God is merciful Christ died for sinners and we will turn when we can tend it and doubt not but all will be well at last But I will answer thee thou childe of Esau that the birth-right and blessing go together miss of one and thou shalt never have the other Esau sound this true for having first despised the birth-right when he would afterwards have inherited the blessing he was rejected for he found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears Gen. 25. Heb. 12. 14 15. 16. Thirdly they shall not be able to enter in who have not believed with the faith of Gods operation the faith that is most holy even the faith of Gods elect He that believeth on the son of God hath â—verlasting life he that believeth not the son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Joh. 3. But now this faith is the effect of electing love and of a new birth Joh. 1. 11 12. therefore all the professors that have not that faith which floweth from being born of God will seek to enter in and shall not be able Fourthly they shall not be able to enter in that have not Gospel-holyness holyness that is the effect of faith is that which admits into the presence of God and into his kingdom too Blessed and holy are they that have part in the first resurrection on such the second death which is hell and eternal damnation Revel 20. 14. hath no power Revel 20. 6. Blessed and holy with the holiness that flows from faith which is in Christ for to these the inheritance belongs That they may receive forgivenes of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith said Christ which is in me Acts. 26. 18. this holyness which is the natural effect of faith in the son of God Christ Jesus the Lord will at this day of judgment distinguish from all other shews of holiness and sanctitie be they what they will and will admit the soul that hath this holiness into his kingdom when the rest will seek to enter in and shall not be able Fifthly They shall not be able to enter in that do not persevere in this blessed faith and holiness not that they that have them indeed can finally fall away and everlastingly perish but it hath pleased Jesus Christ to bid them that have the right to hold fast that they have to endure to the end and then tells them they shall be saved though 't is as true that none is of power to keep himself but God worketh together with his children and they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation which is also laid up in heaven for them 1 Pet. 1. 3 4 5. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight thou hâ—â—est the workers of iniquity The foolish are the unholy ones that neither have saith nor holiness nor perseverance in godliness and yet lay claim to the kingdom of heaven but better is a little with righteousness then great revenues without right Psal. 55. Pro. 16. 8. what is it for me to claim a house or a farm without right or to say all this is mine but have nothing to shew for it this is but like the revenues of the foolish his estate lieth in his conceit he hath nothing by birth-right and law and therefore shall not be able to inherit the possession for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able Thus you see that the non elect shall not be able to enter that â—â—e that is not born again shall not be able to enter that he that hath not saving faith with holiness and perseverâ—nce flowing therefrom shall not be able to enter wherefore consider of what I have said I come now to give you some Observations from the words and they may be three First When men have put in all the claim they can for heaven but few will have it for their inheritance for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able Secondly Great therefore will be the disappointment that many will meet with at the day of judgement for many will seek to enter in and shall not be able Thirdly Going to heaven therefore will be no trivial businesse salvation is not got by a dream they that would then have that kingdom must now strive lawfully to enter for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able I shall speak chiefly and yet but briefly to the first of these Observations to wit That when men have put in all the claim they can to the kingdom of heaven but few will have it for their inheritance The Observation standeth of two parts First that the time is coming when every man will put in whatever claim they can to the kingdome of Heaven Secondly there will be but few of them that put in claim thereto that shall enjoy it for their inheritance I shall speak but a word or two to the first part of the Observation because I have prevented my enlargement thereon by my explication upon the words but you finde in the 25. of Matthew that all they on the left hand of the Judge did put in all the claim they could for this blessed kingdome of heaven If you shall take them on the left hand as most do for all the sinners that shall be damned then that compleatly proveth the first part of the Observation for it is expresly said then shall they all of them jointly and every one apart also answer him saying Lord when saw we thee thus and thus and did not minister unto thee Matt. 25. 44. I could here bring you in the plea of the slothful servant the cry of the foolish virgins I could also here inlarge upon that passage Lord Lord have we not eat and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets but these things are handled already in the handling of which this first part of the Observation is proved wherefore without more words I will God assisting by his grace descend to the second part therof to wit There will be but few of them that put in clâ—im thereto that will enjoy it fâ—r their inheritance I shall speak diâ—inctly to this part of the Observation and shall first confirm it by a Sâ—â—ipture or two Strâ—ighâ— is the gate and narrâ—w is the way tâ—â—t leadeth unâ—o life and few there 〈◊〉 thâ— finde it Mâ—â— 7. 13. 14. Fear nâ—t little flâ—â—k it is your fathers good plâ—â—sure to give you the kingdome Luk 12. 32. By these two Texts and by many more that will be urged anon you may see the truth of what I have â—aiâ— To enlarge therefore upon â—â—e truth and. First more generally Secondly more particularly First more generally I shall prove that in all ages but few have been saved Secondly more particularly I shall prove but few of them that professe have been saved First in the old
