the Greatness of their Sin who do neglect this Salvation and the impossibility of such ever to escape God's Wrath. 1. From the Power and Authority of Christ who not only wrought this Salvation out but only first declared it or made it known which first began to be spoken by the Lord. Which some think may refer to his first declaring of it from the beginning to Adam upon his Transgression and to the Fathers under the Old Testament But I conceive he means chiefly our Lord 's preaching this Salvation in the Days of his Flesh when he entred first on his Ministry as verse 1. of the first Chapter God hath in these last Days spoken unto us by his Son 2. From the confirmation of it by Signs and Wonders I shall be very brief in speaking unto the Terms of our Text. How shall we escape avoid get clear of or deliver our selves from God's Wrath and Vengeance If we neglect if we mind other things more than this Salvation or seem to be indifferent in and about this great Business like those that made light of the Invitation to the Marriage-Supper Mat. 22. Luke 14. 16 17 18 19 20. So great Salvation namely the Salvation of the Gospel Great as it refers to God denotes the glorious Perfections of his Nature the Great God it signifies the infinite Power Wisdom Holiness Mercy and Glory of his Majesty Great as it refers to things may be considered as to the Nature and Quality of them as Great Riches Great Light as the Sun is called a great Light that is a Glorious Light excelling all other Natural or Created Lights or Artificial Lights Great Peace have they that love thy Law that is Glorious Peace So great Salvation denotes Glorious Salvation exceeding all Temporal Salvation So Great this so raises the Greatness and Glory of this Salvation God so loved the World So how Even so that it cannot be conceived much less expressed So this great Salvation is so wonderful so amazing so glorious and so affecting it calls for all to admire it consider it imbrace it and by no means to slight or neglect it From hence I shall note three Points of Doctrine Doct. 1. That the Salvation of the Gospel is a Great and Glorious Salvation Doct. 2. That the Means of this Salvation may be neglected Doct. 3. That all such who do neglect this Salvation shall not cannot escape I purpose to speak to all these three Propositions and shall begin with the first namely That the Salvation of the Gospel is a Great and Glorious Salvation First I shall prove and fully God assisting demonstrate the Truth of this Doctrine Secondly I shall improve it by way of Application First It is a Great and Glorious Salvation comparatively or when it is compared with all other Salvations 1. That was a Great and Glorious Salvation which God wrought for Israel at the Red Sea But what a Salvation was that Who were they saved from It was from Pharaoh a bloody and cruel Persecutor but this is from Satan and all cruel Enemies of our Souls 2. That was from the Wrath of Men this is from the fearful Wrath of God which none are able to conceive of according to thy Fear so is thy Wrath. 3. That was a Salvation of the natural Lives of the Children of Israel this a Salvation of our Immortal Souls and Bodies too for ever 4. That was a Type of this Salvation a Shadow of it and as far as the Substance exceeds the Shadow of a Thing so far doth this Salvation exceed that and all other Salvations 5. That was a Temporal Salvation this is an Eternal Salvation Now that Salvation at the Red Sea being one of the greatest Temporal Salvations that ever was wrought I need not mention any other Israel had many great Salvations wrought for them afterwards and so have many of the Saints had great Salvations and Deliverances wrought for them in the Times of the Gospel Nay we in these Nations have seen and heard of great and wonderful Things which God hath wrought for us and for our Forefathers It was a great Salvation that was wrought in 1588 at the Spanish Invasion and from the Powder-Plot and also that in 1688 when We and the Protestant Interest were brought very low and we could not see which way Relief and Deliverance could come But alas what are all these Salvations to this in my Text Pray remember that Gospel-Salvation is Great and Glorious comparatively But Secondly The Salvation of the Gospel is not only great comparatively but also positively not only in respect of all other Salvations but also in regard of it self And to demonstrate this consider that it is great and glorious in respect of the Time or rather that Eternity in which it was contrived and graciously promised This Salvation Brethren was contrived and found out by the Wisdom of God before the World began Hence Christ is said to be a Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World that is in the Decree Counsel and Purpose of God Christ was set up from Everlasting as the great and glorious Mediator and Saviour of all that should believe in him or that were given unto him by the Father The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his Way before his Works of old I was set up from Everlasting or ever the Earth was When there were no Depths I was brought forth As these Scriptures prove the Deity and Eternal Generation of the Son of God so also there was a Designation of him by the Father as Mediator to be our Saviour before all Worlds Hence God saith of miserable Man Deliver him from going down into the Pit I have found a Ransom And as it was found out before the beginning of the World or from Eternity so it was also as early promised to us as the Elect in Christ in hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began Compared with that in Timothy Who hath saved and called us with an holy Calling not according to our Works but according to his Purpose and Grace which was given us in Jesus Christ before the World began God thought of us poor Sinners and found out this way of Salvation before we had a Being yea even from Eternity foreseeing us fallen in the First Adam brought into a deplorable Condition of Wrath and Misery Thirdly The Salvation of the Gospel is great and glorious in regard of that Counsel that was held before all Worlds about bringing of it in Christ the great Saviour was delivered up according to the determinate Counsel of God Acts 2. 23. Should all the Wise Men and Great Potentates of the Earth be called together and sit in Council about the doing of some great and wonderful thing which unless it was effected all the Kingdoms and States of the Earth would sink and be dissolved would not all say that would be an amazing Thing
a thing is this that I that have preached so much of the glory of another World should now be deprived of it all You will as surely see me damned as you now see me stand here To others he said I have trifled in Religion trifled trifled I am lost there is no Hope no Hope At another time he said The black Tokens of Reprobation are upon me He said to Mr. Plant smiting on his Breast Sir I am Damn'd I am Damn'd it is so most certainly My day is over O that it was with me as in days past but it is too late the Decree is gone forth it is Sealed in Heaven and it is irreversible Jesus Christ cannot save me he will not he cannot Mediate for me I have so much offended him in maliciously abusing of his People O what a Wretch was I what a Spirit was I led by I have guilt enough said he to sink seventeen Kingdoms and I know the Earth would open its mouth and swallow me alive like Corah Dathan and Abiram were it not that God hath reserved me to be a more publick Spectacle of his Anger and Displeasure both to Angels and Men. I can neither Pray nor desire others to pray for me my Heart is perfectly hardened how should I when I cannot desire Jesus Christ to pray for me flouds of Tears flowing from him Dear bought Experience saith he hath taught me that it is no small thing to trifle with him in the great things of Religion and Eternity c. In one of his Letters sent to Mr. James Jones are these Expressions viz. Being possessed with Doubts Fears and Tremblings night and day the sad savour of Gall and Wormwood an horrible Relish of Gravel-stones the sad Apprehensions of Curses Blastings and Mildew the dismal sound of the mad Prophets words I shall see him but not now I shall behold him but not nigh had I been a Backslider of an ordinary size I have a Voice behind me or dire Texts to love and make a Lye is a qualification for the Lake His poor Wife as I remember intimated to me that the very Ends of the Halr of his Head in the Night-season did stand in Drops thro' the Anguish of his Soul Thus he continued for several Months under most dreadful horror and fearful desparation until the 13 th of Octob. 