broken-hearted to proclaim liberty to the Captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound to proclaim liberty to the Captives and the opening of the prison to that are bound CHAP. I. Containing the Explication of the Text. THese words though true of the Prophet Isaiah yet have principally reference unto Christ who going into the Synagogue on the Sabbath-day chose these words for his Text and preached upon it to the admiration of his hearers Luk. 4. 18. And applied these words unto himself as chiefly intended v. 21. Other holy men of God had the Spirit of the Lord upon them and was imparted to them by which they spake 1 Pet. 1. 11. 2 Pet. 1. 21 But Christ in a more eminent manner and measure Isa 11. 2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and might the spirit of knowledg and of the fear of the Lord. Isa 42. 1 Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul delighteth I have put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles Yea Christ had the Spirit more abundantly than all others Joh. 3. 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the spirit by measure unto him All Believers are anointed of God have received a spiritual and holy Unction in some measure of sanctifying-grace 2 Cor. 1. 21 Now he which establisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God 1 Joh. 2. 20 But ye have an Vnction from the holy One and ye know all things Ver. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man should teach you the grounds of Religion which ye have already learned or any new Doctrines which ye have not already received but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things needful to be known in order to salvation or to preserve you from being deceived or drawn away by false Teachers and is truth and is no lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him Besides this anointing common to all Gods people there is a more special Unction whereby certain persons chosen and called of God to holy employment especially are fitted and qualified with gifts and graces for the better discharge of their Office in former times typified by material Unctions Lev. 8. 12 And he poured of the anointing oyl upon Aarons head and anointed him to sanctifie him But Christ was anointed in a more large manner and fuller measure than any other being chosen and called and appointed by God to the office of Mediator betwixt God and man which no other was capable of or fitted for Psal 45. 7 therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows Christ had a fulness of abundance Col. 2. 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledg Ver. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily And Christ had a fulness of redundance that floweth over unto his people Like the ointment upon the head of Aaron that ran down to the skirts of his garments Psal 133. 2 so there is a conveyance of grace and spiritual gifts from Christ unto his members who is like a fountain that though it over-flows yet ever-flows sendeth forth its streams and yet is full still Col. 1. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Joh 1. 16 And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace As from the fulness of sin in the first Adam we have all received sin for sin so from the fulness of grace in Christ the second Adam all Gods people receive grace for grace Christ was thus anointed to preach good tidings to the meek When man had sinned sad tidings were brought unto him cursed is the ground for thy sake tidings of toyl and labour tidings of death and of the evils contained in the threatning tidings of wrath and sore displeasure from a provoked God Yet God himself did preach the first tidings of a Saviour to lost man Gen. 3. 15. When the Lord sent a message to Israel by Moses that because they were a stiff-necked people he would come into the midst of them and consume them these were evil tidings and cause of mourning Exod. 33. 4. The Prophet was sent to the Wife of Jeroboam with heavy tidings 1 King 14. 6. But when man was in a lost condition the discoveries of a Saviour were the best and gladdest tidings that could be brought unto him If God had said to man I will make thee rich but I will not forgive thy sins thou shalt live long in the world but not eternally with me in heaven thou shalt live on earth all thy days in ease and pleasure but after death in pain and torments these would have been heavy tidings But for God to say and send to lost man this news thou hast undone thy self but I will help thee thou hast lost thy soul thy God thy happiness but I will restore thee I will give and send my Son to seek and to save lost sinners was not this joyful tidings God sent his Prophets to publish these tidings to the world Isa 52. 7. And Apostles came with these glad tidings Act 13. 32. And Angels Luk. 2. 10. The Angel said fear not behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people But these tidings were not only brought by Prophets Apostles and Angels but by Christ himself Luk. 8. 1 He went through every Village and City preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God David said of Ahimaaz he is a good man and bringeth good tidings 2 Sam. 18. 