as to convince the Conscience of sin and that they may do this they must not rest in general discourses of the nature of sin but particularly apply themselves to their hearers and reprove them homely and sharply for their particular sins They must not sow pillows under the elbows of secure sinners and deal gently fearing to touch the soars of some lest they lift up the heel against them but with all faithfulness they must tell all of their sins and endeavour to awaken them by discovery of their danger their words must be like Nails and Goads which will prick unto the quick they must lance and rip up the soars that they may be healed they must cry aloud and spare not they must lift up their voice like a trumpet and cause the people to know their iniquities they must bend the bow and shoot the arrows of bitter and sharp reproof into guilty Consciences they must draw forth the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and therewith lay about them in Gods Name and as those which are in Gods room and lash and wound sinners to the very heart that have been so audacious as to break Gods Law they should endeavour to make the sword enter into the Soul with such a force that sinners being convinced judged and condemned may with trembling fall down and in perplexity cry out as those did whom Peter had convinced of their great sin in crucifying the Lord of glory Act. 2. Men and brethren what shall we do 4. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Boldly This the Apostle desires prayers for himself to the Lord that he might be enabled to do Eph. 6.19 20. And for me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an Ambassadour in bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak Ministers should deliver their Message with all boldness and authority as being the Ambassadours of the King of glory they should speak boldly without shame and without fear 1. They should speak boldly without shame as Paul Rom 1.16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth the preaching of the Gospel is accounted folly by some of great account in the World for wisdom and the Preachers of the Gospel are accounted Fools and despised Some reproach them others mock and deride them especially when they preach in such plain language as is most easie for all to understand but Ministers must preach boldly notwithstanding all the scoffs of the ungodly and profane and in a good sense they may glory in their shame for indeed that which the wicked do make the matter of scorn and shame is matter of the greatest glory it is the honour of Ministers to preach the Gospel of salvation such an honour as the Lord hath not conferred upon the Angels as hath been shewn and therefore they should preach boldly without shame 2. Ministers should preach boldly without fear they must deliver the message they are entrusted withall by God without fear of the face of men 1 Thess. 2.2 We were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much contention Though the wicked contend with them and oppose though they persecute and do what they can to hinder them though they command them to preach no more and would stop their mouths and threaten imprisonment banishment death yet being intrusted with the Gospel they must preach the Gospel with all boldness This was the practice of the Primitive Ministers when they were threatned for preaching Act. 4.29 And now Lord behold their threatnings and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy Word and this is the duty of all Ministers if God open to them a door of opportunity to preach they should open their mouths boldly to declare the mysteries of salvation whatever danger they may incurr of sufferings hereby Men may say Wo be to you if you do preach the Gospel but when God saith Wo be to you if you do not preach they have reason to fear and obey God rather than Men. 5. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Compassionately The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians with many tears 2 Cor. 2.4 and he preacheth to the Ephesians with many tears Act. 20.19 O what tender bowels of compassion should Ministers have towards poor souls in preaching the Gospel of salvation to them how should they pity sinners that lie wâ—ltring in their blood that have no pity for themselves that are cruel to their own Souls that are wounding themselves as being more distracted than the man we read of who tore his own flesh and cut himself with stones Mark 5.5 How should they commiserate sinners that are wounding their Consciences by sin not knowing what they do and are posting on in the broad way unto destruction and eternal misery not knowing whither they go that are running against a rock which will dash them to pieces and ready to leap into flames where they must burn for ever Ministers should weep and bleed over such and with the greatest tenderness tell them of their danger and shew them the inevitable ruine which is before them and beseech them to turn from their evil wayes that iniquity may not be their ruine and accept of Jesus Christ by whom they may attain salvation Ministers should be ready to beseech sinners upon their knees if that would do that they would not destroy themselves O Turn ye turn ye why will you die and be ready to lay their hands under their feet if that would move them to put their feet into the narrow way of salvation 6. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Warmly and that both with a warm love to the Souls they preach unto and with a warm sense of what they preach upon their own spirits 1. They must preach with a warm love to Souls as the Apostle with other Ministers to the Thessalonians 1 Thess. 2.8 So being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospel of God only but also our own souls because ye were dear unto us Ministers should preach the Gospel with such ardent affection to Souls and thirsting desires after their salvation so as to be willing to pluck out their hearts and give them to their hearers if this would promote their salvation they should be ready to spend themselves and be spent and not think much to consume themselves with fervour of heart towards and for the good of poor souls 2. Ministers should preach with a warm sense of what they preach upon their own spirits as those that have been under the impressions of the Word and have experienced the powerful operations thereof unto their own salvation Moreover they should get their hearts affected more and more with the words which they
preach that they may preach the more feelingly that they may speak as if they were in earnest as those that believe and know those things to be true which they deliver unto others Cold or lukewarm preaching usually makes little impression upon the hearers when the Word doth little affect the heart of the Minister it doth seldom affect the heart of the people When Ministers preach Sermons as Scholars speak Orations in which they have no concernment only to shew their good language and ingenuity they may possibly gain applause amongst some of a slight and trivial spirit but they are not like to gain souls the Word must come from the heart that is likely to reach the heart Ministers must preach warmly if they would preach affectingly 7. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Earnestly Ministers must be very earnest in their preaching with souls to endeavour after their salvation they must use all the persuasive arguments and motives they can think of that they may prevail tell them of the necessity hereof of the manifold advantages of the honour they shall attain hereby and the unspeakable pleasures tell them of the great evils they are under and the greater evils they are exposed unto whilest they are out of a sâ—ate of salvation And then they must urge arguments as fully and press upon them as homely as they can and use the greatest importunity with them as if they were begging for their own lives as if their own salvation and happiness were bound up with their hearers they should take no denyal if possibly a grant may be obtained they must call and cry and pray invite and wooe and intreat that sinners would come to Christ that they may be saved by him 8. And lastly Ministers must preach the words of salvation Frequently they must lay hold on all opportunities to call sinners to Christ they must be instant in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.2 on the Sabbath-day on the Week-day In the Morning they should sow the seed of the Word and the Evening they should not with-hold their hand because they do not know which the Lord will prosper Thus you see how Ministers are to tell people Words whereby they may be saved SECT XI 4. THE Fourth thing is to shew Why Ministers must tell people Words whereby they may be saved Reas. 1. Because they have a Commission to do it Mark 16.15 16. And he said unto them Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel unto every Creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved he that believeth not shall be damned They are the words of our Saviour who being the King and Head of the Church had power to make Church-officers and to give Commissions he commissioneth his Apostles in the first place to preach the Gospel of salvation and in them all his other succeeding Ministers unto the end of the World with whom he promiseth to be so long as the Sun should endure Math. 28.20 Ministers they are Christs Ambassadours 2 Cor. 5.20 and they have a Commission from Heaven to declare the glad tydings of salvation to give notice to the World out of the Word of the Saviour which God hath provided for fallen lost sinners and the way of salvation by him to make known the Covenant of grace which the Lord hath made with men through his Son and the exceeding great and precious promises of pardon and grace and salvation all which promises are yea and Amen in Christ who hath purchased with his blood whatever is promised in the Covenant Ministers have a Commission to preach the Gospel and they may do it authoritatively and they ought to do it it being their duty and the great work they have to do in the World Reas. 2. Because the Lord hath qualified them for this work not only by bringing them into a state of salvation but also by pouring forth his Spirit more plentifully upon them and bestowing ministerial gifts upon them utterance in preaching prayer c. for this end that they might shew men the way of salvation Reas. 3. Because they must give an account of the souls which are committed to their charge and wo be to them if they do not preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.16 Ministers that neglect to shew men the way of salvation will have a fearfull account to give they draw upon themselves the guilt of the blood of Souls They are the Lords Watchmen and if they do not blow the Trumpet and tell sinners of their sin and danger and how they may be saved by Jesus Christ sinners indeed will dye in their sins but their blood will the Lord require at the Watchmans hands Ezek. 33.8 Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade men saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.10 knowing the terrour of the Lord not only in respect of the people which we preach unto how terrible the Lord will be unto them at the last day if they be found under the guilt of sin but also knowing the terrour of the Lord in respect of our selves how terrible the Lord will be unto us â—f we be found unfaithfull we perswade men to endeavour their salvation and to flee from the dreadfull wrath which is to come Reas. 4. Because by telling people words whereby they may be saved Ministers may be instrumental not only to save themselves but also to save them that hear them God is most glorified in the salvation of Souls and it is the greatest glory of Ministers to be made instrumental herein it is better to be the Father of one Soul than to be Heir to the largest Revenues upon the Earth But if they be instrumental to turn many to Righteousness they shall receive a Crown of glory which fadeth not away at the appearance of the great Shepheard 1 Pet. 5.4 they shall shine not only as the brightness of the Firmament but also like Starrs for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 SECT XII Vse 1. ARE Ministers to tell People Words whereby they may be saved Hence learn what a Priviledge such People enjoy that have liberty to hear such Ministers as are faithfull in declaring the glad tydings of salvation We read of some temporal blessings which render a people subordinately happy Psal. 144.12 13 14 15. when their Sons spring and grow up like pleasant Plants in their Garden when their Daughters are like the polished Corner-stones of a Palace when their Garners are full and replenished with all manner of store when their Sheep increase in their Fields by thousands and ten thousands when their Oxen are strong to labour when there is a hedge about their substance without any breaches when there is no complaining in the streets through wrong and injury happy are the people saith the Psalmist that are in such a case but far more happy are the people that enjoy spiritual priviledges that hear the joyfull sound of the Gospel that have Ministers to shew them how they may be saved from
