may know that we are effectually called unto holiness when we adhere to the wayes of God in difficult and troublesom times when no persecutions no troubles will make us forsake the wayes of God and turn aside to crooked paths Psal 44.17 18. All this is come upon us that is all the forementioned troubles yet we have not forgotten thee nor dealt falsely in thy Covenant Our heart is not turned back neither have our steps declined from thy way Psal 119.109 110. My soul is continually in my hands yet do I not forget thy Law The wicked have laid a snare for me yet I erred not from thy Precepts 4. When God calls a man to Holiness he enclines his heart to be holy not only in some but in all things Holy in Body and in Spirit Holy in his Discourse and Holy in all manner of Conversation They that are Effectually called unto Holiness are like the Unmarried VVoman spoken of by the Apostle 1 Cor. 7.34 The Vnmarried Woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be Holy both in Body and in Spirit This is the care of Gods called ones they care for the things of the Lord that they may be Holy in Body and in Spirit They are also careful to be Holy in their Discourse remembring that Exhortation of the Apostle Eph. 4.29 Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your Mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister Grace unto the Hearers They are also carefull to be Holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1.15 But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation V. VVhen God calls a sinner Effectually he calls him to lay hold of Eternal Life he calls him unto the participation of his Heavenly and Glorious Kingdom 1 Pet. 5.10 The God of all Grace who hath called us into his Eternal Glory by Iesus Christ. 1 Thes 2.12 That ye walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory 2 Thes 2.14 Whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 6.12 Lay hold on Eternal Life whereunto thou art called As it was with the carnal Jews they despised the Land of Canaan though it was a most pleasant and delightfull Land and would rather have enjoyed the Flesh-pots of Egypt than to go through difficulties to possess the Land of Canaan Psal 106.24 Yea they despised the pleasant Land So it is with carnal Christians before God calls them Effectually they despise they neglect Eternal Life they prefer this transitory vain VVorld before the Kingdom of Heaven As prophane Esau despised his Birth-right and sold it for a Morsel of Meat so do prophane men despise the means of Grace and Salvation and part with the Kingdom of Heaven for as inconsiderable things as a Morsel of Meat But when God calls a man effectually then Heaven and Heavenly things are the chief things he seeks after Now we may know whether God hath called us to lay hold on eternal life these ways 1. VVhen God calls a man to obtain eternal life and Salvation he gives hm the knowledge and belief of the truth reality and transcendant excellency of the Kingdom of Heaven that it infinitely surpasseth all the good things of this vain and transitory world 2 Cor. 5.1 We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens And as the truth of the Heavenly Kingdom is believed so it is esteemed and preferred above all things in this World Heb. 11.16 But now they desire a better country that is an Heavenly This World is a miserable world but Heaven is looked upon as a most blessed and glorious place by those that are Effectually called Tit. 2.13 Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour In Heaven they expect such things as eye never saw the ear never heard and better and greater things than the heart of man can concieve 1 Cor. 2.9 2. When God calls a sinner to obtain Salvation by Jesus Christ he stirs up in his heart an earnest desire after Salvation and causeth him to make it his great care and main business to get to Heaven The great enquiry of such an one is what he should do to be saved and how he may get eternal life Act. 16.30 Sirs what must I do to be saved Matth. 19.16 And behold one came unto him and said good master what good thing shall I do that I may have Eternal Life And they enquire diligently after the way to life so they make it their main and chief care to get to heaven according to that command of Christ Mat. 6.33 But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness And that of the Apostle Phil. 2.12 Work out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling 3. When God calls a man to obtain Salvation he discovers to him the way to Life and Salvation and bows his heart to walk in the path of life Psal 16.11 Thou wilt shew me the path of Life He sheweth them that Eternal Life and Salvation is to be had in Christ and no where else but in Christ 1 Joh. 5.11 And this is the record that God hath given to us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son Act. 4.12 Neither is there Salvation in any other for there is no other name given under Heaven whereby men may be saved And he sheweth them that they that would have Salvation by Christ must believe in him and obey him and persevere in the Faith of Christ and in their obedience of the Gospel to the end of their lives Act. 16.31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Heb. 5.9 And being made perfect he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Rev. 2.10 Be thou faithfull unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life 4. When God calls a man to obtain Salvation by Jesus Christ he leaveth such impressions of the glory and excellency of the Kingdom of Heaven that he presseth more earnestly after the Kingdom of Heaven than he doth after any thing in this world Phil. 3.13.14 This one thing I do forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things that are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus It was the main thing the Apostle aimed at strove and contended for pressed after the obtaining the Crown of Glory and being found in that way that leadeth to life No oppositions from the world can beat off one effectually called from seeking eternal life but he uses an holy violence and doth as it were take it by force Matth. 11.12 From the dayes of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the
that are born of God The work of renovation is not finished in one day but is carryed on day by day 2 Cor. 4.16 The inward man is renewed day by day The mind is not fully enlightned nor the heart sully sanctified at once but this work is carryed on by degrees and it is a mistake to think we have no renewing grace because the work of renovation is not compleated but is carried on day by day 3. Old things are past away and all things are become new initially in those that are new creatures God hath begun to renew the whole Soul and to mortifie all the lusts and members of the old man Grace though it be but in part diffuseth it self into every part of a man it is like leaven that leaveneth the whole lump the Mind Will Affections Soul and Body all are Sanctified though but imperfectly And as all things are begun to be made new so they shall as certainly be perfected as if they were already done Such things as shall certainly be brought to pass are oft in Scripture spoke off as already done Isa 9.6 Vnto us a child is born unto us a Son is given This was spoken many hundred years before the Birth of Christ because it was certain that he should be born it is spoken as already done Joh. 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hath Everlasting Life Eternal Life is enjoyed in Heaven yet because it is sure to such as believe in Christ it is not said he shall have but he hath Everlasting Life 4. There is a relative and a real change in such as are new creatures By a relative change I understand a change of their state and relation to God As for instance when a man of an enemy becomes a friend of God When a man of a child of wrath becomes a child of God Whereas a man was under the curse he comes under the blessing whereas a man was in a state of Condemnation he is translated into a state of Salvation In respect of this Relative change all old things are passed away and all things are become new in him that is a new creature For he that is in Christ is no more under the curse and wrath of God and in a state of Condemnation but is passed from Death to Life A real change is the change that is made of the Heart and Life of him that is a new Creature This change is carryed on gradually 5. There are different degrees of grace in those that are new creatures some are Babes in Christ some little Children some young Men some Fathers Such as are but babes in Christ are new Creatures as well as those that are Fathers but have more weaknesses and imperfections than young Men or Fathers Such as are but babes in Christ have such great imperfections and are so weak in grace that they are more like to Carnal than Spiritual persons 1 Cor. 3.1 And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto Spiritual but as unto Carnal even as unto babes in Christ Yet even in such as are but babes in Christ there may be discerned some workings and stirrings of the grace of God as for instance 1. There are desires after the word of God in order to growth thereby 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born babes desire the sincere Milk of the word that ye may grow thereby As the babe can't live without the breast so neither can the new creature live without the Milk of the Word It is not any Preaching will satisfie a new Creature but it must be the Milk of the Word the sincere Milk of the Word such as will further growth It must be intelligible sound profitable preaching that will quiet such a Soul 2. They that are but babes in Christ shew forth this grace they cry after Christ and can't be satisfied without Christ as the babe cryeth after the Mother and can't be satisfied without her They can say as David Psal 143.6 My Soul thirsteth after thee as a thirsty land Psal 84.2 My heart and my flesh cryeth out for the Living God Obj. 2. It is said 1 Joh. 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin Now I can't live without the Commission of sin and therefore I fear I am not born of God I fear I am not a new Creature A. 1. The meaning of this Scripture is not that they that are born of God are wholly free from all sin for then no man upon the face of the earth should be born of God Eccl. 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all 1 Joh. 1.8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us 2. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin like as other men who are void of the grace of God There is a great deal of difference between the sins of Regenerate and Unregenerate men As 1. Regenerate men do not allow themselves in sin Rom. 7.15 That which I do I allow not Their will is averse to sin although by the power of indwelling corruption they are drawn to sin ver 19. The evil which I would not that I do But the will of an Unregenerate man is enclined and resolved to adhere to sin Joh. 8.44 The lusts of your Father ye will do Jer. 2.25 We have loved strangers and after them we will go 2. The sins of the Regenerate are sins of infirmity Psal 77.10 I said this is mine infirmity They fall through weakness and are overtaken with a temptation Gal. 6.1 If any man be overtaken with a fault Psal 18.21 I have not wickedly departed from my God But wicked men go on presumptuously in their sins and sin with an high hand Jer. 8.6 Every one turned to his course as the horse rusheth into the battel 3. Though Regenerate persons may fall into sin yet they do not love any sin but do hate and abhorr sin Psal 119.104 I hate every false way Rom. 7.15 What I hate that I do But Unregenerate men love and delight in sin Isa 66.3 Their Soul delighteth in their abominations Jer. 2.25 We have loved strangers That is strange Gods 4. Though a Regenerate man may fall into sin he doth not lye in his sins but riseth up again and reneweth his Repentance Prov. 24.16 A just man falleth seven times and riseth up again But Unregenerate men lye and continue in their sins 1 Joh. 5.19 The whole world lyeth in wickedness They are like the Sow that walloweth in the mire 5. The Regenerate make it their dayly care and endeavour to depart from sin Psal 16.17 The high way of the upright is to depart from evil That is it is his dayly and constant practice Act. 24.16 But Unregenerate men give over themselves to do evil and set themselves in a way that is not good Psal 36.4 He setteth himself in a way that is
