the Word and the Person of Christ because the Doctrine concerning both is of near Affinity and the one is opened by the other In receiving the Person of Christ there is the same method of the Acts of Faith as there is in receiving the Word of God 1. There is an Offer Faith receiving presupposeth an Offering we do not snatch at Christ but receive him Sinners snatch at Christ sometimes when God's hand is not open to give him 2. We must look at this Offering as made by God himself Faith taketh Christ out of his Father's Hands 3. We must take whole Christ as Lord and Saviour And 4. we must take him with our whole Hearts Therefore I shall explain this Receiving with the whole Heart in reference to both Objects the Word and Christ. First what is it to receive the Word with our whole Hearts There is nothing so difficult as to draw the Acts of Faith into a Method 1. It implyeth an Act of the Will there must not only be Knowledg and Acknowledgment that the Doctrine is true but an actual Choice and a willing Acceptation Faith apprehendeth the Covenant made in Christ not only as true but good and so answerably there is not only a believing with the Mind but a believing with the Heart Rom. 10.10 With the Heart Man believeth The Faculty answereth the Object 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worthy of all acceptation c. So that there is required some Motion of the Heart besides intellectual Assent 2. This Act of the Will is accompanied with some sensible Affection Heb. 11.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they imbraced the Promises they hugged and clasped about and imbraced the Promises All Acts of Faith do necessarily imply answerable Affections The Children of God embrace the Promises with delight receive the Threatnings with trembling and reverence and the Commandments with all chearfulness Acts 2.41 Then they that received the Word gladly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not as a People that are overcome receive Laws from the Conqueror or as Zipporah circumcised her Child with grudging and discontent but with hearty and chearful consent I confess there is and ever will be an opposition of the Flesh a Man doth not receive the whole Word as a thirsty Man receiveth sweet Drink but as a sick Man or one that is thirsty after Health receiveth Physick or a bitter Potion with an earnest serious desire tho his Appetite loatheth it There is an hearty consent to God's Terms because they know it will be for their welfare as Laban when he heard Jacob's Proposals What shall I give thee the speckled and spotted among the Flocks Gen. 30.34 Laban said Behold I would it might be according to thy Word Oh would to God that this were my share that God would take up the Quarrel between himself and me 3. This Affection is accompanied with a pursuit or serious making after those Hopes There is a care and anxiousness of Obedience or taking the next course to speed that we may find him and feel him in our Consciences They received the Word gladly and were baptized Acts 2.41 In every Contract where the Parties are agreed there is a signing and sealing so they received the Word and were baptized that was the next course to come under these Hopes A Contract lieth void and dead if there be Consent yet no Performance So Faith without Works is dead Faith is a Consent to God's Covenant yet because there is no answerable Obedience this Consent is void and to no effect Now this is the utmost extension of the Will in Motions and Addresses towards Christ Faith is expressed by coming to Christ qui se dat in viam a Man putteth himself into the way of Salvation upon a search and enquiry after Christ We know not what will come of it but we will continue seeking I will go to my Father 4. These Endeavours are supported by Affiance or a resolution to wait upon God till the Blessings of the Covenant be accomplished and made good Tho they meet with Difficulties they keep wrestling with God Gen. 32.26 I will not let thee go
10.38 That ye may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in him 1 John 4.16 We have known and have believed the Love that God hath to us John 6.69 We know and believe that thou art Christ. We must first know before we can believe In Faith there is a Knowledg an Apprehension as well as Discourse a pregnant Apprehension Faith is a clear Light it freeth the Soul from the Mists of Prejudice by representing God in the Allsufficiency of Grace and Power Heb. 11.3 Through Faith we understand that the World was framed by the Word of God It puzzeled the Philosophers but Faith maketh all clear After Faith 2 Pet. 1.5 Add to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledg Faith is the Fruit of Knowledg Knowledg is the Fruit of Faith So Psal. 119.66 Teach me good Judgment and Knowledg for I have believed thy Commandments that is a fuller manifestation First we receive the Word by Faith then we know more Oportet discentem credere First we know That it is then How it is The ground of Faith is that they are revealed How or what they are we learn by more acquaintance and experience Light is always increasing most necessary to the Christian Life Faith is as Knowledg is more or less explicite yet not so explicite but that there is some impliciteness in it as long as we live here 1 John 2.3 It doth not yet appear what we shall be but this we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him We have not a particular Account not a Reason of the Thing but we have a Reason why we believe it 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is a proper Act of Faith God is always on the giving and we on the receiving Hand we receive the Word we receive Christ and we receive Remission of Sins and Glory the main of our Duty is but a Receiving Let me press you to receive the Word to receive Christ. 1. Receive the Word give it a kind entertainment There is an Act of Consideration meditate upon it seriously that Truth may not float in the Understanding but sink into the Heart Luke 9.44 Let these sayings sink down into your Hearts Believe it the Truth is a Soveraign Remedy but there wanteth one Ingredient to make it work and that is Faith Heb. 4.2 The Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it There is an Act of the Will and Affections which is called a receiving the Truth in Love 2 Thess. 2.10 Make room for it that Carnal Affections may not vomit and throw it up again Christ complaineth that his Word had no place in them John 8.37 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like a queasy Stomach possessed with Choler that casts up all that is taken into it 1 Cor. 2.14 A natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God Let it lodg and quietly exercise a soveraign command over the Soul 2. Receive Christ in the Word In a Contract there is not only a receiving a Bond but by virtue of the Bond an Inheritance conveyed to us So you must not only receive the Word we are not saved by giving credit to any Maxim of Religion Fides non est assensus axiomati Not they that saw the Ark many saw it and scoffed but they that were in it were saved from drowning When a Man is ready to perish in the Floods it is not enough to see Land but we must reach it stand upon it if we would be safe It is not a naked Contemplation but a real Implantation into Christ. Now if you will know it whatever was in Christ in the History must be in you in the Mystery You are Adopted Sons 1 John 3.1 Christ must be formed and conceived in you Gal. 4.19 You must suffer and be crucified to the World and Sin Rom. 6.6 You must be buried and raised up again Col. 2.12 All is to be done in a spiritual manner I speak not this to turn all Scripture into an Allegory but every Act of Christ hath some Spiritual Accomodation So much for these two acts or parts of Faith They have known surely and have received thy Word Before I go off from this Clause there are two or three Observations to be raised especially if we compare this Verse with John 16.27 28 29 30 31. For the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and believed that I came forth from God I came forth from the Father and am come into the World again I leave the World and go to the Father His Disciples said unto him Lo now speakest thou plainly and speakest no Proverb Now are we sure that thou knowest all things and needest not that any Man should ask thee by this we believe that thou camest forth from God Jesus answered them Do ye now believe From whence I observe That this was but a late Acknowledgment Vers. 30. Now we are sure and by this we believe that thou camest forth from God And presently within an hour Christ commendeth it to his Father They have known surely and have believed 1. Observe How ready Christ is to take notice of the Good that is wrought in us He watcheth for an occasion to commend us to God Satan and his Instruments they watch for our halting Jer. 20.10 All my Familiars watched for my halting peradventure he will be inticed Let us watch say they we may have Matter against him The Devil is a Spy that lieth upon the catch that he may frame an Accusation against you before God A Dog doth not wait for a Bit from his Master's Trencher more than he doth for a passionate Word some evil Gesture and Practice whereof to accuse us so his Instruments watch to defame you in the World But now Jesus Christ looketh after Matter of Praise and Commendation Now we know verily and believe and Christ presently telleth his Father of it Oh what an encouragement should this be to press us to grow in Knowledg and to abound in every good Work you furnish your Intercessor with matter of Praise and give your Advocate an Advantage against your Accuser Christ watcheth for a good Action as the Devil doth for a Bad He is a swift Witness not only against his Adversaries but for his People Mal. 3.5 I will come near to you in Judgment and I will be a swift Witness against the Sorcerers c. He cometh to convince them sooner than they are aware none of their Sins are unknown to him and they are brought in Court before they dream of it And the Godly have a Witness in Heaven too So Job 16.20 Behold my Witness is in Heaven and my Record is on High And he is a swift Witness we reap the Fruit of many Actions as soon as they are performed A continual Experience we have of this disposition of Christ in the speedy answer of Prayers Isa. 64.24 And it shall come to pass that before they call
Subjects against Enemies that shall cease but the Kingly Honour which he receiveth from his Subjects shall be for ever and ever he shall always be honoured as King and Mediator of the Church He shall resign the Kingdom that is that way of Administration by which he now governeth for when the Elect are fully converted and sanctified and Enemies destroyed there will be no need of this Care Now after he hath bought us out of his Father's Hands by his Merit and Purchase he is forced to recover us from the Devil by his Power and Conquest The Word is the Rod of his Strength the Sacraments are our Oath of Allegiance in Prayer we perform our Homages by Alms and Acts of Charity we pay him Tribute and Praise and Obedience are the constant Revenues of his Crown This is the first Grant 2. We are given to Christ as Scholars of his School He is the great Prophet and Doctor of his Church certainly Christ loveth the Honour of this Chair He hath also obtained this Title Acts 3.22 A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you from among your Brethren him shall ye hear Christ came out from the Bosom of God to shew us his Heart and Mind So he is called Heb. 3.1 The Apostle of our Profession Christ doth so love a Relation to his Church that you see he taketh the Titles of his own Officers tho he is Lord of the Church yet he is the Apostâ—â— of our Profession he counteth it an Honour to be a Preacher of the Gospel The Son of God is first in the Roll of Gospel-Preachers he is God's Legat à latere an Apostle he laid the Foundation of the Gospel when he was upon the Earth and he teacheth us now he is in Heaven he doth not teach the Ear but the Heart he doth not only set us our Lesson but giveth us an Heart to learn it the Scripture is our Book and Christ our great Master and when he openeth our Eyes we shall see wondrous things in his Law Other Teachers teach for Hire but he bought this Liberty of God that he might open his School and become a Light to Jew and Gentile 3. We are given to him to be Children of his Family The only thing propounded to allure Christ to the Work of Redemption was Isa. 53.10 He shall see his Seed that he might have a numerous Issue and Progeny He delighteth in us tho we are all Benoni's Sons of Sorrow tho he died in the Birth yet he is wonderfully pleased with the Fruitfulness of his Death as a Woman delivered after sharp and sore Sorrow forgetteth all her past Sorrow for joy of the Birth At the last day this will be Christ's Rejoycing and Crown to see the Multitude of his little Ones all brought together Heb. 2.13 Behold I and the Children which thou hast given me It is a goodly sight when Christ shall â—ejoyce in the midst of them and go with them as a glorious Train to the Throne of God the Father Jesus Christ is our Brother and our Father by Regeneration and the Merit of the Cross he is our Father but in the Possession of Heaven he is our Brother for we are Coheirs with him 4. We are given to him as the Spouse of his Bosom This is another of Christ's Honours to be the Churches Bridegroom The Epithalamium is in Canticles and Psal. 45. There the Nuptials are celebrated Ministers they are as John Baptist was called Friends of the Bridegroom Look as a Father giveth her whom he hath begotten to another for a Spouse and Wife so doth God give his Elect to Christ. Indeed Christ hath bought the Church at his Fathers Hands other Wives bring a Dowry but Christ was to buy As Saul gave his Daughter to David but first he was to kill Goliah and to bring the Fore-skins of an hundred Philistines 1 Sam. 17.25 and 18.25 So God gave Christ the Church for a Spouse but Christ was to redeem her with his Blood the infernal Goliah was to be slain Yea ' ere Christ did obtain this Honour he gaineth our Consent by the Power of his Spirit working with the Intreaties of the Word Hosea 2.14 I will allure her and bring her into the Wilderness and speak comfortably unto her and Vers. 19 20. I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in Righteousness and in Judgment and in Loving-Kindness and in Mercies I will even betroth thee unto me in Faithfulness and thou shalt know the Lord. First I will allure then betroth As David after he had bought Michal with the danger of his Life yet was fain to take her away from Phaltiel 2 Sam. 3.13 The Devil hath gotten Christ's Spouse in his own Arms he is fain to rescue her and oblige her to Loyalty by the Intreaties of his Spirit Hereafter is the Day of Espousals now the Church is called the Bride then the Lamb's Wife Christ's Honour as well as our Consent is incompleat then he cometh to fetch her and present her to God Eph. 5.27 and bring her into his Father's House Christ is decking her against that Time we are to accomplish the Months of our Purification and to have Odours and Garments out of the King's Wardrobe Esth. 1.12 5. We are given to him to be Members of his Body Here is the nearest Relation and that which Christ most prizeth next to the Title of the Son of God to be Head of the Church O what an honour is this to poor Creatures that Christ will take us into his own mystical Body to quicken us and enliven us and guide us by his Grace To Angels he is a Head in point of Sovereignty and Power Col. 2.10 And ye are compleat in him which is the Head of all Principality and Power But to the Church he is an Head by virtue of Mystical Union Angels are his ministring Spirits but we his Spouse they are not called his Bride nor the Spouse of his Bosom nor the Members of his Body In the Ephesians the Church is called his Body the Fulness of him that filleth all in all Ephes. 1.23 Poor Creatures are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he doth not count himself perfect without us as if he were a maimed imperfect Christ till all the Church be where he is He treateth his Mystical Body with the same respect that he doth his Natural it is raised ascended glorified so shall we For the present there is some Communion between us he is grieved in our Miseries and we are exalted in his Glory As there is a mutual Passage of Spirits between the Head and the Body so there is a Communion between Christ and us by Donatives and Duties II. How this is a ground of Establishment and Consolation 1. By this Gift we have an Interest both in God and Christ. 1 John 1.3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have Fellowship with us and truly
Service about himself for bestowing on him the Gift of Miracles for trusting him with the Bag. Christ had lately washed his Feet as well as of the rest of the Apostles yet he obstinately goeth on in ways of Self-Perdition and his purpose of betraying his Lord and Master yea contrary to many Warnings given him Vse Oh take heed of a wilful obstinacy and wresting your selves out of the Arms of Mercy of being of such a disposition that nothing will reclaim you for that is to be a Son of Perdition Wilful Sins have a greater mark upon them than other Sins As when you go 1. Against an express Commandment Prov. 13.13 Whoso despiseth the Word shall be destroyed but he that feareth a Commandment shall be rewarded If a Commandment stand in your way it should be more than if a Band of Armed Men stood to hinder you Many make nothing of a Commandment they fear a Judgment from God or a Punishment from Men but never stand upon the Word of God 2. Against express Warnings of those that wish well to your Souls Deut. 1.43 So I spake unto you and you would not hear but rebelled against the Commandment of the Lord and went presumptuously up into the Hill When Men are wedded to their own Inclinations outfacing all Challenges in God's Name they will do what they are set upon Psal. 12.4 With our Tongues will we prevail our Lips are our own who is Lord over us This is not far from a Judgment 2 Chron. 36.15 16. And the Lord God of their Fathers sent to them by his Messengers rising up betimes and sending because he had compassion on his People and on his Dwelling-place But they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his Words and misused his Prophets until the Wrath of the Lord rose against his People till there was no Remedy This Contempt will draw down Wrath no means to appease God 3. Against Checks of Conscience and Motions of God's Spirit in our Hearts Acts 7.51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in Heart and Ears ye do always resist the Holy Ghost Conscience telleth them ye ought not to yield to this Sin whatever the Profit and Pleasure be yet Men kick against the Pricks and do that which their own Hearts disallow Rom. 14.22 Happy is he that condemneth not himself in the thing that he alloweth And in spight of these good Motions they will go forward to perfect the Sin which they have in chase then God lets them alone le ts them go on till they perish 4. Against Restraints of Providence when God hath hedged up their Way with Thorns or they have found much inconvenience in that course 2 Chron. 28.22 In the time of his distress he trespassed yet more and more This is that King Ahaz the Scripture sets a Brand upon him As Baalam would go on 2 Pet. 2.16 But was rebuked for his Iniquity the dumb Ass speaking with Man's Voice forbad the madness of the Prophet When Men go on over the Belly of more than ordinary Opposition till they perish A Miracle will not stop a Sinner in the violent pursuit of his Lusts. Providence hath a Language that biddeth us stop but the sway of Lusts is great and breaks through all Restraints Oh! take heed then of being self-willed stout-hearted in a sensual course wedded to our own Inclinations of being a Slave to Sensual Appetite and being led by it more than by Holy Reasons Take heed of love to some unmortified Lust especially to Covetousness this is the cause of extream violence in Sin Jer. 44.16 17. As for the Word that thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own Mouth to burn Incense unto the Queen of Heaven and to pour out Drink-Offerings unto her 2. Observe from his Character The Son of Perdition The same Name is given to Antichrist 2 Thess. 2.3 That Man of Sin be revealed the Son of Perdition Judas was a Type of Antichrist as they said of the blind Man John 9.9 Some said This is he others said He is like him The Pope boasteth that his Seat is Apostolical and that he is the Successor of an Apostle If we grant it and he will needs be a Successor of an Apostle there is an Error in the Person it is not Peter but Judas Let us see the Parallel 1. Judas was not a Stranger but a pretended Friend and an Apostle Acts 1.17 He was numbred with us and obtained part of this Ministry So the Pope obtained part of this Ministry Turks and Infidels are Enemies to Christ Antichrist must be one that seeketh to undermine Christ under a pretence of Friendship 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for and against Christ. He maketh War with the Horns of the Lamb Rev. 13.11 If he were a professed Adversary what Mystery were there in it Now it is a Mystery of Iniquity 2 Thess. 2.7 A false Prophet Rev. 16.13 It is wisdom to discern him Rev. 13.18 Here is Wisdom Let him that hath understanding count the Number of the Beast 2. Judas sold Christ for a small Matter So Omnia Romae venalia Pardons Indulgences Freedom from Purgatory all to be bought at Rome The Antichristian State maketh a Market of Religion Truth is made to yield to Interest and Profit 3. Judas betrayed Christ with a Kiss Antichrist is a true Adversary of Christ and yet pretendeth to adore him He pretendeth to be his Servant and Vicar and is his Enemy not an Enemy without the Church but within the Church that betrayeth Christ under a colour of adoration 4. Judas was a Guide to them that came to take Jesus Christ is in Heaven Death hath no more dominion over him his natural Body is above abuse but in his mystical Body he still suffereth Acts 9.4 Saul Saul why persecutest thou me The Pope is the Head of the Persecuting State others are his Emissaries and Agents to persecute Christ in his Members It is a Politick Religion carried on with Cruelty 5. Judas was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Son of Perdition as destroying himself and involving others in the same Condemnation So is Antichrist called in the Revelations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 9.11 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Destroyer of Souls of himself and others Vse Let all these things open our Eyes that we may behold the Man of Sin One Egg is not more like another than Judas and Antichrist 3. Observe That Carnal Practices will end in Perdition Because Judas is called the Son of Perdition let us see what course he took to undo himself Let us look upon his Sin and Punishment 1. For his Sin In the Story of Judas four Sins are most remarkable his Covetousness his Hypocrisy his Treason and his Despair 1. His Covetousness This was the Root of all as indeed it is the Root of all Evil 1 Tim. 6.10 Christ had made him his Treasurer and
