and his former offences and affronts be they what they will shall not be an Impediment nay the former refusing to turn though it was never so long shall be past by The proclaiming of thiâ— accepted time should be lookt upon as glad tidings indeed 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. We then 〈◊〉 workers together with Him beseech you also that ye receive not the Grace of God in vain for he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted in a day of Salvation I have succoured thee Christ himself in the days of his flesh was heard was succoured was carried by the power of his Godhead through the whole work of Mans Redemption Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of Salvation This day of Salvation is the fruit of a Saviours Obedience and Sufferings in his day Now those that have sold themselves to commit Iniquity and are under the bondage of Corruption may recover their liberty those that had lost the incorruptible and undefiled Inheritance may be re-instated and again possessed of it Now the Lord is neer to them that seek him and ready to be found and if the wicked forsake their ways and thoughts and return to Him he assures them he will have mercy and pardon so abundantly as shall exceed their conceptions and the manner and wayes of mens shewing Mercy one to another as the Heaven is high above the Earth Isa 55. 6 7 8. 5. In the Word of God there are Instances and Examples of very great Sinners who have been converted and saved How great are the Acts of Grace which have been done by the God of all Grace and comfort Stand forth O David guilty of Adultery and Murther first defiling the Wife and then killing the Husband afterwards Stand forth O thou great Apostle Peter who wast so confident in thy self that thou shouldest abide the sorest Trial but didst so basely shrink and once twice thrice and with Cursing and Swearing didst deny thy Lord Stand forth ye Corinthian Saints who were Fornicators Idolaters Adulterers effeminate abusers of your selves with Mankind who were thieves covetous drunkards revilers extortioners 1 Cor. 6. 9 10 11. And all of you proclaim That the Grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with Faith and love which is in Christ Jesus as the Apostle Paul speaks who himself had obtained Mercy although he had been a blasphemer a persecutor and injurious 1 Tim. 1. 13 14. Setting aside the unpardonable Sin against the Holy Ghost and final Impenitency and Unbelief for ought I know Heaven can shew as great Sinners as Hell who notwithstanding all their guilt and filthiness were washed sanctified justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God and now their Holiness is perfected in Glory This is an encouragement to the worst of men to hope if they return to God they shall not be rejected Nay suppose there should be now a greater Transgressour than ever yet obtained Mercy it would not be impossible for such an One to obtain Mercy for Divine Grace and Mercy have not yet done their very uttermost 6. The Word of God discovers Sinners weakness and where that Strength is without which turning to God will never be That Grace which brings Man to God to Heaven must come from the God of Heaven Can man arise from the Dead till the Voice of the Lord which is powerful say Awake thou that sleepest Can any come to God but by his Son Jesus can any come to Christ but those whom the Father drawes Joh. 6. 44. God Works to Will He Works to do and he does the one and the other freely of his own good Pleasure Phil. 2. 13. Sinners are then encouraged to seek unto God to do both for them And He can easily take away the Heart of Stone and give a new Heart and a new Spirit and cause those who before neglected now to turn into the way of Salvation and to work out their own Salvation with fear and trembling 7. I might also add that the Word of God shuts the Kingdom of Heaven against â—hose that are resolved to continue Vnconvertâ—d Nothing but Indignation and Wrath Tribulation and Anguish is thundred out â—gainst them that will continue in their evil doing that will not be gathered by a Saviour that will not be made clean by his Sanctifying Spirit Nay the Word concludes them under greater misery and â—ooms them to a severer Damnation who are called to turn and yet refuse Mat. 11. 23. Thou Capernaum that are exalted unto Heaven who hast Heaven offer'd and such advantages of getting thither 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall not only go to Hell but be brought down with force and fury to one of the hottest and lowest places there It â—hall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorâ—ah in the day of Judgment than for Thee Such kind of threats may help to cure the spiritual Lethargy and to make Sinners â—fraid of remaining Unconverted You see what it is in the Word that has a tendency to Conversion In the second Place I am to demonstrate the Aptitude and fitness of the Word to be such a means of Conversion What has been spoken already is in part a Demonstration of it but this fitness of the Word may be further made evident 1. The Word is a Light which shines in a dark place 2 Pet. 1. 19. and therefore 't is a proper means to turn men from darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God. The Word discovers what the Prince of darkness studiously endeavours to conceal Ignorance and Infidelity are the Pillars of Satans Kingdom he takes much pains to blind the Minds of the Unbelievers that the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God may not shine into them 2 Cor. 4. 4. This light gives a true and faithful representation of Sin as the most hateful and hurtful thing in the whole World of Satan also as the most subtle false envious malicious Deceiver and Murtherer of the Sons nay of the very Souls of men The Word reveals the Devils grand secret that the Broad way is the high Road to Ruine which has been trod by all the Damned Hell at the end of this way becomes naked by the Word of God which the Lying Spirit would not have at all to be credited or so much as thought on till Sinners find themselves thrown into it and there without any hope of Release and Remedy 2. The Word is a Perspective glass which brings things afar off near to the eye that so the Heart may be the more affected It shews that the whole of Time from the very first to the very last is but short if compared with Eternity and how the end of all things is at hand 1 Pet. 4. 7. and the Oath will at length be sworn That there shall be time no longer Scoffers indeed who walk after their own lusts do say Where is the Promise of our Lords coming They
Majesty and Holiness of God especially considering he is alwaies by you and tryes your very Hearts and Reins The greatness of that God with whom you have to do should make you afriad to dally and trifle with him If you think he will be mock't you will find to your cost that you deceive your selves Oh stoop with the most profound Submission to this glorious Sovereign of Heaven and Earth 'T is the heighth of Madness for you that are so infinitely below Him and so wholly under his Power to refuse subjection to Him. He is Glorious in Holiness Exod. 15. 11. He can as soon cease to be himself as cease to be an Hater of the workers of Iniquity A fuller Perswasion of Gods Holiness and that his Holiness is his Glory will make you more sensible of the Necessity of turning from Sin and that Holiness will be your Glory and Perfection He that is changed and made a Convert is made a Glorious Creature and as this change is carried on there is still a Progression from Glory to Glory by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. Gods Nature is pure every Word of God is pure He is Righteous in all his wayes and Holy in all his Works Psal 145. 17. Oh cry incessantly that you may partake of a nev of the Divine Nature that a clean heart may be created in you that your Lips may be Pure your Words true and Gracious and that you may be Holy in all manner of Conversation Are not Gods eyes upon your wayes does not he hear all your words does not he weigh your very Spirits your whole man is under his Observation let there be a turning to God with your whole man. Sincerity in Conversion and hypocrisie are both known and only Sincerity has Gods love and liking 7. When you turn to God behold him as he is in Christ else there is no access to him nor acceptance with him After Adams fall the Mediator is presently revealed the Seed of the Woman that was to break the Serpents head Gen. 3. 15. The old Serpent by Sin had made a Rupture and breach between God and Man Now Christ the Mediatour is He that makes up the breach again and so destroyes the work and frustrates the design of Satan If God be lookt upon in Christ there is all manner of Encouragement to return to him He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. He is good and ready to forgive and plenteous in Mercy to all that call upon him Psal 86. 5. The Prodigals Father was not more forward who ran to embrace his returning Son than God is to receive returning Sinners If you would return to God indeed you must take Calvaâ—y in your way you must know Jesus Christ and him Crucified 1 Cor. 2. 2. The Saints of old that were in Heaven before the Son of God was manifested in the Flesh as well as those that went thither afterward were all brought nigh to God by the Blood of his Cross Col. 1. 20. You cannot know and turn to the only true God so as to be received by him unless you know and receive Jesus Christ whom he has sent But if you behold God in Christ unbelief appears unreasonable despair is a monstrous absurdity You may perceive Love in the Lords looks his Justice fully satisfied his Anger all gone his Repentings kindled his Bowels yearning and you cannot so much desire Mercy as He delights in shewing it The true Convert to God must be a Believer in Jusus who is the way to the Father As God will not draw nigh to Man so Man cannot draw nigh to God any other way 8. With great earnestness implore the Spirits aid Be sure to grieve that you have grieved Him and acknowledge 't is just that for your grieving him he should leave you to your selves but beg his presence and his assistance that he would help you and make you truly constantly willing to be helped Adams Body was formed of the Dust of the Ground but was a lifeless Corps till God breathed into it the Breath of Life Till the Spirit of Life enters into you you are without Life or Motion towards God therefore with all seriousness ask the Spirit You come to God through the Son as the Mediator that procures access and opens the way but 't is by the Spirit as by Him who both inclines and strengthens you to come to Him Eph. 2. 