as were teachers of that Church and amongst these were some that had not their knowledge that they were poor miserable wretched and naked but thought themselves in a good estate to be rich increased in goods and to want nothing We see the deceit of a mans heart how he may be blinded how he may delude and flatter himself in thinking he needeth nothing when he wanteth all things If any say How may we get a sight and sence of our sinfull and miserable estate out of Christ A. 1. Hear and apply to your selves what the Scripture saith concerning the sinfulness of a mans heart and life as long as he remaineth in a Christless condition Jer. 17.9 The heart is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked who can know it The heart is not only wicked but desperately wicked so desperately wicked that it is above our understandings to know or conceive all that wickedness that is in our hearts The heart is as full of evil as it can hold yea of the worst sorts of sins that if God should let a man alone he would carry himself like a mad man regarding neither the Laws of God nor men Eccl. 9 3. The heart of the Sons of men is full of evil yea madness is in their hearts while they live and after that they go to the dead What worse sin then enmity against God and his holy Laws and Commandments yet this enmity against God is in the hearts of all men till God circumciseth our hearts to love and obey him Rom. 8.7 The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be The heart is so vile and sinfull that it is continually sinning against God either by evil desires or evil thoughts and imaginations Gen. 6.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil and that continually It is enough to amaze a man when he heareth what God who knoweth the sinfulness of our hearts better than we our selves saith of the sinfulness of our hearts we may wonder that he lets us live upon the earth and doth not send us down to the Devils in Hell Oh what need have we of Christ to mediate for us and take away our sins Besides the sinfulness of our hearts let us hear what the Scripture saith of the sinfulness of our lives and conversations While a man remains in a Christless condition every thing that a man doth is defiled with sin Hag. 2.13 14. If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these shall it be unclean and the Priest answered and said it shall be unclean Then answered Haggai and said so is this people and so is this nation before me saith the Lord and so is every work of their hands and that which they offer there is unclean An unclean sinner defileth every thing he hath to do with every work of his hands is unclean and that which he offers to God is unclean Gal. 3.22 The Scripture hath concluded all under sin The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not only all men but all things of all men all their thoughts words and actions all are concluded under sin that is God in the holy Scriptures declareth all men and all things of all men before they come to Christ to be sinful Tit. 1.15 Vnto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their Mind and Conscience is defiled If one sin cast Adam out of Paradise if one sin cast the Angels out of Heaven and of Angels made them Divels what a woful condition are they in that have done nothing else since they were born and can do nothing else but sin against God When we consider our sinful and polluted estate we may set down and bemoan our selves and say as Job Behold I am vile Job 40.4 And to loath and abhor our selves in our own sight and in the sight of the Lord. 2. Hear and apply to thy self what the Scripture saith concerning the misery of all those that are in a Christless condition As 1. They are under the wrath and curse of God Eph. 2.3 And were by nature the children of wrath even as others All men by nature one as well as another are the children of wrath And as long as they abide in a natural unbelieving Christless condition they abide under the wrath of God Joh. 3.36 He that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the wrath of God abideth on him Now this is a most dreadful condition to be under the wrath of God The wrath of an earthly King is as a messenger of death Prov. 16.14 And a messenger of death will set a man weeping sorely Isa 38.1 2. Hezekiah wept sore when Isaiah came with a message of death to him It is like the roaring of a Lion Prov. 19.12 And when the Lion roars all the beasts of the Forrests tremble Amos 3.8 The Lion hath roared who will not fear If the wrath of an earthly King be so dreadfull how dreadfull is the wrath of the great God who is King of Kings Gods anger is unconceivable we cannot understand the power and dreadfull effects of his wrath Psal 90.11 And it is intolerable Nah. 1.6 Who can stand before his indignation 2. They are under a sentence of eternal condemnation Rom. 5.18 By the offence of one man judgment came upon all men to condemnation And this sentence of condemnation abideth upon a man as long as he abideth in unbelief Joh. 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already Now eternal condemnation is far more dreadfull than any troubles that any man ever met with in this world Job 10.1 2. When Job was in great bitterness of Spirit and was weary of his Life he dreaded condemnation more than all his sorrows I am weary of my Life I will speak in the bitterness of my Soul I will say unto God do not condemn me The thoughts and apprehensions of eternal misery make the hardest hearted sinners in the world to fear and tremble Of all sinners such as live under and resist the means of grace are the hardest hearted sinners and such as make a profession of Religion and are but Hypocrites have very hard hearts and seared Consciences yet the sinners in Zion and the hypocrites tremble at the thoughts of everlasting burnings Isa 33.14 The sinners in Zion are afraid fearfullness hath surprized the hypocrites who among us shall dwell with devouring fire who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burnings 2. Understand and believe that there is Salvation from your sin and misery to be had in Jesus Christ and by no other way or means whatever but by Christ There is Salvation to be had in Christ for sinfull lost undone creatures yea even for the chiefest and most miserable sinners in the whole world 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy
to receive him Let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life 3. This general offer of Christ and Salvation by Christ is made upon terms of free grace Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely And Christ with his saving benefits being offered to every one that is willing to receive him he is offered to you as well as to any other person in the world This free and general offer of Christ being a point of very great concernment I shall farther open and prove that there is a free and general offer of Christ with all his saving benefits to every one that finds a want of him and is willing to receive him And that will appear these ways 1 By the command of God for preaching the Gospel to every creature Mar. 16.15 16. Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature He that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved That is tell every creature that God sent his Son into the world to save sinners and make an offer of Christ and Salvation by Christ to every creature and tell them that every one that believeth in him and will be obedient to him shall be saved by him He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Baptism layeth an Obligation upon us to repent of our sins Act. 2.38 Mar. 1.4 and to obey Christ and walk in newness of life Rom. 6.4 And as Christ commanded his Gospel to be preached to every creature so his Apostles where ever they came preached the Gospel to every creature young and old rich and poor male and female they made an offer of Christ with his saving benefits to every creature Col. 1.23 The hope of the Gospel which ye have heard and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven 2. There is a free and general offer of Christ with all his saving benefits in those gracious invitations that are given to all persons in all places and all ages of the world to come unto Christ for Eternal Life and all things requisite to their Salvation Isa 45.23 Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth Be ye saved that is ye shall be saved I will give Salvation if you look to me And the persons that are invited to look unto Christ for Salvation are all the ends of the earth that is all persons in all places of the world from one end of the earth to the other Mat. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Here is a general invitation of all that are in a distressed and burdened condition and labouring after Life and Salvation to come to him and he will give them rest Isa 55.1 Ho! every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no mony come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without mony and without price Here is a free offer of Christ and his benefits to every one that thirsteth after him though they have nothing of any worth in them they may take Christ and all his benefits freely and look on him upon their closing with him as much and as surely their own as they do look on those things to be their own which they have bought with their mony 3. It appeareth from the Types of Christ under the Old Testament I will name three the Manna the Rock that gave forth water the Brazen Serpent The Manna that fell in the Wilderness was free for all the Israelites to gather it and eat it that found a want of food and had a desire to it Exod. 16.16 This is that which the Lord hath commanded Gather of it every man according to his eating We see here it was free for every man to gather this Manna that fell in the Wilderness This Manna was a Type of Christ Joh. 6.33 48. and it is as free for every man that findeth his want of Christ and desireth Salvation by Christ to take Christ with all his saving benefits as it was for any Israelite to gather the Manna that fell in the Wilderness Joh. 6.50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven that a man may eat thereof and not dye There is a liberty given to any man to take Christ the bread of Life A man may eat thereof and not dye The Rock that gave water to the Israelites in the Wilderness was a Type of Christ and it was free for any man that was athirst to drink of the water that issued out of that Rock 1 Cor. 10.4 And did all drink the same Spiritual drink for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ So it is as free for any man that thirsteth after Christ and Salvation to take Christ with his saving benefits freely as it was for any Israelite to drink of the water of that Rock Joh. 7.37 If any man thirst let him come to me and drink Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will let him take the water of Life freely The brazen Serpent was a Type of Christ And it was free for any man that was bitten by a fiery Serpent to look to the brazen Serpent and every man that looked up to the brazen Serpent lived Num. 21.8 9. And the Lord said unto Moses make thee a fiery Serpent and set it upon a pole and it shall come to pass that every one that is bitten when he looketh upon it he shall live And Moses made a Serpent of brass and put it upon a pole and it came to pass that if a Serpent had bitten any man when he beheld the Serpent of brass he lived So it is free for any man that seeth himself in a perishing condition to look up to Christ who was Typified by this Brazen Serpent for Salvation and whosoever doth look to Christ and believe in him shall be saved by him Joh. 3.14 15. And as Moses lifted up the Brazen Serpent in the Wilderderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Eternal Life 4. There is a free and general offer of Christ with all his saving benefits in the general promises of bestowing Christ and all his saving benefits on all persons whatsoever that do or shall believe in him Remission of sins and Eternal Life under which are comprehended all the saving benefits of Christ are promised to all whosoever they be that do or shall believe on him Act. 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but should have Everlasting Life 4. If you would obtain a saving interest in Christ get the knowledge of the terms on which God is willing to bestow Christ and his saving benefits upon you and on which Christ is
by Christ and yet to say we are justified and saved by the free grace of God and are not at all inconsistent each with other For the Scripture asserts that we are justified by the free grace of God Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his grace through the Redemption which is in Christ Jesus Yet the Scripture requireth Faith in Christ and Repentance in order to our obtaining Remission of our sins Act. 10.43 and 3.19 The Scripture asserts we are saved by grace Eph. 2.8 By grace ye are saved And yet it tells us also if we would obtain Salvation we must believe in Christ Act. 16.31 And repent of our sins and that unless we do repent we shall surely perish Luk. 13.3 5. 2. There are no terms required by way of merit for it is not possible that any man should merit eternal life If we were able to do all that is required of us we must confess our selves unprofitable Servants Luk. 17.10 When ye have done all those things which were commanded you say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do How much more must we confess our selves unprofitable servants when we come exceeding short in doing our duty The greatest Saints are so far from meriting Heaven that they are not worthy of the least of all Gods mercies Who was a greater or more eminent Saint then Jacob of whom it is said as a Prince hast thau power with God and with men and hast prevailed Gen. 32.28 Yet he confesseth himself to be unworthy of the very least of all Gods mercies I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and all the truth that thou hast shewed unto thy Servant 3. It is no derogation to the free grace of God to say that God offers Christ and Salvation by Christ upon such terms as these if we will accept him for our Lord and Saviour if we will believe in him if we will forsake our sins take up our Cross and follow him For 1. God requires nothing of us in order to our being partakers of Christ and his saving benefits but what he himself will work in us and bestow on us if we seek to him He requires of all that will be saved by Christ that they believe in him but this Faith is not of our selves but is given to us by God Eph. 2.8 By grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God He requireth Repentance of all those that will be saved by Christ Luk. 13.3 But this Repentance he himself will out of his free grace give unto us if we seek to him for it Act. 5.31 and 11.18 He requireth of all that will be saved that they obey Christ Mat. 11.29 Heb. 5.9 But of his free grace he hath promised that if we will seek to him he will put his Spirit within us and cause us to walk in his ways Ezek. 36.27 37. He requireth that we take up the Cross but out of his free grace he gives us to be willing and able to suffer for Christ Phil. 1.29 He requireth of us that we endure to the end and persevere in Faith and Obedience if we would be saved Mat. 24.13 But he promiseth out of his free grace to give us perseverance by putting his fear into our hearts that we shall not depart from him Jer. 32.46 He requireth nothing of us but what he himself will work in us and for us if we seek to him Isa 26.12 Lord thou wilt ordain peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our works in us 2. These things that God requireth of us as terms on which he will give us Christ and his saving benefits are not required as was hinted before by way of merit to make us worthy of Christ but as ways and means by which the Lord conveys the saving benefits of Christ to our Souls and makes us capable of being partakers of Christ As a man that offers one an handfull of Gold to one whose hands are full of Dust on condition he will let go the Dirt that is in his hands without he let it go he can't receive the Gold Or as a man that offers a Beggar a new garment on condition he will put off his old ragged garment and put on his new one 3. Those things which I call terms of Salvation as Faith Repentance Suffering for Christ Perseverance are all of them benefits and blessings purchased by Christ as we may see if we consult these Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.1 We obtain Faith through Righteousness of God our Saviour Repentance is a gift we have by Christ Act. 5.31 And suffering grace is purchased by Christ Phil. 1.29 And perseverance Heb. 10.14 And are all given to the Elect for Christs sake with the same free and rich grace as Christ was given for us Rom. 8.32 4. The Salvation of a sinner is infinite Mercy and infinite Grace on whatever terms he is saved For the torments of Hell from which he is saved are unspeakable and eternal torments and the glory of Heaven which they shall have that are saved is unconceivable glory and that God against whom we have sinned is an infinite God and therefore it is infinite mercy and grace in him to pardon and save a sinner on whatever terms he be saved 5. Accept of Christ for your Lord and Saviour and you shall assuredly have a saving interest in him By accepting Christ I mean these two things 1. The consent of our wills to have Christ and Salvation by Christ on the terms on which God offers him to us in the Gospel 2. A relyance on Christ and trusting in Christ for all his saving benefits By our consenting to have Christ as God offers him to us and our trusting in him he becomes ours and we become his Christ is the gift of God Joh. 4.10 And what makes a gift ours but an offer on his part that hath power to dispose of the gift and acceptance on his part to whom the gift is offered on the conditions on which it is tendered to him All that receive or accept Christ on the terms on which God offers him have upon their receiving Christ this priviledge conferred upon them to be the children of God Joh. 1.12 As many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name As the Shechemites by consenting to the terms of Union and Commerce should have become one people with the house of Jacob and greatly enriched themselves if the sons of Jacob had dealt truly with them Gen. 34.22 23. Onely herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us to be one people if every male among us be circumoised as they are circumcised Shall not their cattel and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours Onely let us consent to them and they will dwell with us So upon our consenting to have Christ as God offers