a vain Conversation 1 Pet. 1.18 By his Death the Covenant is made a Testament and all the Precepts are turned into so many Promises and Legacies Christ will give what he requireth All Excuse is taken away from Laziness and Wickedness is no longer allowed the Plea of Weakness There is Help offered in Christ. 5. Terrible Threatnings The Word is impatient of being denied it would have Holiness upon any Terms There is somewhat propounded to our Fear as well as our Hope Not only the Loss of Happiness Heb. 12.14 Follow Peace with all Men and Holiness without which no Man shall see God which is Loss enough to an ingenuous Spirit But the Forfeiture of the Soul into eternal Torments without ease without end Go ye Cursed into everlasting Fire God hath a Prison for obstinate Creatures a Worm that never dies a Fire that never goes out Whose Heart doth not tremble at the mention of these things We cannot endure the Torment of one Night under a Feaverish Distemper how shall we think of lying down in everlasting Burnings 6. The Word presseth all this with such a Majesty and Power that it astonisheth the Conscience and maketh the Hearts and Souls of Men to quake within them Felix trembled at the mention of Judgment to come There is so much of God in the Word that if it doth not renew Men it doth restrain them maketh them tremble where it hath least force it cometh with such a manifestation of divine Authority upon the Conscience Lactantius saith Nihil ponderis habent illa Praecepta quia sunt humanae There is no such Majesty in humane Precepts Nemo credit quia tam se hominem putat esse qui aâ—divit quà m illum qui praedicat Man is not astonished by Man Verba dedi verba reddidi But now the Word of God searcheth the Heart pincheth the Conscience and where it worketh least it maketh Men to quake within themselves It is said Mat. 7.28 29. The People were astonished at Christ's Doctrine for he taught them as one having Authority and not as the Scribes God's Word cometh with Evidence and Conviction upon the Conscience that they admire the Power of it there is Sovereign Majesty in it the Draught is like the Author Thus you see what a powerful Instrument the Word is even in a moral way therefore the fittest Means whereunto God should join his Assistance to work on the Heart of Man Vse 1. Of Information 1. It informeth us what a Treasure Truth is and what a value we should put upon it There are two Things in the World that God is very tender of his Truth and his Saints In the Controversy about Toleration Men on the one side have urged the danger of medling with Saints on the other side others have urged the value of Truth If the whole Controversy did depend upon this Issue which are to be most respected the Truth or the Saints since God is tender of both it would soon be decided For besides this that it is strange that they only who are called Saints should be afraid of a vigorous Prosecution and Defence of the Truth it is clear Truth must have the Preheminence for it is Truth that maketh Saints and we had need be more tender of the Root than of the Branches 2. It informeth us that out of the true Religion there is no Salvation because there is no true Holiness and without Holiness no Man shall see God Heb. 12.14 Follow Peace with all Men and Holiness without which no Man shall see God It is not without Peace the Necessity is not laid upon that but Holiness for Peace is often broken for Strictness sake A Man that is faithful and sincere may have little of the World's respect But now without the true Religion there is no Holiness that 's clear Hence 't is said Sanctify them by thy Truth There may be Civility and the Exactness of a moral Course counterfeit Grace but there can be no true Sanctification because the Heart can never be good that is ignorant of the Truth and poisoned with Error there may be Superstition which is but a Bastard Religion there may be a good Life but there cannot be a good Heart no true Comfort and true Grace Anima quae à Deo fornicata est casta esse non potest He that believeth ill can never live well Grace and Truth are Twins that live and die together Moral Vertue is very defective in it self Sapientia eorum plerumque abscondit vitia non abscindit All their Craft was to hide a Lust not to root it out 3. That they have not a sound apprehension of Truth that have no Grace There may be a naked and unactive Apprehension that is not accompanied with Power they learn Truth by rote and rest in a vain Speculation but have no strength to perform their Duty 2 Tim. 3.5 compared with Rom. 2.20 What in one place is called a Form of Godliness is in the other called a Form of Knowledg Poor slight and superficial Apprehensions of the Truth they take up Truth not upon any Divine Testimony or Evidence of the Spirit but upon the Credit and Authority of Men the Practice and Profession of the Nation or the Injunctions of a Civil State This is the account of most Mens Truth and Faith Alas Truth thus received entreth not upon the Heart Men gain but a disciplinary Knowledg a literal Knowledg and a spiritual Knowledg differ Ephes. 4.21 If so be that ye have heard of him and have been taught by him as the Truth is in Jesus When a Man receiveth it out of the Hands of the Spirit of Christ it frameth and disposeth the Heart to Godliness So Col. 1.6 Since ye heard of it and knew the Grace of God in Truth The tasting of a Thing excelleth the reading of it the true inward powerful affectionate Knowledg affecteth the Heart and altereth and changeth it A Man knoweth no more of Christ than he valueth esteemeth and affecteth and which puts the whole inward Man into an holy spiritual Frame Good Principles if heartily embraced will 〈◊〉 a good Conversation The Point needeth to be heeded in these Times when Knowledg is increased but practice and strictness suffereth an abatement and decay Boni esse desinunt postquam docti evaserint What Strength and Power of Religion possesses the Heart When you know the Truth doth it carry you to God and Godliness 4. They that are above Scriptures have no true Holiness God sanctifieth by the Truth It is strange how Charity over-reacheth to saint Antiscripturists and Men above Ordinances whereas it is the true Ground and Reason of Sanctification As Bernard saith of some That whilst they plead for the Salvation of Heathens scarce shew themselves Christians So I am afraid our excessive Charity to Men argueth little Affection to God God accepteth no Holiness but Word-Holiness and worketh Holiness no other way I doubt they that despise Prophesying quench the Spirit When
Signs and Wonders were not ordained for the Stage and Scene to cause admiration and pastime for every wanton Spectator Again I observe that generally these Miracles were Actions of Relief and Succour not meerly of Pomp and Glory and tended to deliver from the Miseries of Soul and Body as Blindness Sickness and Devils I remember but two of Christ's Miracles that were destructive blasting the Fig-tree and drowning the Herd of Swine in other Miracles he was exercised in curing the Sick raising the Dead casting out Satan c. Object 1. Ay but we have none now Answ. It is not necessary because the same Doctrine and Rule is continued to us without change That which is extraordinary must be proved by extraordinary Means Miracles wrought where there is no necessity are liable to suspicion When Christ's Doctrine was new and the Calling and Function that he exercised in the Church new then were Miracles wrought to confirm them The Lord's manner hath always been when he erects any new Worship and Service to give testimony to it from Heaven as Trees newly set need watering which afterwards we discontinue Upon the delivery of any new Law or Truth to the World natural and ordinary means of Conviction are wanting None now pretendeth to be an extraordinary Messenger from God the Doctrine is ordinary and the Call ordinary and why should we expect extraordinary Confirmation the Old sufficeth And by the consent and experience of many Ages and its own Reasonableness Christianity hath gotten a just Title to humane Belief and there we must submit John 20.30 31. And many other Signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his Disciples which are not written in this Book But these were written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God God hath given us the Report and Record of the old Miracles which is enough to beget Faith in them that have a mind to believe rather than wrangle We think it had been better if God had continued this sensible Confirmation but we must not give Laws to Heaven Because we have so much Light and other Inducements of Faith God will govern us by Wisdom and not by Power It is true Men are less apprehensive of his Wisdom than of the sensible effects of his Power but because we have otherwise Confirmation sufficient now doth God try us whether we will turn Atheists and Antiscripturists and upon light suspicion misbelieve Object 2. How shall we know that those Miracles were done since we saw them not we have but Fame and Report which oftentimes is no Friend to Truth Answ. We have the Report of Men that lived in that Age who were only fit Witnesses in this Case and were Persons of singular Holiness and Credit and they were those that sealed it with their Blood and therefore their Report is of as great Authority and Certainty as if we had seen them our selves And besides the Report is ancient constant not contradicted by the vigilant Adversaries of that Age with them which would be a madness if they were false and counterfeit since they might so easily enquire into the Truth of the Report Foreign Histories testify that such things were done tho they seek to deprave the Actions as if done by the Power of Satan And hitherto the Church hath maintained the Truth of them against all Opposers But of this hereafter Vse To press us to reverence the Word of God since God hath owned it by Miracles and sealed up Instruction as the Expression is Job 33.16 that is ratified it by extraordinary Dispensations The Apostle proveth that the Despisers of the Gospel will have a sorer Judgment than the Despisers of the Law Heb. 2.2 3 4. For if the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every Transgression and Disobedience received a just Recompence of Reward How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him God also bearing them witness both with Signs and Wonders and with divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own Will The Transgressors of the Law tho they did not see God giving it upon the Mount were punished and so will the Disregarders of the Gospel tho they did not see the Miracles It is better to believe than to make trial there are no Atheists and Antiscripturists in Hell they feel the Truth of what they would not fear Nay when God hath owned it if you neglect it or receive it carelesly or do not study it tho you do not openly oppose or secretly question the Authority of it if you neglect it God will deal severely with you The Miracles were then wrought and the Doctrine needeth not often Confirmation Thirdly The Accomplishment of Prophecies Threatnings Promises as if God had made the Word a Rule of proceeding and the whole Government of the World were managed in a conformity to the Scriptures for his whole Providence is but a Comment upon it 1. Prophecies How have they always been accomplished as set down in the Word Isa. 41.23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter that we may know that ye are Gods A Man may foretel things that depend on Natural Causes as Snow Rain Heat Cold Eclipses but things meerly contingent depending upon the Free Grace of God or Free Will of Man are foretold in the Word as the Rejection of the Jews and the Calling of the Gentiles are clearly spoken of and clearly accomplished The Scripture is not only an Authentick Register of what is past but an infallible Prognostication of what is to come nothing good or bad befel but that which was foretold 2. So for Threatnings God governeth the World by this Rule Threatnings have been accomplished Hosea 7.12 I will chastise them as their Congregation hath heard A Man might have the History of the Jews from Time to Time out of the Threatnings of Moses and prophetical Predictions and extract the Life of Christ out of the Writings of the Prophets Object But Threatnings many Times are not accomplished Answ. The Prerogative of Free-Grace many times doth interpose and God worketh extra ordinem God hath reserved this Liberty to himself he is not bound tho we are It is for his Honour that it should be so as all humane Laws allow the chief Magistrate a liberty of Pardoning There is difference between Laws and Decrees the Threatnings are the Sanction of the Law 3. Then for Promises We never waited upon God and put forth Hope according to a Promise but it was made good to a tittle Joshua 23.14 Behold this day I am going the way of all the Earth and ye know in all your Hearts and in all your Souls that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you all are come to pass unto you and not one thing hath failed thereof He was about to die and therefore
proclaim it to be of God I shall be brief in going over this Enumeration 1. For the Precepts of the Word Psal. 119.96 I have seen an end of all Perfection but thy Commandments are exceeding broad Here all Matters of Duty and Morality are advanced to their highest Perfection It is very broad watching every Thought and the first Motions of the Heart No Precepts are so Holy Just and Good The Light of Nature seeth a necessity of Holiness there are some Fragments and Remains of Light in Man's Heart that teach him what is good and right but these are much blurred Rom. 2.15 Which shew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Work of the Law written in their Hearts their Conscience also bearing Witness and their Thoughts in the mean while accusing or else excusing one another Now the Word is the second Edition of God's Will wherein Duties are better known and set forth not only Sins but Lusts are forbidden Lust is Adultery Mat. 5.28 Whosoever shall look on a Woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his Heart In Worship and other Duties not only the Act but the Frame of the Heart is regarded Mat. 22.37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind Yea there are Precepts that go against the bent and hair of Nature Man's Heart could never have devised them as to love our Enemies Mat. 5.44 45. Love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you That ye may be the Children of your Father that is in Heaven for he maketh his Sun to rise upon the Evil and the Good and sendeth Rain on the Just and on the Vnjust To wean Men from the World that it is a sin to walk as Men. 1 Cor. 3.3 For ye are yet carnal for whereas there is among you Envying and Strife and Divisions are ye not Carnal and walk as Men Christians are trained up in an higher School So to deny our selves a Lesson proper to Christ's School Mat. 16.24 If any Man will come after me let him deny himself and take up the Cross and follow me To depend on God renouncing our sufficiency c. 2. The Promises of the Word they hold forth the highest Happiness that Man is capable of Philosophy was to seek of a fit Reward and Encouragement of Vertue the chief Good is only revealed in the Scriptures Men are at a puzzle and loss till they take this Light along with them Psal. 4.6 There are many that say Who will shew unto us any good There is a disposition and instinct of Nature towards Happiness yea towards Eternal Happiness All Men would be happy Man's Soul is a Chaos of Desires like a Spunge it desireth to fill it self it is thirsty and seeketh to be satisfied Austin speaketh of a Jester that at the next Shew would undertake to shew every one what they did desire and when there was a great Confluence and Expectation he told them Hoc omnes vultis vili emere carò vendere Another said Ye all desire to be praised But Austin saith rightly these were but foolish Answers because many good Men desire neither the one being against Justice and the other against Sincerity but saith he Si dixisset omnes beati esse vnltis he had said right every one may find this disposition in his own Heart to an eternal infinite Happiness This Stock was left in Nature on which Grace hath grafted Acts 17.26 That they may seek the Lord if happily they might feel after him and find him tho he be not far from every one of us They groped after God like the blind Sodomites about Lot's Door When we have all outward Blessings the Soul of Man is not filled but this Sore runneth Fecisti nos Domine propter te ideo irrequietum est cor meum donec requiescat in te There is a natural poise in the Soul that bendeth it that way so that we cannot be quiet without God We may make Experiments as Solomon did but still we shall want an infinite eternal Recompence after this Life for we can never be happy here as the Heathens dreamed of Elysian Fields This is fit for God to give and for us to receive the infinite eternal God will give like himself 2 Cor. 4.17 A far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory as Araunah gave like a King to the King 2 Chron. 24.24 a Royal Gift There is a time when God will give like himself The Scripture giveth this manifestation of Eternal Happiness 3. The Doctrines of the Word of Sin Righteousness and Judgment they are all sublime John 16.8 When the Spirit is come he will reprove or convince the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment Without a Revelation from God they could not enter into the Heart of Man Doctrines of Sin to humble the Creature of Righteousness to raise him and comfort him of Judgment to awe him unto Holiness Of Sin as of the Fall the Heathens knew nothing of this they complained of Nature as a Step-mother Vitia etiam sine Magistro discuntur Man cometh into the World crying as into a place of Misery the Cause they could not tell The Scriptures shew us how we sinned in Adam our Natures are Evil more susceptive of Bad than of Good never weary of Sin because this is most suitable to us Then there are Doctrines of Righteousness and there indeed come in many Mysteries Trinity of Persons Union of the two Natures in Christ's Person a Child born of a Virgin but all these tho above Nature yet not against it All Religions aim at this to bring Men to God Nature is sensible of a Breach there are vain Offers elsewhere to make up this Breach but the Scriptures shew the way therefore there is no reason to suspect the truth of them It is above Reason that sheweth it to be of Divine Original if the Creature had been put to study it they could never have found it out it exceedeth all humane Contrivance and therefore maketh us wonder And there are Doctrines of Judgment take it of Judgment to come Resurrection Last Judgment it is not incredible Reason sheweth it may be Acts 26.8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the Dead Justice must have a solemn Triumph The Heathens dreamed of a severe day of Accounts Acts 24.25 As he reasoned of Righteousness Temperance and Judgment to come Felix trembled Rom. 1.18 The Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness and Vnrighteousness of Men who hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness There is a sad Presage of it in a guilty Heart 4. The Histories of the Word The Scriptures are a History of the Creation of the World which puzled the Philosophers some thought it was produced by Chance others that it was from
Men of old did suit their Prayers to their foregoing Sermons so did our Lord Jesus Christ suit this Prayer to his foregoing Sermon made to his Apostles What did he promise to them John 16.8 9 10 11. If I depart I will send the Comforter unto you and when he is come he will reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment Of Sin because they believe not on me Of Righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more Of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged This is a difficult Place the meaning is this In the Context you will find the Apostles were troubled about Christ's Departure and their going out into the World to preach the Gospel for they apprehended their Service difficult their Master for whom they stood despised and looked upon as a Seducer and Mock-King among the Jews their Message very unpleasant as contrary to the carnal Interests of Men. Now for a few weak Men to be left to the Hatred and Opposition of a proud malitious ambitious World they that were to preach a Doctrine contrary to the Lusts and Interests of Men and go forth in the Name of a Master that was despised and hanged on a Tree what shall they do Be not troubled saith our Saviour He lays in many Comforts and among them that the World shall be convinced The Spirit shall convince the World of Sin c. Observe 1. The Act He shall convince 2. The Object the World 3. The Particulars what he shall convince them of of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment 4. The Means by the Spirit 5. The Effects of this and how this was accomplished and what a mighty Confirmation this was of the Apostle's Testimony 1. Consider the Act He shall reprove or convince not convert but convince whereby is meant not only his offering or affording sufficient Means which might convince Men but his actual convincing them thereby even the reprobate World shall be so convinced as they were put to silence that they shall not easily be able to gain-say the Truth nay some of them shall obtain the Profession of it And yet the Holy Ghost goeth no further with them than fully to convince them the Work stoppeth there they are not effectually converted to God As many carnal Men that remain in an unregenerate Condition to the last may have many temporal Gifts bestowed on them whereby they may be made useful to the real and true Believers and have strange Changes and Flashes of Conscience for a while yet it went no further therefore the Apostle saith Heb. 6.4 5. They were enlightned and had tasted of the Heavenly Gift and were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost And have tasted the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come 2. The Object of this Work of the Spirit Whom shall he convince the World It is notable the Church is not spoken of but the World Now the World is either the unregenerate and unconverted World or else the reprobate and lost World who finally persist in their Unbelief or want of saving Faith this mad raging World shall be convinced and so their opposition taken off or their Edg blunted and they made more easy and kind to his People though they are but convinced and continue still in a state of Nature Nay some of them shall join with them and be made greatly useful to them therefore they need not fear though all the Power and Learning in the World were against them at that time 3. The Particulars whereof they are convinced Of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment Grotius and other Interpreters observe there were three sorts of Causes of Actions among the Jews 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concerning criminal Matters or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in defending the Just and Upright or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in urging the Law of Retaliation for Damage done Sometimes there was a Suit commenced to know whether a Man were a criminal or no at other times if any Man had been wronged there was a Suit commenced concerning Righteousness and Innocency and the Man was acquitted in Court Sometimes there was an Action concerning Judgment and that was concerning Retaliation giving Eye for Eye Tooth for Tooth recompencing the Party wronged concerning Damage done So here the Holy Ghost at his coming should be the Advocate of Christ against the World who had rejected and crucified him One Action that he should put in against the World was concerning Sin whether Christ or the Despisers of his Grace were guilty of a Crime it would appear in the Issue that not to believe in him was a Sin as well as to transgress the moral or natural Law The second Action was concerning Righteousness to vindicate his Innocency though he suffered among them as a Malefactor in that he was owned by God and taken up into Heaven as a clear Testimony of his Innocency The third Action was that of Judgment or punishing injurious Persons by way of Retaliation that those which struck out another's Eye or Tooth were to lose their own or he that had wronged another Man in his Substance should lose as much of his own This Action he had against Satan who with his Instruments had put Christ to Death now the Prince of this World shall be judged Retaliation shall be done upon him his Kingdom destroyed his Idols and Oracles battered down and put to silence and under Disgrace And thus the Spirit should come to convince the World that it was a Sin not to believe in Christ who was a righteous and innocent Person and the Devil which did the wrong should have Right done upon him that he should be destroyed and his Kingdom demolished All these we have Acts 5.30 31. The God of our Fathers raised up Jesus whom ye slew and hanged on a Tree Him hath God exalted with his right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give Repentance to Israel and Forgiveness of Sins The first Question was concerning Sin Whether Christ died as a Malefactor or whether he was a true Prophet And whether it was not a Sin in the Jews not to receive him that was the Point in Controversy between the Apostles in preaching the Gospel and the World that denied this The next Question was concerning Righteousness Whether Christ was a Righteous Person Now Christ being exalted at God's right Hand was thereby owned to be a Righteous Person that though he was hanged on the Tree yet he was justified and exalted at the right Hand of God The other Controversie was concerning Judgment Whether Christ were a base Person or one exalted to be Prince and Saviour exalted above Satan and all Things that are called God in the World Now the Spirit shall convince the World that the Prince of this World is condemned and that Christ is the Prince and Saviour and he must be owned and exalted and his Kingdom set up every where Thus when poor Men were to
