convinced how your natures are depraved being wholly destitute of Original Righteousness empty of all good and inclinable wholly unto evil that they are a polluted fountain from whence can proceed nothing but what is unclean that they are a bitter root from whence doth spring forth such cursed fruits of sin in your lives and you should look upon your sin of nature to be the worst because the Original of all actuall transgressions 2. You must be convinced of your actual sins how you have broken Gods Law in thought word and deed you must see your sins of Omission and your sins of Commission against the first and second Table of the Law and take notice of the number of them so far as you can remember together with their aggravations if they have been committed through ignorance when you have had means of knowledge if against light of Nature and the Word if against the reluctance of natural Conscience if against many Warnings and Reproofs if they have been committed with security hardness of heart delight greediness pride presumption obstinacy and the like and that you might be convinced of the guâ—lt of sin you must look into the Law in which as in a glass you may see your natural face and all the spots thereof the Law will discover the sin of your natures as it requireth perfect conformity thereunto in habit disposition and inclination and forbiddeth all evil byasses of the will and heart to sin as well as external transgressions Moreover the Law will discover to you your actual sins but then you must look beyond the head Precepts of the Law which are but ten for you must take notice of the several branches belonging to every head which are many as for instance If you would finde out whether you are guilty of Adultery you must not only look upon the Precept as forbidding only the gross outward act Thou shalt not commit Adultery but as reaching to the inward desires and inclinations and so our Saviour Math. 5.28 interprets this Precept that whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart and so in the Precept Thou shalt not kill it is murder not only to take away the life of another by violence but also to be angry with our brother without a cause and so in the other Precepts And as you must look into the Law for Conviction of sin so you must also look into your own Consciences and read what is there registred and compare your hearts and lives with the Law and you should call to minde the places you have lived in the businâ—sses you have been employed about and the circumstances of your lives may bring to remembrance many sins committed long ago with their aggravations You must get thus a conviction of the guilt of your sins especially if you have fallen into any grosser sin in your life as adultery drunkenness theft if you have been guilty of swearing Sabbath-breaking profaneness or the like you must see the heinousness of them and withall you must see that every sin which you have committed is heinous as it is a dishonour to the highest Majesty who is infinitely more exalted above the greatest Earthly Kings and Potentates than they are exalted above the meanest Worm or Flie and for such as you to dishonour and affront him by sin is very heinous This is the first thing a Conviction of your sins which you must endeavour after 2. That you may be sensible of your lost estate you must get a convicâ—ion of the punishment which God hath threatned and you have deserved for your sins will the Lord put up the affronts which are offered to him by his Creatures will he bear the dishonours of his great and glorious Name by sin without punishing the sinnâ—rs No surely his holiness will not permit it his Justice hath been offended and must have satisfaction and therefore he threatneth to punish the offenders most severely God threatneth temporal calamities and death as the wages of sin and because through patience he forbeareth to punish many transgressions so remarkably in this life and the most dreadfull temporal Judgements which he inflicteth upon any are no wayes proportionable to the desert of their sins and the demands of his infinite Justice therefore he threatneth eternal punishment in Hell look into some places of Scripture where the Lord doth denounce severe threatnings against sinners Gal. 3.10 Cursed in every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Rom. 1.18 The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men Eph. 5.6 Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience 2 Thess. 1. 8 9. Christ will come in flaming fire taking vengeance on them which know not God and obey not the Gospel who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power Rom. 2.6 8 9. God will render unto every man according to his deeds to them who are contentious and do not obey the truth indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish on every soul of man that doth evil That you may see and be sensible of your lost estate you must be convinced not only in the general of the justice and equity that such Judgements should be inflicted on sinners because God himself hath denounced them in his Word who cannot be unjust toward his Creatures and because sin hath deserved them being the breach of his Law which is holy and just and good and an offence of an infinite Majesty whose Justice is infinite and must be satisfied with a proportionable punishment unto the offence but also you must be convinced that you are such sinners that you have committed such and such sins that you have broken the Law in such a point and such a point and in every point that you are guilty of fornication or drunkenness or theft or covetousness or lying or profaneness and it may be of all these and more than these The first is the conviction of the Law the second the conviction of the Fact then follows the third conviction which is of the State that therefore you are under the Curse that you are condemned that the wrath of God hangeth over your head and that you must be tormented for sin most horribly and eternally in Hell It is the conviction of the dreadfull punishment of Hell which God hath threatned and unto which you are exposed for sin that will awaken you to a sense of your lost state when the conviction is imprinted deep upon you by the Spirit when you believe that Hell is no Fiction but a reality as certainly prepared for the wicked as God is above preparing places in Heaven for his people and you have a peep-hole as it were into Hell and imagine something of the torments which the damned there do and shall endure for
death for it or discovereth our death and utter insufficiency of our selves to obey its injunctions and have instead thereof their necks put under the sweet and easie yoak of the Law of Christ which is called the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus because life and strength is given by the Spirit of Christ to yield obedience thereunto As Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death And vers 3 4. For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit The Law could not give strength against sin because of the strength of the flesh the Law discovered sin but it could not subdue sin but God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh in which flesh he suffered and offered a sacrifice for sin by which sin or sin-offering as the word sin doth elsewhere signifie as Hos. 4.8 They eat the sins of my people that is the sin-offerings of my people he condemned sin in the flesh sin was hereby judged and condemned to lose its power in his people it was condemned to death which death or sin-offering of Christ hath vertue and influence upon sin to kill it to crucifie it like as Christ was crucified for it and so Gods people are said to be delivered from the Law from the irritating and provoking power of it unto sin that being dead wherein they were held and whereby the Law did stir up such motions that they might serve in newness of spirit Rom. 7.6 that they might yield the fruits of new obedience that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in them sin having lost its strength they have strength from the Spirit of Christ to yield such obedience to the Law as through Christ shall be accepted And with this deliverance of people from the rigour and irritation of the Law is conjoyned their deliverance also from the curse and malediction by Jesus Christ who was made a curse for them instead whereof the blessing of Abraham the father of the faithfull is given unto them as it is expresly said Gal. 3.13 14. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through Faith 4. When they are saved from the eternal damnation of Hell all unbelieving sinners are under the sentence of damnation Ioh. 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already they are condemned by the great Judge unto an utter exclusion from the glorious presence of the Lord in that place of joy and happiness which is above and to endure most horrid extream and endless anguish and torment in soul and body in the place of utter darkness which is beneath where their worm shall never dye and where the fire shall never be quenched This sentence is dreadfull and all unbelievers are lyable every moment to the execution thereof upon their souls So soon as God shall give commission to the Serjeant Death to arrest them and clap up their bodies into the Prison of the grave then their souls being found guilty will be delivered into the hand of the Devil the Jailor of Hell whither he will drag them and where they must remain full of anguish through sense of Gods immediate wrath wherewith they will be filled and bound up in chains of darkness and wo untill the Judgement of the great day on which great day the Lord Jesus Christ will be sent by God to judge the whole world together and they shall be brought forth in chains to his barre and having reassumed their bodies shall be judged by him soul and body unto the flames of everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels and O the dread and horrour which will then possess them O the howlings and bitter lamentations which then they will make when the God of Heaven shall execute the fierceness of his anger upon them for their sins in the extream and remediless torments of Hell which shall never have an end The sentence of eternal damnation which all unbelievers whilest such are under here is dreadfull yet whilest here it is reversible whilest the reprieve of execution lasteth a repeal of the sentence may be obtained by an appeal from the Court of the Law to the Court of Chancery from the Barr of Gods Justice to the Throne of Grace by application of themselves unto Christ to be their Advocate and of his Righteousness to themselves by Faith whereby Justice hath been satisfied and they may be acquitted People are saved from eternal damnation when through an interest in Christ they obtain pardoning mercy and so are freed from all obligation to punishment by their sins hence it is said that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus Rom. 8.1 and they that believe are not condemned Joh. 3.18 and that because Jesus is their Saviour and hath delivered them from the wrath which is to come 1 Thess. 