pieces A mighty Lord Christ is at whose Command Death shall deliver again all that for so many years he had imprisoned in the Grave he has indeed the Key of Death and Hell too Rev. 1. 18. both are under his Power at his Command also the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the works therein shall be burnt up There is no dealing with this Judge by way of resistance it concerns us all to be diligent that we may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless 2 Pet. 3. 10 14. 4. Christ the Judge will come with a most glorious Attendance How awakening to the World will the Voice of the Arch-Angel and the Trump of God be Christ will appear with a light far above the brightness of the Sun not a Member of his but shall shine like that glorious Luminary Mat. 13. 43. Then shall the righteous shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father And what a spectacle will all the Saints together be as so many millions of Suns shining at Once and their Lord in the heighth of Glory at the head of them He will be revealed also with his mighty Angels these excellent Spirits at his Command ministred unto his Members on Earth and they will wait upon the Head at the day of his appearing and his Kingdom There is much Work for the Angels to do at the Worlds end they are compared to Reapers that are safely to gather the Wheat and to bind the Tares in bundles for the fire Mat. 13. 41 42. The Son of Man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth The greatest Train of Nobility and Courtiers that attend at the Coronation of the highest Emperour on Earth are but a poor shew to an innumerable Company of Angels for all in Heaven will be with Christ at Judgment to do him honour who is indeed the Head of all Principality and Power Thus of the Judge In the second Place I am to speak of the Persons that are to be judged The Text takes in All therefore none shall be exempted and none in a vain and foolish imagination should exempt themselves It will be a general Assize at which all the Sons and Daughters of Adam shall appear 1. The highest and greatest of Men will be brought to Judgment Death makes bold with them as well as others and enters the stateliest Palaces the strongest Forts as well as the Cottages of the meanest The Rulers and Conquerors of the World that caused Terror in the land of the living yet they are made to bear the shame of their Weakness and Mortality they are brought down to the Pit their Swords are laid under their Heads their Hands being able to hold them no longer Ezek. 32. 27. And if Death is not afraid to seize them surely Christ will not be afraid to Judge them This mighty Lord regards not the persons of Princes nor the rich more than the poor Job 34. 19. I have said ye are Gods speaking to the great Ones of the World but ye shall dye like Men Psal 82. 7. Princes are greater Worms other Men are lesser but all must call Corruption Father and when they come to stand before Christs bar foregoing earthly Dignity will be insignificant all must stand upon even ground And truly those great Ones of the World that have abused their Power and by a bad example drawn many to Sin and to Hell after them their greatness will but Increase their Account and Misery 2. As the greatest so the Meanest must be brought to Judgment though there is never so vast a multitude God takes notice of them all now and none of them must think to ofcape in a crowd then The Apostle speaks plainly of Individuals Rom. 14. 12. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God Those that live most private and retired are under Gods continual Inspection they that are of the lowest rank and quality whom there are that disdain so much as to look upon yet God sees them The Sun shines upon a Mole-hill as well as upon a Mountain upon a Shrub as well as upon a Cedar upon a Fly as well as upon an Emperor and truly the All-seeing Eye of God beholds the low as well as the high and there is not any one of them all but shall be made to render an account of all his doings 3. Righteous Ones must stand before Christs Judgment-seat All his Members must appear before Him their Head but shall be dealt with after a different manner from others Grace and Love makes a difference now but how highly magnified will the Grace of Christ be in the difference it makes at that Day to find Mercy of the Lord in that day which the Apostle Prays Onesiphorus might find 2 Tim. 1. 18. when the greatest part of the World shall with a strong hand the Ear being deaf to all their cryes be turned into everlasting fire this is great Mercy indeed great as the Heaven is high above the Earth The Righteous shall appear but they shall be set at their Lords right hand to shew his peculiar Favour to them and they shall joyfully own what that Hand has done for them Christs Appearing will be glorious and so will be the appearing of his Saints then 't will be understood what 't is to be a Saint Col. 3. 4. When Christ who is our life shall appear than shall ye also appear with him in Glory A Question is here started by some Whether the Sins of the Righteous shall be then made known The Scripture plainly tells us That when the Sins of such come to be sought for there shall be none and that they shall not be found none of them shall be imputed or laid to their charge none shall be so discover'd in Judgment as to rise up in Judgment against them to Condemn them But since there will such a light shine at that day that will make all things manifest both good and evil suppose the Iniquities of the Righteous should be made known to the whole Creation such will be their Purity such will be their Blessedness and Joy that there will not be the least room for shame or sorrow at the discovery But when all the Sins that have been Forgiven and Purged shall be revealed others as well as themselves will be filled with Wonder at the Blood of Jesus and the powerful Grace of God. 4. As the Righteous so the Wicked must stand before Christs Bar they would fain not come thither but there is an irresistible Power to force them The Malefactor who is Condemned for Murther Rape or Treason would fain decline the Judges View he is Self-condemn'd and therefore fears the Judges Sentence but the Gaoler the