18. The Promise of the Spirit is of ancient date implied in the Promise of the Messiah and very frequently expressed Under the New Testament Dispensation a more plentiful effusion of the Spirit is Promised Parents that are evil if their Children ask bread will not give them a stone to hurt them nor instead of a Fish a Serpent to sting them And if they give good gifts to their Children much more will the Father in Heaven give his Spirit to them that ask him There is hardly a more encouraging Word to Sinners in the whole Bible if they are inclined or would be inclined to have the Spirit given them And if the Holy Spirit be given you you will have Light and Life and Liberty Conviction antecedent to Conversion Conversion it self and Consolation afterwards are all of them the Works of the Spirit And be sure to observe the Accesses of the Spirit Sometimes the Wind blows fair and strong for Heaven now hoise up thy Sail that thou mayest receive the Gale sometimes by his Convictions motions strivings you may perceive the Spirit is very near you by a clearer and more affecting Light he shews you that turning to God is your Duty and Advantage and he very much presses you to it Nunc sunt Mollissima fandi Tempora Now is the time to speak and speed in your Supplications for the Spirit that he may thoroughly Convert you and consecrate you to the Lord and abide in you for ever 9. Would you be Converts in Truth give your whole Hearts to God and never be satisfied till you feel you love him above all Let the Lord have your Hearts to search them that all even the most secret evils there may be detected and being detected may be detested and abhorr'd Sin sometimes may be restrained from breaking out in the Life and yet then may be regarded and reign in the Heart Be willing to know the most inward spiritual wickedness that lies quite out of the sight of others and being acquainted with it consent to have it purged away Give your Hearts to God that he may possess employ and rule them at his Pleasure Tell the Lord that the very Throne is for him and that your Souls and all that is within you are ready to be at his command and that you consent every Lust should be slain because it would not that he He should reign over you In what a safe hand is the Heart when 't is in Gods how pure and excellent is it made with what Beauty does it
cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God and whensoever the Word is effectual to change a Sinner and turn him into a Believer 't is made effectual by no less a Power than His who is Omnipotent Who hath believed our report There 's preaching And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed there 's the Power of God graciously and gloriously manifested that causes Preaching to be successful In the handling of this Doctrine I shall First Shew you what it is in the Word of God that is made use of as a Means of Conversion Secondly Demonstrate the aptitude and fitness of the Word to be such a Means Thirdly I shall tell you what kind of Means it is Fourthly Whence this Means comes to be effectual Lastly Apply I begin with the first of these What it is in the Word that is made use of as the Means of Conversion 1. The Word layes before Sinners eyes the just the strict the holy Law of God. It leads them to Mount Sinai burning with Fire and to the blackness and darkness and Tempest there Where all the Congregation heard a Voice that put them into a deadly consternation and trembling and so terrible was the sight that Moses said I exceedingly fear and quake Heb. 12. 18 19 20 21. This Law is the Law of the onely living and true God the King eternal Immortal the blessed and onely Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Who has the highest Authority and full power to impose what commands he pleases upon the Sons of Men and they in all duty and reason are obliged to yield Obedience to them This Law of God is so large so Spiritual and so pure that every evil action every idle word nay every sinful intent desire and thought breaks it Add also that not only the doing speaking and thinking evil but the not doing speaking and thinking what is good causes this 〈◊〉 to be transgressed What fallen Man can reach this Laws exactness Since it curses every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Gal. 3. 10. 'T is a certain and one of the great Oracles of God That by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight Rom. 3. 20. and the reason is added because by the Law is the knowledge of Sin. The Laws Authority and Purity makes Mans guilt and defilement the more apparent and the true sight of these goes before Conversion 2. The Word of God shews how all that have sinned have by the Law the Sentence of Condemnation really past upon them The Sinner that is Unconverted and Unbelieving is said to be condemn'd already Joh. 3. 18. How cold does it strike to the Malefactors Heart when the Judge pronounces the Sentence of Death upon him Bidding him go from the Bar to the Gaol and from the Gaol to the Gallows and there shamefully end his days The Law of God Sentences every Transgressor unto Death not Temporal only but Eternal And though the Execution of this 〈◊〉 is for a while deferr'd yet the 〈…〉 of being thus sentenced should be exceedingly affrighting and amazing The Sentence of Condemnation past by the Law is very big with evils it fills Time with them nay it comprehends evils enough to fill Eternity The Sinners Life is miserable his Death more miserable and after Death he is most miserable because his misery will never have an end The case of a Man is judged very ill and sad who is condemned to be broken upon the Wheel or to be flead alive or to be roasted to death before the Fire But what 's all this if compared with being Sentenced to endure the pains of Hell to dwell with devouring Flames which the angry breath of the Lord as a stream of brimstone doth kindle to inhabit everlasting burnings The hearing of such a terrible Sentence has a mighty tendency to startle and make the sinners in Sion afraid and to cause fearfulness to surprize the hypocrites Isa 33. 14. that they may be no longer secure while unconverted 3. The Word of God warns Sinners to flee from the wrath to come and the very Warning intimates a possibility of escaping it The Word from Heaven reveals the wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men Rom. 1. 18. It tells them that the Lord has an Armoury which he can open at his pleasure and bring forth the weapons of his indignation Jer. 50. 15. and there is no Shield for the Obstinate no standing before these weapons Deut. 32. 40 41. For I lift up my hand to Heaven and say I live for ever If I whet my glittering Sword and my hand take hold on Judgment I will render vengeance to my enemies and will reward them that hate me The Lord not only says but swears and that by his own Life which is for ever that Death and Destruction will be the Portion and Reward of them that will not turn but impenitently persist in their rebellion against him Sinners are in time warned by the Word of this Sword that 's coming Ezek. 33. 7. Son of Man I have set thee a Watchman unto the House of Israel therefore thou shalt hear the Word at my Mouth and waâ—n them from me They are warned of the Vials that are filling with wrath as they are filling up the Measure of their iniquities they are warned of the righteous Purpose and Decree that is pregnant before it actually bring forth vengeance Zeph. 2. 1. 2. Gather your selves together yea gather together O Nation not desired before the Decree bring forth before the day pass as the chaffe before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you before the day of the Lords anger come upon you And in thus admonishing them to flee from the wrath that is without repentance so certainly and justly coming there is much of pity and mercy shew'd them 4. The Word of God encourages Conversion by representing him in Christ as ready to be reconciled to and receive all that turn The elect Angels when they saw God manifested in the flesh admired his good will towards Men and proclaimed Peace on Earth Luk. 2. 14. Mercy is not extorted from God for sinners sensible of their sin and misery but he delights in shewing it Pardon is not hardly gotten at his hand and against his Nature but he is ready to forgive He is not almost inexorable when distressed Souls fear his Power and Wrath and cry for Peace but as they intreat Him so He intreats them to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 20. Now then we are Ambassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God. The Word speaks of a Jubilee of an accepted time of a day of Salvation in which the Lord seriously calls Sinners and the very worst of them to turn and whosoever he be that turns in truth shall graciously be received
near to the Holy and Righteous Jehovah without a Mediator And if he be considered in this Mediator there is all possible Encouragement to turn to him 5. The Spirit as by the Word he works Faith in Christ so by the same Word he causes the Sinner to yield himself to God He that was before stout-hearted and far from Righteousness now throws down his Weapons of Rebellion and submitting cries for Mercy he dares not still rush on in Sin as the Horse into the Battel he is made sensible that there is no contending with the Almighty that none ever hardned themselves against him and prosper'd Job 9. 4. Therefore he bows and yields least he be broke and ruin'd And as the Power of Gods anger makes the Sinner afraid of remaining Unconverted so he is most strongly induced to turn by the Spirits effectual discovery of Gods Alsufficiency Mercy Loving-kindness He sees plainly it can never be well with him while at a distance from God and that in Him and in his Favour is really his Life and Happiness Thus the poor Prodigal was afraid of continuing in the far Country least he should there perish for hunger and he came homâ— to his Fathers house because there was bread enough and to spare Luke 15. 17. I come in the last place to the Application I begin with some Inferences that may be drawn from this Doctrine 1. If the Word of God be the great means of Conversion hence I infer that this Word is a great Priviledge The giving us the Light and Influence of the Sun and Moon and Stars is acknowleged to be the needful Bounty of the God of Heaven but the vouchsafing of the Word speaks a more peculiar favour and is a means to convey a far greater benefit In this Word of God there is a general Proclamation a Proclamation of a general pardon of all offenders against the highest Majesty and that upon the most equal terms that they prize this favour make use of his Sons mediation to obtain it and consent by Sin willingly to wrong their own Souls no more This Word carries in it a Proclamation to open the prison-doors to unloose the bonds and fetters to grant liberty unto all those that are weary of the bondage of corruption and that are willing to become the Lords Free men this Word is an Invitation to all sensible Souls that perceive they have spent their labour for that which is not bread to come for the bread of God which comes down from Heaven and which giveth life unto the World Joh. 6. 