past Christ's Death hath glorious Effects as the Apostle shews For if the Blood of Bulls and Goats and Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the Flesh how much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself to God purge your Consciences from dead Works to serve the living God To talk of Christ's Death and see no Effects of it alas what 's that All that Christ died for shall see and feel too its Glorious Effects and Operations upon their Souls and Consciences though the Sacrifice be over the Virtue and excellent Causality of it abides for ever Ninthly Christ by his Death redeemeth his People from all Iniquity and this was his End in dying What signifies such a Redemption that leaves a poor Slave in his Chains and Irons without procuring a Release for him In this lies the Glory of our Redemption by Christ 't is not only from the Curse of the Law and Wrath of God but from a vain Conversation also See the Apostle's Words Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works If this was his End and Design in his Death do any think he will see himself frustrated in it Shall any Enemy of the Soul bring Christ under a Disappointment Compare this with 1 Pes. 1. 17 18 19. Tenthly and Lastly Jesus Christ hath by his Death purchased Eternal Redemption or Everlasting Life for all his Sheep and by his Spirit hath also given to them the Earnest of it therefore his Death preserves them to Salvation In whom ye also trusted after ye heard the Word of Truth the Gospel of your Salvation in whom also after ye believed ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise which is the Earnest of our Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased Possession unto the Praise of his Glory Now I should come to speak more particularly to the Effects of the Death of Christ and inlarge upon some things that I have but a little touched upon but that I must leave until the next Time and shall only speak something by way of Improvement of this Argument APPLICATION First To you that are Believers O praise and bless God for a Crucified Saviour What in Heaven and Earth is cause of greater Wonder and Admiration Christ's Death is the meritorious Cause of all Spiritual and Eternal Joy and Comfort all Grace flows out of the Wounds the Spear and Nailâ— made in his Blessed Body and from the Death and Pangs his Soul underwent Nothing is a greater Evidence of Christ's Love to us than the Death of his Cross 2. Apply his Blood draw Virtue from his Blood fly to his Death see how that stands to save thee from the Justice and Wrath of God in his Death is thy Hope and Succour when pursued by Satan and under all Temptations 3. Triumph in the Cross of Christ thou O Child of God wast crucified with Christ thy Sins were punished in him and thou art acquitted in him and raised in him O labour to know Christ and him crucified Labour to know him and the Power of his Death and the Fellowship of his Sufferings c. 4. And as to you Sinners is not here Ground of Hope for you Christ died for the chiefest of Sinners And whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting Life But wo to such who slight this bleeding Saviour that sin because Grace hath abounded or that make the Death of Christ an Incouragement to them to continue in Sin Tush say some trouble not your self with me Christ died for Sinners O Souls will you crucify Christ again I tell you if you do not feel the Effects of his Death in vain is all your present Hope 5. This may serve also to detect such and severely to reprehend them that say Christ died to save all or for all and every Man and Woman in the World Brethren if he died for all that is in the Stead and Room of all then all shall be saved God will not condemn such whom Christ laid down his Life for or in the place or stead of as I have proved from God's Word But further to detect this Error of General Redemption 1. Consider that Redemption is a Word easy to understand it is the saving of a Person that is in Slavery or Captivity commonly procured or obtained by a Price paid or a Ransom but if the Person is indeed redeemed he is set at Liberty To say a Man is redeemed and yet left in Chains and strong Bonds out of which he cannot come unless the Redeemer break those Chains and Bonds to pieces is to speak untruly or in plain English a Lie Now are all Men redeemed Redemption cannot be more universal than it is in Matter of Fact If ten Men were in Slavery in Argiers and a Sum of Money was paid to redeem them and yet after all care is not taken to make that Ransom to be effectual for their Redemption but six or seven of them are left in Captivity can any Man say all the ten were redeemed out of that Slavery and Thraldom wherein they are held Even so it is here for Men to say that the Redemption by Christ is for all the World and yet the greatest part of Mankind lie in Bonds under the Power of Sin and Satan and have not the Death of Christ made effectual to them is a great Mistake and indeed not true as to Matter of Fact 2. Are we redeemed only from the Curse of the Law and from the Wrath of God and are we not also redeemed from Sin and from being under the Power of Satan That Redemption that is by Christ is you hear from all Iniquity and are all so redeemed The Apostle Peter saith Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from a vain Conversation but with the precious Blood of Jesus Christ c. So many as are and shall be redeemed from all Iniquity from a vain Conversation or whom Christ hath redeemed from the Power of Satan he setting them at Liberty who naturally are bound and bringing them out of the Prison-House so many and no more did he die for and no further doth Redemption by Christ extend 3. If there are many left in the Enemies Hand and under their Power and eternally perish then there is no general or universal Redemption but there are Multitudes so left and perish 4. That Grace Love and blessed Price that doth not procure Universal Salvation is not cannot be an Universal Redemption But God never shewed such Grace and Love by the Price of Christ's Blood that doth procure Universal Salvation therefore there is no Universal Redemption for that Price or Paiment which doth not actually pass or terminate in Salvation is no Redemption at all an Attempt to redeem unless it be