Sin will make you to shine less in your lives 't wil fully your Conversations and hinder you from adorning the Gospel Oh keep unspotted and walk exactly as in the day that you may be blameless and harmless the Children ó God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation and that you may shine as Lights in the World Phil. 2. 15. 5. This Sin may cause you to set in a Cloud It may fill you with doubts when you are dying and that will be very dreadful You may be terribly frighted with the fears of Hell when you are just at Heavens gate Be therefore upright keep your selves from the iniquity that does most easily beset you that you may be more useful in your lives have the stronger and more lively hope in Death and that your End when it comes may be more perfect Peace VSE III. Of Direction How the Sin which does most easily beset you may be laid aside 1. Pray for a clean Heart Psal 51. 10. David having been overcome by a strong Corruption and done a Deed that was very foul cryes for a purer Heart a more right and constant Spirit he knew that to purge the Fountain was the way to have the streams clean Go unto God for a new Heart which he has promised and will give to all who prize and desire such an Heart Strike at the root of in the Heart then the branches and tâ—â—â— top branch the Master-sin will wither 2. Seriously lay to Heart how much he Sin that naturally is most beloved does deserve your hatred Hated Sin is so weak that it can ruine none 't is the love of Sin that gives it power and as it were puts a Sword into its hand slay you 3. Resist the very first stirrings of this Sin in you I believe if David assoon as ever he beheld from his Palace the beauteous Bathsheba had presently turn'd away his eyes and had fallen upon his knees and gone to Prayer he had overcome the Temptation Sin is more weak at the beginning Our Lords Counsel is Watch and Pray that ye enter not into temptation Mat. 26. 41. 4. If you would abandon the Masteâ—-sin Pray much for the contrary Grace Is Pride thy Master-sin Pray much for Humility Is Passâ—â—n thy Master-sin Pray much for Pâ—tience and for the Meekness and Gentleness of Christ Is Love to the World thy Master-sin Pray that thou may'st rise with Christ and love and mind a better World better Honours better Pleasures a more lasting Wealth than this World can yield 5. Let the Word of God which does â—â—rbid and threaten this Master-sin be carefully hid in your Heart This Word may be in thy Mouth thou mayest talk of it it may be in thy Mind thou may'st have a national Knowledge of it Nay â—t may go further and be in thy Conscience and be thought of in the very act of Sin. But if it will be in thy Heart if thy Will and Affections are taken with it then it will be an effectual Preservative against Iniquity Psal 119. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my Heart that I might not sin against thee 6. Improve the Death of our Lord Jesus Bring the Sin which does so easily beset you to the Cross of Christ No Sin truly dyis but upon Christs Cross Gal 5. 24. They that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts these are never Mortified but by being Crucified How can the old Adam dye but upon the Cross of the second Adam Rom. 6. 6. Knowing this that our old man is Crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin 7. Call in the Spirits aid He can make the Word sharp as a two-edged Sword to pierce the Heart and to slay the strongest Sin there He glorifies Christ and can draw you to him and enable you by Faith to derive Grace from him sufficâ—ent to help you against the most powerful Corruptions He can kill the Sin that is hardest to be slain he can mortifie all the deeâ—s of he body Rom. 8. 13. the strongest members on the Earth Col 3. 5. and he can seal you unto the day of Redemption FINIS
a great difference between standing before the Judgment Seat and standing in Judgment the former implies being made to appear at the Tribunal the latter implies being Acquitted there The Psalmist tells us That the ungodly shall not stand in the Judgment nor Sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous Psal 1. 5. yet all of these shall be forced to appear at the Bar of God there they shall stand trembling expecting the terrible Sentence of Condemnation And Oh what a hideous Out-cry will the whole multitude of Wicked and Reprobate Ones make when without hope of Mercy they are adjudged to endless Misery Doct. The Doctrine I raise from the Words is this All shall be Judged by Christ at the great Day As certainly as you are all here so certainly at that day you shall appear at his Judgment Seat. Death is not more certain nay 't is not so certain as Judgment The Apostle tells us that all shall not Dye for some shall be Changed but even these that are changed though they scape the Grave they shall stand at the Tribunal and give account of themselves unto God. This Doctrine concerning Judgment was Preached early in the World we find 't was Published before the Flood of Noah as you may see Jude v. 14 15. where you have the summe of a Sermon but a very terrible one Preached by Enoch the seventh from Adam Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all the hard speeches which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him Under the Mosaical Dispensation the Children of Israel heard the same Doctrine That great Prince and Preacher Solomon thus concludes his Book of Ecclesiastes having displayed the Creatures Vanity having taught Man his Interest and Duty To fear God and to keep his commandments he closes with these words Chap. 12. ult God will bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil And how plainly does the Apostle Paul speak to the same purpose 2 Cor. 5. 