combing thine head entring the flesh may make thy death's wound as it befel Ruffinus the Consul A Needle thrust into thy brest by a child born in thiue arms may hasten thy death as it befel Lucia the Daughter of Aurelius And when Death hath severed soul and body what shall become of thy soul Shall it ascend or descend Shall it live or shall it die c. O never think that thou who livedst and diedst without God in this world shall after death ascend to God or live with God in the world to come 7. Thou in thy Natural state canst not escape the damnation of Hell but shalt have part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second Death there to be excruciated with torments numberless easeless remediless and endless Mat. 23. 33. Rev. 21. 8. Rom. 6. 23. Gen. 2. 17. Mat. 25. 41 46. Iude verse 7. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 25. 30. There their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Mar. 9. 43 44. There not one drop of water from the top of a finger shall be vouchsafed to cool a tormented tongue Luk. 10. 24 25 26. There thou shalt have pain of loss and pain of sense There thou shalt have plenty and penury plenty of torment penury of comfort There will be Amissio Coeli The miss of Heaven which was often tendered thee but thou didst refuse Privatio Terrae The loss of Earth which thou hadst but couldst not keep Positio Inferni The Position of Hell which thou shalt have and canst not be delivered from it There will be universality extremity eternity of unpityed misery upon thy soul and body without the least alteration mitigation and cessation Oh wretched Natural man Might thy torments in Hell be brought to an end after so many millions of years as there are Stars in Heaven Atomes in the Air Dust in the Earth Drops in the Sea Grass-piles on the ground or as there have been moments of time since time begun it would be some comfort to thee in enduring them some hope of being delivered from them But this eternity of Death and Torments will quite break thy heart would make the very stinging of Ants and Fleas intolerable Eternity is the very Hell of Hell One said O deadly life O immortal death What shall I term thee Life And wherefore then dost thou kill Death And wherefore then dost thou endure There 's neither life nor death but hath something good in it for in life there is some ease and in death an end but thou hast neither ease nor end What then shall I stile thee Even the bitterness of both for of death thou hast the torment without any end and of life the continuance without any ease God hath substracted both from life and from death all that is good the residue he hath mixed together and therewith tempered the torments of Hell O bitter Cup which all sinners impenitent shall drink at Gods hand This this O Natural man is a brief shadow of thy sinful and wretched condition by Nature But the one half the tenth part is not told thee O How can thine heart hold from breaking thine eyes from dropping thy bowels from turning within thee How canst thou eat or drink with any comfort How canst thou slumber or sleep one night in quiet How canst thou possess or go about any worldly thing with delight whilst thou art ingulfed in this sinful and woful Natural condition II. Direction BE clearly and fully convinced in thy Conscioâ—ce O Natural man That thou still remainest in this thy sinful and wretched condition un-converted un-regenerate un-renewed until this present day That thou art still in the first Adam and not as yet transplanted into Christ the last Adam That thou art still in thy sinful and miserable state of Nature and not hitherto translated into an holy and happy state of Grace That thou art in thy sins still 1 Cor. 15. 17. Thou art in the flesh still Rom. 8. 8. Thou art dead in sins and trespasses still Eph. 2. 1 5. Col. 2. 13. Thou art in darkness and very darkness it self still 1 Ioh. 2. 9 11. Eph. 5. 8. Thou art an enemy to God still Rom. 8. 6 7. Col. 1. 21. Thou art wholly displeasing to God still Rom. 8. 8. Finally That thou art in thy cursed and damned state still Gal. 3. 10. Ioh. 3. 18 36. Here therefore I shall offer to thee chiefly two things for thy most serious consideration viz. I. That it is most necessary for thee O Natural man to be throughly convinced That thou still remainest in thy most sinful and wretched state of Nature even until now For 1. Vntil thou beest throughly convinced O Natural man that thou still remainest in thy sinful and wretched state of Nature thou wilt be apt to flatter thy self into a fond and groundless imagination that thou art in a good spiritual state towards God especially if thou hast been kept by Gods common restraining grace from grosser sins and hast been exercised in some outward acts of Religion and righteousness Thus the un-convinced Pharisee though in his un-justified Natural state had an high opinion of his good spiritual state beyond other men and beyond the Publican and bragg'd of it even in his prayer to God because he avoided some gross sins and practised some outward duties Luk. 18. 9. to 15. Thus Paul before his conviction and conversion thought himself alive once without the Law by reason of his outward unblameableness legal priviledges and external exercises of Religion but when the Commandement came and convinced him sin revived and he died Compare Rom. 7. 9. with Phil. 3. 4 5 6. Thus the Laodicean Angel had an high opinion of his own good estate till Christ convinced him of the contrary and taught him the right way of bettering his condition Rev. 3. 16 17 18 19. The Natural man's self-opinionateness of his good estate seals him up incurably in his bad estate Many might have attained to a great degree of Christianity if they had not presumed themselves to be Christians good enough already 2. Vntil thou art fully convinced O Natural man that thou still remainest in thy sinful and wretched state of Nature thou wilt never be kindly humbled for nor become weary of thy Natural state Without conviction there 's no true sence of sin and misery without true sence of sin and misery who will be humbled for it or weary of it Conviction How did it humble Manasses 2 Chron. 33. How did it abase Paul Act. 9. Who can clearly see his own Natural sinfulness and wretchedness and not abhor himself as in dust and ashes Zech. 12. 10 c. 3. Vntil thou beest kindly convinced of thy present sinfulness and wretchedness by Nature thou wilt never seriously and sincerely seek out for supernatural remedy When Peter's Hearers were convinced and pricked in heart then they presently repair to the Apostles saying Men and
