Mint Annis and Commin i. e. about the smaller matters of Religion as concerning Meats and Observation of Days as if in such things lay the great stress of Christianity how many are there who like those false Teachers and deluded People in the Primitive Times plead for Justification some other way than by Faith only and bring in their own inherent Holiness and sincere Obedience and add that to the Merits of Christ in point of Justification before God or exalt the Power and Will of the Creature to the Eclipsing the Doctrine of Free-Grace Sirs tho' I will not deny but many sincere Christians may be shaken by the wind of false and corrupt Doctrine or drawn away through the subtilty of men yet no doubt chiefly they are the Light Formal and Chaffy Professors which are carried away and Tossed too and fro with every wind of Doctrine and this because of the want of Grace a sound Judgment and a good Understanding in the Mysteries of the Gospel A good understanding saith David have all they that do his Commandments Moreover such who seem unsetled in their places in Gods House or particular Churches where they are Members being uneasie and every little difference that may arise in a Congregation is ready to turn them away or seem to be moved and disturbed at the Charges the Interest of Christ or which the House of God calls for these I say give cause to fear they are but Chaff or under great Temptation if Sincere Secondly By Chaff may also be meant Sin Filth and Corruption which cleaveth to the Hearts and Lives of true believers which Christ by the Fan of his Word Spirit and Afflictions as you have heard purges out He shall purify the Sons of Levi and purge them as Gold and Silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness This is spoken of Jesus Christ whose Fan is in his hand It shews his Work and Office namely to refine and fan his People not only Members but Ministers also signified by the Sons of Levi that they all may offer acceptable Service unto God Besides our Lord Jesus sometimes makes use of wicked Men as a Fan in his hand to purge his People and thus he did of old fan Israel by the Babylonians and by the Assyrians I will send unto Babylon Fanners as I have sometime fanned and scattered my people by them so will I fan them by the Medes and Persians who shall empty the Land of them After Christ hath fanned or purged away the Chaff and Filth of the Daughter of Zion he will fan their Enemies and they being all Chaff the wind of his Indignation will drive them away Let this be noted that Christ hath many ways to fan and purge his People yet still it is for their good and they shall lose nothing but their chaff their Sin and Corruptions thereby Quest Fourthly Why are the Saints compared to Wheat Answ I answer for many Reasons 1. Wheat is a choice Grain the best Grain so true Believers are a choice People in Christ's sight The righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour they are called the excellent in all the Earth God calls his People his Jewels or choice Treasure they are men of a high and heavenly Birth of a high sublime and excellent Spirit they are espoused by an excellent person act and are influenced by excellent principles and have glorious Ends and Aims in all they do and from hence may be compared to Wheat 2. Wheat hath much pains used with it the ground must be made good it must be well plow'd and manured before the Wheat is sown so the hearts of poor sinners must be first made good and by spirituall Convictions be plowed up before the seed of Grace is sown for like as Believers are compared to Wheat so is also the Grace of God Wheat must be weeded as well as gathered into the Barn and also Threshed fanned and well Purged Believers may be compared to Wheat upon this respect Christ takes much pains to speak after the manner of men with his own Elect not only by Plowing Manuring but by sowing watering weeding fanning and Purging them like Wheat 3. Wheat will endure cold Frosts and Snow and all manner of bitter and sharp Weather better than any other Grain Sow Barly before Winter and you will find but little of it will live but Wheat will live in the sharpest Winter that can come what a good Harvest had we here in England after the last great Frost alas the Wheat was not destroyed thereby but was made better the Weeds and Worms being killed which is found to hurt and annoy it oft-times Even so sincere Christians who are Christs Spiritual Wheat abide faithful under the greatest Trials Persecutions and Afflictions they can meet withal they endure the Frosts and bitter North-Winds of Tribulation and furious Storms of the Wrath of wicked men which kills the false-hearted Professor they die and wither away they can't live and maintain their seeming hope and Confidence when true Believers can a Hypocrite is but Summer Corn or rather Weeds or Tares that spring up with the Wheat tho' they look like it yet are only the product of Natural Conscience or the common Influences of the Sun or Gospel of Jesus Christ 4. An Ear of Wheat when it is near ripe doth hang down its head the Corn being full and weighty when light and empty Ears hold up theirs commonly a light and chaffy Ear stands strait upright in a lofty manner So a true gracious Christian is of an humble Spirit he hangs down his head as it were and is ashamed of his best Duties and Services seeing so great weaknesses and Infirmities to attend him he abhors himself yea loaths himself he knows he hath nothing to glory in but in the Cross of Jesus Christ he sees himself nothing Vnto me who am less than the least of all Saints is this Grace given saith Paul what an humble Person was he what a full and weighty Ear of choice Wheat was this Apostle If you see a Man or Woman proud or of an haughty and conceited Spirit being lifted up you may conclude they are but empty Ears no true Grace being in their hearts 5. Wheat hath its Chaff cleaving oft-times close to it yea it will stick and cleave so to it that it is not easily separated So it is with Christs Spiritual Wheat the filth or Chaff of internal Corruption is very subject to cleave to them and hard it is for them to get rid of it When I would do good Sin is present with me for the good I would I do not but the evil which I would not do that do I. Oh! wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of Death I am as if he should say even wearied with continual Combating I cannot get rid of this dead Body this inward Filth and Corruption the remainders of Sin
received the saving Graces thereof are Christ's Sheep they have his Mark these he will own and say where eâ—er he find this Seal this Man and this Woman is mine And on the other hand Now if any Man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his he is none of his Sheep he hath no special Interest in him Remember the Spirit of Christ true Grace Faith Love Humility c. is the Ear-mark of Christ's Sheep 3. And why may not inward Sincerity be Christ's Mark also for that I am sure does distinguish them from all others from Hypocrites and all unsound and false-hearted Professors whatsoever 2 dly The Mark in their Foreheads is seen by all that may denote their holy Carriage Behaviour and Deportment in this World to all that behold them 1. It may shew that they hate Idolatry and all false Worship 2. It may signify their holy Conversation for Holiness is written as it were in legible Characters on all their Foreheads There is not one of Christ's Sheep without this Mark for without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. This shews who they are and whither they are going and to what Country they do belong Sixthly Christ's Sheep follow the Footsteps of the Flock i. e. the Primitive Church in Church-Constitution Doctrine and Discipline They contend for that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints and keep the Ordinances as they were at first given forth they are for no mixture in Doctrine nor Discipline be sure before all things they keep pure the Doctrine of Justification and do not join Work and Grace together Their great care is to exalt the free Grace of God and abase the Creature accounting all their own inherent Righteousness as Dung or Dogs-meat in comparison of Christ and the Righteousness of Christ Seventhly They love to drink in pure Christal soft and gentle Streams Sheep do not love to drink of muddy rough and raging Rivers No more do Christ's Sheep He makes me to lie down in green Pastures he leadeth me beside the still Waters They will not forsake the Waters of Shiloah that run softly and drink of the proud swelling and troublesome Rivers of Babylon Tygris and Euphrates They like the Teachings of God's Spirit in the meanest Instrument tho such who are despised and contemned of Men better than the highest Elegance and lostiest Rhetorick of all the