27. But Christ we may say is a good Saviour and bringeth good the best tidings that ever were reported to the children of men And when Christ returned to heaven he hath given commission to his Ministers to preach and publish the same tidings As Cushi said running in haste tidings my Lord the King 2 Sam. 18. 31 so we come to poor sinners saying tydings to you poor perishing sinners tidings tidings from God tidings from heaven What what are they are they glad tidings may sinners expect any glad tidings Tell us oh tell us what are these tidings that you bring What are they Christ a Saviour for lost sinners Christ a Physitian for sick and wounded sinners Pardon for the guilty sinner Peace for the troubled sinner Life to the condemned sinner Heaven for the Hell-deserving sinner These these are tidings that are brought unto you Oh how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things Rom. 10. 15. But do you bring these tidings to great sinners of a Scarlet dye Yes if you do repent and turn to God and accept of Christ upon Gospel-terms for
light Do you think if all the prison doors in the Land were opened and proclamation made that whosoever would might have free liberty to go forth that any would remain therein Oh why then are the Devils prisoners add those that are captives to their lusts the only persons that like and love their bondage that might have deliverance but will not But give thy self the labour to hear what shall be said of the miserable condition of these Captives and afterwards I hope thou wilt be more wise for thy self for thy Soul than to refuse spiritual freedom and to chuse thy Chains and Fetters CHAP. II. The Doctrine Shewing also wherein unconverted men are resembled unto Captives 1. Doct. UNconverted men are the Devils Captives being fast bound with the chains and bonds of their own iniquity and sin Presently after the Creation of man there was a spiritual war conflict and combat betwixt man and the Devil the place where this war began was Paradise in which sight the Devil overcame and did prevail not only against our first Parents but their posterity also Then was man first carried captive and taken prisoner by the Devil and doth remain so till he is rescued redeemed and delivered by Jesus Christ the Captain of our salvation Thus wicked men are said to be taken captive by the Devil at his will 2 Tim. 2. 26 and keepeth them in a peaceable quiet subjection to him Luk. 11. 21 and dwelleth worketh and ruleth in their hearts Eph. 2. 2. The heart of an unregenerate sinner is the Devils garrison fort and strong-hold where he sits and acts and commands like an usurping Tyrant and the poor sinner yeildeth obedience to him without opposition or resistance Thus are they also said to be bound fast in the bond of iniquity and sin Act. 8. 23 and are the servants of sin and slaves to their own corruption and lusts Rom. 6. 16 and serve divers lusts Tit. 3. 3 and are the servants of corruption who being overcome by Satan and by sin are brought into bondage by them 2 Pet. 2. 19. In these particulars following it will appear that unconverted graceless men are captives and bondmen to Satan and to sin 1. Captives and bondmen are disarmed their weapons and armour of defence are taken from them that they are not able to make resistance against those by whom they are taken captives and prisoners Sirs the enemies of your Souls are 1. Powerful enemies Called Principalities and Powers Eph. 6. 12 compared to a Lyon for their mighty strength 1 Pet. 5. 8. And what is a naked and unarmed man against a powerful enemy 2. Politique as well as powerful Strength and stratagems power and policy make an enemy very formidable Hence Satan is compared to a Serpent for his subtilty and craft Gen. 3. 1 and the old Serpent that by the experience of many thousand years hath obtained greater skill in his cursed art of tempting and destroying the Souls of men Rev. 12. 9. And if he beguiled our first Parents through his subtilty when they were perfect in wisdom and knowledg 2 Cor. 11. 3 Oh what danger is the Soul of a sinner now in when he is become not only weak but foolish also Tit. 3. 3. The Devil hath a thousand methods and stratagems and devices to entrap and to ensnare your Souls of which you read 2 Cor. 2. 11. 3. The enemies of your souls are many and numerous It is not one sin nor one temptation nor one Devil that do set themselves to bring your Souls unto damnation but many Devils and many lusts against one poor unarmed sinner a whole Legion of Devils entred into one poor man Luk. 8. 30. So not one only but many Devils might busie themselves to ruin and unto thy Soul 4. The enemies of your souls are malicious as â—ell as numerous When the Devil was disposâ—essed of his first estate he envied the happiness of man and most maliciously set himself to endeavour that man might not for ever enjoy what he and his angels with him had for ever lost The Devil is often called the wicked one Mat. 13. 19. Eph. 6. 16. 1 Joh. 2. 13. 5. 