â— in that integrity he enjoyed with God Gen. 3. 6 7 8 10. Whereupon man becomes Dead in Sin Ephes. 2. 1. 5. with Gen. 2. 16 17. 2. In the Depravation Pollution and Corruption of his whole nature His whole Soul and all the faculties thereof His whole Body and all the Parts thereof being universally defiled to them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their Mind and Conscience is defiled Tit. 1. 15. See Gen. 6. 5. Ier. 17. 9. Rom. 3. 10. to 19. 2 Pet. 2. 14. Hence From both these ensue two woful effects 1. An Indisposition and utter inability yea an Opposition and Enmity unto all Good Rom. 5. 6. and 7. 18. and 8. 8. Col. 1. 21. Rom. 8. 7. and 5. 10. 2. An Universal pronity Propensity or Proclivity unto all Evil. Gen. 6. 5. and 8. 21. Rom. 3. 10 11 12. 1 Pet. 4. 2 3 4. Original Sin being the Root Seed and Common Spawn of all Actual Sin in the World Iam. 1. 14 15. Ephes. 2. 1 2 3. The Holy Scriptures set forth this Original Sin by sundry remarkable Names or Phrases It is stiled 2. Iniquity wherein we were shapen and sin wherein our Mothers conceived us Psal. 51. 5. in regard of the Natural Propagation of it 1 Sin That they are all under Sin Rom. 3. 9. 1 Ioh. 1. 8. Rom. 7. 14. Because it is Sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sin of Sins the mother and nurse of all Sins virtually and seminally comprehending in it all sorts of Sins 3 Sin dwelling in us Rom. 7. 20. from the constant Inherence Residence and Abode which it hath in all yea even in the Regenerate themselves to whom it is pardoned and in whom it is in some measure mortified during this present life Rom. 7. 17 18. 4 The Sin that doth so easily beset us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sin easily surrounding us Heb. 12. 1. because it encompasseth Soul Body all our Faculties Affections Senses Parts and whole Man 5 The Law of Sin Rom. 8. 2. and 7. 25. The Law of Sin in our members Rom. 7. 23. because of the power and strength of Sin which is resident in us A Law is powerful and forcible 6. The Body of Sin Rom. 6. 6. because as a Natural Body is compacted of many Parts and hath divers proper Members set in it whereby it acts So sin Original hath many limbs called Our members which are upon Earth as Fornication c. Col. 3. 5. 7 Our Old man Rom. 6. 6. Sin is so called in Opposition to the New man the Regenerate Part and in distinction from our humane Natures because our Corruption of Nature is from the first man the Old Adam as our Regeneration is from the Spirit of Christ the last Adam 8 The Old Leven to be purged out 1 Cor 5. 7. called Leven because as Leven levens and sowers the whole lump of Dow So Sin original levens the whole man sowers and infects the whole man Old from old Adam 9. The flesh Ioh. 3. 6. Rom. 8. 18. Gal. 5. 17. because As Flesh is opposite to Spirit So Original Sin is opposite to Grace And because as flesh is man's basest and vilest part Phil. 3. 21. So Original Sin is the vilest evil in man Pause here O Natural Man Not only Adam's first Actual Sin is thine being justly imputed to thee But this Original Sin thence contracted is thine also being naturally inherent in thee It is the Disease the Poyson the Plague the Leprosy of thy whole Nature Thou art as full of it as any Sink is full of filth as any Serpent is full of venome as any Toad is full of poyson Thou art by Nature wholly defiled with it universally captivated under the Dominion of it and Spiritually Dead in it And in this respect thy Condition is incomparably worse than the Condition of any fowl fish bruit-beast or creeping thing whatsoever For they have no Original Sin in them and thou art all full of it And is this thy natural Condition a State to be rested in by theeâ— wherein thou art far worse than any Dog Toad Serpent mean or vilest creature under the Sun Remember that of Augustine Every one is damned as Generated None is delivered but as Regenerated 3. In the Hâ—ge Heaps â—nd Swarms of all thine actual Sins the poysonous fruit of Sin Original into which thou hast broken forth inconsiderately from thy Birth until this very day The sinfulness of thy natural Condition is mightily augmented and aggrevated O Natural Man Think often in thy Retired hours of the â—Variety 2 Multiplicity and 3 Extremity or Aggravations of thine Actual Sins 1 The Variety and several sorts of thine Actual Sins How manifold are they As actual Sins in respect of the Subject are distributed into Peccata Cordis Oris Operis Sins of Heart Word and Work â— In the Heart what corrupt imagination Gen. 6. 5. what abominable vain Atheistical blasphemous prophane and polluted Thoughts Prov. 15. 26. What deadness stupidity defilement Sâ—aredness c. in the Conscience Tit. 1. 15. 1 Tim. 4. 2. What Enmity Perversness crookedness disobedience rebellion c. in the will Ier. 44. 16 17. c. Luke 19. 14. What impenitency hardness deceitfulness hypocrisy Earthiness Disorder Confusion c. in the Heart and Affections Rom. 2. 5. 2. In thy words and tongue What Vain-speaking Swearing Cursing Lying Blaspheming Back-biting Slandering False-witness-bearing c. Exod. 20. 7. Mat. 12. 36. the Tongue is a world of iniquity Iam. 3. 6. and every idle word must be accounted for at the day of Judgement Mat. 12. 36 37. 3 In thy actions and works though never so Religious in appearance How dost thou miscarry in their Ground Matter Form Manner Circumstances and End 1 Tim. 1. 5. Tit. 1. 15 16. Isai. 1. 10. c. and 66. 3. Hag. 2. 14. Prov. 15. 8. So that in none of them thou canst please God Rom. 8. 8. Yea and even in thy secular Actions thou 〈◊〉 wholly Sinful Prov. 21. 4. and 15. 9. And to this Distribution of Actuals into Sins of Heart Word and Works We may refer that of Sins into Inward and Outward Sins in respect of the Law or Rule violated by Sin are 1 Sins of Impiety or Ungodliness contrary to the first Table of the Decalogue 2 Sins of Iniquity Unrighteousness or worldly Lusts against the 2 Table c. Rom. 1. 18. Tit. 2. 12. Of Impiety there are many sorts of Sins properly repugnant to the 4 first Commandements Of Unrighteousness are many Sorts also contrariant to the 6 last Commandements And this Distribution of Sins according to the ten Commandements is most accurate Sins in Respect of the Parts thereof are 1 Sins of Omission when duties prescribed are neglected and this is a Taking from Gods Law Iam. 4. 17. Mat. 25. 42. c. Rev. 2. 21. 1 Sam. 15. 2 3. 8 9. c. 2 Sins of Commission when things prohibited are Practised
