controule the strongest temptations to sin against God A wicked believer is more guilty than a wicked infidel How could we conceive it possible were it not visible in their actions that Men who have judicative faculties to compare and distinguish things and accordingly be moved with desires or fears should with ardent affections pursue despicable vanities and neglect substantial happiness and be fearful of the shadows of dangers and intrepid in the midst of the truest dangers He is a desperate gamester that will venture a Crown at a throw against some petty advantage yet this is really done by sinners who hazard the loss of Heaven for this World they hang by slender strings a little breath that expires every moment over bottomless perdition and are insensible without any palpitation of Heart any sign of fear How strong is the delusion and concupiscence of the carnally minded The lusts of the flesh bribe and corrupt their understandings or diverts them from serious consideration of their ways and the issues of them From hence it is they are presently entangled and vanquisht by sensual temptations they are cozened by the colours of good and evil and Satan easily accomplishes his most pernicious and envious design to make Men miserable as himself How just is the reproach of Wisdom How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and fools hate knowledge The light of reason and revelation shines upon them they have not the excuse of ignorance but the righteous and heavy condemnation of those who love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil 'T is no mean degree of guilt to extenuate sin and make an apology for sinners The wisest of Men tells us Fools make a mock of sin they count it a fond niceness a silly preciseness to be fearful of offending God They boast of their deceitful arts and insinuations whereby they represent sin as a light matter to corrupt others But 't is infinitely better to be defective in the subtilty of the Serpent than in the innocence of the Dove A meer natural who is only capable of sensitive actions and is distinguisht from a Brute by his shape is not such a forlorn sot as the sinful fool What the Prophet Jeremy speaks of one who gets riches unjustly that he shall leave them and in the end die a fool will be verified of the wilful obstinate sinner in the end he shall by the terrible conviction of his own mind be found guilty of the most woful folly and how many have acknowledged in their last hours when usually Men speak with the most feeling and least affectation how have they in words of the Psalmist arraigned themselves So foolish have we been and like beasts before thee 2. From hence we may be instructed of the wonderful patience of God who bears with a World of sinners that are obnoxious to his justice and under his power every day If we consider the number and aggravations of Mens sins how many have out-told the hairs of their Heads in actual transgressions how mighty and manifest their sins are that the Deity and Providence are questioned for the suspending of vengeance and yet that God notwithstanding all their enormous injuries and violent provocations is patient towards sinners it cannot but fill us with admiration His Mercy like the cheerful light of the Sun visits us every Morning with its benign influences his Justice like Thunder rarely strikes the Wicked He affords not only the supports of life but many comforts and refreshments to the unthankful and rebellious 'T is not from any defect in his Power that they are not consum'd but from the abundance of his Mercy He made the World without any strain of his Power and can as easily destroy it he has an innumerable company of Angels attending his Commands and every Angel is an Army in strength one of them destroyed a hundred and fourscore and five thousand in a Night he can use the most despicable and weakest Creatures Frogs and Lice and Flies as instruments of vengeance to subdue the proudest Pharoah the most obstinate Rebels He sees sin where-ever it is and hates it where-ever he sees it yet his Patience endures thâ—â— crying sins and his long sufferance expects their repentance The Lord is not slack as some Men count slackness but he is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance He spares sinners with such indulgence in order to their Salvation 'T is deservedly one of his Royal Titles the God of Patience Our fierce Spirits are apt to take fire and revenge for every injury real or suppos'd but the great God who is infinitely sensible of all the indignities offer'd to his Majesty defers his anger and loads them with his benefits every day What is more astonishing than the riches of his Goodness unless it be the perverse abuse of it by sinners to harden themselves in their impieties But altho his Clemency delays the punishment the sacredness and constancy of his Justice will not forget it when patience has had its perfect work Justice shall have a solemn triumph in the final