when enlightned by the word and Spirit of God are able to discern and to give a judgment of our estate towards God and of the most inward workings both of Sin and Grace Pro. 20.27 The Spirit of a man is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the Belly By the inward parts of the Belly we may undestand all the secrets of the heart the inclinations dispositions and motions of the heart both to good and evil These are all searched out and discovered by the Spirit of a man which is as the Candle of the Lord but to effect this searching of our inward parts this Candle of the Lord must be lighted by the Word and the Spirit of the Lord for till that be done it gives such a dim and uncertain light that we can discern but little of our own state Therefore besides Communing with our own hearts and making use of our own Spirits we must make use of the Word of God that we may discern the state of our own Souls towards God Prov. 6.23 The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is light Psal 119.130 The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple ver 105. Thy word is a Lamp to my feet and a light to my path There are plain and clear Characters laid down in the Scriptures of such as are Christs the knowledge of these which I shall mention in the next Section are requisite for us to examine our selves by And besides making use of our own Spirits and having recourse to the light of Gods word it is needful that we should implore the illumination and assistance of the Holy Spirit because it is his enlightning our minds that gives us light Psal 36.9 In thy light shall we see light Job 32.8 But there is a Spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding The eyes of our underderstandings are shut till the Spirit of God doth open them Eph. 1.17 18. And as we need the Spirit to enlighten our understandings so also to witness to and with our Spirits or being the Children of God Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God Evidences of a saving interest in Christ. Seeing the knowledge of our interest in Christ tendeth so much to our Consolation both against all the troubles of this Life and the terrors of Death and seeing this knowledge is obtained by examining our selves by those Characters that the Scriptures give of those that are Christs I shall lay down several Characters out of the Scriptures of such as have a saving interest in Christ those that I shall mention and explain are these 1. Effectual calling 2. Recieving Christ as he is offered in the Gospel 3. They that are Christs have the Spirit of Christ given to them 4. They that are Christs are new Creatures 5. They that are Christs have Crucified the Flesh with the lusts and affections 6. They that are Christs do love Christ and prefer Christ above all things and persons in the World 7. They that are Christs live to Christ and dye to him 1. They that are effectually called are Christs and Christ with all his benefits are theirs 1 Cor. 1.26 compared with 1 Cor. 3.23 Ye see your calling Brethren ye are Christs Whom doth the Apostle mean when he saith ye are Christs he meaneth such as are effectually called And speaking of those that were called he tells them that God had united them to Christ and made them partakers of the benefits of Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1.26 30. Ye see your calling Brethren Of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Eternal Life and all other saving benefits of Christ are promised to them that are effectually called Heb. 9.15 And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of Death for the Redemption of the Transgressions that were under the first Covenant they which were called might recieve the promise of the eternal inheritance But Eternal Life and the saving benefits of Christ are given only to such as have an interest in Christ 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath not the Son of God hath not Life Now we may know that we are effectually called these ways 1. When the Lord calls a sinner effectually he calls him out of darkness into light whereas the mind and understanding was before full of ignorance and blindness the Lord enlightens the mind with saving knowledge when he calls a sinner effectually it is 1 Pet. 2.9 That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light Now in this work of illumination we may consider these 3 or 4 things 1. God calls a man to see his sinful miserable undone estate by nature Jer. 2.19 Know and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and that my fear is not in thee saith the Lord God of Hosts And his inability to help or recover himself out of his sinful and miserable estate Joh 15.5 Without me ye can do nothing 2. God calls a man to see and to know that remission of sins and Salvation is to be had in Christ and no where else but in and from Christ Jesus Act. 13.38 Through this man is preached unto you remission of sins Luke 19.10 The Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost There is Salvation for lost man to be had in Christ and in none but him Act. 4.12 Neither is their Salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved As the Lord gives us to understand that we have destroyed and undone our selves so also he causeth us to know that there is help for such as are in a perishing condition and also where this help is to be found namely in himself through Christ Hos 13.9 O If del thou hast destroved thy self but in me is thy help Thus is a material branch of saving illumination the giving as the knowledge of God and Christ 1 Cor. 4.6 Joh. 17.3 3 The Lord enlightens his People to see and to know which way they should obtain Salvation from Christ out of their sinful and miserable condition namely by Faith and Repentance For after a man is enlightned to see his lost estate then he is at a loss to know what he should do to be saved and the Lord shews him that Salvation is obtained by Christ through Faith and Repentance Act. 16.30 31. Sirs what must I do to be saved And they said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Ezek. 18.30 Repent and turn your selves from all your Transgressions and so iniquity shall not be your rutine 4. Where there is saving illumination the instruction the Lord gives is like that spoken of by the Prophet
Souls of thy people in the hottest times of persecution And what the Spouse enquired after Christ discovered to her namely that her rest is in himself Mat. 11.28 Come to me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest And having found rest and refreshment in Christ in the hottest day she tells others where she had her delights and comforts in the heat of the day and that was in Christ Cant. 2.3 I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my tast Upon these words I sat down under his shadow with great delight Piscator hath this interpretation Cum sentio vel arixietatem vel persecutionem ad Christum confugio ut is me per Spiritum sanctum verbum Dei consoletur When I feel any distress or persecution I flee to Christ that he would comfort me by his Word and Spirit The fruit which the Spouse saith was sweet are the benefits we have by Christ as remission of sins Eternal Life c. In the foregoing words Christ is likened to an Apple-tree and the benefits that we have by Christ are the Fruit of this Tree which yields much comfort and refreshing to the people of God And to this agreeth Piscator's note upon the place Consolationes Christi sunt dulces animis fidelium The comforts of Christ are sweet to the Souls of Believers There is comfort in Christ and from Christ under the hottest persecutions of the Church if any say how may we be enabled by the help of Christ to bear up chearfully in times of greatest persecution when we are called to resist unto blood and to undergo fiery tryals A. 1. Get a right understanding of persecutions for Christs and the Gospels sake look upon them not with an eye of Sense but an eye of Faith judge of them as they are represented in the Scripture and not as flesh and blood represents them to you For this will lay a Foundation for chearfullness under the forest persecutions if we have a right account of them To this end consider what account the Scripture gives of persecutions for Christs sake or which is all one for the Gospels sake or for Righteousness sake 1. Persecutions for Righteousness sake are Blessings real Blessings great Blessings for they confirm our title to a Kingdom a more glorious Kingdom than any is to be enjoyed in this World Mat. 5.10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven If a man consult with flesh and blood that will tell him it is a miserable thing to be under persecution to have our estates liberties and lives taken from us but if we consult the Scriptures they will tell us that 't is a blessed thing to be persecuted and that there are no men on earth more blessed than they that are persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven and none are so happy as they that shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven 2. Persecutions for Righteousness sake are matter of joy rather than sorrow 1 Pet. 4.13 But rejoyce in as much as ye are pertakers of the sufferings of Christ Yea they are a ground of exceeding great joy for they encrease our grace here and our glory hereafter They are a ground of great joy as they encrease our grace here Jam. 1.2 3. My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations knowing this that the trying of your Faith worketh patience The Apostle writes to the twelve Tribes that were scattered abroad where being removed out of their own country was some degree of persecution and when abroad among Heathens and Idolaters they were continually liable to persecutions for Righteousness sake yet he bids them count it all joy when they fell into divers temptations because hereby their Faith should be tryed and Patience encreased Persecutions for Righteousness sake are a ground of exceeding great joy because they will encrease our glory in Heaven for ever Mat. 5.11 12. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Observe here our Lord Jesus doth not say to his Servants when under persecution be not cast down but rejoyce and be glad and not only so but be exceeding glad and why because persecutions encrease our reward in the other World Great is your reward in Heaven Yea he would have us so exceeding joyfull as to leap for joy Luk. 6.23 Rejoyce ye in that day and leap for joy for behold your reward is great in Heaven That day wherein Christ would have us leap for joy is the day of persecution spoken of in the foregoing verse 3. Persecutions for Christ are honours and favours and ought to be esteemed as such as by all true Christians Act. 5.41 And they departed from the presence of the counsel rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name The Apostles counted it an honour to be beaten and reproached for Christ Phil. 1.29 Vnto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his name sake We see here that it is a gift a favour for a man to be called to suffer for Christ 4. Persecutions for Christ are not strange and unusual things but are the common lot of Christians and are to be counted upon by all that will live Godly in Christ from the first day we give our selves to Christ till we lay down these Earthly Tabernacles 2 Tim. 2.12 Yea and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Sufferings for Christ are to be expected from the first day that we give our selves to Christ Mark 8.34 Whosoever will come after me let him take up his cross And to the last day of our continuance in this World for we are liable to sufferings as long as we continue in the body Heb. 13.2 Remember them that suffer adversity as being your selves also in the body Yea we must not think it a strange thing if we should meet with fiery tryals and be burnt for our Religion as well as others have been before us 1 Pet. 4 12. Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery tryal which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you That passage Heb. 12.4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood Intimateth that all Christians should count upon it that though they had not hitherto yet it may be their lot to have their blood shed for Christ They had suffered deeply in their names and estates and were eminent for grace and had attained assurance of their Salvation Ch. 10.32 33 34. Yet for all this though God had spared them as to life and they had not yet resisted unto blood they knew not but that might
