a Warning to all how they have mens Persons in Admiration But he had not many years asserted the Doctrine before mentioned before he changed his Judgment and turned to be a grand Arminian which Notions he maintained with great Confidence and was so conceited of his Abilities that he feared not to Dispute with any Man charging the Doctrine of Personal Election at a strong manner as if the Asserters of it rendered God cruel and worse than the worst of Mortals In his Judgment he was a Baptist being against Infants Baptism and for the Baptism of Believers for many years he lived in Buckingham-shire near me I being intimately acquainted wth him for near 30 years but a little before the last Persecution of Dissenters he removed his Dwelling and came to London and lived near to my Habitation in Pauls Shadwel now the first time I came to fear him was through some Words he uttered to me which was to his effect I have said he seriously considered whether there be any thing in Religion worth suffering for Which Words I wondred at from such a one as he but soon after he Conformed Troubles rising high and then wrote a Cursed Book rendering the Dissenters especially the Baptists very odious casting Reproach upon their faithful Ministers because some of them were not learned men I mean with the Knowledge of the Tongues and quickly after this he fell under fearful Despairation I was one of the first Men that he sent for and I found him in a dismal State and Condition being filled with Horror saying he was damned and crying out against himself for Writing that Book saying he had touched the Apple of Gods Eye I said all I was well capable to speak to Comfort him but all in vain at another time he said Mine iniquities are great and many old sins as well as of a late date come to mind Wrath is come upon me to the utmost God hath forsaken me good Men are my Enemies I hate my self I am afraid and ashamed to go abroad and am confused and distracted at home the Scriptures look dreadfully upon me I have raised Reproach invented Reproach and by it wronged multitudes I am afraid to live and afraid to dye Judgment I fear will be terrible in this World and more in the World to come I cannot give an Account of my Actions to Men how much less to God! my Heart condemns me and he is greater and knows more I think I have not only outdone Cain Balaam and Judas but some of the Devils themselves O I cannot Repent I cannot Repent I shall go to Hell I am broken in Judgment When I think to Pray either I have a flushing in my Face as if I were in a flame or I am dumb I cannot speak all the signs of one whom God hath left forsaken and hardened If I was in Heaven it could not relieve me for I should behold the Face of God and holy Saints as now I behold the Face of good Men upon Earth with shame and confusion of Face and then again said Wrath is come upon me to the utermost I am one of the greatest Hypocrites that ever lived upon the Earth and shall be so accounted God hath and will do his will upon me Oh he thunders upon me should God let out the sence of my sins on me as he will I should howl like a Dog roar like a Lyon bellow like an Ox mine inward parts would melt within me as brass melts in a flaming fire I shall lye lower than Judas I have sinned worse then Judas he quoting those words in Heb. 10. 2 6. If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truths remains no more sacrifice for sin c. he said when I am faint and low I take some refreshments but in Hell there is no refreshment not a drop of Water to cool my Tongue To some that came to visit him and to Comfort him he said All is gone I am undone I have been so great a sinner against God and the people of God that God will have no Mercy on me but will glorifie himself by me and make me an Example for the strengthening and establishing of his People but it shall end in my destruction God hath sworn in his Wrath that I shall never enter into his rest I have been a loose and carnal Professor and if I were in the place of God I should meet the same measure that God doth to me My Calamity is even at the door and all men in a little time will justifie Gods dealing with me The Wrath of God is kindled and burns in me it is impossible for you to imagin my torment and this is but an Earnest penny of my Eternal Damnation Said a godly man this is a humbling dispensation that you are exercised under A humbling dispensation said he do you call it I tell you it is an hardening dispensation and I feel it to be so Said his Friend I hope there is mercy yet reserved for you to whom he replyed I know I shall have such Mercy as the Damned have I do highly justifie God in his dealings with me at another time I once thought said he that there was a power in man but now I find it otherwise for I cannot Pray I have no desire after any thing that is good I cannot Repent His Visitors asked him if they should Pray for him he said No No. One said to him the Learned Dr. Twist in his Vinditiae Gratiae consesseth there were Depths in the Controversie between the Calvinists and Arminians yet he believed the Truth against the Arminians Mr. Child replyed I thought I could have dived to the bottom of it by