him to have his Righteousness imputed to them Rom. 10.3 For they being ignorant of God's Righteousness and going about to establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God That resting on our own Righteousness or hoping to attain Righteousness and Life from the works of the law is an hinderance to our being made partakers of Christ We may see from Rom. 7 4. Ye are become dead to the law by the body of Christ that ye should be married to another even to him that is raised from the dead By being dead to the law we may understand dead to it as it is a Covenant of life not as a rule of life dead to the law in reference to our hope and expectation of life from the works of the law but not dead to the law in reference to our obedience and conformity to the law And this being dead to the law as a Covenant of life preceedeth our being Married to Christ Such as are Married to the law and expect Righteousness and Life from the law they are not Married to Christ Now we are said to be dead to the law by the Body of Christ that is by that death which he suffered for us in his Body Both as his Death hath purchased for us deliverance from the First Covenant and the establishment of a new Covenant and also it plainly declares that Righteousness is not possible to be had from the law for then he needed not to have dyed to have brought in another way of Righteousness Gal. 2.21 If Righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain If any say how may we be taken off from resting in the law from hoping to attain Righteousness and Life by our own works done in obedience and conformity to the law of God and be brought to see an absolute necessity of going to Christ for Righteousness and Life A. 1. Let us see and consider that it is utterly impossible for any man in this fallen estate to attain unto that perfection of Righteousness and Obedience to the law of God as to be justified and saved thereby Rom. 3.20 By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight Gal. 3.11 12. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God it is evident for the just shall live by Faith and the law is not of Faith but the man that doth them shall live in them That no man can attain such a Righteousness from his observing the law as shall justifie and save him Is evident these ways 1. The law requireth personal perfect constant obedience in all things else it pronounceth a curse against us Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them Now no man since the fall of Adam Christ only excepted ever did or could continue in all things required in the law without transgressing any command thereof at any time Joh. 7.19 Did not Moses give you the law yet none of you keepeth the law And least any should say Christ meaneth the carnal Jews only when he saith none of you keepeth the law We may see from other Scriptures that the holyest men upon earth cannot keep the law of God without transgressing against it at any time Eccl. 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not 1 King 8.36 There is no man that sinneth not 2. If any man could have obtained Righteousness and Life by the law then there had been no need of Christs laying down his life for us Gal. 2.21 If Righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain And such as go about to seek for Justification by the works of the law do make Christs obedience and his suffering death to be useless Gal. 5.4 Christ is become of no effect to you whosoever of you are justified by the law ye are fallen from grace 3. God hath made a new Covenant to give us Life and Righteousness through believing in his Son Joh. 3.16 Rom. 3.21 22. And there had been no need of a new Covenant of a new way to obtain Righteousness and Life if Righteousness and Life could have been obtained by the law For if it had been possible for fallen man to have had Righteousness and Life by the law fallen man should have been saved by a Covenant of works as well as Adam in innocency Gal 3.21 Is the law then against the promises of God God forbid for if there had been a law given which could have given life verily Righteousness should have been by the law 4. None that ever sought after Righteousness and Life by the works of the law have been able to attain thereunto Rom. 9.31 32. Israel which followed after the law of Righteousness hath not attained to the law of Righteousness Wherefore because they sought it not by Faith but as it were by the works of the law It may be some will think the reason why Israel could not attain to the Righteousness of the law was because they were not zealous followers after Righteousness but were cold and luke-warm but that is a mistake for many of them were zealous in observing the law Act. 22.3 I was zealous towards God as ye all are this day Act. 21.20 Or it may be some will think that the reason why they could not attain to Righteousness though they followed after it was because they rested in an External Righteousness and did not seek after Internal Righteousness the Righteousness of the heart but this was not the cause for though many of them did rest in External Righteousness yet others of them did look after an Internal Righteousness they knew that God called for the heart Prov. 22.26 When they fasted they did not only afflict their bodies but their Souls also for their sins Isa 58.3 Wherefore have we fasted wherefore have we afflicted our Soul They were sollicitous to have the sins of their Souls pardoned as well as their sinfull actions Mich. 6.6 7. Wherewithall shall I come before the Lord Shall I give my first born for my Transgression the fruit of my body for the sin of my Soul But the true reason why Israel that followed after Righteousness could not attain unto Righteousness was because they sought not after that Righteousness which is by Faith but sought it by the works of the law Rom. 9.31 32. 2. We mistake God's end in giving the law when we seek for Righteousness and Life by the works of the law For the law was not given us to be a Covenant of life that is for this end that we should expect Righteousness and Life by the works of the law As appears 1. Because God had setled another way of justifying and saving sinners namely by Faith in Christ long before the giving of the law and did confirm this way Salvation through Faith in Christ by an Everlasting Covenant made