state of salvation 2 Cor. 13.5 Know ye not your own selves that Iesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Such as have not Christ and are not themselves in Christ they are for the present in a state of Reprobation It is Christ only can save those that are without Christ that are not united to him by Faith and the Spirit that are Unbelievers without Faith and carnal without the Spirit they cannot whilest such be saved 6. Vnsanctified persons are not in a state of salvation Heb. 12.14 Without holiness none shall see God Such as are unholy such as live after the flesh shall die none but those that through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body shall live Rom. 8.13 7. And in a word Disobedient persons are not in a state of salvation Heb. 5.9 He became the author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him to none else and Eph. 5.6 The wrath of God cometh upon the Children of disobedience Such as walk in a course of disobedience as live and allow themselves in the practice of known sins whatever they be they are children of wrath because children of disobedience The Scriptures are so plain that I need without many words of mine only lay them before you as a Glass wherein you may discern your spiritual state Try your selves by these places these Texts will reach all that are not in a state of salvation SECT XV. II. THE second words shall be to move you to endeavour after your Salvation The Motives to stir up you to endeavour your salvation may be drawn 1. From the consideration of your selves Whom you should endeavour the salvation of 2. From the consideration of the salvation which you should endeavour to obtain 3. From the consideration of the Damnation of all such as do not obtain salvation Motive 1. From the consideration of your selves whom you should endeavour the salvation of It is the salvation of your selves which I would press you unto It was the exhortation of the Apostle Phil. 2.12 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling and this is my exhortation of you this day Labour after your own salvation If I were to perswade you to do some great kindness for another were it a difficult thing and like to cost you much labour and trouble I should not likely prevail but when I am perswading you to do a kindness for your selves and the greatest kindness in the World even to endeavour after the salvation of your selves methinks the natural Love which you bear to your selves should induce you to hearken and do whatever is requisite in order hereunto though it cannot be done without difficulty and trouble How far will carnal self-love carry carnal men what difficulties will they go thorow what expences of time and pains and strength will they be at how will some rise up early and sit up late deny themselves food and rest and many comforts of this 〈◊〉 how will others compâ—ss Sea and Land and hazzard life it self and all to get an estate in the woâ—d for themselves and should not spiritual 〈◊〉 which is the only reall self-love carry yâ—â— nâ—â—â—ow difficulties should you think much of exâ—â—â—nding time and pains that you may get salvation for your selves carnal self-love will bring destruction and misery upon such as are swayed by it and in the issue will prove self hatred as you really love your selves as you would escape the most dreadful misery and obtain the chiefest happiness for your selves labour after salvation for your selves Your self your Persons do consist of two parts namely Soul and Body it is the salvation of both which I exhort you unto 1. Consider it is the salvation of your Souls which I would have you endeavour after the salvation of your precious souls your souls are more precious than your bodies and they are more precious than the whole world 1. Your souls are more precious than your bodies they are by far your more excellent part the original of your soul is more immediately from God he formeth the spirit of man within him Zach. 12.1 they are beams they are streams that issue forth immediately from God moreover they carry more of the impress and image of God upon them as they are invisible spiritual rational free immortal they have also more high and excellent operations than the body is capable of as of the understanding conscience memory will affections and I may add that if there be any lustre upon the body it doth receive it from the soul when the soul is gone the beauty is gone whatever motion or use there is in the body it doth depend on the soul when the soul is departed the body can neither hear nor speak nor see nor walk nor do any business the body is a rotten stinking carkass without the soul and whilest the soul doth abide in it the body is the inferiour part the body is but the Cabinet the soul is the Jewel the body is but the house of clay the soul is the living inhabitant the body is as it were the beast as one saith Corpus homini jumentum which the soul doth make use of to carry it from one place to another the body is the servant it is the soul that rules O labour then after the salvation of your souls which are your most excellent part what care do some take to preserve their bodies much more reason have you to endeavour the salvation of your souls when London's Fire was burning the houses those who could not save all their goods took care to save those which were the most precious especially their money and jewells O whatever become of your bodies here whatever sickness or hardship they be exposed unto labour to save your jewels your precious souls the Cabinet will be spoilt the clay and mudd-wall will be broken down and the soul will survive the body O take heed that when your souls come forth of their houses of clay that they be not cast into the deep and dark prison of Hell 2. Your souls are more precious than the whoâ—e world our Saviour esteem'd them so and he best knew the worth of souls who knew the makâ—ng of them and made purchase of so many lost souls see Matth. 16.26 What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul Suppose that you had your hearts-desire in the world that your baggs should throng in your Coffers till there were no more room your gold and silver should encrease without number suppose you had great possessions abroad large revenues stately houses fruitful gardens and orchards pleasant groves and walks spacious fields and meadows which as the Poet saith would weary the wings of a Kite to fly over in a day suppose that you had sweet and beautiful wives at home like loving Hindes and pleasant Roes unto you like fruitful Vines about your houses
person who is God and man in one person that he might reconcile man unto God 2. The merit of his sufferings which as hath been shown was of infinite value and sufficient for the redemption of men 3. His alsufficient power to save those that come to him Heb. 7.25 4. His mercy and faithfulness to make reconciliation Heb. 2.17.5 His interest with the Father 6. His continual intercession at the right hand of God Heb. 7.25 4. You have encouragement to believe in Christ for salvation from the consideration of the Saints the experience which they have had of salvation by Christ some of whom have been as vile sinners as you You have as good grounds to come unto Christ and believe in him for salvation as the most holy men alive before conversion 5. If you would attain this grace of faith in Jesus Christ you must labour to act it looking up to God for help herein endeavour to cast and roll your selves upon Christ to apply Christ and his merits and to rely upon him and his righteousness It is in your endeavour that God doth work and hâ—re you must endeavour again and again against all opposition which you find from the Dâ—vil and your own evil heart of unbelief which will be ready to carry you away from Christ. So much for the 4th Direction Direction 5. You must get a new Nature if you would be saved You must be made partakers of the Divine Nature if you would be made partakers of this salvation You have brought unholy and impure natures into the world with you which must be changed and renewed after the Image of God in knowledge righteousness and true holiness before you can be in a state of salvation and see the Kingdom of God This new nature which is absolutely necessary unâ—o salvation is begun in the work of regeneâ—ation and carried on in the work of sanctification In regeneration the work of grace is begun the habits of grace are infused a new principle of spâ—ritual life is put into the soul and sin which before lâ—ved and had dominion over the man imploying all his members as instruments of unrighteousnâ—ss to make provision for the satisfaction of its affections and lâ—sts doth receive its deaths wound and loseth its â—â—â—ce and râ—igning power In sanctifiâ—ation the work of grace is câ—râ—iâ—d on the habits of grace are strengthned and enâ—â—eased the nâ—w man doth grow and the old man doth decline and deâ—ay there is a vivification or quickning more and more of grace by the influence of the Word and Spirit and a mortification or subdâ—ing more and morâ— of â—emâ—â—ning iniquity What our Saviour tells Nâ—â—â—demus â—â—h 3.3 Exâ—ept a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God I may tell you that unless ye be born again unless ye be regenerated ye cannot be saved no possibility of entring into the Kingdom of Hâ—aven without yoâ— get this new nature A man must be born the first time before he can possâ—ss a temporal inheritanâ—â— and a mâ—n mâ—st be born again before he can possess the eternal inhâ—ritance You mâ—st be children bâ—â—ore you can be heirs Rom. 8.17 children not only by aâ—option but also by regeneration Ye must bâ— Sunâ—â— before meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Sâ—ints in light Col. 1.12 You must have the new nature before you can enter into the New Ierusalem You must be made like to God in holiness before you can be admitted to live with God in the place of everlasting happiness God doth suffer the wicked that are unclean and unholy to live before him in the Out-house of the Earth but he will not permit any except such as are sanctified to live with him in the Palace of Hâ—â—ven O then labour after a work of Grace upon your heart be perswaded of the worth of Grace that 〈…〉 and precious Jâ—wâ—l that the lâ—â—st measure of Grace is of mere worth than ten thousand Worldâ— be sensible of your want of it that naturally you are without it that it doth not grow in Natures Garden that you have no good Nature in you before God till your Nature iâ— renewed be ready to receive the â—eed of Grace which drops down from above whilest People are attending upon Gods Ordinances be ready to hearken and yield to the Spirits motions whereby this work of Grace is effected And having the work begun O cherish the Grace you have got and as new-born Bâ—bes dâ—sire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thâ—reby and labour to cleanse your selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit that ye may perfect holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 Dirâ—â—â—iâ—n 6. You must lead a new life if you woâ—ld be saved see whâ—t kâ—nd of Life the grace of God whâ—ch briâ—â—â—th sâ—lvation doth râ—qâ—â—re and 〈◊〉 namâ—ly to 〈…〉 and wâ—rldly 〈…〉 and godly in this present world 〈…〉 You must dâ—ny ungo illness and worldly last you must put off concerning the 〈…〉 the old mâ—n which is corrupt 〈◊〉 to dâ—câ—iâ—full 〈…〉 and not fashion your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance and unregeneracy 1 Pet. 1.14 not running with others unto the same excess of riot 1 Pet. 4.4 not walking according to the course of a profane and ungodly world Eph. 2.2 but saving your selves from an untoward generation Act. 2.40 as he that hath called you is holy so you must be holy in all manner of conversation 1 Pet. 1.15 you must live soberly righteously and godly in this present world soberly in regard of your selves righteously in regard of others and godly in regard of the Lord. 1. Soberly in regard of your selves which implyes 1. Temperance in eating and drinking you must take heed of Gluttony and Drunkenness 2. Chastity you must take heed of Adultery and Uncleanness in thought speech look and act 3. Moderation you must be sober in your desires after these earthly things and take heed of inordinate affection to any thing 2 You must live Righteously in regard of others You must give to every one their due and do to others as you reasonably can desire that they should do unto you you must take heed of unrighteousness either in regard of Commutative Justice in your buying and selling borrowing and lending and in regard of Distributative Justice in dispensing of rewards and punishments you must beware of opprâ—ssing afflicting injuring any of going beyond or defrauding any of withholding dues keeping back wages from those that have done you service knowing that if they cannot God will be the avenger of all such 3. You must live godly in regard of the Lord you must especially shew your New Life in the immediate Worship of the Lord and that publickly in his House privately in your Families secretly in your Closets you must worship God in the Ordinances of his own appointment and this you must do with reverence having an awe and dread of God upon your spirits with whom you have more
all my own righteousness hungring after the Lord Iesus Christ and his righteousness upon the bended knees of my soul come unto him and cast my self wholly upon him I choâ—se him for my only Advocate to plead my cause in the Court of Heaven to procure for me Pardon and Reconciliation that being justified by Faith I may have peace with God through my dear Lord Iesus Christ. Next repenting from the bottom of my heart of my sins grieving that I have such a sinfull Nature such a deceitfull heart that I have so adulterated my affections and gone a whoring from God to the Creatures that I have so indulged my flesh and satisfied its irregular desires that I have given ear to the Devil and complyed as I have done with his temptations I now renounce all allegiance and service to the World to the Flesh and to the Devil these enemies of the Lord and of my peace which warr against my Master and against my own soul covenanting and promising never to give away my heart any more from the Lord unto any person or thing in the World to refuse the World for my portion and chief happiness to deny my flesh its sinfull desires and demands to resist the Devil and his Temptations not to live and allow my self in any known sin and to make use of all the known means which the Lord hath prescribed for the crucifying of the World for the mortifying and utter extirpation of sin for the resisting and overcoming the Devil And being perswaded of the power and interest the subtilty and deceitfulness of these enemies and withall sensible of my own imprudence folly weakness and inconstancy I humbly and earnestly implore and beseech the highest Majesty who is infinite in wisdom power and goodness that he would give me counsel and discretion in the use and management of all means and helps that I may not neglect any nor through sloth and imprudence sâ—ffer a lesser duty to justle out a greater that he would give me courage strength and constancy in the maintaining my spiritual warfare against these my spiritual enemies unto my lifes end And if ever I should fall through unwatchfulness and weakness which the Lord grant I may never do I do promise in the strength of the Lord to arise again by Faith and Repentance And because of the Body of sin within me and remaining corruptions I shall be subject during my abode here unto daily failings and infirmities I do promise to pray watch and strive against them beseeching the Lord to strengthen me herein and grant that my sinfull infirmities may be lesse every day than other in the mean time looking upon those disallowed miscarriages contrary to the settled bent and resolution of my heart as insufficient to make my Covenant void Furthermore being convinced of the vanity emptiness and utter insufficiency of any or all the Creatures in the World to make me happy had I the most desireable enjoyment of them and having a discovery of the infinitely blessed God made unto me in his Works chiefly in his Word as being the chief good of man and withall a Promise in the Covenant of Grace that he will be our God yea our Father through