vid. Willingness Did not fall out by chance Page 180 Were appointed by the Father Page 7 Foretold by the Prophets Page 8 Always attended with some Glory Page 9 Sufferings of God's People short Page 8 God's People to prepare for them Page 194 vid Troubles When they come do not think strange at them Page 195 How to know when God is about to bring Trouble on the Church Page 164 Cautions in suffering for Christ. Page 117 Christ hath Experience of his Peoples Sufferings Page 134 T. TEaching of Christ the manner of it Page 69 Christ the great Teacher of the Church Page 74 Temptations fitted to every State Page 135 To every Condition Calling Action Place Page 214 215 Lust within gives advantage to Temptations without Page 129 260 Tender God is tender of his Truth and Saints Page 239 337 Threatnings of the Word always fulfilled Page 250 Objections answered Page 250 Titles of God in Scripture suited to Requests made to him Page 136 349 367 Toleration Arguments against it Page 236 Treason against Christ one of Judas's Sins Page 175 To be avoided Page 178 Trinity the Doctrine of the Trinity opened and proved Page 37 vid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Person How we are to imitate the Trinity Page 168 309 Truth a great Treasure Page 236 Truth of the Scriptures Scriptures must be fulfilled Page 182 vid. Scriptures Divine Authority U. VIctory over evil to be preferred before Exemption from it Page 213 Vision of Christ in Heaven ocular and mental what Page 358 359 Why our Happiness lies in it Page 359 Vision the cause of all Fruition in Heaven Page 359 It shall be comfortable Page 361 Who are they that shall see Christ in Heaven Page 361 Union moral of Believers one with another what it is vid. Unity Page 106 303 Union mystical of Believers with Christ what it is Page 160 301 389 The whole Trinity is concerned in this Union Page 301 Whole Christ is united to a whole Believer Page 301 This Union is secret and mysterious but real Page 302 Illustrated by the Union of Head and Members Page 302 And by the Conjugal Union Page 390 All the Ordinances have an aspect on our Union with Christ. Page 332 How this Union is brought about and in what order Page 389 What the Act of Faith is whereby we are united to Christ. Page 389 The end of it Page 333 The advantages Believers have by it Page 305 Glory the Fruit of Union as well as Grace Page 326 The Honour and Happiness of those that are united to Christ. Page 304 305 The Resemblance between the Mystical Union and the Union of the Divine and Humane Nature in Christ. Page 308 The disagreement between these two Unions Page 308 The Resemblance between the Mystical Union and the Union of Father and Son in the Trinity Page 308 Why Christ prayeth for this Union Page 303 How we may know we are united to Christ. Page 305 391 Those who are united to Christ to look for greater things than they enjoy Page 326 This should teach us Dependance Page 331 What those Fruits are of it whereby the World is convinced of the Truth of Christianity vid. Conviction Page 311 320 Unity of Believers hath some resemblance of the Unity of the Divine Persons Page 167 What is contrary to it Page 165 To be prayed for Page 163 Believers to be earnest for it Page 165 How much Christ's Heart is set on the Unity of his Members Page 161 vid. Love of Brethren Why Christ so earnestly prays for it Page 162 Arguments to press it Page 166 It is possible to be attained Page 163 What an excellent Blessing it is Page 162 The need the Church hath of it Page 163 Directions to attain it Page 166 Directions to restore it Page 166 How God keepeth the Saints together Page 168 Unity between God and Christ. Page 307 Unworthiness what we should do when dejected with a sense of our Unworthiness Page 344 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Original and Signification of the Word vid. Person Page 38 W. WAiting â—n God a Duty tho we want outward Supplies Page 172 Walk Christians to walk wisely towards them that are without Page 203 Warning Sinners to take warning by Iudgments on others Page 180 Watching what a Believer should watch against Page 216 Watching and Prayer should go together Page 216 Welcome of Christ by the Father at his Ascension Page 123 Willingness of Christ to undertake the Work of Redemption Page 286 And to suffer Page 9 287 Word of God the necessity of God's giving us a Word Page 238 VVhat it is Page 240 To be reverenced Page 250 How given to Christ. Page 88 The proper means to work Faith Page 88 vid. Faith It will work without Miracles Page 89 The Spirit will not work without it Page 89 The Power of it to convert Souls Page 89 The Truth of it vid. Scripture Divine Authority It helps our Ioy. Page 190 Work every Man hath his Work Page 52 This Work is given to him by God Page 53 This Work must be finished Page 54 World why God permits his People to be in the World Page 131 The weakness of the World Page 105 The danger of living in the World Page 129 214 The Enemies we meet with in the World Page 130 Christ apprehensive of his Peoples danger in this World and why vid. Daâ—ger Page 133 VVhy we should grow weary of the World Page 135 How Christians are not of this World Page 204 VVhy Christians are not of this World Page 204 Characters of those that live as if they were of this World Page 206 How to know whether our Hearts are set on this World vid. Heart Page 206 207 How should a Christian know when the Worâ—d incroacheth upon him Page 217 VVe can never enough be cautioned against the World Page 222 Worldly Conversation wherein seen Page 209 Worldly Men their dangerous Estate Page 106 Men of the World apt to defile the People of God Page 130 How the People of God differ from the Men of the World Page 191 Worldly Spirit to be avoided Page 224 Worldly things are frail Page 148 Worldliness expressed by Adultery and Idolatry and why Page 217 223 Arguments against it Page 223 Worldliness of Professors brings Troubles on the Church Page 195 Worship God to be worshipped in an holy manner Page 142 VVe should go away the more holy from Worship Page 142 A TABLE Of the Places of Scriptures explained in this PART    Pag. GEn. 3. 15. 197 19. 17. 216 Ex. 28. 12 29. 265 29. 4. 230 1 Sam. 2. 9. 171  25. 86 264 Job 1. 5. 105 4. 18. 138 31. 14. 56 Psalm 14. 1. 33 16. 3 4. 106 19. 7 8 9. 235 24. 7 8. 253  11. 122 25. 14. 372 62. 10. 209 93. ult 140 112. 96. 235 259 Proverb 8. 12. 91 13. 17. 281 14. 13. 187 18. 10. 152 29. 27. 197 30. 8 9. 214 Eccles. 2. 2. 187
Lord and Master Sin and the Devil and the World are Usurpers and therefore are exauctorated we are no longer bound to serve them but God hath a right to require love and service at our-hands Acts 27.23 The God whose I am and whom I serve He hath a title by Creation as our proper Owner Psal. 100.3 Know ye that the Lord he is God it is he that hath made us and not we our selves By Redemption 1 Cor. 6.19 20. Ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price Therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods Christ came to recover us from our slavery Secondly To shew the disadvantage between having Sin and God for our Master What is more filthy than sin and more mischievous than sin and more holy and beneficial than God To serve sin is a brutish captivity and will prove our bane in the issue but to serve God is true liberty and it will be our present and eternal Happiness Rom. 6.22 But now being made free from sin ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life Secondly The Grace to perform this Duty Through our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to die to Sin and live to God not only ex praescripto Christi according to the precepts of Christ which every where run strongly against sin and pleading Gods right with us nor only ex imitatione Christi to imitate our Pattern and Example that we may be like Christ in these things and express his dying and rising in our conversations but virtute Christi by the power of Christs Grace as by the force of his Example This power of Christ may be considered as purchased or as applied or as our interest in it is professed in Baptism 1. As it is purchased He died and rose again to represent the Merit of his Death to God that he might obtain Grace for us to kill sin and live unto God and that in such a continued course of obedience till we live with God 1 Thess. 5.10 He dyed for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him i.e. to redeem us from all iniquity and to preserve us in our obedience to eternal Life While we wake or are alive we live with him and when we sleep after we are dead we still live with him we live a spiritual Life here and afterward an eternal Life in Glory So that place which otherwise hath some difficulty in it may be expounded by Rom. 14.8 9. Whether we live we live unto the Lord or whether we dye we dye unto the Lord Whether therefore we live or dye we are the Lords For this Christ died 2. As it is applied It is applied by the Spirit of Christ by virtue of our Union with him Jesus Christ is the Root and Foundation of this Life in whom we do subsist For it is in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in the Context it is said vers 5. we are planted into his likeness so that this conformity is the fruit of our Union and wrought in us by his Spirit which is the sap we derive from our Root 3. As our interest in him is professed in Baptism for then we are visibly graffed into Christ Gal. 3.27 As many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Thence an obligation resulteth we ought to be like him So that in short the summ of the whole is this the Precepts and Example of Christ do shew us our Duty the Grace whereby we perform it is wrought in us by the Spirit by virtue of our Union with Christ and our Baptismal ingagement bindeth it on our hearts Or thus it is purchased by Christ effected by the Spirit sealed and professed in Baptism which partly bindeth us to our Duty and assureth us we shall not want Grace but have help and strength from Jesus Christ. Thirdly The means of improvement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reckon your selves It may be inquired why the Apostle faith not simply we are dead or be ye dead indeed but reckon your selves to be dead indeed unto sin c. Shall our reckoning our selves dead or alive make it so Answer 1. Let us consider the import of the word 2. Why it is used 1. For the import of the word It is equivalent with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ver 9. what they signifie this signifieth It is an act of judgment the power of the mind is put forth in it 2. The Use of it here 1. It is Actus Mentis cogitantis it is an act of the mind considering or meditating upon this matter and the effect here mentioned doth much depend upon meditation as the means The weightiest things work not if they be not thought of therefore we must not slightly pass over this Mystery of Christs dying and rising but consider how they concern us and what we were before Regeneration and what we are now to be who profess to follow our Redeemer unto Glory 2. It is Actus Rationis concludentis an act of reason concluding from due Premises and inferring that this is our Duty Because the heart is averse from God we need positively to determine upon rational deductions that it is our unquestionable Duty for we must certainly know a thing to be our Duty before we will address our selves to perform it and herein Reason is a good Handmaid to Faith for sanctified Reason ever concludeth for God whilst it improveth Principles discovered by Faith it is our Light to discover many things evident by natural Light it is our Instrument to improve other things which it cannot discover but depend on Gods Revelation We ponder and weigh things in our minds then determine what is our Duty So that Reckon is by Reason collect as often in Scripture 1 Cor. 10.15 I speak as to wise men ye have reason Judge ye what I say 3. It is Actus Fidei assentientis it is the Syllogism of Faith It is not the bare knowledge nor the bare discourse of these things doth make them operative and effectual but as Faith is mingled with them Heb. 4.2 The word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it This is not matter of conjecture or opinion only but of Faith to owne the obligation which dependeth on the Authority of Christ which is a supernatural Truth 2. to believe the Power which doth assist us which is also a matter of pure Faith and seemingly contradicted by sense For though Mortification and Vivification be begun in us yet because of the troublesom relicts of corruption to reckon our selves with any degree of confidence and trust to be dead unto sin and alive unto God is an Act of Faith the thing is not liable to external sense and internal sense contradicts it we being oppressed with so many remaining corruptions 4. It is Actus Fidei applicantis We must not
and so in the high way to destruction they say Tush it is folly to stand so scrupulously and nicely upon our Duty but on the other side they are free from sin that fear a Commandment that dare not venture when God hath hedged up their way the one are prophane they will speak and do as they list say God what he will to the contrary the other godly and have a deep reverence of God and so of his Word upon their hearts My heart standeth in awe of thy word saith David Psal. 119.161 Many fear the punishment of man or a Judgment when to visible appearance it is likely to tread upon the heels of sin and some may fear a Threatning but a gracious heart feareth a Commandment if a Commandment standeth in the way it is reason enough to a gracious heart to forbear more than if there were a Lion in the way or a Band of armed Enemies or an Angel with a drawn Sword such as stood in the way to stop Baalam they have a deep reverence of Gods Authority and it is no more than needeth for this direction is given to us 1 Pet. 1.17 Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear to those that take themselves to be renewed ones 2. Be more resolved against sin We shake off the yoke by a solemn entring into Covenant with God wherein we renounce the Devil the World and the Flesh and heartily dedicate our selves to live unto God now the more resolved we are in either the more sincere is our Covenant A wavering purpose maketh us neither wholly off from sin nor wholly on upon Gods service but hangeth between both the heart is not biassed and ingaged and so there is a considerable and notable inconsistency in the life Jam. 1.8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways Therefore till the purpose cometh to be full we are not freed from the power of sin Some kind of willingness and unsound consent there is in the half converted yet for want of this true resolution their hearts are not right with God neither are they stedfast in his Covenant Psal. 78.37 It is long e're men will yield to live to God and when they seem to yield are long wavering e're they fully resolve they see all is not well with them and that they are not in a safe condition to appear before God in the Judgment and they have many perswadings of the Spirit of God and their own Consciences reasoning the case with them and under these perswasions the mind is under some purpose to take a new course but these purposes are either for the time to come hereafter they will be more strict and holy but still adjourn and put it off or else they are but half purposes that reach not to a full resolution and therefore if they make some kind of change it is by halves they are not free from sin which often returneth and recovereth its former Power and Reign in their Hearts But when men are resolved past all contradiction that this shall be their work and scope to please God then they do more fully yield up themselves to the renewing Spirit to be sanctified and prepared for Gods use the Scales are cast Righteousness gets the Power that Sin had before the man is new armed with a resolution to cease from sin and to betake himself to a holy life whatever it cost him 1 Pet. 4.1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh arm your selves also with the same mind for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin He is resolved to deny the Flesh forsake the World and to cast off the weight that hangeth on him and the sin that doth so easily beset him and to run with patience the race that is set before him Heb. 12.1 2. Good wishes and good purposes will not now serve the turn but active and serious endeavours the man that hath another work to do that he may actually forsake the sin which he hath renounced 3. Do not make a light matter of sin but hate and abhor it The Soul is never truly converted to God till Holiness hath our delight and love and sin our hatred and aversation When it is hated it is mortified While a man is a servant of sin he loveth not God nor spiritual things nor the holy ways of God but rather there is an opposition to them and enmity against them in the heart but when we become the Servants of God the object both of our love and hatred is changed we love God and his People and his Ways but then they hate sin sincerely even the garment spotted with the flesh Jude 13. the very evil actions they do themselves they hate Rom. 7.15 The evil which I hate that do I. Sin may break out sometimes but it is contrary to their liking but generally this hatred prevents sin and is a very great help to the forsaking of it they are so fallen out with sin that they keep it under Psal. 97.11 Ye that love the Lord hate evil their hearts are turned from it and against it whereas formerly they lived in fleshly pleasures their delight is in pleasing God the main bent of their heart and life is against sin and their chief design and endeavour is to destroy it Grace hath taught them that Sin Satan and the Flesh are their deadly Enemies that seek the Damnation of their Soul and therefore they deal with them as Enemies and bid defiance to them Alas what ado have we with many to leave a base Lust because they never truly hated it There is â—ome dislike of their sins for a while but when the fit is over they relapse into them because there is not an irreconcileable enmity and abhorrency Isa. 30.22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver and the ornaments of thy molten images of gold thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth thou shalt say unto it Get thee hence Hosea 14.8 Ephraim shall say What have I to do any more with Idols Others stand dallying with sin but cannot leave it 4. If you would be free from sin avoid the temptations that lead to it If Ravens or Crows be driven away from the Carrion they love to abide within the scent Those that will play about the Cokatrices hole will surely be bitten therefore we ought to fly the occasions and appearances of evil 1 Thess. 5.22 Abstain from all appearance of evil If men would not be drowned what do they so near the waters side nor wounded why venture they among Enemies or meddle with the Bait if they would escape the Hook Therefore Caution is your Preservative 5. If you would be free from sin live unto God For Vivification doth promote Mortification and the sensual Life is best cured by the Souls delight in God and care to please him Job 1.1 Job was perfect and upright one that feared God and eschewed evil True
Christs Holy Government saith Diodate they are freed from the deadly Tyranny of Sin by the Spirit of Life freed from the Yoke and Dominion of Sin which bringeth Death and so walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit This I think to be the true meaning of the words Now I come to the Doctrines 1 Doct. That the new Covenant is the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus 2. That the new Covenant giveth liberty to all that are really under it from the slavery of Sin and the condemning power of the Law For the first point That the new Covenant is the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus I shall divide it and prove 1. That the new Covenant is a Law 2. That 't is the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus First That 't is a Law That the Gospel hath the force of a Law I shall evidence by these Considerations 1. That man being Gods Creature is his subject and standeth related to him as his rightful governour and therefore is to receive what Laws he is pleased to impose upon him Isa. 33.22 The Lord is our Judg the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King and he will save us and Jam. 4.21 There is one Law giver who is able to save and to destroy our subjection to God as our Soveraign is built on our total and absolute dependance upon him both for our creation and preservation for we could neither make our selves nor preserve our selves and therefore we are subject to the will of another whose we are and whom we should serve 2. Man as a reasonable and free agent is bound voluntarily to yield up himself in subjection to his proper Lord. All the Creatures are under the government of God and so in a sense are under a Law for there is a certain course within the bounds of which their natures and motions are limited and fixed Psal. 119.91 They continue to this day according to thine ordinances for they are all thy servants And Psal. 148.6 he hath established them for ever and made a decree beyond which they shall not pass So Prov. 8.29 he gave to the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandments All Creatures are ballanced in a due proportion and guided in their tract and course by an unerring hand which is a kind of Law to them so man as a Creature is subject to the direction of Gods Providence as other creatures are but as a reasonable creature he is capable of moral Government and of a Law properly so called for so he hath a choice of his own a power of refusing evil and chusing good Other Creatures are ruled by a rod of Iron Gods Power and Sovereignty but man whose Obedience depends upon choice is governed by Laws which may direct and oblige him to good and warn him and drive him from evil Man is apt to be wrought upon by hopes and fears which are the great instruments of Government by hopes of reward and fears of punishment and therefore he not only out of his own Interest but Duty to his Creator is bound to give up himself to do the Will of God this is called for 2 Chron. 30.8 Yield your selves to the Lord and 2 Cor. 8.5 they first gave themselves to the Lord and Rom. 6.13 yield your selves to the Lord and in many other places 3. Man being bound to obey the Will of God needeth a Law from God to constitute his Duty and direct him in it for without his Laws the Subject cannot know what is due to his Sovereign nor can man understand what his duty is to his Creator In innocency he gave him a Law written upon his heart for God made him holy and righteous Eccles. 7.29 and he was to perform such actions as became an holy and righteous Creature his nature bound him and fitted him to love God and his Neighbour and Himself in a regular and due subordination to God This Law was sufficient to guide him while he stood in his Integrity and to inable him to please God in all things for this Law written upon his heart was both his Rule and his Principle But consider men in their fallen estate surely they needed a Law and that God should shew them what was good and evil The Gentiles had some relicks of the Law of Nature Rom. 2.14 15. and so much sense of their Duty left as leaveth them not only culpable for their neglect of it Rom. 1.20 But they are all become guilty before God Rom. 3.19 With his people he dealt more favourably and graciously Psalm 147.19 20. He shewed his word unto Jacob and his statutes unto Israel he hath not dealt so with any nation as for his judgments they have not known them Alas in the weakness to which we were reduced after the fall how miserable should we be and grope in the dark if God had not given us a Law and shewed us what is good Were it not for the relicks of Nature in the Gentiles the World would be but a Den of Thieves and a stage of wickedness and every one would do what is right in his own eyes but the Interests of men causeth them to make Laws for their own safety but yet there is no sure and sufficient direction to guide them in their Obedience to God without his Word The Laws of men have no other end than the good of Humane Society and reacheth no further than the Government of the outward Conversation there is little or nothing in them to guide us in our obeying or injoying God This God hath done in his word to the Jews of old and to us Christians more fully for we are built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Eph. 2.20 namely as they have shewed us to live in obedience to God as our proper and rightful Lord and to injoy him as our proper happiness But to leave this general view of these things 4. The Gospel which is both our Rule and Charter is the Law which in Christs name is given to the World That appeareth 1. By the titles or terms wherein it is expressed as Isa. 2.3 Out of Sion shall go forth the Law and the word of God from Jerusalem so Isa. 42.4 The Isles shall wait for his Law so Isa. 51.4 A Law shall proceed from me and I will make my judgment to rest for a light to the people And in the New Testament 't is called the law of Faith Rom. 3.27 and the law of Christ Gal. 5.2 so that the Doctrine of Salvation by Christ is that Law which we should abide by 2. The reason of the thing sheweth it For here is 1. A Governor or Ruler the Lord Christ who hath acquired a new Dominion and Empire over the World to save and to rule men upon his own Terms Rom. 14.9 For to this end Christ both dyed and and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of dead and