1.10 Believers have a title to eternal salvation here through their title to Christ it is sure and they may be assured of it but hereafter they shall actually obtain it at the day of Judgement and perdition of the ungodly when the wicked shall be condemned and thrust into the place of torments they shall be acquitted saved and received into Heavenly Mansions prepared by their Redeemer for them in his Fathers house where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore and so they shall march along with him unto the Zion which is above with shouting and the voice of triumph with Songs in their mouths and unspeakable delight in their hearts they shall then obtain everlasting joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away and no place be found for it to dwell where they shall take up their eternal abode This is the Salvation which is here meant and which God hath promised to shew unto them who believe and order their conversation aright And thus you see what it is for a people to be saved SECT V. 2. THE second thing is To shew what those Words are which Ministers are to tell people whereby they may be saved And here I shall for the present speak only of those words which the Apostle Peter told Cornelius whereby he and his house were saved there was great power and vertue which went along with them for it is said whilest he was speaking of them the Holy Ghost fell upon the Gentiles unto whom he preached as upon the Apostles themselves at the beginning chap. 10.44 and therefore they are worthy your serious regard possibly you that are unconverted in the hearing or reading
Earth and hath put all things under his feet and all power into his hand and appointed him to be head over all unto his Church He is the King of Saints whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and whose Scepter is a Scepter of Righteousness he hath given Laws to his people with great wisdom and ruleth in their hearts with great power and whosoever will not submit to his Sceptâ—r to be ruled by his Laws he will break them in pieces with his Iâ—on Rod. Thus concerning Christs Vâ—ction to his Offices 2. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Life that he went about doing good His Life was holy free from sin he did no evil no injury to any man he was harmless his whole employment was to do good Never was there such a man living upon the face of the Earth who never committed any sin in his life neither in thought word or deed Some indeed have said they had no sin but they have lied for no man liveth that sinneth not but Christ was born without sin and lived without sin he was perfectly good and righteous and he did good His Life was exactly according to the Rule he fulfilled the Law not only by his passive but also by his active Obedience 3. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Miâ—acles whereof they were witnesses instance is given of his casting out Devils likely he told them of more of his calming the Winds and Sea with a word his feeding five thousand with five Loaves his opening the eyes of them which were born blinde his raising the dead that had been buried several dayes and the like which works were a testimony of his Divinity and that he came from the Father 4. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Death Him they slew and hanged upon a tree Christ humbled himself not only to take upon him our Humane Nature to be born of a mean Virgin and live in a low condition when he was Lord of all and God equall with the Father to take upon him the form of a servant but he humbled himself further to become obedient unto Death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.6 7 8. It was a cursed disgracefull lingering and painfull death which he endured and however it was inflicted upon him by the hands of cruel blood-thirsty men yet it was according to the fore-appointment of God for the satisfaction of Gods Justice for the expiation of Mans sin it was not only for an example of suffering to men but in the room and stead of sinners who otherwise must all have unavoidably perished and for the ratification of the New Testament and Covenant of Grace So that the salvation of Man from sin and Hell and the Inheritance of glory and happiness doth depend upon the Death of Christ which was the purchase hereof 5. Peter speaketh to them concerning Christs Resurrection Him hath God raised from the dead and shewed openly Though Christ dyed and was buried yet the bands of death could not hold him and the Holy One did not see corruption his body was not so long in the grave as to putâ—â—fie but within three dayes he arose again from the dead and was seen of Mary Magdalen first after of two Disciples as they went unto Immaus after of Peter and all the Apostles after of above five hundred Brethren at once He was declared to be Man by his death he was declared to be the Son of God with power by the Spirit of holiness in him which raised him from the dead forty dayes he remained upon the Earth after his Resurrection and then was caught up to the Throne of God in the presence of his Disciples and there he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore whose Resurrection as it hath an influence upon the spiritual Resurrection of his people from sin who when dead in sin are quickened by the same Spirit which raised him up So it is the first fruits of the resurrection of his people from the grave who in their order and Gods appointed time shall be awakened out of their long sleep of death and come forth of the dust and be caught up to meet him in the Air at his last appearance to Judge the World which is the next thing Peter speaketh of Christ. 6. Peter speaketh to them concerning Gods ordination of Iesus Christ to be the Iudge of quick and dead God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in Righteousness and hath ordained Jesus Christ to be the Judge who will so soon as the mystery is finished and the Elect are gathered come down from Heaven where now he is with a great shout and the sound of a Trumpet and awaken all the dead and summon the whole world to his barr and render unto all according to their works to them that have repented and believed and by patient continuance in well-doing have sought for glory and honour and immortality he will give eternal life but to them which have been impenitent and hard-hearted and disobedient to the Gospel he will give indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish and sentence them to eternal Death 7. Peter speaketh to them concerning Christs Mission of them to preach He sent the Apostles to preach repentance and remission of sins in his Name and he hath appointed the Office of the Ministry to continue to the end of the World for the calling and conversion of those which belong to the Election of Grace and the building up and perfecting the Saints which are called untill they all come into the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.12 13. Thus the Apostle Peter preacheth Christ unto Cornelius and them which were with him SECT IX 4. AND lastly Peter speaks to them concerning the Way of Salvation by Christ vers 43. To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of sins There is no Name under Heaven whereby we can be saved but the Name of Christ Act. 4.11 and there is no salvation by Christ but by Faith When the Jaylor with trembling enquired of Paul and Silas What shall I do to be saved they tell him Believe in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Act. 16.30 31. There are three Arguments which will evidently prove That all such as truely believe in Christ do receive remission of sins and consequently are in a state of Salvation The First may be drawn from Christs Satisfaction The Second from Christs Intercession The Third from the Promises of the New Testament I. First from Christs Satisfaction If Christ hath fully satisfied Gods Justice for the sins of men and this satisfaction be accepted by the Father in the behalf of sinners and this satisfaction be imputed unto all them that truely believe in Christ as if they bad made it themselves Then all those that
set forth the Lord Jesus Christ in his Divinity and eternal abode with God in his Humanity with which he cloathed and vailed himself and abode for a while here amongst men in his Life so holy his Works so powerfull his Love so great his Death so painfull his Resurrection so soon his Ascension so wonderfull his Session and Intercession at the right hand of God and the Glory which he hath with the Father in Heaven however he had been vilified by some men when he was upon the Earth The Angel could have preached the Law with such Thunder and Lightning as should have made the Conscience of Cornelius to tremble even as the Israelites did when the Law was given by their ministration on Mount Sinai He could have shot the arrows of the Almighty so deep into his Spirit as no balm on earth should have been able to heal his wounds The Angel could have represented the God of Heaven in a more terrible way than man can do as Lord of an innumerable host of mighty Angels of which he was but one and as set in battel-array against Christless sinners and told Cornelius what dreadfull threatnings were denounced and what heavy Curses did belong unto such as had broken Gods Law and hereby could have put him into such terrors and consternation in reflection upon the least guilt as should have sunk him down to the very brink of the burning Lake in his own apprehension and forced him in the anguish of his spirit to cry out O what shall I do to be saved And then he could have represented the Lord Jesus Christ unto him as the only and an all-sufficient and most mercifull Saviour of Mankinde who had undertaken the Office of Mediatour and Advocate and was faithfull He could have described his beauty and excellency in such high expressions and invited Cornelius to come to Christ with such sweet words and pressing arguments as never proceeded out of the mouth of any man But the Angel had no commission to preach the Gospel to Cornelius only to speak to him from God that he would send men to Ioppa and call for Peter and he should preach the Gospel unto him And as it was in the beginning so it is still God