mistical body of his invisible Church But of the Synagogue of Satan Rev. 1. 6. For they that are Aliens to Christ the Head must needs be Aliens to his invisible Church and Body 5 A stranger from the Covenants of Promise touching Christ Promised under the Old Testament and consequently from the Covenant of Performance touching Christ performed and exhibited in Human Nature viz. The New Covenant Ephes. 2. 12. laid down Heb. 8. 8. to the end Oh what a misery is this To have nothing to do with Gods Covenant not any the Promises Priviledges Benefits or Blessings thereof This is to be shut out of Gods Grand Act of favour and mercy His Act of Oblivion Heb. 8. 12. His Magna Charta his Great Charter for eternal happiness in Heaven 6 Having no Hope Eph. 2. 12. viz. No true Salviâ—ical well-grounded hope of life eternal in Heaven or of future felicity in the world to come for thine immortal Soul And such Hopeless men are most miserable men 1. Cor. 15. 19. When thou hopeless wretch comest to die what will become of thy Soul What wilt thou then say to thy Soul Even as that Atheistical Pope Animula vagula c. Omy poor wandring blandishing Soul The Guest and Companion of my body into what placet art thou now going c. To Heaven or to Hell to the glorified Saints or to the damned Reprobates to Joyes everlasting or to endless Torments To God or to the Devil 7 Finally while thou dost remain destitute of saving Communion with God thou art without God in the World an Atheist in the world Eph. 2. 12. What without God Then without all true Happiness without the only supream Good and Soul-satisfying Treasure such God is Math. 19. 17. Psal. 73. 25. 26. 2. Thou in thy Natural State art under the severe Curse of the Law Which under pain of the Curse requires of every one Perfect Perpetual and Personal obedience to all things written in the Law Gal. 3. 10. which no meer man since the Fall of Adam can possibly perform Rom. 3. 9. to 29. and 5. 6. and 8. 3. 4. 7. 8. And whom the law Curseth he is Cursed indeed not by man but by the living God himself 3. Thou in thy Natural state remainest still under the dreadful displeasure and wrath of God Almighty Art by nature a child of wrath Even as others Eph. 2. 3. Under the Wrath of God Oh! Who knoweth the Power of Gods anger or according to his Fear i. e. his word the Rule of his Fear Psal. 19. 9. his wrath Psal 90. 11. If the wrath of an earthly King be as the Roaring of a Lion Prov. 19. 12. What then is the wrath of God the King of Kings Our God is a Consuming fire Heb. 12. 29. Consider the prints of Gods wrath upon the lapsed Angels 2 Pet. 2. 4. Fallen Adam Gen. 3. The sinful old world 2 Pet. 2. 5. The Cities of Sodom c. 2 Pet. 2. 6. Gen. 19. The Beauteous Jerusalem and the Jews 2 Chron. 36. Yea upon Jesus Christ the spotless Son of God himself when he stood as the Sinners Surety Math. 26. and 27. Luk. 22. and 23. And then say with the Psalmist Thou even thou art to be feared and who may stand before thee when once thou art angry Psal. 76. 7. When he is wrath The Heavens drop down The Mountains melt and leap The Rocks rend in pieces The Earth Quakes The Sea is dried up The Devils tremble Iam. 2. 19. And the whole Creation is amazed Oh! think of the Terrour of the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 11. 4. Thou in thy natural state art in league with the Devil himself the Grand enemy of God and mankind Math. 13. 28. 39. 1 Pet. 5. 8. that old Serpent Revel 12. 9. and performest thine Homage and obeisance unto him 1 Ioh. 3. 8. Ioh. 8. 44. as to thy Conquerâ—r Prince Father and God Satan is 1. As thy Conqueror leading thee Captive at his will by his powerful Temptations yea by his meer suggestions and snares 2 Tim. 2. 26. and so thou art his meer vassal and slave 2. As thy Prince Ioh. 14. 30. effectually working in the Children of Disobedience and in thee as in one of his Subjects Eph. 2. 2. 3. As thy Father whose works thou as his Child wilt do Ioh. 8. 44. 1 Ioh. 3. 8. 12. Mat. 13. 38. 4. As thy God and the God of this world whom thou as his Creature wilt serve 2 Cor. 4. 4. 5. Thou in thy natural State art liable to all sorts and degrees of miseries in this present world not as to Paternal Chastisements of a loving Father the lot of Gods dear children Heb. 12. 5. to 12. but as to vindictive Punishments and curses of an angry God Gen. 3. 16 17 18 19. and 4. 9 to 15. Levit. 26. to 40. Deut. 28. 15. to the end Psal. 11. 6. These Miseries are of many sorts But may be reduced to 1. Miseries incident to thee in thy Goods and Temporal estate As when thy ground is barren brings forth thorns and thistles c. Gen. 3. 18. thy cattel cast their young Deut 28. 18. Fire consumes thy dwelling Iob. 15. 34. thieves rob thee of thy wealth Iob. 1 13. to 18 Extortioners catch all thou hast Psal. 109. 11. c. 2. Miseries incident to thee in thy Relations As Treachery in thy friends Iudg. 9. 23. falsness and sloathfulness in thy Servants and hirelings 2 Chr. 24 25. and 33. 24. Alienation in thy Kinsfolks Iudg. 9. 5. 24. Disobedience and Undutifulness in thy Children Deut. 28. 18. Disaffection vexatiousness c. in thy wife 1 King 21. 25. Deut. 28. 30. 3. Miseries to which thou urt exposed in thy good Name As Lyes Reproaches Slaunders Back-bitings c. The Name of the wicked shall rot Prov. 10. 7. 4. Miseries whereunto thou art liable in thy Body As Hunger and want of Food Deut. 28. 53. c. Thrist and want of Drink Lam. 4. 4. Breaking or dislocating of bones Numb 24. 8. Weaknesses grievous pains with sickness and many sorts of Diseases Feavers Agues Pestilences c. Deut. 28. 21 22. Cold and nakedness Ezek 16. 39. Bonds and Imprisonments Deut. 28. 63. to the end Perils and dangers by land and water c. In thy whole life thou art exposed to Armies of miseries 6. Thou in thy Natural state art subject to death the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and extremity of all these wordly miseries for thy sinfulness Rom. 5. 12. and 6. 23. Gen. 2. 16 17. with 3. 19. Die thou must that 's certain but when where how c. that 's most uncertain and how small a matter may bring thee to thine end The bone of a Fish going cross thy throat may choak thee as it did Tarquinius Priscus A Raisin-stone may kill thee as it did Sophocles and Anacreon An hair in a draught of milk may end thee as it did Fabius the Senator The tooth of thy Comb as thou art