10 11. For we must all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade Men. In the handling of this Doctrine this is the Method I shall observe First I shall Discourse concerning Him that is to be the Judge Secondly I shall speak concerning the Persons that are to be judged Thirdly Concerning the things that shall be brought into Judgment Fourthly I shall demonstrate the Certainty of this Judgmont And then in the last Place make Application In the first Place I am to Discourse concerning the Judge and the Text plainly tells us that the Judge is Christ The Father I grant is said to judge 1 Pet. 1. 17. If ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojourning here in fear Yet it is said in another place The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son Joh. 5. 22. How shall these Scriptures be reconciled The reconciliation is easie thus the Father judges because the Authority of Judging belongs to him because he does Consent unto the Sons Judgment and has ordained him to Judge the World in Righteousness the truth is the Father Judges all but 't is mediately by Jesus Christ And yet in another sense the Father judges not because Christ the Son the second Person in the Godhead alone was incarnate and manifested in the Flesh and He alone will visibly Judge the World at the great approaching Day These four things may be observed concerning Christ the Judge He is a Saviour to the uttermost He is the Only Saviour He is Lord of all And as such a Lord he will come with a most glorious Attendance 1. Christ the Judge is a Saviour to the uttermost and really at the Judgment-day he will compleat the Churches Salvation he began it here in this World and still is carrying it on but the last day will be the day in which he will put his last Hand to this Work and make it perfect Heb. 9. 28. Christ was once offered up to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin to Salvation then Salvation shall be consummate the whole of it shall be wrought nothing of Sin or the sad effects of it shall remain nothing that shall cause the least frown in the Face of God to eternity Death will be swallowed up in Victory the whole Man will be glorious and immortal Christ will then have compleated his whole Design upon all his Saints and Members he will have made them as holy and happy as he did intend to make them he will indeed present his Church a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but it shall be all holy and its Beauty without the least blemish Eph. 5. 27. 2. Christ the Judge is the Only Saviour therefore those that are Condemn'd by Him 't is in vain for them to expect Salvation from any other Christ is the only Foundation-stone on which all that build shall stand other Builders are foolish and build upon the sand and what they build will fall and great will be the fall of it They that are not intersted in the Lord Jesus by Faith that are not Justified by his Blood who besides can save them from Wrath those whose Iniquities are not done away by his offering up of himself without spot to God there can be found no other Sacrifice for their sins but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignation that shall devour the Adversaries And how dreadful will it be to be Sentenced to Death and Damnation by the only Author of Salvation and Life they that by his Mouth shall be doom'd to eternal Destruction that Destruction will be made ten thousand times the sorer by eternal Desperation Alas what Hope can be left when the Lamb of God who alone can take away Sin shall be so full of Wrath as for ever reject and cast away the Sinner 3. Christ the Judge is Lord of all this is a truth that the Tongue of an Angel did Proclaim Luk. 2. 11. a truth that every Tongue should confess Phil. 2. 11. that every Heart ought to believe and which the most unbelieving and obstinate at last shall be made to know Christ hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh this Name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He has all Power in his hand things in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth are subject to him Those that are wise do willingly how before him and they who will not bow he can easily break and dash them to
but they would not open How often did the Spirit strive with them to stop them in Hells road and to turn them into the way of Peace but they were stiff-necked and always resisted the Holy Ghost They will remember their Preachers Pains and Prayers and labour and travel of Soul how they lifted up their Voices to awaken them out of their Sin and Security how they intreated them to be reconciled to God and to turn into the fate and blessed Paths of Righteousness but they were Deaf and obstinate nothing would prevail with them and the remembrance of all this will be bitter bitter bitter to them 4. In Hell there will be torment in the Body and the Members of it and such as no body ever felt or was capable of bearing here on Earth The Stone the Cholick and the Strangury the greatest Torture that ever the hand of Man inflicted are no more comparable to the Pains of Hell than the smallest Prick of a Pin is to a Dagger that strikes quite through and gives the Heart a deadly Wound The Senses of the Damned shall have that which will be exceedingly afflicting What woful Spectacles will their Eyes behold What dismal Noyses will fill their Ears how fierce and unquenchable are the Flames that they shall feel all their parts shall be in pain not so much as one free The whole Body was defiled and at Sins service all the Members were yielded as instruments of Vnrighteousness 't is but righteous that all should be Punished Why are the Bodies of the Wicked raised at the last day surely that they may bear their part in the Condemnation which the whole Man by Sin has deserved This Resurrection is certain but 't is a dreadful Resurrection which is a Resurrection to Damnation Joh. 5. 