my parts but I see I cannot and then and many other times said I am broken in Judgment One of his Visitors said you are obliged to stoop to the Soveraignty of God he replyed Oh I cannot I would be above him O that there should be an Eternal blessed Being and I sure never to enjoy him there shall be an Eternal Wrath and Punishment and I sure to fall under it I shall be an eternal Monument of the Wrath of God Pride and Covetousness hath ruined me it hath undone me I have been too much influenced thereby I have been a Hypocrite I am so now I seem to repent I do not I cannot repent And walking to the end of the room turned back with a very stern Countenance and striking his Hand on his Breast said No Sir I cannot pamper this Body for God will have it made a remarkable Example to this Generation He cryed out against himself for charging those that hold the Doctrine of Personal-Election with Consequences beyond the Sense of their Minds or Principles I have said he made this World my God I have been guilty of Idolatry I have been guilty of Pride endeavouring to run every Man down in Dispute I have endeavoured to shake the Cross off my Shoulders how deplorable
1694 BENJAMIN KEACH MINISTER OF Y e GOSPEL AND PASTOR OF A CHURCH AT HORSLY DOWN SOUTHWORK AGED 54. The Shadow of his Face you se Who nothing hath to Glory in But his Bless't Lord unless it be His trials which not smal have been By Persecution once most sore But by false friends afflicted more A GOLDEN MINE OPENED OR The Glory of God's Rich Grace Displayed in the Mediator to Believers AND HIS Direful Wrath against Impenitent Sinners Containing the Substance of near FORTY SERMONS Upon several Subjects By BENJAMIN KEACH Ephes 3. 8. Unto me who am less than the least of all Saints is this Grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable Riches of Christ London Printed and sold by the Author at his House in Horse-lie-down and William Marshall at the Bible in Newgate-street 1694. Reader There are two Mistakes in the first Column of the first Page of the Contents of the Sermons Viz. Line 7 for Fear read Fan Line 25 for Eternal read External To the Christian Readers Chiefly to such who were the Subscribers for and principal Promoters of the Publication of this Work Beloved in our Blessed Redeemer IT was the least of my Thoughts when I had preached the greatest part of the ensuing Sermons once to suppose they should ever be published to the World But through some of your important Requests and Desires I was prevailed with many of you so readily and unexpectedly subscribing to take off so great a Number of them which had you not done they had never seen the Sun I not judging them deserving such a Publication I am sensible of my great Insufficiency and might from the Defects of my Ability for the great Work called to have seen cause enough to have denied a Compliance with you herein But having so often formerly passed through the Censure of the World made me perhaps the more unconcerned and knowing that the most of them will come into your Hands who I hope will cast a Mantle on my Humane Frailties it was a farther Inducement to consent However if the Holy God be pleased to succeed the great Pains I have taken with his Blessing I shall see no cause to be troubled at what I have done It 's like some may object I do not well to meddle with Controversies at this time I answer that I have it is true touched upon several controvertable Points but not as they are Matters of Controversy but to clear up the Truths of Christ for the Establishment and Comfort of the People committed to my Care Besides I being misrepresented as touching my Judgment in some great Points as I have been informed I thought it was my Duty to rectify such Mistakes The grand Controversy here insisted upon is that about Election and the Saints Final Perseverance which I hope the Reader will find to his satisfaction confirmed Reader I have since these Sermons were printed off met with a Book wrote by a Person whom I both esteem and honour excepting his Opinion entituled A Treatise touching Falling Away wherein he endeavours to answer some of our Arguments Had I met with it sooner I had given a particular Reply but in the general he may find he hath here an Answer to what he hath said He endeavours to prove the Elect may be deceived which we deny not though not finally deceived for that our Saviour intimates to be impossible And to say none are the Elect but they whose Warfare is finished seems strange to me and to suppose the New Covenant spoken of Jer. 31. refers to the Jews only when called at the latter Days is not true but is contradicted by the Apostle Heb. 8. Heb. 10. Our Argument That Sin cannot separate from God's Love is here also fully cleared As also what he says That Christ's Sheep may cease following him and so fall out of his Hand I have answered likewise It is the Property of such they do and shall follow him God has put his Fear into our Hearts and we shall not depart from him Moreover the Absurdities that he pretends do attend the Doctrine of Final Perseverance I find I have taken off though I saw not his Book Object But still the Cry is Your Doctrine renders God so