33. O the tender mercy of God in vouchsafing his Word to any When the Light of this Word shines it finds Sinners in Darkness imployed in the works of darkness hastning towards the blackness of darkness for ever and it doth give them the knowledge of Salvation by the remission of Sin and guide their feet into the way of peace Luke 1. 77 78 79. Those are glorious times indeed that is indeed a Golden age when the Word of God is heard by every ear when Labourers are many and Faithful and are hard at work for God for Christ for Souls when saving Knowledge doth fill all the corners of a Land Happy happy is that People that is in such a case if they do but rightly improve their priviledge for this Word doth direct them to walk in the Light of Gods Countenance 2. Hence I inferr how inexcusable they are that remain Vnconverted still under the Word of God which is the great Means of Conversion The Light of Nature leaves those that glorisie not God as God without excuse Rom. 1. 21. But the Light of the Word doth much more take away all Apology from them that neglect it They that are not Converted to God when they hear this Word neglect to trade with one of the choicest Talents that any of the Children of Men can be entrusted with To pass over the whole Volume and Book of Nature to take no notice of God in it though every Creature be designed as a Remembrancer of Him to pass by the works of Providence and not hereby to be brought to the Fear of and Faith in God who exerciseth loving kindness and Judgment in the Earth Nothing can be said to defend it But for a Sinner a lost Sinner a miserable Sinner that is ready every Moment to fall into Hell for this Man to hear the Gospel of Christ to have Pardon so fully and freely offered to him and yet to be deaf to the offer to refuse to turn to the Lord though hereby he will live for ever this doth argue a far more exceeding and excessive madness What can the Unconverted Sinner plead for himself that he doth not turn Can he say that he hath not been warned to flee from the wrath to come Alas the Almightys anger and indignation hath often been pealed in his ear How often hath he heard Wo to the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given to him Isa 3 11. Can he say that he hath not been called to turn No such matter Wisdom hath cried aloud cryed vehemently How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge turn ye at my reproof Prov. 1. 22 23. Again can the Sinner plead that he hath not had encouragement to turn to God No no the God of Heaven the God of Truth hath solemnly protested by his own Life that he hath no pleasure in the Sinners death but had rather that he should turn and live Hear O Heaven Hearken O Earth and judge whether the Sinner that is called to turn to God and won't does not deserve to dy in his iniquities 3. If the Word of God is the great means of Conversion hence I inferr that the Removal of the VVord is a very sore Judgment How sore I wish that England may never feel by sad experience A Famine of Bread is affirmed to be worse than the Plague of Pestilence worse than the Sword of VVar though Plague and Sword are very terrible but a Famine of the VVord of God is the worst sort of Famine and it is threatned as a punishment which is an indication of far greater wrath Amos 8. 11. It shall come to pass in those days saith the Lord God that I will send a Famine in the land not a Famine of Bread nor a thirst for water but a Famine of hearing the VVord of the Lord. The Antithesis here between these two Famines doth heighten the severity of the punishment A Famine of the VVord is a punishment that is Spiritual so much the more hurtful because it reaches the Spirits of Men so much the more hurtful by how much the Soul is more precious than the Body Ay but may some one say what great harm is there if there should come such a Famine I will tell you To have the VVord of God removed it is to have
only Rulers in the World the greatest Monarchs that are graceless are slaves to their ambition carnal interests and to divers lusts and pleasures but the Converted are more than conquerors and recover that dominion over the Creatures which was lost in the first transgression 6. Conversion is a directing all we do to the glory of God. They that take aim shut one of their Eyes The Convert in his aims and ends has a single Eye Gods honour is designed above all He that makes not God his End has not yet begun to turn to him in sincerity The Convert in his civil actions as buying and selling in his natural actions as eâ—â—â—â—g and ar 〈…〉 does what he does to the glory of God as the Apostle enjoyns 1 Cor. 10. 31. And especially in his religiâ—us actions his design is that the Name of God may be hallowed and glorified in the desiring and working out his own Salvation he designs that God may have the glory of saving him as well as he 〈…〉 self the happiness of being saved Thus have I shewn what Conversion is with reference to God. Fifthly Conversion may be considered with reference to Jesus the Mediatour As God is He to whom we turn so Christ is He through whom we do it and indeed there is no coming to the Father but by this one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus Joh. 14. 6. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Christ is both God and Man in one person and two Natures so very distinct and the one so infinitely above the other being united in the Person of Christ hence follows an Vnion and Reconciliation between God and those of the Children of Men for and of whom Christ undertakes to be an Advocate a Surety a Saviour and Redeemer In Conversion there is an absolute necessity of using the Mediation of Christ it is by the Grace of Christ strengthening that the Sinner is enabled to turn to God and 't is upon the account of the Obedience and Intercession of the Lord Jesus that the returning Sinner does find acceptance with the Father Christ is the Lord whom the Prophet speaks of Isa 45. 24 25. Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength in the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be â—ustified and shall glory Now how the Convert in his turning has his Eye and Heart â—n Christ I shall shew you in these particulars 1. The Convert is perswaded that God is accessible in Christ Jesus Eph. 3. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the Faith of him God is not implacable he is not mexorable but ready to forgive and plenteous in Mercy unto all that cry for it Christ has satisfied the Justice of God to the very utmost of its demands he paid more to Justice in an hour than Believers could have paid unto Eternity Christ can â—ppease the Almighties 〈◊〉 Anger and his Blood can do away the greatest transgressions 1 Joh. â— 7. The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseâ—â— us from all sin The Convert is encouraged by the Blood of Christ which is the Blood of him that is God and by the rich Grace of God in him Eph. 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his Grace Indeed the Scripture speaks of one Sin that is unpardonable that against the Holy Ghost but the reason is not as if it were too great for the Blood of Christ to procure the Pardon of it but because such Sinners resist and do despight to the Spirit of Christ and will by no means be brought to him but trample under foot the Son of God and count his Blood an unholy and common thing The Remedy is not insufficient for them but they perversely despise and will by no means use it and therefore perish 2. The Convert is encouraged by the general serious frequent gracious invitations made in the Gospel All Offenders are invited to Christ who is Sinners Peace for the Chastisement of their peace was upon him Isa 53. 5. The Captives are invited to this Redeemer that they may have liberty by him and such liberty as is freedom indeed Joh. 8. 36. All thirsty Souls are invited to come to him for the Waters of Life Rev. 22. 17. Whosoever will let him drink of the waters of Life freely Finally the lost that see themselves to be lost are invited to come to Christ for Salvation and He is able to save unto the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. Whatever the guilt of Sin is whatever the pollutions are the Blood the Spirit of Christ are offer'd in the Gospel and are sufficient for the justifying and washing of the guilty and defiled 3. The Convert receives Christ and relyes upon him for Pardon Grace and Life eternal He is troubled that he received him no sooner that his Heart was with a foolish Obstinacy shut against him for so long a time though to receive him is to have power to become a Son of God Joh. 1. 12. But now his Heart is open to entertain this Lord of life this Prince and maker of Peace his accepting Christ is a voluntary a glad a thankful acceptance and in Him not in the Flesh he places his confidence and hopes he despairs in himself and every thing else but he abounds in hope because of that superabundant Grace that reigns by Jesus Christ Rom. 5. 20 21. And because the Apostle plainly sayes He that spared not his own Son but deliver'd him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Rom. 8. 32. The Converts eye is fixt on Jesus at his very first Conversion and still he is looking to him to his very dissolution he sees in Him an everlasting Righteousness a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an all-fulness of Grace on Christ therefore he depends for acceptance with God and all needful Strength and Grace until he comes to Glory 4. The Convert submits to the easie Yoak of Christ Jesus He walks no longer after the course of this World he fulfils no longer the â—â—siâ—â—â— of the Flesh and of the Mind he casts off the Yoak of Mammon and of Satan and now his great Inquiry is what the Lord Jesus would have him to do that he may do according to his Will He looks on Christ as Law-giver and King in Sion and his Laws he is willing to obey and he remembers that Christ endured the Cross and was Crown'd with thâ—rns therefore he stumbles not at the Cross but takes it up and follows the Lamb and reckons those are light Afflictions which are but for a moment and that they ought not to be feared or shunn'd when they can't be avoided without sin being they work for those that undergo them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 5. The Convert loves the Lord Jesus in sincerity and lives by Faith on him is long as he lives here in