Cicero's and Plato's of the World What are the artificial Flourishes of Demosthenes or exact Method of Aristotle and Galen or all humane Curiosities or itch of Words to the Teachings of the Holy Ghost Paul spoke not in the Wisdom of this World or with the inticing Words of Man's Wisdom but in the Demonstration of the Spirit and with Power These Waters Believers chuse and love to drink of I am afraid some Men are more nice in studying Words than Matter to affect the Ear rather than to work upon the Heart of their Hearers Though Humane Learning is not to be despised yet no doubt Dr. Carlton was in the right That a Lay-man that has the Spirit of God is better able to judg of spiritual Things than a Man in Ecclesiastical Function destitute of the Spirit of God Infelix est sapientia extra Verbum Dei sapere saith Justin Martyr Our Annotators say well viz. 1. Ministers ought to speak Intelligibly so as the People may understand 2. That they speak gravely and decently all other study of Words and Phrases in a Divine say they is but Folly and Vanity Eighthly and Lastly Christ's Sheep do relie upon the Care and Faithfulness of their Shepherd They know on whom they have believed and can and do venture their Souls on him knowing he will keep that which they have committed to his Charge They depend on Christ rest on Christ believe in Christ relie on his Word and Promises for all things they need They can say with David The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want neither any thing for this Life which is really necessary nor for the Life which is to come They leave the Alimighty to chuse for them knowing they are not competent Judges as touching what is best for themselves Though he slay me saith Job yet will I trust in him Let God do what he will with me yet I will rest upon him my hope shall be in him and I will not be offended if I have Poverty Sickness Persecution Reproaches or whatsoever else I know saith a true Christian God sees it good for me and I will not murmur nor complain APPLICATION 1. We may infer from hence that Christ hath but a few Sheep but a few Followers O what a small Number have these Characters upon them 2. It may be for Lamentation Cyprian brings in the Devil triumphing over Jesus Christ after this sort As for my Followers I never died for them as Christ did for his I never promised them so great Rewards as Christ hath done to his and yet I have more Followers than he and they do more for me than his do for him O how blind and deceived are poor Sinners that they chuse to follow Satan rather Jesus Christ What a great Multitude hath the Devil his Flock is a mighty Flock Christ's Flock is a little Flock Fear not little Flock it is your Father's good Pleasure to give you a Kingdom Every Saint shall have a Kingdom a Crown this is Christ's Promise to all his Sheep and yet how few are they that cleave to him that believe in him and follow him 3. By what you have heard you may try your selves O see have you these Characters these Marks of Christ's Sheep certainly if so you have no cause to doubt but your State is happy if not labour for them 4. The way to be one of Christ's Sheep is to believe and to pass under the New Birth JOHN X. 27. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me THE last Day I shewed you who are the Sheep of Jesus Christ by giving you the several Characters and Marks of them Sixthly I shall now proceed to the last General Head viz. 1. Shew you What a kind of Shepherd Christ is 2. What those Pastures are where he feeds them 3. What a Fold he hath for his Sheep First Jesus Christ is a chosen Shepherd No Man hath a right to be a Shepherd but he that is first chosen by the Owner of the Sheep Christ is called the Elect of God My Servant whom I have chosen Again Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth He was fore-ordained in the Decree Design and Purpose of God to be our Redeemer and as a Shepherd to take care of feed heal nay to die for the Sheep Secondly And as he was chosen so he was called also to this Work and Office For as the Apostle speaks concerning Christ's Priesthood or touching that Office so I may say
wretched and naked and for Rebellion condemned to die nay to be burned for ever Unbelief was the Cause of Man's Fall at first he would not believe God who told him In the Day he eat of the forbidden Fruit he should surely die No he rather adhered to the Devil and gave credit to the Father of Lies This also was the grand Cause of the Israelites falling in the Wilderness And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his Rest but to them that believed not So we see they could not enter in because of Vnbelief Let us therefore fear saith the Apostle Brethren there is a notional and practical Unbelief Some believe there is a God but they deny him by their Works and deny Christ the only Saviour by cleaving to and trusting in other things for Salvation They perhaps think that their good Deeds their Prayers their just Dealings and sober and moral Lives will save them Some are like a poor ignorant Wretch that I heard of who being lately sick and a Christian Neighbour being sent for to come to him he asked him some Questions about his Soul who replied that he had been a Sinner but if God spared him he hop'd to make God amends for all Some sin and commit horrid Evils in the Day and then pray at Night and confess their Sins and may be drop a few Tears and that they think cures all and makes them as sound again as a Fish and so go on the next Day in their old trade of sinning as briskly as before Some have a humane Faith an historical Faith and from thence do many things though they do not live up to that Faith neither nor improve what Knowledg and Light they have received to that degree they ought and so shall be condemned like as was the Man that improved not his one Talent I call it a humane Faith because it is the Act of the Creature by virtue of his natural Powers and Capacity the Spring and Motive of their Faith is Humane therefore their Faith cannot be Divine I shall sum up the whole of this Head and come to the Application 1. It appears that the Salvation of the Gospel is neglected by many through Ignorance and natural Blindness their Understandings are darkned And Light shines in the Darkness but the Darkness comprehendeth it not Men love Darkness rather than Light Error rather than Truth If another come in his own Name him you will receive 2. There is a Perverseness and Rebellion in the Will and hardness in the Heart Ye will not come to me that ye might have Life The carnal Mind is Enmity against God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be 3. Men are ignorant and unsensible of their States and Conditions Are we blind also We are Abraham 's Seed was the Plea of old We are Christians the Off-spring of Christian People and good Protestants is the Plea now They are 4. Ignorant of God's Holiness and Justice and so trust in his Mercy not regarding of his Law and Justice They are ignorant and unsensible of that insufficiency there is in themselves or in any thing they can do to save their own Souls 5. 'T is through the Ignorance of some of their Teachers who preach not the Gospel truly to them 6. 'T is through an inordinate Love to the things of this World their Affections are corrupted and set upon the Creature upon their Riches Honours and Pleasures 7. 'T is through that Love many have to their Sins and sinful Practices and sinful Companions 8. 'T is through the deceitfulness and treachery of their own evil Hearts 9. Through slavish Fear or pretended Modesty they dare not be so bold to venture themselves on Christ being such great Sinners and having nothing to present unto him for acceptance 10. It is from Idleness and spiritual Sloth 11. From Unbelief not giving Credit to the Revelation of God's Word in many respects but think to be saved some other ways than by Jesus Christ alone or not by him and nothing else and conclude something is to be joined to Christ's Merits and Righteousness or they cannot be justified nor saved and thus this Salvation is neglected it is upon these or such-like Considerations as these are APPLICATION 1. Tremble you that slight or neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel Will you say that Jesus Christ cannot save you or is not willing to save you Certainly those who give way to such Thoughts and Temptations are sharply to be reproved 2. Your Sins and Unbelief is the Cause of your Misery and if you perish it will be the Cause of your Damnation for ever 3. And to you that are Believers let me speak one Word Have a care of Unbelief beware of unbelieving and desponding Thoughts Why do you hang down your Heads Object O the deadness of my Heart This I know is the Voice and Complaint of your Souls Answ How came you to know that you are dead Certainly