evil it is to proceed no further but if he cannot then he is oblidg'd by the holy Law of Christ to take one or two more and go to him and strive to convince him and bring him to a sight and sense of his iniquity but if he cannot do it then it ought to be brought unto the Church and if he will not hear the Church then the Fan of Excommunication is to be used in the Name of Jesus Christ and they purged out As to such who rend themselves from a Church or violate their sacred Covenant by irregularly withdrawing themselves they ought to be marked and solemnly in the publick Congregation declared to have withdrawn rent and cut off themselves from the Communion of the Church and no longer to be owned nor lookt upon as Members and none to Communicate with them until they have given satisfaction by Repentance The Second part of the Fan of Discipline is that rule laid down by the Apostle of withdrawing from every Brother and Sister that walketh disorderly as such that are Busibodies Tatlers or Idle or such that neglect their Duties in attending on the Church in times of solemn Worship or that make Parties or cause Division in the Church and refuse to live in Obedience to Christ under the due and just Government thereof or to obey them that are set over them in the Lord or who strive to have the prehemience like Diotrophes being Vain-glorious prating against or despising of Dignities or the just Authority of Christs Ministers or Angels of his Churches as the beloved Apostle speaks 3 Joh. 9 10. Wherefore if I come I will Remember his deeds which he doth prating against us with malicious Words and not content therwith neither doth he himself receive the Brethren and forbideth them that would and casteth them out of the Church These are to be marked and withdrawn from 2 Thess 3. 6. Not to be counted as Enemies but exhorted as Brethren Unless they provoke the Church to further and a more severe Censure Some of this sort oft-times strive to draw away disciples after them and seek to disquiet the Peace of the Church and in a fawning and flattering manner to deceive the hearts of the Simple therefore these if they will not hear the Church are to be quite fanned out also by Excommunication and to be looked upon as an Heathen-man or Publican as in the Case of Notorious and Scandalous Sinners or such who are guilty of Heresie Mat. 18. Fifthly Jesus Christ hath also another Fan in his hand to purge his floor or cleanse his Wheat from the Chaff filth and defilement of Sin namely the Holy Spirit and by this means he cleanses and Purifies in a gracious manner the Souls of his own People Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are Sanctified but ye are Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God What filthy Creatures were those Corinthians before the Lord Jesus by his Spirit had purged and Sanctified them Faith of the the Operation of God is a most excellent Grace it is by Faith in the Blood of Christ that we come to be purged from the Guilt of Sin Faith applying his Merits and Righteousness unto the Soul in Justification and such is the Nature thereof that it makes holy the Hearts and Lives of all such Persons in whom it is by the Spirit wrought or infused in Sanctification And hath put no difference between them and us Purifying their hearts by Faith Yea it cleanseth them from all filthyness of Flesh and Spirit that they may perfect Holyness in the fear of God But let me tell you that the Spirit and Grace of Christ in this respect is as a Fan rather to Cleanse the Saints by purging out the Chaff of Corruption which naturally is in their Hearts and Lives than to purge Hypocrites and gross Professors out of the Church and to that I Principally referr here 6. Moreover Christ hath the Fan of Persecution or the Sufferings of the Cross and all other afflictions which he brings upon his People which he uses to purge and purify their Souls and his Churches too And from hence Afflictions are compaired to a Refiners fire He shall set as a Refiners fire and Purifier of Silver He that is the Messiah i. e. our Lord Jesus Christ this is his Work viz. to purge his People who in this Place are compared to Silver and Gold that is refined As in my Text they are likened unto Wheat in this he is compared to a Refiner and hath his Furnace in the other to an Husbandman and so hath his Fan. Both these Texts allude to the same thing and doing the same work namely to sever and separate the clean from the unclean the Gold from the Dross the Chaff from the Wheat And evident it is that Persecution Trials and Afflictions commonly make a great discovery who are Wheat or pure Gold viz. Sincere Believers and who drossy and chaffy Professors If Wheat Persecution purges and purified them But if they are Chaff it usually fans them away But he that received the seed in stony places the same is he which heareth the Word and anon with joy reciveth it Yet hath he not root in himself but endureth for a while for when Tribulation or Persecution ariseth because of the Word by and by he is offended Thus the fan of Persecution purges these Chaffy Professors out of Christs Spiritual floor or rather his garner Namely his Church into which in a day of Liberty they got and had a place but they cannot bear the Wind and blast of Affliction and Tribulation And as it purges out much Chaff so also the Wheat is thereby refined and made more clean and fit for the Lords use Of so great benefit is Persecution to Gods Church that they cannot some times be without it it is if need be that we are in heaviness if we need it not or if Christ sees there is no need of it we shall never feel the Rod He doth it not for his pleasure but for our profit that we might partake of his Holiness And this Jehovah by the Prophet further makes known to us This is the fruit of all the taking away your Sin And thus the Lord purgeth away the filth of the Daughter of Sion and the Blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the Spirit of Judgment and by the Spirit of burning The Rod of Affliction or Furnace of Persecution cannot purge out the filth of Sin that is in the Lords People without the operations of the Holy Spirit The Spirit is called a Spirit of burning because like fire it burns up and consumes the Filth Chaff and Dross that is in us Before Trials and Persecution comes Christ seems to have a very great floor a great heap or much Corn but when he comes to try them with this fan in his hand one great part
not Satan insult after this manner over the Lord of Life and Glory whilst Sinners close in with his Temptations and cleave to their Lusts earthly Profits and Pleasures and neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel 3 dly Such who neglect this so great Salvation offer Violence to the Holy Ghost 1. They do resist the Holy Spirit whom God hath sent as his great Messenger to influence enlighten and convince their Hearts and Consciences about the Worth and Weightiness of this Concern He will reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment Of Sin because they believe not on me Because they neglect attending upon the Means of this Salvation believe not the Necessity there is of this Saviour nor of Faith in him and seek it not above all things Is it a small Matter to resist the Holy Ghost O lay it to Heart 2. They grieve the Holy Spirit also yea and hereby tire him out so that he at last withdraws his Influences from the Sinner and will strive with him no more like as he did by the World and if so the ruin of the Soul will be unavoidable for without the Holy Spirit no Man can repent believe or be renewed be regenerated and so come to have Interest in this so great Salvation 3. Such quench the Spirit who neglect this Salvation and do not believe it is to cast Water on that Divine Spark which the Holy Ghost strives to kindle in the Soul of a poor Sinner or to blow out the Candle of the Lord so far as the Sinner is able to do it whereby Spiritual Light and Knowledg comes to be let into the Heart 4. Nay to neglect this Salvation in the Means of it is as much as may be to hinder the Work and Office of the Holy Spirit in and about this Salvation The Holy Spirit hath more immediately to do with Sinners his special Work is to enlighten to convince of Sin to work Faith in the Soul and to renew and sanctify the polluted Heart and all that neglect this Salvation or that slight those Convictions they have of the Evil of Sin or Sense of their woful Condition do seek to obstruct the King's great Officer and Messenger in the discharge of his Office Look to it Sinners for if it be deemed a dangerous thing to resist a Constable in the exercise of his Office because he is the King's Servant what Danger do you expose your selves to that oppose withstand and strive to hinder the Spirit in the discharge of his great Work and Office It is to contemn the King's Ambassador the Holy Spirit is sent to treat with Sinners in Christ's Name it is hereby Christ himself speaks to them from Heaven and they that adhere to the Motions of the Spirit do adhere to Jesus Christ and they that oppose or resist his Motions do oppose and resist Christ also The Holy Spirit is the great Gospel-Blessing promised to infuse Grace in the Soul all Grace is from the Spirit Sinners cannot believe without the Holy Spirit nor love God The Love of God is shed abroad in the Hearts of Believers by the Holy Ghost There is no Regeneration without the Spirit Those that are born again are born of the Spirit no Union with Christ without the Spirit no broken Heart no Cries no Tears that will prevail with God without the help of the Spirit Such that will not adhere to his Motions and Influences say in their Hearts that they will not be changed will not believe nor repent nor have Christ to be their Prince and Saviour The Spirit awakens the Conscience and stirs up Fears in the Soul and sets before the Sinner's Eyes his great Evil Guilt and horrid Pollution therefore if they refuse the Wooings Intreaties and Influences of the Spirit they must perish for ever APPLICATION 1. O let us lament and mourn over all that neglect this so great Salvation All Unbelievers and Neglecters of the Means of Salvation are horridly guilty before the Lord 't is hereby all their Sins are bound upon their Consciences and cleave to them and are charged upon them not only Original but all actual Sin whatsoever 2. O infinite Love and Patience May we not stand amazed and wonder at the long-suffering and forbearance of God O House of David saith the Prophet is it a small thing for you to weary Men but will you weary my God also What greater Wickedness and Ingratitude can there be than this Will you contemn and resist your Saviour and the Holy Ghost How long shall God wait upon you Will he always wait to be gracious O know that his Mercy will at last be turned into Fury 3. Unworthy are such to live to be fed to be clothed to be protected and preserved that thus despise God's Mercy and sovereign Goodness Would a Man feed clothe and bestow great Favours on such that despise slight and contemn him 4. What do you think of your selves Sinners to you I speak that neglect this so great Salvation O this is your Sin you refuse the only Remedy God hath found out to heal and save your Souls therefore your Damnation will be just and deserved with a witness You love Darkness rather than Light you contemn the highest Good the best of Beings and the highest Expressions of his Love and Favour that God that made you that Christ that spilt his Blood to redeem the worst of Sinners those Bowels that pitied you you refuse and resist that Spirit that would renew you sanctify you and make you meet for Heaven and all this out of love to your base Lusts your cruel Enemies that seek to destroy and murder your precious Souls Abhor your selves Alas Men do not see what Monsters of Wickedness they are whilst they neglect this so great Salvation You sin I say against the Remedy the costly Remedy the only Remedy against the Remedy that Infinite Wisdom hath found out and Infinite Goodness hath vouchsafed Yet if you return to God there is Mercy for you say O Lord now we see our Sin O that you could but say so in truth and fall down at the feet of God and say Thou hast overcome us with thy Love 5. Lastly Here is Comfort for Believers who have received this so great Salvation O bless God for Faith cherish the Motions of the Holy Spirit that hath broken your Bonds you prefer Christ and the Salvation by Christ before all things live worthy of a Part and Interest in this Salvation you have Salvation and shall not lose it O walk so that you may never lose the Joy of it for that you may do God may hide his Face Christ may withdraw himself if he hath done it enquire when you had him and consider what you have done that he hides his Face from you let the Cause if it be Sin be bewailed and let the loss of him be more grievous to you than the loss of Comfort from him and be willing to
divided amongst themselves what abundance of Chaff is there here also Are there not many amongst these as bad as others viz. People of ill and corrupt principles bitter and censorious Spirits and of scandalous lives What Malice Envy and Hatred do they discover one against another because of their differing Sentiments in and about some principles of Religion rendering their Brethren odious to the World Back-biting Reproaching and Scandalizing each other to the great dishonour of God and shame of their sacred profession one while charging and condemning the Innocent and yet acknowldege not their Evil and at another time striving to vindicate and clear such as are greatly guilty before God both which are abominable and hateful in his sight who will judge righteously and render to every man at last according to his Works Certainly there is sarcely a worse Sin than the Sin of Back-biting he that hates his Brother Robbing him of his good Name out of Malice and Envy is a Murtherer and no Murtherer hath eternal Life abiding in him 1 John 3. 17. such who are destitute of Christian Love and Charity or hate their Brethren clearly shew they act contrary to the divine Principle of Grace nay of Morality and so are void of that sacred Life Nature and Image of God For as love to the Bretheren is an Evidence of our being the Children of God so he that is possessed with Wrath Envy Malice and Hatred shews he is one of the Children of the wicked one who is called the Accuser of the Brethren Clear it is that this is a Diabolical Sin and renders such in whom it is found like to the Devil In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother Nay this great evil and wickedness is a sad sign that such are given up and left of God as not retaining God in their knowledge as the Apostle speaks of the Gentiles who when they arrived to some degree of knowledge of God yet did not glorifie him as God but violated his Law written in their Hearts Therefore 't is said that God gave them up to vile Affections and they were filled with all Vnrighteousness Fornication Wickedness Covetousness Maliciousness full of Envy Murther Debate Deceit Malignity Whisperers Backbiters Despiteful Proud Boasters c. No doubt but that the Sin of Backbiting Wrath Malice and Envy is as bad if not worse than Fornication Swearing or Drunkenness and lamentable it is to see this Sin found among some who account themselves no small persons for Knowledge Zeal and Piety in these days But alas alas how sad and deplorable is their Condition and vain that profession they make of Religion let them repent of this their great wickedness and get a changed heart Moreover are there not in this floor others who are proud earthly carnal and covetous Persons they are called Nonconformists but 't is not so far as they ought from the Sins and Pollutions of this World they conform to them in their detestable fashions and covetous practices Do not many of them appear to love Sons and Daughters more than Christ or his sinking Interest they can lay out plentifully to feed and cloath their own Children whilst their bowels are shut up against the poor Members of Christ or Children of God they 'll spare more to gratifie the Pride and base Lusts of their Children than they will spare to supply the necessities of the poor Saints or to support the Interest of Christ and his Gospel Many pounds shall go for the first use when a Shilling is thought a great deal with some of them for the second they think nothing too much to enrich and uphold their own Families whilst the Family of God suffers want and the Cause of Christ languishes in their hands O how little does the power of Grace and true Godliness shine amongst this sort what formality and lukewarmness is there in these days amongst such who are called Saints and holy Brethren This it is true may be called Chirists Floor especially but abundance of Chaff no doubt will be found in it when the Fanner comes to fan it Look to it you Sinners in Sion Fearfulness will e're long surprize the Hipocrite Who among us shall dwell with devouring Fire who amongst us shall dwell with Everlasting Burning Isa 33. But so much as to what is meant by Christs Floor Quest 2. What is intended by the Fan Answ A Fan is a certain Instrument which the Husbandman uses to cleanse or purge his Corn from the Chaff evil Seeds and all silth whatsoever And this Instrument he holds in his hands and uses upon his Knees by which he tosses up the Wheat and Chaff together And then shakes it to and fro moving all at once by which a wind is made and the Chaff is blown away and the Wheat separated and purged from it Now John Baptist alludes to such an Instrument as this Quest But what is meant by Christs Fan in a spiritual sense what is signified hereby First I answer By Christs Fan is meant his Word his holy Gospel especially the Doctrine thereof 't is by this he cleanses and purges his floor Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you Now the unclean person the Traytor Judas is gone out from you Thro' my Word i. e. through my Doctrine you believing in me and receiving me by Faith for Righteousness and eternal Life 'T is said Christ gave himself for his Church that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word Eph. 5. 26. Cleansing here imports the means by which it is wrought or the Instrument namely the Word of the Gospel especially the Promise of free Justification and Sanctification by Christ received thro' Faith which Baptism was a Sign or Symbol of see 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seeing ye have purified your selves in obeying the truth thro' the Spirit c. This was done in subjecting themselves to the Faith of the Gospel to which the purifying of the heart is ascribed principally in Justification whereby the guilt of Sin is purged away as appertaining to the conscience he alludes also to the sanctifying power and virtue of the holy Spirit Compare this with Psal 119. 9. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way that is the way of his Heart and also the way of his Life The answer is By taking heed thereto according to thy Word that is let him take heed according to that holy doctrine taught and held forth in God's Word so that he attain unto a right knowledge of God and of the Messiah promised and typified by the Sacrifices of Aaron by whose Blood and thro' whose Righteousness only Justification is to be had for without Christs Blood there is no cleansing from Sin and silthyness neither of Heart nor Life for young nor old It is not only to
know now the things that belong to your peace before they are hid from your Eyes Behold now is the accepted time c. 3. Close with Christ whilst the Spirit strives with thee and before Conscience is feared or let out against thee to tear thee into pieces 4. Attend carefully upon the means of Grace and know assuredly that the Wages of Sin is eternal Death even everlasting burnings therefore renounce it with the greatest abhorrence know all the Pleasures and Honours of this Life are but the Elements of carnal felicity and according to the Judgment of Reason and sense would any one chuse the enjoyment of the greatest Pleasures for a day and afterwards be satisfied to suffer the most exquisite Torments for a year much more folly and madness it is for momentary brutish delights to incurr the fiery Indignation of God for ever 1. One word to you that are Believers and I have done O bless God for Jesus Christ who has born the wrath of God for you and in your stead that you might never seel the bitterness of it even Jesus who delivered us from wrath to come 2. Admire the distinguishing Grace and special Love of God We love him because he first loved us It was his Love that overcame you The meer fear of Hell is not sufficient to Convert the Souls of men tho' it may stop them in their way and prevent great Abominations in the gross acts thereof yet does not cannot renew their Nature regenerate and make holy their hearts and lives that Religion that is the meer effect of fear will be according to the nature of its principle even legal wavering and inconstant yet the fear of Hell may awaken the sinner and in some sence prepare for Grace When the Soul is stormed by the terror of Wrath and the fear of Hell has made a breach Divine Grace enters but it is the Love of God and hopes of Heaven that works spiritual affections as the Obedience that flows therefrom is Evangelical free and voluntary from the entire consent of the Soul and are abiding 3. Be content with your Condition tho' poor in this World remember Lazarus how much better was his state than the Rich Glutton's O do not envy the wicked that are Rich they will pay dear for their Wealth when they come to Hell which they with greedy covetous minds heap up I remember a Passage which is related in History A General with an Army passing through another Princes Countrey gave strict Order that no Person should offer to touch the least thing which belong'd to the Inhabitants but nevertheless one Souldier as they were upon their March stole a Bunch of Grapes which the General being informed of gave Order that he should immediately be put to Death as he was going to Execution he fell a eating his Grapes and some Persons looking greedily on him he observing them said Do not envy me my Grapes for they cost me dear they cost me my Life 4. Let it appear to all that you do love Jesus Christ and preferr the honour of God and his interest above all things in this World let the main end and design of your Souls in desiring Grace Gifts Knowledge c. and in all you act and do in his Service be that you may advance his Glory Sirs the time is near when it will be known who are Christs Wheat true Christians and who are not but let all that are but Chaff tremble for Hell is prepared for them He will gather the Wheat into his garner but the Chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire FINIS THE BLESSEDNESS OF Christ's Sheep OR No final Falling from a State of true Grace DEMONSTRATED In Several SERMONS lately Preached and now for general Good Published Wherein all the grand Objections usually brought against the Saints final Perseverance are fully answered By BENJAMIN KEACH Heb. 10. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto Perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul London Printed in the Year 1694. THE BLESSEDNESS OF Christ's Sheep c. JOHN X. 27 28. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand BELOVED these Words are the Words of our Blessed Saviour and they contain no small Comfort to all true Believers who are the Sheep and Lambs of Jesus Christ My main Purpose or Intention is to speak to the 28 th Verse and to defend the sweet and comfortable Doctrine of the Saints final Perseverance but shall begin with the 27 th Verse viz. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me In our Text are two Parts 1. Something Implied viz. Christ is a Shepherd and that he hath a People that are his Sheep 2. Something that is Expressed viz. That all such who are his Sheep hear his Voice and do follow him You have in the Words 1. The Property of Christ's Sheep 2. Their Security and happy State and Condition 1. Their Character or Property viz. They hear his Voice and do follow him 2. Their Security and happy State and Condition 1. He knows them that is he approves of them 2. He gives to them Eternal Life 3. They are in his Hand and shall never perish Our Saviour in this Chapter calls himself the Shepherd of the Sheep yea the Good Shepherd Ver. 11. I am the Good Shepherd the Good Shepherd giveth his Life for the Sheep Now if it be demanded who are the Sheep of Christ I answer All that the Father hath given to him and that believe in him Christ's Sheep may be considered as his two manner of ways 1. Decretively See Ver. 16. And other Sheep I have which are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my Voice The Lord Jesus meaneth the Gentiles these he calls his Sheep by virtue of God's Eternal Election Them also I must bring They are given unto me and all that the Father hath given me shall come unto me I lay down my Life for them or in their stead that they might not perish I therefore as if he should so say must bring them call them renew or regenerate them The Covenant I have made with my Father is such that it cannot be broken the Purpose Counsel and Promises of God shall stand This agrees with that Word of the Holy God to St. Paul Be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace For I am with thee and no Man shall set on thee to hurt thee for I have much People in this City They are called the Lord's People though then in a state of Darkness and Unbelief decretively or according to his Eternal Purpose they were his 2. Actually or such who are already brought in or who do believe and are visibly of his Fold The Doctrine I shall prosecute shall be
who were given to him by the Father Sixthly Believers are Christ's Sheep by Conquest They were fallen into the Enemy's Hand in the Hands and under the Power of most cruel Tyrants who designed to tear them in pieces and devour them They were in Satan's Hand and under the Power of Sin and were meer Bond-slaves and in fearful slavery to these Enemies having their Eyes put out their Fleece torn off or strip'd of their Robes being dangerously wounded And although Jesus Christ to redeem them from Wrath and Misery laid down a great Price as you heard before to satisfy God's Justice yet alas Satan takes no notice of that they were in his Hand who like a strong Man armed keeps the Soul and had Power over them therefore Jesus Christ puts forth his Almighty Hand to vanquish and subdue this cruel Foe and thereby redeems and rescues all his Sheep out of Slavery and Bondage by which means they come to be his by a blessed Conquest of their Enemies and by overcoming them for he subdues their Hearts bends and subjects their rebellious Wills by the Power of Divine Grace before he can have one of them All the Sheep of Christ yield themselves up to him as being conquered by him overcome by his Love and the Power of his Spirit This brings me to the next thing Seventhly and lastly Believers are Christ's Sheep by virtue of a holy Resignation of themselves to him They have chosen him to be their Shepherd other Sheep can't make choice of their Shepherd but Christ's Sheep can do this their Eyes being enlightned to see the Excellency of Christ the Greatness of his Love and what he hath suffered and undergone for them they commit their Souls to his care and keeping that he may watch over them feed and lead them They gave themselves first unto the Lord and unto us by the Will of God First They gave themselves unto the Lord by the Power of his Spirit to be his and no more their own but to be his People his Spouse his Sheep and then gave themselves to his Church to be of his Flock Christ hath no Member no Sheep of his visible Church or Fold on Farth but such who know him I am known of mine They are not ignorant Persons or such who are unable to give themselves up to him Others are not required to give them No no they must be able to give or resign themselves to him as being overcome by his Love and thus they become his Sheep also Secondly I shall shew you what is meant by Christ's Voice There is a Four-fold Voice of Jesus Christ which his Sheep hear 1. The Voice of his Word 2. The Voice of his Spirit 3. The Voice of his Holy Doctrine 4. The Voice of his Rod. First Christ's Sheep hear the Voice of his Word The Holy Scripture is Christ's Word and therefore the Voice of Christ and this Voice his Sheep hear They give full credit to the Truth of the Sacred Scriptures they believe they are of Divine Authority All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness They are none of Christ's Sheep that do not will not hear this Voice of Christ that is do not believe the Truth of the Sacred Scriptures do not hear nor regard what they speak but magnify unwritten Traditions above the Word of God or the Light of Natural Conscience The Sheep of Christ hear Christ's Voice in the Ministry of his Word they attend upon the preaching of the Gospel and look upon the Word delivered in Christ's Name by his faithful Ministers to be the Voice of Christ unto them But how or after what manner Christ's Sheep do hear his Voice viz. the Voice of his Word I shall open under the third Head Secondly There is the Voice of Christ's Spirit and this Voice of his his Sheep hear also and indeed none but they Sirs this is that Voice of Christ which doth the Work and that which discovers who are his Sheep The Voice of Christ's Word without the Spirit is not sufficient the Word will not make Sinners hear though it be spoken a thousand times over except the Spirit 's Voice do accompany it I shall therefore open to you the Nature of this Voice of Christ I mean the Voice of his Spirit 1. 'T is an awakening Voice Sinners are asleep yea in a dead Sleep and sleep they will till they hear this Voice The powerful Voice of Christ awakened dead Lazarus after he had lain in the Grave four days And it must be the like Voice that doth awaken the sleepy and dead Sinner Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the Dead and Christ shall give thee Life 'T is sad to see what a multitude of poor People sit day by day under the hearing of the Word and yet remain in their Sins they are asleep the Word doth not awaken them but when the Spirit 's Voice is heard when that works with the Word they are quickly roused up out of that dead Sleep in which they lay 2. The Voice of Christ's Spirit is a convincing Voice Come see a Man that told me all things that ever I did The Spirit of Christ reached her Heart convinced her what a vile Sinner she was We do not read of many things Christ told her she had done but that he she had then was not her Husband ver 18. so that she lived in Adultery with him But now as soon as the Spirit convinced her of this one Sin she is convinced of all her other abominable Evils and therefore cries out Come see a Man that told me all things that ever I did Is not this the Christ Intimating none but Christ can make the Evil of Mens Hearts and Lives appear unto them So 't is none but the Holy Spirit can pierce the Soul or convince the Sinner throughly of his Sin and Misery and discover the Vileness of their Hearts and States unto them They were pricked in their Hearts and said Men and Brethren what shall we do Is there any hope that such Sinners as we may be forgiven and be saved Verily we were guilty concerning our Brother said Joseph's Brethren God's Spirit now convinced their Consciences and brought their Sin to remembrance So there are none that hear the Voice of the Spirit but their Sin appears presently before their Eyes their Sin is aggravated on their Consciences and is most hateful and odious to them 3. Christ's Voice is a Soul quickening Voice Verily verily I say unto you The Hour is coming and now is when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live The Voice of Christ doth not only cause the Ear to hear but the Heart to hear also All Mankind naturally are dead in a spiritual Sense they have no divine nor spiritual Life in them Man is not
by Original Sin or by Nature only wounded or maimed but dead The Holy Ghost doth not make use of an improper Metaphor We by Nature were as truly and really in a spiritual Sense dead that is had no more Life spiritual Life Motion Heat Feeling or Strength in us than a dead Man hath natural Life Motion Heat Feeling or Strength in him but when the Soul hears the spiritual and powerful Voice of Christ 't is immediately quickened a Principle of divine Life is infused You hath he quickened that were dead in Sins and Trespasses Thus the Greatness of Christ's Power towards Sinners appears that were dead or destitute of a Principle of spiritual Life Those that assert the Power of the Creature or that every Man is put into a Capacity to be saved if he will certainly do not consider this lay this to heart ponder on this viz. That all Mankind before Grace is infused into the Soul are dead What short of Almighty Power can raise the Dead to Life Power is not in the Dead to quicken himself nor can dead Lazarus resist that Principle of Life infused into him 't is not what the Sinner but what Christ the Saviour will and he quickens not all but whom he will For as the Father raiseth up the Dead and quickneth them even so the Son quickneth whom he will 'T is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth Mercy 4. Christ's Voice by his Spirit is a Soul-humbling and a Self-abasing Voice They that hear his Voice are straitway brought to his Feet loathing and abhorring themselves The Voice of Christ hath the same Effect on the Soul as the sight of God in Christ I have heard of thee by the hearing of the Ear but now mine Eye seeth thee Wherefore I abhor my self and repent in Dust and Ashes After Paul had heard the Voice of Christ saying Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me how humble was he though called to be an Apostle yet esteemed himself less than the least of all Saints Now to be less than the least is to be nothing Man before Grace or before he comes to hear the Voice of Christ is a proud Creature but Grace humbles him to such a degree that he is little nay nothing in his own Eyes 5. Christ's Voice is a Soul-regenerating Voice His Voice is powerful and shakes the old Foundation down all former Hopes and fleshly Confidence is gone It was the Voice of the Spirit that first made us and made this World By the Word of God were all things made and created And 't is his Voice that creates us again or that renews us or forms his Sacred Image in us He that commanded by his Voice Light to shine out of Darkness doth but speak the word and so shines into our Hearts and thereby transforms us and gives us the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ 6. 'T is a Sin-killing Voice It lays the old Man a bleeding as it were the Spirit destroys the Body and Power of Sin it breaks down all the strong Holds of Sin Christ slays this Enemy by the Sword that goes out of his Mouth that is by his Word through the Operations of the Spirit If ye live after the Flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the Deeds of the Body ye shall live 'T is not enough to forbear the acting of Sin but we must kill and crucify it and this we cannot do without the powerful assistance and help of the Spirit 7. 'T is a Soul-strengthning Voice As Sin dies Grace lives and the Soul receives strength Faith is the Life and Strength of the Soul and this Life and Strength we receive by the Holy Spirit 8. 'T is a comforting Voice 'T is by the Spirit God speaks Peace to the Soul He will speak Peace unto his People and unto his Saints I will speak comfortably to her I will speak to her Heart None can speak to the Heart but God by his Spirit it is the Holy Ghost that is the Comforter And after the Sinner hath been deeply wounded in the true sense of Sin and is dejected grieved and sorely troubled then the Spirit comes with its sweet still and comforting Voice and revives the drooping Soul To comfort the Conscience Luther saith is as great a Work as to make the World 1. Now the Spirit speaks Comfort to the distressed Conscience through the Blood of Christ that is by shewing the Soul that Christ died in its stead and bore the Wrath that was due to us having fully satisfied God's Justice and answered all the Demands and Requirements of the Law being made a Curse for us that the Blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through Christ Jesus that we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith The Blood of Christ speaks it hath a Voice in it it speaks good things yea better things than the Blood of Abel But it never speaks Comfort to the Soul till the Spirit applies it and sprinkleth it upon the Heart O what Peace and Comfort then doth the Spirit speak to a wounded Spirit 2. The Spirit speaks Comfort to the Soul by applying the Promises of Pardon and Peace unto us causing our Souls to take hold of them and to cleave to God in them This Promise is mine God hath fastened and fixed it on my Heart saith a Believer 3. By opening the Greatness and Preciousness of Christ's Love to us because he hath loved us with an everlasting Love therefore with loving Kindness hath he drawn us and helped us to believe and to receive him 4. The Spirit speaks Comfort to Believers by opening unto them the Nature and Excellency of the Covenant of Grace which is ordered in all things and sure being confirmed by the Oath of God c. 5. By shewing them the Power Mercy and Faithfulness of God c. O Sirs no Voice like the Voice of the Spirit happy is that Soul which hears this Voice and 't is this Voice of Christ that all his Sheep hear Thirdly There is also the Voice of Christ's Doctrine I mean the true Evangelical Doctrine of the Gospel The true Faith of the Gospel or the sacred Doctrine thereof is the Voice of Christ which his Sheep will hear And they will not hear the Voice of Strangers they will not hear the Voice of false Teachers or their pernicious Doctrine they know not the Voice of Strangers they can distinguish between Christ's Voice Christ's Doctrine and the Doctrine of false Prophets and false Teachers they know not the Voice of Strangers that is they approve not of their Doctrine but they know they approve of Christ's Doctrine though never so hard never so difficult and never so unpleasant to others yet 't is approved of by them 't is easy and pleasant to them that are Christ's Sheep They hear what Christ hath
the whole Heart as when a Child is formed in the Womb it hath all the Parts Nature doth not fashion one Part and leave another imperfect So the Holy Spirit forms every Part of the new Creature in the Soul of the Regenerate This Habit is but one 't is an intire Rectitude in all the Faculties and an universal Principle of inclining and disposing to that which is good and well-pleasing to God there is a Divine Light in the Vnderstanding by which the Soul sees God to be its chief Good and owns and looks upon him as such There is a Change in the Will that consents and chuses God as such there is a Change in the Affections There is no true Draught of the Image of God in us unless there be a Rectitude of Affection and Disposition There is therefore a conformity of Affections to God they love God and love as God loves and hate as God hateth they hate Evil because of that inward Filthiness that is in it and love Grace and Vertue because of its pure and native Beauty and Excellency therefore it is from hence the Soul comes to take delight in God 5. It changes not the Heart only but the whole Life also The Life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Such live no longer to themselves but to God their Tongues speak for God their Ears hear for God their Hands work for God their Actions are Holy Just and Good There is a Change of Company also a Change of Labour of Endeavour and their whole End Aim and Design is to glorify God Heavenly Things are preferred by them before earthly Things they chiefly seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness They do not pursue the World as they did nor fashion themselves according to the former Lusts and the Course of this World nor pray as they did nor hear as they did nor give Alms as they did No no they do all things from another Principle from another End and with other Zeal Endeavours and Diligence Thirdly Christ's Sheep will feed in Christ's Pasture in their own Pasture where they are put by him not but that they may for good Reasons be removed into another Pasture but they will not unless under strong Temptation break down the Hedg or Fold where they were put and run away No no but are contented with that Food that Pasture God affords them though there may be some more Fat and Rich than theirs Some Sheep when they grow wanton are unruly and will break into other Mens Ground so there are some Professors some Church-members that rend themselves away from their own Flock and Fold in a disorderly manner Which as a Reverend Minister shews is an abominable Evil and a shame to them this destroys the Relation of Pastor and People for what may be done by one Individual may be done by all and saith he what Liberty belongs to the Sheep belongs also to that particular Shepherd who has the Charge of them much more it is a breaking Covenant with Christ and the Congregation and therefore a great Immorality 't is a Schism if there be any such thing in the World it is a despising the Government of the Church and there is as much reason a Person should come in when he pleases without asking Consent as to depart when he pleases It is also very evil and unkind in another Church to receive such a One as not doing as they would be dealt with Such a Practice can issue in nothing but in the Breach and Confusion of all particular Churches It tends saith he to Anarchy putting an Arbitrary Power in every Member and breaks all Bonds of Love and raiseth the greatest Animosities between Brethren and Churches The truth is how can another Shepherd justify such an Act to the great Shepherd of the Sheep I mean to take into his Fold his Neighbour's Sheep without Christ's Order and Authority Fourthly Christ's Sheep will and do follow him and this our Blessed Saviour lays down as an undoubted Character of all that are his They follow his Example his Steps The good Shepherd when he putteth forth his own Sheep he goeth before them and the Sheep follow him Jesus Christ hath gone before his Sheep in his Obedience to the Father leaving us an Example that we should follow his Steps 1. They follow his Steps in Humility He bids us to learn of him upon this Account Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Heart How did Christ deny himself in taking our Nature upon him In this ought his Sheep to follow him Let the same Mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus O let the same humble Spirit and self-denying Temper be in you which was in him Who being in the Form of God thought it no Robbery to be equal with God and made himself of no reputation but took upon him the Form of a Servant c. Saints are or ought to be of a humble Frame having mutual Love and a condescending Spirit even to them that are in the lowest and meanest Condition bearing with the Weak and not exalting themselves nor offending one another in any thing that is indifferent in its own Nature I become all things to all that I might gain some 2. Christ's Sheep do follow him in Love and bowels of Compassion Be ye followers of God as dear Children and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us By this all Men may know we are his Disciples even when we have this Mark of his Sheep namely that we love one another Husbands are exhorted to love their Wives as Christ also loved his Church and gave himself for it even with a sincere pure ardent and constant Affection And thus ought all Christians to love each other also being united as Brethren together and Members of the same Body of which Christ is the Head He that loveth not his Brother is in Darkness he is none of Christ's Sheep He that saith he abideth in the Light ought also to walk even as he walked and love as he loved 3. They follow him in Holiness But as he that hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy God the Father is holy and Christ is holy He was holy harmless and undefiled separated from Sinners Therefore in this we should follow him in the whole Course of our Lives and in the several parts of our Conversations All those who are his Sheep they are such who are sanctified Persons who laying aside all filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit they go on perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 4. They follow the Example of Christ their holy Shepherd in Obedience Though he was a Son yet learned he Obedience by the things he suffered And being made perfect he became
that are the Children of the Promise such who are renewed by his Grace or born of him by his Spirit these are his Seed and all these shall endure for ever And to make it good God hath sworn to Christ as Mediator by his Holiness they shall endure that is remain his Children for ever or abide in his Covenant to Eternity and therefore they can't be separated from his Love by Sin Now dare any go about through their great Ignorance to charge God with Perjury O let them dread the Consequents of their evil Opinion Object Those of the Seed of Christ or Believers who sin and afterwards do humble themselves we grant shall endure or be restored and they are such that the Spirit of God speaks of in that Psalm you mentioned Answ In answer to this Brethren pray consider that God hath promised Grace to all his Children that fall into Sin to humble them Repentance is in the Covenant of Grace a broken and tender Heart he will give them not only at first when they believe but afterwards when through Temptations and humane Frailties they are overtaken and sin against him 't is not a Repentance of their own getting whereby to oblige God to return again to them But pray see what he says to his beloved Ones For I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the Spirit shall fail before me and the Souls that I have made For the Iniquity of his Covetousness was I wroth and smote him and he went on frowardly in the Way of his Heart Well and what will God do with him now he hath sinned and that grievously too and God hath afflicted him as sorely smote him in his Wrath or as a Father seems to do when his Child that hath grievously offended him but he is not humbled he repents not but goes on frowardly under the Rod shall he perish stay a little see what God says verse 18. I have seen his Ways and will heal him although I might justly destroy him as if God should say and leave him to perish yet of my meer Mercy and for my own Name sake I will pity him I will give him Repentance I will heal him he shall mourn for his Sins and I will restore Comfort to him and to his Mourners Alas till God turn us we turn not therefore a godly Man says with poor Ephraim Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote on my Thigh After God hath graciously touched our Hearts convinced us of our Sins or changed our Minds we repent and alter our Practices and God will give Grace thus to do He remembers his Covenant and his Oath to our David c. I create the Fruits of the Lips Peace Peace to him that is afar off and to him that is near saith the Lord I will heal him I will in a wonderful manner and by my own Grace and Almighty Power do all and have all the Praise to my self Object But may be the Persons you speak of were a praying People they were found in their pious Duties and so their Sins were forgiven and they healed Answ How fain would some Men eclipse the Free Grace of God and find something in the Creature to oblige God to give the Mercy promised 1. I deny not but God will be sought unto for all the good Things promised to Believers But who is it that puts it into our Hearts to seek him or helps and influences our Spirits to pray unto him We know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit maketh intercession for us with Groanings that cannot be uttered 2. Yet nevertheless see what God saith of the People before mentioned But thou hast not called upon me O Jacob but thou hast been weary of me O Israel ver 22. Thou hast not brought me the small Cattel of thy Burnt-offerings neither hast thou honoured me with thy Sacrifices I have not caused thee to serve with an Offering nor wearied thee with Incense ver 23. Thou hast bought me no sweet Cane with Money neither hast thou filled me with the Fat of thy Sacrifices but thou hast made me to serve with thy Sins and wearied me with thine Iniquities ver 24. See now what a People these were they had not so much as done the least things commanded had not brought the small Cattel for a Sacrifice nor did they pray nor seek the Face of God Yet that God may magnify his Grace see what he speaks in the next Words I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgression for mine own sake and will not remember thy Sins Nothing you see can take off God's Love from his Covenant-Children nothing is done by our own Merits or for the sake or worth of our Duty but all wholly of his own Mercy and Goodness Secondly To make it further manifest that the Sins of Believers cannot separate them from the Love of God is evident because Jesus Christ hath fully satisfied his Justice for all their Sins he hath paid all their Debts Wrath and Divine Vengeance cannot hurt the Elect of God in whose stead Christ died Should their Sins work their Ruin and destroy their Souls it would follow that Christ made no perfect Compensation for them if he hath it would be injustice in God should he let out his vindictive Wrath against them for their Sins Surely he hath born our Griefs and carried our Sorrows c. All we like Sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquities of us all Thirdly Because they have an Advocate with the Father Christ pleads the Merits of his own Blood the Satisfaction he hath made for their Sins My little Children these things write I unto you that you sin not O take heed you sin not do not grieve your Father offend your God you know how hateful Sin is to him as if he should so say But if any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous Saints should neither presume to sin nor despair if overtaken thereby Fourthly Because Christ prayed in the Days of his Flesh that the Father would keep them that he had given him in the World from the Evil thereof though not from every Evil. I dare not say that because whatever Christ prayed for it was granted and yet we see the best of Saints do sin But he prayed that they might not fall so sin so as to perish in their sin or sin unto Death therefore their Sins shall never damn them Fifthly Their Sins cannot separate them so from the Love of God as that he should cast them off for ever because a broken Heart and pardon of Sin is contained in the Covenant of Grace I will be merciful unto their Vnrighteousness and their