on Earth take such an Answer Surely it must needs anger the God of Heaven who bids you turn to day to say that seven and seven and seven years after that will be time enough to do it The Spirit urges to present Conversion delay vexes the Holy Ghost and being vexed he may give over striving Gen. 6. 3. My Spirit shall not alwaies strive with man. And if he be quite gone Conversion becomes impossible you never never can or will be turned 3. Delay hardens the unconverted Satans holds are stronger Sin is rooted deeper Conscience is more stupified Custom in Sin more fully takes away the Sense of it And surely the more dead asleep the Conscience is the more unlikely 't is to be awakened the more the Heart is like an Adamant stone the more improbable 't is that ever it should be mollified 4. Delayes are unconceivably dangerous 't is far greater folly to defer thy turning to God than if thou shouldst defer the cutting off a Grangren'd member or than if thy house were on fire and thou shouldst say A twelve month or seven year hence were time enough to put out the flame Martial has an excellent Epigram against delaying the amendment of the Life lib. 5. Epig. 58. Cras te victurum cras dicis Posthume semper Dic mihi cras istud Posthume quando venit Quam longe est cras istud ubi est aut unde petendum Nunquid apud Parthos Armeniosque latet Jam cras istud habet Priami vel Nestoris annos Cras istud quanti dic mihi possit emi Cras vives hodie jam vivere Posthume serum est Ille sapit quisquis Posthume vixit heri The design of the Poet is to shew that purposes of future amendment are idle and vain that to amend presently is late enough and that it would have been true Wisdom to have done it long ago Obj. 10. The last Objection against Conversion is that of Despairing Sinners Oh! say they we are afraid 't is quite too late to turn to God. He has called long but we have as long refused he has stretched forth his hand but we have still been stiff-necked and gainsaying If we had turned sooner we might have hoped but now our Sins are so increased over our heads and we have persisted so long in our rebellion that we quite despair of Pardon and Reception Ans 1. God calls those to turn who sinn'd long and with an high hand nay with their whole might Jer. 3. 5 7. Behold thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest And I said after she had done all these things Turn thou unto me Those that have sliden back with a perpetual backsliding are invited to return to God from whom they have deeply revolted such a call you have Jer. 3. 22. and the call is hearkned to and obeyed Return ye backsliding Children and I will heal your backslidings behold we come to thee for thou art the Lord our God. 2. Some have been Converted very late Grace has recover'd them that have been very far gone in Sin and by Sin have been brought to the very brink of the bottomless pit Some have been Converted not only at the ninth hour but at the eleventh hour nay at the last moment of the twelfth hour of the day To prevent despair we have one instance of a Man that began to live when he was just dying and that was the Penitent Thief upon the Cross his Soul was joyn'd to Jesus by a true Faith just before 't was separated from his Body his Heart was changed not many moments before his great change But do we find any more such instances in Scripture No. One we find to prevent Despair but one to check Presumption and foolish Procrastination That Thief upon the Cross seems though just before so great a Sinner of a sudden to be made the greatest Believer upon Earth a Hic Latro rarum memorabilâ— fidei exemplum altius penetrâ—â— quam Apostoli omnes Christum in patibulo Regem adorat Regnum ejus celebrat in borrendâ plusquam deformi abjectionâ— moribunduâ— pronunciat vitae Authorem Calvin ad Luc. 23 43. As Calvin observes concerning him he did altius peneâ—rare pierce deeper into the mystery of Christ Crucified than at that present all the Apostles did they were all offended at the Cross but this poor Penitent places his Confidence in that which was their scandal and he sees Life and Salvation in Christ when Christ and himself were both dying 3. Though you that have deferr'd Conversion long ought bitterly to bewail your former obstinacy yet add not the Sin of despair to all the rest A great many years spent in wickedness should be reflected on with serious sorrow and self-condemning Yet say not there is no hope for this will neither better your Estate nor you Despair is a greater sin than most are aware of reflecting much dishonour upon the Grace and Mercy of God which 't is his special design to glorifie in the Gospel Eph. 1. 6. Despair is a disparaging of and a Sinning against our Lord Jesus who came into the World to save Sinners and the very Chief of Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. and how contrary is this despair unto the holy Spirit the Comforter And as despair is evil in its own Nature and very unreasonable so 't is evil in its tendency it either tends to self-murther Hope was first kill'd in Judas and then Judas kills himself Mat. 27. 4 5. or else it issues in profaneness when Sinners conclude their Case is desperate and that they shall certainly be damn'd at last 't is not unusual for them to resolve to enjoy all the Pleasures and gain of Sin while they may and to endeavour to expell their fad and self-tormenting Thoughts by sensuality and earthly-mindedness Jer. 2. 25. Judah first sayes There is no hope and then resolves upon a continuance and greater eagerness in an evil way I have loved strangers and after them will I go But pray mistake not the Nature of Despair You must despair of Saving your selves by your own Worth and Power you must despair of ever obtaining Mercy if resolved still to go on in your trespasses But 4. If now at last you are but truly willing to turn to turn to God to turn from all Sin and to turn with all your Heart God is much more willing to turn you to turn to you and to shew you Mercy None ever turn'd and was rejected none ever truly desired Grace to turn and went to Hell without it and perisht unconverted When Ephraim cryed Turn thou me and I shall be turned God surely heard him Jer. 31. 18. and v. 20. he sayes Mâ— Bowels are troubled for him and I will surely have mercy upon him Thus I have answered the Objections against Conversion I have endeavour'd to level the Mountains and Hills to fill the Valleys to make the Crooked straight and the Rough wayes smooth and plain that
he left all that he might enjoy pure publick Ordinances Certainly he found that of Grace that of Christ in them as was much more valuable to him than all his Pleasant and Plentiful Estate which is one of the chief Flowers in Italy the Garden of the World. 5. God is turned unto these true Converts that are turned to him and will never turn away from them to do them good and to keep them good and upright before Him. Regeneration and Conversion is a great Fruit and effect of the Resurrection of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 3. Believers are said to be begotten again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead And as Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more Death hath no more Dominion over him Rom. 6. 9. so they who by Converting Grace are made spiritually a live shall never totally relapse under the Dominion of Sin nor become again dead in Trespasses That God who has called these Converts is faithful and therefore as the Apostle sayes he will preserve their whole Spirits and Souls and Bodies blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 23 24. The Lord turns to them that are turned Zech. 1. 3. Turn to me saith the Lord of Hosts and I will turn to you saith the Lord of Hosts he turns his Eye his Face his Ear his Heart his Hand towards them for good And he has said he will never leave them nor forsake them neither shall they leave nor forsake him for he will establish them with his Free Spirit he will uphold them with the right hand of his Righteousness Oh Happy Converts who have Glory promised upon their Perseverance and have Strengthning Grace Promised to make them persevere unto the end 6. Conversion will end in Coronation All Converts are by Adoption the Children of God heirs of his Kingdom and shall for ever wear a Crown of Life Though the Heathens knew something of future Rewards and Punishments yet their Apprehensions of these were low and unsuitable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who knows saies Euripides whether to live be not to dye and to dye be not to live He seems to guess there was a better Life after this yet he is not certain of it When Vlysses imagined Achilles the bravest among the Greeks to have been most happy after Death Homer Odyss l. 11. brings in Achilles appearing to him and saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which may be thus Englished I 'd rather serve a Clown on Earth for bread Than in those Regions of the Dead Command and be of all the supream Head. Heaven is here set forth as a poor and undesirable thing But Life and Immortality is brought to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. Here the Glory of the other World is displayed here is an excellent Map of the heavenly and everlasting Kingdom where Knowledge and Light is compleat without Darkness Holiness perfect without the least remainder of Defilement Blessedness and Joy is full without any Grief or Fear or Possibility of Sorrow where there is no such thing as Sin or Death or Trouble but God himself is All in All 1 Cor. 15. 28. All Converts their Feet are turned into the way to Heaven their Hearts are now set upon it it won't be long e're they be there and Crown'd there themselves Conversion is called a Rising from the Dead Eph. 5. 14. for it has some likeness to and is an earnest of a future glorious Resurrection What a glorious Creature will the Convert be when Christ has done his whole VVork upon him and has put to him his last hand in making his whole Man every way perfect Glorified Bodies will shine as the Sun glorified Souls will be pure and spotless like the Seraphim and Wonder Love Joy and Praise will be in Heaven the everlasting business I have spoken much to Comfort Converts but no Tongue can tell the thousandth part of all their Happiness The Heart of Man is too narrow at present to comprehend what God has prepared for them that Love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. VSE VII Of Counsel unto them that are Converted and my Advice shall be in these particulars 1. Thankfully admire the Grace of God which has Converted you The best thing in this World which is Grace and Glory in the World to come certainly do well deserve your thanks Sin has made you less than the least of Mercies by Conversion you come to partake of the greatest Christ is formed in you and you are made New Creatures that a New Song should be in your Mouths and that you should shew forth the Praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. Let every Convert admire and admiring Praise and say How much has God done for me and how has he done that for me which he has not done for thousands and millions in the World in the very Church who are let alone to live and dye in Sin and to damn themselves for ever 2. Labour to be more thoroughly Converted Pray for this that God would still turn you more and more unto himself follow on to know him follow harder after him and strive still more to please him 1 Thes 4. 