also come upon them to lay down their lives for Christ 2. The knowledge and belief of Gods infinite everlasting and unchangable love to us in Christ Jesus and of Christs love in laying down his Life for us will carry us chearfully through our greatest persecutions and make us to triumph over all manner of persecutions even at such a time as we are killed all the day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter As we may see it excellently set out Rom. 8.35 36 37 38 39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall Tribulation or Distress or Famine or Nakedness or Peril or Sword As it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors through him that loved us For I am perswaded that neither death nor life c. nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus Let us take notice in this Scripture of these things 1. The love of Christ and the love of God in Christ towards his people is so fixed so firm so unchangeable that no manner of troubles or persecutions no creature in Heaven or Earth is or shall be able to separate them from the love of Christ and the love of God which is in Christ Jesus that is which is grounded upon the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ 2. The apprehension and perswasion of Gods love to our Souls in Christ Jesus and the immutability of this love will help us to overcome and triumph over all manner of troubles and persecutions Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us for I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor any other creature shall be able to seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus In all these things that is all the forementioned tribulations and persecutions though we be flain by the Sword or are starved to Death by Famine we are conquerors yea more than conquerors and how not by our own strength but through him that loved us and how doth he give us the victory By giving us a firm perswasion of the unchangeable love of God in Christ For I am perswaded 3. Observe the time and season when the servants of Christ are made to triumph as conquerors over all their troubles and that is when it is noon day in respect of their persecutions when 't is the hottest time of persecution when they are not only deprived of their goods thrust into prisons but killed killed all the day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter And let us see what is implyed in these expressions 1. It is to be all the day long in hazard and danger of death When it is with us as it was with Hezekiah in his sickness Isa 38.13 So 't is with us in respect of our persecutors we reckon in the night they may come upon us before the morning and the morning may come before the night and rend and tear us in pieces or when 't is with us as it was with David Psal 119.109 My Soul is continually in my hand then we may be said to be killed all the day long 2. When we are put to a lingring death that it may be the more painfull that we are as it were all the day long in a dying condition this some persecutors endeavoured ut sentiant se mori then we may be said to be killed all the day long 3. When persecutors make no more of killing us than they do of killing sheep when the Saints are killed in abundance that it is a time of much blood-shed yea when they joy in the death of Gods Servants Isa 22.13 They are counted as Sheep for the slaughter Now the knowledge and belief of the love of Christ will help us to go through all persecutions chearfully several ways 1. As it leads to the filling our Souls with the graces and comforts of the Spirit of God Eph. 3.19 And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God The more we are filled with the graces and comforts of the Holy Ghost the stronger we shall be to suffer for Christ for the joy of the Lord is our strength 2. As it draws out our love to Christ 1 Joh. 3.16 17. We have known and believed the love that God hath to us Herein is our love made perfect And the more we love Christ the stronger we shall be to suffer for Christ Cant. 8.6 7. Love is strong as death Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it 3. Get and keep a lively hope of eternal life and glory for this will be a wonderfull support to you in your greatest persecutions This caused our Lord Jesus to endure the pain and the shame of the Cross with much chearfulness Heb. 12.2 Who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is set down at the Right hand of the Throne of God The having the joys of Heaven in his thoughts caused him to endure the pain and make light of the shame of the cross This caused the Apostles to glory and triumph in the midst of their troubles Rom. 5.2 3. And rejoyce in hope of the glory of God And not only so but we glory in Tribulations also The respect which Moses had to the recompence of reward in the other World carryed him with chearfulness through his great sufferings Heb. 11.24 25 26. The hope of Salvation is by the Apostles called an helmet 1 Thes 5.8 Putting on the breast-plate of Faith and Love and for an helmet the hope of Salvation The helmet preserves the head in safety as long as we keep on this helmet as long as we keep our hope of Salvation we are in a safe condition 4. If you would go chearfully through all your persecutions get and exercise the graces of Faith and Patience for they are of singular use in an evil day Rev. 13.7 10. And it was given to him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints When the beast maketh war with the Saints and overcomes them that is God permits him to kill and slay as Conquerors those that they have overcome then is a time when there is great need great use of Faith and Patience I shall speak distinctly to both these graces 1. Get and exercise Faith Faith is the most usefull most necessary piece of the Spiritual Armour in an evil day and therefore we are called upon above all to take the shield of Faith because thereby we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one Eph. 6.16 Above all taking the shield of Faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Fiery darts are
of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief Luk. 19.10 The son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost Hos 13.9 O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help There is help in Christ not only for such as have hurt themselves for such as have wounded sorely wounded themselves but for such as have destroyed them yea though they be Israelites which is an aggravation of their sin and misery for its worse for an Israelite then for a Moabite or an Egyptian to destroy himself Here is the extremity of misery destruction and the height of sin which is for a man to be the Author of his own destruction yet there is help in Christ for such as are undone destroyed and have been the Authors of their own destruction O Israel thou bast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help And as our Lord Jesus came into the world purposely to save lost and undone sinners so he is able to save perfectly those that come to him and unto God by him from all their sins and all their misery Heb. 7.25 Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them And as there is Salvation to be had in Christ for lost and perishing sinners so this Salvation is to be had no where else and by no other way or means whatsoever but by Christ Act. 4.12 Neither is their Salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be savtd Isa 43.11 I even I am the Lord and besides me there is no Saviour We are not able to save our selves neither can all the men on earth or all the Angels of heaven save us We cannot save our selves by any ways or devices of our own or by any works or duties that we can perform if we could any way save our selves it must be either by fleeing from God and hiding our selves where God should not find us out but that is impossible for God filleth Heaven and Earth and is present in all places so that a man cannot flee from God or hide himself where God should not find him Jer. 23.24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord Do not I fill heaven and earth saith the Lord. Psal 139.7 8 9 10. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence If I ascend up into heaven thou art there c. Or else it must be by doing some works whereby we may procure the pardon of our sins and the Salvation of our Souls Neither of these can be purchased with mony If a man would give all that he hath in the world to purchase the love of God and the pardon of his sins and the Salvation of his Soul it would be despised and contemned Cant. 8.7 If a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned Job 36.18 19. Because there is wrath beware lest he take thee away with his stroke then a great ransome cannot deliver thee Will he esteem thy riches no not gold nor all the forces of thy strength It is a most detestable thought for a man to think that the gifts of God can be purchased with mony Act. 8.20 Thy mony perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with mony And as we cannot purchase our pardon and Salvation so neither can we obtain it by any works of Righteousness that we are able to do Rom. 3.20 By the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight Tit. 3.5 Not by works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us And as we are not able to save our selves so neither can any men on earth or angels of Heaven save us Psal 60.11 Give us help from trouble for vain is the help of man And if man can't save us from troubles on earth then much less from the torments of hell Jer. 3.23 Truly in vain is Salvation hoped for from the hills or from the multitude of mountains truly in the Lord our God is the Salvation of Israel By the hills and mountains we may understand either 1. Their Fortifications which were very strong by reason of the hills and mountains There were many hills and mountains round about Jerusalem which made it very strong Psal 125.2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem And therefore called the hill country Luk. 1.39 Or 2. By the hills and mountains may be understood the mighty Kings and Princes of other Nations that had promised them aid and assistance Hos 7.11 Hos 5.13 Isa 31.1 Or 3. The Idols which they worshipped on the hills and the mountains Jer. 2.20 Jer. 3.6 'T is as much as to say Salvation is to be had from no creatures from none of the Gods of the Heathen but only from the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 3. If you would get a saving interest in Christ know and consider well that God maketh a free and general offer of Jesus Christ and all his saving benefits unto every one that findeth a want of him and is willing to receive him I say Jesus Christ and Salvation by Christ as all things requisite to Salvation is offered freely to every one that findeth the want of him and is willing to receive him Rev. 22.17 And let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely For opening of this Scripture let us observe 1. Here is an offer of Christ and Salvation by Christ Let him take the water of Life By the water of Life understand Jesus Christ and those saving benefits we have by Christ Christ and Salvation by Christ is set out by the water of life For as Christ is the bread of life Joh. 6.48 I am that bread of life So he is also the water of life and as he is called the bread of life because he giveth eternal life to those that are pertakers of him Joh. 6.51 I am the living bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever So he is called the water of life because he giveth eternal life to those that are partakers of him And as Christ himself is signified by the water of life so also are his saving benefits Remission of sins is set out by clean water Ezek. 36.25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean The Spirit of Christ and his saving graces are compared to water Joh. 7.38 39. Eternal Life and Salvation is set out by Fountains of living waters Rev. 7.17 2. The offer of Christ and Salvation by Christ is general it is to every one whosoever he be that finds his want of him and is willing