made it maintains it as he sits upon the Throne He it was that made it as he is a Priest and he maintains it as he is a King upon the Throne he will never suffer Sin to get such Head in us that we shall cast off God any more or violate our Covenant with him nor will he suffer Satan to do it therefore they who are reconciled shall never perish no not one of the Elect of God Thirdly The Gift of the Holy Spirit is another Effect of the Death of Christ This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are Witnesses And having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear The Father promised unto his Son upon his dying for us that the Holy Spirit should be given to all his Seed I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed Indeed Christ receiving the Holy Spirit without measure for us in his own Person as Mediator antecedent to our believing is the fullest Security to us imaginable We are blessed with all spiritual Blessings in Christ that is in him as our Head And although Christ received the Spirit before he suffered yet it was upon the account of his Sufferings the Father trusted his Son took his Son's Word and gave him part of his Wages from the beginuing for all the Saints under the Old Testament had the Spirit upon no other Account than as we have it namely as the Fruits and Effects of Christ's Death and Purchase who was to die Now Brethren pray consider what the Work of the Holy Spirit is which is promised to abide with the Saints and Seed of Christ for ever 1. His Work is at first to quicken them You hath he quickned 2. To renew to regenerate to sanctify them this is the Work and Office of the Spirit I will sprinkle clean Water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your Filthiness And hence the Gentiles are said to be sanctified by the Holy Ghost But pray take notice of this the Rock in the Wilderness was first smitten before Water gush'd forth So Christ was first smitten first crucified then the Spirit like Water was poured forth It is Sirs wholly the Effects and Fruits of his Death 3. It is the Work of the Spirit to cause us to walk in God's Ways and to keep his Statutes I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them We should not do this were it not for the Spirit we could not keep God's Precepts nor walk in his Paths but God puts his Spirit into us that we shall not depart from him that is we shall not finally apostatize from him but shall keep his Precepts to the End 4. It is the Work of the Spirit to help us to pray and breathe forth our Desires to God We know not how to pray but as the Spirit helps our Infirmities and maketh intercession for us with Groans that cannot be uttered Christ having redeemed us from the Curse of the Law it is that this Blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father 5. The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit is to enable us to mortify Sin Rom. 8. 13. If ye through the Spirit mortify the Deeds of the Body ye shall live And hence it is also that Sin shall not have Dominion over them and therefore Believers cannot perish they having such a Helper He destroys all that Dominion Sin and Satan had in them and Power over them The Spirit utterly spoils Satan's Kingdom in them Because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the World saith John speaking to the Saints This is such a Helper that can never be worsted 6. It is hereby we perform all our Holy Duties By the Spirit Ministers preach to profit and Hearers hear to their profit hereby we read to profit and sing God's Praise to our profit and sweet comfort for as we pray with the Spirit so we sing with the Spirit and the same Measure the same Fillings of the Spirit that enable us to do the one enable us to do the other By the Spirit we are also helped to meditate on God and on his Word and hereby our Meditations of him are sweet to our Souls 7. 'T is by the Spirit we resist and repel Satan's Temptations Or if he doth at any time worst us the Spirit will help us up again 8. It is the Holy Spirit that doth confirm and establish us in the Truth 9. In a word All Grace is from the Spirit and it is by the Aid and Assistance of the Spirit that we are enabled to exercise that Grace for as he first formed the Habit in our Souls so it is he helps us to do the Act also or that doth influence us in the Exercise thereof 10. The Holy Spirit is also the Earnest of the Saints Inheritance 'T is given to them as an Earnest of that Glory they shall one Day absolutely be possessed of 'T is given to assure them that as certainly as they have received the Holy Spirit here and he is in them so certain it is that they shall be saved or have the Eternal Inheritance True I have mentioned this two or three times already yet it is of so great Importance I cannot pass it by here It is no small Matter that God gives us when he gives the Holy Spirit to us for as he is that Principle of Life in us so he gives us a full Assurance of Eternal Life hereafter and it is upon this Earnest-Money a Saint may be said to live whilst in this World nay and it will defray all his Charge and supply all his Need and manifold Wants as long as he lives upon the Earth even until he comes to the full possession of his Inheritance above 11. And as the Spirit is the Earnest of Glory or of Everlasting Life so he is also the Witness of God in our Souls yea such a Witness whose Testimony every Christian may trust to and rest upon The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God It witnesseth to us our Adoption that we are Children and so Heirs Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ There is a twofold Witness of the Spirit 1. The Spirit witnesseth by a direct Act we taking hold of Christ and of the Promise Saith the Spirit to the Soul I testify that Christ and Eternal Life is yours you believe and therefore you have Christ and shall be saved 2. There is the witnessing of the Spirit by a reflex Act A Man finds such and such gracious Effects of Divine Grace upon his Soul and by these the Holy Spirit testifies he is gracious One that loves God that hates Sin is changed renewed lives
precede the Motions of Man's Will to be the Lacquey not the Leader either in converting or preserving which is at best to make the Glory of God's Grace as volatile as a Feather at the best sometimes up sometimes down the Soul is this Moment embraced by the Lord with the dearest Affections the next cast out as a Vessel wherein is no Pleasure and the succeeding Moment admitted to fresh Communications this Hour the Temple of the Holy Ghost the next an Habitation for Dragons and Satyrs The Will of Man giving one Time the Key to the Spirit the next Time to the Devil 4. It gives occasion to Man to boast and so contradicts the whole Design of God in the Gospel of his own Free Grace which is to take away for ever any Cause for the Creature in himself to glory 5. It brings in that great Absurdity of the Repetition of Regeneration whereof there is no mention made in all the Scripture unless they do believe all that fall away so as to lose the Seed of Grace or from being in a State of Grace are lost for ever or fall irrecoverably but a Repetition of Regeneration seems to be maintained by one of the chief of them from Heb. 6. 6. If they fall away to renew them again c. 'T is impossible he denies to renew some to Repentance but others he would infer from thence may be renewed Now a renewing again to Repentance may be where the Seed of Grace was never lost but the Strength and Exercise of it as in David's and Peter's Case therefore 't is not a total falling which Believers are liable to but a partial only But to suppose that such who are regenerated may fall totally and be renewed again to Repentance doth presuppose a Repetition of a former Birth or a second Regeneration To prove which these Men mention that Text twice dead pluck'd up by the Roots Now evident it is that if true Believers may fall totally from Grace and none of them can be renewed again then all such that so fall sin against the Holy Ghost But if they may be renewed again then there is a repetition of Regeneration When I come to speak to that Text in the 6 th of the Hebrews I hope I shall sufficiently prove by the Assistance of God that those there mentioned were not true Believers as I have proved no true Believer can so fall as to need another Regeneration though they may fall as to need a gracious Restoration or to be healed of their backsliding Restore unto me the Joy of thy Salvation 6. It tends to frustrate the absolute Design of Christ and his Promise made to his Saints or makes it of none Effect who hath said I give them Eternal Life and they shall not perish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not not perish as some read it 7. It renders the Death of Christ in the Effects of it uncertain to any Unless they are such who have found out another way of Salvation for some than for others for some affirm that there is an Election of a certain Number and they shall infallibly be saved and there is a way for others to be saved too some the King sends his Chariot of Free Grace for to bring them home to himself and others must trudg home on their own Feet which they may do if they will which idle Notion deserves no Breath nor Paper to confute 8. That a Man may be in God's special Love to Day and his dear Child having his Image stamp'd upon his Soul and to morrow be hated by him and be the Child of the Devil and have his Likeness and Image upon him And from hence it renders God's Love mutable and as if he did not foresee all Emergencies from Eternity Can these Men fancy infinite Bowels and Affections so unconcerned as to let the Apple of his Eye be pluck'd out or he be as a careless Spectator whilst he is robbed of his precious Jewels by the Powers of Hell to have the Delight of his Soul as reverend Charnock notes lost like a Tennis Ball between himself and the Devil 9. It doth cast a Disgrace upon the Wisdom of God in contriving no better a way for the Restoration of Man and his Establishment but that which dependeth wholly upon the voluble and inconstant Temper of the Creatures corrupt Will to perfect in them 10. Such who assert that those may eternally perish whom Christ died for or in the stead of seem to charge God with Injustice as not to acquit those whose Transgressions are answered for by their Surety or else that the Sufferings of Christ were not sufficient to effect a Discharge due to them Or doth it not insinuate as one notes a Deficiency of Power or want of good Will in Christ to prosecute his design to Perfection 11. It suspends the Virtue and Success of all that Christ hath done for Men upon some thing to be done by themselves which Christ is not the doer of and consequently that Men are Principals in procuring their own Salvation And so Christ shall have his Thousands in truth saith he his Nothings whilst freedom of Will or he might have said Free-Will shall have his Ten thousands Is this to exalt the Lord alone or to raise and sing the Praises of our Beloved David And further 12. It would also follow as he observes that those who are gone to Heaven have nothing more of Christ's to glory in and to praise him for than those who are perished and gone to Hell For according to the Principle of General Redemption Christ did and doth for all alike and not a Jot more for one Party than for another Also as he notes it tends to make Men presumptuous and carnally secure How many have sooth'd up themselves in their Impenitency and hardness of their Hearts and fenced themselves against the Word upon this very Supposition that Christ died for all and therefore for them and why should not they look to be saved as well as others To which I might add their Notion of that Power which they say is in the Creature to believe leads Men out to defer looking out for Salvation for why may they not delay to do that to Day which is in their Power to do to Morrow and may be perhaps some Years hence as well as now But let them and all others know Christ's Death will have its Effect on their Hearts if he died for them and they must look to him when he calls and wait upon him for the moving of his Spirit in the use of that Means which he hath ordained in order to Faith and Regeneration and in the season of it who says To day if you will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts c. but the Will the Deed they must wait upon the Lord to give unto them and work by his Spirit in them APPLICATION I shall in the lost place make a little Improvement of what I have
said and so finish with this Text. 1. Inform. This may serve to inform and convince all Persons concerning the absolute Soveraignty of God He may save Man if he please and not Angels or may send a Saviour for some of the lost Sons of Adam and not for all Who shall say to him What dost thou If he had vouchsafed a Saviour for none of Adam's Posterity had he been unjust any more than he is in casting off for ever all the fallen Angels He called Abraham out of his own Country and revealed himself to him and let others remain then under the Power of Sin Ignorance and Idolatry calling them not He revealed himself to Isaac and rejected Ishmael he chose Jacob and refused Esau he afterwards chose the Children of Israel to be a peculiar People for himself and let all other Nations of the Earth abide in Darkness And in the Gospel-Days Christ chose a few poor Fisher-Men and refused the Learned and Wise Men after the Flesh nay and hid the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven from the Wise and Prudent and all this as an Act alone of his Soveraignty And in these days what Reason can be alledged why we and a few Nations more have the Knowledg of the Gospel when the greatest part of the Earth lie in Popish Mahometan and Pagan Darkness but that it is his good pleasure so to do He hath Mercy on whom he will have Mercy and whom he will he hardeneth 2. Praise God for the Knowledg you have of the Mysteries of Christ and the Gospel of Free-Grace Brethren next unto the Grace of God in my Conversion I have often said I do look upon my self bound to admire the Riches of God's Love and Goodness to me in opening my Eyes to see those Arminian Errors which when I was Young I had from some Men of corrupt Principles sucked in nay and when I was about 23 Years Old I wrote a little Book for Children in which some of those Errors were vindicated which after my Eyes were inlightned and the Book with Alterations being again Reprinted I left out and now do declare my dislike of the first Impressions and do disown what I there asserted When I was a Child I thought as a Child I understood as a Child as the Apostle speaks And let me intreat you to study the Nature of the Covenant of Grace for until I had that opened unto me I was ignorant of the Mysteries of the Gospel 3. O do not forget that the Design of God in contriving our Salvation in his Eternal Wisdom by Jesus Christ was wholly to advance his own Glory and the Freeness and Riches of his Grace and to abase and humble Man unto the Dust therefore be sure never err on that Hand And I think it is not easy for Men well to err on the other I mean in exalting God alone Christ alone though I deny not but that some good Men who in seeking to advance Free-Grace perhaps have erred and taken up some unsound Notions as that of Actual or Personal Justification before Faith and Actual Union with Jesus Christ O what need have we to ponder well the Paths of our Feet and not with Pride to magnify our selves or strive to promote any corrupt Notion under any Pretence whatsoever Our Days are Evil many dangerous Errors abound and it is cause of greatest Grief to see what a Generation of Men are risen up of late who strive to mix God's pure Gold with their Dross and his Wine with their Water Though on the other Hand let us bless and praise the Lord for raising up so many brave Champions in the mean time of our Brethren of the Congregational Way to defend the Gospel of God's Grace and the Truth as it is in Jesus Yet I could wish there was not so much Gall in some of them against us their Brethren who in all the great Truths of Christianity are of one Mind and Judgment and yet are exposed to Reproach for witnessing to a Truth of Christ that lies as plain in the Gospel as any one Truth or positive Precept of Christ whatsoever I mean that of Believers Baptism Why should we be censured for maintaining that Truth which the Holy Ghost so fully bears witness unto I long to see more of the Spirit of Love and Charity would to God that Chapter 1 Cor. 13. was more read and considered 4. This may also serve to reprehend such who strive to cast Reproach upon this Holy Doctrine and such that maintain it as if it tended to incourage People in Sin or open a Door to Licentiousness Let all for ever forbear such Reflections Is not this the Purport of that Doctrine which we vindicate 1. That there is wrought and preserved in the Minds and Souls of all Believers by the Holy Spirit a Supernatural Principle of Grace and Holiness whereby they are made meet and enabled to live unto God and discharge all Duties of Obedience which he requireth of them and accepteth through Christ which Principle or Habit of Grace is essentiaily distinct from all Natural Habits Intellectual and Moral however and by what Means so ever acquired or improved 2. That the Holy Spirit by his effectual Operations doth enable us according as we are required by his immediate Influences in all Acts of Obedience whether internal only in Faith and Love c. or External also even so that all the Powers of our Souls and Members of our Bodies are or ought to be in a spiritual manner governed and influenced thereby and unto all Duties of Holiness in our daily walking with God and that all this is the Effect of God's Free-Grace to us in Jesus Christ who hath communicated of the Spirit without measure to our Blessed Head and Mediator that he may give it forth to all his Saints that have Union with him and believe in him Brethren God hath circumcised the Hearts of his People to love him with all their Souls and with all their Strength He writes his Law in our Hearts as he promised I will put my Law in their inward Parts and write it in their Hearts This gracious Habit or Principle in the Soul is nothing but a Transcript of the Holy Law of God implanted and abiding in our Hearts whereby we are enabled with Chearfulness and ready Inclination of our Spirits to act in the Duties of Obedience and Holiness unto God as he requireth of us and also our Likeness and Conformity unto God doth consist herein I say it doth consist in this Divine and Sacred Principle or Spiritual Habit that is infused into the Soul it is our Spiritual Life whereby we live unto God it is the Foundation and Sum of all Internal Excellencies no Works no Duties are accepted where this Principle is not It is a Vital Principle of Holiness and it makes Religion co-natural to us Moreover it is a certain a permanent and an abiding Principle it is that Seed
that remains in Believers and will have good and spiritual Fruit to attend it therefore this Doctrine must needs promote Holiness that is thus founded on such a Sacred Principle and the Motives are every way as strong 5. It appears Brethren that our standing by Grace is most firm and sure it is like the standing of those who are in their consummate State in Glory The Good Angels and Blessed Souls above are confirmed in that State by superabounding Grace for by Nature as one observes the Angels are mutable What was the Reason some of them fell who beheld the Face of God The bare beholding the Face and Glory of God will not continue one Creature in a happy State without an Act of Divine and Confirming Grace it is a continual Addition of Grace and Supplies of Grace that preserves our Souls in a State of Life and to this End are we united to Jesus Christ I mean to such an Head that of and from his Fulness we might have a Communication of Strength and all Divine Influences as our Souls do stand in need 6. And this being so labour after the Exercise of Grace rest not in a small Degree thereof the more Grace you have the more Glory you will bring to God and the more easy it will be for you to resist Temptations 7. The more Grace also the more Peace Holiness is that which God calls for it is that which becomes his House for ever and without it no Man shall ever see the Lord. Therefore let this be the Use of all the Sermons you have heard from this Text even to work up your Hearts to Thankfulness to Holiness in all the whole Course of your Lives and to depend upon Christ alone into whose Hand you are committed by the Father that he would give you fresh Supplies of Grace and keep you from falling To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be Glory and Praise for ever Amen The Trial of the False Professor OR The Danger of Final APOSTACY Opened in three SERMONS preached lately at Horse-lie-down Wherein the Nature of the Sin against the Holy Ghost is discovered HEB. VI. 4 5 6. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift and were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost ver 4. And have tasted the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come ver 5. If they fall away to renew them again unto Repentance seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame ver 6. BELOVED this Place of Holy Scripture was sent to me in Writing some Months ago I know not by whom perhaps by some who hold a Total and Final Apostacy from a State of True Grace But before I entered upon this Text I resolved in the Strength of God to endeavour to prove the Impossibility of their final Falling who are True Believers or such who have Real Union with Jesus Christ which I hope I have effectually done I know that this Text is brought by some to prove That True Believers may fall not only foully but also finally Which certainly is a great Mistake which I shall endeavour God assisting to make appear Mr. John Goodwin speaking of this Place and that in Heb. 10. 26. If we sin wilfully c. saith Evident it is from these two Passages the Holy Ghost after a serious manner and with a very pathetick and moving sirain of Speech and Discourse scarce the like to be found in all the Scripture admonisheth those who are at present true Believers to take heed of relapsing into the ways of their former Ignorance and Impiety This Caveat or Admonition he presseth by an Argument of this import that in case they shall thus relapse there will be very little or no hope at all of their Recovery or Return to the Estate of Faith and Grace wherein now they stand before the Faces of such Sayings and Passages as these rightly understood and duly considered there is no standing for that Doctrine which denies a Possibility either of a total or final Defection of the Saints c. He add That the Supposition or Hypothetical Proposition If they fall away doth denote here a Possibility of it which I will not deny but that these Persons of which the Apostle speaks were true Believers I see no ground at all to believe but do utterly deny it yet I readily grant this hath always been look'd upon as a very difficult place of Scripture to be rightly understood I have therefore consulted the best Authors and Exposuors I could meet with upon it 1. And I find that some of the Antients mistaking the Drift and Design of the Holy Ghost herein would take no Repentance from such who fell under Temptation in Times of Persecution especially if they fell into Idolatry 2. Nay such as fell into scandalous Crimes as Adultery and the like they would not admit by Repentance into the Church or have Communion any more with them And from hence I find that Tertullian reflects upon the Bishop of Rome that had admitted an Adulterer upon his Repentance Also Novatus as I find him quoted by a good Author denied all Hope of Church Pardon unto such Persons that had fallen into gross Sins after they had made a Profession of the Gospel and that from hence Which may seem strange considering that Paul admitted the incestuous Person upon his Repentance that being so notorious a Crime as most do or can fall into But no more as to this Brethren before I proceed let me premise three or four things 1. That the Apostacy here spoken of is not a bare falling into this or that Actual Sin be it of whatever Nature it will For do we not read how grievously some of the Saints of God sinned and fell and yet were restored again by Repentance 2. Nor is it a partial Apostacy or a falling upon Temptation or Surprizal in Time of Persecution though it be to the denying of Christ for did not Peter so fall and yet was restored afterwards 3. Neither is it a falling into some Capital Error as some of the Corinthians fell by denying the Resurrection of the Dead whom Paul laboured to recover Or like that of the Galatians who fell by denying Justification by Faith alone but mix'd Works with God's Free Grace in that great Point of Faith 4. Nor is it a falling of Ignorant Persons who never made any Profession of Religion such are not capable so to sin as is here mentioned because it is expresly said to be such who were once enlightned c. 5. And lastly Neither is it a falling away of such who are justified Persons or of those who have savingly been enlightned and quickned by the Spirit of God for such I have sufficiently proved cannot fall totally and finally so as to perish Thus far in the Negative But in the Affirmative 1. This Apostacy is a total and
stead Legal Convictions discovered only to them under the Law who saw no further that the Life of the poor Beasts went for Sin but Evangelical Convictions shew that nothing can atone for our Sins and satisfy God's Justice but the Life of the Son of God not the Blood of Bulls or Lambs no it must be the Blood of the Lamb of God 7. Common Illuminations are a Man's Torment and Affliction and fain he would be eased and freed of them and of the smart thereby but the special ones tend to make a Man fear that he is not troubled enough he would be searched thorowly Search me and know my Heart try me and know my Thoughts see if there be any evil Way in me O lance my Soul Lord lay open my Sore let me not be slightly healed The one would fain shake the Trouble off he thinks it is enough nay too much the other would have it lie faster on O let not my Sore be skinned over The Devils cried Why dost thou torment us before the Time So unsound Persons would not be tormented but Conscience hath got hold of them and they cannot get out of its Hand But one truly enlightned saith with David I will be sorry for my Sin I chuse it I desire it The one desires to be freed from the Effects of Sin from the Pain and Punishment thereof but the other cries out to be delivered from the Sin which is the Cause of all Pain and Punishment The one is like the Swine who likes not the Whip yet loves the Mire they like not the Lash of the Law but hate to come under the Yoke of the Gospel The one cries out for a Plaister to ease his Conscience may be he is willing to let some Boughs and Twigs be lop'd off but the other would have the Ax laid to the Root of the Tree he would have the Body of Sin as well as the Branches to be destroyed he is for cutting off the right Hand Lusts of Profit and for pulling out the right Eye Lusts of Pleasure The unsound Soul is like Saul for sparing some of the Fat of the Cattel and Agag the King I mean his chief and beloved Lusts but a sincere Christian is for yielding up all to the Sword of the Spirit 8. Common Enlightnings work Terror which may be at last drive the Soul further from God as it is said of Cain He went out from the Presence of the Lord But special and saving Convictions cause the Soul to draw nearer to God in Jesus Christ The one is like a Slave under the Rod fain would get away from his Master the other is like a Child under the Rod that desires to see and behold his Father's reconciled Face and Favour The common Illuminations wound but the Soul sees not the Way of Cure nor will he bear the Instrument which would let out the Life and Power of Sin but perhaps catches up some thing or another to apply to his Sore may be his changed Life his Duties and good Deeds from hence he hopes that his State is good he being as he thinks not the Man he once was But as he who is under special Illuminations comes to be wounded by beholding a bleeding Saviour which is the alone way of Cure so he chiefly desires that Faith that Grace which will destroy the Life and Power of all Sin and thorowly cleanse and purify his Soul Brethren the Spirit of a Sinner may be torn into pieces by legal Terror the Heart of Stone may be broken and yet no Heart of Flesh be given the Ground may be plow'd up in part yet the Seed of Grace not sown in the Heart Sensuality saith one may be kept down by a Spirit of Bondage when it is not cast out by the Spirit of Adoption They have the Law to convince them but not Grace to renew them it is not being once enlightned that is sufficient unless truly enlightned it is not great Knowledg unless it be sanctified it is not the fair Fruit of Reformation nor Oil in the Lamp of the outward Life and visible Profession of Religion it is not your seeming pious Duties nor legal Convictions that discover you to be a true Christian no nothing short of Union with Christ and Faith that works by Love avails any thing Neither Circumcision nor Uncircumcision but a new Creature 9. Common or Legal Illuminations doubtless flow from a sense of God's Power who is able to punish and reward the Creature according to his Work not that they would be like God but can't alas get out of the Hand of God But true spiritual Enlightnings rise from a sense of God's Holiness by beholding the Excellency of it and seeing a necessity of a Conformity thereunto the Convictions of the one at the best is at a stay they do not grow however they never terminate in Conversion the Effect cannot exceed the Cause they only tend to reform the Life and oft-times such return with the Dog to his Vomit again but the Path of the Just in spiritual Convictions is as a shining Light that shineth more and more to a perfect Day Spiritual Enlightnings lead the Soul to Christ the Spirit in them doth not only convince of Sin but also of Righteousness such see all their old Props and Supports to fail them 't is Christ now and none but Christ the World is nothing to them a Name is of no worth to them Knowledg and Gifts without Grace will not satisfy them they see the Vanity of the Creature and the Fulness of the Mediator Christ is the chiefest of ten thousand to all such Others may see some things Christ hath purchased that may affect them but these see an Excellency in his Person To you that believe he is precious He is an Honour or honourable Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee These have their Eyes opened to see the Nature of God the Holiness of the Law the Weakness of the Creature the Sinfulness of Sin and the Sufficiency of Jesus Christ Others are convinced of many Sins and of some degree of Evil in Sin but these see that Sin is exceeding sinful and that no Sin is so odious as the Sin of Unbelief in which respects common Convictions fail Now considering what Enlightnings Men may have and yet not be savingly enlightned what little reason is there for any to conclude that the Persons in our Text were sanctified holy and true Christians because the Holy Ghost says they were once enlightned They may have or attain unto a great Change but not a true and thorow Change and they may be such who arrive to Light in spiritual Things above thousands nay may be exceed many true Christians in Knowledg Abilities Gifts and in their Lives and Conversations too in some respects and may not doubt of the Goodness of their State nay and may suffer for Religion yea give
the Power to change the Heart is not in the Creature it is God's Work on the Soul 't is he that stamps his own Image upon us and if he withdraws the Influences of his Holy Spirit from Men or refuses to give Grace to them in order to bring them to Repentance and to believe in Christ they must perish Now God will not afford these Persons that so fall away the Assistance of his Spirit in order to the working the great Work of Faith in them therefore it is impossible for them to be renewed He saith not saith one it is impossible they should be saved but that it is impossible they should be renewed unto Repentance these Apostates Salvation is impossible because their Repentance is impossible He that never repenteth can never be saved for he that repenteth not shall not have Remission of Sin and if the Holy Spirit be utterly withdrawn from Men it is impossible they should ever be renewed to Repentance 2. The Persons therefore here intended do not repent cannot repent Repentance is hid from their Eyes they never endeavour after Repentance they are left to hardness of Heart and to final Impenitency by the Lord as a just Judgment for their horrid Evil and cursed Apostacy possibly they may fall under Terror and Despair yet never desire or look after Repentance on God's Terms Brethren it is not impossible for the greatest Sinner in the World to be renewed that hath not sinned against the Holy Ghost or whom God hath not wholly given up to blindness of Mind and to hardness of Heart All manner of Sins and Blasphemy against the Father and the Sun shall be forgiven unto Men but the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto Men. And all Vnrighteousness is Sin and there is a Sin unto Death 3. God leaves these Persons for ever he utterly casts them off And wo unto them saith he when I depart And may say unto them and much more as he said once unto Ephraim Ephraim is joined unto Idols let him alone He commands his Ministers to let them alone and not striâ—e with them reprove not exhort them any more He saith unto Conscience Let them alone check curb reitrain nor rebuke them any more He saith unto his Spirit Let them alone move them or excite them to perform Religious Duties no more strive with them no more for ever No Doctrine no Word no Rod no Affliction or Judgment shall do them good any more for ever This Spiritual Judgment is the worst of all Judgments and so makes it impossible for them ever to be renewed unto Repentance for there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation which shall devour the Adversaries 4. God puts an end unto all expectation concerning them he looks for no more Good from them he exercises no more Care about them no more Labour Pains nor Patience towards them God affords no more Means of Grace for their Conversion Repentance is hid from their Eyes he says Let this Ground lie barren for ever it shall never be plowed sowed nor watered any more for ever He looks for no more Fruit he will not dress it nor dung it any more his Sun shall shine upon it no more nor shall the Rain fall upon it from Heaven any more wo unto such Souls God saith to them as Christ said when he cursed the barren Fig-tree Never Fruit grow on you any more 5. God in Judgment and Wrath gives these up to a reprobate Sense to hardness of Heart to blindness of Mind and to a seared Conscience and they become notoriously Wicked being filled with Rage and Madness full of Envy and Malice against God and against Christ and against all that fear God 6. And usually they are left in severity to their sensual Lusts and become notoriously Wicked and Prophane nay rather worse than the worst of Carnal Persons that never were enlightned at all And so he gave them up to their own Hearts Lusts and they walked in their own Counsel They are left or given up unto Satan to be led acted and influenced by him and are commonly also carried away into pernicious Errors and Delusions even to believe a Lie that so they may be damned because they received not the Truth in the Love of it that they might be saved And many times they become Persecutors of God's People reproaching vilifying and contemning all Religion Quest What a kind of Sin is the Sin against the Holy Ghost And what sort of Persons are they who may sin this Sin Answ 1. I shall shew you first in the Negative what a Sin it is not Namely all Sin or Sins whatsoever that any carnal Person who to this Day abode under the Power of Natural Ignorance and never was inlightned by any Operations of the Spirit commits for such cannot commit the Sin against the Holy Ghost it being positively said That they are such who were once enlightned 2. It is not every Sin which is against Light and Knowledg for no doubt but David and Peter sinned against Knowledg and the Light of their own Consciences and after they had been enlightned yet were recovered and renewed unto Repentance 3. The Sin against the Holy Ghost is not every Sin that is committed against the Holy Ghost for he that grieves the Holy Spirit and that quencheth the Holy Spirit sins against the Holy Spirit nay all wicked Men who sit under the Preaching of the Gospel no doubt sin against the Spirit whilst they resist the Strivings and Motions thereof 4. It is not any hainous and abominable Sin as Whoredom Perjury Murder no not Self-Murder not the murdering of the Saints of God nor putting Christ himself to Death by wicked Hands or the murdering of the Lord of Life and Glory Paul was guilty of the Blood of Stephen and many of the Jews were pardoned who might have a Hand in the barbarous Murder of the Son of God 5. It is not every wilful and presumptuous Sin for multitudes of wicked ignorant Persons so sin daily for whom there is Mercy and Pardon upon Repentance though they have a Whore's Forehead and refuse to be ashamed 6. It is not every degree of Apostacy or Backsliding from God A true Child of God may be guilty of a partial Apostacy for thus Israel sinned and fell from God nay backslid so far as to turn to cursed Idolatry yet God offered them Pardon Return backsliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine Anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord c. 7. Nay I will not say that every malicious Sin against God's People is the Sin against the Holy Ghost when Men hate the Saints for their Religion and Goodness though it be one of the highest Degrees of Wickedness because therein their hatred against God himself is manifested But what may not a Man do that
Spirit without a real Work of Faith and Regeneration Rest on nothing short of Christ neither on Reformation Duties nor inherent Grace for it is dangerous so to do Quest But why is it impossible for these to be renewed unto Repentance Answ 1. It is because the Decree is gone out against them God will not renew them and none else can 2. More directly and immediately it is because the Holy Ghost hath utterly forsaken them and withdrawn all his Operations from them for ever whose work it is alone to renew and work Repentance in the Hearts of Sinners Men cannot repent when the Holy Spirit hath utterly left them no nor have any desire to repent think of this you that magnify the Will of Man O Sinners love the Holy Spirit cherish the Motions thereof and do not grieve him nor resist his Motions and Operations Secondly By way of Consolation to Believers 1. Here is still comfort for you that are the Children of God born of God you cannot sin this Sin you cannot sin unto Death the Seed remains in you you mourn that you cannot repent as you would do your Hearts are tender you need not fear your Condition Do you fear to offend God to grieve the Spirit O that is a blessed Sign Do you love God love his People do you minister as you have ministred to the poor Saints 2. O remember you are in Christ's Hand We are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany Salvation though we thus speak Quest What things are they that accompany Salvation I answer Union with Christ Regeneration Justification Adoption Sanctification inherent Holiness and Perseverance in Grace O see that you endeavour to make your Calling and Election sure by adding to your Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowledg and unto Knowledg Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to Patience Godliness and to Godliness brotherly Kindness and to brotherly Kindness Charity And if you do those things and these things you shall do if you are true Believers you shall never fall For so an Entrance shall be ministred to you abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ To whom with the Father and Holy Ghost be Glory Honour and Praise for ever Amen HYMNS of PRAISE A New Song sing unto the Lord For mighty Wonders done His right Hand and his glorious Arm Hath our Salvation won Let all poor Sinners taste and try That thou O Lord art good Nay let them feed Lord Christ on thee And wash them in thy Blood That they with Saints with one accord May joy with Holy Mirth Before the Great and Glorious Lord And shew his Praises forth Come Sinners come and feed on Christ Before that you do die Come to the Wedding-Dinner come See here 's Variety All Good is in the Lord ye need Let not a Taste suffice But search to find where the Sweetness Of Gospel-Dainties lies Truly enlightned Souls may sing Who special Grace receive True cause of Joy to such does spring Who savingly believe Such Souls shall never fall away But ever happy be Such shall be fed with Christ's own Lambs And sing eternally BReak forth and sing now all ye Saints Lift up God's Name on high In sacred Songs to celebrate His Praise continually Exalt the living God above Your standing is most sure Thy Mercy Lord and tender Love Will keep our Souls secure When we do fall Lord we shall rise By thy own Blessed Hand Thou set'st our Feet upon a Rock Where we most safely stand With Saints of old we 'l sing therefore And say Spring up O Well And send thy Waters forth for to Refresh thy Israel The Pleasures of the World to come Let 's taste of every Day And long when Jesus on the Throne Shall the bless'd Scepter sway What shall we hear what shall we see When raptured in Bliss When we with Blessed Jesus be What Happiness like this We therefore sing the Lamb's sweet Song And Him we will adore The Day is near when Saints shall be With him for ever more The Great Salvation OR The Salvation of the Gospel Great and Glorious Delivered in several SERMONS By BENJ. KEACH HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by them that heard him IN the precedent Chapter the Apostle sets forth the Excellency Glory and Dignity of the Person of Jesus Christ 1. Above Moses and the Prophets ver 1 2 3. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets Ver. 2. Hath in these last Days spoken to us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all Things Ver. 3. Who being the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power when he had by himself purged our Sins sate down on the right Hand of the Majesty on High 2. Above the Holy Angels ver 4. Being made so much better than the Angels as he hath by Inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they Christ doth not only surpass Moses and the Prophets but also all the Angels of God 1. In respect of his being God of the Substance of the Father and the express Image of his Person the Essential Glory of God shining forth in him 2. In that he as God created and also doth uphold the World and all things in it by the Word of his Power 3. In that he hath obtained a more excellent Name than they verse 4. 4. In that Angels are required to worship him ver 5 6. 5. In that Angels are but his Servants ver 7 14. 6. In respect of his Scepter and Kingdom ver 8. 7. In respect of his glorious Exaltations at the Father's right Hand ver 13. The Apostle having laid down these things so fully and clearly to illustrate and confirm the great Doctrine of the Gospel he in the beginning of this second Chapter proceeds to make the necessary Improvement of it Therefore we ought to give the more earnest Heed to the Things which we have heard lest at any Time we let them slip ver 1. For if the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast c. and from hence he brings the Words in our Text How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation c. The Words contain an Interrogation which doth imply a strong and most vehement Negation How shall we escape if we c. That is we cannot escape or it is impossible we or any Persons whatsoever should escape if we or they neglect so great Salvation Escape what That is implied here which is not expressed namely the Wrath of God How shall we escape the dreadful Judgment and Indignation of God or Eternal Damnation in Hell if we neglect or slight despise or reject the Means of this Salvation He confirms what he asserts or aggravates