another and for another therefore we are debtors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. The exemplification to whom Negatively not to the flesh this is expresly denied for two reasons because the flesh maketh a claim to us it hath a double claim one by usurpation when God is laid aside self interposeth as the next heir and that which we count our self is the flesh which doth all in all with men the other is in pretence it seemeth to challenge a right by Gods allowance something is due to the body and no man yet ever hated his own flesh but we must distinguish of flesh as 't is taken for the body and natural substance so we are debtors to the body by necessity of nature for we owe it Food and Physick and Raiment As 't is taken for corrupt nature which inclineth us to seek the happiness of the body and bodily life without God and apart from God so we owe nothing to the flesh so as to obey its lusts or frame our lives according to the desires of it we owe it hatred but not obedience the motions of corrupt nature tend to feed the habits of sin sensuality pride worldliness thence come ignorance unbelief 2. Positively we are debtors to the spirit to be led by the spirit v. 14. The spirit mindeth us of our duty externally by the word internally by his sacred motions and inspirations restraining us from sin Rom. 8.13 If ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live quickning us to holiness Gal. 5.25 If we live in the spirit let us also walk in the spirit Doct. That believers are debtors not to the flesh but to the spirit I shall prove it by considering them in a double capacity 1. With respect to the order of nature 2. Or the condition of their spiritual being Take them as Men or Christians if you look upon them as Men they are debtors to God for all they have if you look upon them as Christians that have received the Faith of Christ they are much more debtors not to the flesh but to the spirit 1. With respect to the order of nature man is debtor for he is a dependant creature not an Owner or a Lord but a steward I prove it by Two Arguments We depend upon God for being and preservation and therefore we are debtors to God for all that we have Secondly And depending upon God we are accountable to him or thus God that is a Creator and Preserver is therefore an Owner and being an Owner is therefore a Governor and Ruler and by consequence a Judg his being a Creator goeth before his being an Owner and his being an Owner goeth before his being a Ruler and is the foundation of it for his absolute propriety in us giveth him a power and dominion over us and there are two parts of his governing power Legislation and Execution or Judgment 1. His being a Creator maketh him an Owner We have nothing but what we have from God nothing that we our selves can keep one moment without God and therefore we have nothing but what is for God for we hold it at his will and pleasure Ezek. 18.4 All souls are mine and Prov. 16.4 God hath made all things for himself and Rom. 11.36 For of him and to him and through him are all things Among men whosoever maketh any thing by his own proper art and labour and that of his own stuff must needs have a full right to it and a full power to dispose of it No man ever made any thing but of matter preexisting but God made all things out of nothing and therefore if he that planteth a vineyard hath right to eat of the fruit thereof certainly he that gave us life and being and made us after his own image to serve and worship him hath a full right in man to dispose of man and all the rest of his creatures as being the work of his hands He that gave them their being when they were not and still supporteth them now they are hath an undoubted just right to order them according to his own will and pleasure 2. His being an Owner qualifieth him for being a Ruler For the dominion of Jurisdiction is founded in the dominion of Property we are his own therefore we are his subjects Matth. 20.15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own Surely be that possesseth all things hath full right to govern all things as Parents have an authority over their children who are a means under God to give them life and education the most barbarous nations have acknowledged the Authority of Parents how much greater then is the Authority of God who hath given us life and breath being and well-being and all things He created us out of nothing and being created he preserveth us and giveth us all the good things which we enjoy and therefore we are obliged to him to be subject to him and to obey all his holy laws and to be accountable to him for the breach thereof The supereminent excellency of his nature giveth him a sufficiency for the government of mankind and Creation and Preservation gave him a full right to make what laws he pleaseth and to call man to an account whether he hath kept them yea or no The right of God is greater than the right of Parents for in natural generation they are but instruments of his Providence acting only the power which God giveth them and the Parents propagate to the children nothing but the master of the body and such things as belong to the body called therefore the fathers of our flesh Heb. 12.9 Yea in framing the body God hath a greater hand than they for they cannot tell whether the Child will be Male or Female beautiful or deformed know not the number and posture of the Bones and Nerves and Arteries and Sinews God formeth these things in the Womb Zech. 12.1 And formed the spirit of man within him All that they can do cometh to nothing without Gods blessing so that God is the governour of all creatures visible and invisible from whose Empire and Jurisdiction they neither can nor ought to exempt themselves 3. There are two parts of Government or Jurisdiction Legislation and Judgment as the Lord is called Isa. 33.22 Our King our Lawgiver our Judg First as the Lawgiver He by his Precepts sheweth what is due from man to God Micah 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what the Lord thy God requireth of thee The way of pleasing God is clearly revealed Many things the light of natural conscience calleth for Rom. 2.14 But the light of the Holy Scripture much more Psal. 147.19 20. He hath shewed his word to Jacob his statutes and judgments to Israel he hath not dealt so with any nation If we are contentious and obey not the truth and against the light of Scripture and reason gratifie our brutish lusts we disclaim Gods Authority
delights therefore if you be strangers and Pilgrims you should not lust after worldly things lest you forget or forfeit your great hopes Secondly You are Racers or Wrestlers 1 Cor. 9.24 Know you not that they which run in a race even all but one receiveth the prize so run that you may obtain They that exercised in the Istmaick Games had a prescribed set dyet both for quality and quantity and had their rule chalked out to them they knew their work and their reward so v 27. But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast-away That is denied himself those liberties which otherwise he might enjoy having prescribed to others the way of striving and getting the victory they for an Oaken or Olive Crown dieted themselves kept themselves from all things which should hurt them or disable them in the Race or Combat and should we cocker every appetite that have an Eternal Crown of Glory in view and pursuit our danger is greater if we should miscarry and miss of it theirs the loss of a little vain glory ours of Eternal Glory therefore we should strive that we be not found unworthy to receive it there the victory is uncertain here all that are runners may be sure of the Crown 5. Consider the malignant influence of the flesh and how pernicious it is to the soul. If it were a small thing we spake to you about you might refuse to give ear but 't is in a case of life and death and that not temporal but eternal we can tell you of many present and temporal inconveniencies that come by the flesh the body the part gratified is in many oppressed by it Prov. 5.11 Thou shalt mourn at last when thy flesh and body is consumed It betrayeth you to such sins as suck your bones and devour your strength and give your years to the cruel to such enormities and scandalous practices as bring infamy and a blot upon thy name Pleasing the flesh maketh one turn a drunkard and the very sin carrieth its own punishment with it a second a wanton a third a glutton a fourth a hard-hearted worldling and all these sins waste the conscience and debase the body and spend our Wit Time Strength and Estates but we have a more powerful Argument to present to you it will be the eternal loss and ruin of your souls There will a day come when you shall be called to an account for all your vain delights and pleasures Eccles. 11.9 Rejoice O young man in thy youth and let thine heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth and walk in the ways of thine own heart and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee to judgment The young man is cited before the Tribunal of God and we think somewhat must be allowed to that age before man have learned by experience to contemn pleasures and the young man is spoken to in his own dialect let his wanton and wandring eye inflame the lusts of his heart and smother his conscience by all manner of sensual delight yet a length he will know the folly of this to his bitter cost These things which are now so pleasing to the senses shall gnaw and sting his conscience when God whom he now forgetteth shall bring him to the Judgment and he shall have nothing to plead for his brutish folly 6. What vile unthankfulness it is and a great abuse of that liberty which we have by Christ Gal 5.13 Ye are called to liberty only use it not as an occasion to the flesh We have a great liberty to use our worldly comforts with a respect to Gods Glory and as encouragements of Gods Service and for the sweetning of our Pilgrimage but 't is strangely perverted when we use these things to please the flesh you turn it into a bondage and offer a great abuse to Jesus Christ surely he never dyed to promote the power of sin nor gave us these comforts to defeat the ends of his death Was he a man of sorrows that we might live in pleasure Did he suffer in the flesh to purchase us liberty to please the flesh Or die for sin to give sin the mastery Did the Lord vouchsafe these comforts that we might dishonour his name or undo our own souls 2. Means To come out of this estate and course of sin I shall give you a few Directions 1. To those that never pretended to the spiritual and heavenly life and are as yet to be drawn out of the common apostacy and defection of mankind to God All that I shall say to them is to observe Checks of Conscience and Motions of the Spirit and what help is given to weaken the flesh 1. Checks of conscience however occasioned either by a lapse into some sin which is wont to scourage the soul with some remorse Matt. 29.4 saying that I have sinned in betraying innocent blood Conscience working after the fact or by the conviction of the word Acts 24.25 And as he reasoned of righteousness and temperance and judgment to come Felix trembled Do not smother these checks that breedeth Atheism and hardness of heart Suppose one dissolutely bent yet upon some loathsome concomitants which follow his riot and intemperance he beginneth to be troubled Gods Providence is to be observed as well as his own sin This is a kind of softning his heart if it revert to his old frame the man is the worse No Iron so hard as that which hath been often heated Water after it hath been heated by the fire congealeth the sooner after it is taken off If he doth not take notice of Gods warnings his soul is more unapt to be wrought to repentance yea God in justice may deprive him of those common helps Hos. 4.17 Let him alone or give him up to his own hearts counsels 'T is dangerous not to make use of those intervals of Reason and sober thoughts which arise in our minds 2. The motions of the Holy Spirit when he cometh to recover you from the flesh to God and you are troubled not only with remorse for actual and heinous sins but about your eternal estate and are haunted with thoughts of the other world and urged to resolve upon the heavenly life Surely when the waters are stirred we should put in for a cure John 5. when he draweth we should run Cant. 1.4 when he knocketh we should open Rev. 3 20. and not obstruct the work of godliness but seriously imploy our thoughts about it Acts 16.14 Whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things that were spoken by Paul We should not rebel against the motions of the spirit lest we grieve our sanctifier and he forsake us because we forsook him first and so our hearts be hardned in a carnal course Briefly God doth all in our first conversion yet these three things lye
of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death SERMON XXVI ROM VIII 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us IN this Chapter the Apostle speaketh first of bridling lusts and then of bearing afflictions both are tedious to flesh and blood the necessity of taming the flesh is deduced throughout that whole discourse which is continued from v. 1. to the end of v. 17 where he maketh patient enduring afflictions a condition of our glory if we suffer with him we shall also be glorified together He now sheweth us a reason why we should not dislike this condition because the good which is promised is far greater than the evil which we fear two things Nature teacheth all men the first is to submit to a lesser evil to avoid a greater as men will cut off an Arm or a Leg to save the whole body the other is to undergo a lesser evil to obtain a greater good than that evil depriveth us of If this principle were not allowed it would destroy all the industry in the world for good is not to be obtained unless we venture somewhat to get it upon this principle the Apostle worketh in this place For I reckon c. In the Words take notice of 1. The things compared The sufferings of the present life and the glory to be revealed in us 2. The inequality that is in them They are not worthy 3. The Conclusion or Judgment of the Apostle upon the case I reckon 1. The things compared On the one side the sufferings of the present time 1. Mark that sufferings plurally to comprize all of the kind Reproaches Strifes Fines spolling of goods Imprisonment Banishment Death Again of the present time To distinguish them from the torments of Hell which maketh up a part of the Argument for if to avoid temporal evils we forsake Christ we shall endure eternal torments but the Apostle speaketh of temporal evils 2. On the other side The glory that shall be revealed in us Every Word is Emphatical 1. Our reward is called glory in our calamity we are depressed and put to shame but whatever honour we lose in this mortal life shall be abundantly supplied and recompenced to us in Heaven If any man serve me him shall my father honour John 12.26 An afflicted persecuted people are usually misrepresented and scandalized in the world but there is a life and state of glory prepared for them in Heaven men cannot put so much disgrace upon them as God will put marks of honour and favour 2. It shall be revealed This glory doth not appear for the present 't is not seen 't is not conspicuous to the eyes of men therefore some believe it not others regard it not It doth not yet appear what we shall be the world knoweth us not as it knew him not 1 Job 3.1 2. Therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not behold now we are the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him and see him as he is But it shall be seen because of Gods Decree and promise for the glory is prepared tho it be not revealed 3. In us or upon us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when we shall be raised immortal incorruptible and we shall be so highly favoured and honoured by Christ as we shall be at the Day of Judgment then this glory is revealed upon us that is we shall be possessors of if we have the right now but then the possession 2. The inequality between them They are not worthy to be compared 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not worthy to future glory not worthy to be set one against the other as bearing no proportion 3. The Conclusion or Judgment of the Apostle in this case the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is emphatical and implieth that he had weighed these things in his mind after the case was well traversed he did conclude and determine upon the whole debate rationibus bene subductis colligo statuo The Apostle speaketh like a man that had cast up his accounts well weighed the mattrr he speaketh of and then concludeth resolveth and determineth that the sufferings which are to be undergone for Christ are nothing considering the glory and blessedness which shall ensue Doct. That every good Christian or considerate believer should determine that the happiness of his glorified estate doth infinitely outweigh and exceed the misery of his present afflictions I shall open the Point by these Considerations 1. That counterballancing temporal things with eternal is the way to clear our mistakes or prevent the delusions of the flesh The Apostle observeth this method here and elsewhere 2 Cor. 4.17 This light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory And 't is necessary for all our mistakes come by reckoning by time and not by eternity but looking to eternity sets us right again 2 Cor. 4.18 Looking not to the things which are temporal but to the things which are eternal The flesh is importunate to be pleased with present satisfactions it must have something seen and at hand and this tainteth our minds so that present things bear a big bulk in our eye but things to come are as a vain fancy therefore nothig will scatter this mist and cloud upon our understandings but a due sight of eternal things how real they are and how much they exceed for greatness and duration then we shall find that time to eternity is but as a drop lost or spilt in the Ocean as a point to the circumference and that the honours and dignities of the world which dazzle mens eyes are vain and slippery that riches which captivate their hearts are uncertain and perishing that pleasures which inchant their minds are sordid and base and pass away as the wind that nothing is great but what is eternal if wicked men did but consider the shortness of their pleasures and the length of their sorrows they would not be so besotted as they are and if holy men did but consider the shortness of their afflictions and the length of their joy and glory it would animate and encourage them to carry it more patiently and cheerfully in all their tribulations 2. This may be done four ways 1. Comparing temporal good things with eternal good things that we may wean and draw off our hearts from the one to the other and so check the delights of senfe As wealth with heavenly riches Heb. 10.34 Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods as knowing in your selves that ye have in heaven a better and a more enduring substance Eternal bliss in Heaven is the most valuable and durable kind of wealth all other treasure cometh more infinitely short of it than Wampompeage or the shells which the Indians use for money
bitter but the birth will occasion joy enough to countervail the tediousness of it 4. They are complaining accusing groans the Apostle saith Jam. 5.4 Grudg not one against another groan not one against another that is give not occasion to one another to complain against you to God 'T is sad when one Christian complaineth against another for his froward and perverse and unbrotherly carriage much more of near relations Husbands and Wives Ministers and People The Apostle saith 't is not profitable when they give their account with grief and and not with joy Heb. 13.17 This groaning of the creature must be interpreted by the standard of this notion The creature groaneth not with us but groaneth against us because of the slavery we put them unto they groan for vengeance and destruction not in fellow-feeling with thee but in indignation against thee if thou be a wicked man There is a groaning by way of Sympathy and Compassion as we are bidden Rom. 12.15 to rejoice with them that rejoice and weep with them that weep And there is a groaning by way of accusation and appeal for revenge against those that have wronged us we have abused the creature the groan of a worm in the ear of the Lord of Hosts will be heard so James 5.2 3. Your riches are corrupted your garments are moth-eaten your gold and silver is cankered and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire you have heaped up treasure together for the last days In the day of Judgment the groans of the creature and the circumstances of our sinful actions shall be brought forth as witnesses against us the moth-eaten garments the cankered silver shall be produced so Hab. 2.11 The stone shall cry out of the wall and the beam out of the timber shall answer it That is the materials of the house built by oppression shall come as witnesses there is a kind of antipathy between them therein represented The stones of the wall shall cry Lord we were built up by rapine and violence and the beam shall answer True Lord even so it is The stones shall cry Vengeance Lord upon our ungodly ones and the Beam shall answer Wo to him because he built his house with blood Conscience is a terrible remembrancer The very creatures which sinners abused will be brought in testimony against them to their conviction and condemnation You will say What is this to the Restoration of the Universe or those Elementary Bodies in this lower world to which you seem to confine this restoration These creatures shall be consumed in the last fire how then brought into the Judgment Answer 1. The Elementary bodies do concur to the increase and preservation of these things Lands gotten by violence are made fruitful by Sun Air and Rain the Sun now shineth upon these wicked men and the Rain falleth upon their fields the creatures abused to excess come from both the Sunshine and the Earths Fertility which is the mother of all wealth 2. Tho many of these creatures shall be consumed in this last fire yet they shall have an esse cognitum in the memory and conscience of the sinner tho not an esse rei an actual existence And thus the wine abused to drunkenness may witness against the drunkard the sacrilegious mâ—rsels which the glutton alienated from the poor and devoted to lust and appetite shall witness against the glutton Memoria praeteritorum is one of the punishments in Hell Luke 16.25 Son remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things The very cloathing by which they did manifest their Pride shall witness against the proud The Lands Goods and Houses of worldlings Isa. 5.8 shall witness against the worldling The Gold and Silver which they preferred before everlasting riches shall witness against the carnal The Place the Room the Bed wherein men committed filthiness and lewdness shall witness against the unclean when conscience shall be forced to the review all these things shall come into his mind To this also may be referred that passage Josh. 24.27 And Joshua said unto all the people Behold this stone shall be a witness unto us for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us it shall be there for a witness to you lest you deny your God How could the stone which he had placed under a great Oak which was very near the Sanctuary of the Lord hear or give witness Partly by Gods Appeal and partly by their memory and conscience it was a monument to put them in mind of this solemn covenant and so might serve to convince them of their sin Thus hearing is ascribed to a sensless stone because it was a circumstance that might be produced in the judgment Thirdly How we know it For whoever heard the groaning of the whole Creation 1. By sensible experience we know the vanity of the creature Ocular demonstration is enough to tell us all that things are frail and perishing Psal. 119.96 I have seen an end of all perfection 2. The Word affirmeth First That this came in by mans sin and the common apprehensions of mankind attesteth it That wicked men are unprofitable burdens of the earth and bring a judgment on the place where they live Secondly That God having repaired the world by Christ there is a better estate appointed for man and so by consequence for the creatures which are an appendage to him Isa. 11.6 7 8 9. The enmity of the creature shall cease there as in Noah's Ark. 3. The Spirit improveth it both the vanity of the creature and our mortality and the hopes of restauration God must teach us the plainest Lessons Psal. 90.12 Lord teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom Deut. 29.2 3 4. Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharoah and unto all his servants and unto all his land the great temptations which thine eyes have seen the signs and the great miracles yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear unto this day And the hopes of restauration Faith is his meer gift and production Eph. 2.8 For by grace ye are saved through faith and that not of our selves it is the gift of God From the whole take these Corallaries 1. That sinful man is an enemy to all the creatures as well as to himself He hath brought misery upon himself and all the world which was his palace to dwell in The Creation was a well-tuned Instrument upon which man might make musick to the praise and honour of God But the strings of the Harp are broken and there is nothing but jarring instead of harmony and groans for praise Yea man himself who is the mouth of the Creation is very dumb and tongue-ty'd in the praises of God 2. That every particular land fareth the worse for wicked