loving as Gen. 29.30 31. Matth. 24.13 He that endureth to the end shall be saved So that the terms on which Christ is willing to become ours are briefly these That we love and prefer Christ above all persons in the world even our nearest and dearest relations That we deny our selves that we are willing to under go all sufferings for Christ that we forsake all that we have for him that we follow him that we continue with him to the end of our dayes And as we must understand these terms so also approve of them and judge Christ and salvation by Christ worthy of all acceptation in these terms 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners And as we must receive Christ judiciously so also we must heartily and cordially accept of him on those terms on which he is willing to bestow himself upon us Christ and salvation by Christ is not be imbraced on any terms Lam. 3.29 He putteth his mouth in the dust if so be there may be hope We should not stick at abaseing our selves and lying in the dust which was used 〈◊〉 tâ—ken of deep humiliation Job 42.6 Jos 7.6 Or putting the mouth in the dust may signifie full subjection submitting to any thing though in it self ungrateful and distastful as licking the dust is distastful Is 49.23 A man throughly convinced of his lost estate will submit to any thing so there may be hope of salvation The returning Prodigal was willing to submit to any tearms so he might be received into his fathers family Luk. 15.19 Make me as one of thy hired servants David was content rather with the lowest place in Gods house than the highest preferments in the tents of wickedness Psal 84.10 I had rather be a door-keeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness 3. We may know that we receive Christ aright when nothing in Christ or of Christ is offensive to us but he is altogether lovely Some are offended at the Cross of Christ Christ Crucified was to the Jews a stumbling block to the Greeks Foolishness 1 Cor. 1.23 Some are offended at the Doctrine of Christ and of some Doctrines of the Gospel this is an hard saying who can bear it But when nothing of Christ nothing in Christ is offensive to us that argueth we are in a blessed condition Mat. 11.6 Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me VVhen all of Christ is lovely and desireable that is an evidence that he is ours Cant. 5.16 He is altogether lovely This is my beloved and my friend 4. VVe may know that we have rightly received Christ if we find that there is virtue come out of Christ into our Souls VVhen a distressed woman did but touch Christs Cloaths virtue went out of the Lord Jesus and healed the woman of the Plague that was upon her Mark 5.27 28 29 30. If upon the touching of Christs Cloaths virtue came out of him to heal the Distempers of the Body then much more upon receiving Christ into our hearts will virtue come out of Christ to heal our Souls But some may say what is that virtue that cometh out of Jesus Christ to those that receive Christ by Faith A. 1. There cometh a Sanctifying virtue from Christ Act 26.18 Who are Sanctified by Faith which is in me They that do rightly receive Christ do from that fulness of grace that is in him receive grace for grace John 1.16 And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace All we that is all we that have received Christ ver 12. have received of his fulness grace for grace that is grace answerable to those graces that are in Christ Humility answering the Humility that was in Christ Meekness answering the Meekness of Christ the heart is disposed and enclined to imitate the example of Christ 1 Joh. 4.17 As he was so are we in this world This is an evidence that we have received grace for grace from that fulness that is in Christ when our hearts are enclined to imitate the example of Christ 2. There cometh a sin subduing virtue from Jesus Christ when he is received by us As Dagon fell down to the Earth when the Ark was brought into the house of Dagon 1 Sam. 5.3 Behold Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the Ark of God And when the Philistines set up Dagon again he fell down again before the Ark and his head and hands were cut off there was nothing but the stump of Dagon left So it is when Christ is received into the heart the Idols of the heart are thrown down the power of indwelling corruption is subdued though the stump of sin abide still though the body of Death is still carried about with us yet the hands and the head as I may so say of the old man is taken away the power of sin is destroyed where Christ dwells he will not let sin be in dominion Rom. 6.14 Sin shall not have dominion over you because you are not under the Law but under grace 3. There is a soul strengthning virtue cometh from Christ where he is rightly received by Faith The Soul is strengthned both to do and suffer the will of God Act. 21.13 I am ready not to be bound only but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus When God hath given us a suffering Spirit that we are willing to suffer for Christ that is an evident token that God intends to give us Salvation Phil. 1.28 29. And in nothing terrified by yâ—â—r adversaries which is to them an evident token oâ— perdition but to you of Salvation and that of God For unto you it is given in the behalf if Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer for his sake 4. VVe may know and be assured that we have a saving interest in Christ if we have the Spirit of Christ given to us For all they that have the Spirit of Christ are united to Christ he dwelleth in them and they dwell in him 1 Joh. 3.24 Hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us 1 Joh. 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit And all they that have not the Spirit of Christ are none of his he doth not he will not own them for his Rom. 8.9 Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his We see it is a plain case if we have the Spirit of Christ then we may know we may be sure that we are his and that he abideth and dwelleth in us but if we have not the Spirit of Christ then we may know we may be sure we are none of his But here some may say how shall we know whither we have the Spirit of Christ given to us or