Wrath it is inconceivable Wrath as God's Love and Goodness is inconceivable infinite incomprehensible which all that love him shall partake of to Eternity so on the other hand his Wrath and vindictive Vengeance is unexpressible nay inconceivable which will be let out upon the Ungodly Who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power Mark it from the Glory of his Power from the Greatness of God's Power exalted Power O it appears to be amazing Wrath were this considered well and laid to Heart 4. It will be unmixt Wrath or Wrath without Mixture the Wrath of God that is let out here in this World is full of Mixture nay that which hath been let out upon the Spirits and Consciences of Men hath had some mixture in it some Ease mixt with Anguish some mitigation of Pain and Horror some Mercy mixt with Misery but in Hell the Wrath of God is unmixed Wrath it is all pure Wrath nothing but Wrath. The same shall drink of the Wine of God's Wrath which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone c. 5. It is fierce Wrath it is called the fierce Wrath of the Lord a Metaphor taken from a fierce and amazing devouring Fire Sinners are commanded to seek the Lord before the Decree bring forth before the Day pass as the Chaff before the fierce Anger of the Lord come upon them I he Heat of Anger inraged Anger and Fury Behold the Day of the Lord cometh cruel both with Wrath and fierce Anger 6. It is irresistable Wrath no withstanding it no making Head against it Wrath breaks forth against the Sinner like a Giant or mighty Army that none can resist nor stand before Who can stand before his Indignation and who can abide the fierceness of his Anger his Fury is poured out like Fire c. 7. It is just and deserved VVrath Wrath that is due to such who slight and neglect so great Salvation it is the Wages of Sin of such Sin it is their just Due and Desert as Wages are due to a Servant Every one says With-hold not from the Hireling his Wages A Servant when he hath done his Work must be paid his Wages it is right and just that he should have it so it is Right and Justice in God thus to reward all those who abuse his Mercy and neglect his Salvation so great Salvation God will proportionate every Man's Reward according to the nature and degree of his Sin 8. It is heavy Wrath David complained of the Heaviness of his Sin Alas it was no doubt as Mr. Caryl notes from the Apprehension of the Anger and Wrath of God Mine Iniquities are gone over my Head as a heavy Burden they are too heavy for me I have offended thee I fear thy Displeasure my Sin deserves thy Wrath but tho there are Mountains of Iniquity upon unconverted Sinners they feel no Weight they make light of it they sport at it but when Wrath comes once to be laid upon them they will feel how heavy that is who can bear this Burden or stand under this Weight When Wrath was laid upon our Blessed Saviour how heavy did he find it it made him sweat great drops of Blood it almost crushed him down unto the Earth one Sin is heavy and if God lay the Weight I mean the Guilt of it upon the Soul it will crush it down to Hell O then what a Weight will that be which will lie upon Sinners when the Burden or Weight of all their Sins are laid upon them and none to take that Weight off of them for ever how low will it sink them 9. It is eternal Wrath everlasting Wrath Wrath that will never cease They shall be punished with everlasting Destruction He shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of his holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb and the Sincke of their Torment ascendeth up for ever and ever O what a wosul Condition will all those be in that God lets out such Wrath upon How lamentable is and will be their State who neglect this so great Salvation Can you think of these things you that slight the Offers of God's Grace in Jesus Christ and not tremble APPLICATION 1. O what a Mercy have they obtained that are delivered from such Wrath such heavy Wrath As no Man is able to bear the Wrath of God so no Man is able to get away from it when it hath took hold of him he cannot escape from that which he cannot endure Alas the Devils themselves shall be tormented with all Unbelievers and they cannot escape with all their Powers of Darkness and indeed this will add to the Torment of the Wicked I mean to be yoked in Hell-Torments with such Companions to be forced to abide for ever with Devils who perhaps will add then to their Misery and aggravate their 〈◊〉 by upbraiding them with their Folly in believing him who was 〈◊〉 Father of Lies and to contemn so great Salvation for the sake oâ— very Vanity for the love to Sin or love to the transitory Pleasures and Riches of this evil World 2. We may also from hence see cause to admire the Love of Jesus Christ who bore the Wrath of God for us Certainly had not he had the Power of the Deity to uphold him he could not have born that Wrath that was so heavy upon him O love and honour this blessed Saviour who hath saved you that believe from such Wrath His Blood hath quenched this flaming Fire so that you shall never feel what the Wrath of God is Brethren remember we could not be delivered from the Wrath of God unless Jesus Christ did bear it in our stead even Jesus who delivered us from Wrath to come our Jonas was thrown into the Sea of Wrath to save us from sinking down to the bottom of eternal Wrath. 3. And may not this stir you up that are ungodly Persons to flee from Wrath to come Why do you stand making a Pause as it were O haste to Jesus Christ come to him for that is the way and the only way as you have heard to be delivered from Wrath. You know not how near you are to fall under the Wrath of God and then it will be too late God gives you space to repent and to take hold of his Salvation you will Sinners have no Excuse no Plea in the great Day if you neglect the Day of your Visiâ—ation and slight the Offers of God's Infinite Grace and Favour Can you bear the Wrath of God Are you willing to try how heavy it is We read of an eternal Weight of Glory that will be a good Weight not a burdensome Weight not an oppressing Weight it is called a Weight of Glory because of the Greatness of it the Excellency of it But know as there
177 to 298 Objections for final falling answered 298 to 312 Fan. What is Christ's Fan shewed in six Particulars from p. 9 to 17 Father God the Father the Contriver of our Redemption 377 The Father could only appoint the Terms or Way of our Recovery 378 The Father substituted and appointed Christ to be our Saviour and Surety 378 The Father prepared Christ a Body and sent him into the World The Father chose us in Christ the Father draws us to Christ 378 379 Fire Why God's Wrath is compared to Fire shewed in eight things 31 32 33 Grace compared to Fire 288 Floor What is Christ's Floor shewed 3 4 5 6 1. Jewish Church 2. National Churches 3. Congregational Churches Follow How Christ's Sheep follow him opened in eight Particulars 115 116 117 Food The Nature of Spiritual Food opened in seven Particulars 137 Full. Gospel-Salvation a full and compleat Salvation opened at large 421 to 429 G. Garner What meant by Christ's Garner viz. 1. His Church 29 2. Heaven 30 Chaff as well as Wheat in Christ's Garner below but none in his Garner above 30 Ghost Sin against the Holy Ghost what 360 361 362 363. How false Professors may be said to partake of the Holy Ghost 334 Good The Word of God Good in what respect 335 336. Grace Vocation of God's Free Grace 151 Faith is a Grace and of God's pure Grace and Favour 151 Repentance a Grace 151 Why Eternal Life is meerly of Grace shewed in five Particulars 154 155 The Father sent Christ to merit Grace for us the Son purchased Grace for us and the Holy Spirit works Grace in us 382 383 Grace works physically 448 The Spring Author and Excellency of Grace as 't is a Divine Principle in Believers opened 286 287 288 289 Gross Acts of Sin may be left by unrenewed Persons 448. H. Habits To change the evil Habits of the Heart is the Work of the Spirit of God only not in Man's Power 448 Hand What meant by the Father's Hand 249 250 251. What meant by Christ's Hand 273 to 280 In what sense Christ's Sheep may be said to be in his Hand 280 to 284 The happy State of Believers by being put into Christ's Hand 276 278 280 281 Heaps Many Heaps of prophane Persons in the National Floor 4 5 6 Hell Torments direful opened in many respects 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 c. Hypocrites How Hypocrites may be known or the Chaff from the Wheat 18 to 25. I. Importance The Salvation of our Souls matter of chiefest Importance we have to mind whilst in this World 441 442 443 Intercession The Nature and Power of Christ's Intercession opened 293 294 Interests All Interests concerned about our Salvation are secured in Christ how 275 Judgment Eternal Judgment an Essential of the Christian Religion 86 Justification Justification how or what 95 96 Justification wholly of Grace 151 The Nature of Justification opened 414 415 Justification compleat 416 Christ's Righteousness being the Matter of it 415. Justification not a gradual Act as Sanctification is in us those that are justified are perfectly justified and for ever justified 263 415. K. Kingdom What meant by Christ's delivering up the Kingdom to the Father 345 Kingdom of Christ very near 353 Kingdom of Christ when it begins 345 It will be glorious 344. Knowledg The Knowledg Christ hath of his Sheep largely opened 98 to 107 Non-proficiency in Knowledg very dangerous 321 Some People perish for lack of Knowledg 445 L. Lake Hell a Lake of Fire 55 Law The Law must be satisfied for our Breach made of it Pag. 152 The Gospel justifies not as a mild Law of Grace requiring sincere Obedience according to the new Doctrine 153 Perfection of Obedience as well required under the Gospel as under the Law tho not of us in point of Justification 152 153 154 Moral Law not abrogated 153 154 Why Christ was made under the Law 238 239. Life Eternal Life A threefold Life of Man 143 What meant by Eternal Life 143 144 How and why Eternal Life is meerly of God's Grace 147 148 149 150 153 154 Why Christ will give Eternal Life to his Sheep 155 156 How Christ is said to be our Life 264 Believers have Eternal Life now how 144 Love The Love of the Father what 184 It secures the standing of Believers in a State of Grace 185 186 c. Love of Christ an early a wonderful a conjugal an attracting and an inconceivable Love it passeth Knowledg 195 196 197 Christ's Love secures our standing also 198 Love to the poor Saints and relieving them for Christ's sake a better sign of true Grace than the greatest of spiritual Gifts 323. M. Mark What the Mark is on the Forehead and right Hand 119. Means The Means of Salvation as well as the End is ordained of God 300. Memory A strong Memory but a natural Gift 38. Mercy God's Mercy manifested in its greatest Glory in Christ 372 Had not God vouchsafed a Redeemer Divine Mercy had never been manifested 372 Divine Mercy will rise up against such that neglect the Gospel-Salvation 468. Ministers Christ the great Minister of the New Testament 429 Ministers Office a high and sublime Office 431 Ministers Christ's Ambassadors 431 Ministers to be careful lest Chaff be let into the Church which is Christ's Garner 30. Murder Self Murder not an unpardonable Sin 51 361. N. Name Names Christ a Name above every Name what 380 What Names Christ hath 380 Christ's Name according to his Nature Nation National The National Sins what great odious and hateful to God 4 5 6 National Church of the Jews dissolved and gone 4 33 No National Church under the Gospel 33 34. O. Office The Office of the Holy Spirit what 461 Such that neglect Gospel-Salvation strive to obstruct the Holy Spirit in the discharge of his Work and Office 461 462. Old The Old Heaven and Old Earth shall pass away to make way for the New 345 Orphan Believers are in Christ's Hand as an Orphan is in the Hand of a faithful Guardian 283. P. Pardon Pardon of Sin what 413 Pardon of Sin a great Blessing opened in six Particulars 413 Passions All the Passions of the Soul let out in Hell will add to their Misery 58 59 60. Pastures What the Pastures are where Christ feeds his Sheep 130 131 132 134. Peace a Gospel-Blessing it passeth all understanding 418. Perseverance Final Perseverance of the Saints proved 177 to 297 Objections against the Saints Final Perseverance answered 297 to 310. Personal Election what Personal Election proved 170 172 173. Portion God the Portion of Believers What a Portion God is opened in eleven Particulars Pag. 427 428. Prayer The Nature of pure spiritual Prayer 134 135. Prayer one of Christ's Pastures 134. Principle From what Principle true Christians act towards God 324 Grace a Vital Principle 288 Grace an abiding Principle 289 to 296. Promises Promises of God a fat Pasture for Christ's Sheep 135. Providences The profit
Absurdities attending the Doctrine of the final Apostacy of true Believers opened in twelve Particulars 313. The Application 315 to 318 Third Text Heb. 6. 4 5 6. 1. This Scripture mistaken by the antient Fathers 319 2. The Text opened with the Connection of what precedes and succeeds Doct. 1. The severest Doctrine useful to Professors that are slothful or dull of hearing 321 2. What those Persons Attainments were and what not 322 323 They were not true Believers 323 324 Doct. 2. It is a high Privilege for Men to be enlightened with the Knowledg of the Gospel 3. What common and saving Illuminations of the Spirit are and how they differ 325 to 331 Second Sermon What is meant by the Heavenly Gift 332 What by tasting the Heavenly Gift 333 334 How said to partake of the Holy Ghost 334 And tasted of the good Word of God 335 1. What is meant by the Word of God 335 2. Why called the good Word of God shewed in eight Particulars 336 What a kind of Taste an unsound Christian may have of the Word of God 337 338 What a kind of Taste Believers have of God's Word pag. 340 341 What is meant by the World to come 343 The Nature of the World to come 346 The Riches Honour Joy and Pleasures of the World to come 349 350 351 352 Third Sermon What meant by the Powers of the World to come 354 What a kind of Taste the Persons in the Text were said to have of the Powers of the World to come shewed in six Particlars 355 356 357 358 What is spoken concerning those Persons viz. They may fall away How it is impossible to renew such unto Repentance how not impossible 359 360 Why it is impossible c. 360 What the Sin against the Holy Ghost is 361 362 363 The Application 364 The fourth and last Text Heb. 2. 3. 1. The scope of the Text opened 368 2. The Terms and Parts explained 369 Doct. 1. That the Salvation of the Gospel is great and glorious Doct. 2. That the Means of this Salvation may be neglected Doct. 3. That such who neglect this Salvation cannot escape 369 Doct. 1. Two things proposed to be done 1. To prove the Proposition That Gospel-Salvation is great c. 2. To improve it by way of Application Arg. 1. Salvation great comparatively 369 370 Arg. 2. Salvation great positively Great and glorious in respect of the time when found out and promised 370 371 Arg. 3. Great in respect of that great Counsel held in Eternity between the Father and Son about it 371 Arg. 4. Great in respect of the Design of God therein which is threefold 1. His own Glory 2. The Ruin of Satan and his Kingdom 3. The Eternal Happiness of Man or of all that believe Arg. 5. Great considering how low Man was fallen and the seasonableness of it Second Sermon Arg. 6. Salvation is great considering the Persons that brought it about or do 〈◊〉 it viz. the Father the Son and the Holy 〈…〉 What part of Gospel-Salvation may 〈…〉 rectly attributed to God the Father 〈…〉 seven Particulars 〈…〉 79 What part Christ hath in it pag. 379 380 Christ a great and Almighty Saviour shewed in many Particulars 381 382 What part the Holy Ghost hath in working out our Salvation 382 383 Third Sermon Arg. 7. Gospel-Salvation great considering what we are delivered from 1. Sin that hath corrupted our Nature 2. From that which is destructive to our Nature which is Punishment both here and hereafter 1. The Evil of Sin opened in six Partic. 391 392 2. The nature of that Punishment we are delivered from 393 394 395 Arg. 8. Gospel-Salvation great considering what Christ hath done and suffered to effect it opened in five Particulars 397 398 399 Fourth Sermon Arg. 9. Salvation great considering the Subjects redeemed 1. The Soul of Man 2. The Body 400 The Soul of Man exceeding precious proved by eleven Arguments 401 402 403 404 405 The Soul Immortal proved by seven Arguments 406 407. The Application 408 409 Ministers and Parents have a great Charge committed to them the Charge of Souls 410 411 False Teachers much to answer for that deceive Souls Fifth Sermon Arg. 10. Gospel-Salvation great considering what Believers are thereby raised up unto or the Privileges invested with shewed in many Particulars 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 The Application Object I cannot rise to a full Perswasion that Christ is mine answered Such a full Perswasion appertaining not to the Being of true justifying Faith but is a high degree of it 420 Sixth Sermon Arg. 11. Gospel-Salvation great and glorious because a full compleat comprehensive Salvation 421. It hath all things in it that either Sinners or Saints do need proved at large 422 to 428 Seventh Sermon Arg. 12. Salvation great in respect of Christ himself the first and great Minister thereof 429 When Christ first began to preach this Salvation 431 Arg. 13. Gospel-Salvation great considering its wonderful Confirmation pag. 432 433 Arg. 14. Gospel-Salvation great because the holy Angels pry into it and are amaz'd at it 433 434 Arg. 15. Salvation great because so free a Salvation 434 435 Arg. 16. Salvation great because 't is eternal 435 Eighth Sermon Doct. 2. opened Gospel-Salvation may be neglected Four things proposed 436 1. What meant by neglecting it 436 2. Who may be said to neglect this Salvation opened in eighteen Particulars 436 to 443 Ninth Sermon 3. From whence it is Men neglect this Salvation largely opened 443 444 445 446 447 The Application 451 452 Tenth Sermon 4. The great Evil and Sin of 〈…〉 of the Gospel opened 453 1. In respect of God the Father 453 2. In respect had to Christ 457 458 459 3. In respect had 〈…〉 holy Spirit 461 462 Eleventh Sermon What a great Sin it is to neglect Gospel-Salvation opened in respect of the Sinner himself 464 c. Twelfth Sermon 1. What those cannot escape that neglect Gospel-Salvation 471 1. Not escape the Curse of the Law 471 472 2. The Guilt and Punishment of Sin 3. The Wrath of God 4. The Damnation of Hell 2. The Cause and Reasons why they cannot escape shewed in nine Particulars 475 Thirteenth Sermon 1. When or at what time they shall not escape shewed in four respects 477 2. The nature of that Wrath shewed in nine Particulars which they cannot escape 480 481 482 Fourteenth Sermon 1. Why the Gospel is attended with such Threats 483 484 485 486 2. What Sinners shall not escape 487 488 Fifteenth Sermon 1. What is not a Legal Doctrine 489 490 2. What is a Legal Doctrine 490 491. A TRUMPET Blown in ZION OR AN ALLARM IN God's Holy Mountain CONTAINING An Exposition of that Metaphorical Scripture MATTH III. 12. Lately delivered in Two Sermons and now Published to awaken the Drowsie and Formal Professors of this Age. Wherein the Nature of God's Wrath both Internal and Eternal is discovered as seizing upon the Chaff and Burning of it up
either a Talkative or else full of vain Boasts magnifying and admiring himself and lessning the worth and worthiness of others His vain and light Tongue discovers a vain carnal proud and empty heart some unprofitable matter in discourse or another you shall observe these people will be full of May be talk and prate of this Man or that Woman to pick up one thing or another to their reproach who are gracious persons and instead of discoursing of a Sermon they have heard or telling their Experiences may be they will tell you what Garbs Cloaths and Dresses such and such People had on or else they talk of their earthly and worldly Affairs or some Idle Jests Stories or foolish Talk but little of God besure is in their mouths when they are out of the sight and hearing of sober and pious Christians Indeed as our Saviour intimates how can they being evil speak of good things there is much vanity in their unsanctified Hearts and their Tongues discover it For out of the abundance of the Heart the mouth speaketh a good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of Judgment For by thy word thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned God will not only condemn men for evil actions but their evil words also shall rise up against them at the great day And as the gracious words which proceed from a sanctified and renewed Christian tends to his Justification especially when the main design and purport of his Speech tends to exalt and magnifie God and his Free-Grace in Jesus Christ so the evil words of the unsanctified Christian tends to his Condemnation and declares him to be but meer chaff or a hypocritical person but if idle Jesting and foolish Talking is the Character of a vain man what is a detracting and back-biting Tongue a Tongue that is set on fire by hell who vilifie and render odious such who truly fear God that are not guilty of those foul things laid to their charge such persons are not like to ascend Gods holy hill nor abide in his Tabernacle viz. That taketh up false and wicked slanders and reports against his Neighbour to lessen his reputation among Men And 't is with the greater aggravation when it is done out of Envy Prejudice or Malice and 't is further aggravated when 't is done to a Minister of the Gospel on purpose to obstruct or hinder unthinking Christians to adhere unto his Doctrine or receive that truth which they see not but set themselves to oppose and gainsay who do not only in an undue manner spread such Reproaches but also raise them It is a great evil to divulge or propagate a fault committed by a Brother by making it publick when it was private they breaking thereby the express Precept of Jesus Christ Mat. 18. But it is far worse to publish false and groundless Slanders and Accusations of him or others And t is an abominable evil in such who are ready to entertain and easily to believe and greedily receive such Reports of him who deserveth it not Such men are by the Lord called vile persons Psa 5. 4. and are contemned by such that fear the Lord howsoever great and honourable they seem to be Moreover if it be so great an evil for men thus to use their Tongues or Pens to speak evil of and to blaspheme innocent men what is the Nature of their Crimes who curse and swear and blaspheme the sacred Name of God and the holy Jesus like as the Pharisees did who said this fellow doth not cast out Devils but by Belzebub the Prince of Devils ascribing that to the Devil that was proper to God alone and wrought by his almighty Power Christians if you would not be found chaff at the great day take heed of a reviling Tongue least you deceive your selves and all your Religion and Profession be vain He either decieveth his own heart saith our Annatotors in thinking himself religious when indulging himself in things contrary to Religion or else deceiveth his own heart being blinded with self love and lifted up with self-conceit which is the cause of his Railing Censuring and speaking evil of others Their Religion is vain empty and to no purpose having no reality in it self and bringeth no Benefit to them O what a Reproach doth the talkative and prating person bring on the Name of God This Man this Woman say they is a Member of such or such a Church and see what vain talk frothy words and frivolous Discourse proceeds from their Lips But much more evil is in such who back-bite revile and defame others as was hinted before This I say may discover such to be but chaff 2. They appear to be Chaff not only by their light vain idle and back-biting Tongues but also by their light Behaviour for the lightness of the heart is as much discovered by a loose and airy Deportment as by loose and vain words their wanton Looks and rowling Eyes or other unseemly and uncomely carriage shews in part what they are they being not of a grave sober and serious spirit but behave themselves as if they had no sense of the Omnisciency of God upon their hearts nor of his holiness not setting the Lord always before them gives cause to all to fear they are but chaff 3. Their light empty and airy Attire Dresses and antick Fashions which they wear and take delight in doubtless too much discovers the Lightness Vanity and Emptiness of their Spirits I am perswaded these high and shameless Head-dresses which some Women appear in that come into Christian Assemblies are but as Tell-tales of the Vanity Pride Emptiness and Haughtiness of their hearts who but they that sell Wine will put forth a Bush I cannot see how a sober serious Christian Woman should be satisfied to wear such Antick Dresses Their Souls sure must needs blush at the Thoughts of them when they consider whose Eyes behold them First Many gracious Men and Women with no little trouble And in the second place their faithful Ministers to the wounding and grieving their Souls Thirdly And a multitude of loose and ungodly People who reproach and laugh at them and cast contempt upon Religion on that account Fourthly And which is more the holy Angels they come into our Assemblies and observe all both Males and Females how they do adorn their Profession and behave themselves Women should cover their heads because of the Angels they ought to be in subjection and therefore before all things their head ought not to be exalted but to lye low and be modestly attired no doubt t is a palpable Breach of the holy Precept for 't is not a modest dress becoming Women
professing Godliness tho' I dare not say but some sincere Christians may be overtaken with this Evil as well as others yet I hope God will soon convince them of the odiousness of it Yet no doubt it doth clearly discover that some of this sort are loose and vain persons and but meer chaff in Gods sight which the day that is coming will burn up And such especially have cause to suspect themselves who pride it in their own hearts and take delight in those hateful and abominable fashions and cannot bear to be told of it tho' in never so wise and discreet manner nor will they be brought by any perswasions to reform and leave them off tho' it wounds the very Souls of many of them they have Communion with Fifthly O that they that fear God would consider that he beholds them and looks upon them whose eyes are like unto a flame of Fire These Dresses O ye Daughters of Zion know assuredly none but foolish and vain persons do like and approve of even none but the Devil and his Followers is it not sad in such a day of distress sorrow and humiliation when Gods Hand is lifted up upon the Nation and thousands of poor Families want Bread that Christians should thus walk and consume their Substance on their Pride and costly Lust 4. They appear to be but chaff who seem to make it a small matter to grieve the Hearts of sincere Christians what care they who they wound and afflict they 'll have their Fancies their Humours tho' the thing in it self may be doubtful whether a breach of Gods Law or not and so like eating of Meats that was a thing indifferent in it self and might or might not be done Nay that make light of grieving the Holy Spirit in themselves and in others also let the Lord be grieved his Spirit grieved his poor Ministers grieved and his faithful Children grieved they regard it not but set light by it These may also be suspected i. e. that are indifferent in and about Closet and Family-Prayer and other weighty Duties of Religion or are loose and formal in it This shews they bear no weight they are not ponderous but light as Chaff Moreover such may be suspected who set light by Hearing the Word of God alas to go to hear a Sermon is a light thing with some if there be any worldly Loss attending it tho' it be not to the Value of a Groat they can't go or if the Weather be not very good they plead Excuse as not being able to go so far tho' may be the next day in worse Weather they can go about their earthly Business twice as far Likewise such who for every small matter refrain from coming to the Lords Table may be any trivial offence shall hinder them they are offended with this Person and that Person and so cast a slight upon Christ and on his Sacred Ordinance and thus persist from time to time They can go to Church or stay at home Can pray and hear and can forbear Religion is a light and indifferent thing with them This shews such are under fearful Temptations or else loose and light Professors in the sight of God 5. Such are Chaff that only have the husk or shell of Christianity Chaff is the husks of Wheat many Professors please themselves with the external part of Religion having a form of Godliness but are Strangers to the Life and Power thereof Like the foolish Virgins they have Lamps but no Oyl a Name but want the Nature of true Believers can talk and discourse of Religion of the Covenant of Grace and excellency of Christ they may have I grant clear Notions in their heads of the Mysteries of the Gospel and defend it too against opposers yet their Hearts are unsanctified and never felt nor experienced the work of Faith with Power they have the out-side of a true Christian the Shell of the Wheat but if tried and searched there 's nothing but Chaff no Kernil in them they want the root of the Water All true Believers have past through the Pangs of the New Birth they found they were once Dead but are now alive once blind but now they see once lost in their own Eyes but now found once Carnal but now Spiritual once had their affection set on things below but now on things above Sin was once Sweet and Pleasant to them but now 't is bitter and Loathsom in their Eyes because they see it is so in the sight of God Their Judgments are informed their Understandings savingly enlightned Christ and heavenly things are valued and esteemed above all things here below yea above ten thousand Worlds by them and their understandings are not only brought to assent to the truth of Christ to the Glory and Beauty of Christ but their wills also are subjected to him they are brought to consent and yield themselves to the Lord they believe and love believe and obey believe and suffer reproach taking up the Cross putting on the yoke of Christ their affections are so changed and under divine Influences that what they loved once they hate and what they once hated or liked not they dearly love and approve of now But thus it is not with Chaffy Professors They may be changed from open Prophanness to an outward Reformation of life but their Hearts are not changed Sin is not Crucified in them self is not subdued that enmity that was naturally in their hearts or dislike of the Life and Power of strict Godliness is not removed they act only from common Illuminations of the Spirit and so they put a force upon themselves when found in religious Duties and find not a natural Inclination and sweet Propensity in their hearts to heavenly things and this shews they are no more then Chaff 6. And lastly Chaff I told you was Light and every breath of wind will move it this way and that way and if it rises high it will may be blow it quite away there being no Kernel in it whereas the Wheat abides So Chaffy and vain Professors are startled at every small blast of Persecution and presently begin to move out of their place and shun assembling themselves with Gods People Nay every wind of corrupt Doctrine is ready to blow some of this sort a way they are unsettled Persons they want weight or are not rooted in the Truth wanting a good Understanding and a Principle of saving Grace in their Hearts Be not carried away with divers and strange Doctrines for it is good to have the heart established with Grace and not with Meats This sort are soon corrupted from the Simplicity of the Gospel by the Cunning Crastiness of Men being ready to receive any strange Notion or close in with a New Scheem of Religion some turning to Judaism and add Moses to Christ or joyn to the Gospel their own Works they are commonly corrupt either in Principles or Practices or in both making a stir about the
Mint Annis and Commin i. e. about the smaller matters of Religion as concerning Meats and Observation of Days as if in such things lay the great stress of Christianity how many are there who like those false Teachers and deluded People in the Primitive Times plead for Justification some other way than by Faith only and bring in their own inherent Holiness and sincere Obedience and add that to the Merits of Christ in point of Justification before God or exalt the Power and Will of the Creature to the Eclipsing the Doctrine of Free-Grace Sirs tho' I will not deny but many sincere Christians may be shaken by the wind of false and corrupt Doctrine or drawn away through the subtilty of men yet no doubt chiefly they are the Light Formal and Chaffy Professors which are carried away and Tossed too and fro with every wind of Doctrine and this because of the want of Grace a sound Judgment and a good Understanding in the Mysteries of the Gospel A good understanding saith David have all they that do his Commandments Moreover such who seem unsetled in their places in Gods House or particular Churches where they are Members being uneasie and every little difference that may arise in a Congregation is ready to turn them away or seem to be moved and disturbed at the Charges the Interest of Christ or which the House of God calls for these I say give cause to fear they are but Chaff or under great Temptation if Sincere Secondly By Chaff may also be meant Sin Filth and Corruption which cleaveth to the Hearts and Lives of true believers which Christ by the Fan of his Word Spirit and Afflictions as you have heard purges out He shall purify the Sons of Levi and purge them as Gold and Silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness This is spoken of Jesus Christ whose Fan is in his hand It shews his Work and Office namely to refine and fan his People not only Members but Ministers also signified by the Sons of Levi that they all may offer acceptable Service unto God Besides our Lord Jesus sometimes makes use of wicked Men as a Fan in his hand to purge his People and thus he did of old fan Israel by the Babylonians and by the Assyrians I will send unto Babylon Fanners as I have sometime fanned and scattered my people by them so will I fan them by the Medes and Persians who shall empty the Land of them After Christ hath fanned or purged away the Chaff and Filth of the Daughter of Zion he will fan their Enemies and they being all Chaff the wind of his Indignation will drive them away Let this be noted that Christ hath many ways to fan and purge his People yet still it is for their good and they shall lose nothing but their chaff their Sin and Corruptions thereby Quest Fourthly Why are the Saints compared to Wheat Answ I answer for many Reasons 1. Wheat is a choice Grain the best Grain so true Believers are a choice People in Christ's sight The righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour they are called the excellent in all the Earth God calls his People his Jewels or choice Treasure they are men of a high and heavenly Birth of a high sublime and excellent Spirit they are espoused by an excellent person act and are influenced by excellent principles and have glorious Ends and Aims in all they do and from hence may be compared to Wheat 2. Wheat hath much pains used with it the ground must be made good it must be well plow'd and manured before the Wheat is sown so the hearts of poor sinners must be first made good and by spirituall Convictions be plowed up before the seed of Grace is sown for like as Believers are compared to Wheat so is also the Grace of God Wheat must be weeded as well as gathered into the Barn and also Threshed fanned and well Purged Believers may be compared to Wheat upon this respect Christ takes much pains to speak after the manner of men with his own Elect not only by Plowing Manuring but by sowing watering weeding fanning and Purging them like Wheat 3. Wheat will endure cold Frosts and Snow and all manner of bitter and sharp Weather better than any other Grain Sow Barly before Winter and you will find but little of it will live but Wheat will live in the sharpest Winter that can come what a good Harvest had we here in England after the last great Frost alas the Wheat was not destroyed thereby but was made better the Weeds and Worms being killed which is found to hurt and annoy it oft-times Even so sincere Christians who are Christs Spiritual Wheat abide faithful under the greatest Trials Persecutions and Afflictions they can meet withal they endure the Frosts and bitter North-Winds of Tribulation and furious Storms of the Wrath of wicked men which kills the false-hearted Professor they die and wither away they can't live and maintain their seeming hope and Confidence when true Believers can a Hypocrite is but Summer Corn or rather Weeds or Tares that spring up with the Wheat tho' they look like it yet are only the product of Natural Conscience or the common Influences of the Sun or Gospel of Jesus Christ 4. An Ear of Wheat when it is near ripe doth hang down its head the Corn being full and weighty when light and empty Ears hold up theirs commonly a light and chaffy Ear stands strait upright in a lofty manner So a true gracious Christian is of an humble Spirit he hangs down his head as it were and is ashamed of his best Duties and Services seeing so great weaknesses and Infirmities to attend him he abhors himself yea loaths himself he knows he hath nothing to glory in but in the Cross of Jesus Christ he sees himself nothing Vnto me who am less than the least of all Saints is this Grace given saith Paul what an humble Person was he what a full and weighty Ear of choice Wheat was this Apostle If you see a Man or Woman proud or of an haughty and conceited Spirit being lifted up you may conclude they are but empty Ears no true Grace being in their hearts 5. Wheat hath its Chaff cleaving oft-times close to it yea it will stick and cleave so to it that it is not easily separated So it is with Christs Spiritual Wheat the filth or Chaff of internal Corruption is very subject to cleave to them and hard it is for them to get rid of it When I would do good Sin is present with me for the good I would I do not but the evil which I would not do that do I. Oh! wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of Death I am as if he should say even wearied with continual Combating I cannot get rid of this dead Body this inward Filth and Corruption the remainders of Sin
heed for your Souls sake that you rest not upon a bare Profession or on a name of Christians This may inform us also that Christ hath a gracious end in bringing Persecutions and Trials on his People it shews us why he uses the Fan of severe Providences Judgments and Afflictions It is you have heard to purge to purifie them and to separate the Chaff from them O do not then think it strange concerning fiery trials as if some strange thing had befallen you Exhort Let me exhort you to see to it in time that you are not deceived and so prove Chaff and Vain Persons empty and foolish Virgins at last Motives 1. O how far may men go and yet be but almost Christians Remember this 2. Many when Christ comes shall have great Confidence and go forth to meet him and yet be found foolish ones Some deceive their own Hearts and others have Hearts that deceive them by trusting in them and never examine how matters are between God and their own Souls 3. Men may Preach and Prophesie yea speak as if they had the Tongue of Men and Angels and Cast out Devils in Christs Name and yet be nothing they may Preach no doubt to the Conversion of others and yet may not be Converted themselves 4. Wheat is commonly weighed to know the goodness of it so God weighs Men he weighs the Actions of Men Thou art weighed in the ballance and art found wanting Weighed in a Ballance alluding to the weighing of Gold or Goods exactly in Scales God tries Men and Women that all may know he will proceed Justly and Righteously with them he weighs them in the ballance of the sanctuary or trys them by the Touch-stone of his Word and if found full weight or pure Gold then he declares that they are his and he owns them as his People as his Wheat but if too light or not hold weight but are greatly wanting there being no worth in them but are Dross Chaff light and empty Persons unfound and unsanctified ones then he rejects them as none of his but are as reprobate Silver false Coin People of no value with him As he weighs Men so he weighs their Works their Graces their Gifts their Duties to see whether they hold weight whether true and righteous or not whether the Grace be true Grace special Grace not common Grace and their Gifts not Counterfeit Gifts or meer Natural Gifts or only humane and acquired Gifts Some boast of false Gifts which as Solomon tells us is like Clouds and Wind without rain What a stir doth a vain Person make of a strong Memory crying it up as if it was a Spiritual Gift and as if none were true Ministers but such who have a great Memory and can deliver all they have got by their Study by the strength of their Memory alas all men of any sense know that is but a Natural Gift which some wicked men have as well as some good men but let him know God knows what mens Hearts are what their Ends and Designs are what their Gifts are and what their Duties are as well as what the matter of their Worship is which they perform to God that is whether it hath his Image stampt upon it or is of his Authority his own Appointment his own Institution or but Humane Inventions he also weighs the manner how they perform all Divine Worship towards him from what Principle Life Power End and Design whether 't is from a changed Heart from unfeigned Faith and Love to Christ in sincerity with Zeal and to glorify God if not he will discover them weigh them and they will be found wanting and be found no better than Chaff at last Though they may seek ways to hide and cover their Wickedness and false Spirits and base designs yet let them know he that weighs the hill in scales and the mountains in balances doth and will weigh them and find out all their Cursed Deeds their Pride their Malice and put a rebuke upon their back-sliding and detracting Tongues Talk saith Hannah no more so exeeding proudly let not arrogancy come out of thy mouth for God is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed Thou Peninnah as our Annotators note speak no more so insolently and reproachfully of me as thou hast done he knoweth thy Heart and all that Pride Envy and Contempt of me which thy own Conscience knows and thy perverse Carriage towards me God pondereth and tryeth all mens Thoughts and Actions as a Just Judge to give to every one according to their works Oh what a Motive should this be to us all God weighs our Persons our Graces our Gifts our Dutys and all our Services in Scales Take heed you are not found too light found wanting as be sure you will if you be found Chaff when put into the Ballance of the Sanctuary Direction 1. If you would not be found Chaff try and weigh your Spirits your Persons your Faith your Love see if it holds weight by the Kings standard see on what Foundation you are built have you dugg deep and laid your foundation on a Rock what Love have you to Christ is he precious to your Souls the chiefest of ten thousand what Love have you to the Children of God how do you carry it at home and abroad do you feed the Hungry Visit the Sick and Cloath the naked is Christs Family Christs Servants Christs Poor more in your esteem love and affections than Sons and Daughters than Brethren and Sisters that are not his Children if you do not love Christ more than Father and Mother more than Son or Daughter you may justly fear whether you are Wheat or no And if it be so that you do so Love him and his Saints Ministers and People it will appear whilst you live and when you come to die you will not forget Christ then his People and Interest then O think onthis 2. And to you Sinners if you would be found Wheat in the day of Christ then receive Christs true Doctrine labour to distinguish between Truth and Error beware of that strange and new Scheme that darkens the Free-Grace of God and tends to destroy the Covenant of Grace Remember to exalt Christ alone in your Salvation How do some turn the Gospel of Gods Free-Grace into a Law by the performance of which as the Conditions of Life and Justification tell thee thy Salvation doth depend See what subtle Opposers of the clearest Gospel are risen up amongst us and labour to avoid them though their Tongues should seem to be tipp'd with Silver yet their Doctrine is Copper 3. Be sure Build on Christ alone and see that that Faith thou hast in him be the Faith of Gods Elect which sanctifies both Heart and Life and is attended with Good Fruits you must work from Life and not for Life Consolat 1. Lastly By way of Comfort and Consolation Be not afraid O Child of God tho' thou art in Christ's Fan
asked whether he did believe that Doctrine to be true for which he was accused before the Legate he aswered I did believe it when I denyed it but now I neither can believe that nor the Doctrine of the Roman Church I believe nothing I have no Faith no Trust no Hope I am a Reprobate like Cain or Judas who casting away all hope of mercy fell under despair and my Friends do me wrong that they suffer me not to go to the place of Vnbelievers as I justly deserve The mercy of God said he is exceeding large and extends to all the Elect but not to me or any like me who are sealed to Wrath I tell you I deserve it my own Conscience condemns me what needeth any other Judge if Peter grieved and repented it was because Christ beheld him with a merciful Eye and in that he was pardoned it was not because he wept but because God was gracious to him but God respects not me and therefore I am a Reprobate I feel no Comfort can enter into my Heart there 's place only for Torments and Vexings of Spirit I tell you my Case is properly mine own no Man was ever in the like plight and therefore my Estate is fearful And then roaring out in bitterness of Spirit he said It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Some said with a whispering Voice that he was possessed he over-hearing it said Do ye doubt it I have a whole Legion of Devils that take up their dwelling in me and possess me as their own and justly too for I have denyed Christ Christ will not be denyed no not in a word and therefore it is enough in Heart I never denied him He said when asked that he knew there were worse far worse pains than those that he then suffered for the wicked shall rise to their Judgment but they shall not stand in Judgment this I tremble to think of yet I desire nothing more than that I might come to that place where I may be sure to feel the worst and to be freed from fear of worse to come Being bid to believe the Truths he had denied he replied I cannot God will not suffer me to believe them nor to trust in his mercy what would you have me to do I would but I cannot tho' I presently be burnt for it I find I can neither believe the Gospel nor trust in Gods Mercy I have sinned against the Holy Ghost and God by his immutable Decree hath bound me over to perpetual Punishment God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth God hath taken away from me all power of Repentance and brings all my sins to remembrance and guilty of one guilty of all fore it is no matter whether my sins be great or small few or many they are such that Christs Blood nor the Mercy of God belongs not to me he hath hardened me I find that he daily more and more doth harden me and therefore I am without hope I feel it therefore cannot but despair I tell you there was never such a Monster as I am never was any man alive a spectacle of such exceeding Misery I know that Justification is to be expected by Christ and I have denyed and abjured it to the end I might keep my frail Life from Adversity and my Children from Poverty and now behold how bitter my Life is to me and God only knows what will become of this my Family but sure no good is likely to betide it but worse and worse and such at length as one stone shall not be left upon another Said he The Spirit of God often admonished me when at Cittadella I did as it were set my Seal the Spirit of God often suggested to me Do not write Spira do not Seal yet I resisted the Holy Ghost and did both and at that very time I did evidently feel a wound inflicted my very will c. David was Elected and dearly Beloved and tho' he fell yet God took not utterly away his holy Spirit and therefore was heard when he prayed ' Lord take not thy holy Spirit from me ' But I am in another Case being for ever accursed from the presence of God neither can I pray as he did because the Holy Spirit is quite gone and cannot be recalled ' O that I might feel but the least sense of the Love of God to me tho' but for one small moment as I now feel his heavy Wrath that burns like Torments of Hell within me and afflicts my Conscience with pangs unutterable Very Desperation is Hell it self you perswade me to believe how fain would I do it but I cannot ' Then violently grasping his Hands together and raising himself ' Behold said he I am strong yet by little and little I decay and consume and my Servants would fain preserve this weary Life but at length the Will of God must be done and I shall perish miserably ' ' I see said he my Damnation and I know my remedy is only in Christ yet I cannot set my self to take hold of him Such are the Punishments of the Damned they repent of their loss of Heaven they cannot amend their ways ' ' Now also Belzebub comes to his Banquet you shall see my End and in me an Example to many of the Justice and Judgment of God ' ' What Hell can be worse than Desparation or what greater Punishment than the gnawing worm and unquenchable Fire Horror Confusion and which is worse than all Desparation it self continually tortures me and now I count my present-Estate worse than if my Soul were separated from my Body and were with Judas and the rest of the damned therefore I desire to be there rather than alive in the Body ' ' God hath taken Faith from me and left me other common Gifts for my deeper Condemnation by how much the more I remember what I had and hear others discourse of what they have by so much the more is my Torment in that I know what I want and there is no way to be relieved Thus spake he the Tears trickling down professing that his Pangs were such as that the Damned in Hell endure not the like Misery That his Estate was worse than that of Cain or Judas and therefore he desired to dye yet Behold said he the Scriptures are accomplished in me They shall desire to dye and Death shall fly from them ' SOME PASSAGES Of the Fearful Estate of John Child MR. John Child was a Preacher and when he was young a very zealous Asserter of the Doctrine of Gods Free-Grace Namely of Personal Electrion and of the Saints final Perseverance and was a man of considerable Natural Parts and Ability being much followed where-ever he preached both in the City and Countrey yet seemed to be of a haughty Spirit loving Applause and Popularity which it may be feared was the Cause of his Fall and may be