1. Furthermore then we beseech you Brethren and exhort you by our Lord Jesus that as ye have received how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more The more fully you turn the more you please him and to please him will be pleasant to you The nearer you come to God the safer you will be under his shadow the more evidently will you see and the more abundantly will you taste his goodness 3. Do nothing unbecoming Converts Think often with your selves whose you are and what a Price was pay'd to redeem you from all Iniquity and to make you Zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14. Reckon it bruitish to be Intemperate and Unclean base to be Covetous and Earthly-minded hellish to be Malicious Envious and Proud. Be Patient under Gods Corrections under Injuries from Man Let your Tongues be true and kind your Hands merciful and just in your Morals be of great exactness Divine Morality without thee Religion is a vain shew holy Duties are but lost labour and Confidence that all is well is but self-deceiving What Brutus said of Vertue may be used concerning Faith O miserable Faith without moral Honesty thou art nothing else but an empty Name Take heed of falls especially great ones after Conversion least you wound both Conscience and Religion and go smarting and groaning to your Graves 4. Pity the Vnconverted about you Misery moves Bowels and stirs up Mercy who more miserable than Sinners who are at a distance from God and under his Wrath and who are so far from fearing and turning that they are still running farther from him and provoking him to
for the prize of the high calling of God. Here is an allusion to them that run in a race who do not look back to see how much they have already run but still look and run forward that they may not miss the prize Things behind may take in earthly things which the Apostle had totally cast behind his back so as never principally to regard them any more Things behind may also take in his past obedience which he does not consider and remember so as to rest in it and leave off running and labouring And as the Word requires us to abide and walk with God so it informs us how we may be sure to do it It tells us of his own right hand which is ready to uphold us that we may follow hard after God Psal 63. 8. It tells us that the Lord is of Power to establish us and to keep us from falling and that if He does hold us up we shall be safe and shall have respect unto his precepts continually Psal 119. 117. The Word directs us to be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 2. 1. who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith the same yesterday and to day and for ever The Word of God shews a greater security than Adam found in Paradice or many of the Angels found in Heaven it self There is a New Covenant made and is to be laid hold upon This Covenant is everlasting sure and admirably well ordered 't is established by the Death and Blood of Christ the Mediator of it 't is confirmed by the Oath of God and by the Sacraments which are as it were two broad Seals of Heaven annexed to it The faithful God will keep Covenant on his part and he engages for his People that they on their part shall keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Jer. 32. 40. I will not turn away from them to do them good and I will put my fear in their Hearts that they shall not depart from me 7. The Word of God is so perfect as to guide and bring us safe to Glory Psal 73. 23 24. Nevertheless I am continually with thee thou hast holden me by my right hand thou shalt guide me with thy Counsel and afterwards receive to Glory This Word shews the path of Life the way Everlasting that leads unto the Lords glorious Presence where there is fulness of Joy and Pleasures for evermore None ever miscarried that follow'd this Words conduct It came from Heaven and it guides safely thither All flesh is grass and all the Glory of man as the flower of the Field but the Word of God is incorruptible and abides for ever 't is by this that Believers are wrought upon and raised and fitted for a blessed Immortality Their Treasure Hearts and Conversations are in Heaven now while themselves are here on Earth and they are growing more meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. Admirable is the Perfection of the Word that will infallibly bring all that Believe and Love and walk according to it unto that blessed place and State where there will be a Perfection of Light and of Delight a perfection of Righteousness and Holiness a perfection of Happiness and Joy and all this will last in the highest perfection to Eternity The Apostle commends those of Ephesus of whom he takes his last leave unto the Grace and to the Word of God he knew very well that this was the way to be built up to Glory Act. 20. 32. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified You see in what sense the Word of God is perfect In the second place I am to prove by Arguments the Perfection and Sufficiency of this Word of God. 1. The Perfection of the Word is very plainly asserted in Scripture and if God himself affirms his Word to be perfect that Man must needs be very bold and a great Lyar who shall charge it with imperfection my Text is an evident Testimony The Law of the Lord is perfect it makes the simple wise and Converts sinful Souls to God. The Psalmist tells us He had seen an end of all Perfection and then adds but thy Commandment is exceeding broad Psal 119. 96. The greatness of the Greatest the riches of the Richest the wisdom of the Wisest he had lookt through and lookt beyond but the perfect Word of God was a Direction a Support and a Satisfaction to Him when every thing else failed In this Word there is Wisdom and Mercy and Grace without bounds or limits It cleanses the Hearts and Hands of Sinners and is useful to Saints to the very end of their days and makes their end Peace Nay 't is the Churches Heritage which she lives Holily and well upon in all Generations The Apostle calls the VVord of God a perfect Law of Liberty Jam. 1. 25. But whoso looketh into this perfect Law of Liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the Work this man shall be blessed in his deed 'T is called a Law of Liberty because the commands of the Word so far as they are obeyed do make the Obedient free from sin whose service is indeed slavery and being free from sins servitude they are no longer under guilt the curse or wrath but they have the liberty the Priviledges of the Children of God. 'T is called a perfect Law of Liberty because the Doer of it that perseveres in his Obedience shall certainly be blessed in his deed This Law does not only command but Grace and Strength from the Spirit goes along with it which causes it to be kept and the fruit being unto Holiness the End will be Life eternal 2. By the Perfection of the Word in the Scriptures the end of committing it to writing is obtained I grant there was a Church and the Word of God in it before there was a Scripture and then the Lord conveyed his Mind from Father to Son by Tradition and this was more easie to be done when men were so very long lived as to continue upon Earth very near a thousand years Methuselah lived in the days of Adam Shem in the days of Methuselah and Isaac is observed to have been born and grown up to be a man before Shem was taken out of the World. But afterwards it pleased the Lord that Tradition should be no longer trusted but to prevent Corruption in Religion we have a written Word which all are to give diligent heed to The Word was written that God might not be forgotten the Scripture being consulted is the means to keep up the remembrance of him in all ages The Apostle Peter tells us he therefore set Pen to Paper that after his decease the things of God might be had always in remembrance 2 Pet. 1. 15. The Word was written that Men might
of Redemption by Price of Gods purchasing his Church with his own Blood Act. 20. 28. The Light of Nature is insufficient to shew the way to Heaven How God will deal with these Heathens 't is hard to determine Zuinglius indeed asserts That when we come to Heaven we shall see utrumque Adamum Redemptum Redemptorem both the Adams the Redeemer and him that was redeemed the Prophets the Apostles And then he adds That Aristides the Cato's and the Scipio's and such vertuous Men among the Heathen will be found in Heaven also Calvin calls this prâ—â—posterum misericordiam a preposterous Mercy because the Apostle tells us those who have sinn'd without Law shall also perish without Law Rom. 2. 12. What is to be said in this case To affirm that any of them are saved who never heard of a Saviour is to affirm what is hard to prove to say that they are all damned will be a bold Sentence The Apostle tells us that those who are without God judges 1 Cor. 5. 13. and to Gods Judgment we must leave them 2. The Perfection of the Word is mentioned in the work of Conversion to shew that the Works of God do need his Words exposition upon them 'T is the Word which rightly discovers God in the Works of Creation Heb. 11. 3. Through Faith we understand that the Worlds were framed by the Word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear The Scripture shews how the Lord is the Alpha and the Omega The whole Volume of Nature would signifie little to Man were it not for the Scriptures commentary upon it the Beginning and the End of all things that per scalaâ—â— creaturarum by the Ladder of the Creatures we may ascend unto the Gracions and Alsufficient Creator The Word expoundâ— the Works of Providence it puts such a Language into Mercies that these Demonstrations of divine goodness lead unto Repentance And the Word makes the Rod to utter such a voice that the Vncircumcised heart is humbled the Sinner accepts of the punishment of his Iniquity Lev. 26. 