this is a sign that there is Life in you Did ever any Person that was naturally dead say he was dead cold or unsensible that is impossible 't is only such who are alive that thus complain Object O the abundance of Sin that is in me that afflicts and distresses my Soul Answ Say you so is Sin your Sickness is Sin your Sorrow Is Sin that which afflicts wounds and grieves your Spirit Then rejoice this is a good sign Would you live and sin not Do you see a loveliness in Holiness this is no doubt an Evidence of the Goodness of your Condition provided you hate it and allow not of Sin in you Object But alas how little do I mind and am affected with this great Salvation Answ Canst thou be contented without it or give over minding it and trouble thy self no more about it Nay art thou willing to part with that Interest thou hast in Christ and in this Salvation I am perswaded you will say No not for ten thousand Worlds 4. Moreover from hence we may see the Madness and Folly of the generality of Men who live under the preaching of the Gospel and yet neglect Day by Day the Means of this so great Salvation they regard not their chief and main Business What Blindness is naturally in Mankind But because I shall have occasion to open more particularly the great Evil of neglecting the Salvation of the Gospel the next time I shall say no more to it now HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation I AM upon the Prosecution of the second Proposition I raised from this Text viz. Doct. 2. That the Means of the great Salvation of the Gospel may be neglected This is implied in the Words 1. I shewed you the last Day what the neglecting of Gospel-Salvation doth import 2. I also shewed you who they are that may be said to neglect it 3. And likewise from whence it cometh to pass
and art tost up and down with Temptations Trials and Afflictions Know that his Design is wholly herein for thy good it is but to purge out thy Chaff that thou as pure white Wheat may'st shine the more bright and clear in Grace and Gospel-Holiness for Sin and Corruption spoils thy Beauty to all that behold thee No Doctrine tends to promote Gospel Holiness like the Doctrine of Gods Free-Grace Shall we sin because grace hath abounded God forbid 2. O what a Mercy of Mercies it is that Gods Wrath is appeased towards you Christs Blood has quenched this dreadful fire as to you who believe and indeed nothing else could do it O bless God for Christ and for that River of Water which proceeds from him to the extinguishing this flaming Fire he hath born it and allay'd it nay quite put it out so that you shall never feel the burning or tormenting Nature thereof 3. Thou shalt at last whosoever thou art if sincere if Wheat be gathered into his Garner viz. into Heaven it self for Christ will not lose one grain of his spiritual Wheat not one Sheep of his shall perish He that has begun that good work in thee will perform it to the day of Christ He will gather his wheat into his Garner but the Chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire So much for this time MATTH III. 12. Whose Fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his floor and gather the Wheat into his Garner but the Chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire BEloved I have gone through the several Terms of the Text by way of Explaination and have taken Notice of several Propositions or Points of Doctrine that naturally arise therefrom I purpose only to prosecute but one of them namely the 6 th and last viz. Doct. That the Wrath of God is like Fire 't is intollerable or the Misery and Torment of the Damned will be dismal and amazing there 's no expressing how fearful their condition is and will be who fall under the vindictive Wrath and Vengeance of an angry God I shall only do three things 1. Further open the Nature of Gods Wrath. 2. Prove and demonstrate the Truth of the Proposition 3. Improve it by way of Application And to proceed it is necessary to note to you in the first place as I before hinted that the Wrath of God may be considered under a twofold Consideration As it is manifested 1. Internally or Externally taking hold of and seizing upon some ungodly persons here whilst in this World 2. As it is Eternal seizing on and taking hold of all undone and lost Sinners hereafter Sin is the cause of Gods Wrath and Vengance both of that which is felt here and shall eternally be felt and undergone hereafter the word as the learned note which is translated Wrath comes from a Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifies heat or to be hot and hence 't is compared to fire an angry Man we say is a fiery Man a Man that hath much fire or fury in him the Wrath of man is hot but the Wrath of God is much hotter Because there is Wrath beware Sirs there is Wrath in the Heart of God against Sinners there his anger is kindled there is Wrath also in his Decree and in his Threatnings his Wrath continues on all Unbelievers He that believeth not the Wrath of God abideth upon him Tho' many of them do not feel it they have not the sense of it but shall have one day yet there are some that God lets out his Wrath upon to such a degree here that they do feel it and cry out under the sense and horror thereof in a fearful manner Secondly The Wrath of God as it is compared unto fire is oft-times let out to consume men in divers respects 1. Sometimes by Poverty as by a flame he consumes in a secret way their outward substance there is a Curse upon their estates which dries up their Riches in which they Trusted and set their Hearts upon forgetting God their Maker their Chief Good and Last End 2. Sometimes he Consumes their Honour Reputation and Credit they falling by their Iniquity into disgrace after they have made a Profession of Religion and have been in the Love and Esteem of good Men. 3. Sometimes also by Sickness as by a flame he consumes their Health and thus he threatned the People of Israel The Lord shall smite thee with a Consumption and with a Feaver and with an Inflamation and with extream Burning 4. Also his Wrath oftentimes breaks out like fire on some Men by suddain Death in a strange and unusual manner as in the case of Lots Wife and of Nadab and Abihu and there went out fire from the Lord and devoured them and they died before the Lord. This was so amazing that Moses said unto Aron and unto Eleazor and unto Jâ—hamar Vncover not your heads neither rend your cloaths least ye die and least Wrath come upon all the People but let your brethren the whole house of Israel bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled Open not your Mouths as if he should say shew no such sorrow as at other times for God is Just and he hath let out his deserved Wrath against these young Men least you should seem to Justifie them and shew a dislike of God's token of Divine dispeasure 5. Moreover God many times le ts out his Wrath by War and the Sword consumes and devours much people As also by Famine and by the Pestilence The Wrath of God as it is let out in this World is as a drying scorching and devouring fire The flame of Gods Displeasure puts all into a flame as at this day all the Earth seems to be on a fire God is now a burning up and consuming the Nations Therefore he hath poured upon him speaking of Jacob the fury of his anger and the strength of Battel and it hath set him on 〈◊〉 round about yet he knew it not and it burned him yet he laid it not to heart War consumes the Riches the Wealth the Strength the Food and Bread of the Nation as well as the People but it is not laid to heart He teareth me saith Job in his Wrath The Hebrew Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Mr. Caryl Notes is near in sound to our English Tear and it signifieth to Tear as a Lyon his prey Wrath is of a Tearing and devouring Nature God sometimes in his Wrath Tears in pieces the Bodies of Men he tears their Power their Riches and consumes their Beauty and turns all as it were to Ashes and thus he will pour out his Wrath on Babylon and she shall be burned with fire 6. The Wrath of God also Seizeth on the Souls of some men whilest they are in this World as when they are left or given up unto hardness of Heart Vnbelief and blindness of Mind indeed this is most