severe to his Creatures it can't be a Truth In answer Consider all acknowledg that God foreknew all his Creatures from Eternity and who would not be saved which were far the greatest number and yet nevertheless he created them whom he knew would refuse his Grace and perish Eternally is he unmerciful and too severe therefore But enough is said to remove such Cavils in the ensuing Treatise Reader There is one thing I thought good to hint unto thee viz. I have quoted several Authors and worthy Writers in transcribing these Sermons for the Press that were not mentioned when I preach'd the Sermons which may be I had then done had I thought they should have been published to the World Also I have left out many of the Enlargements for otherwise the Book had swelled almost as big again so that you have but the Substance of what was delivered on these Texts except it be that upon the Fan in Christ's Hand which you have larger God having been pleased to bless those Sermons to the great Profit of many Persons But I am perswaded the Reader will like this Treatise not the worse for my brevity on each particular Head for great Enlargements I find are not profitable nor approved of by Christians of this present Age. I shall not therefore retain thee longer at the Door but shall desire thy Prayers as I have made them mine and shall God assisting me that this Work may be attended with Divine Blessings to thee from the Press as it has been to many from the Pulpit And let me Reader have a share in thy servent Breathings as I hope I shall not forget thee when at the Throne of Grace that I with you and you with me may be kept from falling and preserved in Christ's Hand to Eternal Life who am willing to serve thee according to that small Ability received whilst From my House at Horse-lie-down in Freeman's-Lane Southwark Septemb. 13. 1694. Benjamin Keach A Table of the Contents of all the Sermons contained in this Book FIRST Text Mat. 3. 12. The Text opened Pag. 2 The Parts of the Text opened 3 What meant by Christ's Floor shewed in 4 respects 4 Filth of the National Floor in 7 particulars 4 5 6 Great Evils among God's People shewed 7 8 2. What meant by Christ's Fear shewed in five or six Particulars 9 to 17 3. What meant by the Chaff shewed in 2 things 18 4. Why are Hypocrites compared to Chaff shewed in six Particulars 18 to 25 5. Why the Saints are compared to Wheat opened in nine Particulars 27 28 29 6. What meant by Christ's Garner shewed in two things 29 30 7. What meant by burning up the Chaff 30 8. Why God's Wrath is compared to
said they hear Christ's Voice i. e. the Doctrine he taught This is my beloved Son saith the Father in whom I am well pleased hear him 1. Not Moses Moses is not our Shepherd our Guide our Law-giver We are not his Disciples his Sheep No no but we are Christ's Sheep Christ's Disciples The Jews said they were Moses 's Disciples 2. They hear Christ's Voice not the Pope's not the Voice of Antichrist 3. They hear Christ's Voice not the Voice of the Light of Nature only or the teaching of Natural Conscience though 't is true they hear and follow that Light yet they know the Light that is in all Men which is in Pagans Turks and Heathens is not the Voice of Christ as he is Mediator and the great Shepherd of the Sheep 4. They hear Christ's Voice follow his Voice not the Voice of General Councils and National Synods they will no further hear any than they hear and adhere to the Voice and Doctrine of Jesus Christ 2 dly They will not receive or embrace any Capital Errors they will not hear the Voice of Strangers but keep to all the Essentials of Christ's Doctrine of the Principles of true Religion Particularly 1. They believe the Holy Scripture is of Divine Authority and that it is the only Rule of Faith and Practice 2. They stedfastly believe the Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity that there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit and that these three are one One in Essence yet three Persons or Subsistences 3. They stedfastly believe the Doctrine of Christ's Divinity or have a right Faith about the Person of Christ not doubting but that he is God by Nature the most High God coeternal and coequal with the Father and the Holy Ghost abominating the Doctrine of Arius who asserted he was not of the same Substance of the Father but rather a created Spirit the first and chief Spirit or Angel God created And the Doctrine of Socinians who affirmed He is a meer Man and had no Pre-existence before he was Conceived and Born of the Virgin They abominate that Voice or Doctrine of Eutychians who maintain that the Matter of Christ's Flesh was from Heaven or that it was a Conversion of the Deity of the second Person of the Trinity into Flesh and that he partook not of the Nature of the Virgin They abominate their Doctrine who declare that Christ doth consist of one Nature only and those who affirm that the Light that is in all Men which is but an inward Quality created of God with which the Soul of Mankind is naturally indued is the only Christ of God they know these are Strangers and the Voice of Strangers they will not hear 4. They hear and stedfastly believe and receive the