willing to bestow himself upon you By these terms I mean what it is which the Lord Jesus requireth of those whom he will own for his and on whom he will bestow himself and all his saving benefits These terms are briefly comprehended under these two heads Faith and Repentance They that believe in Christ and repent of their sins shall undoubtedly be made pertakers of Christ and his saving benefits All that believe in Christ shall assuredly be saved by him Joh. 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hath everlasting life Joh. 3.15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life And so shall all they that repent of their sins Ezek. 30.18 Repent and turn your selves from all your Transgressions and so iniquity shall not be your ruine All persons in all nations that repent of their sins shall for Christs sake have remission of their sins Luk. 24.47 And that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem I shall briefly shew you what Christ requireth of those that he will own for his and to whom he will become a Saviour 1. That we love and prefer him above Father and Mother Wife or Children the nearest and dearest Relations we have in the whole world yea and above our own lives Luk. 14.26 If any man come to me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his own life also he cannot be my Disciple Hating Father and Mother c. is not to be taken in the usual and proper acceptation of the word For to hate any man in a proper sense is a great sin it is Murder in the sight of God 1 Joh. 3.15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a Murderer and ye know that no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him And our Lord Jesus doth not make any sin to be the condition of becoming his Disciple And therefore hating Father and Mother and other Relations is to be understood improperly for loving Father and Mother and other Relations and a mans own life less than he loveth Christ So it is explained Gen. 29.30 31. He loved Rachel more than Leah And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated We are not to entertain such thoughts of Jacob as if he hated Leah for it is not consistent with Gods grace for a man to hate his wife But the meaning is Leah was not loved so much as Rachel as it is expressed in the former verse The meaning of Leah's being hated is this that Rachel was loved more than Leah So he that hateth not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children c. cannot be my Disciple that is he that loveth not me more than his Father and Mother and all Relations and his own life cannot be my Disciple and so it is explained Mat. 10.37 He that loveth Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me And this is but equal that we should love Christ above all Relations in the world because he is better than all he is more amiable more excellent than Father or Mother or any other Relations and he hath done and will do more for us than Father or Mother or Wife or Children can do for us for he dyed for our sins and will save our Souls and that is more than all the men in the world ever did or can do for us 2. That we deny our selves and depart from all our sins Mar. 8.34 Whosoever will come after me let him deny himself There is no being a Disciple of Christ for any man without self-denyal Now this denying a mans self implyeth 1. That he must deny his own sinful inclinations and sinful affections 2 Tim. 2.19 Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity 2. That he must deny himself of things in themselves lawful when they come in competition with Christ Joh. 3 Epist ver 7. For his names sake they went forth taking nothing of the Gentiles It was lawful for those that taught the Gentiles to receive maintenance from them for the Lord hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel But in some special cases where it is more for the honour of Christ these persons spoken of by the Apostle would take nothing of the Gentiles 3. We must deny our selves in Religious duties and works of Righteousness not by neglecting them but these two ways 1. By attributing nothing to our selves but ascribing all to Christ 1 Cor. 15.10 By the grace of God I am what I am I laboured more abundantly than they all yet not I but the grace of God that was with me 2. By putting no confidence in any thing that we have done or can do but placing all our confidence in Christ Phil. 3.3 VVe have no confidence in the flesh 1 Joh. 5.14 This is the confidence we have in him 3. That we take up the Cross Mar. 8.34 VVhosoever will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross By taking up the Cross understand a willingness to undergo any sufferings for Christ that we shall be called unto as reproaches persecutions hatred of the world loss of liberty estate yea and life it self Unless we are willing at the call of God to undergo the greatest as well as lesser sufferings for Christ we cannot be his Disciples Luk. 14.33 VVhosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my Disciple There must be a forsaking in affection and resolution by every one and an actual forsaking when they can't be enjoyed without sinning against Christ 4. That we be ruled and governed by him and yield obedience to him as our Lord and then we shall assuredly be saved by him Heb. 5.9 And being made perfect he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all that obey him Mat. 11.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly of heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls By taking his yoke upon us is meant submitting to his Government To be under the yoke signifieth to be under the rule and government of others 1 Tim. 6.1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour Under the yoke that is under the dominion and rule of others See also Gen. 27.40 where the yoke signifieth subjection The Commandements and Ordinances of God are called a yoke Act. 15.10 But here some may say is it not derogatory to the free grace of God to say that he offers us Christ and Salvation upon terms Doth he not say whoever will let him take of the water of life freely why then do you speak of terms or conditions in Salvation by Christ A. 1. To speak of terms or conditions to be performed by those that are justified and saved
Rev. 2.10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison that ye may be tryed and ye shall have Tribulation ten days be thou faithfull unto death and I will give thee a crown of life 2. Abide with Christ in an hour of temptation and he will abide with you Joh. 15.4 Abide in me and I in you And if Christ will abide in us and with us we need not be troubled though all that we have be taken from us for Christ is better than all the World If Christ abide with us we need not fear though all the World be set against us Psal 118.6 The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me If Christ abide with us the Consolation of Israel abideth with us yea all good abideth with us 3. Abide with Christ and you shall become powerfull and prevalent in Prayer and shall bring forth much fruit Joh. 15.5 7. He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit If ye abide in me and my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you This is a large grant Ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you We must understand it of such things as are agreable to the will of God such things as are for the glory of God such things as are consistent with our eternal welfare when our will is thus regulated we may ask what we will and it shall be done for us And is not this a great encouragement to abide in Christ that we shall be so powerfull in Prayer as even to obtain what we will from him Sect. 3. Hinderances of an interest in Christ removed I shall in the next place mention several Hinderances which keep men from being made partakers of Christ and his saving benefits and endeavour the removal of them First Hinderance Ignorance is a great hinderance to most men that keeps them from getting a saving interest in Christ They are ignorant of the worth and excellency of Christ and their own want of him and so do not seek after him And they are ignorant of Gods willingness to bestow Christ upon them and they are ignorant of the way and means whereby they should come to enjoy and attain to an interest in Christ There is a great deal of ignorance in many people that live under plentifull means of Grace The Jews had Moses and the Prophets and Priests in abundance to teach and instruct them yet the generality of them were very ignorant of the things of God Jer. 4.22 My people is foolish they have not known me they are sottish children and they have none understanding they are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge See how the Prophet multiplyeth expressions to set out the ignorance of the Jews He saith they were foolish sottish had no understanding did not know God had no knowledge to do good And as people that have great means of knowledge may be very ignorant so also are many that take upon them to be teachers of others Jer. 2.8 The Priests said not where is the Lord and they that handle the Law know me not And that ignorance is a great hinderance to our seeking after and obtaining Christ and Salvation by Christ we may see from such Scriptures as these Joh. 4.10 If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee give me to drink thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water Eph. 4.18 Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their mind Rom. 10.3 If any say what should we do to get this ignorance removed 1. Search the Scriptures read