success to such as ask wisdom of God It shall be given him What an encouragement is this to all that find any want of wisdom and knowledge to pray to God for it and to pray in Faith that we shall obtain what we pray for We have more promises to this effect Prov. 28.5 Evil men understand not judgment but they that seek the Lord understand all things Joh. 6.45 It is written in the Prophets and they shall be all taught of God Isa 29.18 The eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness And let not any say I am such a sinfull creature I am afraid God will not teach and instruct me though I should pray to him For good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners in the way Psal 25.8 Neither let any say I am so blind and ignorant there is no hope that I should attain to saving knowledge For God can make the blind to see Psal 146.8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind 4. Converse with the Servants of Christ that have acquaintance with Christ and they will bring you acquainted with him Prov. 13.20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise The Daughters of Jerusalem that could see no greater excellency in Christ than in other things and wondered that the Spouse should be sick of love for him and give them such a charge concerning him Cant. 5.9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved O thou fairest among women what is thy beloved more than another beloved that thou dost so charge us After they had heard the Spouse discoursing concerning Christ and setting out Christs excellencies ver 10. to the 16. they were in love with him and had their hearts stirred up to seek after Christ Cha. 6.1 Whether is thy beloved gone O thou fairest among women whether is thy beloved turned aside that we may seek him with thee Second Hinderance Many men are willing to have Christ and Salvation by Christ if they might have Christ and Salvation by Christ in their own way and upon their own terms as if they might be exempted from the cross if they might have liberty to continue in their sins and the like but they stick at the terms of the Gospel on which Christ is offered to them To remove this obstacle I shall propose these following considerations to thy Soul 1. Consider who thou art that thou shouldest stand upon terms with the great God about thy Salvation Thou art a condemned creature a child of wrath a lost creature an undone creature a sinner a miserable creature a poor worm And shall a condemned creature refuse a pardon unless he may have it on his own terms Shall a child of wrath refuse reconciliation with God Shall a lost perishing creature refuse a Saviour an undone creature refuse help a great sinner refuse forgiveness of his sins a miserable creature refuse mercy unless he may have it in his own way Shall a poor worm that is not worthy of the least of all Gods mercies refuse Christ and all the benefits of Christ because he may not have them on his own terms 2. Consider what the torments of Hell are from which Christ came to save sinners they are intolerable and eternal torments And consider what the joys of Heaven are which Christ hath purchased for us they are eternal and unspeakable joys And shall we refuse to have deliverance from the torments of Hell unless we may have it in our own way and upon our own terms Shall we refuse a Kingdom the Kingdom of Heaven unless we may have it in our own way and upon our own terms Did we understand believe and consider the reality and greatness and eternity of Hells Torments and Heaven's Joys we should be willing to do any thing and suffer any thing so we might escape the Torments of Hell and obtain the Joys of Heaven when we dye VVhat the Apostle saith to the Galathians Gal. 3.1 O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth The like may I say to such as stick at receiving Christ on the terms of the Gospel O foolish sinners who hath bewitched you that you should not accept of Christ and Salvation by Christ on the terms of the Gospel O foolish Sinners who hath bewitched you that you should not accept of Christ and Salvation by Christ in the terms of the Gospel How gladly would the Devils and the damned in Hell accept of Salvation on the terms of the Gospel if it were offered to them And wilt thou refuse that which a Devil would joyfully accept if it were offered to him How earnestly did the rich man beg for a drop of water to cool his tongue when he was tormented in Hell fire and if he were so earnest for a drop of water to cool his tongue how readily would he have embraced deliverance 3. Consider what great want you have of Christ to justifie sanctifie and save your Souls You have greater want of Christ than you have of Food or Rayment or any thing in this world You are in such want of Christ that you are utterly undone to all Eternity without Christ When men are in want they will comply with hard and difficult terms to have their wants supplyed Luk. 15.14 15 16. When the Prodigal Son began to be in want he was willing to submit to a very low condition to feed and look after Swine and he was willing to fare very hardly to eat husks such as were given to Hogs He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat And these difficulties he readily complyed with as soon as he began to be in want We have been in want of Christ ever since we were born and our want of Christ is greater than our want of necessary food for the want of food only destroys the Body but for want of Christ our precious Souls perish for ever Why then do we stand upon terms with God about accepting Christ that either we must have him on our own terms or else we will not have him all We would undergo much hardship to get bread for our Bodies Lam. 5.9 We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the Wilderness And shall we not be willing to undergo greater difficulties to get Christ the bread of Life 4. If thou wilt not have Christ and Salvation by Christ in God's way and upon God's terms thou shalt never be saved by him for God will not alter the way of Life and Salvation for the saving of thy Soul Job 18.4 Shall the Earth be forsaken for thee And shall the Rock be removed out of his place God's Eternal counsels and purposes for the saving lost man are firmer than the Rock and stand faster than the Earth And therefore 't is a vain thing for thee to imagine that God should alter the way of Life and Salvation decree'd in his eternal counsels