they shall all be saved No more at this Time JOHN X. 28. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand BRETHREN I am upon the Proof and Demonstration of the Doctrine which I raised from our Text viz. That none of the Sheep of Christ or Saints of God can so fall away as eternally to perish The last time I spoke to the fourth Argument which was taken from the Nature of the Covenant of Grace I shall proceed to the next Argument Fifthly They who are the Sheep of Christ Believers in Christ or his Elect Ones cannot finally fall away because they are the Children of God begotten of God and born of God Two things I shall do in prosecuting this Argument First Prove that all Believers are begotten and born of God Secondly Shew you how it doth appear from hence that they can never finally fall away and eternally perish First That they are begotten of God appears from several Scriptures Of his own Will beg at he us with the Word of Truth c. Meerly by his own Grace as the original Cause with the Word by the Spirit as the instrumental Means Spiritual Generation is the Work of God the Product of the Will of God and not of the Will of Man Which were born not of Blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God Not of Blood as in natural Generation or not of the Blood of Abraham Grace and Regeneration being not the Product of the State or Faith of believing Parents This was the carnal Boast of the Jews We have Abraham to our Father Not of the Power of Man's Will that cannot produce the New Creature in himself nor in a Child or Brother If it was in the Power of a godly Man or godly Minister to convert or to regenerate his Child his Wife or his Brother would he let them perish But alas alas this is out of Man's reach out of his Power he cannot renew himself A Child may as easily beget it self in the Womb before it self was as a Man can form Christ in his own Soul or regenerate himself 't is God that doth it the Holy Spirit begets us Except a Man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and every one that loveth him that begetteth loveth him also that is begotten of him Whosoever hath that efficacious Soul uniting Soul transforming Soul renewing Sin-killing Grace of Faith is born of God 'T is not a bare believing Jesus is the Christ no but such a Faith that works by Love or the Faith of God's Elect For ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Jesus Christ Faith saving Faith the Faith of the Operation of God produceth this glorious Effect through the Spirit in the Soul From all which Scriptures it evidently appears that all Believers all the Saints are the Children of God begotten and born of God Quest Well what of this some perhaps may say How doth this prove they cannot fall away so as to perish 2 dly I answer This is my second Work and you will soon see how forcible the Argument is from hence to prove that none of them can perish See what our Blessed Saviour saith That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit That which is born of corrupt Nature or is the Product of the Flesh is Flesh or of the same Nature of that which did beget it As it is said of Adam he begat a Son in his own likeness that is a depraved sinful and mortal Child The Flesh bringeth forth Effects proportionable to the Cause 'T is thus in the first Birth But if by Flesh you will have our Saviour intend the product of Man's natural Abilities or the Effects of the highest Improvements of his natural Light Understanding Will c. why then it follows still that a Man purely natural can produce nothing but natural Operations for nothing in operation exceedeth the Virtue or Excellency of that Cause which influenceth it So that no Man can by his Abilities however improved produce any divine or spiritual Operation and this shews that Man must be born of the Spirit that becomes or is made truly spiritual and sit for the Kingdom of Heaven And saith our Saviour what is born of the Spirit is Spirit or is of the same Nature with the Holy Spirit that is Spiritual Holy Immortal since every Creature begetteth its own Nature Qualities and Image Such as is the Cause such is the Effect Thus it is in Generation and thus it is in Regeneration it must be from a Divine from a spiritual Cause and not a Natural that the Image of God is formed in the Soul The Flesh cannot bring forth an Heavenly Babe Can Corruption produce or be the Cause of Regeneration Can a Worm or an Ant bring forth a Man sooner than Flesh Or can any Man under Heaven beget or form and bring forth the New Creature in the Soul which is called the forming of Christ or the Image of God in us But now pray consider that such as is the Nature or Quality of the Begetter such is the Nature of that which is begotten of him therefore since the New Creature is begotten by the Holy Spirit it must partake of the Nature of the Spirit Christ saith it is Spirit it is spiritual immortal or incorruptible Hence the Apostle Peter saith Believers partake of the Divine Nature Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises that by these we might be partakers of the Divine Nature Every Child of God is begotten by the Spirit through the Promise as Isaac was I will come and Sarah shall have a Son Compare this with that in 1 Pet. 1. 23. Being born again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God that liveth and abideth for ever Pray observe it which liveth and abideth for ever Mortal Seed in Generation begetteth and bringeth forth a mortal Babe a corruptible Child but the Word and Spirit of God begetteth and bringeth forth an immortal or an incorruptible Babe Such is the Babe of Grace or Child of God I speak of the New Creature or the regenerated Part in Man From hence let me draw this Argument viz. Arg. 1. That which is begotten and born of and is brought forth by the Spirit of God or of immortal and incorruptible Seed is an immortal or incorruptible Babe But the New Creature in the Soul of the Regenerate is begotten and born of or brought forth by the Spirit of God therefore the New Creature in the Soul of the Regenerate is an immortal or an incorruptible Babe Now if it be immortal or incorruptible it can never die but liveth and abideth for ever and
the Law that believe not because nothing but a perfect Righteousness can deliver from the Curse thereof 3. Moreover God is obliged upon the account of his Covenant with his Son for us to discharge us for ever because Christ hath fully performed all things as the federal Conditions of our Restoration and Deliverance from Sin and the Curse of the Law which he covenanted to do Arg. 5. All that are delivered from the Curse of the Law and to whom there remains no more any legal and just Cause in God of Wrath and Separation from him unto their Eternal Condemnation cannot eternally perish But all that believe in Christ are delivered from the Curse of the Law and to them there remains no more any legal and just Cause in God of Wrath and Separation from him unto their eternal Condemnation therefore no Believer shall eternally perish Fifthly Christ dying for our Sins was a full and compleat Paiment of all our Debts which bound us over to Death and Condemnation we owed ten thousand Talents and Christ our Surety was charged with it even with all we owed to Justice and by his Death he paid the uttermost Farthing Now the Principal and the Surety are legally and judicially one Person so that in Christ we paid all though it was God and not we that found out the Surety and paid himself with his own Money and therefore we are acquitted in a way of Sovereign Grace we have it in a way of Mercy though in a way of Righteousness also That God might be Just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus From whence I argue Arg. 6. All those for whom Christ hath paid all their Debts or made a full Compensation for shall never perish But Christ hath paid all the Debts of Believers or made a full Compensation for them therefore they shall never perish Would it not be look'd upon as an Act of Injustice in a Creditor to arrest and throw a poor Debtor into Prison for those Debts his Surety paid for him and laid down every Farthing of his Money Now then say I either some of the Sins of Believers or some of their Debts Jesus Christ did not die for pay or satisfy for or else all must conclude it is impossible because God is Just any one of them should perish Now who is it that dares to affirm that Christ did not die and satisfy for all the Sins of Believers or for his Elect Ones If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness He will not exact from us the Satisfaction which he hath accepted in the Atonement of his own Son our Surety and in his own way applied God will not require double Payment Sixthly From the Death of Christ I further argue No Believer can eternally perish because his Death was the highest and greatest Expression and Demonstration of Divine Love both in the Father and Son Now say I as I hinted once before He that gave the great Gift will not deny the lesser Sure if God gave his Son to die for our Sins he will give us Grace to resist Sin to mortify Sin and will also pardon all our Sins And if Christ died for us spilt his Blood for us he will pray for us he will not refuse to intercede for us that our Faith may not fail or we lose the Benefit and Blessings purchased for us by his Death He that would not pray for his Friend or for his Neighbour will not die for him But on the other Hand if he yields himself up to die for him he will pray for him Christ died for his Sheep he will therefore both feed them heal their Diseases and preserve them that they may not be devoured by any Enemy whatsoever neither by Sin nor the Devil c. See Rom. 5. 