1684. when to put an end to his miserable Life he hanged himself in his own hired house in Brick-lane near Spitlefields London leaving a sorrowful Widdow and several Children But she poor Woman lived not long after 'T is to be noted that there was a strange blast upon his Estate for tho' I understood by a Friend that was intimate with him he was little before his fall worth near a thousand pounds yet I can hear but of a little left to his Children his Eldest Son being but in a low and mean Condition I take not upon me to pass Judgment upon this miserable Man not knowing how God might deal with him whose Mercy is Infinite for I do not believe Self-murther is an unpardonable sin for if so there is more Sins unto Death than one certainly it is a Sin against the Father and the Son and not against the Holy Ghost and therefore may be forgiven unto men who may before their Life is quite gone have Repentance given to them But I am of the Opinion with a worthy Minister that visited him that if any Atheist in the World who had formerly known this man and had conversed with him in his bitter Agonies he would have seen sufficient Demonstrations to have convinced him that there is a dreadful God or a Power besides and above Nature who can touch shake and disorder and turn into Confusion the strongest constitution of body by ministring and fastning terrible things upon the Soul and as he saith let this Pillar of Salt tend to warn and season the People of this present and future Ages of the danger of sinning against the light of their understanding Moreover it doth I am sure serve with a witness to prove and fully to demonstrate the truth of that Proposition I am upon viz. That God doth sometimes let out his Wrath on the Consciences of some men for their horrid evil in this World which seems intollerable and hard to be born or undergone by any Mortal But Secondly To proceed by buring up the Chaff with unquenchable fire or by the Wrath of God in this place our Blessed Saviour doth intend casting the wicked into Hell it self Remarkable it is that no less than four or five times the Lord Christ positively affirms in Mark 9. that the fire of Hell into which Body and Soul of wicked men shall be cast cannot be quenched where the worm dies not and the fire is not quenched c. Why repeated so often is it not to assure all ungodly persons of the certainty of it Men are not willing to believe this great truth they are too ready to think that it is inconsistent with infinite goodness to inflict such Punishment on his Creatures but alas they forget that there is an infinite perfection in every one of the Divine Attributes and that as Gods mercy is infinite unsearchable and unconceivable so is his wrath and fury none are able to conceive much less to declare what pain and anguish the damned undergo What torments like fire and what fire is so hot and so tormenting as Hell-fire sad it is to burn half an hour in an Elementary fire yet the Martyrs have endured that for Christs sake God made it easie to some of them But alas who can bear the burnings of Hell-fire when wrath shall be let out upon the Soul to the utterermost O Sirs what a fearful thing will it be to be found chaff and false hypocritical Persons such cannot escape the damnation of Hell No nor can any sinner whatsoever except they believe repent or are born again there is no avoiding being cast into unquenchable fire Thirdly I shall now endeavour to prove the point viz. That the Wrath of God in Hell is intollerable and far greater than any Wrath let out here either on the Bodies or Souls of men which will appear if we consider these particulars following First The extremity of their Torment will appear upon the Consideration that it is inconceivable beyond all mens understanding who knoweth the power of thy Anger who can apprehend it or is rightly and duely affected therewith we can conceive of all bodily pain or external Torment but cannot comprehend the Nature of infinite Wrath no more than we can conceive or apprehend the Nature of infinite Love and Goodness Secondly It is and will be intollerable because it is according to that fear nay beyond the fear that an awakened Conscience hath of it even according to thy fear so is thy Wrath. O what frightful thoughts and astonishing fears had Spira and Child of Gods Wrath Now Sirs it cannot be
Information so also by way of Terror and that to many sorts of Persons 1. Tremble ye wordly Professors who have earthly Spirits that set your Hearts on things below and neither cloath the Naked nor feed the Hungry Weep and howl for the misery that shall come upon you ye have heaped Treasure together against the last day how will your Folly gall your Consciences when you lye in Hell-Torments whilst you heap up Gold and Silver in your Bags and Chests you heap up Wrath against the last day Remember what Christ says unto you And these shall go away into everlasting punishment What will your Profession signifie if you love the World above God which be sure you do if you see a Brother or Sister in want and do not give them such things that they need Remember Mr. Child I have made this World saith he my God 2. Tremble you proud and vain-glorious Persons Pride cryes poor Mr. Child hath undone me The Proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the day that comes shall burn them up Will you glory in your Riches Honours Gifts Knowledge or any thing you have will you not be reclaimed to throw off your God-provoking Fashions whatsoever comes of it but plead to uphold your Lusts and Vanity tho' the Name of God be dishonoured and Religion brought into Contempt and the Godly grieved 3. Tremble you vain young Men and Women who forget your Creator in the days of your Youth that secretly resolve your own Hearts shall choose your ways who will feed your carnal Appetites and wanton Desires and will run on in wicked Courses let Ministers say what they will Godly Parents say what they will yet you will swear lye be drunk commit Uncleanness O know as you feed your Lusts here and that burns in you so shall Hell feed on you and that fire like Chaff burn you up hereafter Will a few merry Hours with your filthy Companions make a compensation for the loss of your precious and immortal Souls Are you willing to suffer the Wrath of God for ever rather than to forgo your vain and wicked Courses 4. Tremble ye that harbour Atheistical Thoughts in your Hearts and are ready to think or hope there is no God O how soon may you feel him within you by his terrible Wrath as Mr. Child in bitterness of Soul cryed out 5. Tremble ye Lyars that love to make a lye for you shall have your portion in the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death 6. Tremble ye who are light and frothy persons also you that are Back-biters Busie-bodys that vilifie and reproach the Servants of God out of Malice and Prejudice you will be as Chaff that shall burn in Hell for ever 7. Tremble all ye that slight Christ and his Gospel and neglect those convictions you have either of Sin or Duty and that slight all serious thoughts of Eternity or how things will go with you in another World and who stiffle your Consciences or turn a deaf ear to it's rebukes God may awaken you er'e long in his Wrath and tear you to