destruction of impenitent unreformed sinners 3. The Consideration of the Evil of Sin so great in it self and pernicious to us hightens our Obligations to the Divine Mercy in saving us from our sins and an everlasting Hell the just Punishment of them Our Loss was unvaluable our Misery extream and without infinite Mercy we had been under an unremediable necessity of Sinning and Suffering for ever God saw us in this wretched and desperate State and his eye affected his heart in his pity he redeemed and restored us This is the clearest Testimony of pure Goodness for God did not want external Glory who is infinitely Happy in his own Perfections he could when Man revolted from his Duty have created a new World of Innocent Creatures for infinite Power is not spent nor lessened by finite Productions but his undeserved and undesired Mercy appeared in our Salvation The way of accomplishing it renâ—ers Mercy more Illustrious for to glorifie his Justice and preserve the Honour of his Holiness unblemish'd he laid upon his Son the Iniquity of us all This was Love that passeth all Understanding Our Saviour speaks of it with admiration God so loved the world and hated Sin that he gave his only begotten Son to dye for it that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life And how dear are our Engagements to Jesus Christ The Judge would not release the Guilty without a Ransom nor the Surety without Satisfaction and the Son of God most compassionately and willingly gave his precious Blood to obtain our Deliverance If his Perfections were not most aimable and ravishing yet that he died for us should infinitely endear him to us To those who believe he is precious to those who have felt their undone Condition and that by his Merits and Mediation are restored to the
Spirit of God Sure he who hath an Immortal Soul within him and a Dubious State to himself as that dreadful Eternity before him should never be sick of his time that lies upon his Hand one hour whereof millions of Wolds can't redeem 2. Covetousness is a weighty Argument Thousands are enough to break the Loyns of most Mens minds too heavy for the back of the strongest Rationalist in the World the Scale of Judgment cannot turn while this beam is in the Eye nor any Argument counterpoise this dead and deadly weight but Tythe Mint and Cummin will outweigh Faith and the Love of God Luke 11.42 St. Briget prophesied Fox's Martyr The Roman Clergy would ruin the Church by their avarice for she said They had already reduced the Ten Commands to two words da pecuniam 3. Pride of Life swells Men till they break all bonds and bounds like Stum in the Cask makes all the Hoops fly off The zeal of a party and having declared for a way makes Men they cannot retreat but will spur on for honour and profit though the Angel of the Lord oppose them till they are crushed to the Wall If Christian Religion be founded in Self-denyal Mortification and bearing the Cross they who seek their own glory are not of God John 7.18 that is either no Gospel or these certainly are no Disciples of Christ We had need look to ourselves for this lust of domination and glory as Charon saith Is the very Shirt of the Soul on from the first but last put off Secondly I am to shew you that the practice of holy Duties clearly commanded is the ready way to have our minds inlightned in the knowledge of Principles Reading the Scriptures discoursing about Heaven and about their Souls everlasting welfare Reproving one another and admonishing Rom. 15.14 comforting and supporting the weak and dejected Soul 1 Thes 5.14 To exhort one another dayly lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3.13 Duties so much out of fashion in these days that it is not counted good manners or civility to practise them friendly reproof is esteemed want of good breeding But are they not strange Christians who are strangers to Scripture Duties 1. These Practical Duties performed would give us light He that doth the Truth cometh to the light John 3.21 not only out of boldness but discovery of knowledge Truth is nothing but goodness explained and goodness is nothing but Truth consolidated Rudiments of knowledge are prerequisite to practice but examples clear all things to us Demonstration by the Compasses maketh the Maxim evident He that doth best knoweth best for he seeth the actions as they are in themselves and circumstances he doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he seeth the bottom by diving into them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 119.130 pethac pethaiim the very entrance into the command giveth light the Door is a Window to him that hath a weak sight even those things Men have formerly ridiculed practice hath reconciled them to be their Diana and great delight As the Gnostick in Clem. Alex. who could not taste lewdness till he was in all evil as t is Prov. 5.14 If wicked practices darken the mind as all the works of darkness do than holy actions illuminate the Soul 