Doctrine of Christ's Headship over the Church 5. The Doctrine of Satisfaction by Christ in his Expiation of Sin and of Justification by his Righteousness imputed as it is received by Faith alone without inherent Righteousness wrought in us or good Works done by us 6. The Doctrine of Regeneration the Resurrection of the Body and of the Eternal Judgment and World to come In all these Respects they hear Christ's Voice i. e. his Doctrine and in all other respects so far as they receive Light and Knowledg touching any one or all the blessed Truths and Ordinances of the Gospel Fourthly There is the Voice of Christ's Rod also which his Sheep hear The Lord's Voice crieth to the City and the Man of Wisdom shall see thy Name hear ye the Rod and who hath appointed it When Christ's Sheep will not hear as they ought the soft and sweet Voice of God's Word he speaks to them by the Voice of his Rod by Afflictions and sharp Rebukes which by his Providence he brings upon them And though others cannot hear so as to understand this Voice of Christ yet his Sheep do they see his Name and hear the Rod and know whose Voice it is and to what End 't is appointed but this I shall not insist further upon here I should now come to shew you how Christ's Sheep hear his Voice but that must be for the next time APPLICATION 1. Bless God you have Christ's Voice Christ's Word sounding in your Ears Blessed are they that know the joyful Sound for they shall walk in the Light of thy Countenance O Lord. It is not all they that hear the joyful Sound but only such that know it with an experimental Knowledg who have felt the Divine Power of it on their Souls 2. Rest not therefore upon a bare hearing of the Word of Christ take heed that the Gospel comes not to you in Word only but in Power also 3. Labour to hear the Voice of Christ's Spirit in and with the Word or you are undone for ever JOHN X. 27. My Sheep hear my Voice and they follow me DOCT. All true Believers are the Sheep and Lambs of Jesus Christ they hear his Voice and they follow him Beloved we have shewed you in what respects Believers are said to be Christ's Sheep and what is meant by his Voice which his Sheep or such who belong unto him do and will hear Thirdly I shall now proceed to the next general Head of Discourse propounded to you I am to shew you how Christ's Sheep hear his Voice his Word his Holy Doctrine They hear Christ's Voice his Word and Doctrine understandingly He that heareth the Word and understandeth it c. Some tho they hear it yet they are ignorant and know not the Nature Power and divine Excellency of it The sacred Scripture is as a sealed Book to some that are learned with Humane Arts and Sciences they see but the outside of the Book as it were and others they are ignorant Persons neither have Humane nor Divine Teachings then he opened their Vnderstandings that they might understand the Scriptures See how Christ does honour the holy Scriptures He did not open their Understanding without the Scriptures he sends them to that because they testify of him but he knew the Scripture would not sufficiently give them the knowledg of himself without the Influence and Illumination of his Spirit Sirs they hear Christ's Voice aright who are taught of God and by his Spirit to understand his Word Some Men are so far cheated by the Devil that they cry up the Light of natural Conscience and magnify that above the Holy Scripture He perswades them to cast away the Scriptures as a dead Letter in expectation of the Spirit 's Teachings whereas the Spirit teacheth by not without nor contrary to the Sacred Scripture The Word of Christ is full of Mystery its holy and sublime Doctrine is not easily understood nor can it be without the Spirit helps the Understanding In a right and saving manner it is given to Christ's Sheep to understand the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven and to others it is not given 2. Christ's Sheep
as they were all given to him so they are all known by him they are so many Members numerically and no more as it is in the Body natural In God's Book are all his Members written as David speaks of the Members of his Body which some conclude refers to Christ chiefly and to the Members of his Mystical Body 4. I infer That if Jesus Christ loses one Member of his Mystical Body then his Body will be an imperfect Body a maimed Body for so we know it is in the natural Body though the loss be but of one of the least Members thereof 3 dly The Union between Christ and Believers is set forth by the Union of a Tree and its Branches Thou being a wild Olive-Tree wert grafted in amongst them and with them partakest of the Root and Fatness of the Olive-Tree Now the Branches have a close and near Union with the Tree and being grafted into it partake of the Juice and Fatness of the Root the Tree and Branches being nourished thereby There is the same fructifying and fatning Virtue in the one that is in the other only with this difference in the Root and Tree it is originally in the Boughs or Branches by way of Communication This is brought by the Holy Ghost to open the Union of Christ and his Saints both he and they are partakers of the same Fruit-bearing Spirit