their sin to mortifie sin to caution them against sin for the future 4. That many trials and afflictions come on pardoned sinners wherein God doth not pursue them for sin but is trying their faith and their graces Such were Jobs trials though Elihu tells him what he was he had sin and his sin deserved all was come upon him yet betwixt God and Satan all his trials were stated on this whether he would prove a godly man and continue so notwithstanding of them all and such were these trials under which the Apostles and other godly persons did glory God in these was not pursuing sin but taking service and proofs of their faith love zeal patience c. under the cross from them and to this pertains that of Joh. 9.2.3 When the Disciples asked him sayng Master Who did sin This man or his parents that he was born blind Christ answers Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents That is God was not punishing his nor his parents sin in that stroak of blindness but that the works of God might be made manifest in him These truths being conceded there are other some things to be caution'd against as error and I shall reduce what I would say for Caution to these three Heads 1. It is certain that sin is the in-let to all affliction Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned Death that is all calamities which are a begun death and the great death the separation of the soul from the body And hence what-ever may be God's design in any affliction he sends on godly men it is their wisdom while they are under the Cross to search out and be sensible of sin and to be humbled for it before God as we said before when we was on the 2 and 3. verses That sense of trouble should be attended with the sense of sin The sense of sin is good company when sense of trouble is sharpest and therefore though Job was under a cleanly tryal yet Elihu tells him he had sin to deserve all that was come upon him and if he considered his sin he would quarrel less when his friends mistook him What-ever other exercise affliction calls to this is one to search out and be humbled for sin and it is a shrewd evidence that that affliction is not blessed of God that is not well Varnished with sense of sin But 2ly Not only is sin the in-let to all afflictions but even godly persons pardoned of sin may be under affliction upon the account of sin I shall not speak of those common and absolutely determined afflictions as that all godly men must die and godly women must have pain in child-bearing as well as others but godly pardoned persons may come under peculiar afflictions upon the account of sin and that either before sin is committed or after sin is committed Before sin be committed godly men may come under affliction upon the account of sin How many afflictions got godly men upon the account of their corrupt dispositions to prevent sin to withdraw them from their purpose to hide pride from man to keep back his soul from the pit and his life from perishing by the sword Job 33.17 18. How many are such hard Rocks that they must have hard Wedges to rent them How many are so prone to wandering that were not their way hedged up with thorns and the cross laid in their way they would ruine themselves in following their lovers How many would be intolerable to live with if their nose were not holden on the Grindstone How many are made beggers because they cannot bear wealth Thus ye see godly men may be put under the cross with an eye to sin to prevent sin Again they may be brought under peculiar afflictions upon the account of sin even when it is committed and that either before it be pardoned or after it is pardoned Before it be pardoned as when a sinner is lying under unrepented guilt singing himself asleep in his provocations If a godly man with David 2 Sam. 11. drive such a Trade to fall into scandalous sins and ly over in security the Lord will send a hurl upon him not to satisfie his justice but to shake him out of his secure posture and to set him to his feet to the exercise of repentance and humiliation he will send a rod that he may hear the voice thereof and who hath appointed it Hence David Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray before I got the cross I wandered and knew not what I was doing but now have I kept thy word That 's affliction upon the account of sin committed before it be pardoned to waken out of security and put to repent for it again afflictions may come on the godly upon the account of sin even when it is pardoned when the pardoned man falls in sin especially if it be a scandalous sin he may not win easily away with that escape but may be made to go with a born-down-back after it is pardoned all his days 2 Sam. 10.12 13. The Lord tells David that he had pardoned him yet that the sword should not depart from his house for all that We suppose the Corinthians were godly men and pardoned for the abuse of the Lords Supper yet 1 Cor. 11.30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged But when we are judged we are chastned of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world Where ye may see affliction is let out upon the account of sin remitted And if ye ask Why doth the Lord so I answer not to take a satisfaction to his justice that 's already compleatly made by Christ but he doth it partly to vindicat his own honour whatever be betwixt him and his pardoned children if they fall in sin that the world observes he will let the world see that he will not wink at their miscarriages The sword 's not departing from David's house was not to satisfie justice for his sins that were pardoned but because by his scandalous out-breaking he had made the enemies to blaspheme He will let the world see that if his darling David bourd with him and fall in sin he hath made an ill bargain Partly he doth this upon the account of sins remitted that even the Saints who are pardoned may see yet more the bitterness of their folly and wandering The Lord looketh not upon it as a sufficient discovery of sin and the evil thereof that a child of God may win to in repentance antecedent to pardon but when he is pardoned he will sharply afflict him that he may know the bitterness of sin and that he made an ill bargain when he gave way to it and upon this it will result that when the Lord afflicts the pardoned they are not to forget daily to