2. The exercise of holy Duties advanceth light every step a Man takes he goeth into a new Horizon and gets a further prospect into Truth Motion is promoted by motion actions breed habits habits fortifie the powers the new life grows stronger and fuller of Spirit The yoke of Christ is easier smoother and lighter by often wearing it this anoints us with the oyl of gladness and makes the ways of Wisdom pleasantness Prov. 3.17 Life and light are nearly related John 1.4 The life was the light of Men Acts 1.1 These things Jesus first did then taught and so he was mighty in Deed and in Word Luke 24.19 very airing and motion heateth to a flame this made his light burn vers 32. and shine too Truth incarnate in action seems a lively resemblance of God in flesh the unfolding a doubt to another hath often expounded and resolved it to the proponent 3. If any be in danger of Error or got into an ill way keeping up warm Duties Meditation and Prayer will keep him in or help him out communion with the Saints is an admirable antidote against sin or Error As in a Team of Horses if one lash out of the way if the other hold their course they will draw the former to the right path 1 John 2.20 ye have an unction and ye know all things when there are Antichrists and great Apostacies keeping to Duty like keeping the Road preserveth us from by-paths I remember a Snowy night when many wandring homeward were frozen to death A Shepherd feeling himself foiled by often falling set down his Crook in one point and beat a path round and so preserved his life and kept him out of precipices and ditches And we have a promise of light if we press to the mark and prize of our high calling Phil. 3.15 carry the Goale in your Eye and it will direct you a path where there is none upon a plain Sincerely aim at Gods glory and your Souls salvation and you shall not miss your way If in any thing you should miss it and be otherwise minded God will reveal even this unto you Yea our great Lord and Master assureth us John 7.17 He that doth the will of God he shall know the Doctrin whether it be of God or I speak of my self But if Men will make bold with God and Conscience and act for their own ends and glory they rob God of his supremacy and will lose both their way and their end He that walketh uprightly hath God for his guard and guide with devout Zachary he is within the Vail and if he be in a mistake God will reveal it to him For the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will make them know his Covenant Psal 25.14 Go to thy Oracle and pray and a ray of heavenly light shall direct you as the Wise-mens Star to the holy Jesus their minds are Gods candles Prov. 20.27 and as Father of Lights he will light them when they approach him with ardent supplication Thirdly I am to shew that Christian charity and reception will sooner win weak ones to the Truth than rigid Arguments for so the Apostle adviseth them who were to deal with people weak in Faith and strongly zealous for Ceremonies dispute not with them but receive them first 1. In regard opposition breeds oppositions a Man will never believe that he Loves his Soul who cuts his purse belies his actions torments his Body Passion begets passion but love only kindles love when Men do hotly Dispute they jostle for the way and so one or both must needs leave the path of Truth and Peace The Saw of contention reciprocated with its keen teeth
partiality which is one of the great sins of the Age to cry up some and decry others to overvalue some and to undervalue others Every one of you saith I am of Paul and I of Apollos and I of Cephas and I of Chrst (x) 1 Cor. 1.12 I am of Paul He had an extraordinary Call to the Apostolical Office there 's none preaches Free Grace like him He withstood (y) Gal. 2.11 â—â—â—r to the Face because he was to be blamed And as for Apollos he had need to learn of his Hearers (z) Acts 18.26 24. end When Aquila and Priscilla heard him they â—â—ok him unto them and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly None of these things can be spoken of Paul and therefore I am for Paul Another says I am for Apollos (a) ch 2.6 10 10. he is a powerfull Preacher an eloquent Man and mighty in the Scripture fervent in Spirit diligent in the things of the Lord speaking boldly in the Synagogues mightily convincing the Jews I am for Appollos Paul is nothing to him for a Preacher his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible and therefore I am for Apollos Another saith I am for Cephas he was the chief Apostle Christ gave him a special charge to feed his Sheep and his Lambs (b) Joh. 21.17 and therefore I 'll be of his Flock Another says I am for Christ all these have their imperfections but Christ hath none and therefore I 'll expect the immediate teaching of Christ by his Spirit I 'm not for the teachings of Men. And thus Christians do not only differ from one another in their esteem of Preachers but we shall find them differ from themselves in their esteem