29. In these Torments you may well suppose that Death will be wisht for and that the Damned would rejoyce if they could find a Grave but alas after the Resurrection the first Death is no more The Damned in a sad sense do put on Incorruption and Immortality they can never dye and cease to feel their Pains they must always live a Life ten thousand times worse than Death and there is no remedy O you Wicked Men where 's your true Love to your Bodies that you seem to be so tender of I beseech you mind your Souls and love your Bodies better than by Sin to expose them to the Vengeance of eternal Fire You see how in Hell there is a Deprivation of good an Instiction of evil pain and torment I add 3. In Hell there is an Eternity of both the deprivation will be without Hope of Restitution and the Torment will be without any end without the least Mitigation Eternity is an amazing word the thing it self much more amazing Who can see to the end of Eternity who can see half way into Eternity Time is continually passing but Eternity never in the least spends 't is not capable of any diminution after myriads of Ages 't is still as bulky and whole as ever If Hell were Ten thousand times hotter than it is yet were it but a Temporal Punishment and at last to end 't would be Nothing in comparison But since those that are thrown into it must lye in it for ever Hells Eternity is the very Hell of Hell. In Eternity whether of Joy or Woe there is tota simul perfecta possessio the whole of it perfectly possess'd at once Hell is not parcel'd out unto the Damned but they continually feel the whole of it This is terrible there is not the least part of the punishment that ever they are exempted from undergoing out 't is much more terrible that their Suffering must be always and never have a Conclusion Divines have stretch'd their Wits to represent Eternity that apprehensions of it might be more suitable and affecting but were never able to reach it We can no more comprehend Eternity than a Nut-shell can contain the whole Ocean Suppose that all this World were fill'd with Sand from the Earths Centre round and up to the highest Heaven and once in a Thousand Years one single Sand should be taken away How sad would it be to lye in Torment till the whole vnst heap were gone But after so many Millions and Millions of Years for the Damned to be every whit as far from the End of their Misery as they were the very first moment they began to feel it here all words fall short and I must conclude in Astonishment Do not think that these are frightful things invented by Vs to scare you into better manners When we warn and tell you of the Eternity of Hells punishment we speak the certain Truth of the Eternal God. In the second place I am to prove the Doctrine That they who will not turn to God shall most certainly be turned into Hell. The Arguments to prove this are these 1. The first shall be drawn from the Wrath of God. This is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteouness of Men Rom. 1. 18. They that are called to turn and yet refuse that Wrath abides upon them still unbelief and impenitency bindes as it were all their Sins fast upon them and they must needs remain under Wrath also Joh. 3. ult He that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the Wrath of God abideth on him Nay Wrath instead of being appeased is increased by contemning the Gospel-offer of Gods favour and mercy in Christ And where will unpacified Wrath at length issue See Deut. 32. 22. A Fire is kindled in mine Anger and it shall burn to the lowest Hell. 2. A second Argument shall be drawn from the Truth of God. He has threatned Hell for the punishment of unconverted Sinners Psal 9. 17. The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Let there be never so many of them Hell has room enough to hold them and their multitude will not be any Security The Truth of God is engaged to make good all his promises to the Faithful and also all his threatnings to the Wicked A man must believe the Promises in order to the accomplishment of them But tho the Threatnings are dis-believed they will be fulfilled and the greater the unbelief the more certainly and sorely will they overtake and lay hold on the Vnbeliever The Lord is to be credited when he speaks because he is a God that cannot Lye but when he adds his Oath to his word what he sayes is the more firmly to be assented to His Covenant of Grace is confirm'd by an Oath and when he could Swear by no greater he Swore by himself And his Oath also confirms his Threatnings of Wrath Heb. 3. 18 19. And to whom Swear he that they should not enter into his Rest but to them that believed not So we see that they could not enter in because of Vnbelief 3. Another Argument to prove that unconverted Sinners shall be turned into Hell
none unconverted here I wish there were not Are there not many unconverted in this place I fear there are Seriously consider in what state you are You walk upon the Brink of Hell you Eat and Drink upon the Brink of Hell in your Shops at the Exchange you are still upon the Brink of Hell when you lye down at Night you Sleep upon the Brink of Hell. Oh what Hearts are yours that you can Sleep securely Is such a perilous State to be rested in In such danger and depths of Misery how should you cry to the Lord for mercy Psal 130. 1. Davids words are proper for a Sinner to make use of Psal 51. 1. Have mercy upon me O Lord according to thy loving kindness and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my Transgressions 3. Hence I infer That they who refuse to turn to God are certainly besides themselves else the broken Cisterns would not draw them away from the Fountain of living Waters and a little gain and pleasure would not make them venture to lye in Flames unquenchable God sayes Turn ye turn ye Will you turn or will ye not If you will you shall live if you won't where are your Wits You are out of them in the worst Sense of all The Lord now sayes Turn if ye will not hear and obey at last he will say Depart and that word you must obey and be forced away from him into everlasting Burnings 4. Shall Sinners be turned into Hell then their Prosperity is not to be envied or admired It has been a Custom in some places to grant to condemn'd Malefactors a Liberty to enjoy their Pleasures and Delights a few days before their Execution but alas what did these signifie to them that were to dye a few days after A fit Representation of the condition of the Wicked They are perhaps gaudily Cloathed and daintily Fed and have more than Heart could wish But this prosperity is very short they stand in slippery Places and quickly fall they are brought to Destruction as in a moment and utterly consumed with Terrours Psal 73. 