doubt of that And if you can make it appear that he so died for us as you affirm namely in the room or stead of all his Elect then your Argument is not to be answered Answ I answer That Jesus Christ did not suffer Death for our Good only but in our room or stead also I shall prove and make clearly to appear 1. This Notion if you will so call it of Christ dying for us must denote his dying in our stead because it is so always generally taken when one Person is said to die for another one is condemned and another dies for him that is in his Room to save the guilty Person from Death And should not this be granted we should be all confounded and not know either what Men or the Scripture means when they say such a Man such a Person died for another or for others when the Person for whom that great Love and Favour was shewed to was as a Criminal and condemned to die which moved his Friend or Surety to step in and suffer the Penalty for him or in his stead Now it was so here we were all Criminals guilty of the highest Treason against the God of Heaven and were by the holy Law of our offended Soveraign condemned to die and to bear Eternal Wrath and our Blessed Saviour was chosen in our room and given up as an Act of the Father's Infinite Love and Favour and as an Act of no less Love Favour and Compassion in Christ to die for us and to satisfy Divine Justice for us or to bear the Punishment we were to have born and must had not he born it for us for ever 2. Is it not plainly foretold that the Messiah should be cut off but not for himself Now since he had no Sin of his own and yet was cut off for Sin it follows he was put in our Place and stood charged with our Guilt or Debt and so was penally cut off he was cut off for us to save us from Divine Wrath and Vengeance It was not for himself it was not for the fallen Angels it was therefore for us that we might not die but live eternally 3. Pray Brethren see what our Saviour saith upon this Account Greater Love hath no Man than this that a Man lay down his Life for his Friends Can this Expression intend any thing more or less than in the room or stead of his Friend or die for them Thus Christ died Even the Just for the Vnjust the Just in the place or stead of the Unjust or us the guilty Persons Hereby perceive we the Love of God Because he laid down his Life for us we ought to lay down our Life for the Brethren These Texts fully prove the Notion He that lays down his Life for his Brother or dies for the Brethren dies in their stead to save them from Death as some have done For scarcely for a righteous Man will one die yet peradventure for a good Man some would even dare to die But God commendeth his Love towards 〈◊〉 in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us Now then seeing Christ underwent Death and bore that Punishment that was due for Sins and there being no Cause in himself why he should suffer that Pain and Penalty it unavoidably follows that it was because he stood in our Place charged with our Offences 4. Again it must be thus taken and understood because it is said The Lord laid on him the Iniquity of us all Our Sins were made to meet in him He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities It was not by Christ's praying and interceding to the Father for us to forgive us our Iniquities No no that was not enough it was his dying for them He bore our Sins in his own Body on the Tree He prayed again and again but that Cup could not pass by if we are delivered and saved from our Sins he must die nay his Soul must be made an Offering for Sin 5. That Christ died in our stead will further appear because he was made Sin for us that knew no Sin He bore the Sins of many that is the Punishment of them Our Sins were charged upon him though he had no Sin of his own in a moral Sense but was pure from all Iniquity yet in a judicial Sense he was made Sin as he was constituted and put in the Sinner's Place dying and making Satisfaction in our stead as our blessed Head and Surety And how frivolous is the Cavil of the Socinians who would have it be understood where it is said Christ was made Sin that he was accounted a Sinner by wicked Men. This cannot be the meaning of the Place because as he was made Sin for us that knew no Sin so it was that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him Do wicked Men account Believers to be made the Righteousness of God in him Or does not God look upon us or count us in him so to be 6. But why is it said by the Holy Ghost But when the fulness of Time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law c. Had he not stood in our Law-place why is it thus expressed Certainly God saw it necessary to substitute him and to accept of him in our stead and therefore he was made under the Law i. e. he was obliged to keep the Law perfectly for us God requiring that of us in order to Justification which we being fallen were not able to do therefore he did it for us and in our Nature being made of a Woman he took our Nature upon him and suffered Death making a full and compleat Satisfaction for our Breach thereof whose Sufferings and Obedience upon the account of his being God as well as Man had an infinite Worth and Merit in them And if this which the Apostle saith in this place doth not prove that he suffered in our room I must confess I know nothing of this great Gospel-Mystery 7. That he suffered not only for our Good or Profit but also in our room and stead doth further appear because it is said He died for our Sins Who was delivered for our Offences and rose again for our Justification This Particle saith a Learned Man joined with an Accusative doth generally signify the impulsive Cause and not final Mat. 10. 22. 13. 5. 14. 9. John 20. 19. 2 Cor. 4. 11. And particularly when it is used in reference to Sufferings it hath that signification and no other see Levit. 26. 18 28. Deut. 28. 11. 2 Kings 23. 26. Jer. 13. 22. John 10. 32. In all these Places it necessarily signifies the Meritorious and Impulsive Cause and nowise the Final for our Offences must needs be understood that our Offences were the Meritorious and Impulsive Cause of Christ's Sufferings Another Particle the Holy
a godly Life therefore is in Christ Jesus and shall be saved 12. It is also by the Holy Spirit that Believers are sealed unto the Day of Redemption Also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise Strange Can these fall away Can such perish that have received the Earnest of Heaven and have the Witness of the Spirit and have it sealed to them No no God hath put his Seal or Mark upon them he by his Seal hath secured them to and for himself and all this is the Effects of Christ's Death and Resurrection 13. The Spirit also thus purchased by Christ's Death and given as the Fruits and Effects thereof to Believers the Promise of the Father is that it shall abide with them for ever it is the great Promise made to Christ in the Covenant My Spirit which is upon thee shall not depart from thee nor from thy Seed henceforth and for ever See the Words Isa 59. 