all that he hath and let the Stranger spoil his labour Job was the Richest man in all the East and yet had all his estate taken from him in one day And can't God do the like by us Now it is better to suffer the loss of all we have for Christ than to suffer loss by Gods judgments for there is no reward of such losses And as God can take our estates when he pleaseth so he can curse them to us if we refuse to part with them for Christ He can make our Table to become our Snare Rom. 11.9 And our Riches prove hurtfull to us Eccles 5.13 And prosperity to be our ruine Prov. 1.32 And we had better suffer the loss of our Estates than to have them cursed to us 4. Death will take away all that we have from us 1 Tim. 6.7 For we brought nothing into this World and it is certain we can carry nothing out And why shall we not part with all for Christ when we must part with all we have at Death what we part with for Christ shall be recompenced to us an hundred fold in this Life besides Life Everlasting in the other VVorld But we have no reward for what Death takes from us But here may be 2 pleas why men would rather part with all at Death than part with all they have for Christ 1. VVe shall have no need of these things when we dye and therefore we are willing to part with them when we dye but we shall have need of them while we live and therefore we can't tell how to part with them for Christ A. 1. If you part with all that you have in this VVorld you do not part with the providential care and the promise of God You have a Father in Heaven that knoweth all your wants Mat. 6.32 Your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things And as he knoweth all your needs so he hath promised to supply them all Phil. 4.19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his Riches in Glory by Jesus Christ 2. It argues little love to Christ if we will part with nothing for Christ but what is useless and superfluous what we shall have no more need of we will do as much and more then this for one another But some may reply again What Death takes from us it leaves to our Children but what we part with for Christ is gone from us and from our Children for ever and therefore we can better part with all we have to Death than to Christ I answer 1. We may design our Estates for our Children when we die but we can't tell whither they shall enjoy them We know not how the providence of God will dispose of what we leave behind us when we are gone out of the World Luk. 12.20 God said unto him thou fool this night thy Soul shall be required of thee Then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided 2. Suppose all we have should be taken from us and our Children we must prefer Christ above our selves and love Christ more than Son or Daughter or else we are not worthy of him Mat. 10.37 3. Sufferers for Christ that part with all they have for Christ leave their Children a better Inheritance than Houses or Lands they leave them the blessing of God God blesseth the Children of righteous men for what they part with to the poor Ps 37.26 He is ever merciful and lendeth and his seed is blessed How much more will he bless our seed and return to them what we part with for Christ 5. If we do suffer the loss of all things for Christ it is no more than what others and they better than we are have done before us Matth. 19.27 Peter said unto him Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee what shall we have therefore Phil. 3.8 For whom I have suffered the loss of all things 6 If we should suffer the loss of all things for Christ we may live as well as holily as chearfully as comfortably as we did when we had all those things that we have parted with for Christ When the Apostle Paul had suffered the loss of all things he was as contented as cheerful as if he had possessed all the word 2 Cor. 6.10 As sorrowful yet always rejoycing as having nothing and yet possessing all things Neither the preservation nor the comfort of a mans life lyeth in the abundance of those things which he doth enjoy but in the providence and promise of God Luk. 12.15 A mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth When David was persecuted by Saul and forced to flee into the Wilderness and hide himself in the Dens and Caves of the Earth and had nothing to live upon but the providence and the promise of God he found as great comfort in Gods promises as if he had enjoyed great riches Psal 119.161 162. Princes have persecuted me without a cause I rejoyce in thy word as one that findeth great spoyl They that have suffered the loss of all things have Gods providence and his promise for their security of providing them a livelihood Ps 111.5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him he will ever be mindful of his Covenant It is God's Covenant to give meat that is all things needful for the bodies of his people as well as grace for their Souls Isa 33.16 He shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks bread shall be given him and his waters shall be sure And what better security can we desire for a livelihood than the providence and promise of God How sweetly do the Birds sing yet they have no barns they know not one hour where they shall have provision the next Matth. 6.26 They have nothing but what the providence of God giveth them Ps 104.28 That thou givest them they gather thou openest thy hand they are filled with good And may not a Christian who hath a more excellent Spirit than the Birds be as cheerful as the Birds though he knoweth not one day where he shall have provision the next though he hath nothing to live on but the promise and providence of God 2. Though we should suffer the loss of all things yet we may live cheerfully because we have a rich God for our Father who hath promised never to leave nor forsake us Heb. 13.5 and that he wil supply all our need according to his riches in glory Phil. 4.19 Though a Child hath nothing yet if he hath a rich Father that hath promised to take the care of him and to supply all his needs so as he shall lack nothing he rests satisfied in his Fathers provision The Lord is a rich God Ps 24.1 The Earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof the world and they that dwell therein Ps 50.10 11. Every beast of the Forrest is mine and the Cattle upon a thousand hills I know