18 19. The ungodly do very much need our pity but nothing that they have is worth our Envy 5. Hence I inferr the happiness of sincere Converts Many temporal Evils may be their exercise at present but Hells eternal Torments they shall never feel Rom. 8. 1. There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Whatever the Times are in Eternity and to Eternity it will be well with them If Hell were Ransack't all over you might find Professours Preachers Princes Nobles there you might find worldly Wise and worldly wealthy a greatmany but not one true Convert among the whole Number Converts are reconciled to God by the Blood of Christ and are safe and happy Hell is a dreadful place and has a very wide Door but who has the Key of it The Key is not in Satans but in Christ's keeping Rev. 1. 18. I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the Keys of Hell and of Death He will open the Door of Death that Converts Bodies may come out of the Grave he will keep the door of Hell fast shut that Converts shall never be thrown in thither VSE 11. Of Exhortation That you would all consider more seriously and believe more heartily this Doctrine of Hell. Often think of the loss sustained and of the Torment felt there It was the Advice of Chrysostom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let us not fly the remembrance of Hell Torment that we may never be Tormented there The believing consideration of Hells punishment will have many good Effects 1. Hereby the deceitfulness of Sin will be discovered The deceitfulness of Sin hardens you Heb. 3. 13. Exhort one another daily while 't is called to day lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of Sin. Sin pretends to consult your ease your safety your satisfaction your gain your pleasure Think seriously of Hell and all these will be found vain pretences Oh how very false a thing is Sin First you must prove Hell desirable before you can prove that Sin is worthy to be loved and served 2. The Remembrance of Hell will be a great Preservative against the Tempter Evil Angels are great Enemies to the good Word of God especally they are displeased at Sermons concerning Chrst and Hell they are unwilling that Men should know the Destruction Sin has brought them in danger of unwilling they should hear of a Saviour and Deliverer Think of Hell whenever you find the Devil tempting He endeavours to hide Hell from your Eyes that he may lead you secure thither Satan tells the Intemperate Man that makes himself a Beast by excessive Drinking that this is the way to Exhilerate and chear his Spirits a Remedy against care and sorrow and a means to make him merry But he would not have the Drunkard think of Hell nor of the dreadful Cup of Gods indignation without mixture that will be put into his hand at the last day Satan tells the defrauding over reaching Knave that he will be a great Gainer by his Subtlety but he hides Hell from him where none of his Gain remains and where eternal happiness and an immortal Soul are lost for ever Satan tells the filthy Wretch of the pleasures to be found in the embraces of the well-favoured Harlot but this he conceals that going to her House his Feet go down to Death and his Steps will soon take hold on Hell. It would be Wisdom in you and in all to see how Sin and Hell are joyned together It would make the Tempter lose his labour if you would ever remember that in Tempting you to Sin he does in effect only perswade to be willing for even to be destroyed 3. The serious consideration of Hell will quicken you to cry for Mercy upon the Sight of Hells misery how desirable will Mercy be in your Eyes You will pray for this with all Prayer God will find you in the Congregation in the Family and in the Closet making your servent Supplications and Mercy will be your great Suit. God delights in shewing Mercy Mic. 7. 18. The thoughts of Hell will make you see how much you need it and such fail not to obtain it 4. The Remembrance of Hell will contribute much to your stedfastness in Religion 't will fortisie and arm you against the fear of Man how little is it that the greatest Man that the most of Men can do to you to fall into the hands of mortal Men that can but kill the body is no great matter but to fall into the hands of the living God is fearful Heb. 10. 31. Hark what our Lord says Luk. 12. 4 5. I say unto you my friends be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do but I will forewarn
you whom you shall fear fear him who after he hath killed hath power to cast into Hell yea I say unto you fear him Yes he is indeed worthy to be feared It was a saying of one Omnia supplicia graviorum suppliciorum vincuntur formiâ—ine all Punishments are overcome by the fear of greater Punishments When thou art called forth to bear Testimony to Christ and to his Truth before a sinful and an adulterous generation though thou seest Wracks and Wheels though thou seest Flames and Furnaces of scalding Lead be not affrighted at the matter the Grace and Comfort of the Spirit of Christ shall be sufficient to carry thee through these Pains and these are nothing compared with the Vengeance of eternal fire which will be inflicted upon those that draw back unto perdition VSE III. Of Direction How this whole Congregation may escape the Damnation of Hell. I hope every Eye is broad awake and should not every Ear be open and every Heart exceedingly attentive when Directions concerning this are given The Directions are these 1. If you would escape Hell think of Hell the effect of Sin so long 'till you utterly fall out with Sin the Cause Sin is the only way that leads to Hell shun that way and you are safe Depart from evil and though possibly you may become a Prey in this World ye Satan shall not make a Pery of you If Sin had never entred into the World none in the World would have been turned into Hell if neither Men nor Angels had sinn'd against God there would have been no such thing as Hell in being Oh! View the Flames that are so furious and that will last for ever and then consider Sin was that which kindled them and the demerit of Sin is so infinitely great that it hinders them from being ever quenched Does thy Pride expose thee to Damnation never be Proud more Will thy Earthly-mindedness bring thee to Hell Oh cease thy loving the World and the things that are in the World 1 Joh. 2. 