18. But the original word signifieth something more than barely wicked a troublesome one or the malicious one for the Devil through his malice is the troubler of men being studious and desirous to do men mischief especially as to their Souls and everlasting concerns 5. The enemies of your souls are invisible because they be spiritual wickednesses Eph. 6. 12. An enemy not seen nor discerned is the more dangerous that tempts you oftentimes and you do not perceive him that wounds you but you do not discern him setting upon thee secretly because invisibly before thou art aware of him 6. They are indefatigable or unwearied enemies Satan hath been employed in this work of tempting and destroying Souls for some thousand years and yet he is not weary so as to desist unto this day This work he began but a very little after the beginning of the world and this will he unweariedly carry on to the end of the world whilst there are men out oâ— Heaven and Hell he will not leave off his soul-destroying study and endeavours and when on earth he shall have no more to tempt then shall he torment them for ever that by temptations he hath got to hell Thus like a restless spirit he is always going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it going from one person to another from one house to another to and fro backwards and forwards up and down here and there as one that cannot be at quiet without his prey Job 1. 7. 2. 2 he walks about seeking whom he might devour seeking not to devour Souls one by one but if it may be by whole families by whole Parishes by whole Kingdoms and Nations and so he doth too many in the world where the Gospel and a Saviour hath not been heard of 1 Pet. 5. 8. Thus are graceless sinners like a company of poor unarmed prisoners in the midst of many malicious powerful politique and unwearied enemies that do design nothing less than the damnation of thy soul the loss the eternal loss of the blessed glorious and eternal God that design nothing less than to bring thee to a place of torment to a fiery furnace to a lake of brimstone to a place of utter darkness where there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth wo and lamentation shriekings and howlings and bitter cries for ever and ever Oh how should it pity us to see these poor naked unarmed sinners surrounded by such mighty enemies carrying them captives to a place of eternal separation from God and Christ and Angels and all the Saints of God to see them going to the slaughter-house of Hell and to the place of dreadful execution Poor captivated souls are you thus in the hands of your enemies and not one piece of spiritual armour
to safe-guard your selves Captives lye at the mercy of those whose slaves they be but Satan hath no such thing as mercy or pity to the souls of men malice enough but no mercy cruelty enough but no favour If God should have no mercy for you the Devil will have none Except the God of mercy and pity and patience had restrained the enemies of your souls they would have dragged you down to the bottomless pit long before this day There is no armour of proof against those that have taken you captive but the armour of God but this is your misery you have not one piece thereof neither the girdle of truth nor the breast-plate of righteousness nor the helmet of salvation and though you may have the Sword of the Spirit the word of God in your hands yet you know not how to use it against the assaults of your spiritual adversaries Think then of this Captives are naked and unarmed men 2. Captives lose the riches they had when taken Captives That though they were rich before yet are made poor and are stripped of all If a rich Merchant at Sea have many goods in a Ship costly Jewels precious Pearls and be taken prisoner and carried captive he is spoiled of all and loseth all Man at first was exceeding rich rich in the knowledg of God rich in love and likeness to God The holiness of man was his riches the enjoyment of God was his riches the spiritual endowments of man at first were not to be valued with the gold of Ophir with the precious Onyx or the Saphire Gold and Christal could not equal them they were not to be exchanged for Jewels of fine Gold the Topaz of Ethiopia could not equal them neither were they to be valued with pure Gold Coral or Pearls were not worthy to be mentioned with them for their price was above Rubies as Job setteth forth the excellency of wisdom Job 28. 15 to the 20th verse But when man was overcome by the Devil and taken captive by him he was spoiled of all all was taken from him that he became miserably poor lost his knowledg of God the image of God the favour of God communion with God the gracious comfortable presence of God his abode in Paradise and though before he was Lord of all and had dominion over all inferiour creatures yet being captivated by the Devil he lost his right to all and was turned out of all So it is with all unregenerate men whatever be their outward riches and worldly enjoyments as to spirituals they are miserably poor very beggars indeed Rev. 3. 