21. there is the Promise of the Father it is an absolute Promise and it runs thus it shall be in Christ and in his Seed henceforth and for ever The Spirit is called the Promise of the Father Also we have a Promise of the constant abiding of the Spirit in all Believers made by Christ the second Person in the Trinity he told his Disciples The Spirit of Truth the Comforter should abide with them and be in them forever Unto these add the Testimony of the Holy Ghost himself for it is he that doth in the Word assure us of his own abiding with us he hath chosen our Souls to be his own Temple and Habitation for ever and also assures us That all the Promises are in Christ yea and amen to the Glory of God So that we have this great Truth sealed and confirmed to us by the Three that bear witness in Heaven Fourthly Pardon of Sin is another Effect and Fruit of the Death of Christ In whom we have Redemption through his Blood that is as the Effects of his Blood even the Forgiveness of Sin True Jesus Christ satisfied God's Justice for our Sins he paid our Debts it is not Remission without a Satisfaction but yet we are freely forgiven we have it of God's Free Grace but it is through the Blood of Christ Remission of our Sins follows Redemption as the necessary Effects thereof Christ hath procured this Favour and Blessing for us and Gospel-Remission or Pardon of Sin is for ever I will remember their Sins no more they are blotted out for ever he hath cast our Sins into the Depth of the Sea put them behind his Back yea he hath put them far away from him as the East is from the West Fifthly Adoption is the Fruit and Effect of Christ's Death He hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons God takes us through Christ or by virtue of Christ's Death into the Relation of Sons which Privilege we have for ever we shall never cease being Sons and Daughters of God Sixthly Free Access to the Throne of Grace or unto the Father is the Effect of Christ's Death Having therefore Brethren boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus by a new and living Way which he hath consecrated for us through the Vail that is to say his Flesh Christ's Blood His Death opened this Way it is by him we have access to the Throne of Grace Seventhly Another Fruit and Effect of the Death of Christ is Redemption from all Iniquity He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity c. Tit. 2. 14. Therefore this Glorious Effect his Death shall have upon all Redeemed Ones it was not to redeem only from the Curse of the Law as some talk but from the Guilt Pollution Power and Punishment of Sin therefore Believers shall never perish Eighthly Justification is also another Effect of the Death and Resurrection of Christ which is to acquit absolve and to pronounce us Righteous in God's Sight God accepting us Righteous by the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness which is ever the same Now Christ's Death being the Meritorious Cause thereof we are said to be justified by his Blood Rom. 5. 9. And pray see the Apostle's Argument from hence Much more then being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from Wrath through him It is more to be reconciled and justified than it is to be saved such are justified and Christ's Blood having done the former will much more effect the latter those that Christ justifies he will glorify nay and his Death and Resurrection cannot be without this Effect And by him all that believe are justified from all things c. The Word Justified is opposed to Condemnation those that are justified are justified for ever Justification is not a gradual Act as Sanctification is it results not as the Fruits of our Repentance or inherent Holiness but as the Fruits of Christ's Death and Merits it is never less nor more as our Holiness cannot add any thing to it so the Sins and Infirmities of true Believers cannot diminish any thing from it there may be additions to our inherent Sanctification but not to our Justification Christ rose again for our Justification I may also challenge all the Men in the World to prove that any Man that was justified in the sight of God did ever fall away and come under Condemnation Ninthly Sanctification is another Effect of the Death of Christ You may again read that Text Heb. 9. 13 14. Christ died not only to justify Believers but to sanctify them also Object But some may say A Man may be sanctified and yet be defiled again We read of some that escaped the Pollution of the World through the Knowledg of Christ yet were again entangled and overcome Answ 1. If any sincere Christian be defiled again through any Sin or Corruption they shall be washed and cleansed again 2. Those that Peter speaks of were such that only had escaped gross Pollution through the common Operations of the Spirit it appears their swinish Nature was never changed he therefore saith It is happened to them according to the true Proverb The Dog it turned to his Vomit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire Such therefore never were sanctified in Heart they never experienced the Effects of Christ's Blood not that Soul-purifying Virtue that is in it they were cleansed from gross Idolatry through the Knowledg of Christ and also from some gross Acts of Prophaneness they had obtained a reformed but no renewed Life of Grace and Holiness therefore such fall into Sin again and are so overcome that the latter End is worse with them than the Beginning As to true Believers see what the Apostle says For by one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified By this one Offering our Lord Jesus hath procured our Sanctification
as ever Hand here and so in my Text by a Synecdoche is put for Strength or Power So also Isa 50. 2. Is my Hand shortned at all that it cannot redeem or have I not Power to deliver Behold at my Rebuke I dry up the Sea I make the Rivers a Wilderness c. Read the next Words following my Text My Father which gave them me is greater than all and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's Hand Secondly By the Hand of the Father may denote God's Eternal Purpose or his Counsel for Hand sometimes is put for the Purpose or Counsel of God To do whatsoever thy Hand and thy Counsel determined to do And if it may thus be taken here then this may be the Sense of it viz. All the Elect all the Sheep and Lambs of Christ are by God's Eternal Purpose and Counsel ordained to Eternal Life and none can pluck them out of his Election or change his Purpose For like as the Death of Christ was determined by the Hand or Counsel of God so were the Effects thereof I mean what Persons should be saved thereby even all and every one of them that he had given unto his Son as he is Mediator The Design and Purpose of God by Jesus Christ was to save all the Elect and the End and Design of Christ's Death cannot be frustrated they are in God's Hand that is it is his Purpose and Counsel to save them and his Counsel shall stand and he will do all his Pleasure 1. All the Counsels of God then from Eternity and all his Promises and Declarations that hold forth those Counsels having a special Relation to Christ's dying for his People and their actual Salvation must and shall have their absolute Accomplishment for the End of a thing is that for which the thing it self is And had it not been for that the thing had never been at all it being that the chief Agent principally aimed at and purposed to bring about 2. Therefore the Salvation of Christ's Saints must be certain from the consideration of the Immutability of God in which the Perfection of his Divine Nature shines forth and requireth a correspondent Affection of all the Internal and External Acts of his Mind and Will 3. From his Soveraignty in making good and executing all his Purposes which will not admit of any Mixtures of Consults as among Men the Lord may do what he will with his Creatures we are but as Clay in his Hand and such as he will make Vessels of Honour who shall