41. and turns unto that God that smites him 3. The Perfection of the Word is mentioned in the Work of Conversion that Sinners may use and value the Word as a Means sufficient He that is sick of the Plague how willingly does he use a Remedy that is sufficient for the cure of the Pestilence and which has cured thousands and that never failed to heal any that would but take it Never was there a Plague in the World so universal so contagious so deadly as Sin is O all ye sinful diseased and lost Souls hear and with all seriousness apply the Word of God that ye may be healed and that being healed ye may live and not dye for ever The remedy is perfect it certainly works for life if it be but received he that believes and yields subjection to the Gospel shall be saved Mar. 16. 16. I confess the refusing of the remedy will highten the disease and make the death more dreadful He that believes not shall receive the greater damnation 4. The Perfection of the Word is mentioned in the work of Conversion that the Preachers of the Word may be encouraged Were this Word a weak imperfect thing the Dispencers of it would have the less heart to labour but they have no reason to be ashamed or discouraged but to glory in the Gospel of Christ since 't is the Power of God to Salvation And let him be Jew or Gentile high or low a less Sinner or the greatest if he receives the Word with Faith the Preachers pains will be to good purpose The Apostle insults over all the VVisdom of this VVorld as that which is poor and foolish and helpless as to a better World 1 Cor. 1. 20. Where is the wise where is the Scribe where is the disputer of this world The Jewish Synagogue where Moses was trusted in and Christ rejected the Greek Academy could neither of them shew the way of Salvation hath not God made foolish the VVisdom of this VVorld But then he magnifies the Word of God that reveals Christ Jesus because herein the Power and VVisdom of God were savingly made manifest 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. VVe preach Christ crucified to the Jews a stumbling-block and unto the Greeks foolishness but unto them that are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 5. The Perfection of the Word is mentioned in the Work of Conversion that Saints may still be improving it unto a further turning Where 's the Convert in whom and for whom the Word of God has wrought so much that it can work no more You that have most experienced its power and goodness may still feel a further efficacy The Word is perfect and you should be pressing forward to be perfected by it still your Light should grow clearer your Faith stronger your love more abundant and patience should have a more perfect work in you that you may be perfect and entire wanting nothing Jam. 1. 4. Still you should be more low in your own sight the Grace of Christ more glorious in your eyes the World should be more under your feet and Heaven be the matter of your thoughts and hopes and joy You that are weak should resemble David you that are strong as David should be like the Angels of God aspiring unto not only Evangelical but an Angelical and heavenly Perfection I come in the last place to the Application The Uses are these following VSE I. Of Caution The Perfection of the Word of God should make you 1. To take heed of that Enthusiastick Spirit that pretends not to need this VVord That Light within which makes the Light of the VVord to be contemned is certainly Darkness and if the Light within you be darkness how great is that darkness Mat. 6. 23. Solomon tells us plainly that the Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is Light and the reproofs of instruction are the way of Life Prov. 6. 23. You will miss the way of Life unless this Light be followed He is most unreasonably wise in his own eyes who imagines he knows so much that God himself by his Word can teach him no more the truth is he knows nothing as he ought to know his Knowledg is but a delusive dream his ignorance real and destructive Heed not but resist the Spirit that injects undervaluing thoughts of the Word of God for that cannot be the true Spirit which did endite it If once you reject the VVord of the Lord alas what understanding is in you Jer. 1. 9. The grossest and most damnable errours will impose upon you as truths the most carnal licentiousness which is the bondage of corruption will call it self Christian liberty Sins will be made no Sins and Duties no Duties you will allow your selves in the omission of Gods Ordinances as things below Saints of so high a Stature as
shall be brought to Judgment He is to Judge the Church and the whole World in Righteousness The State of those that are without the Gospel is set forth as very sad in Scripture they are said to be without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers to the Covenants of Promise having no hope and without God in the World Eph. 2. 12. Yet it seems to me an unwarrantable boldness to pronounce them all lost since for ought we know God may help some of them to be faithful in that little he has given them but however be it or be it not so their Case is so dangerous that we should be concerned very much for them at present and Pray that God would make known his saving health among them The Apostle tells us what will 〈◊〉 the Rule of Christ's proceedings with the Heathen that never heard of the glad-tydings of Salvation they shall be judged according to the Law and Light of Nature Rom. 2. 12. As many as have sinned without Law shall also perish without Law and as many as have sinned in the Law shall be judged by the Law for not the hearers of the Law are just before God but the doers of the Law shall be justified 6. They that have enjoyed the Gospel and the means of Grace shall be brought to Judgment and of all persons that are to be judged these have largest account to give and the most Talents to answer for A poor Heathen he has but one Talent the dim Light of nature but thou that enjoyest the Gospel hast two if not five Talents to improve And where much is given will not much also be required you that hear Christ Preached had need to look to it that you sincerely obey him now and that you may stand before him at last for if you fall in Judgment you will fall very low Damnation will be great and extraordinary where great Salvation has been neglected Heb. 2. 3. Our Lord Jesus plainly intimates that there are degrees of Torment in the place of future punishment there is a blacker Darkness and a Darkness not quite so dimal there is a cooler and an hotter Hell. Who are those that shall be thrown into the hottest Hell of all Truly those who heard the Gospel and were called to repent and believe but would do neither Mat. 11. 21 â—2 23 24. Woe unto thee Chorazin woe unto thee â—ethsaida for if the mighty works that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have Repented long ago in Sack-cloath and Ashes but I say to you it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of Judgment than for you And thou Capernaum that art exalted unto Heaven shalt be cast down to Hell for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained to this day But I say to you it shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment than for Thee In the third place I am to speak of the things which will be brought into Judgment and that both with respect to the Righteous and with respect to the Wicked I begin with the Righteous and concerning these you must know 1. Their Sincerity at the day of Judgment will be made apparent All the Sincerity that has been on Earth will then be own'd and approved every one shall have an Euge a Commendation that has been a good and faithful Servant Mat. 25. 21 23. The Apostle prays for the Philippians Châ— 1. 10. that they might be Sincere and without offencâ— till the day of Christ Sincerity will signifie much in that Day None will pass for sincere but those that are so Not one that has been sincere but shall be accepted and rewarded Faithful ones may now possibly he loaded with Reproaches from without and with Censures from within thâ— Church but at the great Day all will be wipeâ— off 1 Cor. 4. 5. Judge nothing before the time untâ— the Lord do come who both will bring to light tâ— hidden things of darkness and make manifest the Counsels of the Hearts and then shall every Man haâ— praise of God. How many that have been highâ— esteemed among Men will be discovered then to have been unsound at Heart and that the World and Self did act and rule them tho their Tongues did speak for God and tho they made a Splendid Profession that they were his Servants And how many that have been hardly thought of by Men will Christ at that day confess before his Father and the Angels their Censurers at the same time being ashamed and confounded 2. There will Cognizance be taken of all the good works of the Righteous These will follow them into another World Rev. 14. 13. The Apostle that he might encourage Believers unto diligence tells them Heb. 6. 10. God is not unrighteous to forget your Work and Labour of love which ye have shewed towards his Name Good works are rewardable tho they are not Meritorious there is no proportion between the work and the reward but the reward infinitely exceeds for God himself is the reward of the Saints and All in all that are in Heaven There is no intrinsick worth in good works to deserve Heaven but God has promised Heaven and eternal Life and is Righteous in bestowing it but still it must be acknowledged his free Gift and given through Jesus Christ Indeed Mat. 25. 35 40. mention is made only of works of Charity and Mercy I was an Hungred and ye gave me Meat Thirsty and ye gave me Drink I was a Stranger and ye took me in I was Naked and ye cloathed me Sick and ye visited me I was in Prison and ye came to me From hence you are to learn how acceptable such works as these are and you should be stirr'd up to abound in them but other works are not excluded for afterwards our Lord does only mention the mercilesness and uncharitable Omissions of the wicked and yet 't is plain from other Scriptures that their other Sins will be punished their not knowing God their disobedience to the Gospel of Christ 2 Thess 1. 8. 3. The Sentence which will be past upon them will be a Sentence of Absolution they shall be absolved and acquitted openly before Men and Angels All their Sins will be forgotten and buried there will be an eternal deliverance from the Curse With what Admiration Joy and Triumph will they hear Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World Mat. 25. 34. What a Kingdom is that that never shall be moved What a Crown is that that is incorruptible What gladness will fill their Hearts when the Crown of Life is put upon their Heads The Sentence being pronounced presently 't will be done according to this Sentence possession will be taken of the glorious Inheritance they shall enter into life Eternal Mat. 25. 46.