there is between the copy and the transcript 6. Shame your selves for coming short Heb. 3.12 13 14. 'T is not an arbitrary thing so much as you are unlike Christ so much you lose of your evidence of election before time and glory in time you should look upon your selves as under a spiritual ingagement to be more like Christ every day A man is much under the command of his design and the scope of his life 7. A Religious use of the means of Communion with him especially the Lords Supper natural means communicate their qualities to us we are changed into them when they are assimulated unto us Nero sucked the milk of a cruel Nurse Achilles was valiant his Master nourished him with the marrow of a Lyon Those creatures bred amongst Rocks are more rough and savage those that live in the fertile plains are more tractable This holy food changeth our inclinations and promotes holiness in us by eating Christs flesh and drinking his blood at this Ordinace we are inclined to live the life of Christ and that is nourished and strengthened in us by it SERMON XL. ROM VIII 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified HERE is a farther declaration of the last argument represented by a gradation or chain of causes beginning at election and ending in glory those whom God hath appointed unto salvation he doth not presently put in possession of it but by degrees with respect to his eternal purpose he offereth grace to them in Christ which they accepting are justified Then God dealeth with them as justified beginning a life in them which shall be perfected in heaven All which proveth that God by an infallible decree doth guide all things to the good of the elect Moreover whom he did predestinate c. In the words observe this general point That those whom God electeth before time He effectually calleth justifieth and sanctifieth in time and will finally glorifie when time shall be no more In handling this point I shall not speak of the nature of these acts of grace but only of their connection and relation to one another which I shall represent to you in these propositions 1. That Gods eternal purpose will or decree is the first rise of all things for the Apostle beginneth with predestination or his fore-appointing and fore-ordaining certain persons to come to salvation something there is besides God or without God as sense teacheth us now how came it to be translated from the state of pure possibility into the state of futurition and being but only by the will of God else something would exist whether God would or not surely all things are of God and being of God they are first conceived in the womb of his everlasting purpose and decree before they have any natural existence in the world I say his everlasting purpose For there can be no new thought intent and purpose in God and if all things surely the most necessary things the disposal of man to his eternal estate he doth nothing therein but what he purposed and decreed to do from all eternity therefore all things must be reduced hither as to their proper spring and fountain That all things are of God no Christian will deny that they are not besides or against his will is as evident as the former That this will of God is eternal and dependeth not upon emergencies of occasion from the Creature is as evident as that I shall prove out of the Scriptures that nothing is made or done without the will of God not the world Rev. 4.11 Thou hast created all things for at thy pleasure they are and were created if the world were not created at his will why wâ—s it not created sooner or why this world and no more so men that these and no others There is not one man more that liveth upon the earth than God pleaseth from 〈◊〉 to the end of the world he hath determined their number fixing the times and places in great order Acts 17.26 He hath made of one blood all Nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the â—ounds of their habitation If there were any Creature in the world whom God willed not he would be independent of God and exempted from his providence the dispersion of all mankind into all quarters of the earth is from his will and purpose he did decree and fore-appoint from all eternity that such men should live here and there so many and so long in such places Again that some should have more means of knowing their Creator others less 't is all from the mercy and will of God Psal. 147.19 20. He shewed his word unto Jacob his statutes and judgments to Israel he hath not dealt so with any Nation His Church hath a priviledge and an advantage above other Nations in the world the Jews had above the Heathens and Christians above the Jews and no other reason can be assigned but his eternal love as many people that have the means all the difference between them and others cometh from Gods will as the rise of it 2 Tim. 2.18 The Lord knoweth who are his Now the will of God reacheth to the smallest and least matters even to the contingent motions of second causes in the least things the Scripture plainly witnesseth Matth. 10.29 30. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Heavenly Father but the very hairs of your head are all numbred The least things are not left to blind chance or the will of man but God determineth the smallest matters surely God hath the knowledge and care and over-ruling of them and of the bruit creatures that are made to be taken and destroyed much more of man for it is said Acts 17.28 In him we live and move and have our being our life dependeth upon God as the sounding of the pipe dependeth on the breath of the Musitian and we move as the divers tunes of the pipe dependeth on the modulation of his breath or the motion of his fingers Have our being there the similitude faileth a pipe though it cannot sound without the breath of a musician or sound to a tune unless he play upon it yet it may be whether he breathe in it or play upon it yea or no but we have life and breath and all things from God for if he should suspend his providential influence we do not only cease to live and move but also to be now God doth not only rule and govern these things but doth rule and govern them with respect to his decree or his eternal purpose I will prove it because First he foreknew all things before they came to pass Secondly That God determineth all these things that they may come to pass God foreknew them Acts 15.18 Known unto God
called and justified they are children of wrath as well as others 2. The reply and answer 't is God that justifieth This implyeth two things first his finding out a way to acquit them according to the terms of the Gospel as when all men were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obnoxious to Gods vengeance but now a clear and sure way of pardon Rom 3.19 20 21 22. Now we know that whatsoever things the law saith it saith to them that are under the law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sin but the righteousness of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the law and the Prophets even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe There is mercy for all penitent believers to accept and bless them 2. He doth actually acquit all those that submit to these terms Eph. 1.6 Who hath accepted us in the beloved to the praise of his glorious grace The Covenant setteth down the terms and by performing them we are capable of this benefit of Absolution Doctrine That no charge or accusation will take effect to prejudice the acceptation of them whom God justifieth 1. What is justification It consisteth in two things first in the pardon of â—ll our sins secondly in the acceptation of us as righteous in Christ. The first is necessary for God doth not vindicate us as innocent but pardoneth us as guilty those that are impleâ—ded before his Tribunal are all sinners and sinners are not vindicated but pardoned and the Apostle describeth justification by the pardon of sin Rom. 4.6 7. As David describeth the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord imputeth righteousness without works saying Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven whose sins are covered God in justifying his people against the imputations of the world doth bring forth their righteousness as the noon-day but in justifying them against the accusations brought before his own Tribunal doth not vindicate our innocency but shew his own mercy in a free discharge of all our sins This is sometimes set forth in Scripture by the blotting out of all our transgressions as Isa. 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my own names sake and will remember thy sins no more As we are no more chaâ—ged with what is cancelled or blotted out of a debt-book so Isa. 38.17 Thou hast cast my sins behind thy back as men cast behind them such things as they list not to look on and Micha 7.19 Thou wilt cast our sins into the depth of the sea as that which is cast into the sea is lost forgotten and cannot be recovered so sin shall not be brought into the judgment against the pardoned sinner 2. In accepting us as righteous in Christ who dyed for our sins to reconcile us unto God and therefore sometimes he is said to be made righteousness to us 1 Cor. 1.30 and we are said to be made the righteousness of God in him 2. Cor. 5.21 that is we have the effect of his sufferings as if we had suffered in person for they were undergone in our stead and for our sakes and the fruit of it given to us by God himself 2. How many ways doth God justifie Four ways especially 1 By way of Constitution 2 Estimation 3 Sentence And 4 Execution 1. Constitutively by his Gospel-grant or the New Covenant in the blood of Christ. The Covenant of grace is Gods pardoning act and instrument by which we know whom and upon what Terms God will pardon and justifie namely all such as repent and believe the Gospel We are constituted just and righteous and exempted from the curse and penalties of the law We may know the true way of justification by its opposition to the false or pretended way Acts 13.38 39. Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins and by him all that believe are justified from all those things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses The Jews expected to be justified by the law of Moses but we are justified by the law of Christ that is this constituteth our right and herein justification and sanctification differ God sanctifieth by his Spirit but justifieth by the sentence of his word or promise of the Gospel Our right immediately results thence as by an act of indempnity we are freed from all the penalties which otherwise we might incur without any further act of the Magistrate We are constituted righteous by his deed of gift in the Gospel but made holy by his Spirit but if any quarrel at this term and say that God by the New Covenant doth declare who are justifiable but doth not justifie I answer further We are justified 2. By way of Estimation whereby God doth determine our right accept or deem and account them righteous who fulfil the terms of the Gospel and actually convey to them the fruits of Christs death This is spoken of 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified once vile sinners now washed sanctified and justified as soon as they believe they are put into a state of acceptation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is justifying he continueth to justifie them unto the death and he keeps them in that estate wherein they have exemption from the punishment of sin and a right to eternal life 3. By way of Sentence This is in part done here when God interpreteth our righteousness and sincerity Job 33.23 24. If there be a messenger with him an interpreter one among a thousand to shew unto man his uprightness then he is gracious unto him and saith Deliver him from going down to the pit I have found a ransom And doth by the Spirit of adoption assure us more and more of the pardon of our sins but more solemnly at the last day when the Judge doth sitting upon the Throne pronounce and declare us righteous before all the world and as those who are accepted unto life Acts 3.19 That your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Then the sentence is solemnly pronounced by the Judg sitting on the throne and we are justified before God Men and Angels There are two parts of judgment to condemn and to absolve or justifie Matth. 12.36 37. But I say unto you that for every idle word that a man shall speak he shall give account thereof at the day of judgment for by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned then every mans doom shall be pronounced 4. By way of Execution when the sentence is executed This is in part done here as God taketh off the penalties and fruits of sin either in the way of
and irresistible you may depend on the good he undertaketh to do though this peace be assaulted yet it will stand Gods manifesting or hiding his face is enough to make a creature happy or miserable 1. USE is Information to shew us 1. The misery of wicked men they are not justified by God and therefore the charge of Gods broken law lyeth heavy upon them and the weight of it will sink them to the nethermost Hell It may be the world may flatter and applaud them and they may absolve and acquit themselves at an easie rate but there is no peace saith my God to the wicked Isa. 57.20 'T is not our security delighting our selves to sing lullabies to our own souls for we are never upon sure terms till God justifieth us many absolve themselves upon easie terms either because they sit still and cry God mercy or upon the account of their superficial righteousness as the Pharisees justified themselves no we must judge our selves but 't is God must justifie us till we have our discharge from him we are never safe therefore it concerneth us to consider upon what terms we stand Are we troubled in mind or at peace if troubled in mind take Gods remedy if we be at peace whence cometh it Is it warranted by the Covenant of God that granteth no pardon no justification but to those that repent and believe 2. The happiness of the godly 'T is in vain to accuse those whom God acquitteth you need not fear an accuser not because innocent but becuse justified Though the world revileth you the Devil would stir up legal fears revive your old bondage when your hearts condemn you for many defects you must stick to this God justifieth for the reproaches of the world you need not be troubled at them when they accuse you falsly of pride hyprocrisie covetousness you may say as Job Job 16.19 My witness is in Heaven and my record is on high He that is the Judge of all men is a witness and observer of their ways and will acquit those whose hearts are upright with him from the censures of the world God will not ask their vote and sufferage when Satan would revive your bondage by the thoughts of death and the consequence of it consider wherefore did Christ come into the world and die for sinners but to free us from those tormenting fears Heb. 2.14 15. Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage But when our hearts condemn us especially for some wounding sin the case is otherwise God by conscience writeth bitter things against you Job 13.26 we must not smother our sin nor deny our guiltiness but appeal from Court to Court Psal. 130.3 4. If thou Lord shouldest mark our iniquities O Lord who shall stand But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared and Psal. 43.2 Enter not into judgment with thy servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified If it be from the general view of sin or the remembrance of some special sin sue out your pardon in Christ your justification is not nullified you are still under a pardoning Covenant and the actual pardon on repentance is granted to you 2. USE Is to press us to get into this blessed condition that you may say 't is God that justifieth Consider the weight of the case it concerneth damnation or salvation whether you are under the curse or heirs of promise And all this is depending before God To justifie is Gods act but man must fulfil the condition Well then let us suppose a Judiciary Process there will be such at the last day certainly For we must all stand before the Tribunal seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 Our cause lieth before God now and our qualification must be tryed and judged now in order to our reconciliation with God as hereafter in order to our everlasting fruition of him in glory Well then The Judge is God Gen. 18.23 and Psal. 94.2 Lift up thy self O thou Judge of the earth The Judge accepteth the godly while they are in the body 2 Cor. 5.9 That whether we are present or absent we may be accepted with him but he is angry with the wicked every day Psal. 7.11 The Witnesses are Satan and Conscience the Plea in Traverse is about our guiltiness according to a double rule the Law of Works or Grace if according to the law of Works alas none of us can stand in the judgement there we plead not Innocent but Guilty Christ could say John 8.46 Which of you convinceth me of sin but here 't is otherwise Rom. 3.19 All the world is become guilty before God Here is no denial no extenuation all are become corrupt none doth good no not one Now Christ was made sin and underwent the curse for us To the second the Law of Grace there must be first an hearty acceptance of an offered Saviour and a consent both of subjection and dependance Secondly Sincere obedience Rom. 8.1 They walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit he liveth as one turned from the world and the flesh to God the more sensible we are of our own vileness the more we see the necessity of a Redeemer SERMON XLIV ROM VIII 34 Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again from the dead who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us IN the former verse Justification is considered as opposite to accusation now as opposite to condemnation There Who shall lay any thing to our charge Here Who is he that condemneth With respect to both we must look upon Christ as our Advocate and God as our Judge Somewhat in this verse concerneth our exemption from the danger of accusation namely all the acts of Christs Mediation here mentioned somewhat in that verse concerneth the question propounded here about condemnation namely the sentence of God as our Judge For the answer given there must be repeated Who is he that condemneth 'T is God that justifieth We need not fear an Accuser because we have an Advocate we need not fear to be cast in the judgment because we have a favourable Judge who will not justifie and condemn too Thence ariseth this part of the triumphant song which the Apostle puts into the mouth of a believer Who is he that condemneth 't is Christ that dyed c. In the words we have 1. A Triumphant challenge Who is he that condemneth 2. The ground of it 'T is Christs Mediation 'T is Christ that dyed c. 1. The challenge Who is he that condemneth 'T is meant with respect to Gods judgment in the world the Saints have been and often are condemned nor only to death James 5.6 Ye have
about our interest Thirdly What reasons there are why we should attend upon this work with all diligence that we may come to a full confidence 1. What are the qualifications of those who shall have this Blessed Estate 'T is the most Important Question which we can put to our Souls Psal. 24. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord And who shall stand in his Holy Place Who shall be admitted into the place of his special residence I anwer 1. Sometimes they are described by their faith in Christ As Joh. 11.25 26. He that believeth and liveth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never dye or not dye for ever as the word may be rendred The true believer that so believeth in Christ that he liveth in him that is who hath accepted of Gods Covenant and is become Christs disciple observing his strict spiritual laws and running all hazards for his sake united to Christ so as to live in him Bodily death shall not extinguish the life which is begun and maintained by faith in Christ Joh. 6.40 This is the will of him that sent me that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day This is Gods express will The poor sinner needeth not doubt of it if you do see the Son and believe on him that is see him and know him Spiritually see him in the light of the Spirit Heretofore men saw him bodily and had no benefit And now many see him in the Common report and Tradition by the light of humane credulity that have no benefit by him But those that see him in the Promise have a Right and Title that see him so as to see beauty in him that they can trample upon all things as Dung and Dross renounce themselves and all worldly and fleshly lusts and flee to him as their All-sufficient Saviour and can venture their Souls in his hand and give up themselves to keep his Commandments and abide in his Love In short those who so believe in him as to live in him and to him 2dly They are described to be new Creatures or the sanctified Joh. 3.3 5. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God And again v. 5. Cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Heaven is the Inheritance of Saints Col. 1.12 Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light And Acts 26.18 That they may receive Forgiveness of Sin and Inheritance among them which are Sanctified by Faith that is in me Heb. 10.14 By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified No unclean thing shall enter there If thou hast the Heavenly Birth will he deprive thee of thy Birth-right to which he himself begot thee of incorruptible seed 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead If Holy he will place thee among his Holy ones These are the Terms to which we must unalterably stand If we be not born again it is but self flattery that filleth us with vain conceits like the Mad-man in Athens who Challenged all the ships which came into the harbour to be his own 3dly They are described by their Heavenly mind affections and conversations Mat. 6.19.20 21. They who make it their work to lay up treasure in Heaven have chosen Heaven for their Portion That seek it in the first place Matth. 6.33 That groan long wait for it In the verses next the Text whose conversation is in Heaven Phil. 3.20 Deus nihil facit frustra If he hath given thee an Heavenly mind and affections he will give thee Heaven its self He would not stir up these desires in vain set his servants a longing after that which he never meaneth to give them or bestow upon them when there is a suitableness between the person and the state when our affections are weaned from the world and set upon Heavenly things This House is fitted for us if we are fitted for it Rom. 9.23 That he might make known the riches of his Glory on the Vessels of Mercy which he had afore prepared unto Glory There is a meetness Col. 1.12 Assoon as we are new born and do believe in Christ we have a Right and Title In short If your whole lives be a continual motion and nearer approach towards this state of rest 4thly They are described by their fruitfulness in good works and acts of self denying obedience Matth. 25.34 35. c. 1 Tim. 6.18 19. That they do good that they be rich in goodworks ready to distribâ—te willing to Communicate laying up in store for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life 1 Joh. 3.19 Hereby we know that we are of the Truth and shall assure our Hearts before him Hereby By what If we love not in word and tongue only but in deed and in Truth Heaven is esteemed but a fancy to them that men will venture nothing for the hopes of it What have you done to shew your thankfulness for so great a mercy tendred to you A Religion that costs nothing is worth nothing I am sure it will yield you no comfort and hope good words are not dear and a Cold profession costs little or nothing Do you think Religion lyeth only in Hearing Sermons or a few Cursory Prayers or drowsy Devotions We should mind those things about which we shall be questioned at the day of Judgment have you visited have you cloathed owned the Servants of God when the Laws frown upon them comforted them in their distresses Wherein really have you denyed your selves for the hope of Glory 2dly The several dispositions and perswasions in point of certainty as to their Interest in this state of Blessedness To some 't is but a bare possibility To others there is a probability A third sort have gotten so far as a Conditional certainty Others have an actual certainty or firm perswasion of their Interest 1. To some the hope of Heaven is but a bare possibility As to the careless Christian who is yet intangled in his lusts but God continueth to him the offer of Salvation by Christ. These may be saved if they will accept this offer 'T is impossible in the state wherein they are but their Hearts may be changed by the Lords grace Mark 10.27 With men it is impossible but not with God for with God all things are possible He can make the filthy Heart to become Clean and Holy the sensual Heart to become Spiritual and Heavenly There are many bars in the way but grace can break through and remove them 'T is night with them for the present but we cannot say it
