â— in that integrity he enjoyed with God Gen. 3. 6 7 8 10. Whereupon man becomes Dead in Sin Ephes. 2. 1. 5. with Gen. 2. 16 17. 2. In the Depravation Pollution and Corruption of his whole nature His whole Soul and all the faculties thereof His whole Body and all the Parts thereof being universally defiled to them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their Mind and Conscience is defiled Tit. 1. 15. See Gen. 6. 5. Ier. 17. 9. Rom. 3. 10. to 19. 2 Pet. 2. 14. Hence From both these ensue two woful effects 1. An Indisposition and utter inability yea an Opposition and Enmity unto all Good Rom. 5. 6. and 7. 18. and 8. 8. Col. 1. 21. Rom. 8. 7. and 5. 10. 2. An Universal pronity Propensity or Proclivity unto all Evil. Gen. 6. 5. and 8. 21. Rom. 3. 10 11 12. 1 Pet. 4. 2 3 4. Original Sin being the Root Seed and Common Spawn of all Actual Sin in the World Iam. 1. 14 15. Ephes. 2. 1 2 3. The Holy Scriptures set forth this Original Sin by sundry remarkable Names or Phrases It is stiled 2. Iniquity wherein we were shapen and sin wherein our Mothers conceived us Psal. 51. 5. in regard of the Natural Propagation of it 1 Sin That they are all under Sin Rom. 3. 9. 1 Ioh. 1. 8. Rom. 7. 14. Because it is Sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sin of Sins the mother and nurse of all Sins virtually and seminally comprehending in it all sorts of Sins 3 Sin dwelling in us Rom. 7. 20. from the constant Inherence Residence and Abode which it hath in all yea even in the Regenerate themselves to whom it is pardoned and in whom it is in some measure mortified during this present life Rom. 7. 17 18. 4 The Sin that doth so easily beset us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sin easily surrounding us Heb. 12. 1. because it encompasseth Soul Body all our Faculties Affections Senses Parts and whole Man 5 The Law of Sin Rom. 8. 2. and 7. 25. The Law of Sin in our members Rom. 7. 23. because of the power and strength of Sin which is resident in us A Law is powerful and forcible 6. The Body of Sin Rom. 6. 6. because as a Natural Body is compacted of many Parts and hath divers proper Members set in it whereby it acts So sin Original hath many limbs called Our members which are upon Earth as Fornication c. Col. 3. 5. 7 Our Old man Rom. 6. 6. Sin is so called in Opposition to the New man the Regenerate Part and in distinction from our humane Natures because our Corruption of Nature is from the first man the Old Adam as our Regeneration is from the Spirit of Christ the last Adam 8 The Old Leven to be purged out 1 Cor 5. 7. called Leven because as Leven levens and sowers the whole lump of Dow So Sin original levens the whole man sowers and infects the whole man Old from old Adam 9. The flesh Ioh. 3. 6. Rom. 8. 18. Gal. 5. 17. because As Flesh is opposite to Spirit So Original Sin is opposite to Grace And because as flesh is man's basest and vilest part Phil. 3. 21. So Original Sin is the vilest evil in man Pause here O Natural Man Not only Adam's first Actual Sin is thine being justly imputed to thee But this Original Sin thence contracted is thine also being naturally inherent in thee It is the Disease the Poyson the Plague the Leprosy of thy whole Nature Thou art as full of it as any Sink is full of filth as any Serpent is full of venome as any Toad is full of poyson Thou art by Nature wholly defiled with it universally captivated under the Dominion of it and Spiritually Dead in it And in this respect thy Condition is incomparably worse than the Condition of any fowl fish bruit-beast or creeping thing whatsoever For they have no Original Sin in them and thou art all full of it And is this thy natural Condition a State to be rested in by theeâ— wherein thou art far worse than any Dog Toad Serpent mean or vilest creature under the Sun Remember that of Augustine Every one is damned as Generated None is delivered but as Regenerated 3. In the Hâ—ge Heaps â—nd Swarms of all thine actual Sins the poysonous fruit of Sin Original into which thou hast broken forth inconsiderately from thy Birth until this very day The sinfulness of thy natural Condition is mightily augmented and aggrevated O Natural Man Think often in thy Retired hours of the â—Variety 2 Multiplicity and 3 Extremity or Aggravations of thine Actual Sins 1 The Variety and several sorts of thine Actual Sins How manifold are they As actual Sins in respect of the Subject are distributed into Peccata Cordis Oris Operis Sins of Heart Word and Work â— In the Heart what corrupt imagination Gen. 6. 5. what abominable vain Atheistical blasphemous prophane and polluted Thoughts Prov. 15. 26. What deadness stupidity defilement Sâ—aredness c. in the Conscience Tit. 1. 15. 1 Tim. 4. 2. What Enmity Perversness crookedness disobedience rebellion c. in the will Ier. 44. 16 17. c. Luke 19. 