17 the true riches they have not suitablâ— riches for their Souls they have not durablâ— riches they have not no man is rich indeedâ— till he is good indeed and free indeed God iâ— the free-mans riches Christ is the free-manâ— riches the graces of the Spirit the priviledgeâ— purchased by Christ the promises of God thâ— treasures laid up in heaven these these are thâ— riches of redeemed persons but those that stilâ— remain captives and bond-slaves to Satan anâ— to sin have no interest in them no title tâ— them If thou that readest these lines be one oâ— them whatever be thy outward plenty and abundance thou art wretchedly poor Menâ— say of a poor person he is worth nothing buâ— we might truly say of these persons they are worth nothing nay they are worse than nothing 3. Captives are not governed by the same Lawâ— as freemen are Laws are made in favour for free subjects but Laws for slaves and bondmen are more severe and to make their yokeâ— more heavy Souls in spiritual bondage and captivity are not governed by the Law of Godâ— which is holy just and good made in favour of and for the good of the Lords redeemed ones but by the Laws of sin and lust which are unjust oppressing and tyrannical and oftentimes contrary one to another covetousneâ— imposing one thing upon the sinner and prodigality the quite contrary The Lords spirituaâ— freemen are under the Laws of God but the the Devils captives are under the Law of sin 4. Captives and bondmen are put to base employment To toil and drudg to dig in the Mine to work at the Oar very great and hard burdens are imposed upon them Thus it was with Israel in the house of bondage the task-masters of Egypt denied them straw and yet required the full number of bricks so laid hard service upon them But there is no work so vile and sordid and base as works of sin and yet it is the whole and only employment of spiritual bondslaves to please the flesh and Devil and gratifie their filthy lusts What is baser slavery than to lead a sensual flesh-pleasing life What is more sordid drudgery than to be a servant of Satan and sin than to be under the commanding power of their own vile affections to take pains to dishonour God that made them to work and labour to undo themselves and damn and ruin their own immortal Souls Whereas the work and employment of those that are redeemed from their spiritual captivity is the most noble rational high and honourable the most delightful and profitable as any can be engaged in on this side the everlasting full and perfect state of the Saints in glory such as is our loving of God conversing with the blessed glorious God believing on Christ applying of promises living by faith hoping looking longing for heaven waiting for the glory that shall be revealed and for the glorious appearing of our desired and longed foâ— Lord and Saviour in getting assurance of his love and solacing and delighting our souls with the comfort thereof when we have obtained it in using utmost diligence to escape the damnation of hell and the everlasting torments to bâ— endured by the Devils captives in the other endleâ— world and getting safe to heaven when we dyeâ— in pleasing God while we live Nay the mosâ— displeasing works to flesh and blood are morâ— delightful and sweet than any than all thâ— pleasures of sin as in mourning for sin weepinâ— bitterly for sin mortifying of sin praying againsâ— sin watching against sin combating and conflicting with sin warring with Satan yea the verâ— duty of self-denial most ungrateful to flesh anâ— blood hath sweetness in it and bringeth iâ— that peace of conscience which surpasseth thâ— choicest delights of the Devils bond-slaves 5. Captives and bond-slaves meet with harâ— usage in their hard work and base employmentâ— many times are fed with bread and water anâ— that in small allowance too are whipt and beaten when they have put forth their strength tâ— do their utmost they have stripes and blow in stead of a reward for what they do Thus Iâ—rael in Egyptian bondage was beaten when foâ—ced to gather stubble in stead of straw couâ— not bring in the full tale of bricks Exod. 5. 1â— 15 16. So the Devils captives that lay theâ—selves outmost in the Devils service shall have their wages but
hath paid the ransom for their deliverance When some years since I was called occasionally to preach to the Prisoners in Newgate and saw my Hearers come in Fetters and heard their Chains ratling at their heels methoughts it was an affecting spectacle to see men before me that were shortly to be called to the Bar of Men and be tried for their lives and some likely to be sentenced to death and put to execution but if we do behold our Hearers standing before us though free from such material Chains of Iron yet bound fast in their lusts and sins and consider they must be shortly tried at the Bar of God and if not delivered by Christ must receive a sentence of death banished from the presence of the blessed God cast down to Devils and damned Spirits it should move us to pray for them weep over them and preach unto them with greatest pity and compassion To stand and view so many persons amongst whom many are the Devils Captives whom he is leading Fettered to eternal perdition should raise in our hearts strong workings of affection towards them and speak unto them with that earnestness and tender love as becometh those that are speaking in the Name of God to lost sinners in order to their recovery and deliverance from Captivity 2. Let