10. Rom. 8. 32. Seventhly Jesus Christ by his Death purchased Grace and all things his Saints need or shall need in order to make them meet for Glory therefore they shall not perish Do they need Faith need Patience need Power against Sin need Pardon need Purging c. all these things and whatsoever else they stand in need of they shall have My God shall supply all your need according to his Riches in Glory by Jesus Christ All Grace is in Christ as the Fruit of his purchase And of his Fulness all we receive and Grace for Grace And this is to shew forth the Riches of God's Glory Will he lose his Glory Shall Satan insult over the Majesty of Heaven after this manner viz. Lo here is one of them for whom thou gavest thy Son to die whom thou hast left to me and I have destroyed him for ever Will God think you suffer this since his main Design in the Gift of Christ is the Glory of his own Rich and Sovereign Grace Nay and after he has with such large Expence of rich Treasure and such Pains restored his lost Image to a poor Believer will he suffer Sin and Satan utterly to deface it again whilst he looks on Our Opposites are Men for Natural Reason Now Sirs what think you of this is there any reason for you to believe God will suffer either of these things to be done Eighthly The Death of Christ preserves all Believers to Everlasting Life because he hath by one Offering perfected for ever them that are sanctified Christ as the Effects of his Death before he hath done will bring all for whom he was a Sacrifice to Heaven Justification in the Perfection of it shall be continued Sanctification shall be compleated our Interest in him shall not be lost Can any think that Christ will not maintain Life in that Soul which he made alive by his own Death Arg. 7. If therefore Christ's Blood was not shed for none in vain but that he shall have his whole Purchase then none of his Sheep or Elect Ones shall ever perish But Christ's Blood was shed for none in vain therefore he shall have his full Purchase none of his Elect shall perish No Man would lay down a Sum more in value than a whole Kingdom but would first see himself sure of it upon laying down that Price the Father's Covenant and Promise also made all the Elect certain of Eternal Life upon Christ's dying for them Besides Beloved the Sacrifice of Christ unites all the Holy Attributes together to secure a Believer's Interest Justice and Mercy are both agreed in Christ they meet together and kiss each other yea and join Hands to help and save every Believer The Flood-gates of Mercy are opened and the Fire of Divine Wrath confin'd in its Flames or rather quenched by the Streams of Christ's Blood that Mercy might flow down to us abundantly Christ's Blood hath eternal Virtue in it it is called the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant therefore extendeth to the Expiation of Sins to come as well as what are already
has promised thee Victory but thou must sight Grace teacheth us to deny all Vngodliness He that is not under the Influence of Grace never had the Truth of it in him Fourthly Always consider this in thy Heart that thy standing is by Grace and that thou art in Christ's Hand O depend on him for all and fly to him for whatsoever thou dost need JOHN X. 28. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand BRETHREN I closed the last Time with the Consirmation of the Doctrine which I have for several days been upon I shall now proceed to consider of the Objections and give an Answer to them that are usually brought against this great and comfortable Doctrine of the Saints final Perseverance Several of which I have answered already as I met with them occasionally under divers of those Arguments I have spoken to in clearing up the Truth of the Proposition therefore shall labour to answer such that remain which take as they here follow Object 1. If Christ did not die for all how could the Birth of our Saviour be said to be Matter of Joy unto all People And the Angel said unto them Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great Joy which shall be to all People For unto you is born this Day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Answ 1. I answer All People doth not intend every individual Person to all People that is the good News is not to you only but to both Jews and Gentiles I have shewed you before that all and every and whole World is taken in many places of Holy Scripture with restriction and takes in but a part as on the contrary when the Vniversality of the Subject is intended it is expressed by singular If a Man die shall he live again Which refers to every Man He that believeth shall be saved it signifies all that so do So I will pour out of my Spirit upon ALL Flesh as you have it in Joel that is upon Persons of every Age Sex and Degree upon Young Old Masters Servants Sons and Daughters so it may be taken here and in several other places as that in 1 Tim. 2. 4. Who will have all Men saved c. that is Kings as well as Peasants Noble as well as Ignoble Rich as well as Poor Gentiles as well as Jews or some of all sorts The Gospel is said to be preached in Paul's Time to every Creature under Heaven whereas it reached then but to a small part of the World one great part not being at that time known or found out as one well observes 2. Was the Birth of Christ Matter of Joy in the Effects of it to Judas and to the unbelieving Jews and to many more 3. I argue thus If the Birth and Death of Christ was cause of greatest Joy to all Persons individually considered it must be thus either in respect of the Design Purpose and Intention of God because of such Joy unto them or else in respect of the certain Effects of his Birth and Death But 1. Who will say that God according to his Eternal Purpose and Design did intend it for the Salvation of every individual Person None can be so weak sure to assert that for who shall resist God's Will or withstand God's absolute Design Purpose and Intention Christ must accomplish or effect the Salvation of all if in that sense it was Matter or Cause of Joy unto all or that he died for all or that God would have all that is every individual Man and Woman in the World saved 2. And as to the Effects of the Death of Christ it is evident quite otherwise for Multitudes have no saving Benefit thereby Therefore it follows clearly that that is not the sense of the Text nor Mind of the Spirit of God though in some sense the Birth and Death of Christ was Cause of Joy to all since every one received all that Good thereby whatsoever it is they are possessed of 4. Did not Simeon by the Holy Ghost say that this Child speaking of Christ is set for the Fall and rising again of many in Israel Unto some the word is a Savour of Death unto Death and Christ a Stone of stumbling the Reason is because they that believe in him shall be saved and they that believe not shall be damned We freely grant the intervening of Mens Unbelief Malice and Opposition to Christ and his Gospel is the proximate meritorious Cause of the Fall and Ruin of any Soul 5. Also it is said Every Man shall have praise of God 1 Cor. 4. 5. which can refer to none but to good Men or godly Men only So it is said God is the Father of all One God and Father of all Eph. 4. 6. Yet as Mr. Cole observes on that place the Devil is the Father of the greatest part of the World Christ is said to reconcile all things to himself whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven Col 1. 20. Yet what a multitude are not nor ever shall be reconciled to him All certainly intends none but the Elect So it is said it is written in the Prophets they shall all be taught of God John 6. 45. It respects only Believers or God's New-Covenant-Children Now seeing the word all and every in many Places refers only to the Elect and is taken with such Restriction why should it be taken Universally here and in those other Places mentioned especially considering the Arguments I have laid down to prove that Christ did not die for any but those that were given to him by the Father we having also proved he died in their stead for whom he suffered Death so that they might never die Eternally Object 2. If there be such a Decree of Election and that none shall be saved but those that God hath ordained to Eternal Life what need Men seek after or regard the Salvation of their Souls Answ This Objection we have largely answered under our first Argument to prove the Saints final Perseverance taken from the Election of Grace to which I refer you Object 3. This Doctrine of Election and Final Perseverance tends to make Men loose and remiss in the Service of God Answ 1. What can be a greater Mistake Do the certain Grounds of Hope of obtaining the Victory tend to make a Souldier remiss and careless when engaged in the Battel Or do they not much more animate him to fight couragiously 2. Shall a Child be taken off from his Duty or be remiss in serving his Father because his Father tells him he shall never be disinherited 3. Did not Christ know that the Angels had Charge over him yet was he less careful of his own Preservation And did not Paul assure all that were in the Ship with him that they should all be saved yet did that take him