not thou sanctifie the Sabbath-day when Scribes and Pharisees were so zealous against the breach and prophanation of the Sabbath Mat. 12. 1 2. Ioh. 5 16 18. Canst not thou humble thy self with fasting when Ahab did it 1 King 21. 27 28. When the Heathen City Nineveh did it Ionah 3. 5. to 10. When Pharisees did it often Luk. 18. 10. 11. c. 7. Finally Thou canst O natural man do much good perform many religious Exercises and Christian duties as our hearing reaped much Spiritual Benefit by the means of Grace What other meer Natural men have done thou maist do As 1. Thou maist give much Alms to the poor So did the carnal Pharisees Mat. 6. 1 2. So the blinded Papists 2. Thou maist show much kindness and favour to Gods people to Christians c. So did Cyrus to the Jews Ezra 1. 1 2. Artaxerxes to Ezra Ezra 7. 11. to 27. Ahashuerus to Mordecai and the Jews Esth. 6. and 7. and 8. and 9. and 10. So Maximinus the Emperour under Gods heavy judgements his bowels rotting innumerable worms crawling from him c. ceased his cruel persecutions of Christians and made a Law for their peace liberty and publick meetings 3. Thou maist have Gods faithful Ministers in high esteem maist reverence them and hear them gladly As Ioash did Iehoiadah 2 Chron. 24. 2 4 c. Herod did Iohn Baptist Mar. 6. 20. Simon Magus did Philip Act. 8. 13. And as the Officers of the chief Priests and Pharisees sent to take Christ were wonderfully taken with Christ Joh. 7. 32 45 46. 4 Thou maist desire the prayers of Gods Ministers and people for thee As Pharaoh desired the prayers of Moses and Aaron Exod. 9. 27 28. and 10. 16 17 18. King Ieroboam desired the prayers of the man of God for his withered hand 1 King 13. 4 6. And Simon Magus begg'd the prayers of Peter and the Apostles for himself that the evils feared might not come upon him Act. 28. 24. 5. Thou maist wish thy self in as happy a condition especially in death as Gods people So did Balaam Numb 23. 10. And maist not only wish but pray to God So did the Pharisees Mat. 6. 5. and 23. 14. Luk. 18. 10. 6. Thou maist profess the Christian Faith and Religion So did the five foolish Virgins who had lamps Mat. 25. 3 c. Simon Magus Act. 8. 13. Ananias and Saphira his Wife Act. 5. 1. to 11. And Iulian the Emperour for a season but afterwards became a woful Apostate and cruel persecutor of Christians Yea thou maist believe for a time as the Hearers resembled to the rocky or stony ground are said to do Luk. 8. 13. 7. Thou maist also proceed to practice and do many things As did Herod Mar. 6. 20. Nay what can a true Christian do but an hypocrite who is the Christians Ape may imitate it Yea the Natural man may seem to do with much zeal and affection The stony ground heard with joy Mat. 13. 20 21. How zealous seemed Ioash about repairing of the Temple 2 Chron. 24. 4 c. And Iehu in rooting out of Ahab's house and destroying of Baal's Idolatry out of Israel 2 King 10. 16 c. III. These things the Natural man may do and ought to do in order to his recovery out of his Natural state of sin and misery Thou therefore O Natural man if thou dost not these things which thou canst do and oughtst to do in order to thy recovery though neither these things nor any thing else which thou canst do is sufficient thou shalt justly perish in thy sinful and wretched state of Nature for evermore For 1. All these abilities which God hath furnished thee withall what are they but as so many Talents wherewith the Lord hath betrusted thee that thou shouldst imploy them to thy Lord and Master's honour and thine own eternal benefit Mat. 25. 14. to 31. Luk. 19. 12 13. Now Talents are not to be buried in the earth or hid in a Napkin 2. A day of account will certainly come when God will reckon with every one how they have imploy'd their talents Mat. 25. 19 c. and happy those souls that shall be able to give a good and clear account at that day 3. He that diligently and fruitfully imploys his talents received is in the ready way of having his talents and gifts augmented Mat. 25. 28 29. Mar. 4. 25. Mat. 13. 12. Luk. 8. 18. He that faithfully doth what he is able shall be enabled to do much more 4. If thou dost not in order to thy recovery what thou art able to do thou wilt be found willingly if not wilfully guilty of thine eternal perdition in thy Natural state of sin and misery Ezek 18. 31. and 33. 11. Ah! what a crying sin is murder Gen. 41. 10. What a roaring sin then is self-murder wilful self-murder both of body and soul for ever 5. Finally If thou dost not towards thy recovery what thou art able if thou improvest not thy talents what thou canst God will account thee an unprofitable a slothful and wicked servant will cause thy talent to be taken from the and thy self to be cast into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 25. 26 28 30. Now go O Natural man do to the utmost thou art able towards the rescuing of thy self from thy sinful and wretched state of Nature else thou'â—t be guilty of thine own eternal destruction And yet when thou hast done all thou art able all this will not fully and compleatly effect thy recovery VII Direction GReat cause thou hast then O Natural man upon all these foregoing Considerations deeply to humble thy self before the LORD for this thy sinful and wretched state of Nature wherein thou remainest even until this very day Luk. 15. 17 18 19 21. I. Hast thou not causes more then enough to humble thy self deeply before the Lord for this thy sinful and wretched state of Nature wherein thou still remainest For Consider 1. While thou art in this state of Nature thou art in the state of damnation Ioh. 3. 18 36. Eph. 2. 1 2 3. And thou art posting apace to the place of execution as fast as the wings of speedy time can carry thee And wilt thou go laughing to Hell Thou art condemned already Joh. 3. 18. And will any condemned malefactor go merrily to the place of execution Was it not Agag's folly to come in delicately to Samuel as if the bitterness of death had been past when he was presently to be hewed in pieces before the LORD 1 Sam. 15. 32 33. Art thou on the very pits brink of eternal perdition and but a small puff of breath betwixt thee and Hell and dost thou not tremble Doth not thine heart ake Is not thy soul round-beset with sorrow even unto death 2. While thou art un-humbled under this thy sinful and wretched state of Nature thou continuest an un-cured yea an unconvinced sinner 1. An un-cured