Parents that are made free pity and compassionate their Children that yet are bound If any of your Children should be laid in Irons for some Fact committed against the Laws of men and carried bound to Execution would not this like a Sword pierce your very hearts be matter of grief and trouble to you would not tears plentifully flow from your eyes and bitter lamentations from your mouth that ever you should bring forth and bring up children that should end their days in such reproach and infamy to you and them or if any of you had a Son abroad and you should hear he were taken Captive by the Turks or were in the Spanish Inquisition what shedding of tears what wringing of hands what smiting on your brest would these tidings make what dolorous complaints and grievous moans would you make saying O my Son my Son my poor afflicted and distressed Son thou art fallen into the hands of barbarous and cruel men thou art put to drudgery and slavery O my Son my Son what shall I do for thee my Son Oh that I could give or find a ransom for him if all I have would set him free he should not lie in Chains and Fetters nor continue in that sore Captivity Why you Parents would you thus lament the misery of your Childrens body and do you make nothing of the the misery of your Childrens souls would you thus take on and grieve and mourn for their outward bondage which is consistent with the good condition of their souls and will shortly have an end and yet is it nothing to you to see them in their spiritual bondage captivated by Satan and in danger of being cast into an everlasting Dungeon of black and thick darkness Oh why do you not speak to them and tell them of their misery and their remedy how they came into this condition and how they may get out of it why do you not day and night plead with them instruct them and exhort them that they may escape the torments of Hell hereafter by being brought out of their bondage now why do you not pray to God that he would make them free why do you not plead at the throne of grace and say Lord I have Children that are Satans Captives my poor Children are fast bound in Fetters of sin in the Bonds of iniquity O thou God of grace that hast shewed favour unto me shew favour to my children also Oh that they may be released Oh that thou wouldst please to pity them in their Bondage and for the ransom of thy Son let them be redeemed and by the powerful workings of thy spirit have their wills subdued and inclined to accept of the only Redeemer him thou didst send to proclaim liberty to Captives Oh that by thy grace thou wouldst cause them to come in and lay hold upon the mercy granted in the proclamation of the Gospel that they might not perish in their Bonds 3. Let Masters that are made free and set at liberty have compassion on their servants that are fettered in their Chains of sin They are not only bound to you to be so bound is in order to their good and their freedom but are also bound in the Cords of their iniquity which is their present slavery and tendeth to their eternal misery doth it not pity you to see your servants to be servants of the Devil and in bondage to their lusts doth not your hearts work within you to consider that any under your Roof should be drudges unto Satan or do you see this and have you nothing to say unto them all the week long to make them apprehensive of their danger and sensible of their misery is it enough for you to teach them the skill and art of your trade and at the expiration of seven years to make them free while you do neglect to help them as instruments under God out of the thraldom of Satan and of sin or can it satisfie you that they have at the end of their Service to you the freedom of the City or Corporation where you and they do dwell while they are not brought into the liberty of the Sons of God or can you have peace in the neglect of your duty to think they came into your family Bond-slaves to sin and after seven years time they go out as they came in or should you not endeavour that they may be spiritually free while they continue servants unto you Oh how would they have cause to bless God for you and that ever they came within your doors and dwelt within your walls if they may say when I first became a Servant to my Master I was a servant to my lusts also but by his instructions admonitions and example I became a servant of God before I ceased to be a servant unto him if it should be otherwise let it not be through your neglect for as it will not be without sin and misery to your servants so neither will it be without guilt on you The like I might urge upon other relations acquaintance and friends husbands to have compassion on their wives wives on their husbands one Neighbour on another you that know what it is to have been in these cursed Bonds and what it is to be made free do your utmost to help and succour them that be in chains of sin and and know not the evil of it nor the good of the contray condition and therefore mourn not under the one nor desire to be brought forth into the other Third Exhortation Were you in Bonds and are they broke in Fetters and are they knocked off then walk in the whole course of your lives as becomes