doth not send Angels down from Heaven to preach Christ and Salvation by Christ unto the people but he sendeth Ministers men whom he qualifieth and commissioneth for the work The Reasons why God doth make use of Ministers to preach the Gospel rather than Angels may be chiefly these three 1. Because of our Infirmity 2. For the honour of the Ministry 3. That he might secure his own Glory Reas. 1. Because of our Infirmity We could not in this state of darkness weakness and sinfulness bear the preaching of Angels that are so holy and glorious Our eyes would be dazled our spirits would be amazed and hearts sink within us at the voice of Angels should they appear unto us in their glory Manoah thought he should dye when an Angel came to him and foretold him of a Son which should be born to him Iudg. 13. Zacharias was sore troubled at the appearance of an Angel with the like message Lâ—k 1. The Shepheards in the Field were exceedingly afraid when the Angel came to them to bring tidings of the birth of our Saviour Luk. 2. And Christs Disciples were no less afraid when the Angels brought news to them of his Resurrection And if holy men could not bear the appearance of Angels much less could the unholy and wicked whose guilt and defilement would make them a thousand-fold more fearfull If an Angel should immediately descend from Heaven into this place and taking my room should preach unto this Auditory before me would not fearfull thoughts arise in the hearts and paleness get upon the checks of the best amongst you But what dread would there seize upon the spirits of such of you as are graceless and profane who are yet in your sins and have not made your peace with God How would you shrink and croud out faster than you crouded in as not being able to endure When Moses had been forty dayes upon the Mount with God and had seen only his back-parts yet his face did shine with such lustre by reflexion of the beams of Gods Majesty upon him that the children of Israel could not look upon his face without a Vail And if Angels who continually behold the face of God in Heaven should come down and appear and preach men would not be able to hear and bear Therefore God maketh use of Ministers to preach the Gospel men of like passions and infirmities with our selves for our infirmities sake Men who will not affrighten us with their glory whom we may look upon without dazling our eyes whom we may speak unto and converse with familiarly without dread and terrour As Elihu said of himself to Iob chap. 33.6 7. So it may be said of Ministers they are in Gods stead and yet formed out of clay and their terrour shall noâ— make us afraid Reas. 2. For the honour of the Ministery Jesus Christ himself the Son of God was a Minister when he was upon the Earth and his employment was to preach the Gospel and the highest spiritual honour that can be conferred upon any is to be Christs Embassadours Representatives and to succeed him in this office and work of the Ministery which honour he hath conferred upon some men rather than Angels I am not of their opinion who think that Gods people are exalted to a higher dignity than the Angels neither do I think the consequences to be right from Heb. 1 1â— on which this Notion is grounded Are they not all ministring spirits speaking of Angels sent forth to minister for them which shall be heirs of salvation It doth not follow because Angels do minister to the Saints therefore they are inferiour to the Saints for Jesus Christ himself did minister to them though he be their Lord and King when he washed his Disciples feet in which act he appeared so like a servant yet then he calleth himself their Lord and Master Ioh. 13.13 Ministring to others doth not imply inferiority unless it be such as doth withall imply dependency but rather the contrary our Saviour telleth his Disciples when he perceived them to be ambitious of greatness that whoever would be the greatest amongst them should be their Minister Math. 20.26 Indeed our humane Nature in Christ is exalted above Angels but in other respects we are inferiour to Angels The Angels are above us in regard of spirituality they are all spirit we are partly flesh and but partly spirit In regard of immortality they never dye we cannot escape death long In regard of purity they have not the least tincture of sin the most holy persons on earth are not without some remainders of defilement In regard of neerness unto God they dwell with God in Heaven and behold his face continually we are on earth and see
Devils so when our first Parents sinned they were cast out of Paradice and since all sinners are out of favour yea they lye under Gods anger and displeasure until they be reconciled All the children of men are by nature the children of wrath Eph. 2.3 And God is angry with the wicked every day Psal. 7.11 They have a natural enmity in their hearts against God and his Law Rom. 8.7 and God is an enemy unto them yea hath a hatred in his heart against all the workers of iniquity Psal. 5.6 God is an enemy unto the wicked because of their sins and this is worse ten thousand degrees than 〈◊〉 they had all the creatures in the world their enemies because of the power of his anger which none ca◠resist when once he suffers it to break forth We read of the stout-hearted and men of might th◠chariot and horse cast into a dead sleep at one o◠Gods rebukes and who can stand in his sight wher◠once he is angry Psal. 76.5 6 7. And God is coming forth with armed vengeance against his enemies he hath prepared instruments of death he hath whe◠his sword and girt it upon his thigh yea drawn it forth and lifted up his arm to strike he hath bent his bow and made ready his arrows upon the string and sinners can neither fly from him nor defend themselves against him Then a people are saved indeed when they are saved from Gods displeasure when his anger and the guilt of their sin which is the cause is removed when their peace is made with God through the mediation of Jesus Christ when God forgiveth all their sins and accepteth of them as perfectly righteous in his sight through the imputation of his Sons righteousness unto them and so puts up and layeth aside his sword unbends his bow and casts it behind his back and receiveth them into favour as if they had never offended him 2. When they are saved from the slavery of the Devil and their own lusts All the wicked are spiritual slaves and vassals they are in worse than Egyptian bondage their thraldom and captivity is greater than that of the Iews once to the Babylonians The Devil hath his fetters upon their hands and feet and leadeth them captive by the chains of their own lusts at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 They are shut up as it were in prison and lye in a deep dark dungeon where no light doth shine they are fallen into a horrible pit and their feet stick in the miery clay they are sunk into deep waters and the stream is gone over their soul they are fallen into a deadly sickness and a loathsome disease hath seized upon their spirits they are full of boils and blains and putrifying sores all this and a thousand times worse is their condition through the power and reign of sin in them then a people are saved in a spiritual sense when they are redeemed from sin and Satan when the Lord Jesus Christ doth rescue them out of the Devils chains when he leadeth captivity captive spoileth principalities and powers and snatcheth them like a prey out of the teeth of the roaring Lion when he delivereth them from the power of darkness and translateth them into the houshold and family of God when he brings them out of the house of bondage and leads them out of Egypt through the Red Sea of his own blood in which he drowneth and destroyeth their Egyptian lusts which do pursue them when he openeth the prison doors and pulls them out of the deep dungeon and knocks off the chains from their feet when he breaks the bonds of the Devil and sin and brings them forth into freedom and enlargement when he takes them out of the pit and draws them out of the water when he healeth their sickness cleanseth and cureth their putrifying sores I mean when he delivereth them from the power of sin which entangled overwhelmed and defiled them and was more dangerous than any sickness of body could be unto them then they are saved when Satan is taken off and sin hath no more dominion over them and the Throne of Christ is erected in their hearts and his graces implanted there which do beautifie them instead of lust which did besmear and deform them when being made free from sin and Satan they are become the Servants of God and yield up their members as instruments of righteousness Rom. 6.13 22. when they are enabled to overcome the Devil and his temptations and to crucifie the flesh with its lusts and affections when the old Serpent is wounded in the head and cast out and the old man is wounded in the heart and its reigning power taken down and they are made victorious through Christ the Captain of their salvation who loveth them 3. When they are saved from the Law not only from the yoak and bondage of the Ceremonial Law which the Iewish Church of old was under which required many burdensome expensive and more carnal services but also from the rigour irritation curse and malediction of the Moral Law The Law is like the Egyptian Task-masters who required Brick of the Israelites but gave no Straw it requireth duty perfect obedience but giveth no strength it discovereth sin but giveth no power to overcome it and it enjoyneth service but it giveth no ability to perform it therefore the Law is said to be weak through sinful flesh Rom. 8.3 Yea the Law when it breaketh in with a full spiritual light and conviction of sin upon the spirit forbidding heart concupiscence and the least motion or inclination of the soul to sin and pressing to spiritual and heart-purity and obedience it is so far from beating down and killing the power of sin and from strengthening the soul and enabling it unto obedience that it doth revive the power of sin which seemed to be dead before in the soul and occasionally doth irritate and provoke to all manner of concupiscence the discovering it awakens the enmity of the heart against it self which lay before dormant As the Apostle doth complain Rom. 7.5 For when we were in the flesh the motions of sin which were by the Law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death And v. 7 8. Sin taking occasion by the Law wrought in me all manner of concupiscence for without the Law sin was dead but when the Commandment came sin revived and I dyed Moreover the Law doth curse all the children of men that are within its power and reach because of their sins which none are wholly free from Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them People are saved from the Law when they are delivered from the rigorous yoak of the Moral Law which is called the Law of sin and death as it occasioneth sin and threatneth