hear his Voice with Affection They like love and approve of his Word and Doctrine it is sweet to them Thy Word is very pure therefore thy Servant loveth it They know that there is no Falshood in it it is pure from all Mixture there is exact Purity and Holiness in it which makes unsanctified Persons to like it not but either disbelieve it or else despise and hate it But a godly Man loves it upon the account of its Purity in that it promotes nothing but Holiness both in Heart and Life The Word of the Lord is right and all his Works are done in Truth Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right and hate every false Way I do not reject such things that my carnal Reason cannot comprehend or such as are opposite to the Lusts and Corruptions of my Heart or worldly Interest but I approve of all things that come out of thy Mouth Some Men do not receive the Truth in the love of it and therefore are given up to believe a Lie or to strong Delusions 3. They hear Christ's Voice with Attention they hear it diligently He says Hearken diligently unto me and they with the greatest care do so Thus Mary heard Christ's Voice she gave such attention to his Word and Doctrine that she left all her secular Concerns to attend upon him though her Sister was offended with her And thus Lydia heard the Word of Christ Whose Heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul None can hear with attention but such whose Hearts the Lord doth open and none can open the Heart and cause the Soul to hear that is dead but Christ only 4. They hear Christ's Voice believingly Others hear it but do not believe it Who hath believed our Report and to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed Christ saith Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God But O how few stedfastly give credit to this Doctrine certainly if Sinners did believe this but with the same Humane Faith with which they believe many other Things and Reports it would make them tremble but Christ's Sheep or all gracious Persons give full credit to whatsoever he hath said and that not only with an Humane Faith but with a Divine Faith also or Faith of the Operation of God The Man believed the Word that Jesus had spoken unto him The great Doctrine of the Gospel is a Doctrine of Faith 't is to believe He that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the Vngodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness Mankind are generally for doing to be justified they will not be perswaded that all is done already for them and that they are only to believe and be justified but thus Christ's Sheep hear his Voice 5. Christ's Sheep hear his Voice tremblingly with great Fear holy Awe and Reverence Thus good King Josias heard the Word of God his Heart was tender and he trembled and saith the Lord To this Man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and that trembleth at my Word They know it is God's Word Christ's Word who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth Who is the only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords Where the Word of a King is there is Power Power goeth along with Christ's Voice to awe all their Hearts that are gracious My Heart standeth in awe of thy Word saith David 6. Christ's Sheep hear Christ's Word universally even all that he saith unto them Him shall ye hear in whatsoever he shall say unto you And those who do not thus hear this great Prophet shall be destroyed from among the People Some will hear Christ's Word which they like of but if any part of his Doctrine sutes not their carnal Hearts or Interest that they will not hear nor comply with but Believers are for hearing the hardest things that are contained in Christ's Word they approve of every thing as you heard before 7. They hear Christ's Voice with Retention they hear and keep his Word they lay it up in their Hearts as it is said of the Blessed Virgin They will not lose it and therefore with David hide Christ's Word in their Hearts 8. They hear his Voice always constantly unto the End they will attend unto his Word and Doctrine as long as they live let what will come they are not offended as the stony-ground Hearers are said to be 9. And lastly They hear Christ's Voice only his Voice and none else They will not hear the Voice of a Stranger that is they will not receive damnable Errors they know the Voice of Deceivers nor will they receive a Mixture in Doctrine nor in God's Worship they will not join Christ and Moses together Works and Faith together Christ's Righteousness and their own together Christ's Institutions and the Inventions and Traditions of Men together Quest May not Believers who are Christ's Sheep be beguiled so as to receive some capital Errors or an Error in some fundamental Point Answ 1. No doubt but they may be seduced I mean a particular Sheep or Saint may be grievously corrupted in his Judgment 2. But if a Believer be drawn away or seduced he shall if sincere if an Elect Person be restored again for it is impossible any of them should finally be deceived If it were possible they should deceive the very Elect but that cannot be Quest Why are false Teachers called Strangers Answ 1. Because a Stranger is one that we know not so a false Teacher is one that knows not Christ nor his true and saving Doctrine they are not acquainted with him are not brought into Union with Christ nor have Communion with him 2. They are Strangers to the Life and Power of true Religion and Godliness 3. The Saints also know them not they approve not of them nor of the Doctrine they preach they can discern between Truth and Error by the Anointing they have received 4. A Stranger is one that is not a constant dweller in one Place so false Prophets and false Teachers are not fixed long in one Opinion Her Ways saith Solomon are moveable speaking of the false Church or adulterous Woman many of these are one day for one thing for one Error and another day for another this shews they are false Teachers or Strangers to the Truth they know it not 5. They are called Strangers because they publish strange Doctrine Be not carried about with divers and strange Doctrines The Doctrine of Christ is one and the same being immutable can suffer no Change or Alteration but these bring in a new Doctrine not known in the Primitive Days not taught by Christ or his Apostles nor received in the purest Times of the Gospel before Corruptions crept into the Church They will not hear the Voice of Strangers or the Doctrine of false Teachers 1. Not
their Souls to rejoice I have been afflicted and tempted and yet have been succoured and relieved by the Lord because I hoped in his Word So that none of them that meet with like Perplexities need to fear or doubt of God's gracious Help and Support Sirs if wicked Men like Dogs Wolves or Lions do endeavour to scatter Christ's Sheep by Persecution c. they will soon get together again And being let go they went to their own Company again 11. Sheep need a shady Place when the Sun shines hot at Noon which is a great refreshment to them where they chew their Cud and being secured from the scorching heat they with the greater alacrity return to their Pasture In this also the Saints may be compared unto Sheep for evident it is Believers do need a shady Place a Place of Refreshment to rest in and under in the time of the great heat of Temptation Affliction and Persecution And at such Seasons the Lord Jesus hath a Place of sweet Repose for them In me you shall have Peace in the World you shall have Tribulation Vnder the shadow of thy Wings will I make my Refuge until these Calamities be overpast Hence also Jesus Christ is said to be as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land or in a dry and scorching Country which metonymically is called a weary Land because it makes the People weary that abide therein Christ refreshes his Sheep under his own gracious Protection in time of the hottest Persecution c. and affords them relief by his own Presence and precious Promises And when they return out of those Afflictions with what joy do they feed in their Pastures calling to mind and meditating upon those blessed Experiences they had of his Goodness in those hot and scorching Times 12. Sheep will live where greater Cattel cannot even upon very hard and barren Commons where the Grass is exceeding short and be very well contented with it nay thrive upon it So will the Faithful in Jesus Christ live where and when the carnal Professor cannot even in a Time of Want and Scarcity when the great and tall Cedars whose Hearts are not upright with God fall away and their Spirits die in them A poor Believer can live by Faith on the Promises of God when he can't see by an Eye of Sense how he should subsist yet doth then trust on God's Providence who careth for him and he is contented and well satisfied with those hard Pastures the Lord is pleased to put him into Although the Fig-tree shall not blossom neither shall Fruit be on the Vines the Labour of the Olive shall fail and the Fields shall yield no Meat the Flocks shall be cut off from the Fold and there shall be no Herd in the Stall Yet will I rejoice in the Lord and joy in the God of my Salvation 13. Among a Flock of Sheep are oftentimes some Goats who feed with them and lie down together So in Christ's Flock are some evil and corrupt Members such who are none of his Sheep but Hypocrites though they seem to feed and have Communion together and these also are called Goats by the great Shepherd 14. Sheep are very fruitful and do multiply in a little time exceedingly though many of them may be killed by Butchers The Saints may be compared to Sheep also in this respect for they from a few have often increased to a very great Multitude How few were the Number of Christ's Sheep at the time of his Ascension yet in a little space we read that their Number was five Thousand And though the Heathen Butchers killed many Thousands yet how wonderfully did they increase which was marvellous in the Eyes of their Enemies The like may be noted in these Days among us in England what a few were they of the Baptized Churches and other Dissenters not many Years ago and to what a Multitude are they risen now Also the Saints grow in Grace they are fruitful bearing Twins and none barren among them 15. Sheep are sometimes separated from the Goats for some special Occasion known to the Shepherd Even so at the last Day shall all the Sincere and truly Godly be separated from unsound and unsanctified Ones by our Lord Jesus the great Shepherd Before him shall be gathered all Nations and he will separate them one from another as a Shepherd divideth the Sheep from the Goats And he will set the Sheep at his right Hand and the Goats on his left Hand Secondly To proceed Tho I have already clearly opened the Properties or Characters of the Sheep of Christ in speaking to several Parts of my Text yet I shall in a summary way here add some few Particulars further upon this Account which may serve by way of Trial to all of us First The first distinguishing Character of them is They hear Christ's Voice What is meant by his Voice and how they do hear it we have shewed Secondly Christ's Sheep have passed through a great Change a glorious internal and visible Change They are converted Persons renewed or regenerated by Divine Grace They were once like other Men and Women and had no Sheep-like Nature as you have heard but rather the same filthy unclean and brutish Nature of Swine c. which is in all ungodly Ones 1. It is a real Change from Nature to Grace 't is not a seeming a nominal or notional but a true and real Change they have a new Heart a new Spirit a new Nature created in them they are become new Creatures all real Operations of the Spirit suppose some real Form a real Habit is infused from whence they act which works in them a ready Inclination Disposition and sweet Propensity to do that which is truly and spiritually Good 2. And this is common to all the Sheep of Jesus Christ in this respect they are all alike having all obtained the same precious Faith as to the Quality of it As all Wolves have the Nature of Wolves and all Swine the Nature of Swine and all Sheep have the Nature of Sheep so all the Saints and Children of God have the Nature of Saints all Believers and Sheep of Jesus Christ have one holy Nature 3. It is a Nature and Disposition quite contrary to that which was in them formerly 'T is a mighty Change as when a Wolf is made a Lamb the Wolfish Nature as one observes is lost and the Lamb-like Nature is introduced By Corruption Man was Carnal and Brutish but by the new Creation he is Spiritual and Divine by Corruption he hath the Image of the Devil by this he is restored to the Image of God by that he had the Seeds of all Villanies by this the Seed of all Graces He was an Enemy to God nay had Enmity in his Heart against God but now he loves God loves Christ loves Holiness loves the Ways of God and People of God 4. It is an universal Change a Change of
received the saving Graces thereof are Christ's Sheep they have his Mark these he will own and say where eâ—er he find this Seal this Man and this Woman is mine And on the other hand Now if any Man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his he is none of his Sheep he hath no special Interest in him Remember the Spirit of Christ true Grace Faith Love Humility c. is the Ear-mark of Christ's Sheep 3. And why may not inward Sincerity be Christ's Mark also for that I am sure does distinguish them from all others from Hypocrites and all unsound and false-hearted Professors whatsoever 2 dly The Mark in their Foreheads is seen by all that may denote their holy Carriage Behaviour and Deportment in this World to all that behold them 1. It may shew that they hate Idolatry and all false Worship 2. It may signify their holy Conversation for Holiness is written as it were in legible Characters on all their Foreheads There is not one of Christ's Sheep without this Mark for without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. This shews who they are and whither they are going and to what Country they do belong Sixthly Christ's Sheep follow the Footsteps of the Flock i. e. the Primitive Church in Church-Constitution Doctrine and Discipline They contend for that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints and keep the Ordinances as they were at first given forth they are for no mixture in Doctrine nor Discipline be sure before all things they keep pure the Doctrine of Justification and do not join Work and Grace together Their great care is to exalt the free Grace of God and abase the Creature accounting all their own inherent Righteousness as Dung or Dogs-meat in comparison of Christ and the Righteousness of Christ Seventhly They love to drink in pure Christal soft and gentle Streams Sheep do not love to drink of muddy rough and raging Rivers No more do Christ's Sheep He makes me to lie down in green Pastures he leadeth me beside the still Waters They will not forsake the Waters of Shiloah that run softly and drink of the proud swelling and troublesome Rivers of Babylon Tygris and Euphrates They like the Teachings of God's Spirit in the meanest Instrument tho such who are despised and contemned of Men better than the highest Elegance and lostiest Rhetorick of all the Cicero's and Plato's of the World What are the artificial Flourishes of Demosthenes or exact Method of Aristotle and Galen or all humane Curiosities or itch of Words to the Teachings of the Holy Ghost Paul spoke not in the Wisdom of this World or with the inticing Words of Man's Wisdom but in the Demonstration of the Spirit and with Power These Waters Believers chuse and love to drink of I am afraid some Men are more nice in studying Words than Matter to affect the Ear rather than to work upon the Heart of their Hearers Though Humane Learning is not to be despised yet no doubt Dr. Carlton was in the right That a Lay-man that has the Spirit of God is better able to judg of spiritual Things than a Man in Ecclesiastical Function destitute of the Spirit of God Infelix est sapientia extra Verbum Dei sapere saith Justin Martyr Our Annotators say well viz. 1. Ministers ought to speak Intelligibly so as the People may understand 2. That they speak gravely and decently all other study of Words and Phrases in a Divine say they is but Folly and Vanity Eighthly and Lastly Christ's Sheep do relie upon the Care and Faithfulness of their Shepherd They know on whom they have believed and can and do venture their Souls on him knowing he will keep that which they have committed to his Charge They depend on Christ rest on Christ believe in Christ relie on his Word and Promises for all things they need They can say with David The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want neither any thing for this Life which is really necessary nor for the Life which is to come They leave the Alimighty to chuse for them knowing they are not competent Judges as touching what is best for themselves Though he slay me saith Job yet will I trust in him Let God do what he will with me yet I will rest upon him my hope shall be in him and I will not be offended if I have Poverty Sickness Persecution Reproaches or whatsoever else I know saith a true Christian God sees it good for me and I will not murmur nor complain APPLICATION 1. We may infer from hence that Christ hath but a few Sheep but a few Followers O what a small Number have these Characters upon them 2. It may be for Lamentation Cyprian brings in the Devil triumphing over Jesus Christ after this sort As for my Followers I never died for them as Christ did for his I never promised them so great Rewards as Christ hath done to his and yet I have more Followers than he and they do more for me than his do for him O how blind and deceived are poor Sinners that they chuse to follow Satan rather Jesus Christ What a great Multitude hath the Devil his Flock is a mighty Flock Christ's Flock is a little Flock Fear not little Flock it is your Father's good Pleasure to give you a Kingdom Every Saint shall have a Kingdom a Crown this is Christ's Promise to all his Sheep and yet how few are they that cleave to him that believe in him and follow him 3. By what you have heard you may try your selves O see have you these Characters these Marks of Christ's Sheep certainly if so you have no cause to doubt but your State is happy if not labour for them 4. The way to be one of Christ's Sheep is to believe and to pass under the New Birth JOHN X. 27. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me THE last Day I shewed you who are the Sheep of Jesus Christ by giving you the several Characters and Marks of them Sixthly I shall now proceed to the last General Head viz. 1. Shew you What a kind of Shepherd Christ is 2. What those Pastures are where he feeds them 3. What a Fold he hath for his Sheep First Jesus Christ is a chosen Shepherd No Man hath a right to be a Shepherd but he that is first chosen by the Owner of the Sheep Christ is called the Elect of God My Servant whom I have chosen Again Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth He was fore-ordained in the Decree Design and Purpose of God to be our Redeemer and as a Shepherd to take care of feed heal nay to die for the Sheep Secondly And as he was chosen so he was called also to this Work and Office For as the Apostle speaks concerning Christ's Priesthood or touching that Office so I may say
as to be forsaken it cannot intend any kind of asking or begging for David himself desired and received Relief from others Nothing doth more clearly relieve and feed our Souls under Trouble and Distress than those Experiences we have formerly had of God's special Providence and Goodness to us or how he helped his People in their Extremities in the days of old O my God my Soul is cast down within me therefore I will remember thee from the Land of Jordan and of the Hermonites from the Hill Mizar He would call to mind how God had helped him formerly when pursued by Saul or distressed by Absalom and the way his drooping Spirits were revived He that delivered me saith he from the Paw of the Bear and Paw of the Lion will deliver me from this uncircumcised Philistine All Power is given into Christ's Hand he is the great disposer of all things therefore be sure he will order every thing for the Good of his Church If not a Hair of our Heads shall fall without the Providence of God we may conclude he will be concerned for us in greater Matters And if he provide for Sparrows he will provide and take care of his own Children The Covenant of Grace the Love of Christ and that Relation we stand in to him must needs give us ground to believe he will in his most wise Providence order all things for our Good besides the express Promises he hath made upon that Account Doth he hold us in his Hand carry us in his Bosom nay engrave us on his Heart and will he forsake us O this cannot be Hath he took the Charge of his Sheep and will he leave them to Lions or Wolves to be torn to pieces Or shall Sin or the Devil pull Limb from Limb and he look on But I must not further enlarge here Quest What is the Nature of that Food which Jesus Christ feeds his Sheep with 1. I answer in the Negative It is not surfeiting Food some Pastures are naught they will rot the Sheep but Christ feeds not his People in such Pastures 2. 'T is not forbidden Food he hath prohibited us to follow a Multitude to do Evil to walk in the Way of the Heathen or after the Course of this World or according to the former Lusts in our Ignorance and not to touch taste nor handle of the Traditions and Doctrines of Men but he allows us his own Word and Ordinances 1. 'T is costly Food Pastures that were purchased by our Shepherd at a dear Price 2. 'T is sweet and pleasant Food More to be desired than Gold yea than much fine Gold sweeter also than Honey or the Honey-comb 3. 'T is Soul-satisfying Food he satisfies every hungry Soul I will abundantly bless her Provision and satisfy her Poor with Bread Wicked Men eat that which satisfies not what is all the Trash of this World but meer Husks Ashes and Gravel-stones 4. 'T is strengthning Food it strengthens the Soul and strengthens the Graces of the Spirit in the Soul 5. 'T is chearing comforting and reviving Food as I might shew you but must not enlarge 6. 'T is living Food 't is Bread of Life such who feed on it shall never die it gives Life and it continues and encreases Life and will feed the Soul up unto everlasting Life 7. It is Soul-fatning Food Eat you that which is good and let your Soul delight it self in fatness O this Food these Gospel-Pastures fatten the Soul when they meet with God enjoy God in his Ordinances when they have Communion with him and when they find their Sins and Corruptions wither and die and Grace grow and flourish in their Souls ' when they thrive in Holiness in Faith Love Patience and Humility c. Quest What is Christ's Fold Answ He hath a twofold Fold 1. His Church is his Fold Christ built it himself and it is a Fold the Enemy cannot destroy he hath set it upon a Rock 2. Heaven is Christ's Fold Quest What is the Fence of Christ's Fold or Church here on Earth Answ I answer It is threefold 1. The Fence may be said to be that Holy and Primitive Constitution Order and Ordinances which Christ hath appointed 2. That Sacred Covenant Believers enter into when they are admitted Members 3. The Holy Discipline Order and Government Christ hath ordained and left in the Gospel APPLICATION We infer from hence that Believers are in a most happy Condition they having such a Shepherd and such Pastures to feed in Which will further appear if we consider these things following 1. They are Pastures that will feed Multitudes nay they cannot be over-stock'd Christ's Pastures cannot be eaten up 2. Christ's Pastures are always Good always Rich as good in Winter as Summer and so are not other Pastures 3. So well fenced about that the Walls cannot by Men nor Devils be broken down God secures his People and Gospel by his own Almighty Power and Providence he is a Wall of Fire round about besides his Angels encamp about them that fear him also 4. Christ's Pastures have most precious Water in them There is a River that makes glad the City of God c. He feeds me in green Pastures and leads me besides the still Waters The Holy Spirit and Graces of the Spirit may be here intended 1. Water hath a cooling Nature it allays Thirst so these Waters cool the Fire of Lust and every evil Passion and allay that inordinate Thirst after the things of this World 2. Some Waters are of a purging Quality these Waters also purge the Soul of all evil and nauseous Humours 3. Water makes fruitful it makes Pastures fruitful and the Sheep also So these Sacred Waters make the Word and Ordinances fruitful and the Saints fruitful likewise 4. Waters soften so these Waters soften the Heart and make it tender 5. Waters have a cleansing Virtue So have these Divine Waters the Spirit and Graces of the Spirit cleanse the Soul of all Filth and Pollution of Flesh and Spirit 6. Water hath a healing Property The Spiritual Waters heal they are beyond all Waters exceed all Waters For 1. These Waters never fail other Waters may be dried up He that drinks of the Water I shall give him shall never thirst but the Waters that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of living Water springing up unto Everlasting Life 2. These are Waters of Life he that receives the Holy Spirit shall live for ever 3. These are still Waters not rough boisterous Streams they may be called still Waters in respect of their Effects 1. They will keep such that drink of them in God's Bounds and cause them to rest in quiet where he hath placed them 2. They make a still and quiet Soul a still and quiet Family a still and quiet Church when all drink of these Waters nay a still and quiet Nation they allay all Feuds and undue Heats among Christians that
or Everlasting Life is a free Gift or by Grace only 4. Shew why Christ doth and will give Eternal Life unto his Sheep 5. And lastly I shall briefly apply it 1. Quest What is meant by Eternal Life Answ There is a three-fold Life of Man 1. The Life of the Body which is a natural Life or the Life of Nature In him we live move and have our Being Neither count I my Life dear to me so that I might finish my Course with Joy He giveth to all Life c. All have this Life Sinners as well as Saints have a natural Life 2. There is a Spiritual Life which is the Life of the Soul the Life of a Saint or of the New Creature this is the Life of Grace I am crucified with Christ Nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the Life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God c. The Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live that is their Souls shall live or be quickned and raised to a State of spiritual Life 3. Eternal Life that is properly the Life of Glory or the Life of the other World that Life which the glorified Saints possess above The Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Object But Christ says I give them Eternal Life He speaks in the Present Tense Answ 1. I answer you heard before that true and saving Grace is the Seed of Eternal Life or the Seed of Glory to come as Glory is the Harvest of Grace 2. Spiritual Life is the earnest of Eternal Life Now every Believer hath received the Spirit which is the Earnest of their Eternal Inheritance And thus they have it as a Man that purchases an Inheritance he gives Earnest for it and no sooner that is done but he cries such a House or such Land is mine 't is his by virtue of the Earnest given though he hath not yet the actual possession of it so it is here 3. Christ gives his Saints Eternal Life Now because he gives them a sure Title to it he makes them a Deed of Gift of it or seals unto them a Right and legal Conveyance of it as firm as the Law and Ordinance of Heaven Now when a Person hath a true Right and Title or Deed of Gift made and sealed to him of such or such an Estate he may say he has the Estate 't is his own And thus Believers have Everlasting Life or the Eternal Inheritance i. e. they have a true Right and Title of it sealed to them here by the Holy Spirit After that ye believed you were sealed with the Spirit of Promise which is the Earnest of the Saints Inheritance c. Faith is the Evidence of things not seen 4. The Spirit of God who is that Principle of Divine Life in the Soul of Believers is Eternal Christ is in us every Believer hath Christ in possession and Christ is Eternal Life and therefore he that hath the Son hath Everlasting Life These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know you have Eternal Life c. Jesus Christ being in us here is more to us than the Hope of Glory for he is Eternal Life and the Soul of a Child of God shall never lose nor be dispossessed of Christ no not by Death it self therefore may be said to have Eternal Life They have Eternal Life abiding in them because they have the Spirit abiding in them But the Water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of living Water springing up unto Everlasting Life Query Methinks I hear some doubting Soul say O that I could but experience this Spiritual Life to be in me How may I know I am made alive and have Eternal Life given to me 1. In answer to such it is necessary to consider that all Adam's Posterity by Nature are spiritually dead in Sin or under a Privation of the Life of God until spiritually quickned and made alive by Jesus Christ 2. Now as natural Death is made use of by the Spirit of God to shew what spiritual Death is so also natural Life is tropically made use of to demonstrate and discover spiritual Life A Man naturally dead 1. Is cold all Heat is gone if long dead So all unregenerate Persons are spiritually Cold or without any Divine Heat or Warmth in their Spirits that Principle of internal Life Man had before he fell being lost and gone he is cold as a Stone God ward or in a spiritual Sense 2. A Man naturally dead cannot move all power of Motion and Activity or all vital Actings are gone also So in Men spiritually dead there is a Disability or Impotency unto all spiritual things to be performed in a spiritual manner they can perform or act spiritually no Act of Life or do any thing that is absolutely accepted of him The carnal Mind is Enmity against God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be So then they that are in the Flesh cannot please God 3. A Man naturally dead cannot breath nor speak no more can carnal Men Men spiritually dead breath forth their Desires in Prayer to God they have no Tongue to speak for God or to pray to God acceptably all they do is dead Service all their Prayers and Works are dead Prayers dead Works because performed from Persons spiritually dead and not from a Principle of Divine Life 4. A dead Man can't feel see nor hear No more can such who are dead in Sin they cannot feel spiritually they have a heavy Burden a mighty Weight of Sin Guilt and Wrath lying upon them but feel it not They are grievously wounded but feel no pain do not cry out think they are well and all nothing They cannot see spiritual Objects nor spiritual Things These Dead see not Jesus Christ see not his Beauty his Glory neither the Want of him nor the Worth of him the Eye of their Understanding is darkned they have no Faith which is the Eye of the new Creature Nor can they hear in a spiritual Sense until like dead Lazarus they hear Christ's voice by his Spirit and are made alive 5. The Beauty of the Dead is gone Death is gastly so is the spiritual Beauty of the Soul gone of those who lie dead in Sin and Trespasses 6. The Bodies of those who are naturally dead are fit for nothing they soon stink and therefore must be buried and put under the Ground being loathsom c. So ungodly Persons who are spiritually dead are loathsom in God's sight as filthy Carion or a stinking Sepulchre is in ours and are fit for nothing but to cast into Hell as abominable and hateful to the Holy Jehovah 1. By these things therefore you may know
his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ without Works Now to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the Vngodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness 'T is not because we are righteous in our selves therefore we are justified no but being justified by the Righteousness of Christ we are declared righteous in him and this is wholly by God's free Grace 4. Faith is a Grace or a Gift freely given to all that believe To you it is given in behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but to suffer for his sake For by Grace ye are saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God 5. Repentance is of Grace Him hath God exalted with his right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel c. God in the New Covenant promises to take away the Heart of Stone and to give a Heart of Flesh that is a broken tender and a repenting Heart If God peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledging the Truth If God will give them a Power and an Heart to repent it is his own free and gracious Gift to poor Sinners 6. Forgiveness of Sin is also freely given of God it is of Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ So that it appears Eternal Life from the first to the last is wholly of Grace both the Author of it the Means of it and the End thereof all is of Grace Heaven it self is the Gift of Grace Fear not little Flock it is your Father's good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom The Crown of Glory is the Gift of Christ Be thou faithful unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Take the Water of Life freely buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price Salvation was contrived by Infinite Grace and all things that do concur or accompany it are freely given Bread of Life and Water of Life is freely given A new Heart will I give them and a new Spirit will I put into them To you it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven c. Thirdly To proceed to the Grounds of the Point I shall give you the Reasons why Eternal Life is the Gift of Christ or of the free Grace of God 1. It is because Sin and Death cannot be removed out of the Way to Life but only by Jesus Christ and so by Grace only The Law of God is broke and Justice calls for Wrath and Vengeance to be executed upon the Transgressor Justice must be satisfied but Man cannot make a Compensation for the Violation of God's Holy Law nor will God acquit the Sinner unless that be done the Law is but an Impression of God's Holy Nature it resulted not from a bare Act of his Sovereignty but from his Holiness and perfect Rectitude of his blessed Nature If Man could have attained to Life by any Works of Obedience done by him Christ died in vain and if it had consisted with the Wisdom and Holiness of God to have accepted of imperfect Obedience provided it had been sincere he could at first have given Man such a Law and so have saved the Life of his Son For any therefore to affirm that God accepteth sinful Man for the sake of his imperfect though sincere Obedience it is to assert in effect that he accepted of some sinful and polluted Acts as a Recompence and Satisfaction for other sinful Acts and Deeds of Darkness for all our best Services are unclean in themselves Paul accounted all his own Righteousness but Dung c. Besides the Obedience under the Gospel which God requires is to be performed in the highest perfection imaginable Be ye Perfect as your Father in Heaven is Perfect The Law of the Gospel is the same in Nature with the Moral Law therefore if it may be called a Law it is a perfect Law we are still commanded to love the Lord our God with all our Hearts with all our Souls and with all our Strength yea and to live and sin not Little Children these things write I unto you that ye sin not Our Faith Love and Patience c. ought to be perfect the Law or Commands of the Gospel know no Bounds nor Limits Vntil we all come in the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the stature of the Fulness of Christ It would therefore be a Work becoming the New-Lawyers to shew where the Commands lie in the Gospel that God's Law only requires sincere Obedience unto the Law certainly loses no part of its Sanction by the Gospel that is as Holy Just and Good as ever and a perpetual Rule of Life and Obedience Therefore as a reverend Person Notes either the Gospel-Law or Law of Faith must require Perfection of Obedience in these Duties or some other Divine Law or else God would become an indulger of Sin by Law if it be by another Law viz. the Moral that requires perfect Obedience and this sincere only then these Laws differ but in Degree not in Specie or Kind because both require the same Duties or Works and so this Gospel-Law would be no distinct Law but only the Measure of sincere Obedience would receive a new use which we own it has to wit to be an Index and Mark of our Justification tho we cannot own that use of its giving Right c. But to proceed saith he a distinct Law they must hold or quit their Cause or this Foundation of it for the Text sets the Law of Faith down as an opposite Law to that of Works and that they hold Then if it be a perfect Law requiring perfect Obedience there is no possibility of Justification in this Life Poppius the Arminian grants the Conclusion that our Obedience must be consummate before our Assurance and others distinguish between a compleat and partial Justification the former is not they say until the Day of Judgment But this is not all the Difficulty for it 's the adding a Load to a Burden Is this Gospel to a Man that is unable to perform the least part of the Moral Law to tell him that God or the Mediator requires perfect Obedience to it for the future and another too Or is this Gospel to say you shall perish eternally and have the Fire of Hell seven times heated if you obey not this Gospel It 's indeed a conditional Hell but it is more dreadful than the Fire of Hell and the Condition is more impossible because we have less power to shun this Difficulty of two perfect Laws Mr. Bull owns no other perfect Law but this Gospel since Man fell but by shunning one Difficulty he falls into two as great 1. Then the Moral Law is abrogated besides the falsness of the Doctrine it self for it is impossible that should cease to be
to rake into the Sores of God's sincere Servants No doubt the Falls and grievous Sins of the Holy Saints of God are by the Spirit left on Record for blessed Ends and Purposes 1. To shew what need the best of Men and Women have to pray and stand upon their Watch at all times 2. To discover the Strength of Indwelling Sin or the natural Corruptions of the Hearts of such who are truly gracious and the absolute Necessity there is for all to depend upon the Divine Help and Assistance of God under Temptations 3. That no true Christian that is suffered to fall into Sin should despair of the pardoning Grace of God 2 dly The Saints of God or true Believers may fall from Grace as well as into great and immoral Evils and Acts of Wickedness I mean they may fall from Degrees of Grace or decay in Grace lose the Strength and Power of Divine Grace as to the Acts and Exercise thereof They may decay in Faith in Love in Humility Patience Hope c. Yet nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first Love Love may cool in the best of Saints though it shall never be quite extinguished for nothing can utterly quench it How low was the Faith of Christ's Disciples when they said We trusted that it had been he that should have redeemed Israel Job also intimates that his Hope was cut off He hath destroyed me on every side and I am gone and mine Hope hath he removed like a Tree There are Weaknesses in the Strongest and Imperfections may come upon those who are perfect as Mr. Caryl notes Ebbings after the greatest Flowings and Declinings after the greatest Heights of Graces and gracious Actings My Days are spent without Hope David also said I shall one day fall by the Hand of Saul so low was his Faith 3 dly God's Saints may also fall from the true Doctrine of the Gospel which is called a falling from Grace Christ is become of no effect unto you whosoever of you are justified by the Law ye are fallen from Grace that is such who seek or desire to be justified by a Law any Law of Obedience or by their own Righteousness for the End of Christ's Death and the Gospel is to cast away Man 's own Righteousness in point of Justification and to supply us with the Suretiship-Righteousness of Jesus Christ and such who seek to be justified any other way are fallen from Grace they renounce the Free Grace of God exhibited in the Gospel The Apostle doth not here refer to a State of Grace but to the Doctrine or Gospel of Grace in which is manifest the free Love of God in offering Christ to Sinners for Righteousness and Life 4 thly True Believers or the Sheep of Jesus Christ may fall from the publick Profession of the Faith from a visible owning and maintaining their Testimony to Christ and his Gospel through slavish Fear Thus not only Peter but all the other Disciples fell also they all forsook their Blessed Master when he was apprehended and led away as a Sheep to the Slaughter then all the Disciples forsook him All these Disciples had promised him that they would not forsake him but when the Trial comes not one of them stands they shrunk from professing themselves to be his Disciples and Followers But they recovered this Fall and after Christ's Resurrection made a glorious profession of him and his Gospel unto the Death 5 thly The Saints of God may fall so as to break all their Bones and grievously to wound their own Consciences O Lord heal me for my Bones are vexed My Soul is also sore vexed but thou O Lord how long My Pain and Anguish is bitter by the Burden of my Sin and Sense of thy Anger Again he saith My Strength faileth because of mine Iniquities and my Bones are consumed I am feeble and sore broken Elsewhere he speaks as if all his Bones were broken all his Strength was gone Bones we know are the Strength of the Body from thence the Metaphor seems to be taken Now that is a grievous Fall which breaks all the Bones 6 thly The Saints or Sheep of Christ may so fall or to such a degree lose the exercise of their Faith and Hope in God as to be deprived of the Light of God's Countenance and the Joy of his Salvation Restore to me the Joy of thy Salvation Nay may wholly be in Darkness for a time or have no Light He hath kindled his Wrath against me and he counteth me to him as one of his Enemies I am gone ver 10. I am a lost Man as if he should say Thou hast laid me in the lowest Pit in Darkness in the Deeps Free among the Dead like the slain that lie in the Grave whom thou remembrest no more and they are cut off from thy Hand That walk in Darkness and have no Light I do not say that Desertion is always the Fruit and Punishment of Sin though sometimes it is yet it is always occasioned through the decay or want of the Exercise of Grace or through God's withdrawing his sweet Presence and Influences of his Spirit from the Soul It may not be amiss here before I proceed to answer a Question that some perhaps may have in their Thoughts to propound viz. What are the Causes that sometimes the Saints fall so far as hath been hinted Answ The Grounds or Causes of their falling may be divers 1. It is through the Remainders of Corruption or Indwelling Sin that abide in all Believers The chiefest Saints of God are but renewed in part Though they are renewed in every Part there is a Law in the Members that wars against the Law of the Mind But I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my Mind and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of Sin which is in my Members O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of Sin and Death These two Laws are in all true Believers or in all regenerate Persons and they are directly contrary the one to the other and by reason of this there is continual War and Combating between them And evident it is thro the Power or Policy of the fleshly Part the Godly are sometimes overcome not only by common Failings but fall into great Transgressions also Our chief Enemies are those of our own House the Devil could do us little hurt from without had he not such a strong Party for him and siding with him in our own Bowels or within us This inbred Enemy always lies in wait to betray us and if we take not the more care will prevail against us and at one time or another trip up our Heels especially that Sin which doth chiefly beset us most Christians having their Constitution-Sin though no godly Man hath a beloved Sin yea the Seed of all Sin still remains in