he that dwells in them dwells in him also only it is in him as to them originally in them by communication from him Take a Cyon a Plant a Graft fix it to the Tree with all the Art you can and bind it on as close as possible yet 't is not united to the Tree until the Sap that is in the Tree be communicated to it which Communication states the Union Even so and in like manner let a Man be bound to Jesus Christ by all Bonds of visible Profession imaginable yet unless the Holy Spirit be in him to unite him to Christ unless he hath that Divine Sap and Life communicated to him he hath no real Union with him Object But doth not our Saviour say Every Branch in me that beareth not Fruit he taketh away And again If a Man abideth not in me he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered and Men gather them and cast them into the Fire and they are burned Doth not this prove that such who have real Union with Christ may eternally perish Answ I know this is brought as a grand Proof for final falling away But to give an answer hereunto 1. Some tell you that there is no need to translate the words so but that it may as well be translated Every Branch not bringing forth Fruit in me that is that have not real Union in me For though there can be no true Fruit brought forth without real and saving Union with Christ yet Men may bring forth some kind of Fruit and such that looks like good Fruit it is called Fruit He may pray hear the Word and lead an honest moral and sober Life yea and give to the Poor and yet not bring forth this Fruit in Christ or from a real Union he hath with him for all Acts of an External Profession in Religion may be brought forth without any Divine Principle of Grace or being rooted and grafted into Christ by the Holy Ghost and such a one the good Husband-man will discover for this Man's Fruit will not continue but wither Having not root in himself but endureth for a while for when Tribulation and Persecution ariseth because of the Word by and by he is offended Evident it is that all that received the Seed into good Ground or were sincere Christians brought forth Fruit to Everlasting Life though not all the like Quantity But 2. Let it be considered that there is a twofold being in Christ spoken of in God's Word as Christ also is compared to a Vine under a twofold Consideration 1. There is a Spiritual Real and Invisible being in Christ by Faith and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and these are grafted into Christ the Vine spiritually considered and so have that true Union with him of which we speak 2. There is also an External or Visible being in Christ by an outward profession Hence those that are baptized in his Name are said to be baptized into Christ Paul saith of some that they were in Christ before me How did he know who were savingly invisibly in Christ No doubt he speaks of their visible being in him by that Profession they made of the Gospel and by their being baptized and in this respect Vine is to be taken for the Church which sometimes bears Christ's Name Now evident it is many that thus are in Christ that is by a Profession and Sacramental Implantation may bring forth some sort of Fruit for a while but for want of a real Union with Christ they having not a Supply of Grace and Divine Sap from the Root they abide not in Christ that is in a visible Profession but are cast forth as withered Branches and at last will be cast into the Fire But now whosoever bringeth forth true Spiritual Fruit who is visibly in Christ the Vine him will God purge that he may bring forth more Fruit. And that this is the true meaning of this Text is plain if we consider what Christ saith of all his Elect Ones as hinted to you before viz. That he had not only chosen them but ordained them that they should go and bring forth Fruit and that their Fruit shall remain And this he speaks to his Disciples soon after in this very Chapter to comfort them lest they might fear miscarrying and become like such who are withered Branches And this is sufficient to remove this Objection Thirdly The Union of the Soul with Christ as to the excellent firm and abiding Nature thereof is further demonstrated and strengthened by the consideration of the Union of Christ to the Father and them as it is expressed by our blessed Lord I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in One 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into one First the Father in Christ the Fulness of the Godhead being in him bodily then Christ in Believers so that from that fulness of Grace Strength c. that the Father communicated to the Son as Mediator by virtue of his Union with him and which is communicable to us all his Members do receive from Christ by virtue of their Union with him Our Lord prayed in Verse 20 That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us c. Now though it be hard to understand the Nature of this Union in some Respects yet this is easy to comprehend viz. that the Union between the Father and Christ is an inseparable Union it is an abiding Union or it is a Union that cannot be dissolved Why then let us consider since Christ
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