in the right order needs not keep thee back thy desire to come and repent and seek pardon tells that thou art not guilty of that unpardonable sin and therefore stand not a back for scarlet and crimson coloured sins nor for relapsing in these sins There is forgivenness with God for those iniquities and that ye may grip the better to this when it is intimate that God is such a pardoner of sin ye would look to the infinit price of the Son of God whereby he purchased pardon and upon which pardon of sin is founded and ye would look to that infinite and superabounding grace in God inclining him to pardon and when these two are laid together well considered all thy doubts about pardon will amount to this whether thy iniquities or Christ's death thy abounding sin or Gods superabounding Grace will carry it And reason will determine it in favours of Christs purchase and the super-aboundant Grace of God 2. Let me leave this as a Witness against slighters of this offer of pardon I believe there are many engadged as the Jews were Jer. 2.25 Who said There is no hope no for we have loved strangers and after them we will go The matter is past redding There is little appearance that ever we will do well and therefore we mind not to do well But here is a Witness laid at thy door whatever thy condition be God and thou art yet in trysting terms and thou hast the offer of Pardon upon Repentance and turning to him art thou as mad as the man that had the legion of Devils Mark 5.9 will thou employ Christ he can cure thee Though thou were like Mary Magdalen out of whom Christ cast seven devils Luk. 8.2 He can cast them out and set thee down a worshipper of him at his feet Thy scarlet and crimson coloured sins he can make white as the snow or wool Thy scattered affections as the wind he can fix upon the nail fastened upon the sure place if thou wilt come and reason with him thou shalt find him as good as his Word and shall not this be a Witness against slighters of pardoning Grace that such profligat wretches runnaways and backsliders are within the reach of pardoning mercy and there is a Royal Proclamation made of it wherein it is offered unto them and yet they slighted it All the wrath of Sinai shall not be so terrible to such as this will be one day that in the Name of Christ we proclaimed pardon to you providing ye seek it in the right order and look how ye will answer the Lamb sitting down on his tribunal of Majesty I thought to have spoken to the persons who they are that are pardoned and that they may call God Father who seek pardon and how that it secluds not the vilest of sinners upon repentance and how it makes against the Novatian error that thrusts repentance out of the Church And to that case of godly men their relapsing in sins they have repented of and whether such be pardonable but the time having cut me short I shall forbear to break in upon these for the time The Lord blesse for Christs sake what ye have been hearing SERMON IX Psalm 130. Verse 4. But there is forgivenness with thee that thou mayest be feared I Have now broken in a litle upon this great Article of of our Creed the remission of sins The great Gospel-news the glad tidings of the Gospel of peace to them that are in the Psalmist's posture in the third verse that there is no standing before God marking iniquity in strict justice according to the Covenant of Works I am as yet detained on the first head that I proposed to be spoken to on this Subject that is the consideration of that which is pardoned it is iniquity as in the preceeding verse sin or transgression let it be called by whatsoever name it will and as to this I spake to these things 1. That all have sin 2. That sin is a Debt and Burden which they who take a right look of will see great cause will desire to be rid of it That sin being such a debt or burden the unpardoned man if he get a right look of his own condition he will find himself in a wofull plight and 4. That sin being such a debt as can only be done a way by pardon and such a burden as puts the unpardoned man in a woful plight It follows that it is good news the best of all news to a sensible sinner That there is pardon for iniquity in God When a man hath said verse 3. If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquity who can stand that he may add verse 4. But there is forgivenness with thee And here ye may remember that it was cleared how the least sins needed a pardon As also how the greatest sins for nature number or other circumstances are pardonable that sensible sinners needed not be troubled with that sin against the holy Ghost seing their very flying to the remedy of sin in Christ is a sufficient evidence that it was not in them I was the last day cutshort by time from speaking a word to these persons whose sins are pardonable And this I wold now speak to before I go to the other Heads I proposed to be spoken to And the ground of that which I would say of them whose sins are pardonable I shall take it from that pattern of Prayer Mat. 6.9 12 Father forgive us our debts They are Children who may come to God for pardon of sin and to open this a litle I shal speak to these three from it 1. It would be remembred that these who are not Children must come and become children in the due order that they may attain to the priviledge of pardon when Children only are allowed to beg pardon of sin it secludes none who are unpardoned from coming to God through the elder brother Jesus Christ that they may be put among the Children by Adoption for Isai 55.7 Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto Lord and he will have mercy vpon him and to our God for he will aboundantly pardon or multiply to pardon and Ezek. 33.15.16 When the wicked man restores the pledge gives again that which he had robbed doth walk in the statutes of life without committing iniquity he shall surely live he shall not die none of the sins he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him There shal be no more word of them which as I said the last day when I spake from these words leaves a sad check and ground of dittay at the doors of Rebels to whom the Fountain for Sin and Uncleanness is keeped open and they have pardon in their offer but will not follow the right method of obtaining mercy and pardon They will not come and be children but continue rebels still And it leaves also a caution and a check to many who if