of the same Persons they magnifie and vilifie the same Ministers (c) Joh. 5.35 John was a burning and a shining light and ye were willing for a season and but for a season to rejoyce in his light To Christ himself they said one day Hosanna and the next day Crucifie him and of Paul the Galathians (d) Gal. 4.14 16. one while received him as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus presently after are as shye of him as of an Enemy because he insists upon some Truths they have no mind to How may this Distemper be prevented or cured Answ 1. Keep up your Esteem of Jesus Christ as your great Shepherd and of all Faithfull Ministers or his under Officers (e) 2 Cor. 4.5 We preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your Servants for Jesus sake 'T is impossible to overvalue Christ provided you do not mistake his Work and neglect your own do not expect that from Christ which he will not do he will not teach you without the Ministry of Man where he vouchsafes it Christ hath the words of Eternal Life but yet he commits to the Ushers of his School The Word of Reconciliation (f) 2 Cor. 5.20 And we pray you in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God And 't is Christ that saith expresly (g) Luk. 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me This doth not only relate to extraordinary Officers such as the Apostles for Christ as well (h) Eph. 4.11 12. gave Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ And therefore conscienciously Attend upon the Ministry of Men but expect the benefit of it only by the Blessing of Christ whoever plants or waters the success is from Christ 2. Take heed of a narrow Spirit confine not the Church of Christ to a Party No not the best Party upon Earth What hath Christ only these few Sheep in the Wilderness If Christ should have no other Subjects his would â—e a little Flock indeed (i) Rev. 7.9 Whereas Christ's sealed Ones who are sealed for Holiness are a great multitude which no Man could number of all Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues standing before the Throne and before the Lamb c. Christians be as severe against your selves as you will but be not so against others Say to thy self If I should be less strict than I am I should question mine own fitness for Church Communion But I dare not judge so of another I do not know his temptations I do not know how far God might leave him to himself (k) 2 Chr. 32.32 To try him that he might know what was in his Heart c. Shall I from such an action judge of his State No I dare not be severe to your selves but be charitable unto others 3. Take heed of over-esteeming any least God blast his Ministry as to you that it be less profitable than before You may easily observe that when any one is overvalued God is robb'd of the overplus of Honour that is given to any Creature This is a tender thing and God will not bear it let a well ordered self-Self-love steer you right in this matter Query Whether Ministers or Peoples falling into scandalous Sin or dangerous Error spring not from this Root These Cautions concern as well the sincere as others but my last under this Head concerns only Hypocrites or those who have too cause to suspect themselves to be so 4. Take heed of being swayed by private Interest (l) Jude 16. To have mens persons in admiration because of advantage i. e. Of flattering persons upon some carnal account You have the Apostle naming some of their spiritual Diseases (m) 1 Tim. 6.3.4 5. If any man affect to teach or to hear otherwise and consent not to wholsome words i. e. words that tend to cure the Soul of Spiritual Distempers even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness i. e. that Doctrine which promotes downright godliness He is proud i. e. he is swell'd up he is great in his own esteem though knowing nothing solidly but doting brainsick about questions of no use and strifes of words contending about words whereof cometh envy of those that are wiser than himself strife An ignorant person will not yield that another knows more than himself railings What he wants in arguments he 'll make up with foul language evil surmisings Uncharitably suspecting what they will not speak out perverse disputings Not to clear up Truth but to shuffle in Error of men of corrupt minds distemper'd in their heads destitute of the Truth have quitted savoury Truth supposing that gain is godliness whatever tends to their worldly interest that is very well consistent with their Religion from such withdraw thy self have nothing to do with them Qu. 2. When there 's a difference in the Directions that are given by Ministers what shall those do who are to observe them Prescription are sometimes peremptory and we are charged to do expresly thus and when we hear