our base Hearts and hence it is our Danger is great which appears may be not so clearly till the Providence of God brings us unto such a State Occasion or Company whereby Satan hath an Opportunity to excite and stir up or draw forth that Sin or evil Seed into act that lies hid within us 2. The Cause of those Evils or grievous Falls that some Christians have and do sustain are from Satan who is not only a malicious Enemy but a strong and cruel Enemy also Hence called A roaring Lion going about and seeking whom he may devour He is very diligent to observe the natural Inclinations of all Christians and watcheth the fittest Opportunity to make his Onsets As when David neglected the proper Work and Business God by his Providence called him unto The time when Kings go forth to battel he sent Joâ—b and tarried at home himself and then the Enemy set upon him he being a walking on the Roof of his House spied a Woman washing her self which produced his fearful Fall Let Christians take heed they are not out of such Employment that God calls them to and not put an Opportunity into Satan's Hand by excess of Eating Drinking or Idleness or by gadding or gazing Abroad like Dinah Jacob's Daughter and beware how they neglect any spiritual Duty in the way of which God hath promised to keep our Souls 3. The Falls of the Saints may be occasioned by reason of the weakness of their Grace Faith may be but small or not in Exercise and so the Hope and Trust of the Soul may faâ—l If the Anchor hath not good and firm hold but should slip the Ship is in danger so it is here Hope is the Anchor of the Soul it should be therefore both sure and stedfast O ye of little Faith wherefore did you doubt Christians are in no small danger if their Faith be not strong Faith is the Shield by which we should quench all the siery Darts of the Wicked The Apostle alludes to those violent Temptations by which Satan strives to enflame Mens Lusts but right skill to use the Shield of Faith will soon quench all those Darts of Temptations A Shield is to desend every part of the Body and will if rightly used So by Faith a Christian is enabled when in the true Exercise thereof to preserve his whole Soul from Evil but let this Shield go and Satan quickly prevails If Satan can perswade a Man there is no such Evil in Sin as God's Word declares or that it is no great matter 't is no wonder he is overcome 4. They sometimes fall by reason of their own fleshly Confidence or trusting in their own Strength Though all deny thee yet will not I. Nay Peter said unto him Though I should die with thee yet I will not deny thee O how dangerous a thing is it to glory in our own Abilities or trust in Self-confidence What little knowledg have we of our own Hearts It was but a few Hours after this but Peter denied our Saviour and swore he did not know him When Men have not their whole dependance on the Grace and Power of God he oft-times leaves them that they may see without him they can do nothing And whenever God withdraws his Divine Assistance from a Person or leaves him to himself he falls immediately as Peter did 5. The Falls of the Saints may be through the Ensnarements and Vain-glory of this wicked World Hezekiah fell this way his Heart was lifted up with Pride in beholding all his Glory and Riches which he shewed to the Princes of the King of Babylon in a vain-glorious manner He shewed them all the House of his precious things the Silver and the Gold and the Spices and the precious Ointments and all the House of his Armour and all that was found in his Treasures there was nothing in his House nor in all his Dominions that Hezekiah shewed them not This was his Sin and Fall this provoked God against him And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah Hear the Word of the Lord. Behold the Days come that all that is in thine House and that which thy Fathers have laid up in Store to this Day shall be carried into Babylon nothing shall be left saith the Lord. And of thy Sons that shall issue from thee which thou shalt beget shall they take away and they shall be Eunuchs in the Palace of the King of Babylon 6. Sometimes they fall by the Subtilty of Deceivers who lie in wait to corrupt their Minds and poison their Souls with their abominable Errors Hence the Apostle Peter cautions the Saints to take heed lest they being led away by the Error of the Wicked fall from their own stedfastness 7. Many times they fall through slavish Fear in the Time of Persecution Many gracious Christians have wanted Courage in that Hour and have been prevailed with too far to a sinful Compliance with the Lusts and Wills of their Adversaries by reason of their cruel Threats and bloody Edicts who have nevertheless afterwards been restored again by Repentance as Peter was 8. Some fall through their Remisness in Duty or being off their Watch. There is no great fear of falling if Christians always stand with their Swords in their Hands and having all their Armour on Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit watching thereunto with all Perseverance The VVitch told the wicked Person as the Story goes that employed her to do Mischief to a godly Neighbour of his That she could not touch him because he was always either Reading Praying or Meditating or to that effect No Evil no Sin nor Devil need that Man fear that is always careful in the true and faithful discharge of his Duty to God If we are asleep or slothful 't is no marvel that Satan prevails and wounds our Souls How easy was it for the Philistines to cut off Sampson's Hair and bind him when he was asleep or Jael to strike a Nail through Sisera's Head he being asleep 9. And lastly They may sometimes also fall by having a greater dependance on that Grace they have already received or on the Grace that is in them than on that Grace which is in Christ Jesus we stand not by virtue of that Grace that is in our Cisterns but by the Grace that is in God's Fountain When the Grace already received fails us that Grace that is in Christ shall supply us if we by Faith depend upon him Thou therefore my Son be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus How is that done Why to have our whole dependance upon Christ who as he is our Head and Mediator hath received the Spirit without measure to the end he might communicate thereof to all his Members 'T is of his Fulness that all we receive and Grace for Grace But it is not all let out at one time we have not all our Riches put into our own
I sin God forbid 5. Hath God raised me from the lowest Hell and set me on High made me his own Child and espoused me to his Blessed Son Hath he set a Crown upon my Head and put Chains better than those of Gold about my Neck Has he clothed me with a Robe that shines like the Light and sparkles beyond all precious Stones Has he given the Flesh of his Son to me for Food and his precious Blood to me to drink and shall I sin against him God forbid 6. Hath God given me himself given me a Taste how good he is Hath he allowed me to have free access to the Throne of Grace and to have Communion with himself and with his Son and shall I sin against him God forbid 7. Hath God given me his Holy Spirit to destroy the Body of Sin and do I confess my self dead to Sin and as being dead have I been buried with Christ in Baptism and shall I live in Sin God forbid 8. Have I seen and do know the detestable Nature of Sin how evil a thing Sin is and am by the Graces of the Spirit compleatly armed to oppose resist and overcome Sin and all the Enemies of my Soul and shall I commit Sin and cowardly yield to the Temptations of Satan and acquit the Field to the Reproach and Disgrace of my Blessed Lord and Captain of my Salvation and destroy mine own Soul that Christ hath done so much to save and shall I sin God forbid 9. Am I an Heir of Heaven an Heir of Glory and have the blessed Angels to minister to me and to wait upon and to protect me who also observe how I behave my self and shall I sin God forbid 10. If I sin live in Sin make a trade of Sin it will appear I hate God resist his Will contemn his Authority cast Dung in his Face grieve his good Spirit and put the Devil into the very Throne of God and shall I live in Sin God forbid Brethren here is the principal and the grand Motive to keep you from Sin it is from these and such-like Grounds that we should not sin against God But I cannot further now enlarge I should have spoken of the Nature of Christ's Love and have shewn how that keeps the Saints from Sin and falling so as not to perish but I 'le proceed no further at this time JOHN X. 28. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand BRETHREN the last Day I was upon the second Argument to prove That all true Believers shall certainly be saved and none of them shall ever so fall away as eternally to perish Which was taken from the Nature of the infinite and unchangeable Love of God the Father Thirdly I shall now proceed to the third Argument taken from the Nature of the Love of Jesus Christ the Son and shew you that his Love secures the standing of all his Sheep or all the Elect Ones of God unto Everlasting Life First The Love of Christ is an early Love He loved us from everlasting I was set up from Everlasting from the Beginning or ever the Earth was Then I was with him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoicing in the habitable Part of his Earth and my delights were with the Sons of Men. It appears it was not only an early Love but a Love also of Complacency a Love of Delight Secondly Christ's Love to his Elect is a wonderful Love 1. If we consider the Person loving viz. the Son of God the Prince of the Kings of the Earth 2. If we consider the Persons beloved in their natural and fallen State for when such he set his Heart upon them When they lay in their Blood it was then he passed by and loved us Now when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy Time was the Time of Love and I spread my Skirt over thee and covered thy Nakedness c. We were his Enemies traiterous Enemies vile Rebels to him having abominable Enmity against him in our Hearts 3. Consider the wonderful Atchievements his Love put upon him to undertake and the wonderful Effects thereof 1. Even to become a wonderful Surety for us and to pay a wonderful Debt 2. To leave wonderful Glory even to come from Heaven where he lay in the Bosom of the Father and to come to the Earth to dunghil Earth 3. If we consider his wonderful Condescension and Abasement he became Man who thought it not robbery to be equal with God yet made himself of no reputation and took unto him the Form of a Servant He became wonderful Poor who was wonderful Rich yea amazingly Rich Heaven and Earth and all things in it being his own yet was born of a Poor Virgin who doubtless had little or no Money to accommodate her or to defray the Charges of a Lying-In at the Inn and therefore they turn'd her into the Stable where she was delivered of our Blessed Saviour and laid him in a Manger O what wonderful Abasement was this Moreover he also had no Money to pay the Tax that was laid upon him therefore sends Peter to the Sea to take a piece of Money out of the Mouth of a certain Fish He had no House of his own to dwell in no not a poor Cottage The Foxes of the Earth said he have Holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath no where to lay his Head Also when in his greatest Pomp on Earth he rode but on an Ass and that not his own neither but he borrowed it Moreover the good Women ministred Relief to him he had not to supply his own Necessities he was poor in his Life poor in his Death standing charged with the Debts of many thousands the least not owing less than ten thousand Talents which could he not have paid and satisfied for he must have lain in Prison for ever O what a Charge of Guilt was laid upon him Does Sin render a Man miserable doth one Sin charged on a Person render him poor How poor then was he for a Time that stood charged with all the Sins of his Elect He was for saken of all his Friends on Earth in his greatest Distress and by his Father in Heaven he was Poor and Miserable in the Sight of all that saw him they pulled off his Hair spit in his Face crown'd him with Thorns strip'd off his Garment and all this for the sake of his Sheep or for his Elect. 4. If we consider the wonderful and amazing Wrath he bore what a Curse he was made for us the wonderful Horror Pain and Anguish he felt the wonderful Sweat he sustained which were great Drops of Blood the wonderful Passion and Sufferings on the Cross he endured He loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood He
loved his Sheep his People his Spouse as himself above himself Mary loved him so as to wash his Feet with her Tears but he loved Mary so and all his Elect Ones as to wash their Souls in his own most precious Blood Jacob loved Benjamin David loved Absalom but David said Jonathan's Love to him was wonderful passing the Love of Women But what is a Bubble to the Ocean a Spark of Fire to a Furnace or a finite Love to an infinite Love What is all Love to Christ's Love 5. Christ's Love to his Sheep to his Elect is wonderful because it passeth knowledg That ye may know the Love of Christ that passeth Knowledg 1. It passeth the Knowledg of the Natural Man What can he with all his natural and acquired Parts find out as to the greatness and wonderfulness of Christ's Love 2. It passeth the Knowledg of the Moral Man What can the Natural or the Moral Philosopher do as to the comprehending finding out or demonstrating the Nature of Christ's Love Can he sound the Depth of the Sea Can he measure the Breadth of the Heavens Can he account the Length of Eternity Besides here is a Height that their Art discovers not the Mathematicks teacheth not this Mystery That ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the Breadth and Length the Depth and Height and to know the Love of Christ that passeth Knowledg 3. It passeth the Knowledg of the Spiritual Man he cannot arrive to a full and perfect understanding of it 4. Nay it passeth the Knowledg of the Holy Angels their Wisdom and Understanding no doubt is wonderful but here they are at a loss they stand in amaze looking into and admiring with astonishment this Love to see him that is God become Man to save such a Vile and Sinful Creature to love and delight in him that was so great an Enemy 5. It is wonderful because a whole Eternity will be but little enough to let out to Believers the Love of Christ It will never be fully known it cannot be comprehended all above and all below are at a loss they are all at a nonpluss and astonished at it Thirdly Christ's Love therefore to his Sheep to his Saints is an immense incomprehensible or an infinite Love as the Wrath and Anger of God and the Lamb when kindled and let out is inconceivable so is his precious Love to his People this Breadth Length Depth and Height doubtless refers to the unsearchable Greatness and Immensity of God Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection Canst thou come to the uttermost of what God is Canst thou find out the inmost Recesles or Secrets of God's Heart of Christ's Heart Hast thou seen what is laid up in the inner Chambers of his Spirit then thou mayst know his Love for it is like himself God is Love Love is his very Nature It is as high as Heaven what canst thou do deeper than Hell what canst thou know longer than the Earth broader than the Sea Many Wits as one notes run Riot in Geometrical Notions about Moral Dimensions and whereas Naturalists give us but three Dimensions of a Body Longitude Latitude and Profundity the Love of Christ Brethren hath Altitude added which is a Fourth Doubtless all these Dimensions are mentioned only to set forth the Immensity of Christ's Love 1. Christ's Love is broad enough to spread over and cover like a Mantle all the Sins of his Elect and also to hide them from Satan's Rage and Fury His Love is long enough to reach us with his Arm of Affections where-ever we are or whatever our Wants be Christ's Love is deep enough to find us out and relieve us under all depths of Afflictions Despondency or Distress of what sort soever Christ's Love has a Height in it enough to defend us like a high Wall against all the Assaults of those Enemies that are in high Places and above us we cannot see them As-Satan is a Spirit he has the Advantage of us such is his Nature he is said to be in high Places he is the Prince of the Power of the Air. But God is above him Christ is in a higher Sphere his Love hath a Height in it so that neither Height nor Depth can separate us from his Love as well as it cannot separate us from the Love of the Father 2. Christ's Love is an infinite or an immense Love as appears because it is without beginning it is from Eternity before ever the Earth was That which was before the World was is without beginning but the Love of Christ to his Elect was before the World was even from Everlasting Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting Love 3. Christ's Love to his Sheep to his Saints is an infinite or immense Love doth appear because his Love to them is as that Love the Father hath to him As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you Though as may not be a Note of Comparison in every Sense yet it doth signify the Truth Firmness and Greatnese of Christ's Love The Father loveth Christ with an eternal immense immutable constant free full and perfect Love so doth Jesus Christ love every one of his Elect Ones Again saith Christ to his Father that the World may know that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me He would have all know how he loves his People or such that were given to him 4. It appears to be an infinite Love because it cannot be found out defined or comprehended it passing all Understanding as also by the glorious and amazing Effects thereof which are apparent to all 5. Because it is without ending all those that Jesus Christ doth love or hath set his special Affections upon he loveth to the End his Love is not only from Everlasting but also to Everlasting he abides in his Love notwithstanding all the Weakness Frailties or Decays of Love in his People towards him He heals and with a Nevertheless will heal their Back slidings and love them freely Fourthly The Love of Jesus Christ to his Saints is a Conjugal Love it is an Espousal Love Though I purpose to speak to the Nature of that blessed and mystical Union which is betwixt Christ and every Believer under a distinct Argument yet let it be considered here that the consideration that Christ's Love is such as that he doth espouse every Godly Soul and marry it to himself this must needs be one of the highest Arguments that can be produced to prove their final Perseverance because Espousal Love is the Sweetest the Firmest and most abiding Love especially the Love of Christ's Espousal I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in Righteousness and in Judgment and in loving Kindness and in Mercy I will even betroth thee unto me in Faithfulness and thou shalt know the Lord. What words can more fully express the Firmness of
this Marriage-Contract or Espousal Love of Christ to his true Israel This Conjugal Love of Christ is that never-exhausted Fountain of all our spiritual and eternal Comforts all Mercies like Streams which never fail flow to all Believers from hence Can a Man shew greater Love to a Woman than to espouse her to be his Wife This is beyond the Love of Parents to Children Christ bestows himself on us and all he hath nay and that he might do this he bought or purchases us Christ bought his Spouse none ever gave such a vast Sum for a Wife as Jesus Christ hath done and shall any think he will lose her after all this if he is able to help it How can that enter into any Man's Thoughts Will a faithful Husband a tender Husband suffer his most dear and beloved Wife that he hath such Affection to to be torn from him and be abused and pulled into pieces and he look on If he hath Power in his Hand will he not rescue her nay die upon the Spot before he will see this done But alas ala what is the Love of any mortal Man to his Spouse to his Wife when compared with the Love of Christ to his Saints who loved his Church and gave himself for her and whose Love is as you have heard so wonderful infinite and inconceivable Moreover I hope none doubt of his Power Others may see their Wives ravished and torn in pieces before their Eyes and cannot help it they are not able to help and save them but Christ wants no Power as he wants no Wisdom Care or Affections Now what are the Enemies the most dangerous Enemies of the Spouse of Christ Is not Sin the chief Sin the World the Devil c. Will he then think you let Sin prevail Satan prevail so far as to deflour murder and destroy that precious Soul he thus loves and hath espoused to himself Those who assert final falling from a State of true Grace must say he doth thus viz. He suffers Sin to destroy his Spouse even to put out the Eyes deflour strip wound and murder the Soul he has espoused whilst he stands by and looks on and can but will not help nor deliver her because the Soul is bliaded by some Lusts or drawn away by an Enemy therefore they say he will not He that can believe such a Doctrine let him But Fifthly Christ Love hath an attracting and a retaining Quality in it It draws the Soul to Christ and it keeps it close with Christ when it hath received and imbraced him it draws nay constrains the Soul to love Christ We love him because he first loved us And no Man or Woman that loves Christ sincerely but they hate Sin it constrains the Soul to return Love for Love Christ's Love is like Elijah's Garment that he cast upon Elisha who immediately run after Elijah and said Let me I pray thee kiss my Father and Mother and then I will follow thee And be said Go back what have I done unto thee Thus doth Christ's Love to the Soul in all that feel its Influences they follow him cleave to him and also keep with him for like as the Fear of God so the Love of God is put into our Hearts if we are sincere Christians and we shall not cannot finally depart from him Sixthly Christ's Love is a free Love as nothing did purchase it so nothing can nor shall lose or forfeit it I will love them freely From the whole I infer If the Love of Jesus Christ is an early Love a Love of Complacency if it be a wonderful and amazing Love if it be an immense infinite and incomprehensible Love if it is a conjugal Love an attracting and retaining Love a free and abiding Love which he hath to every Believer then he will not ever let go that hold he hath of every one of them so as to suffer them to fall from him as eternally to perish But such is the Nature of the Love of Jesus Christ therefore he will never so let go that hold he hath of every Believer as to suffer them to fall so as eternally to perish Brethren such is the Love of Christ to his Saints as that he gives them special Tokens and Assurance of his Eternal Favour Some of them are these following 1. He calls them with an effectual and special Calling 2. He renews them and stamps his own Image upon them 3. He puts his Holy Spirit into them 4. He justifies them freely by his own Grace giving them his own Robe of Righteousness which is beyond a Garment of Cloth of Gold 5. He sanctifies them and endows them with Power to mortify Sin and when they fall he helps them up again by his right Hand 6. He seals his Love to them with the Kisses of his Mouth or by his most sure and precious Promises 7. He commands his Holy Angels to attend them and to administer to them and keep them in all his Ways 8. He leads feeds and preserves them under all Trouble Temptation and Afflictions and sympathizes with them 9. He sets them as a Seal upon his Heart as a Seal upon his Arm they are engraven on the Palms of his Hands he hath sworn that his loving Kindness shall never be taken away from them As I have sworn that the Waters of Noah should no more go over the Earth so have I sworn that I will not be wroth with thee For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my Kindness shall not depart from thee c. 10. He puts his Law into their Hearts that none of their Feet should slide APPLICATION First To close with this O see you that are Believers that you strive after the Knowledg of Christ's Love Motives 1. It is the highest Ingratitude not to desire after the Knowledg of such Love Shall a Beggar be beloved by a Prince and she not be affected with it nor inquire after it 2. Because you are the Objects of this Love of this Affection doth it not seem an amazing Consideration to you May be you can't soon believe it because you see no worth in your selves Ah saith the Soul Christ loves me thus What such a poor sorry and filthy Wretch Wonder O Heavens be astonished O Earth The more you know it the more you will love your Blessed Saviour He loved me not a righteous Person but me a Sinner a loathsom Sinner when in my Blood and Filth 3. This will make you little in your own Eyes the more we know of God and of Christ and of his Love the more we shall loath and abhor our selves O that ever I should grieve him as I have done How did the sense of God's Love and Goodness to David humble him Who am I O Lord and what is mine House that thou hast brought me hitherto And yet is this a small thing in thine Eyes O God
this the Apostle shews and affirms Therefore it is impossible such should fall away or suffer a Spiritual Death here or an Eternal Death in Hell hereafter 2 dly My second Argument from hence is this Because the Child of a natural Parent cannot cease to be his Child whilst he liveth or Life abideth in him this every Man must grant True he may prove a Rebellious and a Disobedient Child but still he is his Child and the Man that begat him is his Father that Relation cannot be lost nay and that Nature which the Child derived from his Father continues and must continue he is of his Flesh and Blood still Even so it is here and impossible it is that it should be otherwise that Man or Woman whose Soul is begotten and born of God cannot cease to be a Child of God though he may prove disobedient to his Heavenly Father and grieve and dishonour him but yet nevertheless he is a Child of God still and God who by his Spirit in a spiritual manner begot him is his Father and that blessed Relation continues and that holy Nature or Seed of Grace which he derived from God continues and must abide also in him as long as that Life he hath in him as a Child of God doth remain and that Life is as I have proved by the former Argument Eternal or Immortal 3 dly Besides I have made it most evident by my former Arguments that God in the Covenant of Grace and through the Suretiship of Jesus Christ hath provided that his Children shall never so rebel against him as finally to depart I will put my Fear into their Hearts and they shall not depart from me Though they may be backsliding Children yet God saith he is married to them which denotes that intimate Union there is between the Lord Jesus and them according to another Metaphor 4 thly None of those who were truly Regenerate or indeed the Children of God as being begotten and born of him though some of them grievously sinned against him were ever cast out so as to cease to be God's Children Where is he that can contradict this by shewing some that were indeed Children begotten of God who have by their Disobedience ceased from being his Children or never were restored after they sinned and fell Who fell worse than David and Peter I have before clearly proved though they may sin and fall yet they shall rise again Arg. 2. If all those that were the Children of God who sinned were restored and not one Instance can be given of any one of this sort i. e. that were truly regenerated that sinned fell and rose no more then none of the true Children of God can so sin so fall as eternally to perish But all those that were the Children of God who sinned were restored and not one Instance can be given of any one of this sort i. e. that were truly regenerated that sinned and fell and rose no more therefore none of the true Children of God can so sin so fall as eternally to perish 5 thly Those that are the Children of God begotten by him cannot sin so as eternally to perish and lose Eternal Life because all that are his Children are Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ This I grant is not always true of the Children of earthly Parents or earthly Princes for they are oft-times disinherited but it is otherwise here they are all born Heirs their being regenerated and united to Christ gives them a sure and undoubted Right and Title to Eternal Life The Holy Ghost positively asserts this very thing And if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ 6 thly It is because the Children of God are the Seed of Christ which the Father said Christ should see He shall see his Seed Nay the Father assured him that his Seed should indure for ever And they are all given to him and Christ will say at the last Day Lo here am I and the Children that thou hast given me none of them are lost 7 thly I argue yet further upon this Argument from that blessed Text in the first Epistle of John Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin for the Seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God I am very much mistaken if I have not my Argument here in express Terms Evident it is the Apostle means not that they do not sin at all that 's evident because he elsewhere says If we say we have no Sin we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us James also says in many things we offend all neither is there as Solomon declares a just Man upon the Earth that doth Good and sinneth not Therefore that is not the sense of the Text I will give you my understanding of it 1. So far as he is born of God he doth not commit Sin or so he sins not that is the New Creature doth not sin that never yields to Sin but evermore wars against it and resisteth it This is that which Paul calls the Law of his Mind it is the renewed or regenerated Part or 't is that which is born of God that lusteth against the Flesh or wars against it 2. He doth not nay he cannot sin as others do this appears by that I mentioned last because of that new Nature or blessed Seed he hath received 3. He cannot live in a Course of Sin or make a Trade of Sins He cannot live in a custom of Sinning because all evil Habits are broken by Divine Grace in him That Man that lives in any way of Sin the old Habit of Lying Pride Lusts Drunkenness Covetousness or any other Sin being not broken is not born of God for it is impossible a Child of God should so sin i. e. live in a course and practice of committing of known Sins or in a constant and continual omission of known Duties Though he may fall into gross Sins as David and other Children of God did yet they continue not in a Course of such Sins that once possibly they were overcome by nay be sure they set a greater Watch against such Sins and hate them rather more than all other Sins because thereby they greatly dishonoured God and wounded their own Souls 4. Therefore Sin is not his Way or Walk he doth not commit Sin as to walk after it he walks not after the Flesh but after the Spirit He may step into the Way of Sin but he soon steps out of it again whereas others walk in that Way every Day it is the high Way the common Road of the Ungodly 5. He doth not commit Sin with Liking Allowance and Love Though the fleshly Part may like love and allow of it yet he finds another Part in him that hates it What I hate that do I. And hence it is the Apostle saith It is not I that doth it but Sin that dwells in
Life of Grace here and the Life of Glory hereafter Arg. 8. If there is no Condemnation to such who are in Jesus Christ or have Union with him if they have Everlasting Life because they have Union with the Son and are passed from Death to Life and shall not come into Condemnation then this Sacred Union secures and saves all that are united to Christ from falling away so as eternally to perish But that all this is true we have proved and it is in plain words asserted by the Holy Ghost therefore this Sacred Union secures and saves them all from eternal perishing Arg. 9. If Christ in us is a certain and sure Ground of the Hope of Glory and that Hope is the Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast that cannot be lost then Union with Christ gives all such an assurance of Salvation and that none of them that have Union with Christ or have Christ in them can eternally perish But that this is so the Holy Ghost doth positively assert therefore none of them can so perish Arg. 10. Lastly If Faith in the Habit of it through which by the Spirit we come to have this Actual Union with Christ can never be lost or shall not fail then none that have Union with Christ shall ever perish But that Faith in the Habit of it cannot be lost or shall not fail our Saviour affirms it being one part of his Prayer when on Earth and no doubt it is part of his Intercession now in Heaven I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not And he never asked any thing of the Father but it was granted him And I know thou hearest me always Therefore they can never perish I might add here that Communion which flows necessarily from this Union which affords a strong Argument for the Saints final Perseverance Union cannot be without Communion for whilst the Members are united to a living Head there will be as one observes an Influx of Animal Spirits whereby they shall partake of Life and Motion and though a Believer I grant may lose the sensible Experience of Communion with Christ yet the Spirit from their Mystical Head will be working in them providing for them and standing by them To conclude with this Argument I argue 1. If our Union be by the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit 2. If our Union with Christ be a Conjugal Union a Marriage-Union 3. If it be as near a Union as is between the Body the Members of the Natural Body 4. If it be such a Union as is between the Tree and the Branches 5. If it be such a Union as is between the Father and Son as Christ is Mediator 6. If it be a Union of Spirits as if but one Soul was in two Bodies 7. If it be such a Union that Believers partake of the Divine Nature 8. If it be a Vital Union 9. If it be such a Union that cannot be dissolved by all the Powers of Darkness the Seed of Grace remaining Then it is impossible for any Believer that hath Union with Christ to perish Eternally But all these things are true therefore no true Believer can Eternally perish APPLICATION First These things being so we may infer that our Union with Christ is a most glorious Spring of the greatest Comfort to Believers imaginable 1. From hence Brethren comes in your Actual Justification No Man is personally justified before he receives Christ by Faith before he has actual Union with him But every Soul that is in Christ is actually justified and discharged from all the Guilt of his Sins and stands in Christ compleat in his perfect Righteousness without Spot before the Throne of God 2. Such are made near and dear to Christ O how near is the Wife to the Husband or the Members to the Body even so near and dear is every Soul that hath actual Union with Christ unto him 3. From hence flows our Communion with Christ for by virtue of our Union we come to have our Natures changed It is hereby that we come to behold as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord and are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. It is impossible that a brutish and swinish Creature as all unrenewed Men and Women are should have Communion with the Holy God or with the Holy and Blessed Jesus What Fellowship hath Righteousness with Vnrighteousness Or what Communion hath Light with Darkness Or what Concord hath Christ with Belial If we would have Communion with Christ we must be Holy and touch not the unclean thing And impossible it is that we should be Holy until we come to have Union with Jesus Christ by which means we come to partake of his pure Nature and have the evil Habits of our vile and filthy Hearts and Souls changed The Tree must be first made good and then the Fruit will be good Man naturally is united to the Devil and to his own Sin and Iniquity and hath Enmity in his Heart against God The Prince of Darkness is the Head of this dark and wicked World The Vnderstandings Wills and Affections of all Men are under diabolical Influence ever since Adam betrayed us into the Enemies Hands and abide so until that Union be dissolved by the Power of Divine Grace and the Soul united by the Spirit unto Jesus Christ We are united to the first Adam by a Likeness of Nature and how can we be united to the Second without a Principle of Life by which another a new Nature is formed in us We were united to the First by a living Soul and we must be united to the other by a quickning Spirit By Nature Man is dead in Sins and Trespasses and how can he have Communion with a living Christ without a Principle of Life Would any go about to join a stinking Carcass to the Holy Jesus Would not any think it a great Plague to him if he had a dead and rotten Carcass united to him O remember it is from your Union with Christ your Communion with him follows yea and your Communion with the Saints too you can take no delight in Heavenly Company nor Heavenly Things without an Heavenly Heart 3. By this Union you that are Believers come to have interest in and a right unto all things Jesus Christ hath purchased by his Death nor shall any ever have any share or part in all those Spiritual and Eternal Blessings except they obtain this Union As the Cyon cannot partake of the Sap and Fatness of the Olive-Tree without it is grafted into the Stock no more can we partake of the Fatness and glorious Fulness of the true Olive Jesus Christ unless we are grafted into him by Faith and have the Indwellings of the Spirit and then all things that Christ merited for us and are laid up in him for us are ours 4. It is by virtue of this Union that we have
effected is no Redemption 5. Brethren is Christ an Universal Saviour of the Souls of all Men Why there can be no Universal Redemption unless there be an Universal Redeemer as I said before but there is no such Universal Redeemer Object We do not plead for an absolute Vniversal Redemption but for a Conditional and that Condition is to be performed by the Creature and many perish because they do not perform it the Condition is Faith Regeneration Sincere Obedience and Holiness c. Answ The Condition they say is Repentance Faith and Regeneration Now were it thus as these Men affirm then how is Christ rendred even more weak and inconsiderate than any Man of Understanding For what Man would lay down ten thousand Pounds to redeem a Captive out of Slavery when he knew a cruel Tyrant had him in his Hands and in strong Chains and would not let him go nor regard at all the Sum laid down for his Ransom there being no treating with him he ' I take no Price but unless he is conquered and the Person redeemed by Power the Money is lost This is the Case Christ's Blood is the Ransom that was laid down to satisfy the Law and Justice of God but all and every Man and Woman in the World is under the Power of Sin and Satan and unless Christ delivers the Soul out of the Hands of these Enemies by the Power of his own Arm his Blood would be of none Effect to redeem any one Soul Therefore God by this Conditional Universal Redemption rather seems to mock Men according to these Mens Notion for this is the purport of it You are redeemed Sinner yea all of you by Christ's Death if you can redeem your selves Do but your part and you are redeemed What is that Why answer the Conditions viz. change your own evil Hearts make you a new Heart believe in Christ get out of Satan's Chains raise your selves from the Dead and you shall be redeemed Is this possible Strange doth the Righteous God make that the Condition of Salvation on the Creature 's Part which he knew the Creature was no more able to do than to give sight to the Blind or raise the Dead 2. Besides it renders Christ to be but a Conditional Redeemer could the Creature answer the Condition yea and it puts Christ but into a possibility also of being a Redeemer as one well observes he is not actually so whilst he stands under that Conditionality for the Conditionality doth not only lie upon the Person to be redeemed so that he cannot be a redeemed One till the Condition is performed But it puts also a Bar to the Purchaser he can't in any good sense be called the Redeemer of such a Person 'till the Person hath performed the Condition As for Example if I lay down an hundred Pounds for the Redemption of a Person in Slavery upon this Condition that he yield to serve me seven Years after I must have his Consent to these Terms before I can redeem him and therefore upon this Condition I am certainly suspended from being a Redeemer and am no Redeemer to the said Person if he refuse the Terms all that I have done is but a Proffer of Terms Hence saith the said Reverend Author for Christ to be a Conditional Universal Redeemer is a Contradiction for it 's to be but a Redeemer of some that perform the Condition and no Redeemer to them who do not 6. To which let me add this Notion of Conditional Redemption renders Salvation not to be freely of God's Grace no not the very Purchase it self because in the Design of it it was not to be had without the Creatures Money I mean without his answering the Condition of Repentance Faith Regeneration and final Perseverance c. which to do they deny Christ's purchased Grace and Power for all or any one or hath he promised to perform it for them or to work it in them No but it is that which absolutely the Creature must find Power Strength and Skill to do or perish for ever the Redemption being intended for him on no other Terms all depends on the Will of Man 't is as Man's Will determines it 7. Moreover who can suppose Christ would shed his Blood and lay down such an infinite Sum to redeem such whom he knew would not answer those Conditions propounded Nay and which is worse to lay down his Life to redeem Multitudes upon such Conditions which he knew they were no more able to perform than to create a World Can this stand consistent with the Wisdom and Goodness of Jesus Christ This Assertion of theirs saith the same Author is as if they should say A. B. purchased an Estate for me and in my Name upon Condition that I should take up the Monument and carry it over the Bridg. 8. All those that have Redemption or that Christ died to redeem have or shall have remission of Sin But the greatest part of Men have not nor ever shall have remission of Sin therefore Christ did not die for the greatest part of the World Redemption and Forgiveness of Sins is of equal extent 9. Again I might argue thus Those that Christ did not pray for he did not die for those that he never would put up one Prayer one Sigh to the Father for certainly he never purchased Remission of Sins and Eternal Life for I pray for them I pray not for the World but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine Now it is easy to know what World it was Christ prayed not for namely those that were not given to him by the Father for all that were of the World that did belong to the Election of Grace though then under the Power of Sin and Unbelief he did pray for Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their Words the Elect whilst Sinners may be called the World as well as any others 10. If Christ died for all he intended to save all But Christ did not intend to save all therefore he did not die for all Strange will any say our Lord Jesus did that which was contrary to his Purpose and Intertion And if it was his Intention to save all who could frustrate him in it Why then are not all saved Sirs the Death of Christ cannot extend to the Salvation of any one Soul further than the Intention and Purpose of God or the Election of the Father and Application of the Holy Spirit 11. Those that Christ died for he purchased Grace for Remission of Sin for and all things in order to make the Redemption of his Blood effectual unto he purposed to bestow the lesser Grace and Gift upon them as well as the greater Would a Man give a Million to purchase such an Estate for a Man and will he refuse to part with five Pounds in order to have it made sure to him for whom he laid down so great
perpetually to be continued the Death of Christ hath special influence unto the mortification of Sin in the Death of the Cross Our Old Man is crucified that the Body of Sin might be destroyed Sin is mortified and we are sanctified by virtue of the Death of Christ and we hereby through his Grace come to be planted into the Likeness of his Death And as Paul in another place saith Being made conformable unto his Death This Conformity is not in our Natural Death or in our being put to death for him but Christ dying for our Sins is the procuring Cause of our dying to Sin therefore we must look for the Death of our Sins in the Death of Christ as the proper Effect thereof Virtue goeth from the Death of Christ to the subduing and destroying of Sin his Death was not only a Passive Example but is accompanied with Power conforming and changing us into his Likeness 'T is the great Ordinance of God to this very End it is by a fellowship or participation in his suffering we are never made conformable to the Death of Christ till we die to Sin the Death of Christ was designed to be the Death of Sin And as certain as Christ died for the Sins of all the Elect so certain it is they shall all first or last feel the powerful Effects thereof in the Death of their Sins The Corn fell into the Ground and died and shall produce all the Increase that virtually was hid in it Christ is our Life the Spring Fountain and Cause of it therefore we have nothing but what we derive from him Object He is say some the Author of Life and as he taught the Way of Life so he is our Life Answ He is our Life as he is our Head and it would be but a sorry Head that should only teach the Feet to go or the Members to act and move without communicating Strength unto them and to the whole Body Christ Brethren is an Head of Influence and in these spiritual Influences or Life that Strength which he communicates to us doth consist in the killing of Sin He loved his Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blame And if this was his End in his Death be sure his Death shall perfectly effect this glorious Work in the End upon every Soul of his Tenthly and lastly Glorification is also an Effect of the Death of Christ it is the Fruit of his Suffering it was by his own Blood he entred as our Head and Representative once into the Holy Place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us The Crown of Glory is the Purchase of his Blood and as sure as his Righteousness his Holy Life and Obedience and Meritorious Death carried him to the Father and set him down at the right Hand of the Majesty on high so will his Merits as certainly bring all the true Heirs to that Glory above where the Fore-runner is for us already entered For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many Sons to Glory to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through Sufferings First he brings those Sons into a State of Grace as the Effects of his Death and Resurrection and unto a State of Glory And whom he justified them also he glorified I shall draw up the Sum of this Argument If such are the certain Fruits and Effects of Christ's Death 1. If it hath appeased the Wrath of God for all that are in him 2. If it hath made their Peace and for ever reconciled them unto God 3. If the Holy Spirit is purchased and procured as the Effects of his Death for them by which they are renewed quickned and helped to mortify Sin and is to them an Earnest a Witness and Seal of Everlasting Life and shall abide with them for ever 4. If Justification is the Effect of Christ's Death and they are for ever acquitted from all Sin and accepted as Righteous in Christ's Righteousness 5. If all that believe in him are sanctified as the Effects of his Death and shall be perfected for ever 6. If Pardon of Sin is an Effect also of Christ's Death and all Believers have and shall have their Sins forgiven for ever or remembred no more 7. If they are adopted Sons and Daughters to God as the Effect of Christ's Death 8. And also if Glorification is an Effect of his Death and as certain as is the Cause the Effect will be or as sure as Christ is glorified in Heaven all that are his Members shall be glorified Then it is impossible that any one of them should so fall away as eternally to perish But all these things are true and none dare to deny them so to be therefore they cannot fall so as eternally to perish I shall apply this and come to the next Argument APPLICATION First To Sinners 1. Hath the Death of Christ such Virtue in it even to renew quicken regenerate all that believe in him Is God through the Death of his Son reconciled and shall all that take hold of him be justified c. O then Sinners look up unto him and never cease looking until you find the Effects of his Death in your own Souls Object 1. But alas Sir I am a vile and abominable Sinner Answ Well notwithstanding that yet there is Virtue enough in Christ to save you Object 2. But I have been a Drunkard a Swearer an Adulterer a Thief Answ So had some of those Paul speaks of 1 Cor. 6. 11. Such were some of you but you are sanctified but you are justified Object 3. But I have been an Old Sinner Answ Well let it be so yet but a Sinner and Christ died for Sinners for the chief of Sinners therefore there is hope for you nay if you can believe and apply the Virtue of Christ's Blood you shall find Mercy Object 4. But I fear Christ did not die for me Answ 1. If he died for the Chief of Sinners why not for thee And if those that crucified him found Mercy why not thee 2. Thou hast as much ground to believe that Christ died for thee as any ungodly Person hath that dwells on the Face of the whole Earth Sinner look up Nay 3. Thou hast as much ground to believe that Christ died for thee as any of those had once who now feel the Effects of his Death 4. Did ever any Sinner throw himself at his Feet as a poor lost and undone Creature and take hold of him that was rejected Query What is the first Effect of Christ's Death Answ The first Effect of Christ's Death in the Soul is Life Life is infused And if thou hast a vital Principle in thee thou wilt cry out under the Sense of thy