was Sacrificed for us the Destroyer has power over them and they fall into eternal Predition In the third place I am to vindicate the Righteousness of God in thus dealing with and eternally punishing them that will not turn to Him And here 1. Let the Majesty and greatness of God be consider'd against whom all Sin is committed How much greater a Crime is it to strike a Prince upon the Throne than to strike a Peasant How much is Sin greatned being committed against the Highest Majesty of all who is infinitely Superiour to all other Powers Psal 104. 1. O Lord my God thou art very great thou art Cloathed with Honour and with Majesty Psal 145. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised and his greatness is unsearchable Sin is a Transgression of a Law enacted by the King of Heaven and is indeed a disowning of his Soveraign Authority as if he had no right to rule the Sinner Think of the infinite distance between the God who is offended and Man that is the Offender and how much Sin offends for it disowns his Government and strikes at his very Being for the Sinner wishes there were no God to be subject to I say think of all this and you will perceive that Sin deserves everlasting Punishment The carnal Mind thinks Hell too much for a Sinner to feel because it measures God by it self and thinks too little of the Glorious Jehovah 2. Sinners can never by all that they suffer themselves satisfie for their Iniquities therefore their punishment in Hell is justly endless No meer Creature can make satisfaction for Sin. If Christ the Mediatour had not been over all God blessed for ever by his Death and all his Sufferings he would never have made Peace His God-head put a real and infinite value upon the price he paid and made it sufficient for our Redemption The Damned in Hell cannot satisfie the Justice of God for their Transgressions therefore they justly are kept eternal Prisoners there It is above five Thousand Years ago that the Evil Angels were cast down to Hell by the punishment they have undergone have they made any Satisfaction for their offences No no still they have continued in their Enmity and deserved more punishment And from Satans utteâ— alienation from God and all goodness we may infer that Hell is not a place to mend any but Sin is hight'ned those that were bad on Earth become worse in Hell and are unalterably confirm'd in Evil. 3. The punishment of Sin in Hell is justly Eternal because Sin is insatiable Suppose a Sinner could live in this World to Eternity there is corruption enough in his Nature to make him an Offender of God unto Eternity If he were an everlasting Liver upon Earth he would be an everlasting Transgressour If the Carnal Heart would but speak out that would be its Language I would desire no other no greater happiness than that I might live here for ever that I might Sin here for ever This insatiable Nature of Sin this inclination and desire of the Sinner is known to the Heart-searcher therefore the punishment he inflicts is very Righteous tho 't is everlasting 4. For the Vindication of the Righteousness of God take notice what has been offered unto Sinners and rejected Christ is offered his justifying Righteousness his unsearchable Riches all his Fulness all the Benefits which he has purchased at so dear a Price and yet the offer is made light of How much is contemn'd when Christ is Contemn'd and how much of Sin is there in the Contempt The blessed God in the Glorious Gospel does call to Sinners to turn to him and what does he offer His own all-sufficient-self I my self am yours if you will turn to me and become sincerely mine I will be a God to you all my attributes shall be for you I will be your Shield and your exceeding great Reward and your Portion for ever Now for a Sinner to turn a Deaf Ear to all this is such a Sin as does deserve the Eternal loss of what is offer'd and the feeling of everlasting Wrath is just since such infinite and everlasting Goodness has been despised I might also add that the Sinner is told of this Eternal Punishment before-hand therefore if his Lusts are so dear that he will venture to be Damned rather than part with them when those Lusts that War against his Soul have quite undone him and brought him down to Hell indeed he cannot charge God with Injustice but he must blame himself because when warned of Hell and Wrath he would not fear and Flee from it I come now to the Applacation I begin with some Inferences that may be drawn from the Doctrine 1. If Sinners that will not turn shall be brought down to Hell certainly Sin is another kind of thing than is commonly imagined Oh Sin how much art thou mistaken Thou art very little understood on Earth In Heaven thou art better understood by Saints and full glad they are they are quite rid of thee In Hell thou art better understood by Sinners and they must Groan for ever under the weight of thee O all of you Study Hell more if you would know Sin more fully Gods severity towards Man for Sin argues it a very vast Evil. I am perswaded that all the Men upon Earth that all the Saints and Angels in Heaven since they cannot comprehend the greatness and goodness of God neither can they comprehend all the Evil that is in Sin And if God alone does fully understand how Evil Sin is he alone is the competent Judge what Punishment is due to it O exceeding sinful Sin Rom. 7. 13. thou canst not be called by so bad a Name as thy own is 2. Learn from hence the Misery of unconverted Sinners Are there none unconverted here I wish there were not Are there not many unconverted in this place I fear there are Seriously consider in what State you are You walk upon the Brink of Hell you Eat and Drink upon the Brink of Hell in your Shops at the Exchange you are still upon the Brink of Hell when you lye down at Night you Sleep upon the Brink of Hell. Oh what Hearts are yours that you can Sleep securely Is such a perilous State to be rested in In such danger and depths of Misery how should you cry to the Lord for mercy Psal 130. 1. Davids words are proper for a Sinner to make use of Psal 51. 1. Have mercy upon me O Lord according to thy loving kindness and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my Transgressions 3. Hence I infer That they who refuse to turn to God are certainly besides themselves else the broken Cisterns would not draw them away from the Fountain of living waters and a little gain and pleasure would not make them venture to lye in Flames unquenchable God sayes Turn ye turn ye Will you turn or will ye not If you will you shall live if
to the Throne of Grace that has the Judgment-seat also in his Eye How will he hear and practise that remembers he must be called to an account how he has done both He will take care to be ready whensoever his Lord calls and that whensoever his Lord comes he may find him doing the Work he set him about and so doing it as He commands 2. The other word of Counsel is this Be sure in time to prepare for Eternal Judgment Do this seriously do it presently and as your main business That you may prepare indeed 1. Be Accusers and Judges of your selves take notice of your Sins with Grief with Hatred and holy Indignation accuse your selves of them before God with self-loathing and self-abhorrency Look down by Faith into the lowest Hell and see the terrible but righteous Severity that is shewn there against obstinate workers of Iniquity then look up to God and judge your selves in his sight acknowledging that you have deserved one of the hottest places in that Lake of Fire Acknowledge he would be clear in the forest judgment he should pronounce upon you and that He would be justified tho you should be damn'd eternally Psal 51. 4. This judging of your selves is the way to prevent Condemnation with the World 1 Cor. 11. 31 32. 2. If you would be prepared for Judgment believe in Jesus that you may be justified before God at present Receive Christ who is offer'd in the Gospel rely upon his Obedience and Sufferings for justifiâ—ation of life And being justified by Faith you shall â—ave Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 15. 1. Being justified by his Bloud you shall â—e Saved from wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. What does ponere obicem put a Bar before Hell Gate and hinder us from falling into that place of Woe The Cross of Christ that 's the Bar you are to place your Confidence in Christ Crucified If justified by him now he will ratifie the justification at the last day and you shall not be condemned then Rom. 8. 33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that Condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is at the Right Hand of God and maketh Intercession for us 3. Would you be prepared for Judgment Repent and be converted let your minds be changed and turn to God with your whole Heart This is the way indeed to stand before him Acts 3. 19. Repent and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. The Apostle looks as far as the last day Blotting out of Sins is Christ's absolving and acquitting them from all Trespasses The time of refreshing is that great day of compleat and glorious Redemption when all that are Christs shall lift up their Heads with Joy Repent and be converts in Truth if you would have that a day of refreshing and not of confusion Walk after the Flesh no longer but after the Spirit then you need not be afraid of Condemnation your being guided by his Spirit will shew you are in Christ and safe in Him Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit to be carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace USE III. Of Terrour to the ungodly the Hypocrite and the Vnbelievers Christ will judge them all and they may tremble to think what kind of judgment they shall have what sharp and piercing words are those which declare before-hand what will be their Doom Mat. 23. 