Chrisâ— Repent or else you will all certainly perish Luk. 13.3 Repent or else iniquity will be your ruine Ezek 18.30 Repent or else ye cannot be saved When thâ—â— Jews who had crucified the Lord of glory heard Peters Sermon which ripped up their sin and they being pricked in their hearts cry out to Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren What shall we do Act. 2.37 We have committed a great sin and what shall we now do What course shall we take that we may be saved from that eternal wrath and death which we have deserved The Apostle directs them to Repent for the remission of sin vers 38. And will not conscience accuse you of the guilt of sin Are there no drunkards in this place no swearers none that have committed adultery and been unclean in secret places no unrighteous persons that have defrauded their neighbour no Sabbath-breakers nor profane persons no lyars nor covetous persons and are not the most civil and morally honest of you all that are out of Christ guilty of many heart-sins yea and lip-sins and some gross slips in your life which conscience doth sometimes twinge you for Are not you guilty of impenitency and hardness of heart and unbelief and want of love to God and his Son and neglect of your own salvation Let me tell you all that have not yet repented that unless ye repent and that speedily ye shall all perish certainly and ye shall be miserable everlastingly Repent of your sins mourn for sin and turn from sin or else you will weep for sin hereafter to no purpose and burn for sin for ever Loath sin and leave sin or else Christ will disdain you at the last day and sentence you to depart from him into everlasting fire Confess sin and forsake sin or else you will finde no mercy here nor end or the least asswagement of misery in the other world Drunkards repent of your sins you have felt after your revellings and excessive carousings your heads ake and have vomited up your drink sometimes O that you could now feel your hearts ake and that you would vomit up your sin by repentance Swearers repent of your sins you have taken Gods Name in vain yea even torn it in pieces by your oaths O that you would hallow Gods Name in confessing your sin and that you would rend and tear your hearts with sorrow for the affronts you have by your oaths offered to the highest Majesty Adulterers and unclean persons repent of your sins you have tasted sweetness in your â—oul sins O labour to taste bitterness in grief for your sins that you may not feel the bitterness of hell torments which without repentance will certainly be your portion Unrighteous persons lyars covetous persons repent or you will not escape Gods righteous judgements Sabbath-breakers get your hearts broken for your sins or else God will break you to pieces with his Iron Rod. Prophane persons and all ye that have sinned more grosly repent and humble your selves before the Lord the more deeply The most crimson and scarlet â—ins may be washed away those who embrewed their hands in the blood of Christ were forgiven upon repentance and there may be hope of remission for the worst of you if you repent And you that have been more civil yet under the power of some sin which hath reigned in your hearts though it hath not broken forth so notoriously in your lives and have moreover lived in the neglect of Christ and your own salvation by him not perceiving your need so much of him Let me tell you as our Saviour told the Scribes and Pharisees that sometimes Publicans and Harlots the vilest and most notorious come into the Kingdom of Heaven sooner than you because they are more readily awakened and humbled and made sensible of their need of Christ than the civil and fair dealing men and women who are very apt to lean and trust to their own righteousness without such earnest seeking of the righteousness of Christ to justifie them Therefore let me warn you also to repent of your sins of heart-sins and Gospel-sins which are the greatest sins and will certainly sink you without repentance Look upon your own righteousness as filthy raggs and cast it away and loath your selves and be perswaded that if ever you be pardoned and saved you must be as much beholding to free grace as the vilest sinner 2. Peter tells them that God sent a Word of Peace which was preached by Iesus Christ. It is said Ioh. 1.17 The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth and I may add peace too came by Iesus Christ. The Law which came by Moses was given for this end to lead men yea it was a School-master to whip men to Christ and God did enjoyn those legal services upon his people that they might look to Christ in them and look for Christ who should deliver them from that yoak of bondage The Law which was from Mount Sinai gendereth to bondage and was given with thunderings and lightnings to awaken men and in preaching of the Law God giveth a spirit of bondage to work men to fear and repentance But Christ came in a more mild way and in a more soft and still voice preached Peace and the Gospel of Reconciliation The word of Peace was that which the Angels preached unto the Shepherds at Christs birth Luk. 2.14 Glory be to God in the highest on earth peace and good will towards men Peace was that which Christ preached in his life Ephes. 2.17 He came and preached Peace to you which were afar off and to them which were nigh Peace was that which Christ purchased by his death Col. 1.20 He made Peace by the blood of his Cross. Peace was that which he spake to his Disciples at his appearance after his resurrection Ioh. 20.19 Iesus came and stood in the midst of them and said Peace be unto you Peace he left with his Disciples behind him as a Legacy when he was to go away from them Ioh. 14.27 Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you And Peace he commissioned his Disciples to preach unto the world Mark 16.5 Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel unto every creature Which Gospel is a Gospel of Peace containing glad tidings of good things Rom. 10.15 Christ preached Peace not Peace with men though this also he would have his Disciples endeavour after as much as in them lyeth to live peaceably with all men Rom. 12.28 and to follow after peace with all men so far as it consisteth with holiness and a pure conscience Heb. 12.14 For he tells his Disciples Luk. 12.51 Suppose ye that I am come to give Peace on earth I tell you nay but rather division Whatever peaceable disposition he taught and his Gospel doth work in the heart where it prevails yet accidentally it causeth division and stirreth up to opposition in those that will not yield obedience thereunto and
truely believe in Christ do receive remission of sins inasmuch as guilt being an obligation to punishment and where satisfaction is made this obligation is removed 1. But first Christ hath made satisfaction to Gods Justice for the sins of men he only was qualified to do it and he hath actually done it 1. Christ only was qualified to do it no meer man could make it because Gods Justice being infinite requireth an infinite satisfaction and all Creatures are finite but Christ was more than a Creature he was God and Man in one person It was necessary that he should be a Creature because otherwise he could not have suffered the Deity being impassible it was necessary he should be Man because Gods Justice required that the same Nature which did commit sin the same Nature should suffer punishment for it Gen. 2.17 In the day thou eatest thereof Thou a Man shalt die Therefore Christ took not upon him the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham Heb. 2.16 And it was necessary that he should be God because otherwise he could never have born up under nor have got loose from that dreadfull punishment which was inflicted upon him It would have sunk the whole Creation under its weight Because otherwise his Merits would not have been of infinite value and fully satisfactory to Gods Justice therefore he was God and Man in one person and so duly qualified to make satisfaction 2. Christ hath actually made satisfaction to Gods Justice for Mans sin he hath born the punishment which their sins did deserve 1 Pet. 2.24 Who his own self bare our sins that is the punishment of our sins in his own body on the tree Isa. 53.5 He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and the chastisment of our peace was upon him And Ephes. 5.2 He hath given himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour which leadeth to the second particular 2. This satisfaction which Christ hath made unto Gods Justice is accepted in the behalf of sinners There might be sufficiency of value in Christs sufferings and sacrifice to make satisfaction for the sins of the whole world and yet God might have required the satisfaction from the offending party and received the debt from none but sinners themselves that owed it but God hath accepted Christs satisfaction as is evident 1. From Gods eternal Covenant with him that if he would make his soul an offering for sin he should see his seed and should prosper in his work Isa. 53.10.2 From his sealing and setting him apart for the office and work of Mediatour Ioh. 6.27 Him hath God the Father sealed 3. From his mission or sending him into the world for this very end Ioh. 3.16 Gal. 4.5 4. From his owning of him when he was sent and that both by a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and by his large effusion of the Spirit upon him which did appear in his life so holy his doctrine so pure his miracles so powerfull 5. From his raising him up from the dead on the third day where he must have continued for ever if having undertaken to satisfie he had not done it and it had not been accepted 6. From his receiving him up into glory and setting him at his right hand and hearing his prayers in the behalf of sinners All which Arguments do abundantly prove Gods acceptation of Christs satisfaction 3. The satisfaction is as really imputed unto true Believers as if they had made it themselves Forasmuch as Faith doth appropriate Christ and his Righteousness and therefore Christ is called speaking of Believers the Lord our Righteousness Ier. 23.6 And we are called through the imputation of the merits of his death by faith The Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 Christs Righteousness is made over to Believers by Faith as if it were their own If then Christ hath fully satisfied Gods Justice for the sins of men