pieces when there is none to deliver you 8. Tremble all ye Hypocrites whose Hearts condemn you for harbouring some Sin or another in your bosoms who are not what you seem to be but strive to cover your vileness under a cloak of a visible Profession Fearfulness will soon surprize you Who amongst us shall dwell with devouring fire who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burning Hell is that place that is prepared for Hypocrites and Vnbelievers It seems by the word of our Blessed Saviour that they above all are in a dangerous Estate and shall not escape eternal burning 9. Tremble ye Apostates ye who have backsliden from God O fear lest God let out his Wrath upon you here and it burn within you whilst you are alive in the body and if it prove a final Apostacy Wo be to you as ever you were born then there remains no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignation that shall devour the adversaries Exhort O Repent Repent haste to Christ believe on him 1. Motive The God of mercy exercises much Patience towards poor Sinners O how doth he wait O how willing is he they should be saved and not come into the place of Torment 2. He tells you what your End will be if you believe not if you accept not his Son fly not for Refuge to take hold of Jesus Christ if ye believe not in Christ ye shall dye in your sins that is you shall be damned for ever He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned He sets out the Torments of the damned by the most amazing figures to move upon mens Spirits and work upon their Minds so that they being deterred form evil Practices may flee from the Wrath to come by laying hold on the hope set before them he gives warning before he strikes tells you of your danger Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish he that believeth on the son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him the wicked shall be turned into Hell with all the Nations that forget God You may know how it will go with you at the last day if you hear but Gods warning-pieces in his Word Know ye not the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor effeminate Persons nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor Thieves nor Drunkards nor Extortioners c. Compared with Rev. 21. 8. 3. God calls nay cries to you sinners O ye simple ones why will ye love simplicity and fools hate knowledge turn ye at my reproof and behold I will pour out my spirit upon you c. 4. He gives sinners time and space to repent or a day of Grace O now unexcusable will he leave every ungodly man at the last day their destruction shall appear to be of themselves be sure God will be clear when he judges none shall have any thing to charge him with all mouths shall be stopped The man That wanted the Wedding-Garment was speechless 5. God hath sent his Son to die for Sinners God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life 6. He sends his Ministers to call you to invite you who tell you all things are now ready Sinners will your sinful Honours Riches or Pleasures make a reparation for the loss of a Christ the loss of Heaven and loss of your own souls Take two or three Directions 1. Seek the Kingdom of Heaven first before all things 2. Take notice this is the day of your Visitation
Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him They shall sit upon Thrones Know ye not that the Saints shall judg the World Even such poor Saints that this World disdains and do contemn 10. This World will have an End and the Time is near and the other World will begin in the Glory of it The World to come Brethren that shall never end it is an Eternal World tho the administration of it as in the Hands of Christ as Mediator shall cease and have an End yet the Kingdom and Glory of the World to come shall never have an End the Riches of it the Glory of it and the Joys of it shall abide for ever it is a Kingdom and a Crown that fadeth not away Lastly It will be a peaceable World Wars will cease Jerusalem shall be a quiet Habitation Nation shall not rise up against Nation nor learn War any more in that World I should now come to speak to the second Thing namely to shew what a taste it is that the Persons in our Text had or may have of the Powers of the World to come but I shall make a little use of this first APPLICATION 1. By way of Reprehension Brethren what Fools be they who value this World above the World come These are like the vain French-Man who said he would not part with his part in Paris for a pure in Paradise Alas he knew not what a Place Paradise is O the Vanity of Mens Minds how blind and deceived are poor Mortals 2. This shews and clearly may demonstrate that God's People are Men and Women of greatest Wisdom they are not satisfied with corruptible Things it is God and his Eternal Riches Kingdom and Glory their Eyes are set upon they are Rich it appears in Reversion though they have but little now in Possession they love Riches though not the Riches of this World they shall have one day rich and immortal Robes Robes beyond those of beaten Gold At thy right Hand did stand the Queen in Gold of Ophir It is not a few little Houses no nor earthly Palaces 't is not Bags of Gold and Silver that can satisfy them no no it is nothing less than a whole Kingdom and Crown of Glory in the other World of which they are joint Heirs with Christ They shall inherit all things all Riches and Happiness 1. Riches that inrich the Soul ay and the Body too the Bodies of the Saints shall be inriched in the World to come our vile Body shall be changed and made like Christ's Glorious Body 2. They shall have true Riches the Riches of this World are faise Riches deceitful Riches counterfeit Riches shadowy Riches they are but a Figure or a Shadow of the Riches of the World to come 3. They have right to incorruptible Riches not like the Worldings Riches that canker and corrupt and the Rust of which will rise up as Witness against them at the last Day 4. They are certain and and abiding Riches the Riches of this World are uncertain Riches they are but for a Moment and are gone Charge them that are in this World saith the Apostle that they be not high minded nor trust in uncertain Riches but in the living God O how poor and miserable are some Men who are rich in this World 5. The Riches of the World to come are Soul-satisfying Riches Gold and Silver satisfy not but Believers shall see God in the other World have a glorious Vision of God they shall be like him for they shall see him as he is Nothing but a Possession of God and a Likeness unto him will satisfy a gracious Soul I shall be satisfied saith David when I awake in thy Likeness I shall not be fully satisfied until then as if he should say but then I shall be satisfied to the full indeed What is there more for a Man to desire than God They that have God for their Portion may say with Jacob that they have all 6. The Riches of the other World are had without Care without Perplexity Alas Cares and Snares attend the Riches of this World there is Pains in getting them and Cares in keeping them and Fears of losing them and these things eat out the sweetness that seems to be in them but as there will be no Cares in keeping of the Riches of the World to come so there will be no fear of losing them 7. The Riches of the World to come will be the Perfection of Riches No Man can be perfectly rich here tho he hath some Riches yet he hath not all Riches and though he be rich in some things yet he is not rich in all things and though he be rich externally and for a time rich yet he may be spiritually poor But they that attain to the Riches of the World to come are every ways rich perfectly rich rich in the Body and rich in the Soul they are such Riches that Christ and the Angels do possess Secondly The Honours of the World to come will be great far surpassing all the Honours of this present evil World 1. 