open but for a time and when that is past it will be shut Matth. 25.10 and all your calling and knocking will never prevail with God for the opening of it again And what then shall you be the better the nearer repentance or nearer pardon for all that Ocean of mercy that is in God if you seek it too late and when he will not let out one drop of it to you 2. Gods justice is as great as his mercy All his Attributes are alike infinite one doth not overtop the other And then if you delay and put off repenting to your latter end why may you not as reasonably fear lest he should in justice punish you for your long impenitency as in mercy give you repentance Quest How doth Practical Godliness better rectifie the Judgment than doubtful Disputations SERMON X. Rom. XIV 1. Him that is weak in the Faith receive but not to doubtful Disputations THIS Epistle to the Romans is an Epitomy or Body of Divinity containing Faith and Love in Christ Jesus from which Rome degenerating hath separated from her self and the Scriptures of Truth the only grand Charter of all Christianity In the beginning of the Epistle the Apostle discourseth about Original Sin 〈◊〉 having infected the whole Nature of Man with its guilt and filth 〈◊〉 Jews and Gentiles all become abominable fallen short of the glory and image of God Chap. 3.23 For by one Man Sin entred upon all Chap. 5.12 and Death by Sin Whence he inferreth there is no possibility of our Justification by the Works either of the Ceremonial or Moral Law so that he concludeth a necessity of our being Justified by Faith without the Works of the Law Chap. 3.28 Through the Redemption of Jesus Christ But though we are justified freely by his Grace yet we are not to live freely and licentiously in Sin because Grace abounds God forbid Chap. 6.1 for holiness is inseparably entailed on our most holy Faith Jude 20. Then he proceedeth to shew the Privileges of the adopted Children of God that there is no condemnation due to them Chap. 8.1 For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made them free from the Law of Sin and Death and that they are heirs of God vers 17. which is more than all the World Till he arriveth at the Head-spring of all Grace and that is Eternal Election Chap. 9. without any foresight of Faith or Works But as in time he chose first the Jews rejecting them he chose the Gentiles without any view of Merit or Eligibility in either of them before others for the Jews were the smallest and meanest of all Nations Deut. 7.7 and the Gentiles all over-run with Idolatry and Profaneness Yet this Conversion of the Gentiles was foreknown and therefore forewilled of God from the beginning Acts 15.18 After these sublimer Doctrins he descends Chap. 12. to Practical Duties and he who will understand the eleven first Chapters of the Epistle to the Romans must practise the five last be acquainted with the mysterious Duties of Love and then you will better understand the mysteries of Faith Chap. 13.8 He exhorteth them to owe no body any thing but Love be in no bodies debt yet owe every one Love a debt always to be paying and yet always owing yet still abiding our proper treasure This 14th Chapter is a branch of some particular Duties of Love and this Verse is the sum of this whole Chapter of Charity which words are said to have occasioned the Conversion or Confirmation of Alipius as the foregoing words were of Augustines Such is the Autority and Energy of the naked Word of God upon the Consciences of Men in the day of Christs Power And the naked Sword cuts better than when it is sheathed in a gaudy scabbard of the inticing words of Mans wisdom 1 Cor. 2.4 The Apostles were frequently exercised with difficulties how to compose the differences among Christians the Jewish Converts were eager to bring their Circumcision with their observation of times and meats along with them into Christianity Gal. 4.10 The Gentiles were not accustomed to these things and therefore opposed them yet were as ready to bring a Tang of their own old Errors with them also as their Doctrin of Demons 1 Tim. 4.1 and their worshipping of Angels Col. 2.18 and probably some of their Heathenish Festivals and Customs So that both parties were in an error and neither of them fully understood that liberty Christ had brought to them from these beggerly Elements Rudiments and Ordinances to which they were in bondage For if God saw good to free his Church from those Ceremonies which were instituted by himself he would never allow them to be in a slavish subjection to the Superstitions and Ceremonies of worldly Mens inventions tho' never so Dogmatically and Magisterially imposed For as Learned Davenant on that Col. 2.18 observes such injunctions are apt to grow upon Men forbidding first not to touch or eat such and such meats then not to taste after not so much as to handle them Now to compose these differences the Apostles met at Jerusalem Acts 15.20 where they made no positive injunctions for the Christians to practise any Ceremonies or Observations of either party against their Consciences but limited the exercise of their liberty which they truly had by the Gospel but that they should abstain from Fornication which