contradict him or resist his Will Shall any change God's Mind or render his Thoughts liable to Alteration Also is it not from his Sovereign and Distinguishing Grace to some that makes the Apostle break out O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledg of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out 4. If we consider how his absolute Purposes doth excite his Omnipotency to the actual accomplishing of them who can once suppose any one Believer should miscarry The Lord of Hosts hath sworn saying Surely as I have thought so shall it come to pass and as I have purposed so shall it stand As God is able to do whatsoever he hath purposed so we may assure our selves there is nothing that shall fail which is according to his determinate Counsel He is of one Mind and who can turn him 5. And what Folly and unreasonable Incredulity is it once to imagine there should be any manner of suspending the Acts and Purposes of the Will of God upon any actings of the Creatures whatsoever seeing it cannot be done without subjecting Eternity to Time and the Will of Man to the Will of God or the First Cause to the Second the Lord to the Servant 6. Now then seeing God hath taken the Salvation of his Elect into his own Hand Power and Eternal Purpose and hath been at such vast Expence of Rich Treasure in order to the accomplishing of his great Design herein who can imagine that any one of his Saints should miss of Everlasting Life Suppose a Prince should have a wonderful Project in Hand which he carries on with the Advice of his Council to make so many of his Subjects that his Love and Affections are let out upon Great and Happy on Earth and in doing of which should expend all or the greatest part of his own Riches nay sacrifice his own Son Would he after all if he could help it suffer his Design to miscarry in the Advancement of any one of them Or should a most wise and cunning Artist contrive a curious Piece of Workmanship which might cost him thousands it being his whole Work and taking up all his Time for forty or fifty Years to bring it to Perfection suppose it be a rare Piece of Clock-work would he suffer any one part of it to be disjointed from the rest by an Enemy whilst he look'd on if he could prevent it or were it in the Power of his Hand Alas what are all the râ—rest the richest or most curious Things in Nature that are or ever have been in the World to this Work of God in the Redemption and Salvation of his Chosen Ones What Treasure hath he spent as I may say Hath it not cost him the parting with the Pearl of great Price even the breaking of it into pieces that so he might enrich and make great and glorious every one of his Elect Nay and after he hath curiously formed his own Image upon each of their Souls to the Joy and Wonder of the Holy Angels and to the Perplexity and Sorrow of Devils and this as the Contrivance of his Eternal Council will he after all think you suffer Satan to deface this his Image in the Souls of any one of them and so spoil and bring to nought part of that glorious expensive and curious Piece of his own Workmanship which was the absolute Result of his Council to compleat and deliver from miscarrying from all Eternity Now then seeing that all the Elect or all true Believers are thus in the Father's Hand viz. put under his Absolute and Eternal Decree and Purpose to save through Jesus Christ what can obstruct or hinder this God from effecting of his own Glorious Design herein To talk of Conditional Purposes concerning Perseverance saith Dr. Owen are either impossible implying Contradictions or ludicrous even to an unfitness for a Stage See the 29 th Verse My Father that gave them me is greater than all and none can pluck them out of my Father's Hand My Father as if Christ should say is equally concerned with me about my Saints Perservation and final Perseverance and they are in his Hand he hath put them into his own Power and he is greater than all he is greater than me as I am Mediator tho as God I and my Father are one tho he hath put them into my Hand as I am Mediator and their
remainders of Corruption which none but he by his Spirit can finally vanquish overcome and root out for ever And should he not pursue his Victory all he hath done will prove fruitless and in vain therefore be sure he will never cease until he hath brought all his Foes not only under his Foot but destroyed them for ever more 14. They are in Christ's Hand as a poor Orphan is in the Hand of his Guardian who commits himself wholly to his Care Faithfulness and Compassion whilst in non-age not being able to help himself or shift for himself Thus I say Believers are in the Hand of Jesus Christ they are as poor helpless Orphans under-Age and have every one of them chosen him to be the only Guardian and Trustee of their Souls or have wholly committed themselves to his Care by a holy Resignation of themselves to him to be his and no more their own for ever and will not he be faithful think you to every one of them especially considering they did it also at his Command and by the Influence of his Spirit Will he betray his Trust who hath taken them into his House and under his own Conduct or leave them to shift for themselves They first gave themselves to the Lord and unto us by the Will of God And as David saith The Poor committeth himself unto thee thou are the helper of the Fatherless He yields himself up to thee Himself his Matter his Cause And what says he further Thou shalt keep them O Lord thou shalt preserve them from this Generation and for ever He tells us in the 5 th verse who they are even the Poor and Needy Brethren this lays a great Obligation upon a Guardian when he sees what a Child or any Person hath done in chusing him in confiding in his Fidelity and putting his whole Trust and Dependence in him What Man that has a Principle of Honesty or of Morality will deceive or fail such a One after he hath taken the sole Care and Charge of him And shall Christ be more unfaithful to the Souls of his People God forbid From the whole I infer 1. If all Believers are in the Father's Hand or under his Eternal Purpose and Counsel to save 2. If God's Purposes are Immutable 3. If he hath not left it to any mixtures of Counsels if he is Omnipotent and can and will bring all his Absolute Purposes to pass 4. If it be folly to imagine any of his Purposes should be subjected to the Will of Man 5. If Christ be the right Hand of God or in whom all his Attributes are united to the Perfection of his Power to save Believers 6. If Christ also hath them all in his Hand as God's faithful Servant and as their Surety or Trustee 7. If many of them are gone to Heaven already 8. If all Interests concerned in our Salvation are well pleased in Christ's Undertaking 9. If the Glory of every one of the Divine Attributes are raised in the Salvation of each Believer 10. If Christ hath received a Charge to keep every one of them and to lose none as he hath promised to do 11. If Christ is every ways fitted to supply his Saints with all things they need or can need And 12. If they are all in Christ's Hand in all