'T is no small Honour to be the Sons of God now are we the Sons of God This is a Privilege that appertains to the present Spiritual Kingdom of Christ but it doth not appear what we shall be that is the Time of the manifestation of the Sons of God then Christ will honour his Saints and God will honour them If any Man serves me him saith our Saviour will my Father honour 2. Will it not be an Honour to be crowned with a Crown of Glory Glory Honour and Immortality is the Portion of all who by well-doing seek it 3. Will it not be a great Honour to judg the World yea to judg the fallen Angels 4. Will it not be an high Honour to be the Lamb 's glorious Bride to be the Spouse of the Prince of the Kings of the Earth to have the Attendance of the Holy Angels and to have the Wicked to bow down to your very Feet and lick up the Dust 5. Will it not be a great Honour to sit with Christ on the Throne Besides it will be Eternal or Everlasting Honour it will abide for ever Thirdly The Pleasures of the World to come will be transcendent Pleasures far surpassing all the vain and carnal Pleasures of this present World 1. I once told you when I was speaking of Eternal Joys that the Pleasures of the World to come will not only delight the Soul but the Body too though not carnal sensual Pleasures yet the glorified Bodies of the Saints shall be filled with Delight and Pleasure as well as their Spirits you may be sure and that in a wonderful manner 2. The Joys of the World to come will be the Fulness of Joy and Delights Thou shalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures Rivers of Pleasures denote fulness Pleasures
to full satisfaction all the Pleasures of this present World are but a Shadow of the Pleasures of Heaven and of the World to come and though these satisfy not yet those will satisfy the Soul 3. They are Pleasures for evermore we shall swim in Pleasures in that World Thou wilt shew me the Way of Life in thy Presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right Hand are Pleasures for ever more 4. The Joys and Pleasures of the World to come will be so sweet that as Mr. Caryl saith a whole Eternity will seem to be but as a Moment 5. They will be Pleasures without Pain without a Sting O what a Sting have some Men found to be in or to attend their carnal Pleasures Here are Sorrows cleaving to Men as well as Joy Pain and Misery as well as Delights and Pleasure but in the World to come there will be all Sweet and no Bitter all Pleasure and no Pain all Joy and no Sorrow 6. Is God able think you to delight to rejoice and to fill the Souls of his Saints with Joy and Pleasure Be sure then he will do it God's Love is such so infinite so inconceivable to his Children that he will fill them with the fullest Joys imaginable Will not earthly Parents make the Lives of their Children as sweet and happy as they can They are called Joys unspeakable and full of Glory All the lawful Pleasures of this World are Brethren but a Figure or Shadow of them The Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive the things that God hath prepared for those that love him The Eye hath seen much and the Ear hath heard of more than the Eye ever saw and the Heart conceives of more than ever the Ear heard but the Heart cannot conceive how sweet the Joys of Christ's Kingdom will be or comprehend how transcendent the Joys of Heaven are 7. The Pleasures of the World to come are the Effects of God's infinite Love and Goodness according to the Perfection thereof And as none know the Power of God's Anger and Wrath in Hell that is let out against ungodly Sinners that hate him so none know the Power of his Infinite Love Grace and Goodness let out in Heaven to delight and ravish the Hearts of all them that love and serve him 8. The Pleasures of the World to come never will cease indeed no shorter a Time than an endless Eternity can serve to let out the infinite Goodness of the Eternal Deity and those varieties of Joys and Delights that flow and will flow like Rivers from him as none can imagine what the Nature of that personal Communion which the Saints shall have with Christ will be so also they will be Eternal Eternal Joys saith one are the longest and yet the shortest Longest in respect of Duration yet the shortest in respect of Apprehension An Eternity of Joy will seem to us no more tedious than one Minute or small Moment ' twis be so full of Joy and Pleasure 't is such Satisfaction that breed no wearisomness it doth not â—loy nor glut the Soul we living at the Fountain-head of Joy and Comfort in immediate Communion with Christ our Delights will renew as much as continue They are certainly blind or unthinking Persons that do not see how the Deity or Holy God delights in Varieties it may easily be discerned by beholding the different Varieties of Creatures Faces Colours or varieties of things to delight all our Senses here in this World O no doubt the Joys and Varieties of the World to come will be Wonderful and take up a whole Eternity for God to let out Joys will be as it were every day fresh and renewed upon us From hence saith a beloved Writer fresh Appetite and fulness of Satisfaction are perpetually interchangeable the Joys are so many the Years seem so few Eternity of Joys makes Eternity but as a Moment as eternal Pain and Torment makes every Moment seem an Eternity These things being so O who would not desire an Interest in Christ O happy happy Believer what a Choice hast thou made Exhortation Sinner what sayst thou come seek a Portion a Part in the World to come you are very busy to get a Part or Portion in this present evil World Alas alas what good can all these thing do you and how long can you keep them Come be perswaded to seek this better Country Christ hath redeemed us from this present evil World and hath purchased for us another World even this World to come Will you seek it You may have a share and part in the World to come Quest You will say which Way or how may we get a part in it Answ I answer You must marry the Prince and Heir of that World and so you shall have a Portion in it and a true Title to it you must by Faith espouse Jesus Christ there is no other way to have an Interest in the World to come Sinners you may gain the World to come and save your Souls but whilst you seek to gain this present evil World you may lose your Souls What will it profit a Man to gain the whole World and lose his own Soul Also you may have an Assurance of the World to come O strive to make it your own peculiar Inheritance take hold of the Foretop of Time Now I may say Time is hereafter it may be said Time was and then Time is past and lost for ever Remember that in this World while you are here the World to come in the Glory of it will be got or lost for ever if you obtain Grace you shall have Glory but if you have no Grace in this World no Glory you are like to have in the World to come Lastly Remember this World is near at an End 't is ready to pass away and the World to come in the Glory of it is just about to begin it is not far off He that testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus HEB. VI. 4 5. And of the Powers of the World to come THE last time I spoke of the World to come and of the Powers of it especially of the Powers Glory and Pleasures of the World to come respecting the State of the Saints therein I shall now proceed to shew you what a kind of taste of the Powers of the World to come the Persons mentioned in our Text may be said to have which is the next thing propounded to be done under this Head Secondly The Persons here meant I have proved are not true and sincere Believers though such who come very near unto such being almost Christians Now the last Qualification or Attainment they are said to arrive unto is this Of tasting of the Powers of the World to come First I shall shew you what may be meant by the Powers of the World to come Secondly Shew what a
know now the things that belong to your peace before they are hid from your Eyes Behold now is the accepted time c. 3. Close with Christ whilst the Spirit strives with thee and before Conscience is feared or let out against thee to tear thee into pieces 4. Attend carefully upon the means of Grace and know assuredly that the Wages of Sin is eternal Death even everlasting burnings therefore renounce it with the greatest abhorrence know all the Pleasures and Honours of this Life are but the Elements of carnal felicity and according to the Judgment of Reason and sense would any one chuse the enjoyment of the greatest Pleasures for a day and afterwards be satisfied to suffer the most exquisite Torments for a year much more folly and madness it is for momentary brutish delights to incurr the fiery Indignation of God for ever 1. One word to you that are Believers and I have done O bless God for Jesus Christ who has born the wrath of God for you and in your stead that you might never seel the bitterness of it even Jesus who delivered us from wrath to come 2. Admire the distinguishing Grace and special Love of God We love him because he first loved us It was his Love that overcame you The meer fear of Hell is not sufficient to Convert the Souls of men tho' it may stop them in their way and prevent great Abominations in the gross acts thereof yet does not cannot renew their Nature regenerate and make holy their hearts and lives that Religion that is the meer effect of fear will be according to the nature of its principle even legal wavering and inconstant yet the fear of Hell may awaken the sinner and in some sence prepare for Grace When the Soul is stormed by the terror of Wrath and the fear of Hell has made a breach Divine Grace enters but it is the Love of God and hopes of Heaven that works spiritual affections as the Obedience that flows therefrom is Evangelical free and voluntary from the entire consent of the Soul and are abiding 3. Be content with your Condition tho' poor in this World remember Lazarus how much better was his state than the Rich Glutton's O do not envy the wicked that are Rich they will pay dear for their Wealth when they come to Hell which they with greedy covetous minds heap up I remember a Passage which is related in History A General with an Army passing through another Princes Countrey gave strict Order that no Person should offer to touch the least thing which belong'd to the Inhabitants but nevertheless one Souldier as they were upon their March stole a Bunch of Grapes which the General being informed of gave Order that he should immediately be put to Death as he was going to Execution he fell a eating his Grapes and some Persons looking greedily on him he observing them said Do not envy me my Grapes for they cost me dear they cost me my Life 4. Let it appear to all that you do love Jesus Christ and preferr the honour of God and his interest above all things in this World let the main end and design of your Souls in desiring Grace Gifts Knowledge c. and in all you act and do in his Service be that you may advance his Glory Sirs the time is near when it will be known who are Christs Wheat true Christians and who are not but let all that are but Chaff tremble for Hell is prepared for them He will gather the Wheat into his garner but the Chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire FINIS THE BLESSEDNESS OF Christ's Sheep OR No final Falling from a State of true Grace DEMONSTRATED In Several SERMONS lately Preached and now for general Good Published Wherein all the grand Objections usually brought against the Saints final Perseverance are fully answered By BENJAMIN KEACH Heb. 10. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto Perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul London Printed in the Year 1694. THE BLESSEDNESS OF Christ's Sheep c. JOHN X. 27 28. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand BELOVED these Words are the Words of our Blessed Saviour and they contain no small Comfort to all true Believers who are the Sheep and Lambs of Jesus Christ My main Purpose or Intention is to speak to the 28 th Verse and to defend the sweet and comfortable Doctrine of the Saints final Perseverance but shall begin with the 27 th Verse viz. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me In our Text are two Parts 1. Something Implied viz. Christ is a Shepherd and that he hath a People that are his Sheep 2. Something that is Expressed viz. That all such who are his Sheep hear his Voice and do follow him You have in the Words 1. The Property of Christ's Sheep 2. Their Security and happy State and Condition 1. Their Character or Property viz. They hear his Voice and do follow him 2. Their Security and happy State and Condition 1. He knows them that is he approves of them 2. He gives to them Eternal Life 3. They are in his Hand and shall never perish Our Saviour in this Chapter calls himself the Shepherd of the Sheep yea the Good Shepherd Ver. 11. I am the Good Shepherd the Good Shepherd giveth his Life for the Sheep Now if it be demanded who are the Sheep of Christ I answer All that the Father hath given to him and that believe in him Christ's Sheep may be considered as his two manner of ways 1. Decretively See Ver. 16. And other Sheep I have which are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my Voice The Lord Jesus meaneth the Gentiles these he calls his Sheep by virtue of God's Eternal Election Them also I must bring They are given unto me and all that the Father hath given me shall come unto me I lay down my Life for them or in their stead that they might not perish I therefore as if he should so say must bring them call them renew or regenerate them The Covenant I have made with my Father is such that it cannot be broken the Purpose Counsel and Promises of God shall stand This agrees with that Word of the Holy God to St. Paul Be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace For I am with thee and no Man shall set on thee to hurt thee for I have much People in this City They are called the Lord's People though then in a state of Darkness and Unbelief decretively or according to his Eternal Purpose they were his 2. Actually or such who are already brought in or who do believe and are visibly of his Fold The Doctrine I shall prosecute shall be
said they hear Christ's Voice i. e. the Doctrine he taught This is my beloved Son saith the Father in whom I am well pleased hear him 1. Not Moses Moses is not our Shepherd our Guide our Law-giver We are not his Disciples his Sheep No no but we are Christ's Sheep Christ's Disciples The Jews said they were Moses 's Disciples 2. They hear Christ's Voice not the Pope's not the Voice of Antichrist 3. They hear Christ's Voice not the Voice of the Light of Nature only or the teaching of Natural Conscience though 't is true they hear and follow that Light yet they know the Light that is in all Men which is in Pagans Turks and Heathens is not the Voice of Christ as he is Mediator and the great Shepherd of the Sheep 4. They hear Christ's Voice follow his Voice not the Voice of General Councils and National Synods they will no further hear any than they hear and adhere to the Voice and Doctrine of Jesus Christ 2 dly They will not receive or embrace any Capital Errors they will not hear the Voice of Strangers but keep to all the Essentials of Christ's Doctrine of the Principles of true Religion Particularly 1. They believe the Holy Scripture is of Divine Authority and that it is the only Rule of Faith and Practice 2. They stedfastly believe the Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity that there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit and that these three are one One in Essence yet three Persons or Subsistences 3. They stedfastly believe the Doctrine of Christ's Divinity or have a right Faith about the Person of Christ not doubting but that he is God by Nature the most High God coeternal and coequal with the Father and the Holy Ghost abominating the Doctrine of Arius who asserted he was not of the same Substance of the