Christ and that we shall be his people his Sons and Daughters I do here with deep veneration of Soul and chief estimation of minde choose the thrice Blessed Iehovah for my Portion and chief good beyond all persons and things in this World and do avouch him this day to be my God I humbly accept of the relation of a Servant and a Son or Daughter which he hath called me unto I put my self under his wing and commit my self to his care and Tuition and henceforth shall be bold through my dearest Lord to call him and look upon him to be my God and Father and humbly shall expect from him Protection and Provision in his way and work Correction Audience of Prayer and the fulfilling of all those Promises unto me which he hath made unto his Children Moreover being perswaded that none can come unto the Father but by the Son nor share in any spiritual priviledge but through Christs death and intercession and being perswaded of the infinite amiableness of Christs person the greatness of his love and affection unto the children of men as also of his infinite desireableness in regard of those offices and relations which he hath vouchsafed to take upon him and enter into for the good of his people I do avouch the Lord Iesus Christ to be my only Saviour and choose him in all his Offices and Relations I choose Christ to be my High-Priest to intercede and procure for me daily pardon access unto God acceptance of my person and service audience of my prayers and supply of all my wants I choose Christ to be my Prophet to teach me by his Word and Spirit the will of the Father I choose Christ to be my King to rule and govern me to command my whole man into the obedience of himself I choose Christ to be my Captain to go before me and to tread down my spiritual enemies under my feet I choose Christ to be my Friend and Brother to counsel and advise me to stand by me in all the difficulties and straights of my life I choose Christ to be my Husband and beloved humbly accepting of this near and sweet Relation which he calleth me unto I joyn and espouse my self unto the Lord Iesus and do promise to be for him only and with full purpose of heart to cleave unto him to love honour and serve him never to deny nor leave him whatever reproaches and distresses I may meet withall for his sake though Persecution should arise and that even unto death I do promise to own his Name and Cause and Truths and Wayes so long as I have breath in my Body But knowing that I am utterly insufficient to do any of these things in my own strength therefore upon the knees of my Soul I earnestly beseech that I may have strength for all these from himself alone Further because God my Father is invisible to the eye of sense and incomprehensible by the grasp of Reason and because my dearest Lord Iesus Christ who alone hath declared him in regard of his bodily presence is now in Heaven absent from his people and because whatever spiritual light or life grace comfort or spiritual communion with the Father and with his Son is vouchsafed unto the people of God it is by the Holy Spirit who is appointed by Office hereunto and graciously promised unto them in the Word Therefore I avouch and choose the Holy Ghost to be my Teacher and Guide to be my Sanctifier and Comforter to help my infirmities in duties to strengthen me with might in my inner man against sin and Satans Temptations to cleanse me from all filthiness of flesh and spirit to heal me of all my spiritual distempers to revive me under all my faintings to supply
me with all Graces as to kinde and measure as shall be needfull for me in my place and work to testifie Gods love to my Soul to give me earnests of Glory and to seal me up unto the day of Redemption And O that I might have the presence and abode of the Spirit of God with me and never grieve quench resist and drive away the Spirit any more Also because the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God endited by the Holy Ghost the Epistle of Iesus Christ wherein he hath given notice of his love and will because they are the only sufficient and in themselves a perfect Rule for Faith and a holy Life and so fully do declare the way and means unto everlasting happiness Therefore I choose the Word of God to be the Rule of my Faith and Life and the Ordinances of God therein prescribed to be the means of my acquaintance and converse with my God so far as I am capable of and he shall vouchsafe and to be the means also of preparing of me for the full and perfect enjoyment of him beyond my present capacity And because the Ordinances are but dark glasses to see the Lord in because ignorance and unbelief do exceedingly vail God from mine eyes flesh and corruption do damp my love to God and my spiritual Ioy in him and interrupt my communion with him because of the sins sorrows temptations and afflictions which I cannot be wholly free from and therefore cannot be perfectly happy here in this World and having life and immortality brought to light by the Gospel a discovery and promise of eternal Life made unto me in the Word and withall a command of my Lord to lay up my Treasure in Heaven Therefore I choose Heaven for my Treasure and Inheritance for ever to live there in the company of all the holy Angels and Saints in the blessed sight love and enjoyment of the infinitely blessed God to see and share in the glory of my Dearest Lord Iesus Christ whither I hope my Soul shall be transported by the Angels so soon as it is separated from my Body and that my vile Body when awakened and raised in the Morning of Chrisâ—s coming shall be fashioned like unto Christs most beautifull and glorious Body and both inherit the Kingdom prepared and promised by my Father Lastly being perswaded of my Duty and encouraged by Gods promise of assistance and acceptance I now dedicate and deliver up my self fully freely and for ever unto the Lord I yield and resign up my Soul with all its powers and faculties my Body with all its senses and members to be the instruments of righteousness unto God I resign up my Minde to think upon the Lord and those things which concern his Interest and Glory to receive embrace and maintain his Truths I resign up my Memory to be a store-house and receptacle chiefly of the great things which do belong to his Kingdom and other things of a more inferiour rank as they may have a reference unto his Glory I resign up my Conscience to receive light and purity from his Word and Spirit and desire that it may act faithfully as the Lords Deputy I resign up my Will unto the Will of God to submit to his Precepts to embrace his Promises to oppose what he hath forbidden to comply with all the dispensations of his Providence towards me to be willing that I should be and do and bear and choose and lose what God would have me I resign up my Heart and Affections to fear and reverence the Lord to believe and trust in the Lord to desire and seek after the Lord to love and delight in the Lord and desire to put them all under his Government and to have them exercised according to his will I resign up my Fancy to be governed and employed by my Reason in the service of my Master I resign up my Sensual Appetite after meat and drink sleep and any pleasures to be subsâ—rvient to my Rational Appetite and no further to have satisfaction than will tend to the glory of the Lord. Iâ— sign up my Hands to work for God my Feet to walk for God my Ears to hear for God my Eyes to see for God my Tongue to speak for God I resign up all my Graces all my Gifts all my Talents to be used for the Glory of my Lord and Master and my whole Man to be ruled and governed by his Laws Promising though my Flesh do contradict and rebell that I will endeavour to order my whole conversation according to his Word humbly looking up to him for strength so to doe that I may be enabled by him to every duty And now I look upon my self no longer my own or that any thing I have is at my own dispose but I wholly belong unto the Lord And therefore blessing and praising and giving thanks unto the Lord for vouchsafing to enter into Covenant with me and enclining my heart to enter into Covenant with him Bending my neck under the feet of the most glorious Iehovah I subscribe my self Witness my Hand and Seal The devoted Servant of the Lord A. B. Direct 10. You must be stedfast and persevere in the wayes of God unto your lives end if you would be saved And here you must be stedfast 1. In the wayes of Truth 2. In the Wayes of Gods Commandements 1. You must be stedfast and persevere in the wayes of Truth in the belief of the Truths of the Word without turning aside into wayes of Errour there are wayes of Errour which will lead you as certainly and more securely to Hell than the wayes of open profaneness The Apostle tells us of damnable errours as well as open damnable sins 2 Pet. 2.1 and we read of some that are damned for believing a lye that their delusion hath been the cause of their damnation 2 Thess. 2.11 12. The Devil leads as many as he can in the cords of more gross and known sins towards the place of endless misery but if any of them begin to perceive their thraldom and danger if their eyes be a little opened and Conscience awakened and hearts affected and they are perswaded to look after their salvation then he endeavours to draw them into wayes of Errour he hath his Agents and Ministers who are very subtle and crafty and lye in wait to deceive who with good words and fair speeches insinuate poysonous doctrines and pretending more glorious discoveries higher and more excellent wayes draw them out of the way of the Word and Ordinances into paths of darkness where they wander and lose themselves for ever where they are tossed up and down and beaten to and fro with every winde of doctrine unto the shipwrack of their Faith and their Souls As you hope for salvation you must take heed of Errour diligently inquire after Truth search for it as for silver and digg for it as for hidden treasures digg for it in the golden Mines of the
The Wells OF SALVATION OPENED OR WORDS WHEREBY We may be Saved By THOMAS VINCENT Minister sometime in Maudlins Milk-street LONDON Act. 16.29 Then he called for a Light and sprang in and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas Vers. 30. And brought them out and said Sirs What must I do to be saved V. 31. And they said Believe on the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy House V. 32. And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord and to all that were in his House LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst and are to be sold at his Shop at the Golden Bible on London-bridge 1668. TO THE Citizens of LONDON I Have sounded two Trumpets of Iudgement in your ears the former signifying Gods terrible Voice to the City in the late terrible Iudgements of Plague and Fire which have devoured so many Inhabitants and Habitations as the space of many Ages should the World so long continue would not blot out the remembrance of the later signifying Gods terrible Voice to the World at the second appearance of Christ to the last and Universal Iudgement of all the Children of Adam which is both sure and near the dreadfulness of which Iudgement to the Wicked no Tongue is able to express The chief intent of both my Treatises concerning the late and future Iudgement hath been to awaken sleepy Sinners out of their carnal security and to prepare them for the great Salvation purchased by Iesus Christ and proclaimed proffered and promised in the Gospel therefore having at first purposed and in my last Book of Christs Appearance to Iudgement promised to treat more largely of Salvation than in the close of a Vse I could do I have here endeavoured to fulfill my Promise in telling you Words whereby you may be saved We read 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 Heb. 2.3 4. that this Salvation began to be spoken of by the Lord and was confirmed by them that heard him The Lord speaketh to you from Heaven by his Spirit in his Word and Ministers that you would accept of this Salvation See then that ye refuse not him that speaketh for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on Earth much more shall not ye escape if ye turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven Heb. 12.25 They that seek this Salvation diligently shall finde it certainly but they that refuse or neglect it must needs perish unavoidably and be miserable eternally That this little Piece may be blessed by the Lord and made use of as a Means to promote your Salvation is the Prayer of him whose great desire is that you might be saved Thomas Vincent WORDS Whereby we may be Saved ACT. 11.13 14. And he shewed us how he had seen an Angel in his house which stood and said unto him Send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose sirname is Peter who shall tell thee Words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved WEE read in the second and third Verses of this Chapter of the contention which some of the Circumcision had with the Apostle Peter because he had gone in to and eaten with such as were uncircumcised Whereupon Peter giveth an account to them of his reason and the occasion of his so doing rehearsing the matter more briefly from Verse 4. to the 18th which is related more largely in the whole foregoing tenth chapter First he telleth them of his Trance at Ioppa and the Vision which himself had of the Vessel descending from Heaven with unclean Beasts in it and the command from Heaven to eat not calling that common and unclean which God had cleansed the Lord hereby giving him to understand That like as under the Law though there were divers kinds of meats forbidden and therefore unclean and unlawfull to be eaten yet under the Gospel that prohibition being taken off and the meats sanctified by the word of Gods command or allowance believers might freely eat of them without sin So also though under the Law before the coming of Christ the people of God in the Nation of the Iewes where only the Church of God was to be found were to separate themselves from all heathen Nations as unclean and it was unlawfull for them to go in and eat with Heathen or Gentile persons lest they should be defiled and enticed by such familiar converse with them unto their Superstitions and Idolatries yet God having before foretold and promised the accession of the Gentiles unto the Church and under the Gospel having sent his Son who brake down the middle wall of partition between the Iewes and the Gentiles and having sanctified the Gentiles by his Spirit and Faith they were no longer to be accounted unclean and therefore it was as lawfull for the believing Iewes to eat and converse with them as one with another Moreover he he telleth them of the Circumcision of the Vision which Cornelius a Gentile had of an Angel and the command which he had from the Lord by the Angel to send for him to preach the Gospel of salvation unto him together with the effect of his preaching namely the falling of the Holy Ghost upon the Gentiles as upon themselves at the beginning and therefore that it would have been no less than a withstanding of God himself for him still to have kept at a distance from the Gentiles Which answer of Peter gave such satisfaction that it did not only put to silence them which contended with him but also caused them to glorifie God in behalf of the Gentiles My Text is a brief rehearsal which Peter giveth of Cornelius his Vision which he had from his mouth And he shewed us how he had seen an Angel in his house which stood and said Send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose sirname is Peter who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved I might present you with divers Doctrines from the words but because I intend to handle but two I shall mention but two which to me are the most observable Doct. 1. That God doth make use of Ministers to preach the Gospel rather than Angels Doct. 2. That Ministers are to tell people such words whereby they may be saved It is the latter of these which I intend chiefly to insist upon yet the former lying in the way and being so worthy of note and may be of such use I shall spend a little time about it SECT I. Doct. 1. THat God doth make use of Ministers to preach the Gospel rather than Angels The Angel appeareth to Cornelius doth not preach the Gospel to Cornelius but from the Lord directeth him to send to Peter to Peter who was one of Christs Ministers and He should preach unto him and tell him such words whereby he and his should be saved The Angel could have told him such words himself he could have