14. What impenitency hardness deceitfulness hypocrisy Earthiness Disorder Confusion c. in the Heart and Affections Rom. 2. 5. 2. In thy words and tongue What Vain-speaking Swearing Cursing Lying Blaspheming Back-biting Slandering False-witness-bearing c. Exod. 20. 7. Mat. 12. 36. the Tongue is a world of iniquity Iam. 3. 6. and every idle word must be accounted for at the day of Judgement Mat. 12. 36 37. 3 In thy actions and works though never so Religious in appearance How dost thou miscarry in their Ground Matter Form Manner Circumstances and End 1 Tim. 1. 5. Tit. 1. 15 16. Isai. 1. 10. c. and 66. 3. Hag. 2. 14. Prov. 15. 8. So that in none of them thou canst please God Rom. 8. 8. Yea and even in thy secular Actions thou 〈◊〉 wholly Sinful Prov. 21. 4. and 15. 9. And to this Distribution of Actuals into Sins of Heart Word and Works We may refer that of Sins into Inward and Outward Sins in respect of the Law or Rule violated by Sin are 1 Sins of Impiety or Ungodliness contrary to the first Table of the Decalogue 2 Sins of Iniquity Unrighteousness or worldly Lusts against the 2 Table c. Rom. 1. 18. Tit. 2. 12. Of Impiety there are many sorts of Sins properly repugnant to the 4 first Commandements Of Unrighteousness are many Sorts also contrariant to the 6 last Commandements And this Distribution of Sins according to the ten Commandements is most accurate Sins in Respect of the Parts thereof are 1 Sins of Omission when duties prescribed are neglected and this is a Taking from Gods Law Iam. 4. 17. Mat. 25. 42. c. Rev. 2. 21. 1 Sam. 15. 2 3. 8 9. c. 2 Sins of Commission when things prohibited are Practised
4. 3 While thou art 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a son or Child of Disobedience Gr. of Vnpersuadeableness Eph. 2. 2. who are most disobedient to God Christ and his Spirit Unperswadeable by his word Promises c. to repent believe c. 4 While thou art acted and energetically wrought upon by the Spirit that is the Prince of the Power of the a yr Ephes. 2. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the spirit now energetically-working or effectually working He effectually works in such when he prevails with his Temptations over them when he attains his will upon them c. 5 While thou art resolvedly set and determined willfully to do the lusts of the Devil Ioh. 8. 44. 6 While thou art held in the Snare of the Devil and held Captive by him at his will 2 Tim. 2. 26. Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Taken alive It seems to be a Metaphor from Captains and Conquerors who in war take their Enemies alive carry them away in triumph and use them as they please Or from Huntsmen who take their Prey wild beasts alive and do with them as they list So Satan deals with the Natural man while under his power he wholly enters him orders him acts him by his Suggestions as he will 12. If thou art dead in Sins and Trespasses and not as yet quickned by Christ Eph. 2. 1. 5. Col. 2. 13. thou art hitherto in thy Sinful and wretced State of Nature To be dead in Sin and Trespasses is to be Spiritually dead while thou art Naturally alive And art not thou Spiritually dead Are not the Tokens of Spiritual Death clearly upon thee 1 Art not thou quite destitute of the Fountain and Root of all Spiritual life to the Soul Christ is the Fountain of all Spiritual Life being united to the Soul by Faith Gal. 2. 20. Ioh. 11. 25 26. As the Soul is the Fountain of Natural Life being uâ—â—ted to the body the body is dead when without the Soul Iam. 2. 26. So the Soul is dead in every Natural man while he is without Christ. Eph. 2. 1. 5. 12. 2 Art thou not wholly destitute of any spiritual sense rightly to discern and receive the things of God 1 Cor. 2. 7 8 9 10 11 12 14. And where there 's no Soul there 's no life 3 Art thou not utterly destitute of Spiritual Breath viz. The sacred breathings of strong cryes and groans â—ervent desires and prayers crying Abba Father This is their breath that are spiritually alive Rom. 8 15. 26 27. No sooner was Saul converted and quickned by Christ but the Lord told Ananias behold he prayeth Act 9. 11. Breath and Life come and go together Gen. 2. 7. Psal. 104. 29. If thou art without this spiritual breathing this Spirit of Prayer thou art without the Spirit of Life from Christ and remainest dead in Sin 4 Art thou not without all vital Heat and Spirit warmth of heart desire love and all good affections towards God Christ his people and his wayes and even stone-cold as to all matters of Religion Devotion divine Worship as carnal men use to be Rev. 3. 15 16 Then thou art not only mortally â—ick but quite dead in Sin stretched-out and ready to be buried in the infernal pit As where there 's Natural warmth in the body there 's life where nothing but Coldness there 's Death 13 If thou art still an habitual worker of iniquity A Tradesman in sin Thou art still in thy Natural state and Condition Such Christ will not at all own but eternally reject at the last day Mat. 7. 