Father but rather a created Spirit the first and chief Spirit or Angel God created And the Doctrine of Socinians who affirmed He is a meer Man and had no Pre-existence before he was Conceived and Born of the Virgin They abominate that Voice or Doctrine of Eutychians who maintain that the Matter of Christ's Flesh was from Heaven or that it was a Conversion of the Deity of the second Person of the Trinity into Flesh and that he partook not of the Nature of the Virgin They abominate their Doctrine who declare that Christ doth consist of one Nature only and those who affirm that the Light that is in all Men which is but an inward Quality created of God with which the Soul of Mankind is naturally indued is the only Christ of God they know these are Strangers and the Voice of Strangers they will not hear 4. They hear and stedfastly believe and receive the Doctrine of Christ's Headship over the Church 5. The Doctrine of Satisfaction by Christ in his Expiation of Sin and of Justification by his Righteousness imputed as it is received by Faith alone without inherent Righteousness wrought in us or good Works done by us 6. The Doctrine of Regeneration the Resurrection of the Body and of the Eternal Judgment and World to come In all these Respects they hear Christ's Voice i. e. his Doctrine and in all other respects so far as they receive Light and Knowledg touching any one or all the blessed Truths and Ordinances of the Gospel Fourthly There is the Voice of Christ's Rod also which his Sheep hear The Lord's Voice crieth to the City and the Man of Wisdom shall see thy Name hear ye the Rod and who hath appointed it When Christ's Sheep will not hear as they ought the soft and sweet Voice of God's Word he speaks to them by the Voice of his Rod by Afflictions and sharp Rebukes which by his Providence he brings upon them And though others cannot hear so as to understand this Voice of Christ yet his Sheep do they see his Name and hear the Rod and know whose Voice it is and to what End 't is appointed but this I shall not insist further upon here I should now come to shew you how Christ's Sheep hear his Voice but that must be for the next time APPLICATION 1. Bless God you have Christ's Voice Christ's Word sounding in your Ears Blessed are they that know the joyful Sound for they shall walk in the Light of thy Countenance O Lord. It is not all they that hear the joyful Sound but only such that know it with an experimental Knowledg who have felt the Divine Power of it on their Souls 2. Rest not therefore upon a bare hearing of the Word of Christ take heed that the Gospel comes not to you in Word only but in Power also 3. Labour to hear the Voice of Christ's Spirit in and with the Word or you are undone for ever JOHN X. 27. My Sheep hear my Voice and they follow me DOCT. All true Believers are the Sheep and Lambs of Jesus Christ they hear his Voice and they follow him Beloved we have shewed you in what respects Believers are said to be Christ's Sheep and what is meant by his Voice which his Sheep or such who belong unto him do and will hear Thirdly I shall now proceed to the next general Head of Discourse propounded to you I am to shew you how Christ's Sheep hear his Voice his Word his Holy Doctrine They hear Christ's Voice his Word and Doctrine understandingly He that heareth the Word and understandeth it c. Some tho they hear it yet they are ignorant and know not the Nature Power and divine Excellency of it The sacred Scripture is as a sealed Book to some that are learned with Humane Arts and Sciences they see but the outside of the Book as it were and others they are ignorant Persons neither have Humane nor Divine Teachings then he opened their Vnderstandings that they might understand the Scriptures See how Christ does honour the holy Scriptures He did not open their Understanding without the Scriptures he sends them to that because they testify of him but he knew the Scripture would not sufficiently give them the knowledg of himself without the Influence and Illumination of his Spirit Sirs they hear Christ's Voice aright who are taught of God and by his Spirit to understand his Word Some Men are so far cheated by the Devil that they cry up the Light of natural Conscience and magnify that above the Holy Scripture He perswades them to cast away the Scriptures as a dead Letter in expectation of the Spirit 's Teachings whereas the Spirit teacheth by not without nor contrary to the Sacred Scripture The Word of Christ is full of Mystery its holy and sublime Doctrine is not easily understood nor can it be without the Spirit helps the Understanding In a right and saving manner it is given to Christ's Sheep to understand the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven and to others it is not given 2. Christ's Sheep
hear his Voice with Affection They like love and approve of his Word and Doctrine it is sweet to them Thy Word is very pure therefore thy Servant loveth it They know that there is no Falshood in it it is pure from all Mixture there is exact Purity and Holiness in it which makes unsanctified Persons to like it not but either disbelieve it or else despise and hate it But a godly Man loves it upon the account of its Purity in that it promotes nothing but Holiness both in Heart and Life The Word of the Lord is right and all his Works are done in Truth Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right and hate every false Way I do not reject such things that my carnal Reason cannot comprehend or such as are opposite to the Lusts and Corruptions of my Heart or worldly Interest but I approve of all things that come out of thy Mouth Some Men do not receive the Truth in the love of it and therefore are given up to believe a Lie or to strong Delusions 3. They hear Christ's Voice with Attention they hear it diligently He says Hearken diligently unto me and they with the greatest care do so Thus Mary heard Christ's Voice she gave such attention to his Word and Doctrine that she left all her secular Concerns to attend upon him though her Sister was offended with her And thus Lydia heard the Word of Christ Whose Heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul None can hear with attention but such whose Hearts the Lord doth open and none can open the Heart and cause the Soul to hear that is dead but Christ only 4. They hear Christ's Voice believingly Others hear it but do not believe it Who hath believed our Report and to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed Christ saith Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God But O how few stedfastly give credit to this Doctrine certainly if Sinners did believe this but with the same Humane Faith with which they believe many other Things and Reports it would make them tremble but Christ's Sheep or all gracious Persons give full credit to whatsoever he hath said and that not only with an Humane Faith but with a Divine Faith also or Faith of the Operation of God The Man believed the Word that Jesus had spoken unto him The great Doctrine of the Gospel is a Doctrine of Faith 't is to believe He that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the Vngodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness Mankind are generally for doing to be justified they will not be perswaded that all is done already for them and that they are only to believe and be justified but thus Christ's Sheep hear his Voice 5. Christ's Sheep hear his Voice tremblingly with great Fear holy Awe and Reverence Thus good King Josias heard the Word of God his Heart was tender and he trembled and saith the Lord To this Man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and that trembleth at my Word They know it is God's Word Christ's Word who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth Who is the only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords Where the Word of a King is there is Power Power goeth along with Christ's Voice to awe all their Hearts