before him Conscience is privy to their constant uniform self denying obedience and this Testimony is of greatest stead to them at the last Isa. 38.3 Remember Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect Heart He dareth appeal in a dying hour for his sincerity and care to please him A good or a bad Conscience is the beginning of Heaven or Hell The checks of an accusing Conscience are the first bitings of the worm that never dyeth And the approbation of a sincere Conscience a preface of the Joy of the Blessed 3dly They know it shall go well with them in that day There are two causes of fear and shame knowing for certain that it shall go ill with us or not knowing it shall go well with us Now they that are under any of these Conditions cannot groan cannot desire a change of state Did you ever know a guilty malefactor long for the Judges appearance and send to him to hasten his coming Indeed those who are confident it shall go well with them they desire the Assizes and are weary of lying in prison and long to be delivered Now those that are absolved from guilt and have sin weakned in their Hearts they know it shall go well with them in the other world Partly by the promise of God who hath assured the Justified and the Sanctified of an Heavenly Inheritance That 's the drift of the whole Gospel For to this end Christ dyed that he might first reconcile them to God and then present them holy and unblameable and irreproveable in his sight Col. 1.21 First sanctifie and cleanse them from the stain and guilt of sin and then present them to himself Clothe them with the fine Linnen which is the Righteousness of the saints Eph. 5.26 27. The Justified and Sanctified may draw near to God in Heavenly Glory Partly by the earnest of the Spirit in their Hearts Eph. 1.13 14. 2 Cor. 1.21 22. Sealing up to them their own Interest to the promise or their right to the Heavenly Inheritance and that in due time they shall possess it Use Is to press us to get ready and to be Clothed that we may with comfort expect and long for the day of our translation The first motive is in the word found 'T is often used with respect to the day of Judgment Found naked And in 2 Pet. 3.14 Matth. 24 46. Blessed is that Servant whom when his Lord cometh he shall find so doing 't is a Blessed thing for a servant to be found at his work So Phil. 3.9 That I may be found in him not having my own Righteousness which alludeth to the day of our general or particular doom Now this word implieth three things 1. That there will be an exact search and scrutiny after every one of us Wrath maketh inquisition for sinners and every man will be found out naked or Clothed There is no hiding in the throng of mankind In a particular Judgement God said he would search Jerusalem with Candles Zeph. 1.12 Drag sinners out of their lurking holes Much more in the general Judgment we shall be found 2dly The word found intimateth a surprize God may break in upon us sooner than we are aware of as usually he cometh to the greatest part of mankind unthought of unexpected 2 Pet. 3.10 The day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the night They do not look for such a day or not prepare for it but are found by it 3dly We remain in the state wherein we are found They that are found naked at their Death shall remain naked to all Eternity There is no change of Condition in the other world as Death leaveth us Judgment findeth us Luke 2.14 On earth peace Now you may be reconciled to God you may agree with your Adversary quickly while you are yet in the way But in the other world Men are in Termino in their final Condition Well then gather up this first motive escape the knowledge of God you cannot You will be found to be what you are Naked or Clothed And you may be sought after and found sooner then you are aware And when Christ hath found you in an unprepared Condition what will you do How will your naked trembling Soul dread to depart out of the Body into an unknown world Secondly My next motive shall be from the words Naked and Clothed Other qualifications than Christs renewing and reconciling grace will not serve the turn 'T is sin which rendreth us odious to God 'T is sin that keepeth us out of Heaven 't is sin that makes us uncomfortable in our selves and hinders our own Joy and peace The Condition of one that is yet in his sins is represented by nakedness upon a Twofold Reason Because it rendreth us loathsome to God and ashamed of our selves Well then will you be naked remain in your natural deformity how then can you appear before the bar of your Judge or look God in the face with any confidence Joseph washed himself and changed his garments when he was to appear before Pharaoh And is there not a greater reverence due to God Oh! Therefore since you are blind and miserable and naked get Clothing That is get the spots of sin washed off by the frequent application of the Blood of Christ your polluted natures changed by the Spirit of Christ. This is the Clothing which must render you acceptable to God and will make you comfortable in your selves so that you will not shun his presence but desire it 'T is said of the Spouse Psal. 45.14 15. Her Clothing is of wrought Gold she shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needle work and then with gladness and rejoicing shall she be brought into the Kings Palace The more we get rid of sin and are beautified with holiness the more amiable and lovely in his Eyes And because of likeness and suitableness the more we delight to come to him yea the more we shall long to be admitted not only to present Communion but to constant habitation with him and when we are brought into the presence of God 't will be a welcome day to us at the death of every particular Saint or at the day of our Lords second coming when we shall have no imperfection spot or wrinckle or want of any thing which may perfect our Glory Then we shall put on immortality and incorruption and this Body of flesh shall be like to Christs Glorious Body and then there will be great rejoicing Oh then see that you be Clothed What must we do That we may not be found naked but Clothed 1. We must humbly seek Reconciliation with God by Christ when the Prodigal came humbled himself to his Father presently Luke 15.22 Bring â—orth the best Robe put it on him Then his nakedness is covered with the Robe of Christs Righteousness and the poor penitent believer is received into Gods Family and injoys all the Priviledges thereof and
hereafter we shall have sight or hereafter injoy the beatifical vision 6. That those that have faith must walk by it 1. That Faith and sight are opposed and contradistinguished the one from the other Faith is a grace that is conversant about things unseen or a dependance upon God for something that lyeth out of sight That this is the Essential property and nature of Faith appeareth by the definition of it Heb. 11.1 'T is the Substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen The Objects of Faith are things invisible and future the Lord is absent from us who maketh the promise and Heaven which is the great promise which he hath promised us is yet to come The nature of Faith and Hope is destroyed if the object be seen and present or ready at hand to be enjoyed Rom. 8.24 For hope that is seen is not Hope for what a man seeth why doth he hope for it Vision and possession exclude Faith and Hope there is a constant opposition you see between Faith and sight so that we may know that we have Faith when we can believe those things which are promised though we have little probability in Sense or Reason to expect them and hereby we may know the measure as well as the nature of our Faith for the excellency and strength of it is in believing things upon Gods word to which sense giveth little incouragement as appeareth by those words of Christ to Thomas John 20.29 Thomas because thou hast seen thou hast believed but blessed are they that have not seen and yet believed Thomas must have the object of Faith under the view of his senses which though it did not Argue a nullity in his Faith yet a very great weakness and Imbecillity weak Christians must be carryed in Arms dandled upon knees fed with sensible Pledges and ocular demonstrations or else they are ready to faint but strong Christians can believe above sense and against sense As 't is said of the Father of the Faithful that he believed in Hope and against hope Rom. 4.18 19. And considered not his own Body being dead being an hundred years old nor the deadness of Sarahs womb he staggered not at the promise of God but was strong in Faith giving glory to God The more Faith can live upon the Word of God the better though the things believed be neither felt nor seen and the less of sensible Demonstration we require the stronger the Faith ever This is true in all the objects that Faith is conversant about I shall instance in some The person of Christ. Many believed on him though they had never seen him in the flesh and therefore their Faith is commended 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen ye love and in whom ye believe rejoycing with joy unspeakable and full of Glory 'T was an advantage certainly to converse with Christ personally here upon Earth but Faith can Imbrace him in the Word though it never saw him in the Flesh. So for the threatnings when we can tremble at the Word as Josiah did when he heard the curses of the law though there were no dangers nigh we do not read of any actual disturbance and trouble at that time in the nation So many times when an Age is very corrupt and things are ripe for Judgment and God giveth warning alas few take it or lay it to heart they are not affected with things till they feel them Few can see a storm when the Clouds are a gathering they securely build upon their present ease and peace though God be angry But in the eye of Faith a sinful Estate is always dangerous and they humble themselves while the judgment is but in its causes as 't is said Heb. 11.7 By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet prepared an Ark to the saving of his house by the which he condemned the World and became the Heir of Righteousness which is by faith Mark things not seen are still matter of faith he saw them in the warning of God though he could not any way else see a flood a coming So for Gods aid and succour in a time of danger Heb. 11.27 By faith he forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the King for he endured as seeing him who is invisible To appearance he was like to be swallowed up being pursued by a Wrathful and puissant King but the terrours of sense may be easily vanquished by those invisible Succours which Faith relyeth upon So in all matters of practical experience In prosperity we have but too much Confidence but when we are lessened in the World and cut short we are full of diffidence and distrustful fears Psa. 30.6 In my Prosperity I said I shall never be moved Even a Child of God when he gets a carnal Pillow to rest upon lyeth down and sleepeth securely and dreameth many a pleasant Dream and is full of confidence But when God taketh away his Pillow from under his head then he is as diffident as formerly confident God is the same his promises the same his covenant the same the Mediatour the same but we are much changed because we look to things seen and live upon things seen In danger how are we troubled about protection in deep poverty about provisions and maintenance If sick and nigh unto death how little do the promises of pardon and eternal life prevail In perplexed affairs how little can we unravel our selves and refer the issue to God Faith is staggered because we cannot believe in Hope against Hope We must have something in view and sight faith yieldeth no relief to us Let me instance in a case of Spiritual sense in troubles of Conscience When Gods law speaketh him an Enemy and Conscience feeleth him an Enemy How long is it ore we can bring men to any kind of Hope by Christ notwithstanding the rich and free offers of his grace or ingage them when the curse of the Law cleaveth to their Consciences to take Gods way for Cure and Remedy Because they prefer Sense before Faith and the feeling of Gods Law that cleaveth to them maketh them exclude all hope by the Gospel Isa. 50.10 Who is there among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light Let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God The recumbency of such a Soul is a notable act of Faith loving God as a Friend trusting him as an Enemy So in outward tryals and difficulties to wait for so much as God hath promised Many trust God no further than they can see him or have probability to expect his help which is a limiting the holy one of Israel Psa. 78.41 Confining him to a circle of their own making If sense be against the promise the promise doth them no good Now to comfort our selves in God when all faileth Hab. 3.18 Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in
one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether good or bad PAuls Motives to Faithfulness in his Ministry were three Hope Fear and Love Hope of a Blessed Immortality Fear or an holy reverence wrought in him by the Consideration of the last Judgement Love to Christ verse 14. We just now come to the Second Consideration it fitly falleth in with the close of the former branch as a reason why it must be our chiefest care to approve heart and life to God Not only the hope of the Resurrection breedeth this care to please God but also the Consideration of the general Judgment We are so cold careless and backward because we seldom think of these things but if we did oftner think of them it would make us more aweful and serious we would soon see that though we can approve ourselves to the World yet it will not profit us unless we approve our selves to God for all dependeth upon his doom and sentence For we must all appear c. In the words observe a description of the day of Judgment Wherein 1. The necessity of this Judgment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We must Judged we must be willing or unwilling 2. The Vniversality of this Judgment Who must be Judged in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All. 3. The person by whom we shall be judged The text speaketh of the Judgment seat of Christ. He is our Rightful Lord to whom this Judgment belongeth And he hath his Judgment seat and Throne of Glory as 't is called Mat. 25.31 Then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory What that is because it is wholly to come and not elsewhere explained in Scripture we know not we must rest in the general expression The Cloud in which he cometh shall possibly be his throne or if you will have it farther Explained you may take that description of the Prophet Daniel Chap. 7.9 10. Of This see more in Sermon on Matth. 25. verse 31. 4thly The manner we must appear before the Judgment seat of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word signifieth two things 1. To stand forth and make our appearance Rom. 14.10 There 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we shall all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ. Or else 2dly To be made manifest And so rendred verse the 11th But we are made manifest before God and I trust are made manifest in your Consciences So here our hearts and ways shall be laid open as well as we Every action of our lives shall be taken into consideration Well then we must appear so as to be made manifest in our thoughts words and deeds we must not only appear in Person but be laid open have our whole life rip'd up and have all our thoughts words and works disclosed before Men and Angels 5. The matter about which we shall be Judged the things done in the Body That is during the bodily life The Body is the Shop of action wherein or whereby every thing is done Mechedius telleth us 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Yoakfellow or Colleague of the Soul Now whatever is done by it good or evil is the cause to be tryed 6. The end That every man may be punished or rewarded according to his deserts the end is that there may be sentence given and after sentence execution both as to reward and punishment 1. Mark the emphasis of the Phrase the things done in the Body we are said to receive them when we receive the fruits of them So Eph. 6.8 Whatsoever good thing a man doth the same shall he receive whether bond or free So here things done in the Body is the just reward of those things 2. Observe the several kinds of retribution Good or bad both the godly and the wicked receive a full recompense at that time 3. The proportion According to their several ways only the reward of good is of grace of evil of desert Rom. 6.23 The Wages of sin is death Doct. There will certainly come a day when every person that ever lived shall be judged by Christ according to his works I shall examine this point by the circumstances of the Text. 1. The necessity he might have said we shall appear No but he saith we must appear God hath so appointed Here I shall speak 1. Of the certainty of the thing There must be a Judgment 2. The infallible certainty of the event There shall be a Judgment 1. It must be so For God hath decreed it and Reason enforceth it But why is it necessary I answer not to discover any thing to God 1. But Partly That grace may be glorifyed in and by the righteous 1 Epistle of Pet. Chap. 1. v. 13. Hope unto the end for the grace which is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Then is the largest and fullest manifestation of Gods love to his people We see his grace now 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 a tast of his love and a right to his Heavenly kingdom and imploy us in his Service but then it will be another manner of grace and favour indeed when pardon and approbation shall be pronounced and ratifyed by the Judges own mouth Acts 3.19 When he shall not only take us into his family but into his Immediate presence and Palace John 12.26 Where I am there shall my servant be When he giveth us not only right but the possession Matth. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you When we shall not only have some remote Service and ministration but be everlastingly imployed in loving delighting in and praising of God with all those Heavenly creatures who are our eternal companions in the work The grace of God or his favour to his people is never seen in all its glorious graciousness till we be glorifyed 2. That the wicked may be convinced of their sin and defect they come upon a tryal and the fault of all their miscarriage is charged on themselves 'T is hard to determine which is the greater torment to them the righteousness or terribleness of the sentence God leaveth them without excuse Rom. 1.20 Psa. 50.21 I will set all thy sins in order before thee Sins forgotten lost in the crowd by a secure sinner in the day of Gods reckoning shall be brought to remembrance with time place and other circumstances and so presented to conscience as if newly done 3. That Gods Justice may be cleared Psa. 51.4 That thou mayest be clear when thou Judgest When he giveth to men according to their choice and according to the merit of their own works there lyeth no just exception against Gods proceeding The justice of God requireth that there should be differing proceeding with them that differ among themselves that it should be well with
them that do well and evil with them that do evil That every man should reap according to what he hath sown Therefore those whom Christ will receive into Everlasting life must appear faithful and obedient for then God will judge the world in righteousness Acts 17.31 Now in patience towards the wicked now by way of exercise and tryal of his people 2. The certainty of the Event The hour is coming John 5.28 That there is such a time coming he ill deserveth the name of a Christian who maketh any Question of it But because many live as if they shall never be called to an account I shall evidence that certainly we shall appear both by natural Light and Scripture 1. Let the evidence of Reason be heard so far as it will go Reason sheweth that it may be and argueth 1. From the nature of God There is a God That God is just and 't is agreeable to his justice that it should be well with them that do well and ill with them that do evil These are principles out of dispute and foundations in the structure and building of the Christian Faith Here the best suffer most and are exercised with poverty disgrace scorn and all manner of persecutions and the wicked live a life of pomp and ease how shall we reconcile these things with the notions which we have of God and his Providence No satisfactory account can be given but this The wicked are reserved to future punishment and the Godly to future reward Here the goodness of God towards the good and the justice of God towards the wicked is not enough manifested therefore there is a day when his Judgment shall be brought to light and his different respect to good and bad made more Conspicuous 2. From the providence of God There are many Judgments which are pledges of the general Judgment that at length God will Judge the whole world for sin As the drowning of the Old World the burning of Sodom the destruction of Jerusalem these are as a warning to all for 't is said Jude 7. these are set forth as a warning to all that should live ungodly God is the same still Gal. 3.20 God is one that is in one mind of punishing the wicked without variation and change he hateth the sins of one as well as of another If he would not put up the iniquities of the Old World he will not put up the iniquities of the New if he punished the iniquities of Sodom he will punish the iniquities of others who sinned in like manner God is not grown more indulgent to sin than he was before though it be not now there will be a time when he will call them to a reckoning In every Age he keepeth a petty Sessions but then will be the general Assizes When man first sinned God did not immediately execute the Sentence of his Law upon him but giveth him time of Repentance till he dieth As he giveth every man time and space so he giveth all the World for he would not have all the World to be born at once and die at once but to live in several successions of Ages from Father to Son throughout divers generations till we come to that Period which his Providence hath fixed Now as he reckoned with every man particularly at his death so with all the World at the end of time Particular Judgments shew that God is not asleep or unmindful of humane Affairs but the general Judgment is deferred till then 3. From the Feelings of Conscience After sin men are troubled though there be none about them in the World to call them to an account or though the fact be done so secretly that it is not liable to an humane Tribunal Nature is sensible that there is an higher Judgment that Divine Justice must have a solemn Triumph Conscience is afraid of it Heathens are sensible of such a thing Rom. 1.32 Who knowing the Judgment of God that they which commit such things are worthy of death Foelix trembled at the mention of it which sheweth there is an easie reception of such a Truth Acts 24.25 There is an hidden fear in the Consciences of all men which is soon revived and awakened by the Thoughts of this Truth Every guilty person is more or less held in the Chains of darkness which sheweth how easily this Truth can insinuate it self into a rational mind 2. Faith sheweth that it shall be The light of Faith is more certain and more distinct 'T is more certain for it buildeth upon a Divine Testimony which is more infallible than the ghesses of Reason And 't is more distinct for Nature could never find out the circumstances of that day as by whom this Judgment shall be managed and in what manner that God hath appointed one Man by whom he will judg the World in Righteousness that he shall come in the glory of his Father and all the holy Angels with him Faith concludeth this certainty 1. From that Revelation which God hath made in his Word Matth. 13.49 50. So shall it be at the end of the World the Angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just and shall cast them into the Furnace of Fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Joh. 5.28 29. The hour is coming in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that done evil unto the resurrection of damnation Heb. 9.27 And it is appointed unto men once to die and after this the Judgment Rom. 14.12 So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God Matth. 12.36 37. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works And in many other places for this being a necessary Truth is more plentifully revealed than others of lesser importance This was the great Promise ever kept afoot in the Church Scoffers took notice of it saying Where is the Promise of his coming The Apostle Jude intimateth the Ancient Promise of it Jude v. 14. And Enoch also the seventh Son from Adam prophesied of these things saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints And it hath been revived in all Ages by Moses and David and Daniel and Joel Zechary and Malachi and more clearly by Christ himself and his Apostles every where Now we may reason that hath God been faithful in all things will not fail at last he hath ever stood to his Word when more unlikely things have been