the world can actually have any saving share or interest at all in the Redemption or Recovery which Christ hath fully obtained for his people untill he actually accept Christ as his only all-sufficient Saviour and particularly apply to his own Soul that Redemption and Recovery from sin and misery which Christ hath procured and obtained 1 Ioh. 5. 12. Ioh. 1. 11 12. and 3. 16. 18 36. and 8. 24. And this must needs be so For 1. Christs obtaining of Recovery and Redemption for lapsed Sinners renders them only Salvable and that possibly they may be saved which door of Hope is not opened at all to the lapsed Angels but Sinners particularly accepting of Christ and applying of his merit unto themselves personally renders them actually saved and that they are indeed in the state of Salvation already Compare diligently these and like Scriptures Ioh. 3. 16 17. Tit. 2 14. 1 Tim. 1. 15. Gal. 4. 4. 5. Rom. 8. 3. which point out a possibility of Salvation by Christ and his Death with Ioh. 1. 12. 1 Ioh. 5. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 9. And such like as denote their actual Salvation by Christ who have accepted him and applied him to themselves particularly 2. Non-accepting and non-applying of Christ is so great a sin that it is threatned with damnation Ioh. 16. 8 9. with Ioh. 3. 18. 36. and 8. 24. Therefore though Christ be never so able and all-sufficient to restore and save Sinners yet none can have benefit by his Salvation without Application of him and his merits 3. The Promise of effectual and eternal Salvation by Christ is still directed to the actual acceptance and application of Christ. As Spiritual Rest of Soul is promised but to them that come to Christ Mat. 11. 28 29. Eternal life is promised but to such as believe in him Ioh. 3. 16. but to such as eat this bread of life viz. his flesh given for the life of the world Ioh. 6. 51. 57. 58. Remission of sins is promised but to them that believe in him Act 10. 43. Now how shall man he saved according to Gods promises that perform not the Condition of the Promises 4. Who ever was Restored and saved by Christ till he accepted and applied Christ not the Apostles Ioh. 16. 30. Mat. 16. 16. Not the Sinful woman Luk. 7. 50. not the convert thief Luk. 23. 43. not the Jaylor Act. 16. 31. to 35. Who ever was healed by a Plaister spread and prepared only but never applied to the wound and Sore Who ever was comforted with the richest cordial though never so accurately prepared if it were never eaten or drunk And who ever was actually saved by Christ if not particularly accepted and applied They that accept not that apply not Christ to themselves are without Christ And they that are without Christ are without Hope so remaining and go without Salvation Eph. 2. 12. 5. All Communion with Christ in his saving benefits â—lows from Union to Christ in accepting of him Ioh. 1. 12 1 Ioh. 5. 12. Rom. 8 10. Col. 2. 19. Eph. 4. 16. As the Ciour hath Communion with the Stock in its life growth fruitfulness by being united unto the stock by Ingrafting or as the Wife hath Communion with the husband in his Name state c. by being united to him in marriage or as the members of the Natural body have Communion with the head and heart in their life sense motion c. by being united thereunto by joints and hands 6. Till the Sinner accepts and applies Christ he is not throughly Convinced of the Sinfulness and wretchedness of his Natural state and of the great need he hath of Christ to deliver him out of it For Conviction is the first step to application of Christ Ioh. 16. 8 9. And where there 's not the first step of Conviction There 's no present state of Salvation 7. Till the Sinner accepts Christ and applies him he neglects and despiseth him And he that despiseth Christ how can he obtain Salvation yea how can he escape damnation See Mat. 22. 1. to 3. Luk. 14. 16. to 25. Heb. 2. 3. Direct XIIII OBserve diligently O Natural man that the Proper and Peculiar way whereby Iesus Christ is to be accepted and applied to a man 's own Soul for Recovery out of his sinful and wretched state of Nature is by true saving Faith in Iesus Christ alone Act. 10. 43. Ioh. 3. 16. and 1. 12. Act. 13. 38 39. and 16. 30 31. Eph. 2. 8. Rom. 3. 22. to 27. I. That by true saving Faith alone peculiarly Iesus Christ is accepted and applied for Recovery out of Sin and misery is evident several wayes For 1. The Nature of true saving Faith in Christ principally consists in the Accepting and applying Christ for Salvation as he is offered in the Gospel Thus I have elsewhere described it Iustifying Faith is a saving Grace wrought in the hearts of the Elect at their Regeneration by Gods Spirit and word whereby they not only know Assent to and apply to themselves the Promises Gospel and Doctrine of Iesus Christ for gods glory in their justification and Salvation but also whereby they afterwards walk as becomes justified persons There see the Confirmation and Explanation of this Description of Faith So that the Nature of saving faith in Christ stands much in Applying Christ in the Gospel and promises who is the Kernel and Soul of them 2. The Receiving and Applying Iesus Christ for Recovery and Salvation is one of the chief Acts of Faith which thus I illustrate The Acts of true Faith in Christ are 1 Direct 2. Reflexive 1 Direct and these of 2 Sorts 1. Primary As 1. Knowing Isai. 53. 11. Ioh. 17. 3. 2. Assenting to the truth of Gods record 1 Ioh. 5. 9. Ioh. 3. 33. 3. Applying of the Promises and of Christ Ioh. 1. 12. As Paul did Gal. 2. 20. as Thomas did Ioh. 20. 8. 2. Secondary As 1. Retaining Christ Received in the heart Eph. 3. 17. Col. 2. 6 7. 2. Purifying the heart Act. 15. 9. 3. Refreshing the Soul with peace and joy Rom. 5. 1 2. and 15. 13. 4. Breaking forth into good works 1 Thes. 1. 3. Heb. 11. 5. Working by Love Gal. 5. 6. 6. Enlivening the Soul Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 2. 20. 2. Conquering all our Spiritual Enemies 1 Ioh. 3. 2 3. and 5. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 9. Iam. 4. 7. Eph. 6. 16. 2 Reflexive When Faith refle ing upon its own acts sees it self believing 1 Ioh. 2. 3. 1 Tim. 1. 12. By this it appears that the applying act of Faith is a very principal act among all the rest â— or All the Acts before the Applying ast tend to make way for it as Preparatory to it And all the Acts after it result from the Applying Act especially as genuine fruits and effects of it Thus the Applying act of Faith is among the rest as the Sun among the Planets most illustrious 3. Faith is so peculiarly eminent among all