set forth the Lord Jesus Christ in his Divinity and eternal abode with God in his Humanity with which he cloathed and vailed himself and abode for a while here amongst men in his Life so holy his Works so powerfull his Love so great his Death so painfull his Resurrection so soon his Ascension so wonderfull his Session and Intercession at the right hand of God and the Glory which he hath with the Father in Heaven however he had been vilified by some men when he was upon the Earth The Angel could have preached the Law with such Thunder and Lightning as should have made the Conscience of Cornelius to tremble even as the Israelites did when the Law was given by their ministration on Mount Sinai He could have shot the arrows of the Almighty so deep into his Spirit as no balm on earth should have been able to heal his wounds The Angel could have represented the God of Heaven in a more terrible way than man can do as Lord of an innumerable host of mighty Angels of which he was but one and as set in battel-array against Christless sinners and told Cornelius what dreadfull threatnings were denounced and what heavy Curses did belong unto such as had broken Gods Law and hereby could have put him into such terrors and consternation in reflection upon the least guilt as should have sunk him down to the very brink of the burning Lake in his own apprehension and forced him in the anguish of his spirit to cry out O what shall I do to be saved And then he could have represented the Lord Jesus Christ unto him as the only and an all-sufficient and most mercifull Saviour of Mankinde who had undertaken the Office of Mediatour and Advocate and was faithfull He could have described his beauty and excellency in such high expressions and invited Cornelius to come to Christ with such sweet words and pressing arguments as never proceeded out of the mouth of any man But the Angel had no commission to preach the Gospel to Cornelius only to speak to him from God that he would send men to Ioppa and call for Peter and he should preach the Gospel unto him And as it was in the beginning so it is still God doth not send Angels down from Heaven to preach Christ and Salvation by Christ unto the people but he sendeth Ministers men whom he qualifieth and commissioneth for the work The Reasons why God doth make use of Ministers to preach the Gospel rather than Angels may be chiefly these three 1. Because of our Infirmity 2. For the honour of the Ministry 3. That he might secure his own Glory Reas. 1. Because of our Infirmity We could not in this state of darkness weakness and sinfulness bear the preaching of Angels that are so holy and glorious Our eyes would be dazled our spirits would be amazed and hearts sink within us at the voice of Angels should they appear unto us in their glory Manoah thought he should dye when an Angel came to him and foretold him of a Son which should be born to him Iudg. 13. Zacharias was sore troubled at the appearance of an Angel with the like message Lâ—k 1. The Shepheards in the Field were exceedingly afraid when the Angel came to them to bring tidings of the birth of our Saviour Luk. 2. And Christs Disciples were no less afraid when the Angels brought news to them of his Resurrection And if holy men could not bear the appearance of Angels much less could the unholy and wicked whose guilt and defilement would make them a thousand-fold more fearfull If an Angel should immediately descend from Heaven into this place and taking my room should preach unto this Auditory before me would not fearfull thoughts arise in the hearts and paleness get upon the checks of the best amongst you But what dread would there seize upon the spirits of such of you as are graceless and profane who are yet in your sins and have not made your peace with God How would you shrink and croud out faster than you crouded in as not being able to endure When Moses had been forty dayes upon the Mount with God and had seen only his back-parts yet his face did shine with such lustre by reflexion of the beams of Gods Majesty upon him that the children of Israel could not look upon his face without a Vail And if Angels who continually behold the face of God in Heaven should come down and appear and preach men would not be able to hear and bear Therefore God maketh use of Ministers to preach the Gospel men of like passions and infirmities with our selves for our infirmities sake Men who will not affrighten us with their glory whom we may look upon without dazling our eyes whom we may speak unto and converse with familiarly without dread and terrour As Elihu said of himself to Iob chap. 33.6 7. So it may be said of Ministers they are in Gods stead and yet formed out of clay and their terrour shall noâ— make us afraid Reas. 2. For the honour of the Ministery Jesus Christ himself the Son of God was a Minister when he was upon the Earth and his employment was to preach the Gospel and the highest spiritual honour that can be conferred upon any is to be Christs Embassadours Representatives and to succeed him in this office and work of the Ministery which honour he hath conferred upon some men rather than Angels I am not of their opinion who think that Gods people are exalted to a higher dignity than the Angels neither do I think the consequences to be right from Heb. 1 1â— on which this Notion is grounded Are they not all ministring spirits speaking of Angels sent forth to minister for them which shall be heirs of salvation It doth not follow because Angels do minister to the Saints therefore they are inferiour to the Saints for Jesus Christ himself did minister to them though he be their Lord and King when he washed his Disciples feet in which act he appeared so like a servant yet then he calleth himself their Lord and Master Ioh. 13.13 Ministring to others doth not imply inferiority unless it be such as doth withall imply dependency but rather the contrary our Saviour telleth his Disciples when he perceived them to be ambitious of greatness that whoever would be the greatest amongst them should be their Minister Math. 20.26 Indeed our humane Nature in Christ is exalted above Angels but in other respects we are inferiour to Angels The Angels are above us in regard of spirituality they are all spirit we are partly flesh and but partly spirit In regard of immortality they never dye we cannot escape death long In regard of purity they have not the least tincture of sin the most holy persons on earth are not without some remainders of defilement In regard of neerness unto God they dwell with God in Heaven and behold his face continually we are on earth and see
Devils so when our first Parents sinned they were cast out of Paradice and since all sinners are out of favour yea they lye under Gods anger and displeasure until they be reconciled All the children of men are by nature the children of wrath Eph. 2.3 And God is angry with the wicked every day Psal. 7.11 They have a natural enmity in their hearts against God and his Law Rom. 8.7 and God is an enemy unto them yea hath a hatred in his heart against all the workers of iniquity Psal. 5.6 God is an enemy unto the wicked because of their sins and this is worse ten thousand degrees than 〈◊〉 they had all the creatures in the world their enemies because of the power of his anger which none ca◠resist when once he suffers it to break forth We read of the stout-hearted and men of might th◠chariot and horse cast into a dead sleep at one o◠Gods rebukes and who can stand in his sight wher◠once he is angry Psal. 76.5 6 7. And God is coming forth with armed vengeance against his enemies he hath prepared instruments of death he hath whe◠his sword and girt it upon his thigh yea drawn it forth and lifted up his arm to strike he hath bent his bow and made ready his arrows upon the string and sinners can neither fly from him nor defend themselves against him Then a people are saved indeed when they are saved from Gods displeasure when his anger and the guilt of their sin which is the cause is removed when their peace is made with God through the mediation of Jesus Christ when God forgiveth all their sins and accepteth of them as perfectly righteous in his sight through the imputation of his Sons righteousness unto them and so puts up and layeth aside his sword unbends his bow and casts it behind his back and receiveth them into favour as if they had never offended him 2. When they are saved from the slavery of the Devil and their own lusts All the wicked are spiritual slaves and vassals they are in worse than Egyptian bondage their thraldom and captivity is greater than that of the Iews once to the Babylonians The Devil hath his fetters upon their hands and feet and leadeth them captive by the chains of their own lusts at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 They are shut up as it were in prison and lye in a deep dark dungeon where no light doth shine they are fallen into a horrible pit and their feet stick in the miery clay they are sunk into deep waters and the stream is gone over their soul they are fallen into a deadly sickness and a loathsome disease hath seized upon their spirits they are full of boils and blains and putrifying sores all this and a thousand times worse is their condition through the power and reign of sin in them then a people are saved in a spiritual sense when they are redeemed from sin and Satan when the Lord Jesus Christ doth rescue them out of the Devils chains when he leadeth captivity captive spoileth principalities and powers and snatcheth them like a prey out of the teeth of the roaring Lion when he delivereth them from the power of darkness and translateth them into the houshold and family of God when he brings them out of the house of bondage and leads them out of Egypt through the Red Sea of his own blood in which he drowneth and destroyeth their Egyptian lusts which do pursue them when he openeth the prison doors and pulls them out of the deep dungeon and knocks off the chains from their feet when he breaks the bonds of the Devil and sin and brings them forth into freedom and enlargement when he takes them out of the pit and draws them out of the water when he healeth their sickness cleanseth and cureth their putrifying sores I mean when he delivereth them from the power of sin which entangled overwhelmed and defiled them and was more dangerous than any sickness of body could be unto them then they are saved when Satan is taken off and sin hath no more dominion over them and the Throne of Christ is erected in their hearts and his graces implanted there which do beautifie them instead of lust which did besmear and deform them when being made free from sin and Satan they are become the Servants of God and yield up their members as instruments of righteousness Rom. 6.13 22. when they are enabled to overcome the Devil and his temptations and to crucifie the flesh with its lusts and affections when the old Serpent is wounded in the head and cast out and the old man is wounded in the heart and its reigning power taken down and they are made victorious through Christ the Captain of their salvation who loveth them 3. When they are saved from the Law not only from the yoak and bondage of the Ceremonial Law which the Iewish Church of old was under which required many burdensome expensive and more carnal services but also from the rigour irritation curse and malediction of the Moral Law The Law is like the Egyptian Task-masters who required Brick of the Israelites but gave no Straw it requireth duty perfect obedience but giveth no strength it discovereth sin but giveth no power to overcome it and it enjoyneth service but it giveth no ability to perform it therefore the Law is said to be weak through sinful flesh Rom. 8.3 Yea the Law when it breaketh in with a full spiritual light and conviction of sin upon the spirit forbidding heart concupiscence and the least motion or inclination of the soul to sin and pressing to spiritual and heart-purity and obedience it is so far from beating down and killing the power of sin and from strengthening the soul and enabling it unto obedience that it doth revive the power of sin which seemed to be dead before in the soul and occasionally doth irritate and provoke to all manner of concupiscence the discovering it awakens the enmity of the heart against it self which lay before dormant As the Apostle doth complain Rom. 7.5 For when we were in the flesh the motions of sin which were by the Law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death And v. 7 8. Sin taking occasion by the Law wrought in me all manner of concupiscence for without the Law sin was dead but when the Commandment came sin revived and I dyed Moreover the Law doth curse all the children of men that are within its power and reach because of their sins which none are wholly free from Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them People are saved from the Law when they are delivered from the rigorous yoak of the Moral Law which is called the Law of sin and death as it occasioneth sin and threatneth