Sin Thrust a Sword into a dead Man's Bowels and he will not stir nor cry out Sin is in wicked Men like a Sword in the Sides of such as are dead but as soon as Life is infused there will be Sense and a crying out Now when they heard this they were pricked in the Heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles What shall we do Some of these had been the Murderers of the Lord of Life and Glory yet they found Mercy 2 dly Another Effect is this viz. You will perceive a mighty Famine in your Soul as it was with the Prodigal Son all your old Hopes of Heaven will be gone Poverty of Spirit will overtake you An awakned wounded Sinner despairs of all Supplies or Help in himself he is distressed with pinching Hunger and so flies home to his Father 1. Yet may not get Power over Sin presently 2. But O he trembles at the Thoughts of God's Justice by beholding the Spear in Christ's Side 3. He throws down his Weapons as being conquered and overcome and resolves to do as the four Lepers did 2 Kings 7. 3 4 8 9. 4. He sees nothing but Death if he abides where he is and believes not And if he returns to his old Course he sees he must die and therefore ventures to throw his Soul upon Christ or ventures himself on Christ and lies at the Feet of Christ and says If I perish I perish I can but die and if he will pardon me heal me and have compassion on me I shall live O Sinners that you could but do thus Secondly We may infer from hence that it is in vain for any Person to talk of Christ's Death or to say Christ died for Sinners nay for the whole World and therefore for me unless they come to feel the Virtue and blessed Effects of his Death on their own Souls O see you rest not without finding the Power of the Death of Christ Sirs though the Sacrifice is over yet the Virtue and excellent Causality of it remains and not only to justify and absolve a believing Sinner but also to quicken regenerate and to sanctify and make him Holy also Therefore labour to know and experience the Power of Christ's Death Thirdly From hence also we may infer that this is the only Way to know Christ died for us namely when we find the Effects of his Death that we die to Sin that the Body of Sin is crucified in us with him Hath the Life of your Sins been let out O see to this you that prosess the Gospel Fourthly This shews us also what a dangerous thing it is for any to build their Faith upon the general Love of God to Mankind What say some I believe Christ died for me because he died for all and because for all therefore for me Brethren I am afraid this is the ruin of many Souls because it may be but a false Faith that those poor Creatures have they may not experience the Effects of Christ's Death may be it is not prest upon their Consciences but this of Christ dying for all they think is enough Now pray consider and O that all such mistaken Persons would consider it also 1. That a general Faith viz. to believe that Christ died for all gives no Man any particular saving Interest in Christ's Death for if it did then every Man that so believeth hath a saving Interest in his Death But thousands perhaps so believe and yet are as vile and ungodly People as any in the World Therefore to build on that general Faith without a particular Application of the Promise or Promises of God and experiencing the Effects of Christ's Death is a false Faith and deceives the Soul 2. That that Faith which a Man may have that may leave such that have it and trust in it under the Power of Sin is a false Faith and will deceive the Soul but Men may have that Faith namely believe Christ died for all and therefore for them and yet be under the Power of Sin therefore that may be a false Faith 3. That Faith that doth not change the Heart purify the Heart is a false Faith But many that believe Christ died for all and therefore for them have that Faith and yet it doth not change their Hearts purify their Hearts therefore it is a false Faith 4. From hence I argue that it follows undeniably that all those People that believe Christ died for all must come to a particular Application of Christ's Blood and not trust to that general Application they must feel the Effects of Christ's Death upon their own Souls or else they are undone nor do I doubt in the least but many of them of that Judgment do so divers of them being as gracious Christians as any others and have Experiences that clearly contradict their own Principles Fifthly and Lastly Here is Comfort for Believers O see what the Death of Christ hath and will effect for you and in you 1. God's Wrath is appeased in him towards you 2. Justice is satisfied in him towards you 3. The Law is silenced 4. Peace and Pardon procured 5. Life is infused 6. The Guilt Power Pollution and Punishment of Sin removed and gone for ever 7. You are justified 8. Satan is conquered 9. The World is overcome you are and shall be sanctified and Heaven is opened you are in Christ's Hand and shall not perish but have Everlasting Life JOHN X. 28. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand BRETHREN there are but two Arguments more that I intend to insist upon for the farther Proof and Demonstration of the Saints final Perseverance or to prove That none of the Saints or Sheep of Christ can so sin and fall away as eternally to perish I spoke the last Day to the Effects of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ I might proceed to speak to the Intercession of Christ also but I shall take that in the Arguments I shall next enter upon Ninthly The Saints are in the Hand of the Father and in the Hand of the Son considered as Mediator And from hence I shall prove That it is impossible they should so fall away as eternally to perish First I shall shew you in what respect they may be said to be in the Hand of the Father and what is meant by his Hand and how that doth secure them Secondly Shew you what is meant by their being in the Hand of the Son and shew you how that may be said also to secure their firm standing and tends to their final Perseverance Thirdly Shew you in what respect they may be said to be in Christ's Hand First By the Hand of the Father doth intend his Power Behold the Lord's Hand is not shortned that he cannot save As if God should say I am not grown weaker than formerly I am God Almighty still and as Omnipotent
remainders of Corruption which none but he by his Spirit can finally vanquish overcome and root out for ever And should he not pursue his Victory all he hath done will prove fruitless and in vain therefore be sure he will never cease until he hath brought all his Foes not only under his Foot but destroyed them for ever more 14. They are in Christ's Hand as a poor Orphan is in the Hand of his Guardian who commits himself wholly to his Care Faithfulness and Compassion whilst in non-age not being able to help himself or shift for himself Thus I say Believers are in the Hand of Jesus Christ they are as poor helpless Orphans under-Age and have every one of them chosen him to be the only Guardian and Trustee of their Souls or have wholly committed themselves to his Care by a holy Resignation of themselves to him to be his and no more their own for ever and will not he be faithful think you to every one of them especially considering they did it also at his Command and by the Influence of his Spirit Will he betray his Trust who hath taken them into his House and under his own Conduct or leave them to shift for themselves They first gave themselves to the Lord and unto us by the Will of God And as David saith The Poor committeth himself unto thee thou are the helper of the Fatherless He yields himself up to thee Himself his Matter his Cause And what says he further Thou shalt keep them O Lord thou shalt preserve them from this Generation and for ever He tells us in the 5 th verse who they are even the Poor and Needy Brethren this lays a great Obligation upon a Guardian when he sees what a Child or any Person hath done in chusing him in confiding in his Fidelity and putting his whole Trust and Dependence in him What Man that has a Principle of Honesty or of Morality will deceive or fail such a One after he hath taken the sole Care and Charge of him And shall Christ be more unfaithful to the Souls of his People God forbid From the whole I infer 1. If all Believers are in the Father's Hand or under his Eternal Purpose and Counsel to save 2. If God's Purposes are Immutable 3. If he hath not left it to any mixtures of Counsels if he is Omnipotent and can and will bring all his Absolute Purposes to pass 4. If it be folly to imagine any of his Purposes should be subjected to the Will of Man 5. If Christ be the right Hand of God or in whom all his Attributes are united to the Perfection of his Power to save Believers 6. If Christ also hath them all in his Hand as God's faithful Servant and as their Surety or Trustee 7. If many of them are gone to Heaven already 8. If all Interests concerned in our Salvation are well pleased in Christ's Undertaking 9. If the Glory of every one of the Divine Attributes are raised in the Salvation of each Believer 10. If Christ hath received a Charge to keep every one of them and to lose none as he hath promised to do 11. If Christ is every ways fitted to supply his Saints with all things they need or can need And 12. If they are all in Christ's Hand in all those respects I have mentioned then it is impossible any one of them should so fall away as eternally to perish But all this is undeniably true therefore not one of them can so fall away as eternally to perish I should make some Improvement of this but having but one Argument to add to prove the Proposition I shall leave the Application to the last wherein I shall shew you how Christ doth preserve his Saints in a way of Holiness and Obedience unto Eternal Life JOHN X. 28. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand BRETHREN though I hope I have sufficiently through Divine Assistance proved the Proposition i. e. That none of the Saints can so full away as eternally to perish Yet I shall add one General Argument more and then come to the Application and answer such Objections which I have not as yet met with Tenthly That the Saints of God or every true Believer shall persevere or hold out to the End and obtain Everlasting Life will appear from the Nature of true and saving Grace That therefore which I shall in the last place do shall be to demonstrate that true Grace though never so weak and small even like a Grain of Mustard-seed yet it shall be preserved in the Soul and at last become victorious See Matth. 12. 20. A bruised Reed shall he not break and smoaking Flax shall he not quench till he hath brought forth Judgment to Victory Hierom as I find him quoted by a Learned Author thinks that our Saviour alludes to a Musical Instrument made of a Reed which Shepherds used to have which when it was bruised sounded ill and therefore 't is flung away But the Lord Jesus Christ will not cast away a poor Soul saith that Worthy Person although he cannot make so good Musick in God's Ear as others or answer not the breathing of the Spirit with that Life and Vigour but he will take Pains with them and mend them who in a spiritual sense are like a bruised Reed broken and bruised under the sense of their Sins Weaknesses and Unworthinesses Smoaking Flax or a little Flax that hath a Spark of Fire kindled in it or a Wick of Candle wherein there is not only no Profit but some Trouble and Noisomness Tho the Soul is noisom by reason of the stench of its Corruption yet he will not blow out that expiring Fire which smoaks and though no Fire is seen yet there is Fire in it and it is kindled by the Lord and for some great and good Design By the Spark of Fire in the Flax let our Saviour refer to what he pleases is meant no doubt Divine Grace in the Soul of a poor weak and desponding Christian and this Christ will not quench that is he will tenderly cherish it and cause it to kindle more and more until he makes it flame forth and burn clearly And he will heal cure and strengthen the bruised Reed that is he will never cease until the Soul doth obtain a perfect Victory over Sin Satan the Flesh the World and over all Enemies Grace shall prevail over Corruption though there seems more Smoke than Fire more Sin than Grace more Weakness than Strength more Darkness than Light more Fear than Faith yet Grace shall be victorious Grace is that Principle of Life in the Soul the Law of God written in the Heart which shall never finally be obliterated any more or God's Image that shall not utterly be defaced Again Grace as the Seed of Glory shall abide in the Soul in spight of all the Opposition Hell can make And
this I shall endeavour to prove and fully demonstrate First From the Nature of Grace it self Secondly In respect of the Fountain from whence it doth proceed i. e. the Blessed God and Father of Mercy Thirdly From Christ the Purchaser and more immediate Author the Beginner and Finisher of it in the Soul he is the Alpha and Omega of Grace First From the Nature of Grace it self 1. Let us consider unto what it is compared even to a small Seed to a Grain of Mustard-seed which becomes after it is sown a great Tree If ye have Faith as a Grain of Mustard-seed ye shall say unto this Mountain Remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove and nothing shall be impossible unto you The Mountain of Guilt of Pollution of Corruption of Opposition shall be removed out of the way of that Person sooner or later that hath never so small a Measure of Grace such is the Nature of it I do not judg that our Saviour chiefly refers here to the Faith of Miracles but our late Annotator no doubt is right I take the plain sense of the Text to be this saith he that there is nothing which may tend to the Glory of God or to our Good but may be obtained of God by a firm exercise of Faith in him Whether our Saviour speaketh here of a Faith of Miracles or no I will not determine I rather think that he speaks here of any true Faith c. A weak Faith put into exercise shall prevail and overcome at last This is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith it doth and shall overcome in every Soul at last This Seed I have proved already doth remain it can never be rooted out of the good Ground where it was received into honest Hearts it brought forth Fruit unto Everlasting Life 2. Grace in the Soul is compared to a Well of living Water The Water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of living Water springing up unto Everlasting Life Grace in the Soul is like a Well that hath a never-sailing Spring at the bottom Grace proceeds from the Spring or Well of Salvation which continually supplies the Soul until it comes to Heaven We have a glorious Figure of this in the Water that gushed out of the Rock smitten in the Wilderness that never ceased following the Israelites until they came to Canaan True this Water may not rise up always alike but may sometimes be low like our Rivers it may have its Ebbs as well as its Flows but when it is a very low Tide it risen again and may be by degrees higher than ever it was before They shall revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine the Scent thereof shall be as the Wine of Lebanon 3. Grace is compared to Leaven which a Woman hid in three Measures of Meal till the whole was leavened the whole Soul Grace is of a diffusive Quality It works also like Leaven gradually it diffuseth it self first into the Vnderstanding and leavens that with blessed Gospel-Light It also diffuseth it self into the Will and bows and subjecteth that to the Power of Divine Truth and to a full Acceptance of Jesus Christ chusing him and relying upon him for Righteousness and Eternal Life It also diffuseth it self into the Affections of the Soul and then the whole is leavened It leavens or makes gracious every Faculty of the Soul and all its Powers the Body and all its Members Grace like Leaven makes the Creature a new Lump and of the same Nature with it self Holy Spiritual Heavenly c. Leaven is a quickning thing so Grace through the Spirit is the quickning Principle in the Soul Grace when received will like Leaven do its Work and never cease till all is in a spiritual manner leavened therewith 4. Grace is also compared by the Spirit of God to Fire 1. 'T is a Divine Spark that God kindles in the Soul which he taketh pains to do of his own abundant Goodness 2. And as he will not quench it himself as you heard so none else can And if it cannot be put out then be sure it will burn it is the Nature of Fire to seize on whatsoever is combustible Now Sin is that proper Fuel which Grace will never cease consuming until it hath quite brought it as it were to Ashes 3. Jesus Christ came on purpose from Heaven to kindle this Fire to burn up Sin and all Corruptions in the Souls of his People And can any think it is in the Power of Satan by his Temptations to quench it for ever and so frustrate his gracious Design If the Devil could not quench it when it was but a small Spark like smoaking Flax when it was first kindled in the Soul how should he be able to do it then when it has got a greater head All know it is much easier to put out and get the mastery of a Fire at first kindling than it is afterwards Yet mistake me not I do not say that this Divine Fire burns always alike in the Soul No Satan and Corruption may damp and lessen its burning but what tho for notwithstanding the Operations of Grace may be interrupted by the Law in the Members the Flesh lusting and warring against the Spirit and it may suffer an Eclipse and a poor Christian may lose the sense and feeling Influences of it at some times as to the comforting Operations thereof yet the Habit of Grace can never be lost 5. The Spirit of Grace is a Vital Principle it is the Life of the Believer or of the Soul of a Child of God Nay and this Life is Eternal it is in them an Eternal Vital Principle as I have proved since I was upon this Text therefore Grace through the Spirit prevents their eternal perishing those that have the Spirit in them and Grace in them have Christ and Everlasting Life in them Moreover should any say that Grace is not immutable in it self yet say I with relation it stands in unto Christ viz. having a Spring at the bottom it is an abiding Principle it will and must live Moreover it is a powerful and permanent Principle Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the World that is the Holy Spirit in the Graces and blessed Influences thereof Sin shall not have dominion over you because you are not under the Law but under Grace 6. Grace is a holy and sanctifying Principle it resisteth Sin and purgeth the Conscience It teacheth us to deny all Vngodliness and worldly Lusts to live soberly godly and righteously in this present World 7. Why is Grace called saving if Men may have it and yet perish Certainly that Grace that a Man may have and be damned is not saving Grace Secondly Grace shall abide in the Souls of Believers in respect of the Fountain of it from whence it proceeds namely the Holy God 1.
I argue If Grace though never so weak shall be victorious if Grace be such a Blessed Principle such a Spark that Sin nor Satan can't quench such a Seed that no Enemy can get out of the Ground of our Hearts if Grace through the Spirit is Life Eternal Life in the Soul if Grace be the Darling of Heaven hath such great and Almighty Allies if the whole Trinity sate in Council about the Birth of Grace or the Way of its infusion into the Soul if it be the Gift of the Father's Free Love and a part of his Holy Nature if it be wrought in us to shew forth his Praise if Grace be God's great and glorious Workmanship if the Power of God be engaged to preserve it in us if God hath promised to maintain its Life in us if it cannot stand consistent with God's Wisdom Love Faithfulness and Holiness to let it be totally overcome and vanquished in the Souls of his Elect if Christ purchased Grace for us if he was manifest to take away Sin if Christ be the Author and Finisher of Grace in the Soul if the Life of Grace tends so much to the Honour of Christ if Christ's Work now in Heaven is to interceed for the continuation of Grace in us that it may never fail in the Seed or Habit of it Then no true Believer can fall so from Grace as eternally to perish But all this is true therefore no Believer can so fall from Grace as eternally to perish APPLICATION First Of Information 1. First from the whole we may learn that the State of Believers through the Redemption by Jesus Christ is far better than Adam's was by Creation for though we have no natural and inherent Power of our own yet we have a supernatural Power ingaged to help and uphold us we are kept by the Power of God He stood by the Strength of Nature and Power of Free-Will before the Fall We by the Strength of Grace and Power of the Mediator who hath a Charge to uphold us in a State of Grace which was not allowed to Adam nor the Angels we have not only the Word of Grace to encourage us but also the Power of Grace to establish us Adam stood by his own Original Righteousness our standing is by the Suretiship Righteousness and Undertakings of Jesus Christ Who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Adam's Life was in himself our Life is hid in Christ and so out of the Power of our worst Enemies to come at it or deprive us of it and as Adam and all his were condemned so Christ and all his are justified 2. It may inform us that such who make a Profession of Religion without attaining to a State of true Grace and real Union with Christ are in danger of eternal Ruin notwithstanding whatsoever their Knowledg Gifts and common Improvements may be and their Hopes thereupon and that they are of this sort that frequently fall away and perish in their Sins which if well weighed may put every Professor into serious Thoughts and upon a thorow Work of Self-examination about their present Condition and therefore in this respect there is need enough of those Cautions and Take-heeds in the Scripture Let him that thinketh he stands take heed lest he fall How many are there who do but think they stand or that their State is safe and good when in truth they are in no better Condition than the Foolish Virgins or the thorny and stony-ground Professors 3. It also may inform us that all those that shall be saved are such who take care to make their Calling and Election sure It is a palpable Demonstration that they are under strong Delusion who suppose Election only refers to the End and not to the Means or that Men that are elected shall be saved let them live how they please No no the Case is quite otherwise we are elected to be Holy as well as to be Happy the whole Design of God herein being to make us Holy and also to preserve us in a Way and State of Holiness Therefore if thou dost begin well hast obtained true Grace and dost continue in a Way of well-doing or dost bring forth good Fruit and dost not waver nor faint in thy Mind it may be an Evidence that thy State is Good and that thou art one of Christ's Sheep who follow him constantly and wilt so follow him unto the End Secondly This may be Matter of great Comfort to weak Believers and such who may be under spiritual Deadness and feel Corruption too strong for them O do not be discouraged the weakest Grace gives a deadly wound to Sin and a good ground of Hope thy State is safe your Names are written in Heaven which is as our Saviour notes the greatest Cause of Joy which it could not be if their Names might be blotted out again 'T is no wonder Sin is in thee and makes thee mourn when it made Paul to cry out O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Sin and Death 'T is one thing to have the Law of Sin in our Members and to have Sin in our Conversations and another thing to have it reign in us or to have it in our Affections Soul remember that weak Grace weak Faith shall become victorious Thou hast Grace enough in thy Head though thou hast but little in thy Hand O cry to God be much in Prayer that God would give thee more Grace and supply thy Wants and quicken and revive thy Soul as he hath promised A weak Faith renders the Soul as perfectly justified in Christ as the strongest Faith any Man hath whosoever he be and gives a Title to Eternal Life he that had but a weak or a dim Eye that look'd up unto the Brazen Serpent was as well healed as he that had a strong Sight or good Eyes 2. This Doctrine yields much Comfort to the strongest Saint also for if he that hath never so strong and lively Faith might fall finally away and perish what would Regeneration Justification Adoption c. signify to him Would not his Spirits droop and his Fears torment him But here by virtue of the Doctrine of final Perseverance is Comfort both for the Weak and Strong both have equal Interest in Christ in God's Love in the Covenant both are elected both are in Christ's Hand Such who have now a strong Faith had once but a weak Faith it was but a little Seed once and Christ's Charge extends to those that are weak He carries the Lambs in his Arms and the Stock in Christ's Hand is sure and his Promise of supply shall not fail and the Strong cannot stand of themselves Thirdly Caution Judg not of the Truth of thy Grace by the weakness of it a little Gold a Dram is Gold as well as a great Wedg 2. Let not this encourage thee to be negligent or remiss in Duty God
do appropriate part of it to my self which is the worst part of Popery They say that Christ's Merits with their own good Works do justify and save them And what do the Arminians say less who join Faith Inherent Righteousness and Sincere Obedience with the Merits of Christ both in Justification before God and in the Salvation of their Souls They say all Men are in a capacity or have Power to work out their own Salvation if they will Mr. William Allen says on that Text Rom. 4. Now to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the Vngodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness That they are the Works of the Law he doth not say That he that loves not c. So that Love Gospel-Obedience and Holiness according to these Men are not excluded as the Matter of our Justification before God but are a part of it They plead for Gospel-Works in point of Justification though not for the Works of the Law Pray what Difference is there between these Mens Doctrine and that of the Papists But I having lately in my Treatise called The Marrow of Justification so fully confuted this Grand Error I shall add no more to it at this Time but come to examine the Text. 1. It is evident that the Persons to whom the Holy Apostle wrote this Epistle were Saints and Justified Persons or such who were quickned renewed or regenerated by the Holy Spirit Therefore 2. Let us consider what Part of Salvation it was which they were required to work out 1. They could not appease the Wrath of God nor satisfy Divine Justice that sure was not in their Power to do nor is it here intended 2. They could not deliver themselves from the Curse of the Law because by their uttermost endeavour they could not arrive to a compleat or perfect Righteousness nor satisfy for the breach of it by Original Sin and by Actual Sins formerly by them committed 3. They could not change their own Hearts or create in themselves a new Heart they had no creating Power certainly they dare not say they had Power or were capable to form Christ in their Souls or restore God's lost Image in them Again 4. They could not raise themselves from the Dead for they were once dead in Sins and Trespasses and sure they will say that to raise and quicken the Dead is Christ's Work only You hath he quickned he does not say you have ye quickned 5. They could not bind the strong Man armed who formerly had the ruling Power in them and in whose Chains and Fetters they were once bound Will they say that all Men have a greater Power in them than is the Power of Satan so that Man may translate himself if he will out of the Power and Kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of God's dear Son as all Believers by the irresistable Power of God are 6. They could not believe of themselves because Faith is a Fruit of the Spirit of God and 't is said expresly It is not of our selves but it is the Gift of God Now all things are as parts of our Salvation or appertain thereunto and none of all these things can be here meant by the Apostle because the Persons to whom he wrote had all these things work'd out for them and in them before Quest What Work is it then What were they to work out Answ I answer The Apostle means that good Work of Mortification of Sin and all Works that are the Fruits of Faith that is they should lead a Holy and Godly Life they having received a Principle of Grace from Christ to this very End there being a Necessity that the Tree be first made Good before the Fruit can be Good and that a dead Man have a Principle of Life infused into him before he can either move or work Quest But can the Creature do these things you mention of himself Answ The Apostle seems very jealous of these Saints lest they should catch up some Arminian Notion which is too much rooted in Man's corrupt Nature and therefore to vanquish Free-Will or the Power of the Creature for ever nay the Power that is in regenerated Persons he adds For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his own good Pleasure who worketh in them powerfully effectually carrying on the Work through all Difficulties and Obstacles with victorious Efficacy God works not only Grace in them at first but still by his Spirit through fresh Supplies does aid influence and assist them and will until the Work is perfected or until the Day of Christ We cannot mortify Sin pray nor do any good Work without the Spirit If ye through the Spirit saith Paul do mortify the Deeds of the Body ye shall live So then this is the Sum In Holiness and all good Works we act and do But how even as we are acted moved and influenced of God It is as when God acts works and moves in us by his Spirit And as to do all with fear and trembling this is only to shew how low we should lie at the Foot of God and be humble and not lifted up with Pride since all our Power and Sufficiency is of God But so much to this Text and Objection Object 8. But what say you to that Text in Jer. 22. 24. Though Coâ—iah the Son of Jehojakim King of Judah were the Signet upon my right Hand yet would I pluck thee thence This Place of Scripture is sent me as a grand Objection against Final Perseverance Answ We must distinguish between one that might be near to God or as dear as a Signet on the right Hand in respect of Place or External Dignity as a King and God's bringing him from thence by Temporal Punishment and one that is a Signet upon God's right Hand in respect of Divine Grace and Favour in Jesus Christ or as touching his Eternal Election the latter this Text does not refer unto Object 9. Is it not said If ye abide in me and my Words abide in you c. Answ The Supposition If ye do doth not always denote a Possibility that a Person may not do so See John 15. 10. If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my Love even as I have kept my Father's Commandment and abide in his Love Was it possible for Christ not to abide in his Father's Love Our Saviour uses these Expressions as an Argument of Comparison 1. This shews how acceptable Holiness and Obedience is to God 2. It also implies thus much i. e. That God hath ordained his Saints to Faith Love and Obedience as well as to Eternal Life If my Word abide in you c. Now elsewhere God saith to Christ And the Words which I have put into thy Mouth shall not depart out of thy Mouth nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed which are Believers they shall have his Word abide in them for ever The Law of God
were like the Ground which the Rain falls oft upon that nevertheless brings forth Briars and Thorns and no good Fruit. 8 thly There is one thing particularly noted by the Apostle concerning these Hebrew Christians which they had and which the other had not therefore not gracious Persons See ver 10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your Work of Faith and Labour of Love which ye have shewed toward his Name in that ye have ministred to the Saints and do minister 1. This he mentions as a Reason of his good Opinion of them and why he was so perswaded of them and which was better than all those high Attainments of which he speaks concerning such that are in danger of Final Apostacy Love to the poor Saints in ministring to them for the sake of Christ or because they are the Members of his Body is more than all those five Attainments mentioned in the 4 th 5 th and 6 th Verses Now also let it be considered that if this Fruit of true and saving Grace I mean Charity or Love to the poor Saints as such had been in the Persons he speaks of who were in danger of falling finally how then could this be an Argument of such Confidence in Paul concerning them or of Comfort to those Saints he wrote unto Alas what are common Illuminations What is it to have some transit taste of the Heavenly Gift or to be made Partakers of the common Operations of the Spirit in Convictions of Sin or of Duty to the Inhabitation of the Spirit or unfeigned Love to Christ and to the Children of God Or what is it to have some taste of the good Word of God to a spiritual feeding and digesting it or to be affected with the powerful Doctrine of the Gospel in respect of the World to come or with the Resurrection of the Dead and last Judgment to the gracious Experience of the Power of Christ's Resurrection and so feel in our Souls a Discharge from the Judgment of the Great Day through Faith in Jesus Christ 2. The Apostle was perswaded concerning these Hebrew Christians that they had such things in them that did accompany Salvation that is such things that are inseparable from Salvation i. e. such who have them shall certainly be saved He describes such who are sincere Christians by the Fruits and Effects of true Grace namely the Work of Faith and Labour of Love by which their Obedience unto God did appear 1. He notes the Principle from whence they acted in their Duty to God 2. The Constancy of their Obedience they continued in bringing forth of that good Fruit they had ministred to the Saints and still did minister to them 3. He takes notice of the Principle from whence they acted or did what they did viz. they ministred to the Saints in Love to God and to Jesus Christ it was Love shewed to his Name 4. He adds that in their Preservation in their happy State the Faithfulness of God God is not unrighteous to forget your Work of Faith c. which comprehends his Covenant and Promise to them which for their farther Comfort he enlargeth upon ver 13 to ver 19. to which he subjoins the Promise and Oath of God made to all that are sincere Believers or Heirs of the Promise But to proceed to speak to those five Qualifications or Attainments of the Perso she speaks of in our Text who may fall away and finally perish for ever First The first is their being once enlightned They might be instructed in the Doctrine of the Gospel beyond many or be illuminated not only by learning the literal Knowledg of the Gospel as Men learn Philosophy but also may attain to some supernatural Light by the common Illuminations of the Spirit and may understand many profound Mysteries of the Gospel yet remember Knowledg puffeth up they might have knowing Heads but graceless Hearts Note from hence Doct. 2. That it is a high Privilege and an Attainment for Men to be enlightned with the Knowledg of the Gospel yet nevertheless Men may attain to much Light therein and yet not be savingly enlightned but may finally fall away and perish notwithstanding at last First I shall shew you what the common Illuminations of the Spirit are that Men may fall from Secondly Shall shew you what the saving and special Illuminations of the Spirit are and how they differ 1 st Common Enlightnings of the Word and Spirit may tend to convince the Conscience of a Sinner of Sin 1. As to the horrid Guilt thereof as it exposeth the Soul to God's Wrath Thus was Judas enlightned his Conscience was convinced that he had betrayed the Innocent Blood Thus also Felix was enlightned under Paul's preaching 2. From these Convictions they may also with much horror confess their Sins Cain Judas and many others did this 3. From these Illuminations and Convictions they may reform their Lives and do many things like as Herod did upon his hearing John the Baptist 4. Nay common Illuminations may discover to the Sinner much of that Evil that there is in Sin that God abhorreth it and that it is contrary to his Nature as well as a violation of his Holy Law and this Light they may receive from what God declares concerning Sin and of his abhorrence of it in his Word as also by those fearful Judgments which he inflicteth upon and pronounceth against such that sin live in Sin and make a Trade of it Likewise by the Knowledg they may attain concerning Christ's suffering for Sin and by the Punishment of the Damned in Hell and no doubt but the Devils know the great Evil of Sin in all these respects But pray observe that although these Persons may know that Sin is against God contrary to his Holy Nature and that he doth abhor it yet this Light and Knowledg they have never brings them to loath and abhor it in themselves because of the evil Nature of it and as it is against God 2 dly They also by these common Illuminations may come to know that God is Man's chiefest Good The Heathen found this out by the Light of Nature considering in themselves that nothing in this World could satisfy the Soul c. But these Persons attain unto a farther Sight and Knowledg of it by the Word in a supernatural manner but yet remember that the Light they have never leadeth them to make choice of God as their chiefest Good and only Happiness 3 dly They may attain unto the Knowledg of all the great and essential Principles of the Christian Religion and be able to dispute and contend for them also against Opposers nay may be able Preachers of that Holy Doctrine Have we not prophesied in thy Name c. No doubt but Judas was a great Preacher as well as Peter Yet observe and note it well they may be utter Strangers to that Grace Faith Love and Regeneration which they may open explain and press upon others
4 thly They may know that Christ is a most blessed and precious Object but yet never experienced him to be precious above all things to themselves 5 thly They may know the True Church and also know what is required of Persons in order to their becoming Members thereof namely Repentance Faith and Baptism Nay and they may have some kind of Repentance Judas repented Also they may believe Simon believed They may have a common Faith the Faith of Credence or an Historical Faith believe the Report of the Gospel and Revelation of Christ and the Sum of the Christian Religion nay believe or receive the Word with some sort of Joy Mat. 13. 20. Moreover they may be baptized and received into the Church and be look'd upon to be true Believers But because these things are daily opened to you I shall not enlarge further upon them You that have that excellent Book called The Almost Christian may see how far a Man may go and be but a false Professor O take heed you rest not on any External Knowledg or Revelation of Divine Things You can talk of Religion dispute for those great Points of Faith you know Truth from Error and so you may and yet perish for ever Moreover consider that all Convictions that end not in Regeneration or in true Conversion or that change not the Heart and Life will avail you nothing Secondly I shall shew you the Nature of True Illuminations and how the one differs from the other it appears by what the Holy Ghost intimates here and in other places as well as by all our Experiences that Light or Illumination is the first thing God doth create in the Souls of all that are renewed and if it be but a common Light the Work that flows therefrom will be but a common Work of the Spirit and if that Light that is in Men be Darkness how great is that Darkness Now as touching the special and saving Illuminations of the Spirit they differ from the common 1. In respect of Convictions of Sin Evangelical Illuminations of the Spirit discover to the Soul its fearful State not only that Sin is of a hateful Nature but that he is condemned as a Person dead in Law and trembles at the sight and sense thereof not knowing but that the Sentence may be suddenly executed upon him They were pricked in the Heart and cried out Men and Brethren what shall we do It was their Sin that made them cry out But pray observe that the sight and sense of Sin never breaks the Heart throughly and kindly till the Soul sees the pardoning Grace of God in Christ Shew a Condemned Malefactor a Pardon from his Prince that was hardned before under the Sense of the Severity of the Law O then he is melted and wounded Goodness and Mercy overcomes him so it is with a poor Sinner when he sees God's Love and Grace in Christ or a bleeding Christ who has born the Punishment due to him for his Offences then he is kindly broken and mourns that ever he grieved or offended God They shall look unto him whom they have pierced and shall mourn It was Jesus that you have crucified the Lord of Life and Glory whom God hath made both Lord and Christ 2. Common Convictions reach only to some Sins perhaps scandalous Sins they chiefly if not only torment the Conscience under some awakening Providence or under the preaching of Wrath and Judgment And as he reasoned of Righteousness Temperance and Judgment to come Felix trembled Doubtless Felix lived in some gross Sin and now his Conscience was awakened and terrified him for those Evils he hearing of the Judgment to come But special Illuminations in Convictions cause the Soul to see all its Sins its secret Sins yea Heart-Evils Come see a Man which told me all things that ever I did Is not this the Christ Christ's Word laid all the Evils of the Heart open to her sight I was faith David shapen in Iniquity and in Sin did my Mother conceive me All Sin afflicts the Soul Original Sin as well as Actual Sin 3. Common Convictions make a Person sensible of the Punishment of Sin and to feel the Wrath of God which is due unto him My Punishment is greater than I can bear saith Cain But special Illuminations under Convictions make the Soul to groan under the Filth and Pollution of Sin They shall loath themselves for the Evils they have committed But when is that Even when they see that I am saith the Lord pucified towards them And ye shall remember your Ways and all your Doings wherein you have been defiled and ye shall loath your selves in your own sight Hence Job cries out I abhor my self and repent in Dust and Ashes Moreover upon this respect it was that David compared his Sin and Pollution to a loathsom Disease The one cries out that he has offended an angry God this is the Nature of legal Convictions such would fain get out of God's Hands he flies from him But the other cries out I have grieved a Good and Gracious God and he flies to him as the Prodigal did to his loving and compassionate Father 4. Common Illuminations in Convictions lay the Soul half dead he sees he is Wounded but special Illuminations of the Spirit discover the Soul is quite Dead When the Commandment came Sin revived and I died The one discovers that the Person is a Sinner but not in a helpless State for though he sees he is undone by his Sin and Disobedience yet he thinks he may rise by his Duties and Obedience But a Person truly enlightned sees he must have a Principle of Life infused before he can rise live or act and that all his own Righteousness he hath or is capable of obtaining is but as Dung and Filthiness in his sight 5. Common Illuminations cause a Man to see Sin as it is a great Evil against himself I have killed a Man to my hurt saith one of this sort But special Illuminations discover Sin to be the greatest Evil as it is against God the one may know that God hates Sin but the other is brought to hate it himself and because God hates it Against thee thee only have I sinned and done this Evil in thy sight O saith a poor Believer what have I done I have contemned despised and spit in the very Face of God the one is afraid of God but the other fears God the one is afraid of him because of his Justice the other feareth God because of his Goodness They shall fear the Lord and his Goodness or shall fear and worship God in Christ because of his Goodness Grace and Mercy 6. Common Illuminations give a Person a sense of Death and Wrath due to Sin but special Illuminations give a Man a sense and an effecting sight of the Death of Christ and of that Wrath and Curse he hath born for him in his
that changed them into a State of Grace 2. Nay they partake not only of common Gifts but common Grace also even such Grace that doth reform their Lives bridle restrain and curb their inordinate Lusts and Passions so that through the Knowledg of Jesus Christ they esteeming him as their Blessed Saviour they are said to escape the Pollution of the World as Peter plainly declares though afterwards they are again intangled therein and overcome 3. They did no doubt by the Assistance of the Holy Spirit leave and forsake those evil Ways and prophane Courses and Practices in which they lived before May be they were gross Idolaters Adulterers Blasphemers c. but the Spirit by its common Operations did so far strive and prevail with them that they became other Men As it is said of King Saul The Spirit of God will come upon thee and thou shalt be turned into another Man but not a new Man And God gave him another Heart 4. These Persons may partake of such Grace which the foolish Virgins had to keep their Lamps of Profession burning for a Time Doct. 4. The Holy Spirit may be with Persons nay in them by his common Operations with whom he is not by his gracious Inhabitation they may partake of common but not of saving Grace 4 thly The fourth Attainment of these Persons or these false Professors is this viz. And tasted of the good Word of God Four things I shall do in speaking unto this First Shew what is meant by the Word of God Secondly Shew why it is called the good Word of God Thirdly Shew what a taste an unsound Christian may have of the good Word of God Fourthly And also shew what a taste it is that a true Christian hath of it First By the Word of God is meant the Word of the Gospel Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Again it is said From you sounded out the Word of God that is the Gospel of Christ Secondly It is called the good Word of God 1. Because it bringeth good News to Sinners the Tidings it brings are good and profitable to all that receive it in Truth 2. Because it is a Declaration of that good and gracious Counsel and Purpose of God in saving poor Sinners by Jesus Christ it is Heavenly Sublime the Nature and Glory of God in all his Attributes is made manifest thereby 3. It is good in the blessed Effects thereof That which is excellent and precious in it self and also doth as much good we esteem very good Now as divine Truth is pure Thy Word is pure therefore thy Servant loveth it so it is precious above Gold in the Effects of it on the Heart 1. It enlightens the Eyes it illuminates dark Minds it is a shining Light Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet and a Light unto my Path. 2. It quickens and revives a Soul under Deadness therefore it is good Thy Word hath quickned me 3. It is that which inriches the Soul Let the Word of God dwell in you richly We have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us Hence Ministers by preaching the Gospel though they may be externally poor yet make many spiritually rich 4. It may be said to be Good because of the powerful Effects it hath on Mens Souls where it comes not in Word only The Word of God is quick and powerful sharper than any two-edged Sword It makes the Dead to live infusing through the Spirit Life and regenerating Grace into the Hearts of Sinners it searcheth and purges out all Corruption by the means of it young and old come to have their Hearts and Ways cleansed Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you 5. It is our Sword by which we offend and wound our Enemies and defend our selves against all their Assaults and Temptations 6. It is good in respect of that discovery it makes of God of Jesus Christ and of Salvation as also of future Glory there is contained in it a Revelation of the Incarnation of the Son of God with all the Effects of infinite Wisdom in the glorious Contrivance of our Redemption What doth the Pagan World understand or know of these things who have not the good Word of God with them 7. It hath a comforting a healing and strengthning Virtue in it and it also preserves from Sin therefore it is good Thy Word have I hid in my Heart that I might not sin against thee It gives peace and quiet to a disturbed and distressed Mind when the Promises are set home with Power upon the Conscience How many hath that one Word revived that have been ready to drop into Hell in the sense of their Sin Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest 8. It is our Food I mean the Food of our Souls yea both Milk for Babes and strong Meat for Men of riper Age nay it is sweet satisfying and Soul-fatning Food therefore it is good Sirs if you have never tasted how good the Word of God is your State doubtless is bad but it is not enough to have a taste of it but you must feed upon it Eat O Friends drink yea drink abundantly O Beloved Thirdly I shall proceed to shew you what a kind of taste an unsound Christian may have of the Word of God It is evident that the Apostle here carefully keeps himself to such Expressions as we have in the Text to shew he intends not such Persons who by Faith truly receive and spiritually feed on Jesus Christ therefore it is said have tasted True by tasting sometimes is meant a spiritual feeding O taste and see that the Lord is good Compared with that in Peter If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious Brethren every one that feeds may be said to taste though he doth more than taste but every one that tasteth may not be said to feed no nor be said to love approve of nor digest that which he tasteth of Pray remember to feed is more than to taste I did but taste a little Honey saith Jonathan And it is said of our Saviour When he had tasted thereof he would not drink he tasted but did not drink So Men may taste and yet may not eat not feed upon that they tasted of I shall now come to shew you what a taste they may have of the Word of God 1. As tasting respecteth Experience or simple Knowledg of the Truth of a thing so these Persons may have a taste i. e. may have a simple Knowledg or Experience of the Truth of the Word of the Gospel they may taste in this sense they may believe or be fully convinced in their Consciences by what they have heard and have met with by such Operations of the Spirit that have past upon them that