of true Repentance viz. 1. An hearty impartial self-abasing and self-condemning confession of sin to God Psal. 51. 17. and verse 1 3 5 14. Ezra 9. 6. Dan. 9. 5 6 7 8. Luke 15. 18 19. 2. Faith in Christ Mark 1. 15. Act. 26. 18. Heb. 6. 1. of which formerly 3. Penitential Desires and these vehement viz. Against sin that it may be pardoned subdued extirpated c. And for abundance of Grace to these ends 2 Cor. 7. 10 11. 4. Prayer Act. 9. 11. Even the Spirit of Prayer Zech. 12. 10. Psal. 51. 1. c. IV. Consequents of true Repentance aâ—e 1. More generally All good fruits and good works meet for Repentance Mat. 3. 8 9 10. and 7. 19. Luke 3. 8 9. with Gal. 5. 22 23. 2. More particularly These and such like 1. Vigilant care against sin for time to come 2 Cor. 7. 11. 2. Enlarged thankfulness for Gods mercies in Christ to the penitent and pardoned sinner 1 Tim. 1 13. to 18. Luke 7. 37 38. 3. Vehement and sincere Love To Christ for his Grace Luke 7. 47. Phil. 3. 7 8 9 10. To his Ministers for their Embassey 1 Thes. 5. 12 13. Gal. 4. 14 15. To his members for his image 1 Ioh. 3. 14. and 5. 1. 4. Singular joy in Christ and in all his wayes Acts 2. 46. and 8. 39. 5. Chearful new obedience to God in Christ. Acts 2. 42 c. Isa. 1 16 17 18 19 20. 6. Compassionateness to other sinners with desires and endeavours to gain them to Christ by Faith and Repentance Psal. 51. 12 13. 1 Cor. 9. 19. to 23. Luke 22. 32. Acts 26. 29. 7. Holy zeal to the peace and prosperity of Christs Church into which the penitent is now implanted Acts 2. 41. to the end 1 Cor. 9. 19 c. Psal. 51. 18 19. XIX Direction TUrn now unto God in Christ O Natural man by repenting Come now unto Iesus Christ and apply him by believing Delay not tarry not but make all speed all present speed in thy life in thy health in thy youth this day rather then to morrow as ever thou desirest to make surâ— of life and eternal salvation by Christ Iesus Eccl. 12. 1. Heb. 3. 7 8 13 15. 2 Cor. 6. 2. To incline thee forcibly hereunto consider seriously 1. God calls for the early sacrifices and services to be performed to him As The first-fruits of the Ground The first-fruits of Dough the first-fruits of all Fruit-trees Neh. 10. 35 36 37. The Firstlings of Beasts Exod 13. 1 2. The First-born of man Exod. 13. 1 2. The First-fruits of thy dayes Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth Eccl. 12. 1. The first-fruits of thy study care diligence affections c. First seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness Mat. 6. 33. And wilt thou put off God with the last with the dross and dregs of all 2. Gods Elect have come in to Christ repented and converted speedily immediately upon Gods call and dost thou still stand off after so many calls and invitations The Apostles immediately upon Christs call came to him and followed him Mat. 4. 18. to 23. The sinful Woman presently relented upon Christs preaching that sweet Sermon Mat. 11. 28 29 30. her History is thought next in order to succeed those words Luke 7. 37 c. Zacheus the Publican was presently converted upon Christs coming to him Luke 19. 6. to 11. The Thief upon the Cross who possibly never saw or heard Christ before was immediately converted and assured that that day he should be with Christ in Paradise Luke 23. 41 42 43. Cornelius and his Company were gained to Christ as Peter was uttering his Sermon Acts 10. 44 c. The Ethiopian Eunuch upon Philip's preaching instantly believed and was baptized Acts 8. 35 c. At one Sermon of Peter 3000 were brought home to Christ and added to the Church Acts 2. 36 37 c. The Hearers of the Apostles were speedily converted about 5000 Acts 4. 4. Saul upon Christs call instantly believed and repented so that of a Wolf he became a Lamb of a Persecutor a Preacher of Christ and of his Gospel Acts 9. 3 4 c. 19 20 c. At Paul's preaching Lydia's heart was presently opened to entertain Christ Acts 16. 14. The Jaylor presently believed upon the preaching of Paul and Silas Acts 16. 30 c. The Ephesians after they heard the Word of Truth speedily converted to God Eph. 1. 13 14 15. with Acts 19. 17 18 19 20. The Thessalonians upon Paul's entring in unto them with the Gospel turned from Idols to serve the living God 1 Thes. 1. 4 5 9. and 2. 1. And what shall I say more The Colossians believed and were converted speedily the Gospel bringing forth fruit in them from the very day they heard it Col. 1. 4 5 6. Now this Catalogue of early Repenters shall rise up in judgement against thee and condemn thee for thy delay 3. The present time is of all other the very fittest time in the world for thee and for every one to turn from sin by repenting and close with Christ by believing For 〈◊〉 God saith To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Heb. 3. 7 8. 13. 15. and 4. 7. And dost thou with the Devil say Tomorrow 2. Now is the acceptable time now is the day of salvation 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. Hereafter may be the un-acceptable time the day of damnation 3. Now God may be found is near hereafter God may be afar off and may not be found Isa. 55. 6 7. 4. The present time is the time of mercy God holds out to the sinner his white Flag his golden Scepter of many precious Promises The future time may be the time of judgement and he may hold forth the red and black Flags of blood and death Prov. 1. 24. to 32. Isa. 65. 12. and 66. 4. Iâ— 7. 13. 5. The present time is only thine Time past is irrevocably gone Time to come may never come to thee The rich fool that promised himself many years had not many hours to live that night his soul was taken from him Luke 12. 20. And then if that prove thy condition what will become of thy impenitent hardned unbelieving and Christless soul 4. Delays in this case are very dangerous For 1. While Repentance is delayed iniquity is daily increased and sin multiplied Such go on still in their trespasses Psal. 168. 21. 2. While Repentance is delayed the heart will be daily more and more hardned through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3. 13. 3. The more the heart is hardned the more impossible it will be for the sinner to repent Rom. 2. 5. 4. Late and long-delayed Repentance is seldom true alwayes difficult Unfit to day more unfit to morrow Long festering and rankling Sores are hardly cured if curable at all True Repentance indeed is never too late but late Repentance is seldom true Late