wrath of our Persecutors for his sake 2. If we refuse a painfull and tormenting Death for Christ God can inflict worse pains upon us for our sins than men can inflict upon us for our fidelity to Christ For 1. God can send racking and tormenting pains into our bones and bodies that shall be more grievous to us than any men can lay upon us Rev. 16 10 11. They gnawed their Tongues for pain and blasphemed the God of Heaven because of their pains and their sores These are worse pains then the pains of Martyrs for they have gone singing to the Stake and have glorified God in the fires but these sinners selt such anguish as made them gnaw their own Tongues and to blaspheme the God of Heaven We find greater disquietness in David through the pains he felt in his sickness than many of the Martyrs expressed in the Flames Psal 38.6 8. I go mourning all the day long I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart 2. God can wound our Spirits and the pains of the Soul when that is wounded are far greater then all the pains that can come upon the body Prov. 18.14 The Spirit of a man will sustein his infirmity but a wounded Spirit who can bear When God inflicts his terrours upon the Soul they are so insupportable that many times they cause men to fall into destruction Psal 88.15 While I suffer thy terrours I am distracted 3. If for fear of being tormented we forsake or deny Christ God can inflict on us the torments of Hell And all the torments that man can inflict are but Flea-bites compared to the torments of Hell We should fear offending God who hath power to cast us into Hell more than we should fear all the men of the World For the worst that they can do is to kill the body and after that is done they can do us no further hurt Luk. 12.4 5. And I say unto you my Friends be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear Fear him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into Hell yea I say unto you fear him 3. We are willing to endure great pain for the preservation of our Temporal Life We are willing to let the Chirurgeon cut and lanch our Flesh yea to cut Legs and Arms or other Members when the whole body is in danger to perish And shall we be unwilling to go through a painfull Death for the obtaining Eternal Life Though the pains of Martyrdom are sharp yet they are but short and the joy that follows those short pains is Eternal and unspeakable What are a few Minutes of pain to an Eternity of Joy and Glory 4. The more torture and pain we endure for Christ here the greater glory we shall have in Heaven for ever hereafter Heb. 11.35 Others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection The more we are tortured the more glorious shall we be at the Resurrection for we shall have a full recompence for all our sufferings as well as our services 2 Cor. 4.17 For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 5. They that have been far better than me even such as the World hath been unworthy of them have gone through great torments for Christ Heb. 11.37 38. They were stoned they were sawn asunder were tempted were slain with the Sword they wandered about in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented of whom the World was not worthy How many Martyrs in all ages men of eminent piety have laid down their lives for Christ and endured all kind of torments cheerfully And why shall we then think much to endure a painfull and tormenting Death for Christ 6. The Lord will uphold us by his Divine power under all the pains and torments that we shall undergo for Christ If we were to go alone through fiery tryals we might be afraid lest we should sink and not be able to bear them But seeing God will be with us and strengthen and uphold us when we are to pass through fiery Tryals this may dispel all our fears and make us go willingly through any sufferings for Christ Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the Right-hand of my Righteousness Isa 43.1 2. Fear not thou art mine when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the Fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee God will proportion our strength to our troubles and when we meet with days of great trouble he will give in great strength Deut. 33.25 And as thy days so shall thy strength he And that weaker Christians may not be dismayed when they see great troubles coming he hath engaged his faithfullness that he will not suffer them to be tryed above their strength 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man But God is faithfull who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it 3d. Hinderance of a saving in Christ is unwillingness to leave our sins either from the delight we have in them or some profit we have by them The hearts of Unregenerate men cleave fast to their sins and are exceeding unwilling to part with them Jer. 8.5 They hold fast Deceit they refuse to return Let me shew some instances of this how men love and cleave to their sins and how unwilling they are to part with them 1. Many men love their sins as they love their lives they will as soon part with their lives as part with their sins Ezek. 7.13 Neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his Life It is rendered in the Margent whose Life is in his iniquity That is who love their iniquities as they love their lives yea they love their sins above their lives for though God tell them if they live after the flesh they shall dye but if through the Spirit they mortifie the deeds of the body they shall live yet they choose to go on in their sins and dye rather than to turn and live 2. Many men do so cleave to their sins that no commands no threatnings no promises of God will prevail with men to leave their sins The Lord sent often by his Prophets to the Jews to command them to turn from their sins yet they would not leave their evil ways Jer. 25.4 5 7. The Lord hath sent unto you all his Servants the Prophets They said turn ye again every one from his evil way and