Righteousness of Christ and also a Righteousness that may declare them to be righteous before Men namely a holy and blameless Life the one is the Righteousness of Justification the other is the Righteousness of Sanctification Others may have a taste of both these they may behold a Worth in and a Want of Christ's Righteousness but do not hunger after it and so accept it as a poor hunger-starved Person on Gospel-Terms and may attain to some degree of inward as well as outward Sanctification 2. These therefore taste and eat also and that too out of pure Necessity If I saith the Soul feed not upon Christ eat not his Flesh and drink not his Blood I shall perish Give me Christ or I shall die is the Voice of this sort Others take a taste as if they cared not whether they eat or eat not 3. A true Believer doth taste eat and also digest the Word 't is that which they live upon and hereby they come to have Union with Christ by Faith The Soul partakes of the Divine Nature But a common Tasting or a common Faith or a bare Credence of the Truth of the Gospel doth not do this which the Persons in our Text only had 4. The good Word of God is to all true Christians as their necessary Food nay esteemed more or above their necessary Food as Job experienced it therefore to these the Word and God in the Word Christ in the Word is exceeding sweet How sweet is Food to a hungry Person O says the Soul the Lord is good his Word is good his Promises and his Ordinances are exceeding good I can relish the Word of God I esteem it above Gold it is also sweeter than Honey or the Honey-comb I have an appetite to it O how love I thy Law it is my Meditation all the Day This discovers to us the goodness of our Condition when there is nothing that we value or esteem love and delight in above God's Word Thy Words were found and I did eat them and thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my Heart He did not taste only but did eat and greedily digest the Word also 4. The Word of God without the God of the Word will not satisfy these Mens Souls 't is not a bare Ordinance no no but they must have God in and with the Ordinance 't is not the Shell without the Kernel it is not the Cabinet without the Jewel it is not a Lamp without Oil that will satisfy the wise Virgins Prayer and Preaching will not do with these though they pray and hear every Day except they meet with God and Christ in those Duties the Word and Ordinances without Christ are but like dry Bread and lean Meat that have but little Juice or Nourishment in them they must be delighted with Fatness knowing it is such things God has prepared for them Eat ye that which is good and let your Soul delight it self in Fatness they eat it appears to full satisfaction Others labour for that which satisfies not but of all true Believers David saith They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fat things of thy House and thou shalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures And in another place saith he My Soul shall be satisfied as with Marrow and Fatness and my Soul shall praise thee with joyful Lips 5. That which true Believers taste and eat is turned into Spiritual Nourishment in the Heart And in order to this 1. There is required a laying up the Word or hiding of it No Nourishment can be had by Food unless it be received into the Stomach where the Cause of Digestion and Communication are fix'd And if the Word be not received into the Heart by fixed Meditation and Delight it may affect and please a Person for a while but it will not nourish the Soul 2. Every Physician will tell you that Food must be mixed and incorporated with the digestive Humour Power and Faculty of the Stomach whereinsoever it consists or it will not nourish Give a Man never so much Food if there be any noxious Humour in the Stomach hindering it from mixing with the Power of Digestion saith a worthy Writer it will no ways profit the Person But the Word preached did not profit them not being mix'd with Faith in them that heard it Meat nourishes not without Concoction so unless the Soul receives and digests the Word through Faith so that the Word and the Heart are united together all is nothing but a bare taste will never do this And 3. Like as Food when it is well digested is turned into Flesh and Blood and Spirits so where a Person feeds on the Word by Faith or eats and digests it it is turned into a Principle of Life and spiritual Strength As some Men who have for want of Food been brought so low and faint that they were ready to die away but by feeding on good Food and digesting it soon perceive a renewing of their Strength Life and Vigour seems to return to them again so by feeding on the Word the Strength of the Soul abides it communicates abiding Strength Faith and Experience and 't is hereby the Soul grows Day by Day and his Love to God is increased and by the Power of it he walks with God in Holiness and Lowliness of Mind and brings forth all the Fruits of the Spirit like as the Ground bringeth forth by the Showers of Heaven Herbs meet for him by whom it is dressed 4. These are delighted and cheared by the Word as in a Banquet of Wine and get great Power over their Corruptions But such a tasting and eating as this and such blessed Effects of the Word on the Soul did the Persons never attain unto who are said in our Text to have tasted the good Word of God c. Evident it is that the Apostle clearly notes concerning the Persons in my Text that whatsoever taste they might have of the Doctrine of the Gospel called the Heavenly Gift or of the good Word of God yet they were fruitless Souls even like the Earth that the Rain falls upon and yet brings forth Briars and Thorns See ver 7 8. APPLICATION 1. Learn from hence the deplorable Condition of all such who satisfy themselves with the meer Notion of Truth and empty Speculations about it without getting so much as such a taste of the goodness of the Word which may be had by those who are not savingly renewed How many thousands are there at this Day that do not desire so much as a taste of heavenly Things their Hearts are so filled and glutted with the things of this World nay with their abominable and filthy Lusts 2. But for the Lord's Sake take heed you rest not satisfied with a bare taste of heavenly Things or with some seeming relish thereof Such indeed may not be far from the Kingdom of Heaven But alas alas if they
Wrath it is inconceivable Wrath as God's Love and Goodness is inconceivable infinite incomprehensible which all that love him shall partake of to Eternity so on the other hand his Wrath and vindictive Vengeance is unexpressible nay inconceivable which will be let out upon the Ungodly Who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power Mark it from the Glory of his Power from the Greatness of God's Power exalted Power O it appears to be amazing Wrath were this considered well and laid to Heart 4. It will be unmixt Wrath or Wrath without Mixture the Wrath of God that is let out here in this World is full of Mixture nay that which hath been let out upon the Spirits and Consciences of Men hath had some mixture in it some Ease mixt with Anguish some mitigation of Pain and Horror some Mercy mixt with Misery but in Hell the Wrath of God is unmixed Wrath it is all pure Wrath nothing but Wrath. The same shall drink of the Wine of God's Wrath which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation and he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone c. 5. It is fierce Wrath it is called the fierce Wrath of the Lord a Metaphor taken from a fierce and amazing devouring Fire Sinners are commanded to seek the Lord before the Decree bring forth before the Day pass as the Chaff before the fierce Anger of the Lord come upon them I he Heat of Anger inraged Anger and Fury Behold the Day of the Lord cometh cruel both with Wrath and fierce Anger 6. It is irresistable Wrath no withstanding it no making Head against it Wrath breaks forth against the Sinner like a Giant or mighty Army that none can resist nor stand before Who can stand before his Indignation and who can abide the fierceness of his Anger his Fury is poured out like Fire c. 