Righteousness of Christ and also a Righteousness that may declare them to be righteous before Men namely a holy and blameless Life the one is the Righteousness of Justification the other is the Righteousness of Sanctification Others may have a taste of both these they may behold a Worth in and a Want of Christ's Righteousness but do not hunger after it and so accept it as a poor hunger-starved Person on Gospel-Terms and may attain to some degree of inward as well as outward Sanctification 2. These therefore taste and eat also and that too out of pure Necessity If I saith the Soul feed not upon Christ eat not his Flesh and drink not his Blood I shall perish Give me Christ or I shall die is the Voice of this sort Others take a taste as if they cared not whether they eat or eat not 3. A true Believer doth taste eat and also digest the Word 't is that which they live upon and hereby they come to have Union with Christ by Faith The Soul partakes of the Divine Nature But a common Tasting or a common Faith or a bare Credence of the Truth of the Gospel doth not do this which the Persons in our Text only had 4. The good Word of God is to all true Christians as their necessary Food nay esteemed more or above their necessary Food as Job experienced it therefore to these the Word and God in the Word Christ in the Word is exceeding sweet How sweet is Food to a hungry Person O says the Soul the Lord is good his Word is good his Promises and his Ordinances are exceeding good I can relish the Word of God I esteem it above Gold it is also sweeter than Honey or the Honey-comb I have an appetite to it O how love I thy Law it is my Meditation all the Day This discovers to us the goodness of our Condition when there is nothing that we value or esteem love and delight in above God's Word Thy Words were found and I did eat them and thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my Heart He did not taste only but did eat and greedily digest the Word also 4. The Word of God without the God of the Word will not satisfy these Mens Souls 't is not a bare Ordinance no no but they must have God in and with the Ordinance 't is not the Shell without the Kernel it is not the Cabinet without the Jewel it is not a Lamp without Oil that will satisfy the wise Virgins Prayer and Preaching will not do with these though they pray and hear every Day except they meet with God and Christ in those Duties the Word and Ordinances without Christ are but like dry Bread and lean Meat that have but little Juice or Nourishment in them they must be delighted with Fatness knowing it is such things God has prepared for them Eat ye that which is good and let your Soul delight it self in Fatness they eat it appears to full satisfaction Others labour for that which satisfies not but of all true Believers David saith They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fat things of thy House and thou shalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures And in another place saith he My Soul shall be satisfied as with Marrow and Fatness and my Soul shall praise thee with joyful Lips 5. That which true Believers taste and eat is turned into Spiritual Nourishment in the Heart And in order to this 1. There is required a laying up the Word or hiding of it No Nourishment can be had by Food unless it be received into the Stomach where the Cause of Digestion and Communication are fix'd And if the Word be not received into the Heart by fixed Meditation and Delight it may affect and please a Person for a while but it will not nourish the Soul 2. Every Physician will tell you that Food must be mixed and incorporated with the digestive Humour Power and Faculty of the Stomach whereinsoever it consists or it will not nourish Give a Man never so much Food if there be any noxious Humour in the Stomach hindering it from mixing with the Power of Digestion saith a worthy Writer it will no ways profit the Person But the Word preached did not profit them not being mix'd with Faith in them that heard it Meat nourishes not without Concoction so unless the Soul receives and digests the Word through Faith so that the Word and the Heart are united together all is nothing but a bare taste will never do this And 3. Like as Food when it is well digested is turned into Flesh and Blood and Spirits so where a Person feeds on the Word by Faith or eats and digests it it is turned into a Principle of Life and spiritual Strength As some Men who have for want of Food been brought so low and faint that they were ready to die away but by feeding on good Food and digesting it soon perceive a renewing of their Strength Life and Vigour seems to return to them again so by feeding on the Word the Strength of the Soul abides it communicates abiding Strength Faith and Experience and 't is hereby the Soul grows Day by Day and his Love to God is increased and by the Power of it he walks with God in Holiness and Lowliness of Mind and brings forth all the Fruits of the Spirit like as the Ground bringeth forth by the Showers of Heaven Herbs meet for him by whom it is dressed 4. These are delighted and cheared by the Word as in a Banquet of Wine and get great Power over their Corruptions But such a tasting and eating as this and such blessed Effects of the Word on the Soul did the Persons never attain unto who are said in our Text to have tasted the good Word of God c. Evident it is that the Apostle clearly notes concerning the Persons in my Text that whatsoever taste they might have of the Doctrine of the Gospel called the Heavenly Gift or of the good Word of God yet they were fruitless Souls even like the Earth that the Rain falls upon and yet brings forth Briars and Thorns See ver 7 8. APPLICATION 1. Learn from hence the deplorable Condition of all such who satisfy themselves with the meer Notion of Truth and empty Speculations about it without getting so much as such a taste of the goodness of the Word which may be had by those who are not savingly renewed How many thousands are there at this Day that do not desire so much as a taste of heavenly Things their Hearts are so filled and glutted with the things of this World nay with their abominable and filthy Lusts 2. But for the Lord's Sake take heed you rest not satisfied with a bare taste of heavenly Things or with some seeming relish thereof Such indeed may not be far from the Kingdom of Heaven But alas alas if they
said that those who follow Christ and suffer for him shall be rewarded at the Resurrection of the Just as Luke 14. 14. And in another Place it is said in the World to come as Luke 18. 30. So much shall serve to shew you what is meant by the World to come but before I speak to that Taste of the Powers of the World to come which the Persons spoken of in our Text are said to have let me add a word or two as touching the Nature and Glory of the World to come though we have as yet but only some dark glimpse of it But to proceed 1. It shall be a World not under the Curse of Man's Sin as this World is The Earth is under the Curse Briars and Thorns are the Fruit of the Curse and all Creatures groan under the Curse the Sin of Mankind hath brought upon them But when the new World comes in there shall be no more Curse instead of the Thorn shall come up the Fig-tree and instead of the Briar shall come up the Myrtle-tree The Creature groans under the Curse But it shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God Envy shall depart from the Creatures they shall not tear and devour one another in the World to come as they do in this World see Isa 11. 6 7 8 9. It is in the World to come that all things shall be restored to that glorious State signified by the Restitution of all things Whom the Heavens must receive until the Times of the Restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the Mouth of all his Holy Prophets since the World began That which all the Prophets have spoken of and expected shall certainly come or be fulfilled 2. The World to come shall be a World without Sin a Holy World a Righteous World this present World is a wicked World an ungodly World but all the Inhabitants of that World to come shall be Holy they shall be all filled with Righteousness Hence it is Peter saith We according to his Promise look for a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 3. The Government of that new World shall be alone in the Hands of the Saints no wicked Man shall be in any Place of Power there no corrupt Judges nor Justices Righteousness shall then bear Rule The People also shall be all Righteous they shall inherit the Land for ever the Branch of my planting the Work of my Hands that I may be glorified The Kingdom and Dominion and greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints of the most High Whether they shall have the Kingdom before Christ comes or not I cannot determine though I suppose part of this Prophecy will be fulfilled before then but besure then they shall have all Kingdoms under the whole Heavens and the Glory and Greatness of them for ever 4. The World to come shall be a World without Sorrow and that is because it shall be a World without Sin whilst Sin remains Sorrow will remain but then no more Pain nor Misery shall any of God's Children indure for ever And God shall wipe all Tears from all Faces and there shall be no more Death neither Sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more Pain for the former things are passed away The Inhabitant of that City shall not say I am sick 5. There shall be no Devil to perplex to tempt nor to disturb God's People Satan shall be bound though others think that shall be before this World begins in the greatest Glory of it 6. It shall be a World of great and wonderful Light which may be taken as I conceive both literally and mystically The Sun shall no more be thy Light by Day neither for Brightness shall the Moon give Light by Night but the Lord shall be unto thee an Everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory Compare it with Revelation 22. 4 5. And there shall be no Night there and they need no Candle neither Light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them Light and they shall reign for ever and ever God will never withdraw himself from his People nor hide his Face in that World as oft-times he doth in this 7. It shall be a joyful World nothing but Joy and Singing in that World those who will not sing now if Godly shall sing then Behold my Servants shall sing for Joy of Heart but ye shall howl for Vexation of Spirit The World to come will be a sad and woful World to the Ungodly for there is a World to come for them I mean Eternal Misery in Hell But Believers shall sing in the Heights of Sion and flow together in the Goodness of the Lord. In the Heights of Sion or in the Time of the greatest Glory of the Kingdom of the Messiah Moreover it is said They shall rejoice even with joy and singing 8. They that dwell in the World to come shall have good and blessed Company glorious Company Christ's Company and the Company of all his Saints They shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God Behold the Tabernacle of God is with Men and he will dwell with them He shall come then in the Clouds with Power and great Glory and we shall be taken up to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. To meet him in the Air he does not meet us we shall not be going up to Heaven as soon as raised no no but Christ will come down to us to dwell and reign with his Saints on Earth when that World begins Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the Earth He hath made us Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the Earth All the Godly are under this Promise therefore it must refer to the World to come and not be fulfilled till the Day of the Resurrection 9. It will be a World of great Riches Wealth and Glory the chief City in that World the Walls of it shall be Jaspar and the City was of pure Gold Though this City may be a Figure of the Church yet no doubt there is more intended it is that City Abraham Isaac and Jacob sought for that had Foundations every Saint in that World shall have a Kingdom and a Crown of Glory though it be all but one Kingdom yet it shall be as if every one only possessed it himself Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which God the Righteous Judg will give to me in that Day and not only to me but to all them also that love his appearance Some Saints have hardly enough Bread to eat in this World that shall have a Crown a Kingdom in the World to come Hearken my beloved Brethren Hath not God chosen the Poor of this World rich in
lead them to Repentance and may be hate reproach and persecute the People of God nay and are guilty of Blood crucifying Christ afresh in his Members Now I say they might be convinced of all these and many more great Aggravations of Sin and yet after such a taste fall away themselves and become as bad as the worst of them I have mentioned 4. They might have a taste of the terrifying Powers of the World to come even such a taste as Felix had who trembled when he heard Paul preach of Hell Wrath or of Judgment to come This I find our late Annotators intimate to be meant hereby Some of them say they were affected with the powerful Doctrines of the Gospel concerning the Final Judgment as their Natural Conscience was wrought on by the Spirit in the Word they felt it as if it were begun in them the Sparkles of God's Wrath having set their Consciences in a light Flame for their Sins This is a tasting of the Powers of the World to come with a Witness 5. They may taste of the constraining Powers of the World to come so that their Consciences might curb them and put a Bridle on their Lusts so that they might not run into Sin as others do the fear and dread of another World keeps them in awe and restrains them for a time from committing any open or secret Acts of Wickedness and by the Power of this constraining Grace they might as you have heard reform their Lives as to become other Men and Women 6. Moreover as the Powers of the World to come may refer to the Everlasting Joy and Comfort of the Saints they might also have some seeming taste of the sweetness thereof I mean they might have a sight and sense of that happy State the Righteous shall be in in the World to come and they finding Christ to be a Redeemer and that he came to save Sinners from Wrath and to purchase Everlasting Blessedness may have some hope of Interest in that Redemption from Wrath and of being made happy eternally in the World to come they might promise to themselves a part in the first Resurrection and their Hopes herein might be as a sweet taste of the Joys and Consolations of that Day Mr. David Dickson speaking of this Passage saith They may taste of the Powers of the World to come that is saith he in contemplation of the Blessedness promised to the Saints in Heaven and have a natural desire of it as Balaam desired to die the Death of the Righteous Thus many of the Jews rejoiced in John's Doctrine He was a burning and shining Light and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his Light It was but a taste of Joy it did not continue it was but for a Season 1. It is but a Taste or Savour that arises from an enlightned Conscience not from a renewed Heart 2. It is not a taste that makes them out of love with this World or to be weary of it or to die to it though they seem taken with the Thoughts of the World to come yet they value this World no doubt too highly 't is this World that is in their Hearts 3. It is not a taste of the World to come that changes them into a meet and sit State to be partakers of the Glory and Blessedness of it as the Saints are said to be giving Thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light 'T is not a bare taste can do this no nothing but a thorow change of Nature or a spiritual receiving and feeding by Faith on Jesus Christ 4. It was not such a tasting of the Powers of the World to come that made them long for it and to seek it with the full bent of their Wills and urgency of their Affections and to contemn all the Riches Honours and Pleasures of this present evil World for it as Moses and all the Holy Patriarchs did For they that saw such things declare plainly they seek a Countrey and confessed they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth 5. It was a tasting not a feeding on Jesus Christ and a digesting of his Word they come not to experience the Powers of the World to come were begun in them setting them against Sin Satan and this World 6. And lastly It was a tasting but no saving Relish no Soulcraving after a true Interest in the Glory of the World to come they did not find the Power of the Resurrection and last Judgment in themselves And that tasting that doth not secure the Soul against a total and final Apostacy as Union with Christ doth is not to be valued or accounted of APPLICATION 1. I told you Brethren at first that touching these Persons Attainments here is nothing spoken of Union with Christ of the Faith of God's Elect of Regeneration Love to God and to his People nothing of Adoption Justification nor Sanctification and so nothing that is pecusiar to a true Christian nothing of those things that accompany Salvation 2. It appears they are like the Ground that oft receives the Rain that falls upon it and yet bears or brings forth Briars and Thorns therefore they are nigh unto cursing whose End is to be burned and this the Apostle hints of them in Vers 7 8. 3. This informs us that Men may go a great way in a visible Profession of the Gospel by common Influences of the Spirit and Light improved by natural Powers and yet be in the Gall of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity 4. O bless God for the least degree of saving Grace Have you love to God to his poor Saints Do you minister unto them for Christ's Sake then have you obtained to a higher degree of Attainment than those ever had and no cause to fear your spiritual State and Condition Thus I have passed through the second thing I first propounded to speak unto namely What those Attainments are that are spoken of the Persons in our Text. I shall now come to the last thing to shew you what is spoken of them Thirdly What is spoken of these Persons consists of two Parts 1. That they may fall away 2. That it is upon their so falling away impossible for them to be renewed by Repentance It is the last of these I purpose to speak of viz That it is impossible to renew them again unto Repentance either to such a Repentance they once had or to true saving and Evangelical Repentance The Reason is by the Holy Ghost added Seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to open shame 1. It is not doubtless impossible in respect of God's Absolute Power had he not limited himself by an unchangeable Decree But if he hath determined to deny Grace and all saving Influences of his Spirit to these Apostates that makes it impossible for them ever to be renewed which shews us that
is acted and influenced by the Devil in the Times of his Ignorance 8. It is not the Sin of Unbelief though that be a damning Sin yea the damning Sin as it is a Sin against the Remedy God hath provided and against the highest manifestation of God's Goodness and against the highest Testimony and Witness yet many that thus sin nay continue at present in and under the Power of Unbelief may come to see their horrid Evil and by the Grace of God may believe and be forgiven this as well as other Sins Lastly I have shewed you that no true Believer can commit this Sin He that is born of God cannot commit Sin viz. he cannot sin unto Death So much in the Negative what Sin the Sin against the Holy Ghost is not Secondly I shall shew you in the Affirmative according to that Light I have what Sin this Sin is or open the Nature thereof and what sort of Persons they are who do or may commit it 1. The Persons that may commit the Sin against the Holy Ghost our Text informs us are such who have been once enlightned and that have attained to the Knowledg of the Truth or true way of Salvation by Jesus Christ and have had such a kind of Taste of the Heavenly Gift and of the good Word of God and Powers of the World to come more or less of which I have shewed they have received the Gifts and common Graces of the Spirit 2. And also have escaped the Corruptions of the World through the Knowledg of Jesus Christ or attained to a great Reformation of Life in so much that they were look'd upon as Saints and eminent Christians many of them being Professors of the Gospel and might be great Preachers thereof Tho it seems that others who never professed the Gospel were and may be guilty of committing of this Sin as those Jews no doubt were who said our Blessed Saviour did cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils 3. It is a sinning wilfully after a Person hath received the Knowledg of the Truth or Gospel of Christ For if we sin wilfully after we have received the Knowledg of the Truth there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin Though every wilful sinning is not this Sin yet every one that is guilty thereof doth sin wilfully and that in the highest degree Pray note it 't is a wilful casting off and forsaking the Truth of God and an utter deserting the Church and People of God nay a wilful rejecting the Truth which they before had embraced and tasted some sweetness in opposing and contradicting that which the Holy Spirit testifies to their Consciences is the Truth of Christ therefore they wilfully reject the Motions of the Holy Ghost nay contemn the Operations thereof 4. And as it is a rejecting of the Motions and Operations of the Holy Spirit after those Illuminations they had received so also it is done maliciously or from Spite and Malice And hath done Despite unto the Spirit of Grace They wilfully desert the Assemblies of God's Church and People and esteem the Blood of Christ whereby he was consecrated a Sacrifice unto God or as some whereby they thought once they had been sanctified an unholy Thing and accounting the Motions of the Holy Spirit and his Operations a meer Delusion of the Devil And thus some of the Pharisees sinned Christ healed one possessed of an unclean Spirit a Work wrought by the Power of the Holy Ghost they imputed it to the Devil saying This Fellow casteth out Devils by the Prince of Devils This was a wilful Sin and done no doubt in Malice and against the Convictions of their own Consciences for they could not certainly but know that he was the Son of God by the wonderful Works he did See ver 31 32. Upon this our Saviour doth intimate that they were guilty of sinning the Sin against the Holy Ghost that shall never be forgiven unto Men. 5. It is a treading under Foot the Son of God contemning and vilifying him as these Pharisies seem'd to do and which as it is thought by many Julian the Apostate was guilty of who in difdain when he was wounded threw his Blood up towards Heaven crying Thou Galilean thou hast overcome me or to that purpose he in reproach and hatred seemed to call Christ a Galilean would not call him by any one of his own proper Names 6. And lastly It doth consist in a fatal and utter renunciation of the Christian Religion and all the Institutions Doctrines and Principles thereof and a turning to Judaism or Idolatry or else to perfect Atheism and all this as Dr. Owen signifies with an avowed and professed Enmity to Christ and Christianity and therefore not without the highest Reproach and Contempt imaginable against the Person of Christ as well as against the Gospel imbracing the Love of Sin or of the Riches and Honours of this present evil World valuing their Lusts above the Comfort of the Holy Ghost We have as if they should say tasted of the Spirit and of heavenly Things and do disclaim him and them and witness against him and by that Experience we have had do disown all that pretended Good that some boast of 〈◊〉 be in their Divine Things and contemn that Spirit they glory in and are led by APPLICATION First Take heed of those Sins that tend or lead to this unpardonable Sin 1. Take heed of a malicious Thought against the Holy Ghost don't think it is the Devil that disquiets and disturbs you about Sin Wrath and Hell you convicted Sinners look to it that you charge not these Convictions you have of the Evil of your Sin upon Satan He you may be sure will not trouble you for your Sins but let you go on peaceably in your wicked Ways though when you are awakened he may perswade you that there is no Mercy for you Doubts and desparing Thoughts commonly rise from Satan but not Sorrow and Grief for Sin No no that is from your Conscience a it is influenced by the Holy Ghost 2. Beware of harbouring a malicious Thought of Religion or of praying by the Holy Spirit as I heard lately or a wicked Man who hearing a Minister pray in a most excellent manner that said How doth the Devil help him or to that effect O this is dangerous 3. Take heed of blasphemous Words against the Holy Spirit Will any dare to say that the Devil is in God's People that they are so resolute in their Ways and will not conform to the National Church 4. Beware you that make a Profession of Religion and that have been enlightned how you fall away and turn again to Folly and to your sinful Practices for this is the high Way to the unpardonable Sin or Sin unto Death you know not but that a partial Apostacy may end in a total one at last 5. Above all things look to it that you rest not on a common Work of the
and being fallen into the Hands of Justice it self but meeting with a Friend who paid all he owed he cannot but cry out O great Love and Compassion that would be a Deliverance indeed But it is nothing to this we in a spiritual Sense being delivered from Hell by Jesus Christ who payed our Debts for us each of us owing not less than ten thousand Talents I mean so many Sins and every Sin a greater Debt than ten thousand Pounds And this brings me to the next Demonstration Eighthly The Salvation of the Gospel is a Great and Glorious Salvation if we consider the Way and Means by which this Salvation is wrought out and accomplished for us It could not be effected except the Son of God became Man or without the Incarnation Mediation and bloody Passion of Jesus Christ The precious Blood of Christ must be poured forth or there was no Salvation no Deliverance for our Souls Gold nor Silver could not purchase it nor the best of all earthly things For as much as ye know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from a vain Conversation received by Tradition from your Fathers but with the precious Blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spâ—t No such Price would be accepted of God so precious is the Redemption of the Soul Quest But may be some may say Could not the Law effect it Could not the keeping the Precepts the Law of the Ten Commandments do it nor the Sacrifices of the Law procure Salvation for us Answ No it was impossible the Law requires perfect Righteousness sinless Obedience besides we have broke it and thereby the whole World is become guilty before God And could the Blood of Beasts the Blood of Bulls and Goats take away Sin or satisfy Divine Justice and so make an Atonement for our Iniquities No no For it is not possible that the Blood of Bulls and Goats should take away Sin Sin cannot be done away without an infinite Price What Influence could the Blood of Beasts have to take away Sin being in their own Nature corporal things they could not deliver us from the spiritual Evil of the Soul nor were they ordained of God to that End and Purpose but to point out the great Sacrifice Besides saith the Text Sacrifice and Offerings for Sin thou wouldst not but a Body hast thou prepared me It must be the Blood of Christ whose Sufferings had a satisfactory and inconceivable Worth in them 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 Compare this with that Passage of the Holy Ghost in Heb. 1. 3. Who being the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power when he had by himself purged our Sins sat down on the right Hand of the Majesty on High He being God as well as Man or his Humanity being hypostatically united to his Divine Nature offered up himself by the Eternal Spirit a Propitiatory Sacrifice unto God by which Satisfaction and Merits he purged or took away the Guilt and Pollution of Sin and delivered us from that just and deserved Wrath that was due unto it by bearing of it himself in our Nature and stead so that God who was injured and whose Holy Law was violated might be just or that his Justice might appear for he could as soon cease to be God as cease to be just and yet hereby he magnifies his Mercy also What can we desire more than to be delivered from Sin and purged from Sin This was the Way and no other which the Wisdom of God found out in Christ both those Attributes are united so that Justice as well as Mercy says Whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ or lays hold of his Righteousness by Faith shall be justified and eternally saved The Apostle adds his being sat down on the right Hand of God to intimate he hath made our Peace obtained Redemption for us and brought in by his Obedience Everlasting Righteousness and made an end of Sin and as a mighty Conqueror has triumphed and is gone to Heaven and there appears at the Father's right Hand to plead the Merits of his own Blessed Sacrifice and that Atonement he hath made for us by his own Blood on the Tree O consider what our Salvation cost him what did he do to work about this Salvation Why he 1. Became Incarnate or was made Flesh And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we behold his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Though he was equal with God as you lately heard yet he took on him the form of a Servant 2. He became poor Sirs Jesus Christ who was rich that he might accomplish the Salvation of our Souls became poor May not this affect our Hearts We must be miserable for ever or Christ must become poor and seem to be miserable for a Time No Salvation for us useless our Blessed Saviour doth abase himself and take our Nature upon him For verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels but took on him the Seed of Abraham All this was Brethren to bring this Blessed Salvation to his chosen Ones 3. He in his humane Nature must be made under the Law and so become obnoxious or liable to the Obedience the Law required yea he was obliged to keep it exactly in every part thereof When the Fulness of time was come God sent forth his own Son made of a Woman made under the Law The Apostle adds the Reason of this to redeem them that were under the Law He thus became not only bound to do what the Law required but to suffer what the Law threatned and 〈◊〉 on us who had broke and violated it and this in our Nature or in the same Nature that had sinned in which 〈◊〉 the Justice of God required a Satisfaction for the wrong Sin had do 〈◊〉 unto him Which being impossible for sinful Man 〈…〉 and that we might not be exposed for ever unto th◠〈…〉 Wrath and Punishment in Hell which was due to 〈…〉 for us or in our place that we through 〈…〉 Obedience and painful Death and Suffering both in 〈…〉 Body might obtain a gracious Discharge from Siâ— or free Justification unto Life and a full deliverance from Wrath and Eternâ—â— Death 4. Nay and as he must diâ— if he procures Salvation for us so by this means he also was made a Curse for us for we having broken the Law 〈◊〉 under the Curse of it the Law le ts fly its bitter Curses against very 〈◊〉 thereof For as many as are of the Works of the Law are under the Curse and therefore impossible for us to be 〈◊〉 and saved by it Whosoever keepeth not the
therefore it is a very precious thing it is principally the Soul that Jesus Christ doth espouse it seems to be a proper or fit Match for the Son of God He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit 4. And 't is not only capable of Union but also of Divine Spiritual Communion both with the Father and the Son That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that you might have fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ That Communion we have in our Spirits with the Father and the Son is by the Holy Ghost by which we come to have through his gracious Influences a Communication of that which is truly and spiritually Good according to our Needs and to delight strengthen and rejoice our Hearts our Souls being changed into the Life and Likeness of Christ and walking in the Light of the Spirit we have Fellowship one with another that is Christ with us and we with Christ for till the Soul is regenerated it cannot have Fellowship with the Holy God for Light cannot have Fellowship with Darkness it is not earthly or sensual but a Divine Heavenly and Spiritual Communion O what a precious thing is the Soul of Man there 's no other Creature that is capable of these most excellent Privileges save Man Mankind only of all that dwell on the Earth Nor could we have had this Honour and Dignity conferred on us we should not I mean been capable Subjects of it had it not been upon the Account of the excellent Nature of our Souls 5. Our Souls are also capable it appears from hence of Divine Inspiration God in a gracious manner inspires our Spirits with glorious Light and Knowledg there is a Light of Acceptation and a Light of Inspiration Like as Astronomers tell us that the Moon iâ— of such a Nature that she is capable by the glorious shining and reflection of the Son to receive Light and so she shine and gives Light to us in the Night Thus the Moon is a Light of Acceptation but it is the Sun that gives Light to her So a Candle is made meet to receive Light but shines not gives not Light until it is lighted And thus also our Spirits are made meet to receive Divine Light from God The Spirit of a Man is the Candle of the Lord but it never shines with any supernatural Light until the Lord pleases to light it There is a Spirit in Man and the Inspiration of the Lord giveth him Vnderstanding In Man that is in every Man every Man hath a rational Soul in him fit to receive Divine Light and Inspiration if God please to inspire him therewith he hath not that saving Knowledg and Light naturally no not till he doth partake of the Inspiration of the Almighty Though Man be endowed with natural Light Knowledg and Reason and may understand in some measure the Parts of Natural Religion yet that Light is but Darkness compared to the supernatural Light of Grace or the saving Knowledg of God in Christ All true and spiritual Knowledg and Understanding is from the special Inspiration of the Almighty For what Man knoweth the things of Man save the Spirit of a Man that is in him even so the things of God knoweth no Man but the Spirit of God But though it be thus that Man's Spirit without the Teachings and Inspiration of God's Spirit cannot understand nor know the things of God that is the Mysteries of the Gospel or have the saving Knowledg of Christ yet there is a Spirit a Soul in him that is capable to receive this Light and Revelation of God when he pleases to enlighten him therein therefore I say the Soul of Man is a very precious thing and so tends to greaten the Salvation of the Gospel by which it is saved from Hell and Wrath. 6. The Soul is capable of Divine Contemplation it can muse meditate and contemplate upon God the highest and chiefest Being no other Creatures on Earth are capable to do this because they have no rational Souls What have some Men found out of the Mysteries of Nature by means of the Excellency of the Soul Nay and also what Knowledg have they attained of the God of Nature as might be demonstrated should I speak of Natural and Moral Philosophy c. though it is true and I deny it not but that the knowledg of these things is acquired in a great measure yet nevertheless all in the first place next unto God must be attributed to the Excellency of the Soul I am fearfully and wonderfully made marvellous are thy Works and that my Soul knoweth right well David ascribes that wonderful Knowledg which he had of the Works of Creation to his Soul No doubt he was well skilled in Philosophy and was a Man greatly given to Contemplation My Subâ—iance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth How curiously and exquisitely hast thou as if he should say composed my Bones Muscles Sinews Veins and Arteries in my Mother's Womb and all the Parts and Members of my Body And my Soul contemplates all these things my Soul knows that thou art a wonderful working God O what a precious thing is the Soul of Man what pity is it that it should be lost and damned for ever and how doth this tend to demonstrate the Glory and Greatness of this Salvation for it was under Wrath and the Curse of God by Sin Sirs the Nature of the Soul is such that it leads a Man out to behold and magnify God in the Works of Creation and Providence tho it want supernatural Light and Knowledg But O when it comes to be divinely inspired what does it discover through the help of the same Spirit of God in Christ and of the Work of Redemption For all Knowledg to this Knowledg is but of little worth Paul therefore determined to know nothing but Christ and him crucified nay and accounted all natural Knowledg Gifts Wisdom and Improvements or whatsoever he once esteemed of to be but Dung in comparison of the Excellency of the Knowledg of Jesus Christ his Lord. 7. The Soul is precious doth yet further appear because without an enjoyment of God or a part and interest in him it can never by happy nothing short of God himself can fill its Desires This some of the Heathens by the dim Light of Nature came to understand it is restless until it comes to find God Rest Peace and Satisfaction in God who is the best of Beings and our chief Good The Soul is much like unto Noah's Dove which he sent out of the Ark that found no rest for the Sole of her Foot until she returned unto him in the Ark Therefore miserable will all those be that for ever shall one Day be separated from God should they meet with no worse Torment
the Word of that God that cannot lie to assure you of it Do not judg of your Justification according to the degree of your Sanctification as if you were no further justified than you are sanctified or that your Sanctification is any Cause of your Justification nor do not think you are more justified when you are in a lively frame of Duty than at another time when deadness and dulness takes hold of you Object I cannot believe so as to rise to a full perswasion that I am justified and shall be saved though I can relie upon Christ as a poor Sinner for my Justification and Eternal Life Answ 1. Well bless God for that Faith for a full Assurance doth not appertain to the Essence of true Faith but it is the highest degree of it and no doubt many are gone to Heaven that never attained to that degree of true Faith 2. I knew a Godly Minister who told me in his Sickness a little before he died All his Hopes were gone he could not come to Christ as a Saint his Evidences were so clouded this he uttered with Tears as I remember and with no small grief He presently broke forth and said But Brother I can come to him as a poor burdened lost and heavy-laden Sinner and I am sure he will not refuse me or to that purpose If thou canst do so certainly great Peace will come in it is from the weakness of our Faith that a strong and full Perswasion is wanting a direct Act of Faith I am perswaded must needs bring in the greatest Joy and Comfort a looking for all the signs of true Grace in us oft-times confounds a poor Christian If there is no Sin that thou dost allow thy self in but dost hate Sin as Sin and lovest Holiness and art willing to follow Christ in all things according to thy Light and lovest all the Saints of God as such no doubt but thy State is good and safe 3. But remember if thou canst not come to a satisfaction about what I speak in respect of those Signs yet know if thou dost believe i. e. rely upon the Merits and Righteousness of Christ as a poor Sin-sick Sinner all may be well 4. Take heed you do not look for a Righteousness in your selves to recommend you to God or to trust in for Justification Also know that it is not for the sake of Christ's Merits or for the sake of his Righteousness that we are justified but that it is his Righteousness that is the Matter of our Justification alone before God as it is â—puted unto us and received by Faith Christ's Merits render no our Faith and sincere Obedience to be any part of our Righteousâ—ess to Justification in God's sight 't is his Righteousness only which was perfect and no other Righteousness must thou be foâ—nd in in this respect if thou art justified and eternally saved Though 't is true that Man that has true Faith shall find the Effects of it to be such that it will cleansâ— and purify his Heart and Life and that Faith that hath not such Effects and good Fruits to accompany it is a dead Faith as the Apostle James shews HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation I Closed the last Day with the tenth Demonstration to prove the Salvation of the Gospel to be Great and Glorious Seventhly Gospel-Salvation is Great and Glorious because it is a full a compleat and a comprehensible Salvation That which I intend hereby is this viz There are all things contained in this Salvation which our 〈…〉 in order to Grace and whatsoever is necessary for us here and eternal Glory hereafter 't is not a barren or a partial Salvation but a fruitful and compleat Salvation it does not require us to make Bâ—â—k and allow us no Straw it doth not command us to believe and give us no Power it is not like the Law that commands perfect Righteousness and condemns all that have it not but gives no Strength to perform it Some there be who seem to preach a strange Gospel they tell you what Christ hath done viz that he hath died c. and done his part in this Salvation and lest Sinners to do their part the Debt is paid you may go out of Poison if you will this they do tell you But alas alas the lest Sinner is bound he is in Chains under the Power of Sin and Satan nay he is dead and what can he do Is his Power greater than the Power of Satan Can he translate himself out of the Power of Darkness into the Kingdom of God's Son Can he by any Power God hath given him quicken himself or raise himself from the Dead No no this is impossible But now say I Gospel-Salvation is a full and comâ—â—â—â— Salvation what is needful and absolutely necessary to be donâ— for the Sinner in order to his having a saving Interest in it Jesus Christ will accomplish nay and he will do it himself he will not â—dmit you to have a Share or a Part in the Salvation of your own Souls for as he knows Sinners are not able to do that which must be done for them and in them if they are interested into the Blessings of this Salvation so he will have and must have all the Glory and Honour of this Salvation himself from the first to the last Christ hath no Partner no Competitor in this great Work I mean in and about the Salvation of our Souls 1. Sinners are you dead dead in Sins and Trespasses Christ is come to quicken you I am come that you might have Life There is in this Salvation Life for dead Sinners Christ hath a certain Water to give that whosoever drinketh of it though he be dead yet he shall live that Water is his Spirit 't is by that by infusing of his Spirit into the dead Soul that the Soul comes to be quickned the Spirit of Christ is his quickning Voice The Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Christ is our Life not only as he purchased Life for us but as he by his Spirit infuses it in us The Spirit is that Vital Principle in us You hath he quickned that were dead in Trespasses and Sins And he puts forth his Almighty Power to do this as the Apostle had declared to the Saints at Ephesus just in the Verses before in the first Chapter shewing to them that the same Power is put forth in raising us from a Death in Sin or in working Faith in our Souls that was wrought in Christ when he was raised from he Dead and therefore it is said to be the exceeding Greatness of his Power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty Power as before Can any Man do this can he raise himself Dead Lazarus might quicken and raise himself as soon out of the Grave as a dead Sinner can