those respects I have mentioned then it is impossible any one of them should so fall away as eternally to perish But all this is undeniably true therefore not one of them can so fall away as eternally to perish I should make some Improvement of this but having but one Argument to add to prove the Proposition I shall leave the Application to the last wherein I shall shew you how Christ doth preserve his Saints in a way of Holiness and Obedience unto Eternal Life 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 though I hope I have sufficiently through Divine Assistance proved the Proposition i. e. That none of the Saints can so full away as eternally to perish Yet I shall add one General Argument more and then come to the Application and answer such Objections which I have not as yet met with Tenthly That the Saints of God or every true Believer shall persevere or hold out to the End and obtain Everlasting Life will appear from the Nature of true and saving Grace That therefore which I shall in the last place do shall be to demonstrate that true Grace though never so weak and small even like a Grain of Mustard-seed yet it shall be preserved in the Soul and at last become victorious See Matth. 12. 20. A bruised Reed shall he not break and smoaking Flax shall he not quench till he hath brought forth Judgment to Victory Hierom as I find him quoted by a Learned Author thinks that our Saviour alludes to a Musical Instrument made of a Reed which Shepherds used to have which when it was bruised sounded ill and therefore 't is flung away But the Lord Jesus Christ will not cast away a poor Soul saith that Worthy Person although he cannot make so good Musick in God's Ear as others or answer not the breathing of the Spirit with that Life and Vigour but he will take Pains with them and mend them who in a spiritual sense are like a bruised Reed broken and bruised under the sense of their Sins Weaknesses and Unworthinesses Smoaking Flax or a little Flax that hath a Spark of Fire kindled in it or a Wick of Candle wherein there is not only no Profit but some Trouble and Noisomness Tho the Soul is noisom by reason of the stench of its Corruption yet he will not blow out that expiring Fire which smoaks and though no Fire is seen yet there is Fire in it and it is kindled by the Lord and for some great and good Design By the Spark of Fire in the Flax let our Saviour refer to what he pleases is meant no doubt Divine Grace in the Soul of a poor weak and desponding Christian and this Christ will not quench that is he will tenderly cherish it and cause it to kindle more and more until he makes it flame forth and burn clearly And he will heal cure and strengthen the bruised Reed that is he will never cease until the Soul doth obtain a perfect Victory over Sin Satan the Flesh the World and over all Enemies Grace shall prevail over Corruption though there seems more Smoke than Fire more Sin than Grace more Weakness than Strength more Darkness than Light more Fear than Faith yet Grace shall be victorious Grace is that Principle of Life in the Soul the Law of God written in the Heart which shall never finally be obliterated any more or God's Image that shall not utterly be defaced Again Grace as the Seed of Glory shall abide in the Soul in spight of all the Opposition Hell can make And
said and so finish with this Text. 1. Inform. This may serve to inform and convince all Persons concerning the absolute Soveraignty of God He may save Man if he please and not Angels or may send a Saviour for some of the lost Sons of Adam and not for all Who shall say to him What dost thou If he had vouchsafed a Saviour for none of Adam's Posterity had he been unjust any more than he is in casting off for ever all the fallen Angels He called Abraham out of his own Country and revealed himself to him and let others remain then under the Power of Sin Ignorance and Idolatry calling them not He revealed himself to Isaac and rejected Ishmael he chose Jacob and refused Esau he afterwards chose the Children of Israel to be a peculiar People for himself and let all other Nations of the Earth abide in Darkness And in the Gospel-Days Christ chose a few poor Fisher-Men and refused the Learned and Wise Men after the Flesh nay and hid the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven from the Wise and Prudent and all this as an Act alone of his Soveraignty And in these days what Reason can be alledged why we and a few Nations more have the Knowledg of the Gospel when the greatest part of the Earth lie in Popish Mahometan and Pagan Darkness but that it is his good pleasure so to do He hath Mercy on whom he will have Mercy and whom he will he hardeneth 2. Praise God for the Knowledg you have of the Mysteries of Christ and the Gospel of Free-Grace Brethren next unto the Grace of God in my Conversion I have often said I do look upon my self bound to admire the Riches of God's Love and Goodness to me in opening my Eyes to see those Arminian Errors which when I was Young I had from some Men of corrupt Principles sucked in nay and when I was about 23 Years Old I wrote a little Book for Children in which some of those Errors were vindicated which after my Eyes were inlightned and the Book with Alterations being again Reprinted I left out and now do declare my dislike of the first Impressions and do disown what I there asserted When I was a Child I thought as a Child I understood as a Child as the Apostle speaks And let me intreat you to study the Nature of the Covenant of Grace for until I had that opened unto me I was ignorant of the Mysteries of the Gospel 3. O do not forget that the Design of God in contriving our Salvation in his Eternal Wisdom by Jesus Christ was wholly to advance his own Glory and the Freeness and Riches of his Grace and to abase and humble Man unto the Dust therefore be sure never err on that Hand And I think it is not easy for Men well to err on the other I mean in exalting God alone Christ alone though I deny not but that some good Men who in seeking to advance Free-Grace perhaps have erred and taken up some unsound Notions as that of Actual or Personal Justification before Faith and Actual Union with Jesus Christ O what need have we to ponder well the Paths of our Feet and not with Pride to magnify our selves or strive to promote any corrupt Notion under any Pretence whatsoever Our Days are Evil many dangerous Errors abound and it is cause of greatest Grief to see what a Generation of Men are risen up of late who strive to mix God's pure Gold with their Dross and his Wine with their Water Though on the other Hand let us bless and praise the Lord for raising up so many brave Champions in the mean time of our Brethren of the Congregational Way to defend the Gospel of God's Grace and the Truth as it is in Jesus Yet I could wish there was not so much Gall in some of them against us their Brethren who in all the great Truths of Christianity are of one Mind and Judgment and yet are exposed to Reproach for witnessing to a Truth of Christ that lies as plain in the Gospel as any one Truth or positive Precept of Christ whatsoever I mean that of Believers Baptism Why should we be censured for maintaining that Truth which the Holy Ghost so fully bears witness unto I long to see more of the Spirit of Love and Charity would to God that Chapter 1 Cor. 13. was more read and considered 4. This may also serve to reprehend such who strive to cast Reproach upon this Holy Doctrine and such that maintain it as if it tended to incourage People in Sin or open a Door to Licentiousness Let all for ever forbear such Reflections Is not this the Purport of that Doctrine which we vindicate 1. That there is wrought and preserved in the Minds and Souls of all Believers by the Holy Spirit a Supernatural Principle of Grace and Holiness whereby they are made meet and enabled to live unto God and discharge all Duties of Obedience which he requireth of them and accepteth through Christ which Principle or Habit of Grace is essentiaily distinct from all Natural Habits Intellectual and Moral however and by what Means so ever acquired or improved 2. That the Holy Spirit by his effectual Operations doth enable us according as we are required by his immediate Influences in all Acts of Obedience whether internal only in Faith and Love c. or External also even so that all the Powers of our Souls and Members of our Bodies are or ought to be in a spiritual manner governed and influenced thereby and unto all Duties of Holiness in our daily walking with God and that all this is the Effect of God's Free-Grace to us in Jesus Christ who hath communicated of the Spirit without measure to our Blessed Head and Mediator that he may give it forth to all his Saints that have Union with him and believe in him Brethren God hath circumcised the Hearts of his People to love him with all their Souls and with all their Strength He writes his Law in our Hearts as he promised I will put my Law in their inward Parts and write it in their Hearts This gracious Habit or Principle in the Soul is nothing but a Transcript of the Holy Law of God implanted and abiding in our Hearts whereby we are enabled with Chearfulness and ready Inclination of our Spirits to act in the Duties of Obedience and Holiness unto God as he requireth of us and also our Likeness and Conformity unto God doth consist herein I say it doth consist in this Divine and Sacred Principle or Spiritual Habit that is infused into the Soul it is our Spiritual Life whereby we live unto God it is the Foundation and Sum of all Internal Excellencies no Works no Duties are accepted where this Principle is not It is a Vital Principle of Holiness and it makes Religion co-natural to us Moreover it is a certain a permanent and an abiding Principle it is that Seed
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
perpetually to be continued the Death of Christ hath special influence unto the mortification of Sin in the Death of the Cross Our Old Man is crucified that the Body of Sin might be destroyed Sin is mortified and we are sanctified by virtue of the Death of Christ and we hereby through his Grace come to be planted into the Likeness of his Death And as Paul in another place saith Being made conformable unto his Death This Conformity is not in our Natural Death or in our being put to death for him but Christ dying for our Sins is the procuring Cause of our dying to Sin therefore we must look for the Death of our Sins in the Death of Christ as the proper Effect thereof Virtue goeth from the Death of Christ to the subduing and destroying of Sin his Death was not only a Passive Example but is accompanied with Power conforming and changing us into his Likeness 'T is the great Ordinance of God to this very End it is by a fellowship or participation in his suffering we are never made conformable to the Death of Christ till we die to Sin the Death of Christ was designed to be the Death of Sin And as certain as Christ died for the Sins of all the Elect so certain it is they shall all first or last feel the powerful Effects thereof in the Death of their Sins The Corn fell into the Ground and died and shall produce all the Increase that virtually was hid in it Christ is our Life the Spring Fountain and Cause of it therefore we have nothing but what we derive from him Object He is say some the Author of Life and as he taught the Way of Life so he is our Life Answ He is our Life as he is our Head and it would be but a sorry Head that should only teach the Feet to go or the Members to act and move without communicating Strength unto them and to the whole Body Christ Brethren is an Head of Influence and in these spiritual Influences or Life that Strength which he communicates to us doth consist in the killing of Sin He loved his Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blame And if this was his End in his Death be sure his Death shall perfectly effect this glorious Work in the End upon every Soul of his Tenthly and lastly Glorification is also an Effect of the Death of Christ it is the Fruit of his Suffering it was by his own Blood he entred as our Head and Representative once into the Holy Place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us The Crown of Glory is the Purchase of his Blood and as sure as his Righteousness his Holy Life and Obedience and Meritorious Death carried him to the Father and set him down at the right Hand of the Majesty on high so will his Merits as certainly bring all the true Heirs to that Glory above where the Fore-runner is for us already entered For it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many Sons to Glory to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through Sufferings First he brings those Sons into a State of Grace as the Effects of his Death and Resurrection and unto a State of Glory And whom he justified them also he glorified I shall draw up the Sum of this Argument If such are the certain Fruits and Effects of Christ's Death 1. If it hath appeased the Wrath of God for all that are in him 2. If it hath made their Peace and for ever reconciled them unto God 3. If the Holy Spirit is purchased and procured as the Effects of his Death for them by which they are renewed quickned and helped to mortify Sin and is to them an Earnest a Witness and Seal of Everlasting Life and shall abide with them for ever 4. If Justification is the Effect of Christ's Death and they are for ever acquitted from all Sin and accepted as Righteous in Christ's Righteousness 5. If all that believe in him are sanctified as the Effects of his Death and shall be perfected for ever 6. If Pardon of Sin is an Effect also of Christ's Death and all Believers have and shall have their Sins forgiven for ever or remembred no more 7. If they are adopted Sons and Daughters to God as the Effect of Christ's Death 8. And also if Glorification is an Effect of his Death and as certain as is the Cause the Effect will be or as sure as Christ is glorified in Heaven all that are his Members shall be glorified Then it is impossible that any one of them should so fall away as eternally to perish But all these things are true and none dare to deny them so to be therefore they cannot fall so as eternally to perish I shall apply this and come to the next Argument APPLICATION First To Sinners 1. Hath the Death of Christ such Virtue in it even to renew quicken regenerate all that believe in him Is God through the Death of his Son reconciled and shall all that take hold of him be justified c. O then Sinners look up unto him and never cease looking until you find the Effects of his Death in your own Souls Object 1. But alas Sir I am a vile and abominable Sinner Answ Well notwithstanding that yet there is Virtue enough in Christ to save you Object 2. But I have been a Drunkard a Swearer an Adulterer a Thief Answ So had some of those Paul speaks of 1 Cor. 6. 