33. Ye Serpents ye Generation of Vipers how can ye escape the Damnation of Hell That I may if it be possible awaken such I would lay before them these terrifying considerations 1. When they appear at Christ's Bar all their secret wickedness will be made known How many will then be found what they were not in the least suspected Thy secret wantonness and Self-pollutions thy secret injustice and defrauding thy secret abominations of all kinds will then be as visible to every Eye as if written in Capital Letters with the brightest Sun-beam And what sname and confusion will cover the wicked Mans Face they that are impudent and cannot blush now how will they be confounded then The truth is as the Prophet Daniel speaks They will rise to shame and everlasting contempt Dan. 12. 2. 2. At the day of Judgment it will be too late and in vain for the wicked to pray and cry for Mercy they will find the Lord eternally removed from the Throne of Grace and to their Terrour behold him on the Judgment Seat. If the Ungodly roar out then Lord pity Lord pardon Lord send us not away into that flaming Furnace that we see before us it will be altogether in vain But 't is not in vain to cry thus now Oh seek the Lord while he may be found and call ye upon him whilst he is near Isa 55. 6. 3. It will add to the Terrour of the Wicked That the Sentence of Condemnation is pronounced by the Only Saviour The merciful and faithful High Priest that now is so forward to make Reconciliation for Siâ— that is so ready to give rest to them that labour 〈◊〉 are heavy laden The Man Christ Jesus will have no pity at all no compassion towards the Reprobate Children of Men but deal with them as with the Apostate Angels whose Nature he never took upon him The only Peace-maker will himself be so incensed and full of Wrath as not to be intreated not to be appeased The Sentence of Eternal Death and enduring everlasting Burnings will be confounding but 't will add to the Confusion that a Redeemer does pronounce it 4. After the Judge has pass'd the Sentence Conscience will pronounce it over again and will be a Judge to the Wicked always condemning them Conscience will be filled with unspeakable remorse it will continually be upbraiding them with their madness and folly in keeping their Sins and losing their Souls and will ever be telling them that the Lords ways towards them are equal but their own ways according to which they are judged have been unequal and full of Iniquity Ezek. 18. 29 30. The Conscience of Sinners will side with their Judge against them It will tell the most wretched among the Damned that they cannot complain of God or of the least injury he has done them all that they suffer they suffer justly and what they suffer they have brought upon themselves The horrible and perpetual remorse of Conscience will prove that the Worm never dies that does torment them 5. When Sinners come to be condemn'd at the last day how many things will rise up in judgment against them pray mind this and minding tremble and trembling turn to God this very instant Thousands of Mercies will come and as it were
plead thus Lord we have been all abused we never met with any thing but abuses and never could lead these men to Repentance The Rods of Affliction will have a Voice against them too Lord we have stricken these Sinners often we have made them Bleed and Groan and smart exceedingly for their Iniquities but could never make them leave off Sinning against Thee and against their own Souls How many Sermons will rise up in judgment against them because they either slept them away or if they were awake they suffer'd them to slip out of their Memories and never applyed them to their Hearts And as for us the Ministers of the Gospel our Testimony against them will be true and terrible Lord we lifted up our Voices like Trumpets we gave them the Watchmans Warning we told them of the Sword that was coming and that if they turned not from Sin it would surely slay them we wooed them to come to Jesus that under his Wing they might be secure but nothing would prevail their Ears were deaf their Hearts they hardened they would not be converted and made clean they would rush on in Sin still they would needs Dye and there was no helping it The Condemnation must needs be dreadful when so many things rise up against them that are condemned VSE IV. Os Consolation to the Saints I must speak to them in another strain Lift up your Heads and let your Hearts be filled with Joy all ye believing repenting humble holy heavenly-minded Ones for the Day of your Redemption draws nigh with an earnest expectation wait for it and Triumph at the Thoughts of your great and everlasting Jubilee You will indeed behold the greatest part of mankind turned into Hell but what Joy will it be to find your selves for ever safe and fully blessed A dark Shadow sets off a beautiful Picture The sight of the Rich man in Hell Flames must needs make Lazarus to find a greater sweetness in Abrahams Bosome Two Grounds of Consolation I shall propound to you and so conclude 1. He is to be your Judge that is your Husband and your Head. The very same whom you now find interceding for you in Prayer whom you see walking in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks and blessing his Ordinances to you The very same whom you have found pitying and healing your Wounds with his own Blood succouring you in your Temptations and telling you that you are the Beloved of his Soul And since he is to Judge you be comforted He will behold you with an aspect that is highly favourable His own Spouse whom he has ransomed with his own Life Christ will not turn into devouring Fire He will not take the Members of his own Body and throw them into everlasting Burnings Having Redeemed them by his Blood having renewed and Sanctified them by his Spirit having raised them up at the great day certainly he will receive them to himself and they shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 17 18. wherefore be comforted with these words 2. You that are true Believers whose Faith purifies your Hearts and works by Love know that there is a Crown designed for you The Diadems that Monarchs have upon their Heads the Triple Crown of Him at Rome is but a Trifle to the Crown of life This Crown is purchased 't is promised 't is prepared and shortly you shall put it on and never put it off more How Splendid how Bright how Sparkling will that Crown be 'T is called a Crown of Life for Death shall be no more A Crown of Glory for the Saints shall be more than Conquerours and Triumphant over all Enemies and be advanced to the highest Honour and State whereof they are capable Finally 't is called a Crown of Righteousness 't is a Righteous thing with God to bestow it through Christ Jesus and perfect Righteousness and Purity will be a great part of the happiness of Saints in Glory This Crown the Apostle saw to his great encouragement and he would have all other Believers comforted with the same sight 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. I have fought a good Fight I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that Day and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing MAT. 11. 23. Form. Part. And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto Heaven shalt be brought down to Hell OUR Lord Jesus is called the Lamb of God who takes away the Sins of the World But in this Lamb there is Wrath and that Wrath is very terrible Oh the weight of the Mediatours Vengeance This Wrath is threatned against the impenitent and unbelievers who refuse to be Saved from their Sins resolving to live tho they Dye in them The Light of the Gospel being neglected highly aggravates the Works of Darkness makes them more inexcusable and a greater provocation None shall fare worse at the Day of Judgment than those that have had the longest and the clearest day of Grace but would not know in that their day the things which belonged to their Peace Thou Capernaum which art exalted unto Heaven shalt be brought down to Hell. These words which I have read do speak Christ's sorrow and his displeasure wherein you may take notice 1. Of the Persons with whom he is displeased Thou Capernaum the City is put for the Inhabitants of it 2. Here is the Reason of Christs displeasure they did not understand the great priviledge of being Exalted unto Heaven they did not improve the advantage they had of getting thither 3. Here is a Punishment threatned a sore evil and that is no less than Hell it self 4. Here is the manner specisied of their going to Hell thou shalt be brought down to Hell with a strong Hand with great Wrath and in one of the hottest and lowest Places there thou shalt lye for ever There are two Doctrines which I raise from the Words First Those that hear the Gospel are exalted unto Heaven Happy you if you understand your Priviledge which at this day you enjoy Secondly They who will not turn to God at the Gospel-call shall certainly be turned into Hell Thou Capernaum who art exalted unto Heaven shalt be brought down to Hell and if Christ says it shall be so most certainly it will be so The first of these I shall but just touch upon for it is the second that I principally purpose to Prosecute Doct. 1. The first Doctrine is this They that hear the Gospel are exalted unto Heaven The Gospel is an heavenly Calling Heb. 3. 1. it comes from Heaven and says to those that hear it Come up hither 1. Life and Immortality is brought to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. Here you have a Map of those happy Regions of Light and Love and Joy where there is nothing present that is burthensome where there is nothing wanting that is desirable