and this satisfaction is accepted by the Father in behalf of sinners and imputed unto all true Believers then all true Believers are absolved from the guilt of sin and that not only upon the account of mercy but justice too which cannot require a double satisfaction therefore God is said as he is just to justifie them which believe Rom. 3.28 II. The second Argument to prove that all true Believers do receive remission of sins may be drawn from Christs intercession If Christ doth intercede for the remission of sins and this intercession be prevalent with the Father and all true Believers have an interest in this intercession then all true Believers do receive remission of sins 1. But first Christ doth intercede for the remission of sins Heb. 7.25 Heb. 2.17 He intercedeth for reconciliation therefore for remission of sins 2. This Intercession is prevalent with the Father Whatever Christ prayed for on earth he obtained Ioh. 11.42 Surely then his intercession in Heaven is prevalent which might be made further evident from his neerness and interest in the Father from the dear love of the Father unto him and because his intercession for remission of sins is for that which he hath purchased by his death and what the Father hath purposed and promised and is for his glory to give 3. All true Believers have an interest in Christs Intercession having by faith an interest in Christs person they have an interest in Christs intercession III. The third Argument to prove that all true Believers do receive remission of sins may be drawn from the promise of remission of sins in the New Testament Heb. 8.12 I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their sins and â—niquities will I remember no more Which New Testament is of full force through the death of Christ the Testator Heb. 9.16 17. And Believers have an interest in and by faith do apply the promises to themselves therefore true Believers do receive remission of sins Thus concerning Peters Sermon to Cornelius and them which were with him and the words which he spake to them whereby they were saved SECT X. 3. THE third thing is to shew How Ministers must tell people words whereby they may be saved Now this must be done 1. Sincerely 2. Plainly 3. Convincingly 4. Boldly 5. Compassionately 6. Warmly 7. Earnestly 8. Frequently 1. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Sincerely and that both as to the matter and as to the design 1. As to the Matter the Doctrine of salvation which they preach must be sincere in Doctrine they must shew uncorruptness sincerity sound speech which cannot be condemned Tit. 2.7 8. The Apostle complains of many who corrupt the Word 2 Cor. 2.17 The Word is corrupted when the Scripture is wrested and the sense perverted when errours and damnable opinions are broached and vented for truths and mingled with some truths of the word which will bring destruction and not salvation to them that receive them 2
eternal death and wrath which they have deserved and by sin are exposed unto Moreover you may here learn the reason why so many people especially those who most seriously and earnestly desire and endeavour their salvation choose to hear Ministers preach rather than others because they are commissioned by the Lord to preach the Word of salvation and their Ministry is most likely to be effectual Others may preach without a Commission the same words and do no good for want of Gods blessing It is not the bare speaking the words of salvation that will bring salvation but the revelation of Gods arm and operation of his Spirit with the Ministry of the Word As when our Saviour raised Lazarus from the dead he cryed with a loud voice Lazarus come forth and he that was dead received life and came forth Ioh. 11.43 44. Others could have spoken the same words as our Saviour and cryed over the grave with as loud a voice Lazarus come forth but with no effect the dead man would have remained still in the state of the dead whatever any man could have spoken or done but when our Saviour spake the words the dead man was quickened there went forth a vertue and efficacy a divine power and spirit with our Saviours words which raised him from the dead so uncommissioned persons may entrench upon the work of the Ministry and preach the Gospel speak words of salvation and cry to sinners to leave their sins to arise from their spiritual death to come forth from their graves they may exhort them to repent and believe that they may be saved and yet none of their words be likely to take impression and effect a saving change in the heart because being out of Gods way they cannot expect Gods blessing but Ministers are qualified and commissioned for the work and through Gods blessing there is a life and power goeth along with their preaching which maketh it effectual for salvation no wonder then if such as are led by the Spirit do choose to hear Ministers preach refusing others that they may be safely guided by them in the way of life and salvation SECT XIII Vse 2. FOR Reproof 1. Of Ministers 2. Of People 1. Are Ministers to tell people words whereby they may be saved this then reproves such Ministers 1. As do not preach at all 2. As do not preach soul-saving Truths 3. As do not preach in such a Way as is likely to do good But my business being chiefly to speak unto People I shall pass by this Use. 2. People are here to be reproved unto whom the Lord sends faithfull Ministers to tell them such words whereby they may be saved 1. It reproves such as persecute such Ministers that are of such a spirit as the wicked Iewes of old spoken of 1 Thess. 2.15 16. Who both killed the Lord Iesus and their own Prophets and persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary unto all men forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved to fill up their sin alway for wrath is come upon them to the uttermost Some there are that persecute Ministers with the tongue by reproaching of them others persecute Ministers with the hand by imprisoning of them and many other wayes afflicting of them seeking the extirpation of them as persons not fit to live upon the face of the earth thus ungratefully they endeavour the ruine of them that desire and seek their salvation and foolishly endeavour to blow out the light which would shew them the way to Heaven 2. It reproves such who if they do not persecute Ministers yet hate them bear a secret spight and enmity in their hearts against them and the reason is because they testifie that their works are evil upon which account our Saviour was hated Ioh. 7.7 they hate them because they reprove them for their sins and disturb their Consciences sometimes by sounding peals of Judgement in their ears that they cannot sin with that freedom and security as they desire Poor souls how will they endure the pains of Hell themselves that cannot endure the sore-thoughts of them and hate them which bring such sad thoughts into their mindes though it be in order to their escape Would any of you hate a neighbour that should cry aloud in the dead of the night Fire fire and bounce at your doors and awaken you out of your sleep to warn you of a Fire drawing neer to your habitation which if not prevented would burn house and goods and persons together And what do Ministers more than cry Fire fire and tell you of your near approach to everlasting burnings in which without some speedy course taken for prevention will certainly seize upon you and consume you everlastingly And have any reason to be troubled and offended and hate Ministers for awakening them upon such an account as this when their souls lie at stake and are in such danger A Physician of the body is not hated that tells his Patient that his disease is dangerous which if let alone without taking such a remedy will certainly be his death And have any reason to hate Ministers who are Physicians of the Soul because they tell men of the disease of sin which if not cured by the blood of Christ will certainly and may suddenly bring eternal death 3. It reproves such who if they do not so deeply hate Ministers yet will not be perswaded to hear them such as are so drencht in the World and so over head and ears in worldly business that they minde nothing else If any could tell them of a good bargain or some notable way of thriving in their Estates such a one they would visit and hear and O how would they relish such discourses But though Ministers give notice of the best bargain that ever was made and bring tydings of the most notable way of thriving namely of the way of thriving in spiritual and heavenly riches and shew men how they may gain pardon and peace and the favour of God and the graces of the Spirit and escape future misery and attain salvation and everlasting happiness yet like Gallio they minde none of these things they will not step over the threshold to hear Ministers preach the Gospel of salvation and how shall they escape who neglect so great salvation Heb. 2.3 4. It reproves such who if they do hear Ministers yet do not understand them that are so dull of hearing that they know not what Ministers say nor whereof they affirm that gather about a Minister as beasts about a Man that sounds a Trumpet and stare upon him but know not what the meaning of the sound is so they hear Ministers and look and stare upon them some strange things are brought to their ears which they know not the meaning of and are like words of another language to them because their eyes are closed and they want spiritual sense and discerning and a great reason is because they do