15. Will any Sin that rules in thee and that thou art willingly subject to reign unto Death and ruine thee for ever Oh be unwilling that any Sin should reign any longer and if Sin be out of thy Will 't is out of the Throne Cry with David Psal 119. 133. Order my steps in thy Word and let no Iniquity have the dominion over me Weary you must be of Sins dominion as well as fear Hells Damnation You must not think to go to Heaven and carry your beloved Lusts along with you thither if you are resolved to hold fast these you and they will go to Hell together 2. If you would escape Hell take notice how the door of Hope is open to the very worst of you Those that are gone far in Hells road and are within a step of the burning Lake t is possible for them to be catched as firebrands out of the burning The door is open to day I advise you to enter presently I cannot assure you 't will stand open 'till tomorrow While it is called to day harden not your hearts Heb. 3. 8. Though you are fallen by your Iniquities yet if you will Now return to the Lord there is hope for the very worst of you past Sins shall all be buried if there be a present Conversion Redemption is plenteous and that should abundantly encourage all to Hope and Turn Psal 130. 7 8. Let I srael hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him there is plenteous redemption and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities 3. If you would escape Hell you must be sure to look unto Jesus Lord Jesus Turn every Eye to thee and cause every Heart to open and receive thee Those that were stung with the fiery Serpents liv'd notwithstanding if they lookt unto the brazen Serpent Those that are in danger of Hell and have very well deserved it shall be delivered from it if by Faith they look to Christ Isa 45. 22. Look unto me and be ye saved all ye ends of the Earth Look unto him for Pardon look unto him for Converting Cleansing and Renewing Grace look unto him to be the Author of true Faith in you and having been the Author to be the Finisher of your Faith also Heb. 12. 2. Christ was for saken that you might graciously be received by the Lord He was Condemn'd to dye and suffer'd Death upon the Cross that you might be deliver'd from eternal Death and Condemnation that this was his design is plain Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should scape Hell and be brought safe to Heaven should not perish but have everlasting life HEB. 12. Part of v. 1. And the Sin that does so easily beset us IN the foregoing Chapter the Apostle discourses concerning Faith which is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen He declares at large the wonderful and glorious effects that this Faith produced in the Saints under the Old Testament By Faith these Believers denyed themselves by Faith they Conquered the whole World not fearing its siercest Persecutions despising all its Wealth all its Pleasures all its Glory and confessed they were strangers and sojourners on the Earth By Faith they saw Him that is invisible and looked for a City that that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God. Now in this Verse where my Text lies the Apostle applyes unto those believing Hebrews to whom he writes what he had spoken concerning their faithful Fore-fathers These are called a Cloud of Witnesses Witnesses they were concerning what truly concerning the Vanity of all things that are seen that are but temporal Witnesses concerning the excellency of those things that are not seen which are eternal They are styled a Cloud because of the greatness of their Number and perhaps there may be some allusion to the Cloud in the Wilderness that guided Israel into Canaan For though our Lord Jesus was typisied by that Cloud and he is the unerring Pattern and Example whom we are bound to follow yet in Scripture we are advised also to follow the foot-steps of the Flock and in this very Epistle to be followers of them who through Faith and Patience inher it the Promises The Course of a Christian in this World is compared to a Race this Race must be run that the Prize at the end of it may be obtained and that we may run it the better we are removere prohibens to remove Impediments to lay aside every Weight and the Sin that does so easily beset us In the Words I have read there are three things observable 1. Here is an Inimation of a Danger and that is from Sin Sin and Danger are inseparable how can it chuse but be prejudicial to him that 's guilty of it you may as well imagine Hell to be without Pain as Sin to be without Peril 2. The