23. â—Tis one thing to sin or slip into sin accidently another to trade in sin constantly habitually and to yield up his members as tools of unrighteousness unto Sin Rom. 6. 12 13. c. 14 Finally Thou art still in thy meer Natural sinful state if in the whole course of thy life thou walkest according to the Course of this World The Lusts and wills of the Flesh The suggestions Temptations and operations of the Devil All such are dead in sin and by Nature Children of wrath See all this most fully in Eph. 2. 1 2 3. III. Direction COnsider often with all Serâ—â—usness D Natural Man That living and dying in this thy Sinful and wretched Condition of Nature thou 〈◊〉 utterly lost both Body and Soul for evermore And caust not expect any other portion after this present momentary Life than everlasting Torments in unquenchable Fire with the Devil and his Angels Compare diligently Ephes. 2. 1 2 3. Luk. 13. 3. 5. and Ioh. 3. 36. with Mat. 25. 41. to the end Luk. 16. 24. Iude 7. Math. 9. 43 44. As was formerly intimated Here therefore O Sinful and wretched Natural Man I beseech thee let these 2 things sink deep into thine heart viz. 1. That Thou living and dying in this thy Natural State shalt certainly perish both Body and Soul in Everlasting torments in Fire Prepared for the Devil and his Angels Math. 25. 41. For 1. If thou livest and diest in thy Natural State of Sin Thou livest and diest Without Christ and without Hope Eph. 2. 1. 2. with vers 12. Christless and Hopeless And therefore Hopeless because Christless For Jesus Christ is our Hope i. e. The sure foundation of all our Hope of Salvation 1. Tim. 1. 1. What Christless How then canst thou be saved Who ever was or can be saved without Christ Act. 4 11. 12. And Hopeless too yes For who can once expect or look for Salvation by Christ without Hope 2. If thou livest and diest in thy Sinful and wretched state of Nature Then thou livest and diest a most Cursed Creature Gal. 3. 10. and A Child of wrath even as others Eph. 2. 1. 2. 3. what Cursed For what For that thou continuest not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them Gal. 3. 10. because thou doest not perform as is thy duty perfect perpetual personal obedience to all things in Gods Law which nor thou nor any meer man since Adam's Fall could ever perform 2 To what art thou cursed 1. To pains of Loss and Sense Mat. 25. 41. Depart ye cursed There 's pains of Loss Depart from Christ from the only Redeemer Gal. 3. 13. From the only All-sufficient Saviour Heb. 7. 25. From the one only Mediator betwixt God and man 1 Tim. 2. 5. From the only way unto the Father Ioh. 14. 6. From the hope and consolation of Israel c. 1 Tim. 1. 1. Luk. 2. 25. Oh! who can so depart from Christ and that for ever and not be cursed 2. To pains of Sense Depart into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels What into fire What is more sharp and tormenting to the Sense then fire Into everlasting fire Then no hopes of relaxation or deliverance thence after millions and ten thousand millions of years c. Everlasting kills the soul. Oh! who can dwell with everlasting burnings Into everlasting fire prepared
the world can actually have any saving share or interest at all in the Redemption or Recovery which Christ hath fully obtained for his people untill he actually accept Christ as his only all-sufficient Saviour and particularly apply to his own Soul that Redemption and Recovery from sin and misery which Christ hath procured and obtained 1 Ioh. 5. 12. Ioh. 1. 11 12. and 3. 16. 18 36. and 8. 24. And this must needs be so For 1. Christs obtaining of Recovery and Redemption for lapsed Sinners renders them only Salvable and that possibly they may be saved which door of Hope is not opened at all to the lapsed Angels but Sinners particularly accepting of Christ and applying of his merit unto themselves personally renders them actually saved and that they are indeed in the state of Salvation already Compare diligently these and like Scriptures Ioh. 3. 16 17. Tit. 2 14. 1 Tim. 1. 15. Gal. 4. 4. 5. Rom. 8. 3. which point out a possibility of Salvation by Christ and his Death with Ioh. 1. 12. 1 Ioh. 5. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 9. And such like as denote their actual Salvation by Christ who have accepted him and applied him to themselves particularly 2. Non-accepting and non-applying of Christ is so great a sin that it is threatned with damnation Ioh. 16. 8 9. with Ioh. 3. 18. 36. and 8. 24. Therefore though Christ be never so able and all-sufficient to restore and save Sinners yet none can have benefit by his Salvation without Application of him and his merits 3. The Promise of effectual and eternal Salvation by Christ is still directed to the actual acceptance and application of Christ. As Spiritual Rest of Soul is promised but to them that come to Christ Mat. 11. 