to explain is too great a digression Blood things Strangled and what was offered to Idols These they would have them to avoid that they may not offend those weak Jews who could not suddenly concoct these practices till Judgment should be brought to Victory over these feeble fancies And they laid this also as a burthen on them for a time till they could be brought to better understanding and all this by way of advice from the Apostles Elders and the whole Church vers 22. their Letter also was read to the whole multitude vers 30. So here the Apostle adviseth the Romans how to do in the like case with these weak ones Him that is weak receive c. 1. Here is the description of the person who is to be considered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not him that is weak and sick to death erring in the foundation of Faith one who doth not hold the Head Col. 2.19 Who denieth the Lord who bought him these are destructive Heresies which bring on Men swift damnation 2 Pet. 2.1 we are not to say to such God speed you 2 Epistle John 10. their very breath is blasting to Mens minds 2. Nor is it one who is sick about questions 1 Tim. 1.4 2 Tim. 3.23 foolish endless unlearned unedifying questions which only ingender contention such are idle busie-bodies seekers and disputatious quarrellers about some minute things which hypocritical and vain minds Trade in to keep themselves buzzing about the borders of Religion that they may keep off from the more serious duties and substantial parts thereof 3. But he is one
1. In that here is no intimation given that he intended any other Not one of those Characters are set upon them whereby the Pastors or Guides of the Church use to be distinguished from the Community of Believers 2. The Duties which he exhorts them unto may undoubtedly and ought to be performed by private Christians As To continue instant in prayer and to watch in the same with thanksgiving verse 2. To pray in special for the Apostle himself that he might receive Divine Assistance and be blessed with success in the Ministry of the Gospel verse 3 4. To walk in wisdom toward them that are without redeeming the time verse 5. That their speech be always with grace ver 6. With all which the same persons are charged Now to walk in wisdom toward them that are without is a Duty of a great latitude And if it comprehend the promoting of their Conversion and Salvation as certainly it doth having an aptitude tendency and efficacy to help it on Then must private Christians take themselves to be concerned therein For to them is this Exhortation directed And so we have gained a very considerable point That we may from this Text charge the Duty upon the Consciences of private Christians in the name and authority of Jesus Christ 2. We have an account of the Persons with respect to whom in a special manner private Christians are counselled to walk wisely And they are described by this Periphrasis Them that are without i. e. Such as had not as yet entertained the Gospel nor professed subjection to it but still continued in a state of Infidelity This is clear from 1 Cor. v. 12 13. What have I to do to judge them also that are without Do not ye judge them that are within But them that are without God judgeth The sum whereof is this That scandalous Christians are to be corrected by Church-censures when milder remedies prove ineffectual But those flagitious persons who are out of the Pale of the Church are to be left to the judgment of God and of the Civil Magistrates Thus we are advanced one step farther For we have discovered that those to whom private Christians may be very helpful may be such as are without i. e. Heathen or Infidels and therefore they must not cast off all care of them 3. We are to enquire what is that special work and business in the disposal and management whereof private Christians are charged To walk wisely toward them that without I suppose none are so weak as to surmize that the Apostles intent and meaning was to caution them to make sure and advantageous bargains when they traded with Infidels who being false and crafty might be likely to over-reach them This was too low for the Apostles Spirit It was something of a more sublime import and tendency viz. To admonish and excite private Christians so to demean themselves in all things that they might beget even in the Heathen themselves a due veneration for the Gospel and a love and liking of that holy Religion which they professed And to enforce this his Counsel the Apostle did set them a fair example in his own practice 1 Cor. x 33. Even as I please all men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved And hence we learn further That private Christians in their negotiations with Heathens and Infidels should not mind only the enriching of themselves but chiefly the promoting of the Conversion of those poor miserable Souls to the Faith of Jesus Christ 4. In order to the winning over of Infidels to Christ private Christians ought