of God Rom. 8.35 But sin makes us hateful to and hated of God Psal 5.5 Thou hatest all workers of Iniquity No affliction can hinder our Salvation Lazarus was exceeding poor he begged his bread and was full of noysom sores yet his Soul was carryed by the Angel into Abraham's bosom but sin will hinder the Salvation of our Souls Now we flee from the Sword and Pestilence and other Judgments and shall we not much more flee from sin which is a greater evil than all these 2. Sin is a greater evil than Hell it self for God made Hell but sin is the work of the Devil And therefore sin which is the work of the Devil must needs be worse than Hell which is the work of God Hell sets forth the glory of Gods Justice but sin wholly dishonours God and therefore sin is worse than Hell Now we are very desirous to be delivered from Hell and why shall we not be willing to leave our sins which are worse than Hell 3. There is nothing in the world doth us so much hurt and mischief as sin doth Sin separates us from God the chiefest good Isa 59.2 What poyson is to the body that sin is to the Soul the Souls poyson Rom. 3.13 The poyson of asps is under their lips Sin wars against our Souls 1 Pet. 2.11 And will be the Death of our Souls if we do not forsake it Rom. 6.23 The wages of sin is death We flee from Death and those things that bring Death VVhen there was a deadly herb in the pottage the Sons of the Prophets would not eat thereof but cryed out O thou man of God there is death in the pot and they would not eat thereof 2. King 4.40 I may say the like to impenitent sinners O thou sinner there is Death in thy sins O thou Drunkard there is Death in thy Cup O thou Unclean Person there is Death in the Harlots house and to the unrighteous man there is Death in thy false weights and false measures and deceitful-balances And shall not this make us willing to leave our sins that there is Death in our sins 4. If no consideration will encline your hearts to a willingness to forsake your sins look up to Christ that he would put forth his grace and divine power upon your Souls to make you willing to forsake your sins and willing to serve and obey him Ps 110.3 Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power 5. See what it is which makes you so unwilling to leave your sins and get those cords cut in sunder whereby your wills and affections are hold intangled in your sins VVhen men are unwilling to leave their sins it is usually from one of these two causes either from the delight and pleasures they have in their sins or from the gain and profit they have by them Most men are very unwilling to part with their sinful gain Act 16.19 20 22. Act. 19.24 25 27. And with their sinful pleasures in so much that they love their pleasures more than they love God 2 Tim. 3.5 Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God I shall endeavour the removal of both these §. Arg. To perswade us to be willing to part with our most delightful and pleasing sins 1. God parted with his beloved Son in whom he was well pleased for us and delivered him up to death for us Matth. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Rom. 8.32 He spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all And shall not we part with our beloved and pleasing sins for him and deliver them up unto Death They that take most pleasure in their sins and have the greatest love for them will or ought to be ashamed to say they love their sins and are pleased with their sins as much as God loved Christ and was pleased with Christ and therefore they should also be ashamed to spare their sins and not deliver them up to Death for the enjoyment of Christ 2. God will give thee better pleasures than ever thou foundest in thy sins if thou wilt part with thy sins he will give thee better pleasures in this life Job 36.10 11. He commandeth that they return from iniquitie If they obey and serve him they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures There are better pleasures to be found in Christ and in the ways and ordinances of Christ than are to be found in sin Prov 3.17 Her ways are wayes of pleasantness Ps 36.8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thine house and thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of thy pleasures The comforts of the Holy Ghost are infinitely better than the pleasures of sin Now if you forsake your sins and walk in the fear of God you shall have the comforts of the Holy Ghost Act. 9.31 Walking in the fear of God and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost Besides the pleasures that God giveth you in this life if you will leave your pleasing sins God will give you the pleasures of Heaven where you shall live in fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore Ps 16.11 In thy presence is fulness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore 3. Pleasing sins are like poyson in sweet wine What wise man will be allured to drink a draught of poyson because 't is put into sweet VVine though it be sweet in the mouth it will torment and rack a man exceedingly Job 20.12 13 14. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth though he hide it under his tongue though he spare it and forsake it not but keep it still in his mouth Yet his meat in his bowels is turned it is the gall of asps within him The poyson of asps is the most deadly poyson Those sins in which men find most pleasure will one day torture and torment their Consciences as much as the most deadly poyson doth their Bowels Mens pleasing sins will be like the little book the Angel gave the Apostle which was in his Mouth sweet as hony but made his Belly hitter Rev. 10.9 10. Sweet sins will be bittterness in the latter end Take an instance in two sorts of sins in which men find pleasure Uncleanness and Drunkenness Prov. 5.3 4. The lips of a strange woman drop as an hony comb and her mouth is smoother than Oyl but her end is bitter as Wormwood sharp as a two edged Sword Prov. 23.31 32. Look not upon the wine when it is red when it giveth his colour in the cup when it moveth it self aright At the last it biteth like a Serpent and stingeth like an Adder 4. The pleasures of sin will cost a man dear without Repentance for they shall be punished with the pains and torments of Hell for ever And from the first day that a man comes into the torments of Hell all the pleasures of sin will vanish away for ever The Rich man that had