them diligently and meditate on what you read thereby you shall come to the knowledge of Christ Joh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures They are they which testifie of me The Scriptures set out the excellency of Christ and shew us that all things are but dross and dung in comparison of Christ Phil. 3.8 They set forth our miserable and undone condition without Christ Eph. 2.12 They set forth Gods willingness to bestow Christ freely on every one that is willing to have him Rev. 22.17 They shew how and by what means we are made partakers which is through Faith Eph. 3.17 Heb. 3.14 By searching the Scriptures we shall be made wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus If we do search the Scriptures dayly and meditate on what we read we shall greatly encrease in knowledge Psal 119.99 I have more understanding than all my Teachers for thy Testimonies are my meditation 2. Turn from your sins and then God will pour out his Spirit upon you and enlighten your minds and open your understandings that you may understand his word Prov. 1.23 Turn you at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you Continuance in sin darkens the mind that though a man have means of knowledge and set himself to get understanding he will be ever learning and not be able to come to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3.6 7. Laden with sins and led away with divers lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth What is said of hating our Brother 1 Joh. 2.11 He that hateth his Brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because the darkness hath blinded his eyes The same is true of other sins also they blind the eyes of our understanding and keep us in darkness although we have great means of light and knowledge But when we forsake our sins and turn unto God he will take away our ignorance and give us saving knowledge Joh. 8.12 I am the light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of Life 3. Pray to God to give you Wisdom and Understanding in the mysteries of your Salvation and he will give it to you Jam. 1.5 If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him Observe here 1. The persons to whom God promiseth to give wisdom such as find their want of it and ask it of God 2. The extensiveness of this promise It is any one whosoever he be that lacks wisdom and asks it of God 3. The great readiness that is in God to give wisdom to all that ask for it He giveth to all men he giveth liberally he giveth without upbraiding He will not upbraid us with our unworthyness with our dulness our frequency or importunity in Prayer 4. The certainty of
John the Baptist takes them off from this Mat. 3.9 Think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father As if he should have said you are apt to rest upon this that ye are the Children of Abraham that ye have such a man as Abraham to your Father who was the Friend of God but this will not avail you to Salvation that you are Abraham's Children Think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father For Abraham's impenitent Children shall be cast into Hell when as their Father is in Heaven and they shall not by all their entreaties get so much favour from Abraham as to have one drop of water to cool their Tongues Luk. 16.23 24. 2. It is a great priviledge and an honour to be a Member of a Church of Christ but this will not avail a man to Salvation that he is a Member of a Church unless he be also a Member of Christ For there are Hypocrites as well as sound Christians in the purest Churches in the World Christ had but a small Church Twelve Persons selected out of the Twelve Tribes of Israel but yet amongst them few there was an arch Hypocrite that differed little from the Devil Joh. 6.70 Have not I chosen you Twelve and one of you is a Devil There are barren as well as fruitfull Trees in the Lord's Vineyard and the barren Trees shall be hewen down and cast into the Fire Math. 3.10 And now the ax is laid unto the root of the Trees therefore every Tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire There is Chaff as well as Wheat in Christ's Floor and when he purgeth his Floor he will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire ver 12. Whose Fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his Floor but he will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire There are foolish as well as wise Virgins that have their Lamps as well as the wise but have no Oyl in their Vessels whose lot will it be to be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven 3. It is a duty and a priviledge to pertake of the Sacraments and attend upon the Ordinances of the Gospel but yet this will not avail a man to Salvation if he do not accept of Christ as he is tendered in the Gospel as will appear these ways 1. No Priviledges no Ordinances no Sacraments will avail a man to Salvation unless he be a new Creature Gal. 6.15 For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision nor Vncircumcision availeth any thing but a new Creature Circumcision was an Ordinance of God a profitable Ordinance Rom. 3.1 2. a painfull Ordinance they that were Circumcised underwent much pain and were sore for several days Gen. 34.25 It was a token and seal of the Covenant Gen. 16.11 yet Circumcision availeth none to Salvation but such as were new Creatures Now many that attend on Ordinances and receive the Sacraments are no new Creatures 2. Many that attend on the Ordinances of the Gospel and have been Baptized in the name of Christ and do receive at the Lords Table are workers of iniquity Isa 58.1 2. Ezek. 33.31 32. And it is not hearing the word Preached and frequenting the Lords Table will avail men to Salvation if they be workers of iniquity Luk 13.26 27. We have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets but he shall say I tell you I know you not whence you are depart from me ye workers of iniquity 3. The participation of Sacraments and Ordinances of the Gospel is accounted as nothing by such as are impenitent sinners Rom. 2.25 If thou be a breaker of the Law thy Circumcision is made Vncircumcision Jer. 9.25 26. The Uncircumcised in heart among the Jews have the same lot with the Uncircumcised Egyptians Edomites Ammonites and Moabites The impenitent Jews offered up a multitude of Sacrifices unto God but the Lord accounted all as nothing Isa 1.11 13. To what purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifices unto me saith the Lord Bring no more vain Oblations Incense is an abomination to me Their Oblations are called vain Oblations as being of no value in the sight of God Many persons are kept from coming to and closing with Christ by resting in the Law or resting in their own Righteousness They think they already have or hope that in process of time they shall attain unto that Righteousness which will commend them to God and give them a right to Eternal Life when as they have no Union with Christ or Interest in Christ That many men do rest in the Law or in their own works of Righteousness done in Conformity to the Law We may see from such Scriptures as these Rom. 2.17 Behold thou art called a Jew and restest in the Law That is as Pareus observs Fiduciam ponis in lege quasi ea te servaret thou placest thy confidence in the Law as if that could save thee Or as de Dieu Non lassat te peccati onus quippe qui ex lege quietem capias The burden of thy sins do not weary thee because thou findest ease from the law Luk. 18.9 He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were Righteous Rom. 9.31 32. Now the reasons why men rest upon their own works of Righteousness done in Conformity to the law of God for that Righteousness which should commend them to God and bring them to Eternal Life are such as these 1. A natural inclination and propensity in all men to look for Righteousness and Life on the terms of the first Covenant which was to give life to such as should obey the law of God Do this and live Gal. 4.21 Tell me ye that desire to be under the Law There is a desire in men to have Righteousness and Life by the works of the law 2. Their ignorance of the true meaning purity and spirituality of the law whereby they are kept from seeing the imperfection of their own Righteousness and because they comply with the outward performance of the law they think they have that which will give them life Rom. 7.9 I was alive without the law once but when the Commandment came sin revived and I dyed That is the Apostle while a Pharisee was without the right understanding of the law and then he thought himself alive in a good condition one that should inherit Eternal Life but when the Commandment came that is when I came to have a right understanding of the law and it came to be applyed to my Conscience Sin revived that is I discovered those sins which I knew not of before I saw my self a lost sinner and I dyed that is my hope of attaining Righteousness and the Life was taken away 3. Ignorance of Christ's being appointed of God to be our Righteousness is another reason why men go about to establish their own Righteousness and do not seek to Christ to be found in
him to have his Righteousness imputed to them Rom. 10.3 For they being ignorant of God's Righteousness and going about to establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God That resting on our own Righteousness or hoping to attain Righteousness and Life from the works of the law is an hinderance to our being made partakers of Christ We may see from Rom. 7 4. Ye are become dead to the law by the body of Christ that ye should be married to another even to him that is raised from the dead By being dead to the law we may understand dead to it as it is a Covenant of life not as a rule of life dead to the law in reference to our hope and expectation of life from the works of the law but not dead to the law in reference to our obedience and conformity to the law And this being dead to the law as a Covenant of life preceedeth our being Married to Christ Such as are Married to the law and expect Righteousness and Life from the law they are not Married to Christ Now we are said to be dead to the law by the Body of Christ that is by that death which he suffered for us in his Body Both as his Death hath purchased for us deliverance from the First Covenant and the establishment of a new Covenant and also it plainly declares that Righteousness is not possible to be had from the law for then he needed not to have dyed to have brought in another way of Righteousness Gal. 2.21 If Righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain If any say how may we be taken off from resting in the law from hoping to attain Righteousness and Life by our own works done in obedience and conformity to the law of God and be brought to see an absolute necessity of going to Christ for Righteousness and Life A. 1. Let us see and consider that it is utterly impossible for any man in this fallen estate to attain unto that perfection of Righteousness and Obedience to the law of God as to be justified and saved thereby Rom. 3.20 By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight Gal. 3.11 12. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God it is evident for the just shall live by Faith and the law is not of Faith but the man that doth them shall live in them That no man can attain such a Righteousness from his observing the law as shall justifie and save him Is evident these ways 1. The law requireth personal perfect constant obedience in all things else it pronounceth a curse against us Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them Now no man since the fall of Adam Christ only excepted ever did or could continue in all things required in the law without transgressing any command thereof at any time Joh. 7.19 Did not Moses give you the law yet none of you keepeth the law And least any should say Christ meaneth the carnal Jews only when he saith none of you keepeth the law We may see from other Scriptures that the holyest men upon earth cannot keep the law of God without transgressing against it at any time Eccl. 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not 1 King 8.36 There is no man that sinneth not 2. If any man could have obtained Righteousness and Life by the law then there had been no need of Christs laying down his life for us Gal. 2.21 If Righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain And such as go about to seek for Justification by the works of the law do make Christs obedience and his suffering death to be useless Gal. 5.4 Christ is become of no effect to you whosoever of you are justified by the law ye are fallen from grace 3. God hath made a new Covenant to give us Life and Righteousness through believing in his Son Joh. 3.16 Rom. 3.21 22. And there had been no need of a new Covenant of a new way to obtain Righteousness and Life if Righteousness and Life could have been obtained by the law For if it had been possible for fallen man to have had Righteousness and Life by the law fallen man should have been saved by a Covenant of works as well as Adam in innocency Gal 3.21 Is the law then against the promises of God God forbid for if there had been a law given which could have given life verily Righteousness should have been by the law 4. None that ever sought after Righteousness and Life by the works of the law have been able to attain thereunto Rom. 9.31 32. Israel which followed after the law of Righteousness hath not attained to the law of Righteousness Wherefore because they sought it not by Faith but as it were by the works of the law It may be some will think the reason why Israel could not attain to the Righteousness of the law was because they were not zealous followers after Righteousness but were cold and luke-warm but that is a mistake for many of them were zealous in observing the law Act. 22.3 I was zealous towards God as ye all are this day Act. 21.20 Or it may be some will think that the reason why they could not attain to Righteousness though they followed after it was because they rested in an External Righteousness and did not seek after Internal Righteousness the Righteousness of the heart but this was not the cause for though many of them did rest in External Righteousness yet others of them did look after an Internal Righteousness they knew that God called for the heart Prov. 22.26 When they fasted they did not only afflict their bodies but their Souls also for their sins Isa 58.3 Wherefore have we fasted wherefore have we afflicted our Soul They were sollicitous to have the sins of their Souls pardoned as well as their sinfull actions Mich. 6.6 7. Wherewithall shall I come before the Lord Shall I give my first born for my Transgression the fruit of my body for the sin of my Soul But the true reason why Israel that followed after Righteousness could not attain unto Righteousness was because they sought not after that Righteousness which is by Faith but sought it by the works of the law Rom. 9.31 32. 2. We mistake God's end in giving the law when we seek for Righteousness and Life by the works of the law For the law was not given us to be a Covenant of life that is for this end that we should expect Righteousness and Life by the works of the law As appears 1. Because God had setled another way of justifying and saving sinners namely by Faith in Christ long before the giving of the law and did confirm this way Salvation through Faith in Christ by an Everlasting Covenant made
ac si in omnibus deliquisset 4. There is no escaping this curse of the law when we have offended in any one point but by Jesus Christ All the good works we can do in conformity to the law will not exempt us from it but do leave us under this curse Gal. 3.10 As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse The only escaping from the curse of the law is by Christ Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us And therefore there is no resting for any man in the law or in his own righteousness no hope that any man should attain righteousness and life by the law But if we would have that righteousness whereby we may be accepted in the sight of God and would have Eternal Life we must seek for both in Christ and if we close with Christ we shall in him have righteousness and life Another great hinderance of closing with Christ is this present evil world A worldly Spirit hinders our closing with Christ several ways 1. Because when mens hearts are set upon the Profits and Honours and Pleasures of the World they make light of Christ and prefer these things above Christ This is evident from the parable of the King that made a Marriage for his Son which was neglected by those that had their hearts set on the World Mat. 22.5 They made light of it and went their ways one to his Farm another to his Merchandize Many mens heads and hearts are so full of the World that they make light of the offers of Christ and Salvation by Christ 2. Some persons are at such ease in their Worldly enjoyments and are so well satisfied with the World that they find no need of Christ and Salvation by Christ and desire no other Heaven but what they have here on the Earth and to such men their prosperity proves their ruin Prov. 1.32 The prosperity of fools shall destroy them To such as these may be applyed the wo. Luk. 6.24 Wo unto you that are rich for ye have received your Consolation 3. The love of the honours and pleasures and profits of the World keepeth men from embracing Christ because there are several duties in Christianity which cannot be performed but they will expose us to reproaches and losses and hardship and hatred in the World Joh. 5.44 How can ye believe which receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that cometh from God only Now no worldly thing either the honours or pleasures or profits of the World should keep us from a sincere and hearty closing with Jesus Christ and that upon these grounds 1. It is infinitely better to enjoy Christ than to enjoy all the honours all the pleasures all the profits all the goodly things in the World as will appear several ways 1. The good things of this World can be enjoyed no longer than a man lives in this World They may be taken away before we dye but the term of life is the longest time of their enjoyment They may be taken away by Fire by Oppressors by Forreign Enemies that may strip us as naked as in the day we were born Yea if God do not continue them with us by his Providence they would of themselves flee away swiftly from us and come at us no more Prov. 23.5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not For riches certainly make themselves wings they flee away as an eagle towards Heaven He doth not say wilt thou set thy heart but wilt thou set thine eyes The riches of the world in comparison of the Riches of Christ are so far from deserving our hearts that they are not worth the looking after with our eyes He calls them things that are not that is are not what men think them to be are not abiding they are gone in the twinkling of an eye He adds farther that 't is certain riches are most uncertainly for certainly they make unto themselves wings and flee away as an Eagle towards Heaven But if they be not taken away if they do not flee away in the time of life it is most certain we must leave them all behind us when we dye 1 Tim. 6.7 For we brought nothing into the World and it is certain that we can carry nothing out But if we embrace Christ Christ and his benefits shall be ours for ever This God is our God for ever and ever Psal 48.14 He will not only stick to us and bless us as long as we live but he will give us all the good things of Heaven for an Everlasting Possession Joh. 6.47 Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hath Everlasting Life 2. All the things of this World while they are enjoyed are poor vain empty things that can't give any true satisfaction to the Soul but create more vexation of Spirit than they give comfort Eccl. 2.17 All is vanity and vexation of Spirit The words are few but of large extent All Worldly Enjoyments Riches Honours Pleasures all are vanity empty things uncertain things and all are vexation of Spirit A poor man that goeth to his day labour hath more comfortable Nights and Days than many Rich men that have abundance of the World Eccl. 5.12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet but the abundance of the Rich will not suffer him to sleep Abundance of the VVorld rather causeth disquietment than comfort But now such as embrace Christ have solid and Soul satisfying comforts in Christ Psal 13.5 6. My Soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness When I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches The night is a solitary and uncomfortable time yet in the night watches there are Soul satisfying comforts to be had in Christ Such as embrace Christ by Faith have in him and from him joy unspeakable 1 Pet. 1.8 In whom believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 3. A man may possess much of the world and yet be miserable here Jam. 5.1 and be miserable in the other world to all Eternity Luk. 16.22 23. The rich man dyed and was buried and in Hell he lift up his eyes being in torment while he lived he was cloathed in Purple and fine linnen and fared sumptuously every day ver 19. but as soon as he was dead he went to Hell and was tormented in flaming Fire and could not get so much as a drop of water to cool his Tongue But they that get possession of Christ and trust in Christ are in a blessed condition whilst they live and shall be in a most blessed condition for ever in the World to come Psal 2.12 Blessed are all they that trust in him All that accept of Christ for their Lord and Saviour and are obedient to him shall be saved with an Eternal Salvation Heb. 5.9 2. The surest and best way to get the good things of this World at least