sedulously to endeavour to promote the admission of the Gospel among them For the Gospel is the glorious Chariot in which Christ is carried about the World And that it may be entertained among them to procure the Preaching of it to them For that is Gods method and the Apostles way of reasoning is clear and strong Rom. x. 14 15. How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard And how shall they hear without a Preacher And how shall they preach except they be sent Here then are many things wherein private Christians may be very helpful As in seeking out and procuring those who may preach the Gospel among them Encouraging and supplying those who give up themselves to that blessed work In disposing those poor creatures as much as they may toward the Reception of the Gospel and preventing or removing all impediments that might obstruct their entertainment of it This shews us In what private Christians should desire and endeavour to be Helpful viz. In promoting the entertainment of the Gospel 5. The last thing the former four being established and admitted is to enquire How private Christians may be most helpful herein The Text gives a general Direction when it enjoyns them to walk in wisdom toward them that are without And this will administer to us occasion to lay out this general direction more distinctly and particularly Thus I hope the opening of the Text hath reflected some light upon the Question and all that I have to offer may be gathered up in this Observation Private Christians walking in wisdom toward them them that are without may be exceeding helpfu l to promote the entertainment of the Gospel among them This they may do and more For they may be helpful to promote their Conversion and Salvation To further the entertainment of the Gospel among them is but the Means To promote their Conversion and Salvation is the End And the Means are for the end Now it is expresly affirmed That a Private Believer may save an Infidel 1 Cor. vii 16. For what knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy Husband Or how knowest thou O Man whether thou shalt save thy Wife i. e. The believing party may be induced to cohabit with the unbeliever upon a hopeful prospect that it is possible to conquer them by love to attract them to have an esteem for holiness by an exemplary conversation and to obtain Gods grace for them by ardent prayers and so be the Means of saving their Souls The Apostle Peter exhorts Christian Women who were yoaked with unbelievers to become eminent for their Modesty Chastity Humility and Respectfulness to their Husbands by the same argument 1 Pet. iii. 1 2. Likewise ye Wives be in Subjection to your own Husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be won by the conversation of their Wives while they behold your chast conversation coupled with fear Christian graces being so exercised that they may be seen in their proper luster are excellent Orators and have a mighty power to perswade It is more to live vertue than to commend it Let me have leave to say to women professing godliness as the Apostle stiles them 1 Tim ii 10. O live to such an eminent
up in manifold and mighty clusters What can we mention or fix our thoughts upon that may not kindle and increase this flame of Love and its Eruptions in Good Works The things which we might pertinently and copiously insist upon might be reduced to these Heads 1. The Objects of this Central Grace or Principle 1. Things in Heaven as God Christ the Spirit Angels the Spirits of Just Men there made perfect the glorious Furniture Laws and Orders the Visions Services Ministrations and Fruitions of that State all the Perfections Prerogatives and Employments of that blessed World above with all the accomplishments and accommodations which relate immediately thereto and all the Satisfactions and Advantages that result therefrom 2. Things from Heaven God manifest in the flesh i Tim. iii. 16. the Spirit Works and Word of God the great Provisions and Engagements of Divine Providence for us all that we are or have or meet with express of God's merciful regards to us and his compassionate concernedness for our universal welfare 3. Things for Heaven The Spirit of Grace the Word of Grace all the Ministers and means of Grace with all the Discipline and Encouragements which Providence sensibly affords us the Good and Evil things of time as ordered by God to fit us for and help us to the Glory which we look for The very Sons of men themselves considered in the relations which they bear to God and their expressiveness of his indearing Name and all those marks and notices which they bear and give us in the frame capacity and management of humane Nature of God's incomprehensible Wisdom Power Goodness c. O who can think hereon and yet be unprovoked to Love and to Good Works when as God is so eminently and endearingly discernible in all for God by all this courts our love And should I speak of the Sons of God and Heirs of Glory that