greatest danger is from the Sin that does most easily beset us 't is called by the Holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sin that hangs faltest about us Some by this understand Original Sin the depravation and Corruption of Nature some understand the carnal and ensnaring Fear of Man The Apostle arms the Hebrw Saints against this and would have them couragious and if called to it resist even to blood slriving against sin But by the Sin that does most easily beset us we may understand any sin that does so Yet when we take notice of the Master-sin which is most apt to prevail we should by all means trace it to its Original and take notice of the corrupt Fountain from which this strong and filthy Stream proceeds 3. Here is the way how to be secured from Danger by laying aside every weight and especially the greatest and the heaviest Clogg of all the Sin that does most easily beset us Cast away every transgression so iniquity shall not be your ruine but especially that which naturally you love best and more than all because this this is most of all pernicious and destructive Doct. The Doctrine which I raise from the words is this Though all sin is to be cast away the Master-sin especially is to be abandoned In the handling of this Doctrine I shall 1. Prove that all Sin is to be cast away 2. I shall shew you how the Master sin may be known 3. Produce the Reasons why this in a special manis to be forsaken And then in the last place make Application In the first place I am to prove that every sin should be cast away and the Argument to convince you of this is in the Verse where my Text lies Every Sin is a weight and a most unreasonable thing it is that Men should be fond of that which is burthensome and grievous The weightiness of Sin I shall demonstrate in these particulars 1. Sin is a weight to a softned and sensible soul though a stupid Transgressor feels Sin no more than a stone does a Mountain that lies upon it yet when once the Heart of Stone is turned into a Heart of Flesh Sin presently becomes very burthensome He that has a new Heart and a new Spirit given him will have new and other apprehensions of Sin he will look upon Sin with sorrow and himself with self-abhorrency Ezek. 36. 26 31. A new Heart will I give you a new Spirit will I put within you Then shall ye remember your evil wayes and your doings that have not been good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations David could not make light of sin when once convinced of its evil by the Spirit he grieves because he had offended God he fears his wrath that he had deserved and earnestly implores compassion and favour His Sin lay very hard upon him Psal 38. 4 6. Mine iniquities are gone over my head as an heavy burthen they are too heavy for me I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long 2. Sin is a weight unto the damned in Hell that 't is so I know but how weighty I cannot express no mind on Earth is able to conceive Sin is the weight which has sunk all the Souls that are there into that place of Wo and because sin will ly upon them for ever they shall never be able to rise up under it In Hell there is a full a general an everlasting Conviction that sin is heavy If we could discourse with the rich Man who as the Gospel tells us is in Hell and ask him whether his Gluttony Pride contempt of God hatred of Holiness are light or weighty Oh! what would that Tongue that cryed out for a drop of Water answer to such a question Surely none in Hell can make light of sin which brought them thither 3. Sin is a weight which burthens the whole Creation Hard-hearted Man groans not under it when the whole Creation besides does The Creatures were made subject to vanity not willingly but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope Rom. 8. 20. and v. 22. We know that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together even until now And all these travelling pains they are the effects of Sin. Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes uses several very significant expressions Vanity of Vanities all is vaniny and all things are full of labour Man cannot utter it And again there are many things that increase vanity When Sin entred into the World it made a sad alteration in it well may the Creatures groan under it and though their pains are terrible pains of travel yet because such pains they are hopeful and will issae in a restauration which will certainly be for God has said it He has told us thus much that the Creature shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious liberty of the Children of God Rom. 8. 21. But the manner of this Restauration he has not told us Gods silence should repress inqutsitive Curiosity 4. Sin was found a Weight by Jesus the Mediator He undertook and 't was well for us he did to bear this Burthen and no Shoulders but his could have born it but when he bore it how did he groan under it This put him into an Agony this made him Sweat and Sweat drops of Blood. This made him cry out my Soul is excceeding sorrowful even unto Death And My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Oh! blessed Saviour what extorted such cryes as these from Thee Oh! Sinner It was thy Sin and the Sins of all others whom I save that lay so hard upon Me Isa 53. 6. All we like Sheep sayes the Prophet have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid upon him the Iniquity of us all if the Man Christ Jesus had not been the Eternal Son of God he could never have born such an heavy Load as all the Sins of his whole Church laid upon him at once all together 5. God himself complains of Sin as a weighty thing which He is very weary of Isa 43. 24. Thou hast made me to serve with thy Sins and hast wearied me with thine Iniquities And Amos 2. 13. Behold I am pressed under you as a Cart is pressed that is full of Sheaves Sin is a Burthen to the Almighty tho he be so rich and abundant in Forbearance and Long-suffering Nay Sin will make Duties to be a Burthen to Him Isa 1. 13 14. Bring no more vain Oblations your Sabbaths and calling of Assemblies I cannot away with it is Iniquity even the Solemn Meeting Your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth they are a Trouble to me I am weary to bear them And 't is observable when the Lord comes to a Resolution to punish Sinners because of their Transgressions He speaks as One about to ease himself of a Load