11. Such were some of you but you are sanctified but you are justified Object 3. But I have been an Old Sinner Answ Well let it be so yet but a Sinner and Christ died for Sinners for the chief of Sinners therefore there is hope for you nay if you can believe and apply the Virtue of Christ's Blood you shall find Mercy Object 4. But I fear Christ did not die for me Answ 1. If he died for the Chief of Sinners why not for thee And if those that crucified him found Mercy why not thee 2. Thou hast as much ground to believe that Christ died for thee as any ungodly Person hath that dwells on the Face of the whole Earth Sinner look up Nay 3. Thou hast as much ground to believe that Christ died for thee as any of those had once who now feel the Effects of his Death 4. Did ever any Sinner throw himself at his Feet as a poor lost and undone Creature and take hold of him that was rejected Query What is the first Effect of Christ's Death Answ The first Effect of Christ's Death in the Soul is Life Life is infused And if thou hast a vital Principle in thee thou wilt cry out under the Sense of thy
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
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
Practices and become utter Enemies to God and his People 7. Lastly All Atheists or such who deny the Being of God or the Eternal Godhead and Deity of the Majesty of Heaven and ridicule and contemn all supernatural Knowledg or Revelation of God these shall receive and undergo the Wrath of God from which they cannot escape APPLICATION This may serve to awaken all secure Sinners who have false Notions of God's Mercy What will you do if you persist still in your evil Ways I am afraid here may be some of one sort or another of them which I have named that shall not escape the Wrath of God O that we could but hear that Cry which we read of Acts 2. 36. What shall we do Were Sinners pricked in their Hearts they would break forth into Tears in the sight and sense of the Evil of Sin Hath Sin put the Lord of Life and Glory to death Was the Wrath of God due to us let out upon him that we might never feel the weight thereof O how should this fill our Hearts with Revenge and Indignation against Sin Certainly the Sufferings of Christ for our Sins shew forth the Evil of it beyond all the Torments the Damned endure in Hell and if God did not spare him who as our Surety stood in our Place and Room what will become of thee O Sinner that goest on presumptuously in thy evil Way and dost not regard or lay to Heart the great Salvation of the Gospel Shall not the Love of God overcome thee then fear his Wrath which is so dreadful and will be let out in Fury Quest What is the Reason Men do no more fear and dread the Wrath of God Answ 1. It is because they do not know the direful Nature thereof We knowing the Terror of the Lord saith the Apostle perswade Men. The faithful Servants of God know it but Sinners know it not therefore fear it no more 2. It is because God doth not execute the Sentence against their evil Works presently This is the Reason Solomon tells us why The Hearts of the Children of Men are fully set in them to do wickedly 3. Sinners are blinded by the Devil and think God takes no notice of their Ways and evil Doings and so go on boldly may be think no Eye seeth them And because God is so gracious patient and slow to Anger and long before he strikes they think the Blow will never come at all O it is sad that the Goodness Mercy and Long-suffering of God which should lead Men to Repentance should tend to harden them in their evil Ways but though they now despise his Goodness and Forbearance c. yet they shall not escape the Judgment of God Quest What should Sinners do to escape the Wrath of God Answ 1. Sinner if thou wouldst escape God's Wrath find out the Original Cause thereof ponder well thy State by Nature and the Pollution of thy Heart from whence all actual Sins flow 2. Find out the immediate Cause of his Displeasure and Wrath that is ready to break forth against thee and cry out What have I done O see what Guilt lies upon you and the Nature of it 3. Labour to know what it is that hath appeased God's Wrath nothing but a Sacrifice an Atonement could do it thy Tears thy Prayers thy Repentance could not do it the Storm was great and our beloved Jonas was thrown into the Sea of God's Wrath to allay it and to cause a Calm 4. Get a thorow Sense of the great Evil of Sin 5. And then loath your selves Nothing but Grace poured forth from the Lord can do this O when once you can mourn for your Iniquities as a Man mourns for his First-born by beholding him whom you have pierced there will be hope 6. Pray and cry mightily to the Lord cease not Day nor Night until you find out the Plague of your own Hearts 7. Above all things fly to Jesus Christ look up to him and neglect not this Salvation one Hour but throw down your Arms sight against God no more nor fence against the two-edged Sword of his Mouth but as a poor lost and burdened Sinner come to him and thou shalt find rest unto thy Soul Object But perhaps some may object Is not this Doctrine a Legal Doctrine Answ I say no but I shall answer this Objection the next time and so close with this Text. HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation I Shewed you the last Time wherefore the Gospel is clothed with such fearful Threatnings against Sinners that neglect the great Salvation that is offered unto them therein Also what sort of Sinners are like for ever to fall under the Wrath of God Moreover you may remember I mentioned an Objection which possibly some may raise viz. Object Is not this Doctrine a Legal Doctrine or a legal way of preaching to insist so much upon the Threatnings of Wrath and Divine Vengeance I answered No it is not I therefore now shall endeavour God assisting to do two things First Shew you what is not a Legal Doctrine or a Legal Way of Preaching Secondly Shew you what is a Legal Doctrine or not Evangelical Preaching 1. To preach God a Just and Holy God is no Legal Doctrine though the Law it is true holds him forth so to be that discovers that God is Just but his Mercy was vailed under dark Shadows Types and Legal Sacrifices But now the Gospel sets forth the infinite Justice of God beyond the Law for in a Ceremonial Way the Blood of Beasts seemed to pacify God's Wrath. Though we deny not but the Blood of Jesus Christ the great Sacrifice which alone in a proper sense can