death for it or discovereth our death and utter insufficiency of our selves to obey its injunctions and have instead thereof their necks put under the sweet and easie yoak of the Law of Christ which is called the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus because life and strength is given by the Spirit of Christ to yield obedience thereunto As Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death And vers 3 4. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit The Law could not give strength against sin because of the strength of the flesh the Law discovered sin but it could not subdue sin but God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh in which flesh he suffered and offered a sacrifice for sin by which sin or sin-offering as the word sin doth elsewhere signifie as Hos. 4.8 They eat the sins of my people that is the sin-offerings of my people he condemned sin in the flesh sin was hereby judged and condemned to lose its power in his people it was condemned to death which death or sin-offering of Christ hath vertue and influence upon sin to kill it to crucifie it like as Christ was crucified for it and so Gods people are said to be delivered from the Law from the irritating and provoking power of it unto sin that being dead wherein they were held and whereby the Law did stir up such motions that they might serve in newness of spirit Rom. 7.6 that they might yield the fruits of new obedience that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in them sin having lost its strength they have strength from the Spirit of Christ to yield such obedience to the Law as through Christ shall be accepted And with this deliverance of people from the rigour and irritation of the Law is conjoyned their deliverance also from the curse and malediction by Jesus Christ who was made a curse for them instead whereof the blessing of Abraham the father of the faithfull is given unto them as it is expresly said Gal. 3.13 14. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through Faith 4. When they are saved from the eternal damnation of Hell all unbelieving sinners are under the sentence of damnation Ioh. 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already they are condemned by the great Judge unto an utter exclusion from the glorious presence of the Lord in that place of joy and happiness which is above and to endure most horrid extream and endless anguish and torment in soul and body in the place of utter darkness which is beneath where their worm shall never dye and where the fire shall never be quenched This sentence is dreadfull and all unbelievers are lyable every moment to the execution thereof upon their souls So soon as God shall give commission to the Serjeant Death to arrest them and clap up their bodies into the Prison of the grave then their souls being found guilty will be delivered into the hand of the Devil the Jailor of Hell whither he will drag them and where they must remain full of anguish through sense of Gods immediate wrath wherewith they will be filled and bound up in chains of darkness and wo untill the Judgement of the great day on which great day the Lord Jesus Christ will be sent by God to judge the whole world together and they shall be brought forth in chains to his barre and having reassumed their bodies shall be judged by him soul and body unto the flames of everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels and O the dread and horrour which will then possess them O the howlings and bitter lamentations which then they will make when the God of Heaven shall execute the fierceness of his anger upon them for their sins in the extream and remediless torments of Hell which shall never have an end The sentence of eternal damnation which all unbelievers whilest such are under here is dreadfull yet whilest here it is reversible whilest the reprieve of execution lasteth a repeal of the sentence may be obtained by an appeal from the Court of the Law to the Court of Chancery from the Barr of Gods Justice to the Throne of Grace by application of themselves unto Christ to be their Advocate and of his Righteousness to themselves by Faith whereby Justice hath been satisfied and they may be acquitted People are saved from eternal damnation when through an interest in Christ they obtain pardoning mercy and so are freed from all obligation to punishment by their sins hence it is said that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus Rom. 8.1 and they that believe are not condemned Joh. 3.18 and that because Jesus is their Saviour and hath delivered them from the wrath which is to come 1 Thess. 1.10 Believers have a title to eternal salvation here through their title to Christ it is sure and they may be assured of it but hereafter they shall actually obtain it at the day of Judgement and perdition of the ungodly when the wicked shall be condemned and thrust into the place of torments they shall be acquitted saved and received into Heavenly Mansions prepared by their Redeemer for them in his Fathers house where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore and so they shall march along with him unto the Zion which is above with shouting and the voice of triumph with Songs in their mouths and unspeakable delight in their hearts they shall then obtain everlasting joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away and no place be found for it to dwell where they shall take up their eternal abode This is the Salvation which is here meant and which God hath promised to shew unto them who believe and order their conversation aright And thus you see what it is for a people to be saved SECT V. 2. THE second thing is To shew what those Words are which Ministers are to tell people whereby they may be saved And here I shall for the present speak only of those words which the Apostle Peter told Cornelius whereby he and his house were saved there was great power and vertue which went along with them for it is said whilest he was speaking of them the Holy Ghost fell upon the Gentiles unto whom he preached as upon the Apostles themselves at the beginning chap. 10.44 and therefore they are worthy your serious regard possibly you that are unconverted in the hearing or reading
these words may have the Holy Ghost fall upon you and feel such a wonderfull power going along with them as shall draw you unto Christ and bring you out of the estate of spiritual death and damnation in which you are by nature into a state of life and salvation whilest I am speaking to your ears God may speak to your hearts whilest I am presenting these words before you and holding forth the light unto you God may open your eyes and give you by his Spirit such a spiritual discerning of these things as you never had before and so affect your hearts as no word of man is able to do hear then a Sermon of God out of the mouth of the Apostle Peter which hath been effectual for conversion and who knoweth but it may produce the same effect in some of you in the repetition and explication of it as it did in the Gentiles in the first preaching of it It is said the Holy Ghost fell upon all them which heard these words when Peter preached them O that the Holy Ghost might fall upon some of you whilest I am preaching them The Gentiles had extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost given unto them in their hearing Peter O that you might have a true work of conversion by the Holy Ghost given in the hearing of me They are the Words of God receive them as his words which may effectually work to your salvation if the Lord give faith in the hearing Look up then to the Lord for his blessing on which the efficacy of the Word doth depend The words are in Act. 10. from the 34th to the 44th Vers. I shall first read them and then open these words of salvation to you After that Cornelius had sent for Peter to Ioppa he sent for many of his friends to his house and when they were come together and Peter was come and had a relation from Cornelius of his â—ision and they had told him that they were all there present before God to hear the things which were commanded him of God Vers. 34. he begins his Sermon Then Peter opened his mouth and said Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him The Word which God sent unto the Children of Israel preaching peace by Iesus Christ he is Lord of all That Word I say ye know which was published throughout all Judea and began from Galilee after the Baptisme which John preached How God anoynted Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil for God was with him And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of Judea and in Jerusalem whom they slew and hanged on a tree him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly not to all the people but to witnesses chosen before of God even to us who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testifie that it was he which was ordained of God to be the Iudge of quick and dead To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins This Sermon of Peter's which is the first Sermon which was preached unto the Gentiles after the partition-wall was broken down is but brief but it hath much sweet and soul-saving doctrine in it and it is likely that the Scripture doth bâ—t briefly rehearse the heads of that which the Apostle discoursed of more largely unto them and therefore I shall endeavour to open this Sermon unto you which is like a rich Cabinet of most precious treasure wherein is to be found the Pearle of the greatest price which the wise Merchant-man will sell all that he hath to obtain because it is not only desireable to enrich him but also necessary to save him I mean the Lord Jesus Christ whom the Apostle doth describe and hold forth unto the Gentiles We read Luk. 24.31 that the Disciples hearts burned within them whilest our Saviour spake to them by the way and opened to them the Scriptures and O that you might feel your hearts burn within you whilest I am opening unto you this Scripture which doth relate Peters Sermon The Sermon of Peter may be reduced to Four general heads 1. Concerning God 2. Concerning the Word 3. Concerning Iesus Christ. 4. Concerning the way of salvation by Christ. SECT VI. 1. THE Apostle speaks unto the Gentiles concerning God v. 34. and 35. Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him Two things he gives them to understand concerning God 1. His gracious disposition to accept of Men. 2. His good will towards the Gentiles 1. He lets them know how gracious God was in being willing to accept of men of any men without respect of persons whatever their sins had been so that they did turn from them in his fear and wrought righteousness for the future This is needfull for sinners to know that they might be encouraged to seek after salvation For if they apprehend God only as he is holy and just and jealous if they are told only that he is powerful and furious and a sin-revenging God when they reflect upon their guilt they will be ready to fly away from him under a slavish fear of punishment and in discouragement and despair go on in the practice of sin as long as they can Therefore Ministers must represent God unto sinners as gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness pardoning iniquity transgression and sin as he sets forth himself to Moses Exod. 34.6 7. they must tell sinners that God is gracious and ready to accept of all those that fear him and turn from their evil waies and resolve to work righteousness for the time to come and that he will be found of and give a reward unto all such as diligently seek him Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of all them that diligently seek him O that you who are going on in sin were perswaded of this how gracious and merciful the Lord is whom you do so highly offend by sin and how ready he is to accept of you if you would but turn from sin He hath given us Ministers commission to tell you that there is an accepted time and a day of salvation for your souls which he yet lengthens out unto you Yea we are sent as his Embassadours to entreat and beseech you that you would be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5.20 And when God declares by us that he is so willing to accept of you that he desires you to accept of his salvation and beseecheth a reconciliation when he can so easily avenge
Chrisâ— Repent or else you will all certainly perish Luk. 13.3 Repent or else iniquity will be your ruine Ezek 18.30 Repent or else ye cannot be saved When thâ—â— Jews who had crucified the Lord of glory heard Peters Sermon which ripped up their sin and they being pricked in their hearts cry out to Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren What shall we do Act. 2.37 We have committed a great sin and what shall we now do What course shall we take that we may be saved from that eternal wrath and death which we have deserved The Apostle directs them to Repent for the remission of sin vers 38. And will not conscience accuse you of the guilt of sin Are there no drunkards in this place no swearers none that have committed adultery and been unclean in secret places no unrighteous persons that have defrauded their neighbour no Sabbath-breakers nor profane persons no lyars nor covetous persons and are not the most civil and morally honest of you all that are out of Christ guilty of many heart-sins yea and lip-sins and some gross slips in your life which conscience doth sometimes twinge you for Are not you guilty of impenitency and hardness of heart and unbelief and want of love to God and his Son and neglect of your own salvation Let me tell you all that have not yet repented that unless ye repent and that speedily ye shall all perish certainly and ye shall be miserable everlastingly Repent of your sins mourn for sin and turn from sin or else you will weep for sin hereafter to no purpose and burn for sin for ever Loath sin and leave sin or else Christ will disdain you at the last day and sentence you to depart from him into everlasting fire Confess sin and forsake sin or else you will finde no mercy here nor end or the least asswagement of misery in the other world Drunkards repent of your sins you have felt after your revellings and excessive carousings your heads ake and have vomited up your drink sometimes O that you could now feel your hearts ake and that you would vomit up your sin by repentance Swearers repent of your sins you have taken Gods Name in vain yea even torn it in pieces by your oaths O that you would hallow Gods Name in confessing your sin and that you would rend and tear your hearts with sorrow for the affronts you have by your oaths offered to the highest Majesty Adulterers and unclean persons repent of your sins you have tasted sweetness in your â—oul sins O labour to taste bitterness in grief for your sins