that are gracious My Heart standeth in awe of thy Word saith David 6. Christ's Sheep hear Christ's Word universally even all that he saith unto them Him shall ye hear in whatsoever he shall say unto you And those who do not thus hear this great Prophet shall be destroyed from among the People Some will hear Christ's Word which they like of but if any part of his Doctrine sutes not their carnal Hearts or Interest that they will not hear nor comply with but Believers are for hearing the hardest things that are contained in Christ's Word they approve of every thing as you heard before 7. They hear Christ's Voice with Retention they hear and keep his Word they lay it up in their Hearts as it is said of the Blessed Virgin They will not lose it and therefore with David hide Christ's Word in their Hearts 8. They hear his Voice always constantly unto the End they will attend unto his Word and Doctrine as long as they live let what will come they are not offended as the stony-ground Hearers are said to be 9. And lastly They hear Christ's Voice only his Voice and none else They will not hear the Voice of a Stranger that is they will not receive damnable Errors they know the Voice of Deceivers nor will they receive a Mixture in Doctrine nor in God's Worship they will not join Christ and Moses together Works and Faith together Christ's Righteousness and their own together Christ's Institutions and the Inventions and Traditions of Men together Quest May not Believers who are Christ's Sheep be beguiled so as to receive some capital Errors or an Error in some fundamental Point Answ 1. No doubt but they may be seduced I mean a particular Sheep or Saint may be grievously corrupted in his Judgment 2. But if a Believer be drawn away or seduced he shall if sincere if an Elect Person be restored again for it is impossible any of them should finally be deceived If it were possible they should deceive the very Elect but that cannot be Quest Why are false Teachers called Strangers Answ 1. Because a Stranger is one that we know not so a false Teacher is one that knows not Christ nor his true and saving Doctrine they are not acquainted with him are not brought into Union with Christ nor have Communion with him 2. They are Strangers to the Life and Power of true Religion and Godliness 3. The Saints also know them not they approve not of them nor of the Doctrine they preach they can discern between Truth and Error by the Anointing they have received 4. A Stranger is one that is not a constant dweller in one Place so false Prophets and false Teachers are not fixed long in one Opinion Her Ways saith Solomon are moveable speaking of the false Church or adulterous Woman many of these are one day for one thing for one Error and another day for another this shews they are false Teachers or Strangers to the Truth they know it not 5. They are called Strangers because they publish strange Doctrine Be not carried about with divers and strange Doctrines The Doctrine of Christ is one and the same being immutable can suffer no Change or Alteration but these bring in a new Doctrine not known in the Primitive Days not taught by Christ or his Apostles nor received in the purest Times of the Gospel before Corruptions crept into the Church They will not hear the Voice of Strangers or the Doctrine of false Teachers 1. Not
said that those who follow Christ and suffer for him shall be rewarded at the Resurrection of the Just as Luke 14. 14. And in another Place it is said in the World to come as Luke 18. 30. So much shall serve to shew you what is meant by the World to come but before I speak to that Taste of the Powers of the World to come which the Persons spoken of in our Text are said to have let me add a word or two as touching the Nature and Glory of the World to come though we have as yet but only some dark glimpse of it But to proceed 1. It shall be a World not under the Curse of Man's Sin as this World is The Earth is under the Curse Briars and Thorns are the Fruit of the Curse and all Creatures groan under the Curse the Sin of Mankind hath brought upon them But when the new World comes in there shall be no more Curse instead of the Thorn shall come up the Fig-tree and instead of the Briar shall come up the Myrtle-tree The Creature groans under the Curse But it shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God Envy shall depart from the Creatures they shall not tear and devour one another in the World to come as they do in this World see Isa 11. 6 7 8 9. It is in the World to come that all things shall be restored to that glorious State signified by the Restitution of all things Whom the Heavens must receive until the Times of the Restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the Mouth of all his Holy Prophets since the World began That which all the Prophets have spoken of and expected shall certainly come or be fulfilled 2. The World to come shall be a World without Sin a Holy World a Righteous World this present World is a wicked World an ungodly World but all the Inhabitants of that World to come shall be Holy they shall be all filled with Righteousness Hence it is Peter saith We according to his Promise look for a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 3. The Government of that new World shall be alone in the Hands of the Saints no wicked Man shall be in any Place of Power there no corrupt Judges nor Justices Righteousness shall then bear Rule The People also shall be all Righteous they shall inherit the Land for ever the Branch of my planting the Work of my Hands that I may be glorified The Kingdom and Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints of the most High Whether they shall have the Kingdom before Christ comes or not I cannot determine though I suppose part of this Prophecy will be fulfilled before then but besure then they shall have all Kingdoms under the whole Heavens and the Glory and Greatness of them for ever 4. The World to come shall be a World without Sorrow and that is because it shall be a World without Sin whilst Sin remains Sorrow will remain but then no more Pain nor Misery shall any of God's Children indure for ever And God shall wipe all Tears from all Faces and there shall be no more Death neither Sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more Pain for the former things are passed away The Inhabitant of that City shall not say I am sick 5. There shall be no Devil to perplex to tempt nor to disturb God's People Satan shall be bound though others think that shall be before this World begins in the greatest Glory of it 6. It shall be a World of great and wonderful Light which may be taken as I conceive both literally and mystically The Sun shall no more be thy Light by Day neither for Brightness shall the Moon give Light by Night but the Lord shall be unto thee an Everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory Compare it with Revelation 22. 