Isa 1. 24. Therefore thus saith the Lord the Lord of Hosts the mighty one of Israel Ah! I will ease me of my Adversaries and avenge me of my Enemies If Sin be thus a Weight I advise all to be weary and beg to be eased of it He is a senseless Fool indeed who makes a Mock of Sin and still goes on to add unto his own Burthen In the second place I shall shew you how the Master Sin may be known And here I would premise these three things 1. All Sin that is allowed of may truly be said to Reign where 't is allowed A Man that wilfully continues in the Commission of any Sin is certainly the Servant of it whatever it be 'T is the Misery of the unregenerate that they have tot Dominos quot vitia so many Lusts so many Lords 2. There is in many Persons a particular Sin which does prevail more than any other In the Natural Body there are all the Humours yet One commonly is Predominant and the Denomination is from that Thus 't is in the Body of Sin tho there is a Mass of all Corruption yet there may be some special Corruption that has the greatest strength and prevalency This in Scripture is called the sweet Sin in which the greatest delight is taken compared to a sweet Morsel under the Tongue Job 20. 12 13. Tho wickedness is sweet in his Mouth tho he hide it under his Tongue tho he spare it and forsake it not yet at last it proves extremely bitter deadly as the very Gall of Asps within him 3. There are some in whom several Sins are so Predominant that 't is hard to determine which is most Master Some have so hot an Anger and so hot and furious a Lust that you cannot so easily judge which of these is hottest Nay in some Sins that seem very contrary one to another yet in several respects they will both prevail Many a Man is liberal and profuse as to his Ornaments and Cloathing he spends freely in the Sumptuous furnishing of his Table Hand and Purse are open if he be in Riotous Company Yet if you ask this Man but for a lutle to a good use Tell him that the Members of Christ are many of them very needy and that he who gives to the Poor lends unto the Lord here he is strangely Covetous and close Fisled These things premised I shall discover the Master Sin. 1. That is a Master Sin unto which the Constitution does most strongly incline They that are of a Sanguine Complexion are inclined to Lasciviousness Voluptuousness and an aiery frothiness of Spirit which a great hinderance unto serious Impressions In the Cholerick Passion and Anger are apt to prevail and to hurry them to revengeful words and Actions not considering what injury they do to others and how much more to themselves The Melancholick are prone to Envy Malice Discontent The Flegmatick unto Stupidity Carelesness and Sloth Now Satan takes notice of the Complexion sails with the Stream of it and suits his Bait to it and hereby has very great advantage Tho no sin has the Dominion in Believers for they are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. yet the Complexion Sin is apt sometimes to master even them also therefore they had need to be watchful against it and to take great care and pains to mortify it The Apostle Paul observes his own Constitution and makes conscience of keeping under his Body that his Temperament might not be his Temptation 1 Cor. 9. ult I keep under my bring it into subjection lest by any means when I have Preached unto others I my self should be a cast-away 2. That is a Master-sin unto which your Callings and Conditions make you most liable They that trade in the World how apt are they through the Corruption of their own Hearts to defraud and over-reach to get immoderate and dishonest gain hence that strict Prohibition 1 Thes 4. 6. Let no man go beyond or defraud his Brother in any matter knowing that the Lord is the Avenger of all such as we also have forewarned you and testified How apt are they to venture upon the Sin of Lying and Equivocation for advantage and they teach and command their Servants and Children to follow their pernicious Examples as if Earthly gain were so considerable that 't is no great matter how many Souls are lost for the sake of it They that are Rich in this World are prone to be high-minded and to trust in uncertain Riches 1 Tim. 6. 17. to withhold the Hire from the poor Labourers to live in wantonness and pleasure Jam. 5. 1 2 3. to be full and deny God and say Who is the Lord They that are poor in the World are prone to Steal all unjust dealing is Stealing an unjust action makes a Man a Thief in Gods account and to take the Name of God in vain Prov. 30. 9. 3. That is a Master-sin which the Sinner is most unwilling should be brought to light and cannot bear to be reproved for We read Joh. 3. 20. Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved but of all others he cannot endure to be reproved for the Sin that easily besets him and that he loves most He tramples the Pearl of reproof under his Feet and is read to turn again and rend the reprover John the Baptist was a burning and a shining Light. Herod the King heard him some of his Exhortaions and Doctrines went down with Herod and produced a partial Reformation At length the Baptist comes home and strikes at the Master Sin tells Herod of his Herodias and that it was not lawful for him to have his Brothers Wife This was not to be born the King counted the Prophet too bold to meddle with his beloved Lust. He hears him no longer he suffers him to Preach to others no longer He first puts him into Prison and afterwards puts him to Death and thus was this burning and shining Light extinguished Mar. 6. 17 -27. 4. The Master Sin Conscience when awakened by distress is very apt to accuse the Sinner of and furiously to fly in his face for Conscience though it sleeps in a Calm usually awakes in a Storm when Death-threatning Affliction lies hard upon the Sinner and he looks beyond Death unto Judgment and into Eternity then Conscience speaks plainly rebukes boldly and especially the master-Master-Sin makes it very clamorous Envy was a Sin Predominant in Josephs Brethren they could not bear the thoughts of his future advancement they sold him a Slave to prevent his being exalted over them as was presignified by his Dreams Many years after God calls for a Famine upon the Land down go these Brethren into Egypt to buy Food there Joseph seizes them deals hardly with them and they are in great Distress Conscience now awakes with great terrour flies in their Faces and their envy and cruel dealing with Joseph