name of Christians are ignorant or profane or only civil and morall and live in the total neglect of the salvation of the Gospel and such cannot possibly attain salvation that do not at all seek after it And of them that make some profession of Religion and do something in order to salvation many shall not be able to attain it our Saviour saith that many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able because they do not seek in a right manner because they do not seek salvation chiefly they seek the satisfaction of their lusts before the salvation of their souls because they do not seek it diligently they are careless and formal in the use of the means of salvation they seek but they do not strive to enter in at the strait gate they do not press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling and therefore they fall short and miss of it there are but few that strive to enter in at the strait gate that strive as wrestlers in wrestling or racers in running or warriours in fighting as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth signifie few that seek their salvation above all other things and with all their heart and might few that are resolved for salvation whatever it cost them whatever they do or suffer for it unto which resolution and endeavour all must come or else they cannot be saved and these being so few certainly there are but few that shall be saved More plainly our Saviour speaks to the same purpose Math. 7.13 14. Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat because strait is the gate and narrow the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that finde it The gate and way of sin which leads to death and Hell are wide and broad and the most in the world are passing thorow this gate and walking in this way the course of the world is a course of sin the end of which course is destruction and the reason why so many go in at the gate of sin which is the outer gate of Hell is because strait is the gate and narrow the way which leadeth unto life because of the difficulties in the way of life and salvation which require much pains and diligence if we would go thorow them we must give all diligence if we would make our calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling if we would attain salvation Phil. 1.12 we must labour if we would enter into Rest Heb. 4.12 we must strive if we would enter in at the strait gate Luk. 13.24 we must run if we would obtain the prize 1 Cor. 9.24 we must fight the good fight of Faith if we would lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6.12 the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence saith our Saviour and the violent take it by force Math. 11.12 we must lay siege to Heaven if we would take it and wiâ—h force and violence overcome those potent enemies the Devil the Flesh and the World who would draw or drive us away from the walls and gates of the New Ierusalem It is not an easie thing to be saved the way to Heaven is narrow and it lyeth up hill our endeavours for Heaven especially at the first are like climbing up a steep hill like hewing a way thorow hard rocks like swimming against a strong stream like cutting hard wood against the grain and because of the opposition and difficulty in the way of salvation therefore there be but few that finde the path thereof most choose a broader and easier way It is evident then from what hath been said that this salvation is Rare and scarce the consideration whereof should not discourage you but quicken you unto the greater diligence in your endeavours after it the rarity of it sheweth the worth and excellency of it Jewels and precious stones are rare and hard to be got what difficulties will some goe thorow what dangerous voyages unto the uttermost parts of the Earth will some undertake to bring home some rare things but especially the consideration withall of the necessity of salvatioâ— of which in the next particular should quicken you to seek after it Think with your selves my beloved think seriously and think frequently that there are but few that shall be saved and then examine what reason you have to think that you are in the number of those few When our Saviour told his Disciples that but one of them should betray him they looked one upon another and every one asked him Lord is it I there was none of them without their fears which made them so inquisitive and they seem to be in pain untill they are resolved what then would they have thought and said how fearfull would they have been if our Saviour had told them that the most of them should have betrayed him yea that all of them should betray him but one May not I without uncharitableness say that not one in twelve no nor one in twenty no nor one in a hundred in this City and Nation shall be saved If I should tell you that hear me this day that some of you will be damned yea that many of you will be damned yea that most of you will be damned and that but few of this great company will be saved should I be a false Prophet I will not say it will be thus neither can I do it because this is Gods secret much less do I desire it should be thus for the end of my preaching is that you all might be saved but let me tell you that I fear that many of you here present will be found in the number of those many our Saviour speaketh of that shall seek to enter in at the strait gate and shall not be able our Saviour told his Auditors that flocked to hear him thus and are you better than they you all seek to enter in at the strait gate by coming into this place where the Gospel is preached and where the gate is set open before you but are there not many amongst you that seek in a careless and negligent manner May not I say of all the seekers here that there are but few that strive to enter in at the strait gate Do you all or the most look as if you had your eye upon the mark and glorious prize before you and were pressing with all your might towards it do you hear as if it were for your lives as if you might hear words this day whereby you may be saved do you pray and seek as if you were in earnest as if you were resolved to take Heaven by violence and whatever you were denyed in would not be denyed your salvation Such as do not strive shall never get thorow the strait gate Think with your selves It may be that many in this place shall be damned
reconciliation attainable O what shall I do to be saved I cannot save my self and no creature can help me but is there no other way Thus you must see and be sensible that you are lost in your selves if you would be saved Direction 2. You must mourn for sin if you would be saved except ye repent saith our Saviour ye shall all likewise perish Luk. 13.3 Those that laugh and rejoyce now in a way of sin shall mourn and weep for it for ever to no purpose Luk 6.25 But blessed are they that mourn for sin now for they shall be comforted and saved Matth. 5.4 The seed time of repentance accompanied with the showers of tears will return with the harvest of salvation and sheaves of joy and comfort Psal. 126.5 6. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy he that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoycing bringing his sheaves with him Therefore see what the Apostle exhorteth unto which is necessary to your salvation Iam. 4.9 Be afflicted and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into heaviness Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up Sinners you have delighted your selves in sin you must now be afflicted for it sin hath been sweet in your mouth it must now be bitter to your heart God calls you to salvation by his Son but withall he calls you to weeping and mourning and deep humiliation in order hereunto not that your tears can wash off the guilt of your sins nothing can do this but the blood of Christ not that God delights in your griefs and sorrows as such but because mourning is needful for you to prepare you for Christ and Salvation by him whilst sin is sweet unto your taste you will roll it under your tongue and hug it in your bosom you will spare it and nothing will perswade you to part with it but when you taste the bitterness of sin in compunction and sorrow for it then you will spit it out when you perceive the gall and the wormwood then your mouth will be put out of rellish then you will desire no longer to suck at the breast of sin whilst you are insensible of sin you will be insensible of your need of a Saviour None but sick persons do prize and send for the Physitian and none but such as are sick of sin and groan and mourn under the burden of this sickness do prize a Christ who is the soul-Physician Matth. 9.12 Were you made sensible of sin indeed you would eagerly enquire after Christ and greedily hearken unto the glad tydings of salvation which he hath purchased what shall I do to get an interest in Christ where is he to be found how is he to be received what are his terms what are his commands do any thing part with any thing you would not then think much to lay down your selves and all that you have at his feet so you might have him none but Christ none but Christ would you then desire and if you might have all the world without him you would not be contented Sinners would you be saved by Christ get your hearts affected with godly sorrow for sin and that you may mourn deeply and kindly you must get not only a conviction of the guilt of sin and the punishment which is due for it which you cannot escape but you must look further into the nature of sin and get a sight and sense of the evil of sin you must look not only to the consequential evil of sin but also to the intrinsecal evil of sin not only to the Hell which is like to follow upon it but also to that Hell which there is in it look to the evil of sin not only as it is like to burn you but as it hath blackâ— and smutted you as it hath depraved and deformed your souls which are of heavenly original as it hath degraded and debased yoâ— polluted and defiled you But chiefly look upon the evil of sin as it reflecteth dishonour upon God upon God that is so holy and glorious and that is so good and gracious as it displeaseth that God that made you that hath exercised so much patience towards you when he could so easily have cut you off in the act of sin and appointed you your place and portion amongst the damned in Hell long ago and that hath moreover been so bountiful to you though sinners and his enemies that he hath maintained you at his cost and charges all your daies but especially see the evil of sin as it offendeth that God who is ready to be reconciled and hath made such provision for reconciliation which you could never have thought of namely through the death and mediation of his Son whom he hath given for you and proffers to give to you and in him doth treat with you and by us Ministers doth send intreaties to you that you would accept of this reconciliation lay down your weapons and be reconciled unto him 2 Cor. 5.20 Break break ye rocky hearts at this what is God willing indeed to put up such high affronts and to forgive such great sins and doth he stoop to entreat and beseech such mean creatures and wretched sinners as you to be reconciled O be filled with astonishment and admiration and go cast your selves down at his feet with self-loathing and abhorrency at the hideous nature and monstrous ingratitude and baseness of your sins let your hearts melt within you like Wax or Snow when the Sun shineth upon it with heat and brightness let your eyes drop down tears as the morning doth drop dew upon the flowers What! have I affronted such greatness dared such power trampled upon such patience and abused such goodness too and after all doth God beseech me to be reconciled was it such a God whom I offended vile wretch O that I had never committed such sins O that I had never been drunk or unclean or profane O that I had never sworn nor lyed nor stoln nor offended God in any of my actions It repents me it grieves me at the very heart that I have sinned and that I can grieve no more for it Direction 3. You must turn from sin if you would be saved see Psal. 7.11 12 13. God is angry with the wicked every day if he turn not he will whet his sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready he hath prepared for him the instruments of death And God threatneth Psal. 88.21 that he will wound the head of his enemies and the hairy scalp of such as go on still in their trespasses Therefore men must turn from all their transgressions otherwise iniquity will be their ruine Ezek. 18.30 They must cast away their sins as a menstruous cloth saying unto them get ye hence if they would be received into favour Isa. 30.22 They must not only confess their sins but also forsake them if