4 5. And there shall be no Night there and they need no Candle neither Light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them Light and they shall reign for ever and ever God will never withdraw himself from his People nor hide his Face in that World as oft-times he doth in this 7. It shall be a joyful World nothing but Joy and Singing in that World those who will not sing now if Godly shall sing then Behold my Servants shall sing for Joy of Heart but ye shall howl for Vexation of Spirit The World to come will be a sad and woful World to the Ungodly for there is a World to come for them I mean Eternal Misery in Hell But Believers shall sing in the Heights of Sion and flow together in the Goodness of the Lord. In the Heights of Sion or in the Time of the greatest Glory of the Kingdom of the Messiah Moreover it is said They shall rejoice even with joy and singing 8. They that dwell in the World to come shall have good and blessed Company glorious Company Christ's Company and the Company of all his Saints They shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God Behold the Tabernacle of God is with Men and he will dwell with them He shall come then in the Clouds with Power and great Glory and we shall be taken up to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. To meet him in the Air he does not meet us we shall not be going up to Heaven as soon as raised no no but Christ will come down to us to dwell and reign with his Saints on Earth when that World begins Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the Earth He hath made us Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the Earth All the Godly are under this Promise therefore it must refer to the World to come and not be fulfilled till the Day of the Resurrection 9. It will be a World of great Riches Wealth and Glory the chief City in that World the Walls of it shall be Jaspar and the City was of pure Gold Though this City may be a Figure of the Church yet no doubt there is more intended it is that City Abraham Isaac and Jacob sought for that had Foundations every Saint in that World shall have a Kingdom and a Crown of Glory though it be all but one Kingdom yet it shall be as if every one only possessed it himself Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the Righteous Judg will give to me in that Day and not only to me but to all them also that love his appearance Some Saints have hardly enough Bread to eat in this World that shall have a Crown a Kingdom in the World to come Hearken my beloved Brethren Hath not God chosen the Poor of this World rich in
and an important Concernment Alas what is a Counsel held by all the wisest Men and greatest Potentates on Earth of the highest Concernment here to that Council held by the Glorious Trinity in Eternity about bringing in of this Salvation O of what Moment is the Salvation of our Souls None but the Great God could effect it it was the Result of Infinite Wisdom and Counsel God seemed Brethren to call a Council about the first Creation of Man Let us make Man after our own Image c. But how much more of the Glory of God's Wisdom according to his Eternal Purpose shines forth as the Result of that Counsel held about the Restauration of Fallen Man than what shone forth in the first Creation of him And the Counsel of Peace was between them both that is between the Father and the Son Fourthly The Salvation of the Gospel is great and glorious in respect of God's Design therein Which more generally and comprehensibly I may open in three respects 1 st His own Glory in all his Attributes 2 dly The confounding and baffling of Satan and the utter Destruction of his Kingdom and Hellish Design 3 dly The Eternal Salvation of Man I mean all that believe in Jesus Christ or are given to him by the Father 1 st God before all things hereby designed his own Glory or to make all the Perfections of his Holy Nature manifest to the Creature which he had made and to open a Way by which each of his Attributes might gloriously appear and to vanquish that Cloud that seem'd to eclipse their shining 1. For God's Mercy could not be extended in another Way to the Help and Relief of Mankind under Wrath and Misery because Justice was injured and called for the Sentence to be executed on us for our Sins 2. And his Justice could not be executed but his Mercy and Goodness would have been brought under Obscurity and been vailed for ever And had Mankind for ever been brought under the just Desert of Sin God had it is true glorified his Justice but Mercy is as well a Property of his Blessed Nature as Justice and had that been done how had any of his Creatures known any thing of his Mercy and Goodness certainly Mercy had never been manifested at all no more than is seen in the casting off the Fallen Angels God to them appeared only Just not Gracious but in Christ to Mankind he appears not only Just but also Good and Gracious Yet the Salvation of our Souls could not consist with the Holiness and Justice of God in a way of Mercy without a Satisfaction be made to Divine Justice Therefore Infinite Wisdom in substituting Jesus Christ to die in our Nature and Stead makes God's Justice a full Compensation for the Wrong and Injury we had done by our Sins and Transgressions and from hence it appears that Infinite Wisdom Justice Holiness Power Mercy and Goodness c. are discovered and magnified equally in God's bringing in this Great Salvation of the Gospel and this was I say the grand Design of God herein by which he removes and solves all those seeming Contradictions and great Difficulties that appeared in the way of our Eternal Recovery and magnifies the entire Glory of God that seemed to be lost by our Sin or was before hid under Obscurity it is hereby fully repaired and to the Joy of Saints and Angels is made known and magnified in Christ And from hence it is that the Gospel is called the Wisdom of God and Christ is also called the Wisdom of God and the Power of God because in him all the Strength of God I mean the Power and Glory of all his Attributes are joined or united together and shine in equal Glory in our Salvation But more of this hereafter 2 dly Hereby also Satan is overthrown and his grand Design marr'd and frustrated for ever and his Kingdom spoiled our Lord Jesus having spoiled Principalities and Powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it and this was done by the Death of his Cross and by his Resurrection To this purpose was the Son of God manifest that he might destroy the Works of the Devil 3 dly Moreover hereby God designed to make Man even all that believe in Christ and embrace this Salvation happy again and blessed for ever nay as I shall shew you before I have done with this Text God assisting me even to raise him up into a higher and better State than that was in which he was at first created Fifthly The Salvation of the Gospel is Great and Glorious if we consider how low Man was fallen and sunk by his Transgression and what kind of Wrath he was laid under As also if we consider how helpless he was having no Friend nor Brother that could give to God a Ransom for him no nor could the Angels of Heaven do it whose Power is very great No no none but Christ alone with his Almighty Arm could save us from the threatned Wrath and Vengeance of an angry God Besides this Salvation must needs be great and glorious if we consider the seasonableness of it it was a timely Salvation it was brought in just as the Hand of Justice was up and ready to strike the fatal Stroke Justice stood as it were with his Ax in his Hand to cut off all our Heads and Christ to save us stept in and laid down as I may say his own Neck and took the Blow Or we may conceive that Justice stood with his Spear in his Hand ready as it were to run it into our Bowels and Jesus Christ run in between Divine Wrath and our poor Souls and cried out Let thy Spear O Justice be thrust into my Heart I will die for these condemned and guilty Wretches See what Paul says When we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the Vngodly So Vers 8. While we were yet Sinners Christ died for us Though I deny not but that this Text may refer to the Fulness of Time prefixed by the Almighty for Christ to come and take our Nature upon him and to die in our room and that was the due Time or Time God had appointed Yet Christ was as a Lamb slain from the beginning of the World nay before the Foundation thereof And we may say that as soon as our first Parents sinned even then and at that very Season Jesus Christ step'd in and yielded up himself to God as a Sacrifice for us and had he not then been accepted we had been lost for ever O how refreshing how sweet and how welcome is it to a poor condemned Criminal when he is brought to the Place of Execution to see the Sheriff pull out an Arrest of Execution a Reprieve nay an absolute Pardon and tell him You have met with a Friend the King has accepted of one that he ordained and substituted to be your Surety and to die for you and