quicken himself or believe of himself no Faith is God's Gift and it is the vital Principle of our Souls I wonder what some Men mean when they say Sinners must come up to the Rule of the Promise before they lay hold of the Promise Can they quicken themselves True if they can the Promise runs Christ will give them Life Get Life create Life in your Souls and lay hold of the Promise strange Notion I am sure Life must be first in the Soul before the Soul can do any thing that is truly and spiritually Good before Life is infused there is no motion towards God let the Motives be what they will 2. Sinners are blind spiritually blind and it is Jesus Christ must give them sight nay and he in the Work of this Salvation is anointed to open blind Eyes he is given to be a Light unto the Gentiles and so to be God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth Spiritual Life and Spiritual Light is in this Salvation and both are created in the Soul nay when Christ gives us Life he gives us Light also Object But it is said Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the Dead and Christ will give thee Light Answ 1. I answer That which God commands us to do in one place he says he will do for us in another place 2. It doth not imply that the Creature can of himself rise from the Dead but shews that he must be raised and quickned before he can receive Light from Christ 3. It shews a necessity of Faith or that we must believe and therefore ought to attend upon the Means of Faith and look up to God to obtain it Faith cometh by hearing that is the way he takes to work it in our Souls 3. Sinners have you hard and rocky Hearts Hearts of Stone even as hard as the nether Milstone Why now God bids you he commands you to make you a new Heart But can you do that if Christ never gives you Salvation until you create in your selves a new Heart and break your stony Hearts into pieces you will never have Salvation at all but must perish for ever and this Salvation will be in vain to you and to all Mortals were it so But pray observe the Promise this Salvation is so full that it hath a new Heart in it A new Heart also I will give you and a new Spirit I will put within you and I will take away the stony Heart out of your Flesh and will give you an Heart of Flesh A new Heart a holy a tender and broken Heart this God will give It is not naturally in us but it is of God's free Grace given to us Hence David cried Create in me a clean Heart O God and renew a right Spirit within me Thou didst as if he should say give me a new Heart but I have apostatized from thee and polluted my Soul O create again a clean Heart in me or renew thy Work Not that he had lost his new Heart but he would have God recover him from his Fall and put him into a holy and spiritual Frame which none but he that hath an almighty creating Power can do And if we cannot quicken our selves from a State of spiritual Deadness how should poor Sinners raise themselves from a State of spiritual Death Sinner here is Comfort for thee whose Heart is hard and thou feelest it hard and that makes thee go mourning all the Day behold in the Salvation of the Gospel a new Heart a Heart of Flesh is promised it is not you that can make your Heart new No no it is Jesus Christ that must do it 't is his Work We are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good Works 4. Is there in the Hearts of Sinners naturally Enmity against God Christ in this Salvation takes it away The carnal Mind is Enmity against God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be See in what a Pickle the Mind and Will of Man naturally is in What can a Sinner not do if the Doctrine of sore Men were true they can repent believe be regenerated and what not But 〈◊〉 says Paul their Mind their Will is not subject to the Law of God nor to the Gospel nor Rule of the Promise neither neither indeed can be Where they put a can Paul puts a cannot So 〈◊〉 another place he saith But the natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Here is a cannot again 't is impossible till the Spirit of God removes that Enmity and Darkness and bows and bends the Will to the Will of God which shall be done when the Salvation of the Gospel comes with Power to the Soul of a poor Sinner 'T is Christ that must slay this Enmity as well as he did that which was between Jews and Gentiles He is a Mediator not only to reconcile God to us but us also to God My People shall be willing in the Day of my Power 5. Sinners are you polluted defiled with Sin and filthy in God's sight How will you get rid of this abominable Filth which renders you loathsom in God's sight Can you wash away your Pollution will Snow-water do it No no For though thou wash thee with Nitre and take thee much Sope yet thine Iniquity is marked before me saith the Lord. Sin is not easily washed away the Guilt of it nor the Filth of it This Job well knew therefore saith If I wash my self with Snow-water and my Hands never so clean yet shalt thou plunge me in the Ditch and my own Clothes shall abhor me 'T is not Snow-water nor much Sope no nor a Sea of brinish Tears that can wash away the Defilement and Guilt of Sin that cleaves to the Soul But Sinner in this Salvation there iâ— a way found out to cleanse thy filthy Soul nay a Fountain opened for Sin and for Vncleanness God 't is true says Wash thine Heart from Wickedness that thou mayest be saved So far I dâ—ny not as Man is able he ought to abstain from Sin and cleanse himself But says Christ If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me 'T is he it is his Blood that cleanses us from all Sin This Salvation Brethren is a full and compleat Salvation it brings every thing with it we need Rather than the Stain the Pollution and Guilt of Sin should abide upon us Christ will pour forth his own Blood to wash it away He hath loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood He gave himself for his Church to this End That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it might be Holy and without
Day To Day if you will hear his Voice but they will not regard it Because I have called saith the Lord and you refused I have stretched out my Hand and no Man regarded But ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would have none of my Reproof I also will laugh at your Calamity and mock when your Fear cometh 9. Such who prefer their sinful and earthly Pleasures Profits and Honours above this Salvation do also neglect it 'T is said of some of the Pharisees that they believed on him but did not profess him lest they should be put out of the Synagogue for they loved the Praise of Men more than the Praise of God I once told you of a Man who living a loose and ungodly Life and was by that means in danger of losing his Eye-sight insomuch that his Physician told him He must leave that excess of Prophaneness or he would be blind Ah said he is it so Then farewel my sweet Eye-sight or to that Effect Just thus do many poor Sinners they will not part with their Sins their sinful Ways and sinful Companions for when they hear what they must do if ever they are saved namely believe in Jesus Christ repent and turn from all their sinful Courses they say in their Hearts Farewel then Great Salvation if these things must be done they will have none of it I remember I heard in our Countrey when I was young of a prophane Person that said in plain words That he would have his Lusts his Pleasures his merry Bouts or to that purpose for it was all the Heaven he look'd for O how just will it be in God to sentence such to eternal Flames 10. Such neglect this Salvation who say in their Hearts to God Depart from us we desire not the Knowledg of thy Ways They like not approve not of God nor of the Ways of God therefore desire him to depart they would not have God come so near them as to disturb their Thoughts nor disquiet their Spirits about their eternal State therefore they strive to divert themselves The Wicked saith the Psalmist through the Pride of his Countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts he will not trouble himself with God and the things of God and so neglects this Salvation 11. Moreover all such who believe not give not credit to the Revelation of the Gospel they do not believe the Report of it Lord saith the Prophet Who hath believed our Report Though the Report of the Gospel is given out upon the highest Evidence imaginable yet Brethren there is an humane Faith that a Man may attain to and exercise without Divine and Supernatural Grace which Men do not exert which if they did it would were it improved deter them and put a stop to many of their abominable Practices but as some in other cases say I will not believe such or such a thing though it is confirmed sufficiently so it is here Men will not believe they will not give Credit to the Report of the Gospel it is not agreeable to their carnal Reason What! believe there is no Salvation but by the Righteousness of another How can this be Can his Righteousness justify me be made mine I believe that if I do live an Honest Life and do good to my Neighbours I shall be saved Says another I can't believe that all shall be damned unless they are born again and experience such a Change as some Ministers talk of for if it be so Lord have Mercy upon us what will become of the greatest part of the World Says a third sort God is above the Devil and I cannot believe he will ever suffer Satan to get away the greatest Number of Mankind Ay says a fourth sort we can't believe that Sin is so great an Evil or so great a Matter or that God will be so severe as to cast us into Hell for it What 's Drunkenness 'T is for our Health to be drunk now and then and what is simple Fornication Tush will God think you ever cast us into Hell for such small things as these or throw us into a Furnace of Fire It cannot consist with his Mercy and infinite Goodness Now Brethren as all these Persons neglect this Salvation so they make God a Liar God hath said There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we must be saved no other way but through Christ's Blood by his Merits and Righteousness but they say there is He also hath said That the Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God even whole Nations if they do so and that no Drunkard Fornicator Proud Person Unbeliever or Covetous Man or Woman c. shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven but contrariwise shall have their Portion in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone but they will not believe it And God says Except a Man be born again he shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but they will not believe it O what is the Condition of these Men Unbelief is the damning Sin in this respect as well as it is in respect that it leads Men out to refuse and contemn the Remedy God hath appointed I mean the Application of the Blood of Jesus Christ These perish as the Man did who was told of his Danger but would not believe it till it fell upon him to his Ruin 12. Such neglect this great Salvation who delay the looking after it until old Age or till Sickness or Death comes upon them How many are there of this sort They mind not their Souls nor Soul-concernments but think it is time enough when they have spent their best Days in the Service of the World nay in the Devil's Service to look after Religion or an Interest in Jesus Christ these I say also are neglecters of this Salvation 13. All such who make not Religion or the Salvation of their precious Souls their chief Business or Matter of the highest Importance in the World these must be set down as neglecters of Gospel-Salvation Brethren this is that one Thing needful namely to provide for the Soul in reference to Eternity This was that good part Mary chose that should not be taken from her she took more care about the good of her Soul in attending on Christ's Word than on any thing else whatsoever This should be our general Calling to which Work we ought to give up our selves continually in improving all Seasons and Opportunities and in the discharge of all spiritual Duties O how busy are some Men and how wise nay to get this World no Time no Care no Opportunity shall be omitted But they have no regard of this great Concernment it is not weighed nor thought upon by them yet what can be of like Importance and what Fools are they whose chiefest Care is to live well for one Day and regard not what will become of them
wretched and naked and for Rebellion condemned to die nay to be burned for ever Unbelief was the Cause of Man's Fall at first he would not believe God who told him In the Day he eat of the forbidden Fruit he should surely die No he rather adhered to the Devil and gave credit to the Father of Lies This also was the grand Cause of the Israelites falling in the Wilderness And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his Rest but to them that believed not So we see they could not enter in because of Vnbelief Let us therefore fear saith the Apostle Brethren there is a notional and practical Unbelief Some believe there is a God but they deny him by their Works and deny Christ the only Saviour by cleaving to and trusting in other things for Salvation They perhaps think that their good Deeds their Prayers their just Dealings and sober and moral Lives will save them Some are like a poor ignorant Wretch that I heard of who being lately sick and a Christian Neighbour being sent for to come to him he asked him some Questions about his Soul who replied that he had been a Sinner but if God spared him he hop'd to make God amends for all Some sin and commit horrid Evils in the Day and then pray at Night and confess their Sins and may be drop a few Tears and that they think cures all and makes them as sound again as a Fish and so go on the next Day in their old trade of sinning as briskly as before Some have a humane Faith an historical Faith and from thence do many things though they do not live up to that Faith neither nor improve what Knowledg and Light they have received to that degree they ought and so shall be condemned like as was the Man that improved not his one Talent I call it a humane Faith because it is the Act of the Creature by virtue of his natural Powers and Capacity the Spring and Motive of their Faith is Humane therefore their Faith cannot be Divine I shall sum up the whole of this Head and come to the Application 1. It appears that the Salvation of the Gospel is neglected by many through Ignorance and natural Blindness their Understandings are darkned And Light shines in the Darkness but the Darkness comprehendeth it not Men love Darkness rather than Light Error rather than Truth If another come in his own Name him you will receive 2. There is a Perverseness and Rebellion in the Will and hardness in the Heart Ye will not come to me that ye might have Life The carnal Mind is Enmity against God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be 3. Men are ignorant and unsensible of their States and Conditions Are we blind also We are Abraham 's Seed was the Plea of old We are Christians the Off-spring of Christian People and good Protestants is the Plea now They are 4. Ignorant of God's Holiness and Justice and so trust in his Mercy not regarding of his Law and Justice They are ignorant and unsensible of that insufficiency there is in themselves or in any thing they can do to save their own Souls 5. 'T is through the Ignorance of some of their Teachers who preach not the Gospel truly to them 6. 'T is through an inordinate Love to the things of this World their Affections are corrupted and set upon the Creature upon their Riches Honours and Pleasures 7. 'T is through that Love many have to their Sins and sinful Practices and sinful Companions 8. 'T is through the deceitfulness and treachery of their own evil Hearts 9. Through slavish Fear or pretended Modesty they dare not be so bold to venture themselves on Christ being such great Sinners and having nothing to present unto him for acceptance 10. It is from Idleness and spiritual Sloth 11. From Unbelief not giving Credit to the Revelation of God's Word in many respects but think to be saved some other ways than by Jesus Christ alone or not by him and nothing else and conclude something is to be joined to Christ's Merits and Righteousness or they cannot be justified nor saved and thus this Salvation is neglected it is upon these or such-like Considerations as these are APPLICATION 1. Tremble you that slight or neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel Will you say that Jesus Christ cannot save you or is not willing to save you Certainly those who give way to such Thoughts and Temptations are sharply to be reproved 2. Your Sins and Unbelief is the Cause of your Misery and if you perish it will be the Cause of your Damnation for ever 3. And to you that are Believers let me speak one Word Have a care of Unbelief beware of unbelieving and desponding Thoughts Why do you hang down your Heads Object O the deadness of my Heart This I know is the Voice and Complaint of your Souls Answ How came you to know that you are dead Certainly this is a sign that there is Life in you Did ever any Person that was naturally dead say he was dead cold or unsensible that is impossible 't is only such who are alive that thus complain Object O the abundance of Sin that is in me that afflicts and distresses my Soul Answ Say you so is Sin your Sickness is Sin your Sorrow Is Sin that which afflicts wounds and grieves your Spirit Then rejoice this is a good sign Would you live and sin not Do you see a loveliness in Holiness this is no doubt an Evidence of the Goodness of your Condition provided you hate it and allow not of Sin in you Object But alas how little do I mind and am affected with this great Salvation Answ Canst thou be contented without it or give over minding it and trouble thy self no more about it Nay art thou willing to part with that Interest thou hast in Christ and in this Salvation I am perswaded you will say No not for ten thousand Worlds 4. Moreover from hence we may see the Madness and Folly of the generality of Men who live under the preaching of the Gospel and yet neglect Day by Day the Means of this so great Salvation they regard not their chief and main Business What Blindness is naturally in Mankind But because I shall have occasion to open more particularly the great Evil of neglecting the Salvation of the Gospel the next time I shall say no more to it now HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation I AM upon the Prosecution of the second Proposition I raised from this Text viz. Doct. 2. That the Means of the great Salvation of the Gospel may be neglected This is implied in the Words 1. I shewed you the last Day what the neglecting of Gospel-Salvation doth import 2. I also shewed you who they are that may be said to neglect it 3. And likewise from whence it cometh to pass
their rebellious Hearts that their abominable Sins Pride and Arrogancy might be curb'd and they not so boldly and impudently go on in their Disobedience and Contempt of Jesus Christ Christ to this End as Dr. Owen observes hath his Arrows which he lets fly upon his Enemies some may â—â—ick in their Hearts and they fall down dead before him he this way may kill them to give them Life 2. That all ungodly Sinners may be left without Excuse and Jesus Christ be justified in his righteous Proceedings against them at the last Day He tells them before-hand what they must expect and look for If they repent not they shall all likewise perish if they believe not they shall be damned if they are not born again they shall not see the Kingdom of God if they continue in any course of Sin as Adultery Fornication Drunkenness Theft Pride Covetousness Lying c. they shall have their Portion in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone And if they neglect this so great Salvation they shall not escape Divine Wrath. 3 dly and lastly The Threatnings that are in the Gospel may be of great use to Believers even as a Whip or Lash to quicken them when grown slothful and negligent in their Duties or fall into a sleepy and secure State and to shew them that the Gospel tolerates no looseness allows of no Sin but that the whole Design of it is to promote Holiness God will be sanctified by all that draw near to him They may serve also to prevent the Power and Prevalency of indwelling Sin or tend to nip off the Buds as they put forth or kill those Weeds that might otherwise grow the more in their Hearts and also to stir them up to stand upon their Watch and make a stout Resistance of all Enemies for that God tells us we must either kill or be killed If ye live after the Flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit mortify the Deeds of the Body ye shall live Christ's Souldiers are sure of the Victory but not without sighting if they turn their Backs they are gone though to their great Joy and Comfort if they are true Believers they know they are not of that sort that draw back unto Perdition Also by these Threats the Saints may be the better enabled to suffer Persecution and endure any Trials here for Christ's sake they hereby knowing how much easier it is to bear and undergo the Wrath of Man than it is to endure the Wrath of God Quest On whom is the Wrath of God denounced or what kind of Sinners shall undergo it Answ 1. I answer All prophane and ungodly Sinners of what sort soever as Aduiterers Fornicators covetous Persons malicious Persons Whisperers Backbiters haters of God despiteful and proud Persons Covenant-breakers Implacable Vnmerciful Thieves Drunkards Revilers Extortioners Murderers Witches Sorcerers and all Liars These and all other prophane Persons whatsoever who live and die in any of these or other Sins having neglected this Salvation shall not escape the Wrath of God For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven againstall Vngodliness and Vnrighteousness of Men. The Wages of every Sin yea the very Lusts of the Heart is Eternal Death Sin is their Sickness and the neglecting the Salvation of the Gospel is their refusing that Remedy and only Cure of their Sickness which God doth afford 2. All civilized Persons such who depend upon Principles of Morality or living a sober Life and never look after Faith in Jesus Christ and Regeneration I say unto you Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Yet Paul when a Pharisee saith That as touching the Righteousness which is of the Law I was blameless Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God These as much neglect this great Salvation as scandalous and prophane Sinners and therefore shall not escape God's Wrath. 3. All Idolaters Persecutors and heretical Persons such who are corrupted with damnable Heresy who deny the Person of Christ or our Lord Jesus the only Saviour or Salvation and Righteousness by him these also are neglecters of this Salvation and living and dying in those Sins cannot escape the Wrath of God 4. All Unbelievers or such who are without saving Faith in Jesus Christ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned He that believeth not shall not see Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him No Unbeliever can escape the Wrath of God 5. All Hypocrites or such who make a Profession of the Gospel without the saving Grace of God in their Hearts Of these there are two sorts 1. Such who are self-condemned Hypocrites who know they are not what they profess themselves to be but have carnal and sinister Ends and Aims in their professing the Gospel Religion being but a Cloak to cover their Deceit and Hypocrisy 2. Such as the foolish Virgins were whose Hearts deceive them thinking their State was good 1. But never passed through the Pangs of the new Birth but trusted to a Form of Godliness without the Power of it This sort it seems 2. are very blind and ignorant in that they thought to receive Advantage by the Graces or good Works of wise and gracious Christians Give us of your Oil for our Lamps are gone out 3. They never sought for Grace any way until it was too late even not till the Bridegroom was come 4. It appears that this sort also were very consident of the Goodness of their Condition that is a bad sign for they rose up to meet the Bridegroom Gracious Christians are attended with Godly Jealousies of their own Hearts yet these Mens outward Conversation might be clean to outward appearance in that they were not known to the Wise to be foolish Ones 5. Their Folly appears in that they please themselves with a Name of being Christians Saints and Church-Members without the Nature Faith and Holiness of such prizing a Lamp of Profession above the Grace of God or a Form of Religion more than the Power of it valuing the Approbation of Men more than the Approbation and Acceptation of God esteeming the empty Cabinet or pleasing themselves with the Shell of Religion without the Kernel of it and in their thinking it was time enough to sow when others were just going to reap and by laying Claim to Heaven without any Title to it None of these living and dying under this Deceit Ignorance and Hypocrisy can escape the Wrath of God 6. All such cannot escape who utterly apostatize or backslide from God and the Truths of the Gospel who after they have made a Profession of Religion turn with the Sow to her wallowing in the Mire and with the Dog lick up their old Vomit again I mean cleave again to their former evil and ungodly Ways and
God's sight and accepted for the sake of Christ's Merits Not that Christ's Righteousness alone is the matter of our Justification exclusive of all our inherent Righteousness and Obedience no no but rather it is our Righteousness which doth justify us The Gospel according to these Men is propounded as a Law and God as a Rector or just Governour commanding Obedience thereunto as the procuring Cause of our Justification So that our Faith and Obedience is a Cause and Condition of Life as Unbelief and Disobedience is the Cause of Eternal Death But having formerly detected this dangerous Error I shall not further insist upon the Confutation of it here 5. Such preach a Legal Doctrine that render Man a Co-worker with Christ in the Salvation of their own Souls by which means there is room left for him to boast and glory Such a Doctrine they preach who magnify the Will of Man or the Power of the Creature which I hope I have by the Assistance of God sufficiently detected and refuted in this Treatise All boasting being excluded by the Grace of God in the Gospel Man being abased and God alone exalted APPLICATION I shall now come to make the general Application of what I have said unto you from this great Text and so conclude with all I shall say from it First Inform. First by way of Information the Doctrine which hath in these Sermons been insisted on may inform us That Gospel-Sins are the greatest Sins and that the blind Heathens are not cannot be so guilty and culpable before God nor in such a dangerous Condition as those are who live under the preaching of the Gospel and yet slight and neglect the Salvation of it O what will they do in the Day of Judgment that live in England in London in a Land and City of so great Light and perish through their Sin and Contempt or Neglect of Gospel-Grace Secondly This may also inform us how strangely Mankind are blinded and deceived by the God of this World in that small things are accounted great and that which is of the greatest Concernment is little or not at all regarded but esteemed as a trivial matter O says some we must mind the main Chance they mean the main Business in respect of their Earthly Subsistence which is to get Bread and to provide for the Body for their Wives and Children Now the Doctrine which you have heard shews you how you are deluded that look upon Earthly Things to be the main Business you should look after What is of such Importance as the Salvation of your precious and immortal Souls and to be providing for an endless Eternity Thirdly I may infer from hence That the greatest part of Mankind are Unbelievers for all that neglect this Salvation and look not upon this matter as their chief Business are doubtless in a State of Unbelief They do not credit this holy Doctrine they believe not God's Word If one should tell you that are going a Journy that if you go such a Way you will certainly be destroyed by Thieves or wild Beasts yet you will go on Would it not follow clearly that you believe not what was told you Why thus it is here Sinners are told and assured from the Word of God as certain as God is true and his Word true that if they leave not their Swearing their Pride their Drunkenness their Lying their Lusts and Uncleanness their Worldly-mindedness and their preferring Earth and the things of the World above the things of God or if they do not believe repent and be born again they shall certainly perish for ever yet they go on and live in those ways of Sin and believe not repent not this is an evident sign that they do not give Credit to what is told them and so are Unbelievers and if they still persist in their way they will be certainly damned 1. Our Saviour saith Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish ye shall not escape eternal Wrath be ye great Sinners or not Sinners of the first Rank The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God 2. Christ saith He that believeth not the Wrath of God abideth on him and they that do not believe are told there is no other way to escape this Wrath and that this Wrath will be poured forth upon them like Fire unless they believe in Christ receive Christ obtain an Interest in Jesus Christ nay that they are condemned already but they believe not 3. Moreover such who live a sober moral Life are told that notwithstanding that yet unless they are born again unless they get Faith in Jesus Christ and their Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees and they obtain the Righteousness of Christ they cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Now they will not believe this but conclude their State is good and that Morality is sufficient to save their Souls which shews that these are Unbelievers also 4. Others are told that their good Deeds their good Duties their Prayers their hearing of Sermons or their being Baptized and having Communion with God's People will not do unless they are savingly renewed and sanctified having the true Grace of God in their Hearts and lead a Godly Holy and Spiritual Life finding the powerful Operations of the Spirit changing them into the Likeness of Jesus Christ but they believe it not but rest upon their Duties and outward Privileges tho they are told the Kingdom of God is not in Meat and Drink but in Righteousness and Truth and Joy in the Holy Ghost or that the Kingdom of God is not inward only but in Power also and that Lamps of Profession will not save them except they have Oil in their Vessels many of these are like the foolish Virgins and believe it not but rest on a bare Name of Christians on a Form of Godliness and may be fall short too as to an outward Profession of Godliness for so do they who pray not in the Closet nor in their Families neither read God's Word nor make it their Business to hear the Word preached in Season and out of Season but every small Matter takes them off of those Duties Be sure all prayerless Souls are graceless Souls it is to be feared many of this sort make Religion but little of their Business who neither read pray nor meditate nor perhaps call upon their Children and Servants so to do but let their Children have their Carnal Lusts their Pride ambitious and wanton Inclinations indulged and nourished in them O how little is the outward Part of God's Worship kept up in the Families of some Professors Fourthly This may serve also for a Use of Terror to secure Sinners 1. May not Cry out Fire Fire Such a Cry hath often startled and amazed many of you that live in and about this City Sirs a Fire is just a breaking out which you cannot escape unless you look about you the sooner
accounted all things as loss or as nothing for the Excellency of Jesus Christ his Lord. 4. Doth Jesus Christ rule and reign in thee by his Spirit He that hath Christ in him may feel his ruling Power and that he by his Spirit hath spoiled the ruling and predominating Power of Sin every evil Habit in the Heart and Life of such being broke 5. Moreover if Christ is in thee and thou by Faith art in him then thou art a new Creature This the Apostle positively doth assert Therefore if any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new Such have new Understandings or are renewed in their Understandings Wills and Affections they have also new Thoughts new Love new Fears new Joy new Desires new Companions and new Conversations all things with such are become new Lastly And to conclude with all I shall say from this Text here is also Matter and Cause of Comfort and great Consolation to all Believers to all who have a part in this Salvation I need not shew you which way this appears for every one that hath heard what a kind of Salvation it is may easily infer from thence that all that have a part in it are happy for ever 't is a great and glorious Salvation Remember what you are delivered from by it and what you are raised up unto by it and also that it is a sure and certain Salvation no Enemy no Sin no Devil can dispossess you of it if you are Believers and have received the Earnest thereof which is the Holy Spirit by which also you are sealed to the Day of Redemption Therefore it remains that you endeavour to shew forth the Praises of him who hath called you out of Darkness into his marvelous Light and hath given you a true sight of and interest in this great Salvation wrought by Jesus Christ To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be Glory Honour and Praise now and for ever Amen FINIS A. Access FREE access to the Father an Effect of Christ's Death Pag. 262 Accompany What those things are that do accompany Salvation 323 366 Adoption Adoption a glorious Privilege 417 Afflictions Afflictions compared to a Refiner's Fire 17 Afflictions Christ's Fan 17 Aggravation The Aggravations of Sin opened in ten Particulars 356 All. Christ died not eternally to save all Men proved 248 to 256 Christ in some sense did die for all universally or for every individual Person 256 Angels Angels pry into our Salvation 433 Angels great understanding yet learn by Experience of the Church 434 Arian Heresy what 85 Arminianism Arminianism detected 146 147 Arminianism again detected 158 Arminianism further detected 228 to 256 Attributes All the Attributes glorified equally in our Salvation by Jesus Christ 372 All the holy Attributes united together in Christ to save Believers 247 All the Attributes of God in Arms to cut down such who neglect the Salvation of the Gospel 467 468 B. Backbiting a notorious Evil such may be guilty of Murder 7 Baptizing is dipping 132 Baptism of great use to Believers 133 Beguiled Christ's Sheep may be beguiled by Deceivers how far 89 90 Blood unlawful to be eaten The whole World forbid to eat it because it is the Life of the Creature Pag. 256 Business The Salvation of our Souls the chief Business we have to mind whilst in this World shewed in many Particulars 441 442 443 C. Cease Such who are begotten and born of God cannot cease being his Children 214 Chaff Why false or hypocritical Professors are compared to Chaff shewed in six things from p. 18 to 25 Who are Chaff from p 18 to 25 Charity Ministers should exercise Charity towards such Christians that seem dull and drowsy 322 Child John Child's Sin what 48 Some Passages of his Desparation 48 49 50 He hang'd himself 51 Children The happy State of being the Children of God born of God 222 to 227 How God's Children are known 219 220 Christ Christ is God and Man wherefore 93 94 Christ coequal to the Father 380 Christ the express Image of the Father's Person 368 How Christ is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God 273 274 Condition Conditional Christ not a Conditional Redeemer 251 The Condition that Arminians say the Creature is to perform is impossible 250 251 252 Their Conditional Redemption no Redemption at all 250 251 252 253 254 It renders Salvation not free or wholly by Grace 151 Cornelius not saved without Faith in Christ tho his Prayers are said to be heard 385 Curse of the Law remains on all Unbelievers 474 D. Darkness Hell a Place of utter Darkness Pag. 5 Dead Man naturally dead 145 How Men may know they are spiritually dead or dead in Sin 146 Death The Nature of natural Death 145 Natural and Spiritual Death compared 145 146 Death of Christ secures the Saints Final Perseverance 235 Christ suffered Death in our stead 239 Dear How a dear Child of God may be known 219 220 Despair a great Sin 449 455 456 Utter Despair will add to the Damneds Misery 61 Devil The Devil the Cause of Sinners spiritual Blindness 445 The Devil will torment the Damned by upbraiding them 61 Devils and wicked Men tormented together 62 Discipline The Fan of Church Discipline twofold 13 14 15 E. Effect 1. Appeasing God's Wrath an Effect of Christ's Death 257 2. Reconciliat an Effect of Christ's Death 258 3. The Holy Spirit as given to the Elect an Effect of Christ's Death 259 4. Adoption an Effect of Christ's Death 262 5. Pardon of Sin an Effect of Christ's Death and Satisfaction 262 6. Free Access to the Throne of Grace an Effect of Christ's Death 262 7. Redemption an Effect of Christ's Death 262 8. Justification an Effect of Christ's Death 263 9. Sanctification an Effect of Christ's Death 263 10. Glorification an Effect of Christ's Death 265 First Effect of Christ's Death in us by the Spirit is Life 267 Second Light Conviction 267 Christ's Death shall have its Effect on all for whom he died like as a Corn of Wheat that is sown will have its Effect 253 Elect Election There is Election of Grace Personal Election proved 170 171 172 c. Christ the Head of Election 170 Election secures the Saints Final Perseverance 172 177 178 179 181 182 Envy a great Sin 7 Essentials What the Essentials of Christianity are 85 86 Every Man doth not intend oft-times all and every individual Person in the World 299 Eutychians What the Eutychian Heresy is 85 F. Faith Justifying Faith is a reliance on Christ A full perswasion that Christ is mine not essential to the being of Faith 420 Of a direct Act of Faith 420 A general Faith to believe Christ died for all therefore for me not to be valued and may be a false Faith 268 Fall Fallings Saints may fall foully 162 Causes of the Saints Fallings 164 165 166 167 Falling from Grace No final falling from Grace proved
the sands on the Sea-shoar were removed tho' it would be a long time first yet they would be all removed at last And had the Damned but so much hope that after so long a time as that would amount to their Torments would have an end it would revive their Spirits O this word Eternity Eternity is most amazing to wicked men besides as in Pleasures Joy and Delights time seems to slide away in a silent and insensible manner so in horrid Pain and Misery the days seem long and tedious every minute is accounted so that the Consideration of this must needs make their Eternity if it were possible a double Eternity nay many Eternities for one hour under the greatest Extremities of Misery seems ten times nay an hundred times longer than an hours time in the Enjoyment of the sweetest Delight and Pleasure An Eternity of Joy is long in respect of Duration but seems short saith a worthy Divine in respect of Apprehension So on the other hand say I an Eternity of Pain Torment and Misery is long in respect of Duration but seems much longer in respect of Apprehension Quest But shall there not be an end of the Torments of the Damned will infinite Goodness be so severe with his offending Creatures can this stand consistent with the Sweetness of his Nature and infinite mercy Answ I Answer there is a Perfection in every one of Gods divine Attributes as his Love is infinite to such who are his Elect ones who do believe in him honour and obey him so is his Hatred infinite to all those who despise hate and dishonour him 2. God will be sure glorifie his Veracity or the Truth of his Threatning He that hath said the righteous shall be saved with an everlasting Salvation or shall have eternal Life hath said that the wicked shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power They are tormented day and night for ever and ever Now since God hath Decreed and denounced eternal punpishment to obstinate sinners it is sufficient to satisfie all Doubts about the Justice of it Let God be true and every man a Liar for divine Justice and Wrath is the Correspondence of his Will Actions and Holiness of his Nature to the damned ' As divine Love and Goodness is to such who are saved we may therefore saith one as easily conceive there is no God as that God is unjust because absolute Rectitude is an inseparable perfection of his Nature ' is God unrighteous who taketh Vengance God forbid 3. Sin deserveth no less than an infinite and an eternal punishment therefore unless the Damned could give an infinite Satisfaction by suffering they must suffer eternally for they must lye in Prison until they have paid the uttermost farthing But alas how should they make full payment to Gods Justice who run continually into Debt more and more for the Damned in Hell do not cease sinning they will sin to Eternity and therefore must suffer to Eternity 4. Nay they will sin with the greatest Fury and Madness against God when they come to be under the greatest sence of Despair imaginable they will sin then like as the Devils do now and will for ever when they see they are deprived of all good and only possess what is evil O how will they hate God blaspheme his holy Name for evermore the blessed God is the Object of their Curses and eternal Aversation in Hell is weeping and gnashing of Teeth ' Extream Sorrow and extream Fury Despair and Rage saith one are proper Passions of lost Souls their Enmity against God is direct and explicit the Feaver is heightned into a Frenzy If their Rage could extend to him and their Power equal to their desire they would dethrone the most High Hatred takes pleasure in Revenge ' 'T is said of the Worshippers of the Beast that they gnawed their Tongues for pain and Blasphemed the God of Heaven because of their pain These Torments and Blasphemies of the Damned are clearly represented by these cursed impenitent Idolaters ' If a Criminal were justly condemned to a severe Punishment and should contumeliously with the greatest Fury reproach the Prince by whose Authority he was condemned could it be expected there should be a mitigation of the severity of the Sentence ' How then should the righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth reverse or mitigate the Sentence against the Damned who blaspheme his holy Majesty and if they were able to effect as they are malicious to desire would destroy his very being and execute that on him which he in Justice inflicts on them 5. To hast to the Application The infinite Guilt that cleaves to sin and the Consideration that they continually add more Guilt upon their own Heads requires a proportion in punishment as the Evil of sin exceeds our Thoughts The Majesty of God being infinite consequently the punishment of it will be infinite and beyond our Conceptions it will be a letting out of his infinite Wrath and utter extent of his power therefore unto the Wicked is reserved the blackness of Darkness for ever APPLICATION From hence we may inferr how great Evil there is in sin O sin is the Plague of all Plagues who can conceive how detestable a thing is sin in the sight of God since He who is so gracious merciful and compassionate a God should throw millions of Men and Women in his Wrath into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone 2. This also shews the woful Depravation of Mankind what Darkness Ignorance and Folly is in their Minds and Hearts that choose Sin when told not only how hateful it is to God but what intolerable and durable Torments it doth expose them unto One would think that a person that hears these things should never indulge his vicious Appetite any more nor lay his Reins loose on the neck of his Lust but it is more marvelous to see or hear that he who believes the Scripture and doubteth not of the Truth of Hell Torments should yet notwithstanding lead an ungodly Life what believe there is such Torments prepared for all impenitent Persons and yet not turn to God by Jesus Christ 3. From hence also we may inferr how necessary it is that Ministers open the Torments of Hell seeing Jesus Christ so often in the Gospel threatens all Hypocrites and Vnbelievers therewith They that say it is legal Preaching to preach such a Doctrine as this know not what they say will they magnifie their Wisdom above the Wisdom of Jesus Christ and the first and great Preachers of the Gospel of Peace who said we knowing therefore the Terror of God perswade Men that is to beleive in Christ and to live godly Lives that so they may never feel Gods eternal Wrath the Hearts of Men can more easily conceive of the Torments of Hell than of the Joys of Heaven And as it may be of use by way of
Information so also by way of Terror and that to many sorts of Persons 1. Tremble ye wordly Professors who have earthly Spirits that set your Hearts on things below and neither cloath the Naked nor feed the Hungry Weep and howl for the misery that shall come upon you ye have heaped Treasure together against the last day how will your Folly gall your Consciences when you lye in Hell-Torments whilst you heap up Gold and Silver in your Bags and Chests you heap up Wrath against the last day Remember what Christ says unto you And these shall go away into everlasting punishment What will your Profession signifie if you love the World above God which be sure you do if you see a Brother or Sister in want and do not give them such things that they need Remember Mr. Child I have made this World saith he my God 2. Tremble you proud and vain-glorious Persons Pride cryes poor Mr. Child hath undone me The Proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the day that comes shall burn them up Will you glory in your Riches Honours Gifts Knowledge or any thing you have will you not be reclaimed to throw off your God-provoking Fashions whatsoever comes of it but plead to uphold your Lusts and Vanity tho' the Name of God be dishonoured and Religion brought into Contempt and the Godly grieved 3. Tremble you vain young Men and Women who forget your Creator in the days of your Youth that secretly resolve your own Hearts shall choose your ways who will feed your carnal Appetites and wanton Desires and will run on in wicked Courses let Ministers say what they will Godly Parents say what they will yet you will swear lye be drunk commit Uncleanness O know as you feed your Lusts here and that burns in you so shall Hell feed on you and that fire like Chaff burn you up hereafter Will a few merry Hours with your filthy Companions make a compensation for the loss of your precious and immortal Souls Are you willing to suffer the Wrath of God for ever rather than to forgo your vain and wicked Courses 4. Tremble ye that harbour Atheistical Thoughts in your Hearts and are ready to think or hope there is no God O how soon may you feel him within you by his terrible Wrath as Mr. Child in bitterness of Soul cryed out 5. Tremble ye Lyars that love to make a lye for you shall have your portion in the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death 6. Tremble ye who are light and frothy persons also you that are Back-biters Busie-bodys that vilifie and reproach the Servants of God out of Malice and Prejudice you will be as Chaff that shall burn in Hell for ever 7. Tremble all ye that slight Christ and his Gospel and neglect those convictions you have either of Sin or Duty and that slight all serious thoughts of Eternity or how things will go with you in another World and who stiffle your Consciences or turn a deaf ear to it's rebukes God may awaken you er'e long in his Wrath and tear you to pieces when there is none to deliver you 8. Tremble all ye Hypocrites whose Hearts condemn you for harbouring some Sin or another in your bosoms who are not what you seem to be but strive to cover your vileness under a cloak of a visible Profession Fearfulness will soon surprize you Who amongst us shall dwell with devouring fire who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burning Hell is that place that is prepared for Hypocrites and Vnbelievers It seems by the word of our Blessed Saviour that they above all are in a dangerous Estate and shall not escape eternal burning 9. Tremble ye Apostates ye who have backsliden from God O fear lest God let out his Wrath upon you here and it burn within you whilst you are alive in the body and if it prove a final Apostacy Wo be to you as ever you were born then there remains no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignation that shall devour the adversaries Exhort O Repent Repent haste to Christ believe on him 1. Motive The God of mercy exercises much Patience towards poor Sinners O how doth he wait O how willing is he they should be saved and not come into the place of Torment 2. He tells you what your End will be if you believe not if you accept not his Son fly not for Refuge to take hold of Jesus Christ if ye believe not in Christ ye shall dye in your sins that is you shall be damned for ever He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned He sets out the Torments of the damned by the most amazing figures to move upon mens Spirits and work upon their Minds so that they being deterred form evil Practices may flee from the Wrath to come by laying hold on the hope set before them he gives warning before he strikes tells you of your danger Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish he that believeth on the son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him the wicked shall be turned into Hell with all the Nations that forget God You may know how it will go with you at the last day if you hear but Gods warning-pieces in his Word Know ye not the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor effeminate Persons nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor Thieves nor Drunkards nor Extortioners c. Compared with Rev. 21. 8. 3. God calls nay cries to you sinners O ye simple ones why will ye love simplicity and fools hate knowledge turn ye at my reproof and behold I will pour out my spirit upon you c. 4. He gives sinners time and space to repent or a day of Grace O now unexcusable will he leave every ungodly man at the last day their destruction shall appear to be of themselves be sure God will be clear when he judges none shall have any thing to charge him with all mouths shall be stopped The man That wanted the Wedding-Garment was speechless 5. God hath sent his Son to die for Sinners God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life 6. He sends his Ministers to call you to invite you who tell you all things are now ready Sinners will your sinful Honours Riches or Pleasures make a reparation for the loss of a Christ the loss of Heaven and loss of your own souls Take two or three Directions 1. Seek the Kingdom of Heaven first before all things 2. Take notice this is the day of your Visitation