they would find mercy Prov. 28.13 The wicked must forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn to the Lord and then he shall have pardoning mercy abundantly Isa. 55.7 When men cease to do evil and learn to do well then though their sins have been as scarlet they shall be white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be like woâ—ll Isa. 1.16 17 18. Sinners turn from your evil waies you have done iniquity do so no more you have gone on hitherto in a way of sin proceed no further it is the way to Hell turn out of it Let him that hath stoln steal no more and him that hath been filthy be filthy no more and him that hath been unjust be unjust no more Drunkards forbear your drinking swearers refrain swearing lyars teach your tongues to speak truth Break off your course of sin turn from all gross sins as to the practice and turn from all sins as to the affection Direction 4. You must believe in the Lord Iesus Christ if you would be saved This is the direction which Paul gave to the Jaylor when under conviction of sin he came in to him and cryed What shall I do to be saved he saith to him Believe in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Act. 16.30 31. So in Peter's Sermon Act. 10.43 To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of sins There is no Saviour but by Christ and there is no salvation by Christ bâ—t by faith and therefore we are said to be saved through faith Ephes. 2.8 As faith is the instrument to apply the merits and righteousness of Jesus Christ. Let me then exhort you to get faith which is absolutely necessary unto salvation Get faith of the right kind there is a general common historical temporary hypocritical dead and ineffectual faith but do you labour after a special lively unfeigned effâ—ctual justifying and saving faith and that you may not be mistaken in this great point on which your salvation doth depend I shall describe that faith which is of the right kind and will certainly save you if you obtain it Faith is a grace wrought in the heart by the Spirit of God whereby a poor sinner being made sensible of the guilt and power of his sins and the utter insufficiency of himself or any creature in the world to give him any help or succour and having in the Gâ—spel a discovery and proffer made unto him of the Lord Iesus Christ as an all sâ—fficient most merciful and faithful Advocate and Saviour doth go quite out of himself and accâ—pt lay hold rely and rest vpon him and him alone for pardon and grace and eâ—erlasting happiness Or more brâ—efly thus Faith is a grace of God wherâ—by the humilâ—d sinner doth accept and rely upon Christ alone for salvation as he is held forth in the Promises of the Gospel If you would attain this grace of Faith take these Directions 1. You must be fully perswaded that the Scriptures which reveal Christ are indeed the word of God this is the foundation of all faith therefore I shall briefly suggest some Arguments to prove the divine Authority of the Scriptures As 1. Because of that majesty purity holinâ—ss heavenliness which doth appâ—ar in the Sâ—râ—ptures beyond all other writings 2. Because of the design and drift of the Scriptures to debase man and exalt God and his glory above all 3. Because of the admirable contexture and contrivance and sweet harmony of the Scriptures in all the parts thereof though written by so many several men in several ages and places which sheweth that they were all acted by the same Spirit of God 4. Because of the wonderfull work of mans Redemption there set forth at fiâ—st more darkly afterwards more clearly which no mortal bâ—ain could have invented much less could any created power have effected 5. Because of the great power which this word hath to convince convert and comfort 6. Because of the confirmation of the Scriptures by miracles 7. Because of the acknowledgement of the Scriptures to be Gods Word in all ages 8. Because of the many millions of Martyrs who have sealed the Truths of the word with their blood 9. Because of the witness of the Spirit in and with the word which doth bear testimony to the hearts of Gods people that the Scriptures are his Word and were indiâ—ed by his Spirit Whence it followeth that the Scriptures are true because God the Author of them is true and cannot lye and whatever is there revealed is as certain as those things which are most demonstrable to sense or reason This is the first step to your believing in Christ who is made known in the Scriptures to believe that the Scriptures are Gods Word 2. If you would attain a saving faith in Christ you must be convinced and fully pâ—rswaded of your lost estate without Christ and your absolute need of him of which before 3. You must be perswaded that it is not in your own power to believe that it is not of your selves but is the gift of God Ephes. 2.8 and therefore must apply your selves to God that he would not only give you his Son but also give you the hand of faith to lay hold on him that he would work in you this grace of faith by his Spirit 4. You must consider those Arguments of Scripture which encourage faith As for instance I shall mention four heads of Arguments for faith from the consideration 1. Of God 2. Of the Promises 3. Of Christ. 4. Of the Saints 1. From the consideration of God who hath given his Son to save sinners it is an encouragement to â—aith to consider 1. That God is mercifull and therefore willing to pardon and save otherwise he would not have sent his Son he doth not delight in the death of sinners Ezek. 18.23 but delighteth to shew mercy see Micah 7.18 19. Exod. 34.6 7. Psal. 103.8 9 c. 2. That God is faithfull in his Promises of salvation which he hath made through his Son in his Covenant of Grace God needed not have made the Covenant nor promised mercy to any sinners but having made the Covenant he is engâ—gâ—d to make it good 3. That it is for his glory to save sinners through his Son the glory of his free grace yea and justice too which hath been fully satisfied by Christs death 2. You have encouraging Arguments for faith from the consideration of the Promises which are 1. Large made to all sorts of persons and all sorts of sinners none are excluded 2. Full they extend to all sorts of sins though never so many and great Isa. 55.7 3. Free nothing is required on your part but accepting 4. Sure being the Promises of God in Christ. 3. You have encouragement to believe in Christ for salvation from the consideration of Christ the proper object of faith 1. The quality of his
Calling unto our eternal Glorification 2. A second great Promise of the Covenant of Grace is That God will be mercifull unto our unrighteousness and that he will remember no more our sins and iniquities it is a promise of mercy in the free pardon and forgiveness of all our sins this is an exceeding great and precious promise without which there were no access for us unto God no attaining eternal happiness no escaping eternal misery guilt would shut us out of Heaven and sink us into Hell without a pardon This Promise is of vast extent it reacheth to all sort of sins Unrighteousness Sins Iniquities no sin is too great for God to pardon if the sinner doth believe 3. A third Promise of the Covenant of Grace is that God will give us the knowledge of himself they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest they shall not teach one another the knowledge of God that is they cannot or they shall not be able to do it they may and ought to teach one another instrumentally it is the duty of some to teach and the duty of others and they have need to learn but they shall not be able to teach effectually they may give instructions to one another concerning God and his wayes but they cannot give light they may set the light before them but they cannot set up the light in them they may open Truths but they cannot open the Understanding this is the work of God only to do and this he hath undertaken by Promise to do they shall all know me they shall be taught of God by his Spirit the knowledge of himself he teacheth by men instrumentally but he will teach us by his Spirit effectually 4. A fourth Promise of the Covenant of Grace is that God will put his Laws into our hearts and write them in our minds the Law was written before on Tables of Stone but here he promiseth to write them on fleshly Tables of the heart which is done not with Pen and Ink but by the Spirit of the living God 2 Cor. 3.3 this Promise is very comprehensive it includes not only the giving of a spiritual discovery of the minde and will of God but also the giving of spiritual dispositions affections and strength to perform it and by consequence the removal of indispositions the purging out of corruptions the mortifying of lust the taking away the heart of stone and giving a heart of flesh the giving a new heart the putting the Spirit within us and causing us to walk in his Statutes and to keep his Judgements and do them as this Promise is branched forth Ezek. 36.25 26 27. These in brief are the chief Promises of the Covenant of Grace labour to understand them and apply them that you may be saved Direct 9. You must give up your selves in Covenant to God if you would be saved God hath put his hand and seal to the Covenant which he hath made through his Son with you and you should put your hand to the Covenant and engage your selves unto the Lord you were dedicated to the Lord by your Parents when you were bâ—ptized then you understood not what was done now you are arrived to years of understanding you should make it your own act and dedicate your selves to the Lord and the more solemnly you enter into Covenant with God the more strong Obligation it may be upon you to walk closely with God all your dayes Some have directed to do it under hand-writing subscribing the name and some have put