none upon Earth that I desire besides thee 3. The Lord Jesus prefers such as love and serve him above all persons in the world Exod. 19.5 If you will obey my voice indeed and keep my Covenant then you shall be unto me a peculiar treasure above all people Deut. 7.6 The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself above all people that are upon the face of the Earth He calls his Church the fairest among women Cant. 1.8 Now if Christ love and prefer us above all other persons in the world is it not reason that we should love and prefer him above all things and persons in the whole world 5. It is dangerous loving and preferring any thing above Christ For 1. VVhat we love and prefer above Christ we make it an Idol an abominable Idol There are Idols in the Heart as well as Idols in the Temples Ezek. 14.3 Son of man these men have set up their Idols in their heart Now that is an Idol in the Heart which is loved and preferred above Christ VVhat we love most whither it be the true God or an Idol that we make our God Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart Now the Idolatry of the heart is odious to God as well as bowing the body to an Idol for the Soul boweth to the Idols set up in the heart And such as set up Idols in their hearts shall be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven as well as they that bow their bodies to Idols Eph. 5.5 For this ye know that no Whoremonger nor Vnclean person nor Covetous man who is an Idolater hath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of God and of Christ A Covetous man is called an Idolater because he loveth the World above God and Christ and this Idolatry as well as worshipping Graven Images will shut a man out of the Kingdom of God 2. What we love and prefer above Christ shall either be quickly taken from us or else the enjoying of it shall become a curse to us Oft times when we Idolize Creatures God takes them away from us To overlove any thing is the ready way to lose it When Jonah overjoyed in his Gourd the Lord prepared a worm the next day that smote the Gourd and it withered Jona 4.6 7. Or else God curses those things which we are over-fond of and makes them grievous crosses When the Jews doted on the Assyrians God gave them into the hands of the Assyrians to be spoiled and destroyed by them Ezek. 23.5 12. Sect. 6. Such as complain of inability to come up to the terms of the Gospel answered It may be some will say I wish I could close with the terms on which Christ is offered in the Gospel but I find I am not able to do it I find in my self an inability to believe and repent I can't obey Christ and deny my self and suffer for Christ I wish I could do these things but I find no power yea sometimes I find opposition and reluctancy in my will against the terms of the Gospel what would you say to one in my condition A. 1. The main thing that God looks at is that we should be willing to have Christ as he offers him to us in the Gospel That we be willing to believe in him willing to repent of our sins willing to obey Christ willing to suffer for his sake willing to be saved by him in his own way For God is willing to give Christ and all his benefits unto every one that is willing to receive him Rev. 22.17 Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely As it is in matters of charity where there is a willing mind God accepts it though there be not ability to do that which we are desirous to do 2 Cor. 8.12 If there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to what he hath not So it is in other Evangelical duties if there be a willing mind to perform what the Gospel requireth it is accepted although there be not power and ability to do what is required of us If there be a willingness to leave our sins and obey the Lord it is accepted as obedience Isa 1.16.19 Cease to do evil learn to do well If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the Land There may be a willingness to that good which we want power to perform and where there is such a willingness it is taken notice of and accepted by God Math. 26.41 The Spirit indeed is willing but the Flesh is weak 2. If you find a want of power to come up to the terms of the Gospel this should not keep you from Christ but cause you to go to him that he give you power and strength to do what he requireth of you The Apostle of himself was as weak as we are he could do nothing no nor think any thing that was good 2 Cor. 3.5 But through Christ's strengthning him he could do all things Phil. 4.13 If we find we can't believe we must look unto Christ that he would work Faith in us Heb. 12.2 Looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith If we can't Repent we must look unto Christ to give us Repentance for he was Exalted to give Repentance to those that can't Repent as well as Remission of sins to them that do Repent Act. 5.31 If we can't obey Christ and walk in his ways we must look unto Christ to put his Spirit within and to cause us to walk in his ways Ezek. 36.27 If we can't love and prefer Christ above all things we must look unto Christ that he would Circumcise our hearts to love him with all our hearts and all our souls Deut. 30.6 If we can't deny our selves for Christ we must look to him to give us a self-denying heart Ezek. 36.26 If we can't suffer for Christ we must look unto him to give us a suffering Spirit Phil. 1.29 3. If you find some unwillingness as well as an inability to close with Christ upon the terms of the Gospel seek unto God to work in you both a will and power to accept of Christ as he is offered in the Gospel To encourage thereunto consider 1. Both are Gods work which he works in us out of his free grace It is God that makes us willing to close with Christ on the terms of the Gospel and it is God that gives us power to believe repent deny our selves take up our Cross and follow Christ Phil. 2.13 It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure 2. Both are promised and may be obtained of God if we will seek for them He hath promised to encline our wills to embrace Christ Psal 110.3 Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power And he hath promised to give power also to them that have no might Isa 40.29