28 29. Eternal life is promised but to such as believe in him Ioh. 3. 16. but to such as eat this bread of life viz. his flesh given for the life of the world Ioh. 6. 51. 57. 58. Remission of sins is promised but to them that believe in him Act 10. 43. Now how shall man he saved according to Gods promises that perform not the Condition of the Promises 4. Who ever was Restored and saved by Christ till he accepted and applied Christ not the Apostles Ioh. 16. 30. Mat. 16. 16. Not the Sinful woman Luk. 7. 50. not the convert thief Luk. 23. 43. not the Jaylor Act. 16. 31. to 35. Who ever was healed by a Plaister spread and prepared only but never applied to the wound and Sore Who ever was comforted with the richest cordial though never so accurately prepared if it were never eaten or drunk And who ever was actually saved by Christ if not particularly accepted and applied They that accept not that apply not Christ to themselves are without Christ And they that are without Christ are without Hope so remaining and go without Salvation Eph. 2. 12. 5. All Communion with Christ in his saving benefits â—lows from Union to Christ in accepting of him Ioh. 1. 12 1 Ioh. 5. 12. Rom. 8 10. Col. 2. 19. Eph. 4. 16. As the Ciour hath Communion with the Stock in its life growth fruitfulness by being united unto the stock by Ingrafting or as the Wife hath Communion with the husband in his Name state c. by being united to him in marriage or as the members of the Natural body have Communion with the head and heart in their life sense motion c. by being united thereunto by joints and hands 6. Till the Sinner accepts and applies Christ he is not throughly Convinced of the Sinfulness and wretchedness of his Natural state and of the great need he hath of Christ to deliver him out of it For Conviction is the first step to application of Christ Ioh. 16. 8 9. And where there 's not the first step of Conviction There 's no present state of Salvation 7. Till the Sinner accepts Christ and applies him he neglects and despiseth him And he that despiseth Christ how can he obtain Salvation yea how can he escape damnation See Mat. 22. 1. to 3. Luk. 14. 16. to 25. Heb. 2. 3. Direct XIIII OBserve diligently O Natural man that the Proper and Peculiar way whereby Iesus Christ is to be accepted and applied to a man 's own Soul for Recovery out of his sinful and wretched state of Nature is by true saving Faith in Iesus Christ alone Act. 10. 43. Ioh. 3. 16. and 1. 12. Act. 13. 38 39. and 16. 30 31. Eph. 2. 8. Rom. 3. 22. to 27. I. That by true saving Faith alone peculiarly Iesus Christ is accepted and applied for Recovery out of Sin and misery is evident several wayes For 1. The Nature of true saving Faith in Christ principally consists in the Accepting and applying Christ for Salvation as he is offered in the Gospel Thus I have elsewhere described it Iustifying Faith is a saving Grace wrought in the hearts of the Elect at their Regeneration by Gods Spirit and word whereby they not only know Assent to and apply to themselves the Promises Gospel and Doctrine of Iesus Christ for gods glory in their justification and Salvation but also whereby they afterwards walk as becomes justified persons There see the Confirmation and Explanation of this Description of Faith So that the Nature of saving faith in Christ stands much in Applying Christ in the Gospel and promises who is the Kernel and Soul of them 2. The Receiving and Applying Iesus Christ for Recovery and Salvation is one of the chief Acts of Faith which thus I illustrate The Acts of true Faith in Christ are 1 Direct 2. Reflexive 1 Direct and these of 2 Sorts 1. Primary As 1. Knowing Isai. 53. 11. Ioh. 17. 3. 2. Assenting to the truth of Gods record 1 Ioh. 5. 9. Ioh. 3. 33. 3. Applying of the Promises and of Christ Ioh. 1. 12. As Paul did Gal. 2. 20. as Thomas did Ioh. 20. 8. 2. Secondary As 1. Retaining Christ Received in the heart Eph. 3. 17. Col. 2. 6 7. 2. Purifying the heart Act. 15. 9. 3. Refreshing the Soul with peace and joy Rom. 5. 1 2. and 15. 13. 4. Breaking forth into good works 1 Thes. 1. 3. Heb. 11. 5. Working by Love Gal. 5. 6. 6. Enlivening the Soul Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 2. 20. 2. Conquering all our Spiritual Enemies 1 Ioh. 3. 2 3. and 5. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 9. Iam. 4. 7. Eph. 6. 16. 2 Reflexive When Faith refle ing upon its own acts sees it self believing 1 Ioh. 2. 3. 1 Tim. 1. 12. By this it appears that the applying act of Faith is a very principal act among all the rest â— or All the Acts before the Applying ast tend to make way for it as Preparatory to it And all the Acts after it result from the Applying Act especially as genuine fruits and effects of it Thus the Applying act of Faith is among the rest as the Sun among the Planets most illustrious 3. Faith is so peculiarly eminent among all