7. It is just and deserved VVrath Wrath that is due to such who slight and neglect so great Salvation it is the Wages of Sin of such Sin it is their just Due and Desert as Wages are due to a Servant Every one says With-hold not from the Hireling his Wages A Servant when he hath done his Work must be paid his Wages it is right and just that he should have it so it is Right and Justice in God thus to reward all those who abuse his Mercy and neglect his Salvation so great Salvation God will proportionate every Man's Reward according to the nature and degree of his Sin 8. It is heavy Wrath David complained of the Heaviness of his Sin Alas it was no doubt as Mr. Caryl notes from the Apprehension of the Anger and Wrath of God Mine Iniquities are gone over my Head as a heavy Burden they are too heavy for me I have offended thee I fear thy Displeasure my Sin deserves thy Wrath but tho there are Mountains of Iniquity upon unconverted Sinners they feel no Weight they make light of it they sport at it but when Wrath comes once to be laid upon them they will feel how heavy that is who can bear this Burden or stand under this Weight When Wrath was laid upon our Blessed Saviour how heavy did he find it it made him sweat great drops of Blood it almost crushed him down unto the Earth one Sin is heavy and if God lay the Weight I mean the Guilt of it upon the Soul it will crush it down to Hell O then what a Weight will that be which will lie upon Sinners when the Burden or Weight of all their Sins are laid upon them and none to take that Weight off of them for ever how low will it sink them 9. It is eternal Wrath everlasting Wrath Wrath that will never cease They shall be punished with everlasting Destruction He shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of his holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb and the Sincke of their Torment ascendeth up for ever and ever O what a wosul Condition will all those be in that God lets out such Wrath upon How lamentable is and will be their State who neglect this so great Salvation Can you think of these things you that slight the Offers of God's Grace in Jesus Christ and not tremble APPLICATION 1. O what a Mercy have they obtained that are delivered from such Wrath such heavy Wrath As no Man is able to bear the Wrath of God so no Man is able to get away from it when it hath took hold of him he cannot escape from that which he cannot endure Alas the Devils themselves shall be tormented with all Unbelievers and they cannot escape with all their Powers of Darkness and indeed this will add to the Torment of the Wicked I mean to be yoked in Hell-Torments with such Companions to be forced to abide for ever with Devils who perhaps will add then to their Misery and aggravate their 〈◊〉 by upbraiding them with their Folly in believing him who was 〈◊〉 Father of Lies and to contemn so great Salvation for the sake oâ— very Vanity for the love to Sin or love to the transitory Pleasures and Riches of this evil World 2. We may also from hence see cause to admire the Love of Jesus Christ who bore the Wrath of God for us Certainly had not he had the Power of the Deity to uphold him he could not have born that Wrath that was so heavy upon him O love and honour this blessed Saviour who hath saved you that believe from such Wrath His Blood hath quenched this flaming Fire so that you shall never feel what the Wrath of God is Brethren remember we could not be delivered from the Wrath of God unless Jesus Christ did bear it in our stead even Jesus who delivered us from Wrath to come our Jonas was thrown into the Sea of Wrath to save us from sinking down to the bottom of eternal Wrath. 3. And may not this stir you up that are ungodly Persons to flee from Wrath to come Why do you stand making a Pause as it were O haste to Jesus Christ come to him for that is the way and the only way as you have heard to be delivered from Wrath. You know not how near you are to fall under the Wrath of God and then it will be too late God gives you space to repent and to take hold of his Salvation you will Sinners have no Excuse no Plea in the great Day if you neglect the Day of your Visiâ—ation and slight the Offers of God's Infinite Grace and Favour Can you bear the Wrath of God Are you willing to try how heavy it is We read of an eternal Weight of Glory that will be a good Weight not a burdensome Weight not an oppressing Weight it is called a Weight of Glory because of the Greatness of it the Excellency of it But know as there
accounted all things as loss or as nothing for the Excellency of Jesus Christ his Lord. 4. Doth Jesus Christ rule and reign in thee by his Spirit He that hath Christ in him may feel his ruling Power and that he by his Spirit hath spoiled the ruling and predominating Power of Sin every evil Habit in the Heart and Life of such being broke 5. Moreover if Christ is in thee and thou by Faith art in him then thou art a new Creature This the Apostle positively doth assert Therefore if any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new Such have new Understandings or are renewed in their Understandings Wills and Affections they have also new Thoughts new Love new Fears new Joy new Desires new Companions and new Conversations all things with such are become new Lastly And to conclude with all I shall say from this Text here is also Matter and Cause of Comfort and great Consolation to all Believers to all who have a part in this Salvation I need not shew you which way this appears for every one that hath heard what a kind of Salvation it is may easily infer from thence that all that have a part in it are happy for ever 't is a great and glorious Salvation Remember what you are delivered from by it and what you are raised up unto by it and also that it is a sure and certain Salvation no Enemy no Sin no Devil can dispossess you of it if you are Believers and have received the Earnest thereof which is the Holy Spirit by which also you are sealed to the Day of Redemption Therefore it remains that you endeavour to shew forth the Praises of him who hath called you out of Darkness into his marvelous Light and hath given you a true sight of and interest in this great Salvation wrought by Jesus Christ To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be Glory Honour and Praise now and for ever Amen FINIS A. Access FREE access to the Father an Effect of Christ's Death Pag. 262 Accompany What those things are that do accompany Salvation 323 366 Adoption Adoption a glorious Privilege 417 Afflictions Afflictions compared to a Refiner's Fire 17 Afflictions Christ's Fan 17 Aggravation The Aggravations of Sin opened in ten Particulars 356 All. Christ died not eternally to save all Men proved 248 to 256 Christ in some sense did die for all universally or for every individual Person 256 Angels Angels pry into our Salvation 433 Angels great understanding yet learn by Experience of the Church 434 Arian Heresy what 85 Arminianism Arminianism detected 146 147 Arminianism again detected 158 Arminianism further detected 228 to 256 Attributes All the Attributes glorified equally in our Salvation by Jesus Christ 372 All the holy Attributes united together in Christ to save Believers 247 All the Attributes of God in Arms to cut down such who neglect the Salvation of the Gospel 467 468 B. Backbiting a notorious Evil such may be guilty of Murder 7 Baptizing is dipping 132 Baptism of great use to Believers 133 Beguiled Christ's Sheep may be beguiled by Deceivers how far 89 90 Blood unlawful to be eaten The whole World forbid to eat it because it is the Life of the Creature Pag. 256 Business The Salvation of our Souls the chief Business we have to mind whilst in this World shewed in many Particulars 441 442 443 C. Cease Such who are begotten and born of God cannot cease being his Children 214 Chaff Why false or hypocritical Professors are compared to Chaff shewed in six things from p. 18 to 25 Who are Chaff from p 18 to 25 Charity Ministers should exercise Charity towards such Christians that seem dull and drowsy 322 Child John Child's Sin what 48 Some Passages of his Desparation 48 49 50 He hang'd himself 51 Children The happy State of being the Children of God born of God 222 to 227 How God's Children are known 219 220 Christ Christ is God and Man wherefore 93 94 Christ coequal to the Father 380 Christ the express Image of the Father's Person 368 How Christ is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God 273 274 Condition Conditional Christ not a Conditional Redeemer 251 The Condition that Arminians say the Creature is to perform is impossible 250 251 252 Their Conditional Redemption no Redemption at all 250 251 252 253 254 It renders Salvation not free or wholly by Grace 151 Cornelius not saved without Faith in Christ tho his Prayers are said to be