then they will see that the blessednesse is to those that shall get into this kingdom according to that which is written Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city Râ—vel 22. 14. To prove that they will seek although I have done it already yet reade these texts at your leisure Matt. 25. 11. chap. 7. 22. Luk. 13. 28 And in a word to give you the reason why they will seek to enter in 1. Now they will see what a kingdom it is what glory there is in it and now they shall also see the blessednesse which they shall have that shall then be counted worthy to enter in the reason why this kingdom is so little regarded it is because it is not seen the glory of it is hid from the eyes of the world their eye hath not seen nor their ear heard c. I but then they shall hear and see too and when this comes to passe then even then he that now most seldom thinks thereof will seek to enter in 2. They will now see what hell is and what damnation in hell is â—â—â—e clear then ever They will also see how the breath of the Lord like a stream of brimstone doth kindle it O the sight of the burning fiery furnace which is prepared for the devil and his Angels this this will make work in the souls of casraways at that day of God almighty and then they will seek to enter in 3. Now they will see what the meaning of such words as these are hell-fire everlasting fire devouring fire fire that never shall be quenched now they will see what for ever means what eternity means now they will see what this word means the bottomless pit now they will hear roaring of sinners in this place howling in that some crying to the mountains to fall upon them and others to the rocks to cover them now they will see blessedness is no where but within 4. Now they will see what glory the godly are possessed with how they rest in Abrahams bosom how they enjoy eternal glory how they walk in their white robes and are equal to the Angels O the savour and blessedness and unspeakable happyness that now Gods people shall have and this shall be seen by them that are shut out by them that God hath rejected for ever and this will make them seek to enter in Luk. 16. 22. 23. 13. 28. Will seck to enter in Q. But some may say how will they seek to enter in Answ. They will put on all the considence they can they will trick and trim up their profession and adorn it with what bravery they can Thus the foolish virgins sought to enter in they did trim up their lamps made themselves as fine as they could they made shift to make their lamps to shine a while but the son of God disccovering himself their confidence failed their lamps went out the door was shut upon them and they were kept out Matt. 25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. 2. They will seek to enter in by crouding themselves in among the godly Thus the man without the wedding garment sought to enter in he goes to the wedding gets into the wedding-chamber sits close among the guests and then without doubt concluded he should escape damnation but you know one black sheep is soon seen though it be among an hundred white ones why even thus it faired with this poor man And when the king came in to see the guests he saw there a man that had not on a wedding-garment He spied him presently and before one word was spoken to any of the other he had this dreadful salutation friend how camest thou in hither not having on a wedding-garment and he was speechless though he could swagger it out amongst the guests yet the Master of the Feast at first coming in strikes him dumb and having nothing to say for himself the King had something to say against him Then said the king to the servants the Angels bind him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Matt. 22. 11 12 13. 3. They will seek to enter in by pleading their profession and admittance to the Lords Ordinances when they were in the world Lord we have eat and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets we sat at thy table and used to frequent sermons and Christian assemblies we were well thought of by thy saints and were admitted into thy Churches we professed the same faith as they did Lord Lord open unto us 4. They will seek to enter in by pleading their virtues hoâ— they subjected to his ministry how they wrought for him what good they did in the world and the like Matt. 7. 22. but neither will this help them the same answer that the two former had the same have these depart from me ye workers of iniquity 5. They will seek to enter in by pleading excuses where they cannot evade conviction The flothful servant went this way to work when he was called to account for not improving his Lords mony Lord says he I knew thou wast an hard man reaping where thou hast not sowed and gathering where thou hast not strewed and I was a fraid c. either that I should not please in laying out thy mony or that I should put it into hands out of which I should not get it again at thy need and I went and hid thy talent in the earth lo there thou hast that is thine as if he had said true Lord I have not improved I have not got but consider also I have not imbezled I have not spent nor lost thy mony lo there thou hast that is thine Matt. 25. 24 25 26 27. There are but few will be able to say these last words at the day of judgment the most of professors are for imbezzeling mis pending and slothing away their time their talents their opportunities to do good in but I say if he that can make so good an exeuse as to say lo there thou hast what is thine I say if such an one shall be called a wicked and slothful servant if such an one shall be put to shame at the day of judgment yea if such an one shall notwithstanding this care to save his Lords mony be cast as unprofitable into utter darkness where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth what will they do that have neither took care to lay out nor care to keep what was committed to their trust 6. They will seek to enter in by pleading that ignorance was the ground of their miscarrying in the things wherein they offended wherefore when Christ charges them with want of love to him and with want of those fruits that should prove their love to be true as that they did not seed him did not give