Repenters do not so much forsake sin as sin forsakes them 5. While Repentance is delay'd the sinner treasureth up unto himself the greater pile of wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God Rom. 2. 5. 5. Thy life is short but Believing and Repenting are a great and long work He that hath much work to do a long journey to go had need to neglect no time but to be up early and doing For What is thy life A vanishing vapour Iam. 4. 14. A wind that passeth Iob. 7. 7. A blast or puff of breath Isa. 2. 22. A flower flourishing and fading Psal. 103. 15 16. A tale told Psal. 90. 9. Grass now growing now withering Psal. 103. 15. A flood still flowing away never returning Psal. 90. 5. As yesterday when it is past Psal. 90. 4. An hand-breadth Psal. 39. 5. A watch in the night but three hours long Psal. 90. 4. A shadow Iob 14. 2. A sleep Psal. 90. 5. An image or show Psal. 39. 6. Nothing and altogether vanity Psal. 39. 5. Now Believing and Repenting are great and long works None can believe or repent but such as are regenerate by the Spirit of God Iohn 1. 12 13. By Believing we must know Christ savingly Isa. 53. 11. Iob. 17. 3. Must assent to Gods Record touching Christ fully Ioh. 3. 33. 1 Ioh. 5. 11 12. Must embrace the Promises and accept Christ in the Promises Heb. 11. 13. Iohn 1. 12. Must purifie the heart Acts 15. 9. Must conquer the world 1 Iohn 5. 4. Must quench the fiery darts of the Devil Eph. 6. 16. And must live by it upon Christ continually Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 2. 20. Are these easie things Repentance turns from darkness to light from the Power of Satan to God Acts 26. 18. Tends continually to mortifie and crucifie sin Rom. 8. 13. Col. 3. 5. And to perfect holiness in Gods fear 2 Cor. 7. 1. Tit. 2. 12 13. 6. Death is most certain that it will come Heb. 9. 27. Sam. 14. 14. Psal. 49. 6 7 8 9. and 89. 98. Most uncertain when where or how it will come whether in youth man-hood or old age in the evening midnight Cock-crowing or day-break watch Mark 13. 35. Therefore seeing thou knowest not the year day nor hour of thy death thou hast need to be prepared for it every day every hour So true is that Verse Mors certa est incerta dies hora agnita nulli Extremam quare quamlibet esse puta I may thus English it Frail Man most certain is thy death Uncertain is the day None knows the hour of his last breath Then look for it alway In this respect Angustine's Advice is very good Let every one wholesomely think of his last day It is Gods mercy that man knows not when he shall die Man's last day is concealed from him that every day may be observed by him What Housholder is there that being certainly informed that such a week or such a night thieves will assault his house but at what hour is wholly uncertain will not prepare and watch every night lest his house be broken thorow and robbed Or what condemned Malefactor being assured that in a short time he shall certainly die on what day he is wholly uncertain but will make it his serious work to prepare for his death that he may die penitently And wilt noâ— thou O sinful mortal Soul who knowest thy death is certain the time when uncertain endeavour by speedy and sincere Repentance and Faith to prepare for dying well Especially considering That after death this work of Repenting and Believing hath no place no such work is to be done in the grave Eccl. 9. 10. There thine heart can send forth no sighs thine eye no tears thy tongue no confession c. in reference to thy sins There there is no knowledge assent or application of Faith to be exerted in reference to the Promises or Christ. But as the Tree falls so it lyes unalterably towards Heaven or Hell As soon as a man dies there is a great gulf fixed so that there 's no altering of his present condition from better to worse or from worse to better Luke 16. 26. 7. Finally O Natural man Repent now believe in Christ now or never 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. Heb. 3. 7. to 16. Isa. 55. 7. Eccl. 9. 10. 1. Now embrace the acceptable time now close with the day of salvation or never 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. For when the acceptable time is out when the day of salvation is ended thou canst expect no acceptation from God any more no salvation for evermore Prov. 1. 24. to verse 33. 2. Now believe in Christ and repent according to the tenour of the Gospel and Ordinances of Christ continued unto thee Mark 1. 15. Luke 24. 47. or never For if the Gospel be taken from thee or thou from the Gospel how canst thou repent How canst thou believe 3. Now entertain Christs sweetest â—nvitations and offers of Grace with all affectionateness and readiness of mind or never Mat. 11. 28 29 30. Iohn 3. 15 16 17. and 6. 37 38 39 40 50 51 c. and 7. 37 38 39. For Christ will not be alwayes inviting the obstinate alwayes offering Grace to them that do reject it The Guests that were bidden to the Marriage of the Kings Son i. e. of Christ with the Elect and rejected the invitation were invited no more Mat. 22. 2 3. and 8. with Luke 14. 16. to 25. 4. Now open the door of thine heart unto Christ while he stands at the door patiently and knocks importunately by his Word by his Rod by his Spirit c. Rev. 3. 20. or never For if Christ be still sleighted and repulsed so that he being weary of standing and knocking finally depart he will wait no more he will knock no more much less come in unto thee and sup with thee c. 5. Now while thou art in the land of the living believe repent turn to God work out thy salvation c. or never For if Death surprize thee if the Grave shut her mouth upon thee all these works will cease for ever Eccl. 9. 10. 6. Now like a wise Virgin furnish thy Lamp of Christian Profession with the oyl of true Grace that when Jesus Christ the Bridegroom shall come to the solemn marriage with his Church thou maist go forth to meet the Bridegroom or never Mat. 25. 1. to 14. For if thou like a foolish Virgin hast thine oyl to provide when the Bridegroom shall come They that are ready shall enter in with him and the door will be for ever shut against thee though thou knockest and cryest Lord open with the greatest importunity Mat. 25. 10 11 12. Then if thou beest once shut out of Heaven thou art shut out for ever if once thou art cast out into Hell thou art shut up in it for ever 7 Finally Now give all possible diligence to enter in at