that you may not feel the bitterness of hell torments which without repentance will certainly be your portion Unrighteous persons lyars covetous persons repent or you will not escape Gods righteous judgements Sabbath-breakers get your hearts broken for your sins or else God will break you to pieces with his Iron Rod. Prophane persons and all ye that have sinned more grosly repent and humble your selves before the Lord the more deeply The most crimson and scarlet â—ins may be washed away those who embrewed their hands in the blood of Christ were forgiven upon repentance and there may be hope of remission for the worst of you if you repent And you that have been more civil yet under the power of some sin which hath reigned in your hearts though it hath not broken forth so notoriously in your lives and have moreover lived in the neglect of Christ and your own salvation by him not perceiving your need so much of him Let me tell you as our Saviour told the Scribes and Pharisees that sometimes Publicans and Harlots the vilest and most notorious come into the Kingdom of Heaven sooner than you because they are more readily awakened and humbled and made sensible of their need of Christ than the civil and fair dealing men and women who are very apt to lean and trust to their own righteousness without such earnest seeking of the righteousness of Christ to justifie them Therefore let me warn you also to repent of your sins of heart-sins and Gospel-sins which are the greatest sins and will certainly sink you without repentance Look upon your own righteousness as filthy raggs and cast it away and loath your selves and be perswaded that if ever you be pardoned and saved you must be as much beholding to free grace as the vilest sinner 2. Peter tells them that God sent a Word of Peace which was preached by Iesus Christ. It is said Ioh. 1.17 The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth and I may add peace too came by Iesus Christ. The Law which came by Moses was given for this end to lead men yea it was a School-master to whip men to Christ and God did enjoyn those legal services upon his people that they might look to Christ in them and look for Christ who should deliver them from that yoak of bondage The Law which was from Mount Sinai gendereth to bondage and was given with thunderings and lightnings to awaken men and in preaching of the Law God giveth a spirit of bondage to work men to fear and repentance But Christ came in a more mild way and in a more soft and still voice preached Peace and the Gospel of Reconciliation The word of Peace was that which the Angels preached unto the Shepherds at Christs birth Luk. 2.14 Glory be to God in the highest on earth peace and good will towards men Peace was that which Christ preached in his life Ephes. 2.17 He came and preached Peace to you which were afar off and to them which were nigh Peace was that which Christ purchased by his death Col. 1.20 He made Peace by the blood of his Cross. Peace was that which he spake to his Disciples at his appearance after his resurrection Ioh. 20.19 Iesus came and stood in the midst of them and said Peace be unto you Peace he left with his Disciples behind him as a Legacy when he was to go away from them Ioh. 14.27 Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you And Peace he commissioned his Disciples to preach unto the world Mark 16.5 Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel unto every creature Which Gospel is a Gospel of Peace containing glad tidings of good things Rom. 10.15 Christ preached Peace not Peace with men though this also he would have his Disciples endeavour after as much as in them lyeth to live peaceably with all men Rom. 12.28 and to follow after peace with all men so far as it consisteth with holiness and a pure conscience Heb. 12.14 For he tells his Disciples Luk. 12.51 Suppose ye that I am come to give Peace on earth I tell you nay but rather division Whatever peaceable disposition he taught and his Gospel doth work in the heart where it prevails yet accidentally it causeth division and stirreth up to opposition in those that will not yield obedience thereunto and
Authors may be quoted when there is real need so it be done rarely and soberly but for Ministers to enterlard their Sermons all over with Greek and Latine and sayings of men they must needs leave out much of the Word of God which they might use and it cannot be so profitable for the Hearers 3. Ministers must not use such words and speeches as gender strife I mean the perverse disputings which Sceptical Philosophy will put them upon whereby they may be spoyl'd and deceive both themselves and others through the errors and mistakes which hereby they may run into 4. Ministers must not use in preaching too much neatness of speech and humane Eloquence The most excellent and enticing words of mans wisdom the Apostle did forbear 1 Cor. 2.4 It is not needfull for a Minister to read all Heathen Poets and Orators that he may fill his Sermons with their fancies and rhetorical expressions but he should chiefly fetch his Rhetorick from the Bible Indeed Apollos was commended for his Eloquence Act. 13.24 not humane Eloquence but divine It is not said he was mighty in other Learning but mighty in the Scriptures not mighty in the writings of Heathens but mighty in the writings of God his Eloquence was drawn from the Word which is most persuasive The Lord doth not require that his Ministers should preach the Gospel neatly but plainly the former may make them esteemed as the better Scholars but the latter wilâ— make their hearers the better Christians That way of preaching thâ—y should use which is most intelligible and profitable not that which is most learned and Scholastical Melius est ut nos reprehendant Grammatici quà m non intelligant populi saith one that could speak in an eloquent strein It is better that Grammarians should reprehend us than that the people should not understand us and he desired that since the vulgar could not ascend so high as to understand a more refined language that learned men would stoop so low as to accommodate their speech to their capacities Thus Ministers must preach the Gospel not with wisdom of words but with plainness of speech There is a light in the Gospel the purest and most glorious that ever shined wisdom of words doth darken and obscure this light it doth â—ully the truths which shine most when they are naked without such ornaments It is like a bright Cloud between us and the Sun which keeps off the greater light like painting of a Diamond or a beautifull face There is a power goâ—th along with the Word preached to convert sinners Heb. 4.12 The Word is compared to a sharp two-edged Sword piercing and separating between the joynts and the marrow between sin and the soul which are more neer than marrow is to the bone but wisdom of words or humane Eloquence doth guild as it were the edge of the Sword which takes away its sharpness or is like to a rich Scabbard which delights the eye and pleaseth the fancy but keeps the Sword from entring the bowels and wounding the Conscience It is in plain preaching that the Sword is drawn forth naked which makes the sinner slie or yield Plain preaching is the most effectual means to pull down the strong holds of sin and Satan and to draw men unto a closure with Jesus Christ. Humane wisdom usually puffeth up both them that use it and those that hear it Humane wisdom is apt to beget an humane faith which standeth in the wisdom of men plain preaching begetteth faith which standeth in the power of God There is no such edification as in plain preaching In plain preaching the bread of life and wholsom food of the Word is distributed but humane wisdom is like hey and stubble which is food for horses and not for men so humane wisdom may please and best agree with natural and bruitish men but true Christians cannot feed upon it it is no more suitable to their spiritual appetite than hey and stubble is to their naturall It is like Pictures in learnâ—d books which may delight children a Scholar doth not regard the Pictures but the writing the word of God doth feed and edifie a gracious heart when it is preached plainly and homely humane wisdom or wisdom of words in preaching doth take away much of the taste and relish and doth hinder its vertue and operation The Word is compared to milk which must be sincere to food which must be simple and uncompounded that it may nourish and strengthen the body It is compared to Wine that must be unmixed that it may chear and refresh the spirits wisdom of words is like water or rather like some fulsome liquor mingled with the wine which doth much invalidate and render it nauseous unto the Appetite of the New Creature Ministers therefore must preach the word plainly that they may do it edifyingly they must not use wisdom of words which will evacuate the Cross of Christ and render their preaching ineffectual and put a cloud between the light and the eye especially of the ordinary hearers much less may they use mysteriousness of words dark sayings and high-â—lown notions that shall puzzle the mindes of the wisest to guess at the meaning of They must not in preaching make plain things difficult by their way of expressing them as many do but make more difficult things plain they must preach plainly I have been more large in this head I shall be more brief in the rest 3. Ministers must preach the words of Salvation Convincingly They should preach so as to convince the Judgement of truth and to convince the Conscience of sin and therefore they should preach in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.4 1. Ministers should labour to speak so as to convince the Judgement of the truth which they preach They must not only assert Truths but prove them they must hold forth the Word of Faith with a clear evidencing light and hold fast the Word in a strenuous defence of it against opposers and with sound doctrine they must not only exhort but also convince gainsayers Tit. 1.9 Ministers should make manifest the words of salvation which they preach that they are the words of the God of truth with whom dwells no errour or falshood They should prove by undenyable Arguments that the Scriptures are of Divine Authority and therefore as full of truth as the Sun is full of light and then they should prove the doctrine which they preach by the Word and that with such reason for the belief of it that no reason may be left to contradict it Ministers should be shining lights in the places where they live dispersing abroad the bright beams of Gospel-truths with such power and conviction as may be sufficient through the concurrence of the Spirit to vanquish and dispell all those clouds of ignorance which the minds of men naturally are filled withall 2. Ministers should preach so as to convince not only the Judgement of truth but also so
eternal death and wrath which they have deserved and by sin are exposed unto Moreover you may here learn the reason why so many people especially those who most seriously and earnestly desire and endeavour their salvation choose to hear Ministers preach rather than others because they are commissioned by the Lord to preach the Word of salvation and their Ministry is most likely to be effectual Others may preach without a Commission the same words and do no good for want of Gods blessing It is not the bare speaking the words of salvation that will bring salvation but the revelation of Gods arm and operation of his Spirit with the Ministry of the Word As when our Saviour raised Lazarus from the dead he cryed with a loud voice Lazarus come forth and he that was dead received life and came forth Ioh. 11.43 44. Others could have spoken the same words as our Saviour and cryed over the grave with as loud a voice Lazarus come forth but with no effect the dead man would have remained still in the state of the dead whatever any man could have spoken or done but when our Saviour spake the words the dead man was quickened there went forth a vertue and efficacy a divine power and spirit with our Saviours words which raised him from the dead so uncommissioned persons may entrench upon the work of the Ministry and preach the Gospel speak words of salvation and cry to sinners to leave their sins to arise from their spiritual death to come forth from their graves they may exhort them to repent and believe that they may be saved and yet none of their words be likely to take impression and effect a saving change in the heart because being out of Gods way they cannot expect Gods blessing but Ministers are qualified and commissioned for the work and through Gods blessing there is a life and power goeth along with their preaching which maketh it effectual for salvation no wonder then if such as are led by the Spirit do choose to hear Ministers preach refusing others that they may be safely guided by them in the way of life and salvation SECT XIII Vse 2. FOR Reproof 1. Of Ministers 2. Of People 1. Are Ministers to tell people words whereby they may be saved this then reproves such Ministers 1. As do not preach at all 2. As do not preach soul-saving Truths 3. As do not preach in such a Way as is likely to do good But my business being chiefly to speak unto People I shall pass by this Use. 2. People are here to be reproved unto whom the Lord sends faithfull Ministers to tell them such words whereby they may be saved 1. It reproves such as persecute such Ministers that are of such a spirit as the wicked Iewes of old spoken of 1 Thess. 