themselves to Christ and abide with Christ shall be made fruitfull in Grace and good works consonant to that promise Joh. 15.5 He that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit Now taking this shadow to be meant of Christ then it is a gracious promise to such as betake themselves to Christ that they shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine How is that The Corn lyeth buried under ground for a while and seems to be lost And after it appears it meets with cold winds and frost and draught that makes it hang the head turn yellow look in a decaying manner yet through the warm Sun and Dew of Heaven it reviveth again So 't is with them that dwell under Christ's shadow though they meet with many Pull-backs and that which was springing up seems to wither and decline yet they shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine The pruning and cutting the Vine makes the Vine become the more fruitfull and so it intimates a growth under afflictions In the Winter the Vine looks like a dead stick hath no Beauty nor Savour in it but in the Spring it puts forth and flourisheth abundantly Vines give a pleasant smell and bring forth pleasant fruit Cant. 2.13 The Vines with the tender Grape give a good smell And the Fruit of the Vine is sweet and pleasant fruit I might mention more promises of growth in Grace As Psal 92.12 Job 17.9 Now by virtue of these and such like promises when we find a decay of Grace we may rest upon God that he will come in with fresh supplies of Grace Psal 92.10 I shall be anointed with fresh Oyl David was sometimes sensible of great decays in Spiritual Estate as when he complains my moisture is turned into the drought of Summer yet then he did rest upon God for fresh supplies of Grace and Comfort which may be the meaning of those words I shall be anointed with fresh Oyl For the Graces of the Spirit are called an unction or an anointing 1 Joh. 2.20 29. Ye have an unction from the Holy one The anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you The Graces and Comforts of the Spirit are compared to Oyl Psal 45.7 Thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of gladness Mat. 25.3 They that were foolish took their Vessels and took no Oyl with them When God pours out his Spirit upon us then he is said to anoint us Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me Fresh Oyl may signifie renewed supplies of the Spirit of Grace The restoring a Consumptive person that was wasted to skin and bone is called fresh Flesh Job 33.21 25. So the renewed supplies of Grace and Comfort given to a decayed soul may be called an anointing him with fresh Oyl Sect. 5. There is comfort in Christ for such as are poor in Spirit and full of want and mourn under their Spiritual Poverty Such as are in a poor condition as to Spirituals full of wants when they reflect upon their poverty and emptyness it causeth forrow and trouble of Spirit Psal 69.29 I am poor and sorrowfull Psal 119.22 I am poor and needy and my heart is wounded within me Now there is comfort in Christ for such as are poor in respect of their Spiritual Estate and are full of wants and are in a troubled condition because they find themselves to be so poor and full of wants And that on these grounds 1. There is a fullness in Christ of all those Graces and all those good things which we find wanting in our selves Col. 1.19 It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell And that fullness which dwelt in Christ was for our sakes that out of his fullness he might Communicate to us Grace answerable to those Graces which are in him Joh. 1.16 And of his fullness have all we received and grace for grace The gifts which Christ received he did not receive to keep them to himself or to bestow them on the Angels but to give them to the sons of men Psal 68.18 Thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell amongst them These gifts which Christ received for men include gifts of Grace as well as other gifts as namely the gifts of the Holy Ghost the gift of Faith and Love c. For the Psalmist speaks of such gifts as do make us meet to have the Lord dwell with them Now the Lord dwelleth in us by his Spirit 1 Joh. 4.13 and by Faith Eph. 3.17 and by Love 1 Joh. 4.16 2. All those good things which we find wanting in our selves we have them in Christ they are ours in him Though this seem strange yet 't is true that we should have that which we want we have those things in Christ which we find wanting in our selves In him we have righteousness and strength when we feel weakness in our selves Isa 45.24 In him we have wisdom sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 we are blessed with all spiritual blessings even while we complain of our want of them we are blessed with them all in Christ though we have not the actual enjoyment of them Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ The poorest Christian hath all things in Christ 3. In the Lord 's own time which is the best time you shall have a full and rich supply of all your needs both for Body and Soul Phil. 4.19 My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus 4. Though we are poor and low and full of wants yet we are accepted of God in Christ and he thinks thoughts of love and mercy and peace towards us Psal 40.17 But I am poor and needy yet the Lord thinketh upon me 5. Those Christians that are poor in Spirit and full of wants are in a blessed condition for they are heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven and as soon as they come to Heaven their wants shall be so fully supplyed that they shall never want any thing to Eternity Mat. 5.3 Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven 6. The poorest Christian that is poorest in Spirituals hath what God in his infinite wisdom seeth to be best for him and hath better things than the richest man in the World for he hath God for his portion Lam. 3.24 And the Lord is the best portion in Heaven and Earth Psal 73.25 26. Sect. 6. There is comfort in Christ for such as mourn under deadness and want of quickning influences Spiritual deadness is a great trouble to gracious souls when the Apostle Paul felt the body of Death it made him bemoan his wretched condition that he should be under so much deadnss Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body