heard 385 Curse of the Law remains on all Unbelievers 474 D. Darkness Hell a Place of utter Darkness Pag. 5 Dead Man naturally dead 145 How Men may know they are spiritually dead or dead in Sin 146 Death The Nature of natural Death 145 Natural and Spiritual Death compared 145 146 Death of Christ secures the Saints Final Perseverance 235 Christ suffered Death in our stead 239 Dear How a dear Child of God may be known 219 220 Despair a great Sin 449 455 456 Utter Despair will add to the Damneds Misery 61 Devil The Devil the Cause of Sinners spiritual Blindness 445 The Devil will torment the Damned by upbraiding them 61 Devils and wicked Men tormented together 62 Discipline The Fan of Church Discipline twofold 13 14 15 E. Effect 1. Appeasing God's Wrath an Effect of Christ's Death 257 2. Reconciliat an Effect of Christ's Death 258 3. The Holy Spirit as given to the Elect an Effect of Christ's Death 259 4. Adoption an Effect of Christ's Death 262 5. Pardon of Sin an Effect of Christ's Death and Satisfaction 262 6. Free Access to the Throne of Grace an Effect of Christ's Death 262 7. Redemption an Effect of Christ's Death 262 8. Justification an Effect of Christ's Death 263 9. Sanctification an Effect of Christ's Death 263 10. Glorification an Effect of Christ's Death 265 First Effect of Christ's Death in us by the Spirit is Life 267 Second Light Conviction 267 Christ's Death shall have its Effect on all for whom he died like as a Corn of Wheat that is sown will have its Effect 253 Elect Election There is Election of Grace Personal Election proved 170 171 172 c. Christ the Head of Election 170 Election secures the Saints Final Perseverance 172 177 178 179 181 182 Envy a great Sin 7 Essentials What the Essentials of Christianity are 85 86 Every Man doth not intend oft-times all and every individual Person in the World 299 Eutychians What the Eutychian Heresy is 85 F. Faith Justifying Faith is a reliance on Christ A full perswasion that Christ is mine not essential to the being of Faith 420 Of a direct Act of Faith 420 A general Faith to believe Christ died for all therefore for me not to be valued and may be a false Faith 268 Fall Fallings Saints may fall foully 162 Causes of the Saints Fallings 164 165 166 167 Falling from Grace No final falling from Grace proved
deceitfulness of their own Hearts 'T is slighted out of an Opinion or Perswasion that all is well with them They believe in Christ hope in God's Mercy Christ say they died for Sinners And thus the Devil and their own deceived Hearts cause them to neglect seeking out after the saving Knowledg of Christ and Salvation by him on Gospel-Terms for Sin predominates in them reigns in them notwithstanding all their Hopes and Confidence What signifies such Faith that does not purify the Heart and Life or such Hope Alas it will be but like the Spider's Web vain Thoughts rest in those and destroy them vain in their Rise vain as to the Ground they build their Hopes upon a vain Bottom vain as to the Motive and vain as to the Fruit or Product thereof they think they have hold of Salvation yet are dropping into Hell 6. Some neglect the Salvation of the Gospel partly out of servile and slavish Fear and partly out of pretended Modesty they dare not be so bold to take hold of Christ or venture their Souls on Christ because they are so vile filthy and abominable unless they had something to bring something to present to Christ to render them acceptable or welcome to him they will not come they pretend they dare not come they can't think so great Salvation should be bestow'd freely on such as they are if they could be rid of their Sins or wash themselves from their Sins then they would come or could they get themselves some new Clothes make themselves a new Heart or get some inherent Righteousness of their own then they would come Sad Case but it is no wonder some are carried away with this Delusion considering what a kind of Doctrine is preached in these perilous Times But Sinner know thou must come to Christ to be washed come as one that sees what need thou hast to be put into the Fountain which is set open for Sin and Uncleanness and come as one naked that Christ may clothe thee Christ calls Sinners to him may be you will say What is it to come to Christ Why to believe in him to lay hold by Faith upon him And if thou dost thus though thou art never so great a Sinner thou shalt be saved 7. Others neglect Gospel-Salvation out of Idleness and cursed Sloth 'T is a hard thing to enter in at the strait Gate Self-denial is of absolute necessity O but this is too difficult for this sort they can't pray read meditate they don't love to hear Sermons they do not care to put themselves upon Spiritual Duties as to seek the Kingdom of Heaven nay and to take it by Violence they can take pains to damn their own Souls but cannot will not take that pains they are enabled to do to save their Souls Sirs Men will not be condemned for not doing that which they had not Power to do but for neglecting that which they might have done their Destruction is of themselves though their Salvation is wholly of God and of the free Grace of God in Jesus Christ Have not Men Power to leave all gross Acts of Wickedness and to attend upon the Means of Salvation They who say we put the Creature to do nothing falsly charge us we press Men to leave their wicked Practices upon a right foot of Account and to wait upon God in his Blessed Ordinances which he has appointed for the begetting of Faith True we say a Man can't change his own Heart yet he may leave the gross Acts of Sin 't is one thing to have the Life reformed and another to have the Heart renewed 'T is the changing the vicious Habits or the Work of Regeneration which we say must be done by God's Almighty Power Grace must be infused into the Soul which works physically 8. Moreover it is through Pride in some that they neglect this great Salvation they have such a good Opinion of their own Righteousness they cannot see they have any need of the Righteousness of Christ they are such that our Saviour speaks of And he spoke a Parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were Righteous and despised others These are so conceited of themselves that through pride of what they have got of their own they regard not an imputed Righteousness to justify them Man naturally affecteth to stand by a Righteousness of his own Adam was a rich Man a noble Man he had enough of his own to live upon and his Sons retain a proud Spirit like some Sons of a decayed Gentleman their Father was a Knight a Lord and they are great in their own Conceit though their Cloak perhaps is nothing but Patches they scorn to beg or to dig no they will sooner steal and stand on the High-way Proud Man doth thus in a spiritual Sense he will not beg he will not go to Christ's Door for Bread he will rather steal and rob Christ of his Honour in their Salvation by seeking it some other Way even in an unlawful Way this is no better than a spiritual robbing Jesus Christ of having the whole Glory and Honour of the Salvation of the Soul and yet they do not enrich themselves hereby neither it is but only in conceit they fancy themselves rich and trust in their own Righteousness as if it were choice Treasure when it is nothing but filthy Rags which they pride themselves in and boast of 11. It is through Unbelief this Salvation is neglected Men believe not The grand Neglect centers here this is the killing Evil the Sin of all Sins the Plague of all Plagues I consider Unbelief in general not only as it is a non-reception of Christ not believing in Christ not accepting of Christ but as it is a denying to give Credit to the Revelation of God and of what he declares in his Word 1. They do not believe Salvation ought to be the main Business of their Lives which they should regard and seek after above all things it being the one thing needful yea more than Meat Drink Clothes Wives Children Health Credit Riches Honours Pleasures or Life it self 2. They do not believe that Sin is the greatest Evil nor that God is Man's supreme and chiefest Good wherein his only Happiness lies 3. They do not believe that such is the Holiness Justice Wrath and Severity of God that he will throw Sinners into Hell although he positively declares in his â—ord that he will do it except they believe repent and forsake their abominable Ways yet they doubt not of their Salvation though they are perhaps Swearers Drunkards unclean Persons proud Persons covetous or perverse Wretches 4. They will not believe what the woful End of all Unbelievers and Unregenerate Persons will be 5. They will not believe that they are in a spiritual Sense brought to utter Beggary being Sons of a Beggar that spent all he had 6. They will not believe though it is told them again and again that they are blind miserable