2.15 16. Who both killed the Lord Iesus and their own Prophets and persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary unto all men forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved to fill up their sin alway for wrath is come upon them to the uttermost Some there are that persecute Ministers with the tongue by reproaching of them others persecute Ministers with the hand by imprisoning of them and many other wayes afflicting of them seeking the extirpation of them as persons not fit to live upon the face of the earth thus ungratefully they endeavour the ruine of them that desire and seek their salvation and foolishly endeavour to blow out the light which would shew them the way to Heaven 2. It reproves such who if they do not persecute Ministers yet hate them bear a secret spight and enmity in their hearts against them and the reason is because they testifie that their works are evil upon which account our Saviour was hated Ioh. 7.7 they hate them because they reprove them for their sins and disturb their Consciences sometimes by sounding peals of Judgement in their ears that they cannot sin with that freedom and security as they desire Poor souls how will they endure the pains of Hell themselves that cannot endure the sore-thoughts of them and hate them which bring such sad thoughts into their mindes though it be in order to their escape Would any of you hate a neighbour that should cry aloud in the dead of the night Fire fire and bounce at your doors and awaken you out of your sleep to warn you of a Fire drawing neer to your habitation which if not prevented would burn house and goods and persons together And what do Ministers more than cry Fire fire and tell you of your near approach to everlasting burnings in which without some speedy course taken for prevention will certainly seize upon you and consume you everlastingly And have any reason to be troubled and offended and hate Ministers for awakening them upon such an account as this when their souls lie at stake and are in such danger A Physician of the body is not hated that tells his Patient that his disease is dangerous which if let alone without taking such a remedy will certainly be his death And have any reason to hate Ministers who are Physicians of the Soul because they tell men of the disease of sin which if not cured by the blood of Christ will certainly and may suddenly bring eternal death 3. It reproves such who if they do not so deeply hate Ministers yet will not be perswaded to hear them such as are so drencht in the World and so over head and ears in worldly business that they minde nothing else If any could tell them of a good bargain or some notable way of thriving in their Estates such a one they would visit and hear and O how would they relish such discourses But though Ministers give notice of the best bargain that ever was made and bring tydings of the most notable way of thriving namely of the way of thriving in spiritual and heavenly riches and shew men how they may gain pardon and peace and the favour of God and the graces of the Spirit and escape future misery and attain salvation and everlasting happiness yet like Gallio they minde none of these things they will not step over the threshold to hear Ministers preach the Gospel of salvation and how shall they escape who neglect so great salvation Heb. 2.3 4. It reproves such who if they do hear Ministers yet do not understand them that are so dull of hearing that they know not what Ministers say nor whereof they affirm that gather about a Minister as beasts about a Man that sounds a Trumpet and stare upon him but know not what the meaning of the sound is so they hear Ministers and look and stare upon them some strange things are brought to their ears which they know not the meaning of and are like words of another language to them because their eyes are closed and they want spiritual sense and discerning and a great reason is because they do
not desire and will not take pains to get an understanding in these things by beginning first with the Principles of Religion in the Catechisme and begging earnestly for the teachings of the Spirit and readiness to do according to what they already know 5. It reproves such who if they have some notional knowledge of the Doctrine of salvation preached by Ministers yet they do not believe the Doctrine their words seem to them like idle tales or some cunningly devised Fable they do not receive it as the Word of Truth as the Word of God which effectually worketh in them that believe 1 Thess. 2.3 they feel no effectual operation of the Word in the change of their hearts and the change of their lives they that were filthy are filthy still and they that were unjust are unjust still and they that were Drunkards and Swearers and the like go on still in their sinful course whatever notion they have of sin and whatever discovery of their danger and Saviour and way of salvation by him which is an evidence that they do not believe and this unbelief is the great God-provoking and Soul-damning sin such make God a lyar 1 Ioh. 5.10 but they will find him to be true to their cost and pain 6. It reproves such who if they have some notional knowledge and historical Faith yet do not relish the Words of salvation which are preached by Ministers 1. Those that do not relish the things who make no account of salvation as if there were no desireableness therein 2. Those that if they desire salvation from Hell-torments and future misery yet they do not relish the terms they do not like the Lords Yoak they will not bear his Cross they will not be perswaded to deny themselves to mortifie the deeds of the body they could like to be saved from Hell but they do not like to be saved from sin they could like to have Christ to be their High-Priest and Advocate but they will not have him to be their King and Lord and will not have him to reign over them To part with all sin and to be universally holy to lay down Estate Liberty Life it self at the Lords feer and be resolved to suffer the loss of all if they stand in competition with Christ are such hard sayings that they cannot bear But how hard will it be for them to bear the loss of Heaven and happiness and endure the dreadfull eternal wrath of God in Hell as they shall certainly do who will not accept of salvation upon the terms of the Gospel SECT XIV Vse 3. ARE Ministers to tell People Words whereby they may be saved I shall then endeavour to put in practice this duty of Ministers in telling you words whereby you may be saved In order to your salvation I shall speak 1. Some Words to try you whether you be in a state of Salvation 2. Some Words to move you to endeavour after your Salvation 3. Some Words to guide you in the way to attain Salvation 1. The first words shall be to try you whether you be in a state of Salvation and here I must put you upon the tryall of your selves wherein I may give you some help take the Exhortation of the Apostle 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves Examine your selves by the Rule of the Word And because these Words are chiefly intended in order to the salvation of such as have not yet attained it to prepare them for the following Motives and Directions which if they mistook themselves to have already attained to a state of salvation would likely do them no good Therefore I shall briefly out of the Word of God give Some Characters of such as are not in a state of Salvation 1. Ignorant persons are not in a state of salvation See this Isa. 27.11 It is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour Those that are grosly ignorant of the Fundamental Truths of Religion concerning God and Christ the lost estate of Man since the fall the way of Salvation Repentance Faith the Resurrection from the dead the last Judgement and the future Rewards and Punishments in Heaven and Hell and the like Principles of Religion which are necessary to be known in order to salvation they cannot for the present be in a state of Salvation the meanest understanding is capable of knowing these things by the teachings of the Word and Spirit therefore such as do neglect the means of Instruction and do not search the Word and cry to God for it but nuzzle up themselves in an affected ignorance in these things are inexcusable in their fault and will bring unavoidable destruction upon themselves Hos. 4.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge 2. Negligent persons are not in a state of salvation I mean such as neglect their salvation Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Such as do not value and prize this great salvation purchased by Christ and published in the Gospel such as never were made sensible of their need hereof such as never had any great desires after it such as never took any pains in the use of means to obtain it all which are evidences of their neglect they cannot escape the dreadfull punishment of Hell which is prepared for such persons Such as are diligent to make provision for their Bodies but neglect the salvation of their souls if they persevere in this negligence they must needs miss of salvation 3. Impenitent persons are not in a state of salvation Luk. 13.3 Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish All are guilty of sin original and actual and have matter for repentance such as have an obdurate and impenitent heart which never was broken and melted and humbled which never was affected with true evangelical sorrow for sin but on the contrary can commit sin with delight rolling it as a sweet morsel under their tongue which they will not part withall they must needs perish everlastingly if they should die in this estate the word is express that iniquity will be the ruine of the impenitent Ezek. 18 30. 4. Vnregenerate persons are not in a state of salvation Ioh. 3.3 Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Such as never had a gracious change wrought in their hearts that are asleep in sin and never were awakened as are dead in sin and never were quickened such as have old natures and old hearts and never were renewed that never put off as concerning their former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to deceitfull â—usts and put on the new man which is created in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4.22 24. they are uncapable whilest such of this salvation there is no entrance for them into the Kingdom of Heaven 5. Christless persons are not in a
they would find mercy Prov. 28.13 The wicked must forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn to the Lord and then he shall have pardoning mercy abundantly Isa. 55.7 When men cease to do evil and learn to do well then though their sins have been as scarlet they shall be white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be like woâ—ll Isa. 1.16 17 18. Sinners turn from your evil waies you have done iniquity do so no more you have gone on hitherto in a way of sin proceed no further it is the way to Hell turn out of it Let him that hath stoln steal no more and him that hath been filthy be filthy no more and him that hath been unjust be unjust no more Drunkards forbear your drinking swearers refrain swearing lyars teach your tongues to speak truth Break off your course of sin turn from all gross sins as to the practice and turn from all sins as to the affection Direction 4. You must believe in the Lord Iesus Christ if you would be saved This is the direction which Paul gave to the Jaylor when under conviction of sin he came in to him and cryed What shall I do to be saved he saith to him Believe in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Act. 16.30 31. So in Peter's Sermon Act. 10.43 To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of sins There is no Saviour but by Christ and there is no salvation by Christ bâ—t by faith and therefore we are said to be saved through faith Ephes. 2.8 As faith is the instrument to apply the merits and righteousness of Jesus Christ. Let me then exhort you to get faith which is absolutely necessary unto salvation Get faith of the right kind there is a general common historical temporary hypocritical dead and ineffectual faith but do you labour after a special lively unfeigned effâ—ctual justifying and saving faith and that you may not be mistaken in this great point on which your salvation doth depend I shall describe that faith which is of the right kind and will certainly save you if you obtain it Faith is a grace wrought in the heart by the Spirit of God whereby a poor sinner being made sensible of the guilt and power of his sins and the utter insufficiency of himself or any creature in the world to give him any help or succour and having in the Gâ—spel a discovery and proffer made unto him of the Lord Iesus Christ as an all sâ—fficient most merciful and faithful Advocate and Saviour doth go quite out of himself and accâ—pt lay hold rely and rest vpon him and him alone for pardon and grace and eâ—erlasting happiness Or more brâ—efly thus Faith is a grace of God wherâ—by the humilâ—d sinner doth accept and rely upon Christ alone for salvation as he is held forth in the Promises of the Gospel If you would attain this grace of Faith take these Directions 1. You must be fully perswaded that the Scriptures which reveal Christ are indeed the word of God this is the foundation of all faith therefore I shall briefly suggest some Arguments to prove the divine Authority of the Scriptures As 1. Because of that majesty purity holinâ—ss heavenliness which doth appâ—ar in the Sâ—râ—ptures beyond all other writings 2. Because of the design and drift of the Scriptures to debase man and exalt God and his glory above all 3. Because of the admirable contexture and contrivance and sweet harmony of the Scriptures in all the parts thereof though written by so many several men in several ages and places which sheweth that they were all acted by the same Spirit of God 4. Because of the wonderfull work of mans Redemption there set forth at fiâ—st more darkly afterwards more clearly which no mortal bâ—ain could have invented much less could any created power have effected 5. Because of the great power which this word hath to convince convert and comfort 6. Because of the confirmation of the Scriptures by miracles 7. Because of the acknowledgement of the Scriptures to be Gods Word in all ages 8. Because of the many millions of Martyrs who have sealed the Truths of the word with their blood 9. Because of the witness of the Spirit in and with the word which doth bear testimony to the hearts of Gods people that the Scriptures are his Word and were indiâ—ed by his Spirit Whence it followeth that the Scriptures are true because God the Author of them is true and cannot lye and whatever is there revealed is as certain as those things which are most demonstrable to sense or reason This is the first step to your believing in Christ who is made known in the Scriptures to believe that the Scriptures are Gods Word 2. If you would attain a saving faith in Christ you must be convinced and fully pâ—rswaded of your lost estate without Christ and your absolute need of him of which before 3. You must be perswaded that it is not in your own power to believe that it is not of your selves but is the gift of God Ephes. 2.8 and therefore must apply your selves to God that he would not only give you his Son but also give you the hand of faith to lay hold on him that he would work in you this grace of faith by his Spirit 4. You must consider those Arguments of Scripture which encourage faith As for instance I shall mention four heads of Arguments for faith from the consideration 1. Of God 2. Of the Promises 3. Of Christ. 4. Of the Saints 1. From the consideration of God who hath given his Son to save sinners it is an encouragement to â—aith to consider 1. That God is mercifull and therefore willing to pardon and save otherwise he would not have sent his Son he doth not delight in the death of sinners Ezek. 18.23 but delighteth to shew mercy see Micah 7.18 19. Exod. 34.6 7. Psal. 103.8 9 c. 2. That God is faithfull in his Promises of salvation which he hath made through his Son in his Covenant of Grace God needed not have made the Covenant nor promised mercy to any sinners but having made the Covenant he is engâ—gâ—d to make it good 3. That it is for his glory to save sinners through his Son the glory of his free grace yea and justice too which hath been fully satisfied by Christs death 2. You have encouraging Arguments for faith from the consideration of the Promises which are 1. Large made to all sorts of persons and all sorts of sinners none are excluded 2. Full they extend to all sorts of sins though never so many and great Isa. 55.7 3. Free nothing is required on your part but accepting 4. Sure being the Promises of God in Christ. 3. You have encouragement to believe in Christ for salvation from the consideration of Christ the proper object of faith 1. The quality of his