him drink did not take him in did not cloth him visit him come unto him and the like they readyly reply Lord when saw we the an hungred or at hirst or a strunger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister unto thee Matt. 25. 41. 42. 43. 44. As who should say Lord we are not conscious to our selves that this charge is worthyly laid at our door God forbid that we should have been such sinners but Lord give an instance when was it or where true there was a company of poor sorry people in the world very inconsiderable set by with no body but for thy self we professed thee we loved thee and hadst thou been with us in the world wouldest thou have worn gold wouldest thou have eaten the sweetest of the world we would have provided it for thee and therefore Lord Lord open to us But will this plea do no then shall he answer them in asmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these my brethren ye did it not to me This plea then though grounded upon ignorance which is one of the strangest pleas for neglect of duty would not give them admittance into the kingdom These shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal I might add other things by which t' will appear how they will seek to enter in as 1. They will make a stop at this gate this beautiful gate of heaven they will begin to stand without at the gate as being loath to go any further never did malefactor so unwillingly turn off the ladder when the rope was about his neck as these will turn away in that day from the gates of heaven to hell 2. They will not only make a stop at the gate but there they will knock and call this also argueth them willing to enter they will begin to stand without and to knock at the gate saying Lord Lord open to us This word Lord being doubled shews the vehemency of their desires Lord Lord open unto us The devils are coming Lord Lord the pit opens her mouth upon us Lord Lord there is nothing but but hell and damnation left us if Lord Lord thou hast not mercy upon us Lord Lord open to us 3. Their last argument for entrance is their tears when groundless considence pleading of vertues excuses and ignorance will not do when standing at the gate knowing and calling Lord Lord open to us will not do then they betake themselves to their tears tears are sometimes the most powerful arguments but they are nothing worth here Esau also sought it carefully with tears but it helped him nothing at all Heb. 12. 15. 16. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth for the gate is shut for ever mercy is gone for ever Christ hath rejected them for ever all their pleas excuses and tears will not make them able to enter into this kingdom For many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able I come now to the latter part of the words which closely shews us the reason of the rejection of these many that must be damned they will seek to enter in and shall not be able An hypocrite a false professor may go a great way they may pass thorow the first and second watch to wit may be approved of Christians and Churches but what will they do when they come at this iron gate that leadeth into the city there the workers of iniquity will fall be cast down and shall not be able to rise And shall not be able The time as I have already hinted which my Text respecteth it is the day of judgement a day when all masks and vizzards shall be taken off from all faces It is a day wherein God will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsels of the heart 1 Cor. 4. 5. It is also the day of his wrath the day in which he will pay vengeance even a recompence to his adversaries At this day those things that now these many count sound and good will then shake like a quagmire even all their naked knowledge their feigned faith pretended love glorious shews of gravity in the face their holy-day words and specious carriages will stand them in little stead I call them holy day ones for I perceive that some professors do with religion just as people do with their best apparrel hang it against the wall all the week and put them oâ—â— on Sundays for as some scarce ever put on a Sute but when they go to a Fair or a Market so little housereligion will do with some they save religion till they go to a Meeting or till they meet with a godly chapman O poor religion O poor professor what wilt thou do at this day at the day of thy trial judgement cover thy self thou canst not go for a Christian thou canst not stand against the Judge thou canst not what wilt thou do The ungodly shall not stand in judgement nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous And shall not be able The ability here intended is not that which standeth in carnal power or fleshly subtilty but in the truth and simplicity of those things for the sake of which God giveth the kingdom of heaven to his people There are five things for the want of which this people will not be able to enter First this kingdom belongs to the elect to those for whom it was prepared from the foundation of the world Matt. 25. hence Christ saith when he comes he will send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to another Matt. 24. and hence he saith again I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains and mine elect shall inherit it and my servants shall dwell there they shall deceive if it were possible the very elect but the elect hath obtained it and the rest were blinded Rom. 11. 7. Secondly They will not be able to enter because they will want the birth right the kingdom of heaven is for the heirs and if children then heirs if born again then heirs wherefore it is said expresly except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God by this one word down goes all carnal priviledge of being born of flesh and bloud and of the will of man canst thou produce the birth-right but art thou sure thou canst for it will little profit thee to think of the blessed kingdom of heaven if thou wantest a birthright to give thee inheritance there Esau did dispise his birth-right saying what good will this birth-right do me and there are many in the world of his mind to this day tush say they they talk of being born again what good shall a man get by that they say no going to heaven without being born again but