satisfy for Sin was held forth thereby But in the Gospel the Justice and Holiness of God so clearly shines forth in Jesus Christ that it is with open Face manifested unto all all may behold therein the Just actually slain and made a Sacrifice for the Vnjust Never did God's Justice appear so fully as it doth in the Suffering and Death of Christ for Sin Therefore to preach the Severity and Justice of God against Sin and Sinners can be no Legal Doctrine 2. To preach Repentance the Necessity of Repentance Regeneration and Holiness is no Legal Doctrine but it is pure Gospel The Law allowed of no Repentance For those that sinned against Moses 's Law died without Mercy under two or three Witnesses Do not mistake me I do not say that there was no Repentance for such who lived under the Dispensation of the Law for tho the Law or first Covenant allowed of no Repentance yet the Gospel was preached to Adam to Abraham to Moses David c. But pray remember and consider it well that Repentance came in not through the Law but through the Gospel upon the account of Christ's Satisfaction and therefore it is only a Gospel-Blessing which being duly considered Men have little reason to
Ch. 6. 10. Rom. 6. 14. Cant. 1. 1 2. Psal 91. 11. Cant. 8. 6. Isa 54. 10. Psal 37. 31. 1st Exhort Joh 42. 5. 1 Chron. 17. 16. 1 Sam. 25. 41. Rev. 3. 19. Cant. 1. 4. Eph. 3. 19. The fourth A 〈◊〉 taken from the Nature of the Covenant of Grace Isa 53. 10 11. Zech. 6. 12 13. Psal 89. 20. Verse 28 29. John 6. 37 38 39. Phil. 1. 6. Psal 57. 2. Isa 26. 12. Phil. 2. 13. Psal 110. 3. Dr. Owen â— Sam. 23. 5. Isa 27. Ephes 2. 2 3. Gal. 3. 4 25. Ephes 2. 1 2. Eph. 1. 18. Zech. 9. 11. Rom. 8. 1. Heb. 7. 22. Dr. Owen on Heb. 2. 22. p. 223. Ps 89. 34. Jâ—â— 33. 20 21. Rom. 4. 16. Isa 53. 10. Psal 89. 28 29. Gal. 3. 16 29. 2 Cor. 1. 20. Tit. 1. 2. Heb. 6. 13 17 18. Ephes 1. 13 14. Ch. 4. 30. Isa 54. 9 10. Isa 55. 3. The general Argument Sermon X. 5th Arg. Taken from their being the Children of God Jam. 1. 18. Joh. 1. 13. Mat. 3. 8 9 10 11 12. John 3. 5. 1 Joh. 5. 1. Gal. 3. 26. John 3. 6. Gen. 5. 3. 2 Pet. 1. 4. Gal. 4. 23. Jer. 32. 40. Ch. 3. 14. Rom. 8. 17. Isa 53. Psal 89. 29. How Believers may be said not to commit Sin 1 Joh. 3. 9. 1 Joh. 1. 8. Eccles 7. 20. Rom. 7. 25. Rom. 8. 1. Rom. 7. 15. 1 Joh. 5. 16. V. 16 17. Ver. 18. 1 Joh. 5. 4. 1 Joh. 4. 4. The general Argument Eph. 4. 24. John 3. 6. Acts 9. 1 Pet. 2. 1 2. Mal. 1. 6. 1 Joh. 5. 1. Eph. 5. 1. Zech. 2. 8. 1 John 3. 1 2. Sermon XI The Sixth Argument taken from the Soul's Union with Christ Dr. Owen 1 Cor. 6. 17. Joh. 6. 56. Eph. 5. 31 32. 1 Cor. 12. 12. Eph. 5. 30. Ephes 4. 15 16. 1 Cor. 15. 45. Ps 139. 16. Rom. 11. 17. Dr. Owen Joh. 15. 2 6. Mat 13. 21. John 15. 16. Gal. 2. 20 21. John 19. 36. Isa 29. 21. John 14. 19. Rom. 8. 1. John 3. 36. John 5. 24. Col. 1. 27. Heb. 6. 18. 19 20. Luk. 22. 32. John 11. 42. Charnock 2 Cor. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 6. 14 15. Col. 2. 19. Rom. 7. 4. Sermon XI The seventh Argument taken from the Death of Christ Heb. 9. 22. 1 John 1. 11. Dan. 9. 26. John 15. 13. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Rom. 5. 7. Isa 53. 6 7. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Isa 53. 12. Gal. 4. 4 5. Rom. 4. 24. Mr. F. Dr. Owen shews the same and many others Rom. 8. 32. John 10. 15. Luk. 22. 19. Heb. 9. 28. Isa 53. 4 5 6 8. Christ hath delivered all Believers from Condemnation 1 Pet. 2. 24. Isa 53. 5. Isa 27. 4. Rom. 1. 32. Christ the Antitype of the Scape-Goat and carried away our Sins Levit. 16. 21 22. Heb. 9. 26. Christ by his Death hath delivered us from the Curse of the Law Dan. 9. Gal. 3. 4. 5. Gal. 3. 13. Christ hath born all God's Vindictive Wrath due to Believers Rom. 3. 23 24 25 26. 1 John 1. 9. Christ by his Death purchased Grace for us Phil. 4. 19. Joh. 1. 14 16. Heb. 10. 14. Christ by his Death redeemeth us from all Sin Tit. 2. 14. Eph. 1. 13 14. Phil. 3. 10 11 12. John 3. 16. Assertors of General Redemption reprehended 1 Pet. 1. 18. Examen confectionis pacificae Joh. 17. 9. Ver. 20. Examen confectionis pacificae John 12. 23 24. Dr. Chauncy in his Treatise of the Doctrine of Godliness p. 203 204. Eph. 5. 25. * Joh. 17. 19 20. 10. 11. 16. 13 14. Mat. 3. 5 6. Joh. 3. 26. John 12. 32. 1 Cor. 12. 7. 1 Tim. 4. 4. A Minister in Glostershire as I am told of the Presbyterian Perswasion Gen. 9. 4. To eat Blood the Life of the Creature unlawful Joh. 1. 29. 1 Tim. 4. 10. Sermon XIII The Eighth Argument taken from the Effects of Christ's Death and Resurrection Rom. 6. 5 6. Col. 2. 12 13. 1 Pet. 4. 1. Rom. 6. 10 11. 1 Cor. 5. 15. Reconciliation the Effect of Christ's Death Eph. 2. 16. Rom. 8. 34. Rom. 5. 10. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Zech. 6. 13. Acts 2. 32 33. Isa 44. 3. Ezek. 36. 25. Rom. 15. 16. 2 Thess 2. 13. Ezek. 36. 27. Rom. 8. 26. Gal. 4. 5 6. 1 Joh. 4. 4. Eph. 1. 13. Rom. 8. 16. Eph. 1. 14. 4. 30. John 14. Col. 1. 14. Gal. 4. 5. Heb. 10. 19 20. Reader these things were enlarged upon when this Sermon was preached which I am forc'd to leave out here Acts 13. 39. 2 Pet. 2. 20. Ver. 22. Heb. 10. 14. Rom. 6. 5. Phil. 3. 10 11 12. Eph. 5. 25 26 27. Heb. 9. 12. Rom. 8. 30. The general Argument Acts 2. 37. Sermon XIV 9th Arg. taken from their being in the Hand of the Father and in Christ's Hand Isa 9. 1. Act. 4. 28. Rom. 11. 33. Isa 14. 24. 1 Cor. 1. 18. John 11. 28. Col. 1. 15. Psal 8â— 15. Isa 42. 3. 53. 10. Heb. 9. 22. 1 King 20. 39. Gen. 43 9. Gen. 42. 37. Philem. 18 19. Phil. 4. 19. Isa 63. 1. Mat. 28. 18 19. Heb. 7. 25. Joh. 17. 2. Isa 49. 10. Joh. 6. 37. Mat. 12. 20. John 6. 39. 1 Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 2. 18. Heb. 5. 1 2. In what respect the Saints are said to be in Christ's Hand Joh. 16. 13. Isa 42. 16. Psal 73. 2 23. Isa 49. 13 16. Jer. 17. 8. 2 Cor. 8. 5. Psa 10. 14. Psal 12. 7. Verse 5. The general Argument Sermon XV. Mat. 13. 31. Mat. 17. 20. Contin of Mr. Pool 's Annotat. 1 Joh. 5. 4. Mat. 13. Joh. 4. 14. Hos 14. 7. Mat. 13. 33. Grace compared to Leaven Grace compared to Fire Grace is a Vital Principle 1 Joh. Rom. 6. 14. Tit. 2. 12. True Grace is of a saving Nature Grace the Off-spring of Heaven Gen. 1. 26. God the Father is the Foundation of Grace 1 Pet. 2. 9. Grace God's Workmanship in the Soul Eph. 2. 10. The Power of God concerned to preserve Grace in us 1 Pet. 1. 5. The Promises of God secures Grace in us Psal 37. 23 24. Phil. 1. 6. It cannot stand consistent with the Wisdom of God and all other Attributes to let Grace utterly fail in us 2 Tim. 1. 9. Christ is the Purchaser the Author and finisher of Grace Tit. 2. 14. Acts 2. 33. Charnock 1 Joh. 3. 5 8. Heb. 12. 2. Verse 12. The Intercession of Christ secures the Saints in a State of Grace 1 Joh. 2. 2. Heb. 7. 25. Heb. 10. 21 22. The general Argument 1 Cor. 1. 30. Mat. 13. Luke 10. 20. Rom. 7. 24. Isa 40. 11. Tit. 2. 11 12. Sermon XVI How could the Birth of Christ be cause of Joy to all People answered Joel 2. 28. Col. 1. 23. Luk. 2. 34. Mark 16. 16. See p. 174. 175. of this Treatise Doctrine of Election and Perseverance opens no Door to Sin â—â—b 12. 14. Eph. 1. 4. 1 Cor. 4. 7. Col.