Calling unto our eternal Glorification 2. A second great Promise of the Covenant of Grace is That God will be mercifull unto our unrighteousness and that he will remember no more our sins and iniquities it is a promise of mercy in the free pardon and forgiveness of all our sins this is an exceeding great and precious promise without which there were no access for us unto God no attaining eternal happiness no escaping eternal misery guilt would shut us out of Heaven and sink us into Hell without a pardon This Promise is of vast extent it reacheth to all sort of sins Unrighteousness Sins Iniquities no sin is too great for God to pardon if the sinner doth believe 3. A third Promise of the Covenant of Grace is that God will give us the knowledge of himself they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest they shall not teach one another the knowledge of God that is they cannot or they shall not be able to do it they may and ought to teach one another instrumentally it is the duty of some to teach and the duty of others and they have need to learn but they shall not be able to teach effectually they may give instructions to one another concerning God and his wayes but they cannot give light they may set the light before them but they cannot set up the light in them they may open Truths but they cannot open the Understanding this is the work of God only to do and this he hath undertaken by Promise to do they shall all know me they shall be taught of God by his Spirit the knowledge of himself he teacheth by men instrumentally but he will teach us by his Spirit effectually 4. A fourth Promise of the Covenant of Grace is that God will put his Laws into our hearts and write them in our minds the Law was written before on Tables of Stone but here he promiseth to write them on fleshly Tables of the heart which is done not with Pen and Ink but by the Spirit of the living God 2 Cor. 3.3 this Promise is very comprehensive it includes not only the giving of a spiritual discovery of the minde and will of God but also the giving of spiritual dispositions affections and strength to perform it and by consequence the removal of indispositions the purging out of corruptions the mortifying of lust the taking away the heart of stone and giving a heart of flesh the giving a new heart the putting the Spirit within us and causing us to walk in his Statutes and to keep his Judgements and do them as this Promise is branched forth Ezek. 36.25 26 27. These in brief are the chief Promises of the Covenant of Grace labour to understand them and apply them that you may be saved Direct 9. You must give up your selves in Covenant to God if you would be saved God hath put his hand and seal to the Covenant which he hath made through his Son with you and you should put your hand to the Covenant and engage your selves unto the Lord you were dedicated to the Lord by your Parents when you were bâ—ptized then you understood not what was done now you are arrived to years of understanding you should make it your own act and dedicate your selves to the Lord and the more solemnly you enter into Covenant with God the more strong Obligation it may be upon you to walk closely with God all your dayes Some have directed to do it under hand-writing subscribing the name and some have put words into your mouths which you may do it in if you are not so well able to express the terms your selves you have this done in Mr. Guthry and Mr. Allen's books if those Books be not at hand I shall set before you this Platform which you may make use of in entring solemnly into Covenant with God I A.B. do acknowledge my self to be the Creature and Subject of the great and glorious Majesty of Heaven and Earth in whom I live move and have my being and from whom I receive every good thing which I receive and therefore am obliged to conform my minde will and affections to order my words wayes and whole conversation according to his most wise and good most righteous and reasonable Laws Besides which natural Obligation however born in sin and thereby disenabled yet being born in the Church and Baptized in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and by my Parents dedicated unto God when I was an Infant I am further obliged by Covenant to be the servant of the Lord. But having proved a Rebel and Traytor against the Highest Majâ—sty breaking his Laws and Covenant-ties which have been upon me spending years of my life in a state of strangeness and enmity to God in the service of the Devil and my own Lusts I do now solemnly reâ—ew my Covenant with God that the breach may be made up which sin hath made between God and my Soul Being in the First place convinced of the guilt of my sins whereby I have affronted and offended the highest Majesty whose Iustice must be satisfied and withall convinced of my own utter inability to make the least satisfaction either by doing or suffering and that my Righteousnesses are as filthy rags and therefore altogether insufficient to procure for me the pardon of sin the favour of God and the peace of Conscience as also fully perswaded that no meer Creature is able to give unto me any help and relief in this case And being informed by the Word of God what the Lord Iesus is hath dâ—ne and suffered for poor sinners That there is no Name undâ—r Heaven given amongst men whereby we can be saved but only the Name of Iesus Christ that he is able to save all them unto the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing be ever liveth to make intercession for them that he is a mercifull and faithfull High-priest in things pertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the sins of the People that whosoever cometh unto him he will in no wise cast out and finding a Promise in the Covenant of Grace that God will be mercifull unto our unrighteousness and that our sins and iniquities he will remember no more which Covenant is of full force through the death of Christ the Testator thereof and having Christ set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood and his Righteousness declared for the remission of sins which are past through the forbearance of God and this Christ freely tendered unto me and being invited earnestly yea entreated that I would be reconciled unto God through him and by the Spirit being perswaded of the truth of these things and hereby encouraged to apply my self unto Christ and the Promises through him unto my self I do now grieving that I have offended God groaning under the burden of sin renouncing
be acquainted with God in Christ you must acquaint your selves with the Scriptures Read the Scriptures daily and search them Ioh. 5.39 read not only the history of the Word but labour to understand the mystery of Godliness therein revealed 1 Tim. 3.16 endeavour after a spiritual discerning of the things of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.14 when you meet with Doctrines in your reading the Word labour to understand and believe them when you meet with Precepts labour to obey them when with Prohibitions and Threatnings be cautioned against sin by them when you meet with promises labour to apply them to draw vertue from them Read this Book as the Word of God and hide it in your heart lay it up there as a choice treasure get your hearts cast into the mould of it get it written upon your hearts and let it have an influence upon your whole conversation and that you may the better understand and apply the truths of the Word read as you have time other good books which open the Scriptures and treat of needfull points of Religion especially such as direct in the great work of Conversion and give Rules out of the Word for the ordering of your whole conversation but above all Books read and study the Scriptures Means 3. Hearing the Word Preached It is by the foolishness of Preaching that God saveth such as do believe 1 Cor. 1.21 however the preaching of the Word is to them that perish foolishness yet unto Believers it is the power of God unto salvation therein God doth put forth his power and maketh bare his arm in bringing salvation to lost souls Hear and thy Soul shall live Isa. 55.3 Faith cometh by hearing Rome 10.17 Lydia's heart was opened whilest she attended upon the Word preached by Paul Act. 16.14 Attend therefore diligently upon the Word preached by Christs Ministers as an Ordinance of his own institution for the working and increase of Grace Look upon Ministers as Christs Ambassadours he that heareth them heareth Christ and he that turneth away his ear from hearing them turneth away his ear from Christ who by his Spirit in them speaketh from Heaven unto men and how impossible it is for such to escape the wrath of God see Heb. 12.25 Much more shall not they escape that turn away their ear from him that speaketh from Heaven Hear the Word with reverence as the Word of God as if the Lord should speak to you from Heaven with an audible voice hear the Word with diligence and attention as for your lives as for the salvation of your Souls hear the Word with faith and love without which it will not profit and work effectually in your hearts and in hearing look not so much for those things which may please as for that which may edifie I mean do not regard so much mens fancies as the wholsom Truths of the Word which tend most to conviction edification to the killing of sin quickning and increase of Grace and nourishment of the spiritual life Means 4. Meditation The Word like Food must be digested by Meditation that it may turn to spiritual nourishment you must ponder and consider in your mindes the Truths of the Word that you may both understand them and get your Hearts affected with them and your Lives ordered by them Meditation is a great help in Heavens way such as are remiss herein cannot walk so steddily nor chearfully accustome your selves unto this duty set apart time for it I know that some complain of barrenness in their thoughts when they endeavour to meditate such I would advise if they have not that fruitfulness of thoughts themselves to supply them with matter that they would make use of others help let them meditate on the Scriptures they read on the Sermons they hear moreover I would offer some general heads for Meditation which you may make use of 1. Sometimes meditate on God his Attributes his infinite Majesty power holiness omnipresence omniscience eternity unchangeableness his infinite wisdom truth faithfulness justice goodness mercy and loving-kindness his Councels especially his eternal decree of Election which is of most sweet consideration to Believers his works of Creation and Providence 2. Sometimes meditate on Christ his near relations of Friend Brother Husband his needfull Offices of Priest Prophet and King 3. Sometimes meditate on the Spirit his way and workings on the minde and heart how he enlighteneth enliveneth strengtheneth comforteth c. 4. Sometimes meditate on the Covenant of Grace and the rich free suitable sure Promises of pardon grace salvation therein 5. Sometimes meditate on the Gospel and its priviledges Justification Adoption Sanctification Assurance of Gods love peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost communications of grace c. 6. Sometimes meditate on the four last things namely Death Judgement Heaven and Hell 7. Sometimes meditate and that frequently daily of such Arguments as tend to the mortifying of your particular sins which are most strong and prevalent and to the strengthening of your graces which you finde most weak and deficient Means 5. Prayer Pray secretly retire your selves from company into your Closets or some private place and there confess your sins and make known your requests to God that seeth and heareth in secret and hath promised an open reward to such as secretly and sincerely seek him Pray frequently be often upon your knees give your selves unto Prayer begin the day conclude the day with Prayer and recover some other time to visit and speak to God at least mingle ejaculatory Prayer with every other work and labour that your minds may be always in a praying frame and do not withdraw but be glad when an opportunity offereth it self to come to the throne of grace Pray fervently pour forth your hearts before God in the duty wrâ—stle with God in Prayer like Iacob be earnâ—st in your Petitions as for your lives be instant and importunate take no denyal follow hard after God stir up your selves to take hold on him use arguments in Prayer to plead with him Pray believingâ—y mingle your prayers with Faith make use of the name and mediation of Jesus Christ and make application of the Promises which God hath made to his People which he hath made to Faith and which he hath made to Prayer Means 6. Christian Conference Take heed of the company of the wicked from such turn away if â—â— and when you are there labour to mourn for sin which hath pierced the Lord to hunger after his righteousness to receive him by Faith to apply the Promises of the Covenant of Grace whereof the Sacrament is a Seal endeavour after a burning love to him whose love hath been so great as to dye for you and let your hearts be filled with joy and your mouths with Praises and deliver up your selves in Covenant unto the Lord in this Ordinance After you come from the Lords Table reflect upon your carriage towards the Lord if you have been straitened endeavour to find out the cause mourn and by after-pains and application of Christ endeavour to get some benefit and prepare better against the next time if you have been enlarged be humble be thankfull be watchfull live up to Obligations draw vertue from Christs death for the crâ—â—cifying more and more of your flesh with its affâ—ctions and lusts and fetch influences of grace and spiritual nourishment that you may encrease with the encreases of God Finally be diligent in the use of these and all other means and helps and so at length you shall attain the ultimate end for which they are appointed even your Salvation and Eternal Happiness FINIS Motive 3.