words into your mouths which you may do it in if you are not so well able to express the terms your selves you have this done in Mr. Guthry and Mr. Allen's books if those Books be not at hand I shall set before you this Platform which you may make use of in entring solemnly into Covenant with God I A.B. do acknowledge my self to be the Creature and Subject of the great and glorious Majesty of Heaven and Earth in whom I live move and have my being and from whom I receive every good thing which I receive and therefore am obliged to conform my minde will and affections to order my words wayes and whole conversation according to his most wise and good most righteous and reasonable Laws Besides which natural Obligation however born in sin and thereby disenabled yet being born in the Church and Baptized in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and by my Parents dedicated unto God when I was an Infant I am further obliged by Covenant to be the servant of the Lord. But having proved a Rebel and Traytor against the Highest Majâ—sty breaking his Laws and Covenant-ties which have been upon me spending years of my life in a state of strangeness and enmity to God in the service of the Devil and my own Lusts I do now solemnly reâ—ew my Covenant with God that the breach may be made up which sin hath made between God and my Soul Being in the First place convinced of the guilt of my sins whereby I have affronted and offended the highest Majesty whose Iustice must be satisfied and withall convinced of my own utter inability to make the least satisfaction either by doing or suffering and that my Righteousnesses are as filthy rags and therefore altogether insufficient to procure for me the pardon of sin the favour of God and the peace of Conscience as also fully perswaded that no meer Creature is able to give unto me any help and relief in this case And being informed by the Word of God what the Lord Iesus is hath dâ—ne and suffered for poor sinners That there is no Name undâ—r Heaven given amongst men whereby we can be saved but only the Name of Iesus Christ that he is able to save all them unto the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing be ever liveth to make intercession for them that he is a mercifull and faithfull High-priest in things pertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the sins of the People that whosoever cometh unto him he will in no wise cast out and finding a Promise in the Covenant of Grace that God will be mercifull unto our unrighteousness and that our sins and iniquities he will remember no more which Covenant is of full force through the death of Christ the Testator thereof and having Christ set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood and his Righteousness declared for the remission of sins which are past through the forbearance of God and this Christ freely tendered unto me and being invited earnestly yea entreated that I would be reconciled unto God through him and by the Spirit being perswaded of the truth of these things and hereby encouraged to apply my self unto Christ and the Promises through him unto my self I do now grieving that I have offended God groaning under the burden of sin renouncing
be acquainted with God in Christ you must acquaint your selves with the Scriptures Read the Scriptures daily and search them Ioh. 5.39 read not only the history of the Word but labour to understand the mystery of Godliness therein revealed 1 Tim. 3.16 endeavour after a spiritual discerning of the things of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.14 when you meet with Doctrines in your reading the Word labour to understand and believe them when you meet with Precepts labour to obey them when with Prohibitions and Threatnings be cautioned against sin by them when you meet with promises labour to apply them to draw vertue from them Read this Book as the Word of God and hide it in your heart lay it up there as a choice treasure get your hearts cast into the mould of it get it written upon your hearts and let it have an influence upon your whole conversation and that you may the better understand and apply the truths of the Word read as you have time other good books which open the Scriptures and treat of needfull points of Religion especially such as direct in the great work of Conversion and give Rules out of the Word for the ordering of your whole conversation but above all Books read and study the Scriptures Means 3. Hearing the Word Preached It is by the foolishness of Preaching that God saveth such as do believe 1 Cor. 1.21 however the preaching of the Word is to them that perish foolishness yet unto Believers it is the power of God unto salvation therein God doth put forth his power and maketh bare his arm in bringing salvation to lost souls Hear and thy Soul shall live Isa. 55.3 Faith cometh by hearing Rome 10.17 Lydia's heart was opened whilest she attended upon the Word preached by Paul Act. 16.14 Attend therefore diligently upon the Word preached by Christs Ministers as an Ordinance of his own institution for the working and increase of Grace Look upon Ministers as Christs Ambassadours he that heareth them heareth Christ and he that turneth away his ear from hearing them turneth away his ear from Christ who by his Spirit in them speaketh from Heaven unto men and how impossible it is for such to escape the wrath of God see Heb. 12.25 Much more shall not they escape that turn away their ear from him that speaketh from Heaven Hear the Word with reverence as the Word of God as if the Lord should speak to you from Heaven with an audible voice hear the Word with diligence and attention as for your lives as for the salvation of your Souls hear the Word with faith and love without which it will not profit and work effectually in your hearts and in hearing look not so much for those things which may please as for that which may edifie I mean do not regard so much mens fancies as the wholsom Truths of the Word which tend most to conviction edification to the killing of sin quickning and increase of Grace and nourishment of the spiritual life Means 4. Meditation The Word like Food must be digested by Meditation that it may turn to spiritual nourishment you must ponder and consider in your mindes the Truths of the Word that you may both understand them and get your Hearts affected with them and your Lives ordered by them Meditation is a great help in Heavens way such as are remiss herein cannot walk so steddily nor chearfully accustome your selves unto this duty set apart time for it I know that some complain of barrenness in their thoughts when they endeavour to meditate such I would advise if they have not that fruitfulness of thoughts themselves to supply them with matter that they would make use of others help let them meditate on the Scriptures they read on the Sermons they hear moreover I would offer some general heads for Meditation which you may make use of 1. Sometimes meditate on God his Attributes his infinite Majesty power holiness omnipresence omniscience eternity unchangeableness his infinite wisdom truth faithfulness justice goodness mercy and loving-kindness his Councels especially his eternal decree of Election which is of most sweet consideration to Believers his works of Creation and Providence 2. Sometimes meditate on Christ his near relations of Friend Brother Husband his needfull Offices of Priest Prophet and King 3. Sometimes meditate on the Spirit his way and workings on the minde and heart how he enlighteneth enliveneth strengtheneth comforteth c. 4. Sometimes meditate on the Covenant of Grace and the rich free suitable sure Promises of pardon grace salvation therein 5. Sometimes meditate on the Gospel and its priviledges Justification Adoption Sanctification Assurance of Gods love peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost communications of grace c. 6. Sometimes meditate on the four last things namely Death Judgement Heaven and Hell 7. Sometimes meditate and that frequently daily of such Arguments as tend to the mortifying of your particular sins which are most strong and prevalent and to the strengthening of your graces which you finde most weak and deficient Means 5. Prayer Pray secretly retire your selves from company into your Closets or some private place and there confess your sins and make known your requests to God that seeth and heareth in secret and hath promised an open reward to such as secretly and sincerely seek him Pray frequently be often upon your knees give your selves unto Prayer begin the day conclude the day with Prayer and recover some other time to visit and speak to God at least mingle ejaculatory Prayer with every other work and labour that your minds may be always in a praying frame and do not withdraw but be glad when an opportunity offereth it self to come to the throne of grace Pray fervently pour forth your hearts before God in the duty wrâ—stle with God in Prayer like Iacob be earnâ—st in your Petitions as for your lives be instant and importunate take no denyal follow hard after God stir up your selves to take hold on him use arguments in Prayer to plead with him Pray believingâ—y mingle your prayers with Faith make use of the name and mediation of Jesus Christ and make application of the Promises which God hath made to his People which he hath made to Faith and which he hath made to Prayer Means 6. Christian Conference Take heed of the company of the wicked from such turn away if â—â— and when you are there labour to mourn for sin which hath pierced the Lord to hunger after his righteousness to receive him by Faith to apply the Promises of the Covenant of Grace whereof the Sacrament is a Seal endeavour after a burning love to him whose love hath been so great as to dye for you and let your hearts be filled with joy and your mouths with Praises and deliver up your selves in Covenant unto the Lord in this Ordinance After you come from the Lords Table reflect upon your carriage towards the Lord if you have been straitened endeavour to find out the cause mourn and by after-pains and application of Christ endeavour to get some benefit and prepare better against the next time if you have been enlarged be humble be thankfull be watchfull live up to Obligations draw vertue from Christs death for the crâ—â—cifying more and more of your flesh with its affâ—ctions and lusts and fetch influences of grace and spiritual nourishment that you may encrease with the encreases of God Finally be diligent in the use of these and all other means and helps and so at length you shall attain the ultimate end for which they are appointed even your Salvation and Eternal Happiness FINIS Motive 3.