pardoning mercy sets hearts on work to fear God and to tenderness in the study of holiness then ye may see how many of the Children of God do cut the throat of all their endeavours after holiness and to walk tenderly through their not closing with pardoning Mercy I suppose some have the Conscience a sad Monitor unto them a sad Wan-rest within doors for want of tenderness and some would fain be at serving and worshipping of God and yet they cannot win at it but look if thou leaves not thy encouragement behind thy hand in not closing with pardoning Mercy and by so doing not only cuts thy self short of the Joy of the Lord which is thy strength but provocks God to blast thy study of holiness that thou would put in his room or in the room of his pardoning Mercy But thou that would be keeped fresh and green in thy pursuit of holiness here is thy method that thou must follow first wrap thy self in the bosom of pardoning Mercy and then try thy work and thou shalt find it more delightsome and go better with thee than when thou leaves this encouragement behind thee lay thy self in his bosom for pardon and O! but that will make thee fear him much and love him much that woman Luke 7 that bad much forgiven her loved much and had abundance of tears to wash Christ's feet her closing with pardon did so melt her heart and so would it thine closing with pardoning Mercy would heal palsie hands and feet and make thee work walk and run it would kindle that love that is strong as death and that jealousie that is cruel as the grave the coals whereof are coals of fire that have a vehement flame and bring it to that that many waters cannot quench or the floods drown or contemn all that would compet with it I dare not offer to insist the day being shortened but as on the one hand they who fall asleep on pardoning Mercy as the bride of Christ may some times take a nap but wakens and sets to her feet again would know they make not a right use of pardoning Mercy but sin grievously and if they sleep on they evidence that they cheat themselves in that matter and these that love not holiness proclaim they were never partakers of it so upon the other hand thou that loves holiness but cannot win at it close better with pardoning Mercy as that which will strenthen and encourage thee and by waiting on the Lord in this way thou shalt renew thy strength mount up with wings as eagles run and not be weary walk and not be faint Now to our God be praise and glory through Jesus Christ SERMON XIX Psalm 130. Verse 5. I wait for the Lord my soul doth wait and in his word do I hope 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning I say more than they that watch for the morning YE heard when I entred upon this Psalm that the first six Verses contain the wrestling and the exercise the Psalmist was under as the last two Verses contain his victory and issue and his improvement of it For his wrestling and exercise it consists as ye heard of three branches ye have him wrestling with the difficulties and plunging perplexities in his case these he expresses under the Metaphor of depths and his wrestling with them is by fervent wrestling and crying to God in Prayer verses 1 2. 2. Ye have him wrestling with the Conscience and sense of guilt that obstructed his audience put back his Prayers and offered to crush his hopes and with that he wrestles in the 3 and 4. Verses by taking with the dreadful desert of sin by laying hold on God's pardoning Mercy and carrying alongst with him God's end in letting out pardoning Mercy to sinners even that he may be feared and of this subject I have been speaking at great length and I must exhort and intreat that though a close be put to Preaching on it that yet ye may not give over the minding of that Doctrine it is that which will be your great Pasport pardoning Mercy if ye obtain it when ye come to grapple with the King of Terrors and go through the dark valley of the shadow of death Now in the two Verses read ye have the Psalmist in the third place wrestling with delays of answers to his Prayers or the delays of the out-gate prayed for and these he wrestles with by confident patient affection at waiting on God I wait for the Lord my soul doth wait and in his word do I hope c. And this purpose also we have cause to look unto because it gives an account of a Christians constant exercise in time he that would be a Christian indeed it is not enough that he pray in difficulties that he take with the desert of sin and look to pardoning Mercy when Conscience challenges him but when he hath done all that he must persevere in so doing and wrestle with the delays of answers to his Prayer he must give a proof of the patience as well as of the Faith of the Saints he must be a follower of these who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises There is a general Remark which will make way to the purpose contained in the words which I shall insist on a little that is That perseverance and constant waiting on God in his way is the great task of Saints and the Touchstone of their sincerity in all other exercises and duties This tryes how well breathed the Saints are and what is their integrity in other exercises that they are at sometimes even that they be constant bide by it wait on God and persevere in waiting on him in his way notwithstanding they meet with delays And that I may unfold this General to you ye shall with me take a threefold look of this perseverance 1. Look upon it in general as it is opposed to Apostacy backsliding giving up with the ways of Religion 2. Which will deduce this General more fully and particularly ye shall take a look of this perseverance as it imports a constant Tenor and course in waiting on God and seeking of God in opposition to folks phrases fairds and hot fits at some times wherein they are but fleeting And 3. Which will lead me to the particular in the Text look on it as it is opposed to wearying sitting up or falling by from employing God and waiting on him if they be delayed especially in sad dispensations and exigences they meet with For the first of these Perseverance in general as it is opposed to apostasie back-sliding and giving up with the ways of God and godliness I shall not dwell much on that Doctrine The necessity of it appears in the Promises made unto it Mat. 24.13 It is he that endures unto the end shall be saved and Rev. 2. and 3. Chapters it is always to the overcomer that the Promise is made though I