a wedding Garment and he was examined the man was speechless Matth. 22.12 When every one is particularly observed and tryed there is nothing to reply but glorifying God Jude 15. 2ly Satisfaction of the World in the righteousness and justice of Gods proceeding When every person is arraigned and every work is manifest it cleareth Gods Justice in rewarding his own and in punishing the wicked and ungodly 1. It cleareth his justice in rewarding the faithful they undergo the tryal and though they have failings yet for the main their faith is found to praise and honour and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.7 When his people come to be Judged and have been found obedient to his commands Faithful under tryals patient under all sufferings and inconveniencies 'T is a faith that may be owned before men and Angels Christ will confess them before God Men and Angels Rev. 3.5 So in punishing the wicked Josh. 7.19 God is glorifyed by the Creatures conviction and acknowledgement Psal. 51.4 I acknowledge mine iniquity that thou mayst be justified when thou speakest and clear when thou Judgest God is justified when the Creature is rewarded according to his own deservings God overcometh and we are cast in the plea and suit 2. The word signifieth to be made manifest And so importeth that we must all be manifested or laid open before the Judgment seat of Christ our persons must not only appear but our hearts and ways be tryed 'T is said Luke 12.2 There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed nor hid which shall not be made known 'T is brought as a reason against Hypocrisy the innocency of Gods Servants is beclowded for a while and the sin of men lyeth hid for a while but at length all shall be open hypocrisy shall be disclosed and sincerity shall be rewarded So 1 Cor. 3.13 Every mans work shall be manifested All the ways and works of wickedness though acted in never so secret a manner shall be laid open The Scripture telleth us at the Judgment Eccl. 12.14 God shall bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil The final doom shall repeal all the Judgments of this life and repair them abundantly many things that are varnished with a fair gloss and pretence here shall then be found filthy and abominable and many things disguised with an ill appearance to the World shall be found to be of God approved and allowed by him So 't is said 1 Cor. 4.5 That Christ will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the Counsels of the heart and then shall every man have praise of God When every mans intentions and purposes actions and spring of actions shall be displayed then they that deserve blame shall be discovered and the sincere and upright Justifyed and commended Well then the Scripture shews they shall be made manifest and when made manifest In the general there are two places demonstrate it one is Psal. 50.21 I will reprove thee and set thy sins in order before thine Eyes All the ways and circumstances of sin shall be so represented to the conscience that the sinner shall not be able to deny or excuse evade or forget but ever be vexed with the remembrance of his past folly and ever see his sins before him as if fresh committed The other place is Rev. 12.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before the Lord and the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of life and the dead were Judged out of these things which were written in the Books according to their works There are Books and another Book there is the Book of conscience and the Book of Gods remembrance Mal. 3.16 In these Books all things are written which belong to the Government and Judgment of the Rational Creature our good and evil is all upon record our means and mercies and our unthankfulness and unprofitableness under them Jer. 17.1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of Iron and the point of a Diamond Not only in their consciences but before God Isa. 65.6 Behold it is written before me God doth not forget or pass over but note and remember Now these Books are opened at the last day there is not one Book but Books the Book of Scripture is opened as a rule the Book of Conscience as a witness and the Book of Gods remembrance as the notice or Judges knowing both persons and facts But more particularly how are we manifested 1. By the knowledge of the Judge We may hide our sins from men but not from God from the World and from our selves but Christ shall perfectly discover them and bring them forth into the light and shew themselves to themselves and to the World and all their shifts will not serve the turn God observeth men now and observeth them in order to judgment Psa. 33.13 14 15 16. The Lord looketh from Heaven he beholdeth all the Sons of men from the place of his Habitation he beholdeth all the inhabitants of the Earth he fashioneth their hearts alike he considereth all their thoughts Though God resides in Heaven yet he beholdeth all and every of their actions yea their most secret thoughts He fashioneth their hearts alike Sept. One by one He is the former of their Souls as well as their Bodys and knoweth the Operations of their hearts as well as their outward actions Men think otherwise Ezek. 9.9 They say the Lord hath forsaken the Earth the Lord seeth not When he came to mark the Mourners and to distinguish them from the Sinners Psa. 94.7 They say the Lord shall not see neither shall the God of Jacob regard it These are mens Brutish Atheistical thoughts and so go on and are regardless of the Judgment But then your Judge shall Convince you upon his own knowledge A Judge is not disabled from being a witness The Woman of Samaria said John 4.29 Come and see a man that told me all things that ever I did is not this the Christ Christ knoweth all that men do and is able to produce their lives by tale and number even those passages which were most secret there needeth no proof to our Judge for all is open and naked before him 2. The Good Angels may be produced as witnesses they have an inspection over this lower World are Conversant about us in all our ways and are conscious to our conversasations Psa. 91.11 He shall give his Angels charge over thee they shall keep thee in all thy ways Reverence is pressed upon us in Scripture in this respect Eccl. 5.6 Suffer not thy Mouth to cause thy flesh to sin neither say thou before the Angel it was an errour All the business is what is meant by the Angel There some understand it of the Angel of the covevenant the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Searcher of hearts who will not be mocked who cannot be deceived
But why not of the Angels in Heaven Who are sent forth for the good of the Elect and observe our behaviour and who stop us in our sins as the Angel did Balaam who said it is an errour See Numb 22.34 So 1 Tim. 5.21 I charge thee before the Elect Angels Surely the Angels observe our actions they are sent abroad in the World as the spies and intelligencers of Heaven So they attend upon congregations 1 Cor. 11.10 For this cause ought a Woman to have power on her head because of the Angels In assemblies for worship more Company meeteth then is visible Devils and Angels meet there Devils to divert your minds assoon as you begin to be Serious to Snatch the good word out of your hearts Angels observe you therefore there should be no undecency 3. Devils may accuse men in that day The Devil is called The accuser of the Brethren The Fathers bring him in pleading thus against the Sinner Domine sit meus per culpam qui tuus esse noluit per gratiam I never dyed for him could promise him no heavenly Kingdom but a little sensitive pleasure Ostende tuos tales numerarios O Christe c. 4. Sometimes the Word of God is made to be our accuser John 5.45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust That is Moses his Law would accuse and Condemn them Christ needeth not to bring his complaint and inditement against them And it teacheth us this truth That where men remain in their Impenitency and unbelief both Law and Gospel Gods justice and mercy our own consciences the Spirit resisted by them in his moral swasions Messengers means pains taken on them will all contribute to make up an accusation against a sinner before the Tribunal of Christ. So John 12.48 He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that Judgeth him the word that I have spoken shall Judge him at the last day The word of the Gospel delivered by Christ that will Judge them Though there were no other witnesses yet the grace of God in the word will shew their Condemnation to be just because of their contempt and neglect Believers or unbelievers may know their doom aforehand by the word So Matth. 12.41 42. The men of Niniveh shall rise in Judgment against this Generation and condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonas and behold a greater than Jonas is here So the Queen of the South shall rise up in the Judgment with this Generation and shall condemn it for she came from the uttermost parts of the Earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and behold a greater then Solomon is here The means that we have injoyed shall be produced and aggravate the Judgment against the neglecters and despisers of the Lords grace There was a greater manifestation of God in Christ than Solomon A greater confirmation in Christs resurrection and Infusion of the Spirit than in Jonahs being delivered out of the Whales belly 5. The ministers of the Gospel Their diligence and faithful inculcation of the doctrine of life maketh up a part of the Evidence which is produced to convince sinners Mat. 24.14 And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the World for a witness unto all Nations First to them and then against them compared with Mark 13.9 The preaching of the Word will be a witness that men had warning enough but that they unthankfully neglected their opportunity and did cast away their own mercies So Mark 6.11 Shake off the dust of your feet for a testimony against them That signified what a crying sin and what a punishment did attend them that contemned the Messages of Salvation sent them by God 'T is not only a Testimony before God for the present but compare Mat. 10.14 15. Shake off the dust of your feet And it shall be more tollerable for Sodom and Gomorra in the day of Judgment This sheweth you are free of their blood and if there be no other witnesses this dust shall witness it 6. Conscience its self shall witness against them and God will discover our selves to our selves that we shall see the Judgment is just As long as men have any Tenderness conscience speaketh now but by custom in sinning men stop the mouth of it But when it speaketh not it writeth many times for the present it is silent and seemeth to take no notice of the sins we commit but they are all registred and they appear legible The sad story of our lives is all engraven upon the heart and when God awakneth the Conscience 't is all sin God will open our eyes not by an holy illumination but by a forced Conviction Rev. 20.12 The Books were opened and one of these Books is conscience and though it be in the sinners keeping yet it cannot be so blurred and defaced but our story will be legible enough and forgotten sins will stare us in the face Numb 32.23 And be sure your sins shall find you out We forget them now think we shall never hear of them more But God can make all occur to memory as fresh as if newly committed and in an Instant represent the story of an ill spent life and shew us all the thoughts words and actions that ever we have been guilty of The Paper goeth white into the Printing-house but within one instant 't is Marked within and without and cometh forth stamped with words and lines and sentences Which were no way legible there before 7. It will be made Evident by the confession of Offenders themselves As their Consciences will convince them so their own tongues will accuse them then As men now in the ravings of despair will vomit up their own shame as Judas Mat. 27.4 I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood And Jer. 17.9 At his latter end he shall be a fool Crying out Oh fool Oh mad man So much more then God can easily and without other Evidence convince men by themselves and make them accuse themselves he can Judge them out of their own mouths Luke 19.12 Produce evidence against them out of their own thoughts and pronounce sentence against them out of their own Consciences Rom. 2.15 Make mens tongues to fall upon them Psal. 64.8 He can indeed make use of us and all that is in us for his own Glory as having power to do with us what he will and 't is much for his honour when he maketh us witnesses against our selves 8. Wicked men shall accuse one another In the arraignment of Adam and Eve which I take for a notable presignification of the general Judgment they transfer it upon one another the man upon the Woman Gen. 3.12 The woman whom thou gavest to be with me And The Woman upon the Serpent The Serpent beguiled me ver 13. So those that draw one another into sin or are drawn by them will impeach one another 9.
once past here it must needs be executed Partly because there will be no change of mind in the Judge he is inflexible and inexorable because there is no errour in his sentence but it is every way Righteous and the truth of God is now to be manifested God would not astright us with that he never intended to do grant this Judgment execution is uncertain all his threatnings will be but a vain scar-crow In the day of his patience and grace his sentence may be repealed Mutat sententiam sed non decretum As Jer. 8.7 8. At what instant I shall speak concerning a Nation and a Kingdom to pluck it up and pull it down and to destroy it if that Nation against whom I have pronounced turn from the evil I will repent of the evil which I thought to do Here God revoketh the doom Conviction now maketh way for conversion but then for confusion And partly because there is no change of state in the persons judged they are in Termino as the Apostate Angels while man is in the way his case is compassionable God allowed a change of state to man after the Fall which must not last always 2 Pet. 3.9 He waiteth long for our repentance but he will not wait ever here we may get the sentence reversed if we repent but then 't is final and peremptory excluding all further hopes and possibility of remedy And partly because there can be no change of the heart they may have some relentings when matters of faith become matter of sense For if they would not love God inviting by his mercies and offering pardon then they will not love him condemning and punishing and shutting them out from all hope these three infer one another because no change of heart no change of state because no change of state no change of sentence 2. 'T is speedy there was no delay they were presently transmitted and put into their everlasting estate here is sententia lata sed dilata sentence is past but not executed Eccl. 8.11 Because sentence is not speedily executed upon an evil doer But here 't is otherwise they must depart and be gone speedily out of Gods presence Esther 7.8 As soon as the word was gone out of the Kings Mouth they had him away to execution 3. 'T is unavoidable 't is in vain to look about for help all the World cannot rescue one such Soul In short there is no avoiding by Appeal because this is the last Judgment nor by rescue they shall go away not of their own accord but compelled 't is said Math. 13.42 The Angels shall gather them and cast them into a Furnace of fire So again cast them they shall be dragged away Not by flight for there is no escaping nor intreaty for the Judge is inexorable 6. The sentence is executed upon the wicked first it beginneth with them for 't is said these shall go away into everlasting punishment and the righteous into life eternal Now this is not meerly because of the order of the narration did so require it the wicked being spoken of last but there is a material truth in it sentence beginneth with the godly execution with the wicked sentence with the godly because they are not only to be judged but to Judge the World together with Christ 1 Cor. 6.2 Now they must be first acquitted and absolved themselves before that honour can be put upon them But execution with the wicked Matth. 13.30 Both grow together until the harvest I will say to the Reapers gather ye together first the Tares and bind them in bundles to burn them but gather ye the Wheat into my barn First the wicked are cast into Hell fire Christ and all the godly with him looking on which worketh more upon the envy and grief of the wicked that they are thrust out while the godly remain with Christ seeing execution done upon them And the godly have the deeper sense of their own Happiness by seeing from what wrath they are delivered As the Israelites when they saw the Egyptians dead upon the shoar Exod. 14.30 31. With 15.1 Then sang Moses and the Children of Israel this Song unto the Lord. So when the wicked in the sight of the Godly are driven into their torments they have a greater Apprehension of their Redeemers mercy USE 1. To press us to believe these things Most mens faith about the eternal recompenses is but pretended at best too cold and a speculative an opinion rather than a sound belief as appeareth by the little fruit and effect that it hath upon us for if we had such a sight of them as we have of other things we should be other manner of persons than we are in all holy conversation and godliness We see how cautious man is in tasting meat in which he doth suspect harm that it will breed in him the pain and torments of the stone and Gout or Collick I say though it be but probable the things will do us any hurt We know certainly that the wages of sin is death yet we will be tasting forbidden fruit If a man did but suspect an house were falling he would not stay in it an hour we know for certain that continuance in a carnal â—â—ate will be our eternal ruine yet who doth flee from wrath to come If we have but a little hope of gain we will take pains to obtain it We know that our labour is not in vain in the Lord. Why do we not abound in his work 1 Cor. 15.58 Surely we would do more to prevent this misery to obtain this happiness when we may do it upon such easy terms and have so fair an opportunity in our hands if we were not so strangely stupified we would not go to Hell to save our selves a labour There are two things which are very wondrous that any man should reject the Christian faith or that having imbraced it should live sinfully and carelesly USE 2. Seriously consider of these things The Scripture every where calleth for consideration Think of this double motive that every man must be judged to everlasting joy or everlasting Torment These things are propounded aforehand for our benefit and instruction we are guarded on both sides we have the bridle of fear and the spur of hope if God had only terrifyed us from sin by mentioning unexpressible pains and horrours we might be frighted and â—â—and at a distance from it But when we have such incouragements to good and God propoundeth such unspeakable joys this should quicken our diligence If he had only promised Heaven and threatned no Hell wicked men would count it no great matter to lose Heaven provided that they might be annihilated but when there is both and both for ever shall we be cold and dead We are undone for ever if wicked blessed for ever if godly let us hold the edge of this truth to our hearts what should we not do that we may be everlastingly blessed and
to presume upon the indulgence of that day are such who make a fair profession injoy many outward priviledges As suppose the Jew above the Gentile the Christian above the Jew the Officer or one Imployed in the Church above the common Christian. The priviledge of the Jew was his circumcision the knowledge of the Law and outward obedience thereunto or submission to the rituals of Moses because they were exact in these things they hoped to be accepted with God and to be more favourably dealt with than others The priviledge of the Christian is baptism the knowledge of Christ being of his party and visibly owning his interest in the World they have eaten and drunk in his presence he hath taught in their streets and they have frequented the assembly where he is ordinarily present and more powerfully present Luke 13.26 'T is possible they have put themselves in a stricter garb of religion forborn disgraceful sins been much in external ways of duty given God all the cheap and plausible obedience which the flesh can spare But if all this be without solid godliness or that sound constitution of heart or course of life which the principles of our profession would breed and call for these priviledges will be no advantage to him Well then let the Officer come the Apostle Prophet Pastour or Teacher by what names or titles soever they be distinguished who have born rule in the Church been much in exercising their gifts for his glory have taught others the way of salvation this is their priviledge Mat. 7.22 Lord have we not prophesyed in thy name and in thy name cast out Devils and in thy name done many wondrous works Then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity Well now if no mans person shall be accepted if not for his profession if not for his Office if not for his external ministrations surely we ought to be strict and diligent and seriously godly as well as others And if we shall all appear before this Holy Just and Impartial Judge we should all pass the time of our sojourning here in fear 2. T is a strict and a just Judgment Acts. 17.30 31. He commandeth now all men every where to repent Because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness Now God winketh at every mans faults and doth not take vengeance on them judgeth the World in patience but then all men must give an account those who have refused the remedy offered to lapsed mankind shall have Judgment without mercy And how terrible will that Judgment be when the least sin rendreth us obnoxious to the severity of his revenging justice But those who have heard the Gospel and accepted the redeemers mercy shall also be judged according to their works in the manner formerly explained there is a remunerative Justice observed to them we must give an account of all our actions thoughts speeches affections and intentions that it may be seen whether they will amount to sincerity or a sound belief of the truths of the Gospel and therefore we should be the more careful to walk uprightly before him Matth. 12.36 37. But I say unto you that for every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the Judgment for by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words shalt thou be condemned Words must be accounted for especially false blasphemous words and such as flow out of the evil treasure of the heart and sadly accounted for For in conferring rewards and punishments God taketh notice of words as well as actions they make up a part of the evidence certainly in this just judgment we shall find that 't is a serious business to be a Christian. But those who have owned the redeemer must esteem him in their hearts above all wordly things and value his grace above the allurements of sense and count all things but dung and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of their Lord Phil. 3.7 8 9. And glorify him in their lives 1 Thes. 1.11 12. And pass through the Pikes To him that overcometh Rev. 2.26 And resist the Devil and subdue the flesh and vanquish the World There must be doing and there must be suffering there must be giving and forgiving giving out of our estates and forgiving wrongs and injuries visiting the sick and clothing the naked feeding the hungry there must be believing loving mortifying sin perfecting holiness And this is the tryal of those who come under the Gospel covenant which might be easily proved if the thing were not evident of its self Now judge you whether all this should not beget the fear of reverence or caution at least which fear of God should always reign in the hearts of the faithful 3. Gods final sentence is to be passed upon us upon which our eternal estate dependeth Therefore the great weight and consequence of that day maketh it matter of terrour to us We are to be happy for ever or undone for ever our estate will be then irrevocable Where a man cannot err twice there he cannot use too much solicitude According to our last account so shall the condition of every man be for ever What is a matter of greater moment than to be Judged to everlasting joy or everlasting torment Matters of profit or disprofit credit or discredit temporal life and death are nothing to it If a man lose in one bargain he may recover himself in another credit may bewounded by one action and healed in another though the scar remain the wound may be cured If a man die there is hope of life in another World but if sentenced to eternal death there is no reversing of it Therefore now we knowing the terrour of the Lord sue out our own pardon and perswade others to sue out their pardon in the name of Christ to make all sure for the present 4. The execution in case of failing in our duty is terrible beyond expression Because this is the main circumstance and is at the bottom of all I shall a little dilate upon it not to affright you with needless perplexities but in compassion to your souls God knoweth I shall take the rise thus The object of all fear is some evil approaching now the greater the evil is the nearer it approacheth the more certain and inevitable it is and the more it concerneth our selves the more cause of fear there is all these concur in the business in hand 1. The execution bringeth on the greatest evil The Evil of punishment and the greatest punishment the wrath of God the wrath of the eternal Judge who can and will cast body Soul into eternal fire This was due to all by the first covenant will be the portion of Impenitentsinners by the second Heb. 10.31 It s a fearful thing to fâ—ll into the hands of the living God Mark first obstinate and impenitent-sinners do Immediately fall