the Houshold of Faith Restrain not Prayer but pray continually with groans that cannot be uttered by the assistance of the Spirit Have no fellowship at all with Sin and Satan nor any needless fellowship with any workers of iniquity Eph. 5. 11. Psal. 1. 1. and 26. 4 5. Psal. 119. 115. Walk not disconsolately and dejectedly but in the fear of the Lord and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost Acts 9. 31. Be abundantly contented in all conditions allotted thee by God Fully expect good by the worst of afflictions that may befall thee and be ever carefull to keep thy Hopes and Evidences for Heaven firm and clear that when thou comest to die thou maist lift up thine head and triumph that thy Redemption and celestial Coronation with Christ draweth nigh XXI Direction WRastle also most vlgorously O thou that wast Natural but art spiritualized wast dead but art alive again against all thy sins spiritual enemies and their temptations Heb. 12. 4. Col. 3. 5. to 12. Eph. 6. 11. to 19. for all time to come that they may none of them in the least measure eclipse any of these thy spiritual Priviledges or embitter any other thy sweet enjoyments Holy David by his lapses brought many deep wounds and scarrs upon his Conscience Psal. 51. 3 8. some of which he probably carried to his Grave Loving and confident Peter by his triple denial of his Lord and Master Christ purchased to himself a torrent of bitter tears Mat. 26. 75. The Ephesian Angel by leaving his first love and first works was so offensive thereby to Christ that he threatned the removal of his Candlestick Revel 2. 4 5. The Church her self by her carnal sluggishness and security lost her sweet Communion with Christ for a season and was involved in deep spiritual distress Cant. 5. 2. to 9. Be thou warned by their examples which are written for thine admonition lest through thy spiritual oscitancy and sluggishness thou bring upon thy self like spiritual calamities and so far wound thy Conscience as to go bleeding to thy Grave XXII Direction EXpress upon all good occasions all possible tenderness of heart and bowels of compassion towards those that yet remain in the first Adam in their sinful state of Nature unregeâ—erate especially towards thy kindred according to the flesh using all good endeavours to convince convert and gain them to Christ that they as well as thy self may be eternally saved Luke 22. 32. Rom. 10. 1. and 9. 1 2 3. Acts 9. 20 with 1 Cor. 9. 19. to 23. For 1. Even thou thy self wast sometimes foolish disobedient serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating others Tit. 3. 3. An enemy to God by wicked works Col. 1. 21. Yea dead in sins and trespasses c. and a child of wrath as well as they or any of them Eph. 2. 1 2 3. But God who is rich in mercy hath saved thee by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. Hast thou then experimentally felt the Wormwood and the Gall of thy Natural state of sin and misery And dost thou not commiserate such poor souls as are still in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity Acts 8. 23. Hast thou had the sweet experience of the riches of Gods free-Grace and Love in restoring thee from death to life from thy Natural state of sin and misery into a supernatural state of sanctity and felicity And do not thy bowels yearn within thee after other lost souls especially those of thy kindred that they also may be turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 26. 18. 2. Are not their souls as well as thine own very precious O Consider 1. Their immortal Constitution which no Creature can kill or destroy Matth. 10. 28. 2. The invaluable price paid for their Restitution even the most precious blood and death of Jesus Christ the only Son of God 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. 3. The incomparable and transcendent value which the wisdome of God himself puts upon the soul as being of far more worth then the whole world Matth. 16. 26. And then think with thy self Shall not I endeavour to hinder the eternal loss and to promote the eternal salvation of such precious souls 3. What advantage will redound in sundry respects if God bless thine endeavours to the convincing and converting of their souls to Christ For Hereby 1. Thou shalt save a soul from death Jam. 5. 19 20. And what a great what a glorious work is it to have an hand in saving a soul from deathâ— 2. Thou shalt hide a multitude of sins Jam. 5. 19 20. Even an heap a sink a dunghil of hundreds and thousands of sins thou shalt hide from the revenging eye of God by Christs righteousness 2 Cor. 5. 20 21. 3. Thou shalt occasion great joy in Heaven among the blessed Angels of God who exceedingly rejoyce at the Conversion of sinners Luke 15. 7 10 22 23. 4. Finally Thou shalt hereby not a little further thine own eternal felicity Deut. 12. 3. Thou therefore commiserate thy Brethren in their sinful and wretched state of Nature as thy God hath in thy like condition had compassion on thee Canst thou lend an hand to pluck a Beast out of the mire or a Sheep out of a pit and wilt thou not lend an hand to help poor lost souls out of the mire of sin snares of Satan and pit of eternal destruction O warn them convince them counsel them exhort them rebuke them lament them pray for them weep over them do any good for them that thou maist by any means gain and save their souls XXIII Direction YIeld with all enlarged thankfulness all possible Praise Love and Obedience unto God and unto the Lamb who hath loved thee of the riches of his free-Grace before the world began who in fulness of time hath ransomed thee by the invaluable price of his death and in due time hath washed thâ—e from thy sins in his own blood aâ—d in the Laver of Regeneration by the renewing of the Holy Ghost Eph. 1. 3 4 5 6. 1 Iohn 4. 19. Gal. 4. 4 5. 1 Tim. 1. 15. and 2. 5 6. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19 20 Rev. 1. 5. Tit. 3. 4 5 6 7. For 1. Thou oughtest to be thankful for all Gods blessings of all sorts the least of them being beyond yea contrary to thy deserts Eph. 5. 20. Col. 3. 17. 1 Thes. 5. 18. with Gen. 32. 10. but especially for those choicest spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Eph. 1. 3. Psal. 103 1 2 3. 2. The reality and sincerity of thy thankfulness will inwardly best approve it self in thy cordial affection and unâ—eigned love towards thy gracious God and Jesus Christ for all his love and all the fruits of his love in Christ. Kindness begets thankfulness and love breeds love as fire begets fire 1 Iob. 4. 19. Thus when