Divine Workmanship which is in them and upon them the Impressions Reflections and Refractions of the Divine Nature and Life their capacity of growing up to all the fulness of God and to be eternally the beautiful and delightsome Temple of the Holy Ghost all their relations to the Holy Trinity with all their obligations to him their interest in him their business with him and for him and all their imitations and resemblances of him in their actual and possible motions and advances towards him and their Great Expectations from him Should I insist upon their membership with all the duties and advantages and pleasures which arise there from and pertinently illustrate and apply as I could easily and quickly do what doth so copiously occur in Eph. iv 4. 6. as the Central articles and holding bonds of Union and Endearments would you and I consider all these things and all the loveliness that would then be communicable or observable could our love want its provocation 2. The formal nature of this love 't is fit to be a provocation to itself i Joh. iv 16-21 7-12 This is the beauty health strength pleasure safety and renown of humane nature love is the aim and scope Knowledge the end of faith the Spirit of hope the life of practice and devotion and the bond of perfectness and the true transformation of the Soul into the image of its God No pleasing thoughts of God Christ Heaven or heavenly things no chearful motions towards eternity no foretasts of the highest bliss no warrantable claims thereto nor confident expectations of unseen realities No true and lasting bonds of friendliness in service and affections without this Spirit and state of love this only faces God in his own beautiful and delightful image this only turns the notions of divinity into substantial realities and so exalts the man above the pageantries of meer formal outside service and devotions and the truth is all that we say and do for God or with him and all our expectations from him are but the tricks and forgeries of deceitful and deceived fools and the most provoking Prophanation of the tremendous holy name of God and an abuse of holy things 3. The services which love must do and the fruits it must produce to God to Christ unto the Spirit unto our selves and others God himself must be reverenced addrest unto served and entertained like himself and walked with in all required and fit imitations of himself And all these cannot be without just valuings of and complacency in his eminent perfections near relations and the admirable constitutions and administrations of his Kingdom Christ must be duly thought on heartily entertained gratefully acknowledged and cheerfully obeyed submitted and improved unto the great and gracious purposes of his appearances performances and Kingdom and minded most delightfully in all the Grandeurs of his Grace and Throne the Holy Spirit must possess his Temple to his full Satisfaction and have the pure incense of his graces in their fragrant liberal and continual ascents Praying in the Holy Ghost Jude 20. And be feasted with the growthful and constant productions of his graces both in their blossoms and full fruits and we must be continually sowing to him if we hope to reap eternal life of him in Gal. vi 8. We must possess our selves in God and for him in our full devotedness and resignations of our entire selves to him pleasing our selves in this that we are not by far so much and so delightfully our own as his and that we cannot love our selves so well as when we find God infinitely dearer to us than we are to our selves And as for others much must we chearfully do and bear and be to bring poor Renegadoes back again to God to testify our great respects unto and pleasure in the grace of God in our fellow Christians to accommodate our selves to their edification concerns and to make our best advantage of every thing discernible in them Helping our selves and them in spirit speech and practice And can these things be brought to pass or our selves reconciled suited to all our Christian duties and interests without provoked love And for the solemnities transactions and results of the approaching day what is that day to those who have no love or very great declensions of it For all that come with Christ from Heaven come in the flames of love to God to godliness and Godly Ones and a Cold Heart will no way be endured there And as to fellow Christians the Duties and Counsels of the Text consideration adhering to the Assembling of our selves together mutual exhortations in the encouraging and quickning Prospect of this day can these things be without love III. The management of these provoking things And here let us follow the method of the Text it self Where we have these Topicks to insist upon 1. Persons must be considered each other and our selves 2. We are not to desert the Assemblings of our selves together as the manner of some is 3. We must exhort each other And so what one proposes the other must Consider