It maketh us shy of Gods presence Once more 't is a debt which bindeth us over to everlasting punishment and if we be not pardoned the Judge will give order to the Jailer and the Jailer will cast us into Prison till we have paid the utmost farthen Luke 12. last verse And that will never be How doleful is their case who are bound hand and foot and cast into Hell there to remain for ever and ever Now put altogether certainly if you had ever been in bondage and felt the sting of death the curse of the Law or been acquainted with the fiery darts of Satan or scorched with the Wrath of God or known the terrours of those of whom God hath exacted this debt in Hell surely you would say Blessed is the man Happy are those whose sins are pardoned Those that mind their work that know that it is to look God in the Face with comfort that have this Chain broken the Judge turned into a Father the Tribunal of Justice into a Throne of grace and punishment into a pardon will say Blessed is the man SERMON XXXVII 2 Cor. 5.19 And hath committed to us the word of reconciliaion WE come now to the third thing The means of application or bringing about this reconciliation on mans part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath placed in us In which observe two things 1. The matter of the charge trust or thing intrusted The Word of reconciliation Called also verse 18. The Ministry of reconciliation That is the Gospel which revealeth the way of making peace with God and is the Charter and Grant of Christ and all his benefits from God unto every one that will receive him Now the Gospel may be considered as written or preached As written so 't is properly called the word of reconciliation as preached so the ministry of reconciliation The one serveth to inform the other to excite by the one the door of mercy is set open by discovering the admirable methods of grace in reclaiming the World by the other men are called upon perswaded and exhorted to accept of the remedy offered 2. The persons to whom he hath committed He hath put in us The Apostles and their successours First the Apostles are of chief consideration for these as Master-builders were to lay the foundation 1 Cor. 3.10 And Eph. 2.20 And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ being the corner stone They were infallibly assisted and to be absolutely trusted in what they wrote had the power of miracles to evidence their mission and call They were confined to no certain charge and Country therefore this trust did belong to the Apostles in all respects chiefly in some respects to them only Secondly Ordinary Ministers are not to be excluded because they agree with the Apostles as to the substance of their Commission Which is to reconcile men to God or to preach the Gospel The ordinary ministerial teaching is Christs institution as well as that of the Apostles Eph. 4.11 He gave some Apostles and some Prophets and sâ—me Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers He that appointed Prophets and Apostles to write Scripture hath also appointed Pastors and Teachers to explain and apply Scripture This is done pleno jure Matth. 28.19 20. All power is given me in Heaven and Earth go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy-Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you and loe I am with you to the end of the World By vertue of that authority given him by God they are in the same Commission and have a promise of the same presence and Spirit So also 1 Cor. 3.5 Who then is Paul and who is Apollo but Ministers by whom ye believed As to the substance of the work they do the same thing as to the substance of the blessing they are accompanied with the same Spirit In both as their ministry for the matter of it 't is the ministry of reconciliation so for the power of it 't is the ministration of the Spirit unto life Only the one are immediately called miraculously gifted infallibly assisted sent out to all the World the other have an ordinary call a limited place but yet do the same work in the same name and are assisted by the same Spirit Doct. That much of the wisdom and goodness of God is seen in the course he hath taken for the applying of reconciliation In the merit or way of procuring in the branches the restitution of his favour and Image we have seen already now the way of applying that will appear 1. God would not do us good without our knowledge and therefore first or last he must give us notice 't is every where made as an act of Gods goodness to reveal the way of reconciliation When the Psalmist had discoursed of the pardon of sins he presently addeth Psa. 103. He made known his ways unto Moses his acts unto the Children of Israel And Psa. 147.19 20. He hath shewed his Word unto Jacob and his Judgments unto Israel he hath not dealt so with every Nation as for his Judgments they have not known them And Mich. 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good but especially in the new administration of the covenant Heb. 8.10 11. I will put my Laws in their minds and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people and they shall not teach every man his neighbour nor every man his brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest And Isa. 53.11 By his knowledge shall my righteous Servant justify many Those places shew that as it is a great favour that the way of reconciliation was found out so this is a new favour that the way is so clearly revealed that 't is not left to our blind guesses if God had intended to do us good but would not tell us how there would not have been due provision made for the comfort duty of the Creature Not for our comfort For an unknown benefit intended to us can yield us no comfort Christs Prophetical office is as necessary for our comfort as his Sacerdotal Heb. 3.1 Consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our profession Jesus Christ. We could take little comfort in him as an High-Priest if he had not been also an Apostle The highest office in both the Testaments was necessary to our comfort and peace In the old Testament all the business of that dispensation was to represent him an High-Priest So in the new as an Apostle That was to open the mind and heart of God to us shew us how to be happy in the love and injoyment of God Nor could we understand our duty All parties interesâ—ed in the reconciliation must be acquainted with the way of it and therefore man must understand what course God would
Ministry because they are men of like passions with our selves No 't is Gods condescension to our weakness which cannot admit of other Messengers to imploy such Therefore receive them as Messengers of Christ. They work together with God 1 Cor. 3.9 They are labourers together with God 2 Cor. 6.1 As workers together with God we beseech you receive not this grace in vain And Christ saith he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Luke 10.16 What is done to a mans Apostle is done to himself And Matth. 10.40 He that receiveth you receiveth me Christ meant not to stay upon earth visibly and personally to teach men himself therefore he committed this dispensation to others left it with faithful men who are to manage it in his name 4. Those who are enemies of the Ministry of the Word are enemies to the Glory of God and the comfort and Salvation of Gods people The Glory of God 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and Amen unto the Glory of God by us And the comfort of Gods people verse 24. Not for that we have dominion over your Faith but are helpers of your joy And their too much preaching is their too much converting Souls to God and reconciling Souls to God 5. You hear not the Word aright unless it be a word of reconciliation to you a means of bringing God and you nearer together To humble you for sin which is the cause of breach and distance Or to revive thy wounded Spirit or to make you prize and esteem the grace of the Redeemer or more earnestly to seek after God by an uniform and constant obedience SERMON XXXVIII 2 Cor. 5.20 Now then we are Embassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be reconciled to God IN these words you have the practical use and inference of the foregoing clause Observe here 1. An office put on those to whom the word of reconciliation is intrusted 2. The value and authority of this Office As if God did beseech you by us 3. The manner how this office is to be executed Pray you in Christs stead 4. The matter or message about which they are sent Be ye reconciled to God Doct. God hath authorized the Ministers of the Gospel in his own name and stead affectionately to invite sinners to a reconciliation with himself 1. The Office We are Embassadours for Christ ' That 's the nature of our imployment And sent by God on purpose for this end Eph. 6.20 For which I am an Embassadour in bonds 1. Embassadours are Messengers So are the Ministry sent John 17.18 As thou hast sent me into the World so also have I sent them into the World How can they preach except they be sent Rom. 10.15 2. There is not only a Mission but a Commission They are not only Posts and Letter-carryers but authorized Messengers Embassadours do in a singular manner represent the person of the Prince who sendeth them are cloathed with Authority from him And so we have an authority for edification and not for destruction 2 Cor. 10.8 They are sent with great power to bind or loose out of the Word to pass sentence upon mens Eternal Condition Of Damnation on the impenitent of Life and Salvation on them that repent and believe the Gospel 3. They are sent from Princes to other Princes On the one side it holdeth good they come from the greatest prince that ever was even from the â—rince of all the Kings of the earth Revel 1.3 But to us poor worms they are sent unworthy that God should look upon us or think a thought of us we were revolted from our obedience to him but he treateth not and dealeth not with us as Traytors and Rebels but as persons of Dignity and Respect that thereby we may be more enduced to accept his offers Embassadours to obscure and private persons were never heard of but such honour would he put upon us 4. Embassadors are not sent about trifles but about matters of the highest concernment So they are sent to treat about the greatest matters upon Earth The making up peace and friendship between God and sinners Isa. 52.7 How beautiful are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of peace We are to publish the glad tidings of reconciliation with God God might have sent Heralds to proclaim war but he hath sent Embassadours of peace He might have sent them as he sent Noah to the old World to warn them of their destruction or Jonah to Nineveh but they come with an Olive branch in their mouths to tell the World of God reconciled Well then we must regard the weight of the message Gods love and hatred are not such inconsiderable things as that we should not trouble our selves about them 'T is his wrath maketh us miserable and his love happy Oh how welcome to us should a Message of love and peace with God be 5. As to their duty An Embassadour and Messenger must be faithful keeping close to their Commission as to the matter of their Message and be sincere and true as to the end of it 2 Cor. 2.17 For we are not as many which corrupt the Word of God but as of sincerity as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ. We are for another not for our selves our imployment is to be Proxies and Negotiatours for Christ and this with all diligence courage and boldness Eph. 6.20 For which I am an Embassadour in bonds that I may speak boldly as I ought to speak As becometh a zeal for Christs honour and the good of Souls the excellency of the Message and the gravity of our office owning the truth in the face of dangers 6. As to their reception and entertainment Negatively 1. They must not be wronged Embassadours are inviolable by the Law of Nations but such is the ingratitude of the World who are enemies to their own mercies that they slight his Message use his Embassadours disgracefully as Abner did Davids contrary to the Law and the practice of all nations As Paul was an Embassadour in bonds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a Chain by which he was tied to his keeper but God will not endure this Psa. 105.15 He hath given charge Do my Prophets no harm His Judgments in his providence come for wrong done to his Ministers 2 Chron. 36.16 They misused his Prophets and the Wrath of the Lord arose against the people till there was no remedy But the negative is not enough Not to wrong them You ought to respect them and receive them in the name of the Lord 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of us as the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God And Gal. 4.14 They received him as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus Surely 't is meant with respect to the truth he preached they received it with as much reverence
Sin and the World Page 181 When Christ died all Believers died to sin in him Page 177 How those that were not then born were said to be dead to Sin when Christ died Page 179 How to improve the Death of Christ for the mortifying of Sin Page 182 Pardon of Sin is chiefly eyed in the Death of Christ. Page 230 Defects and failings of Christians to be bewailed Page 165 We are to labour to get ground of them Page ib. Desiring Christ. Why the Soul desires to be with Christ. Page 54 What hinders these Desires Page 55 v. Presence with Christ in Heaven Desire of Death Death not simply to be desired Page 24 What Desires of Death are lawful Page 24 34 Desire of Death ariseth from Assurance Page 70 Whether all Christians must desire Death Page 24 The Holiness to Regulated Desires of Death Page 35 Desire of Heaven None can desire Heaven but those that are clothed with a Gospel Righteousness Page 28 Determination a great help in Religion Page 175 Difficulties of Obedience how sweetned Page 73 Dominion of God his Title to it Page 86 Dying to Sin our consent to it given at Conversion and ratified in Baptism Page 180 How Believers may be said to be dead to Sin since there are so many carnal motions after Conversion Page ib. The Influence Christ's Death hath on our dying to Sin v. Death of Christ. E. EArnest the Nature of it Page 42 The difference between an Earnest and a Pledge Page 43 Earnest of the Spirit what it is Page 42 The Vse and End of it Page 43 Enemies all men by Nature are Enemies to God Page 217 244 The several Kinds of Enmity against God Page 217 244 245 God's Enemies carry on a War against him Page 246 God is an Enemy to carnal men Page 247 Wherein this Enmity of God is seen Page ib. It is a dreadful thing to have God an Enemy Page ib. End ultimate and subordinate Page 133 How to know what is our main End Page 77 The End varieth the Nature of the Action Page 136 Esteem of God the Effects of it Page 155 Esteem A Christian is not religiously to esteem others for external carnal advantages Page 194 The Reasons of it Page 195 Excellency of Heaven wherein it appears Page 38 Execution of the last Sentence will be certain speedy and unavoidable Page 107 Why the Sentence shall be certainly executed Page 107 The Sentence shall be executed on the wicked first Page ib. The Execution of the last Sentence shall be terrible F. FAith the objects of Faith Page 56 How it works as to another World Page 17 Faith goeth on certain grounds Page 59 How it should be rowzed up with reference to the promised Glory Page 17 Walking by Faith v. Walking Faith and Sight opposed to one another Page 56 Faith is for Earth Sight for Heaven Page 58 Till we have Sight it is an advantage that we have Faith Page 58 What relief Faith yields us in this World till we have Sight Page 59 If we have Faith we shall have Sight Page ib. Those that have Faith are not satisfied till they have Sight Page ib. Faith hath its Sights Page ib. Faith in Christ what it includes in it Page 255 256 Faith and Repentance Repentance respects God Faith Christ. Page 224 Both are wrought by the Word and acted in Prayer Page Ib. Fall of Man all mankind Fell in Adam Page 216 Fear Causes of Fear Page 111 Terror of the Lord ground of Fear v. Terror Page 110 Fear of future Iudgment how raised in us Page 114 Fear of Wrath and Love of God how consistent Page 113 Fitness for Heaven what it is Page 39 41 Gradual Fitness is to be lookt after Page 40 Fools carnal men are Fools v. Madness Page 126 127 Free Grace manifested at the day of Iudgment Page 98 Friendship between God and Mâ—â— in a State of Innocency Page 216 How this Friendship was broâ—en off Page lb. Fury of wicked Men in their sins Page 127 G. GArment Gospel Righteousness a Garment to cover our nakedness Page 28 Glory of God A Christian is in all things to aim at the Glory of God Page 130 We are to Glorifie God in all Relations and Conditions of Life and with all our Talents Page 135 136 I Indifferent actions God's Glory is to be our end Page 131 Actions that tend to our dishonour should not be omitted when God's Glory calls for them Page 133 Whether in every action a Christian is always bound to have actual thoughts of the Glory of God Page 132 Why the Glory of God is to be our Great end Page 128 133 139 Believers are fitted for Glorifying God as Men and as renewed Page 134 135 Aim at God's Glory ariseth from Love to God Page 131 How to know whether we Glorify God Page 140 Exhortation to Glorify God Page 137 Motâ—ves to Glorify God Page 138 Directions to Glorify God Page 139 Glory of God and good of the Church conjoyned Page 131 Glory of all that Grace that fits us for Heaven is to be given to God Page 41 Goodness of God the mercies of daily Providence declare much of God's Goodness Page 153 Gospel why called the Word of Reconciliation and why the Ministry of Reconciliation Page 234 To whom the dispensation of it is committed Page 234 Governour our Governour must be our Iudge Page 87 Grace the change that Grace makes in a Man Page 130 Acts of Grace easily discernable by a mans own Conscience Page 119 Habitual and actual Grace what Page 211 Groaning for Heaven the Reasons of it Page 20 Directions to stir it up Page 25 v. Desire of Heaven H. HAppiness Eternal why it is delayed Heart New v. New Heart Page 42 Heaven the Certainty of it v. Certainty Page 8 The Excellency of Heaven Page 38 Fitness for Heaven v. Fitness Why Believers are not presently admitted to Heaven upon Conversion Page 42 58 Hiding sin men naturally love to hide their sins from God men and themselves Page 96 God's people are subject to it Page ib. Why men endeavour to hide their sins Page ib. The folly of it Page ib. Holiness in God and in man how it differs Page 84 85 Holiness of Christ as God and as man v. Innocency of Christ. Page ib. Holiness of God manifested at the day of Iudgment Page 97 Home a Christian is not at Home while he is in the Body V. Strangers Page 50 Reasons of it Page Ib. God's Children are not at Home till they come to Heaven Page 54 Hope of Heaven the kinds of it Page 18 Expressed in Scripture by looking and longing Page 18 House State of Glory called a House Page 4 20 What a kind of House this is Page 5 Hypocrites the Reasons of the decay of their seeming Love to God Page 156 I. IMpediments that hinder man's turning to God Page 236 The Word of God a proper remedy to remove them Page 237 Imputation Non-Imputation of sin what is
signifies Page 221 An act of Grace and Favour in God Page 221 A great Priviledge and Blessedness to the Creature Page 222 The manner how it is brought about and applyed to us Page 223 v. Pardon of sin Innocency of Christ as Mediator Page 251 It hath a double use for satisfaction and for example Page 251 Friendship between God and man in a State of Innocency v. Friendship Interest of God in us Page 134 Joys of the Blessed Everlasting Page 105 Judge Qualifications of a Judge Page 82 God the Judge in matters of Redemption not Christ and why Page 87 88 Christ the Judge of the World at the last day Page 82 88 Qualifications of Christ for this Office Kingdom Iustice Power Authority Page 83 84 85 The Impartiality of the Judge Page 91 In what Nature Christ shall be Judge of the World Page 85 88 Judging the World an act of Christ's Mediatory Office Page 88 How Christ is Judge as God and as Mediator Page ib. Why Christ is to be Judge in the humane Nature Page Ib. Why the Power of Judging belongs to Christ. Page Ib. Why Christ is Judge of the World rather than the Father and Spirit Page 87 Christ being Judge is a Terror to the wicked Page 88 89 What is there in Christ's being Judge of the World that is a Terror to the wicked Page 89 Christ being Judge is a comfort to the Godly Page 90 To whom this comfort belongs Page Ib. What is the comfort they have Page Ib. Judgment Day appearing before Judgment Seat what it signifies Page 92 The necessity of a Day of Judgment Page 79 The certainty of it Page ib. The ends of it Page 92 97 103 Arguments to prove it Page 79 80 81. All must be Judged Page 81 91 103 Reasons of it Page 91 92 The Rule of Judgment Page 99 We shall be Judged not according to single acts but our Conversation Page 101 The future Judgment shall be according to mens works Page 97 Why works are produc'd at the Day of Iudgment Page Ib. All sins shall be brought to Judgment Page 92 How sins shall be brought to Judgment Page Ib. What sins shall be then open Page 93 94 A Judgment Day Sinners shall be accused 1 By the Angels 2 By the Devils 3 By the Word of God 4 By the Ministers of the Gospel 5 By Conscience 6 By their own Confession 7 By one another 8 By the Godly 9 By the Circumstances of their evil actions Page 93 94 95. Different Recompenses at the Day of Judgment Page 104 Execution of Sentence v. Execution The Ministry of the Angels at the Day of Judgment Page 91 How this Doctrine is to be improved Page 108 The last Judgment the most solemn of all Judgments Page 83 Future Judgment is impartial Page 110 The Terror of the day of Judgment Page ib. Future Judgment makes pardon of sin necessary Page 231 Justice of Christ. Page 84 Justice of God the kinds of it Page 98 Declared in the day of Iudgment Page ib. Justification twofold of a sinner and of a believer Page 100 K. KNowing Christ after the flesh in the days of his flesh what it was Page 196 Knowing Christ after the flesh since his Ascension what it is Page 197 Knowing Christ after the Flesh will be of no use to us as to the Salvation of our Souls Page 199 They that only know Christ after the flesh cannot truly challenge the name of Christians Page 199 L. Law as a Rule is as strict as ever Page 164 But not as a Covenant Page ib. The violation of the Law makes a Pardon necessary Page 231 The Impossibility of keeping the Law shews the necessity of a Redeemer Page 163 And should make us thankful for our deliverance by Christ. Page 164 Life Animal what it is Page 60 Life of the Body frail and Transitory Page 2 Life Eternal the happy condition of the Godly in Heaven called Life Page 104 Wherein it consists Page 105 The excellency of it Page 35 One of the principal Objects of Faith Page 14 The belief of it pressed Page 14 Little believed in the World v. Faith Page 15 Life Natural to be contemned Page 36 Life Spiritual that there is a Spiritual Life proved 189 What it is Page 60 189 In it all is to be referred not to our selves but to God Page 24 183 The Resemblance between it and the Life Natural 190 The difference between them 192 Signs of Spiritual Life Page 190 192 How it is conveyed and continued to us Page 26 190 The respect it hath to Christ's Resurrection v. Resurrection of Christ. Page 189 Life Spiritual matter of Faith Page 191 To be valued and esteemed by us Page 192 We are to go to Christ for it Page ib. Living denotes not one single action but the course of our conversation Page 185 Living to God Why we should live to God Page 138 139 186 A man cannot Live to himself and to God too Page 184 Motives to live to God Page 187 Directions not to live to our selves but to God Page 188 Living to our selves and not to God the danger of it Page 187 v. Living to God Love of Christ taken actively and passively Page 143 How the Love of Christ appeared in his dying Page 173 Love of God of benevolence and complacency what Page 143 Whence it comes to have such a force on us Page 147 How it is applyed to us Page 148 The consequent benefits of it Page ib. Persuasion of God's Love to us comfortable but not absolutely necessary Page 152 God's general Love in sending a Saviour to mankind should excite Love Page 153 Love to God what it is Page 143 159 Love to God considered as an exaction of the Law or rule of the Gospel Page 163 God in Christ the object of his Love and why Page 144 Whether God be to be loved for his beneficial goodness or Essential and Moral perfections Page 149 God is chiefly to be Loved for his essential and Moral perfections and why Page 150 Our loving God for his benefits is not wholly to be condemned and why Page 149 Mercies of daily Providence render God amiable Page 153 The defects of this Love Page 150 The Effects of it 145 155 159 Love to God the greater principle that draweth us off from self to God Page 185 The influence it hath on our duties and actions Page 145 What shall we do to know that we Love God Page 165 Why it is our duty to make this tryal Page 166 Obedience the great evidence of Love to God Page 166 How to get this Love to God Page 167 No man by Nature can bring his heart to Love God and why Page 167 Pardoning mercy breedeth and feedeth Love to God Page 230. Motives to Love God Page 168 Degrees of Love to God how to be measured Page 154 Comparison the best way to discover Love Page ib. God to be Loved above all things Page ib. What it is to Love