be able In which words he doth in effect say that Few very Few should be saved for he tells them plainly that the gate of salvation is a strait gate and many cannot pass thorow a strait gate and although many should seek to enter in at this gate yet they should not be able and if many that seek to enter in shall not be able then it follows that none of those which do not seek to enter in shall be able Hence then we may gather a strong argument to prove that very few shall be saved If the most of men and women in the world do not seek salvation at all and they cannot possibly attain it and many that seek salvation shall never finde it then there are but few that shall be saved but the most in the world do not seek salvation at all to say nothing of the Heathen world which is by many degrees the far greater part of the world who sit in darkness and from whom the Gospel of salvation is hid and therefore are expresly said to be lost 2 Cor. 4. 3. Even in the Christian world where the light of the Gospel doth shine the most of men and women that bear the 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 〈◊〉 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 with 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 Jerusalem 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 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 salvation 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 mâ—… 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
have no Interest in Christ who alone is able to deliver you from the wrath to come 1. That you may be sensible of your lost estate you must get a Conviction of your sin your eyes must be opened to see your selves guilty of sin before God and your mouths must be stopped so as to have nothing to say if the Lord should condemn you You must not only understand the nature of sin in the general that it is a transgression of the holy and righteous and good Law of the holy and glorious God of Heaven and Earth but also you must be particularly and thorowly convinced that you have transgressed this Law of God you must be convinced of your particular sins As to the kinds of your sins you must 1. See your selves guilty of Original sin of Adams first transgression by a just imputation you being in his loyns and parties in the first Covenant and then you must see what inherent sin there is in your nature that you were conceived and born in sin that you are a viperous brood a Serpentine generation a seed of evil doers that the Toad is not fuller of poyson than your natures are full of sin that your natures are contrary unto the nature of God and have an enmity in them against the Law of God Rom. 6. 7. You must be 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 guilt 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 businesses 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 conviction 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 sinners 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 is 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 prefence 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
disobedience Rom. 7. 5 6. and the evil which it denounceth namely Gods curse Gal. 3. 10 13. 4. From the world not in regard of their place but in regard of their course Gal. 1. 4. Joh. 15. 19. Joh. 17. 16. 5. From Death the sting of death and the fear of death at least the grounds of fear Heb. 2. 14 15. 6. From wrath the wrath of God which is to come 1 Thes 1. 10. 2. This Salvation is great in regard of that which in Salvation people do attain unto All the priviledges of the Gospel are wrapt up and included in the word Salvation Election is the foundation of it Effectual calling is the begining of it Justification Adoption and Sanctification are contained in it and Glorification is the consummation of it This Salvation then is great in regard of the thing it self 2. This Salvation is great in regard of the causes of it 1. Efficient 2. Meritorious 3. Instrumental 4. Finall 1. This Salvation is a great Salvation in regard of the efficient cause and that is God the Father Salvation is ascribed to him as the author Tit. 3. 5. According to his mercy he saved us God is the cause of our Salvation 1. as he hath chosen us unto Salvation Eph. 1. 4. As he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world which Election being of Free grace we are said to be saved by Grace Eph. 2 5. 2. As he hath sent his only begotten Son into the world to purchase Salvation for us Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Gal. 4. 4 5. When the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them which were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons 3. As he revealeth this Salvation unto us by the Preaching of the Gospel for which end he qualifyeth and sends his Ministers upon this Embassage to make known the glad tydings of Salvation 4. As he conferrs Salvation actually upon us in our effectual calling Justification Adoption Sanctification and Glorification all these are from God Now that must needs be a great Salvation which is effected by the great God especially if we consider that it is the greatest and most glorious of all his works in the world and unto which all his other works have some kind of tendency 2. This Salvation is a great Salvation in regard of the meritorious cause and that is the Lord Jesus Christ the excellency and greatness of whose nature office and sufferings do demonstrate the greatness of this Salvation which was purchased by him The sufferings of Christ were most properly the meritorious cause of mans salvation and they were the greatest sufferings that ever were endured insomuch as 1. They were the sufferings of the greatest person as man he was the head of the creation in regard of dignity he was a greater King than Solomon Matth. 12. 42. a greater Prophet than Moses Heb. 3. 3. a greater Priest than Aaron even a Priest after the order of Melchisedec Heb. 7. Moreover he was God as well as man God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. and though the God head could not properly suffer yet through its union in the same person to the Manhood it put an efficacy in his suffering and strengthened the humane nature to undergo greater sufferings as to the value of them in that short space of time than all the Angels and Men in the world had their strength been united together in one person could have endured if the greatest extremity of misery had been layd upon such a one unto all eternity For 2. The sufferings of Christ were equivalent unto eternal death and the torments of the damned in Hell yea they were far exceeding as is evident because Gods infinite Justice is hereby fully satisfied and there is sufficiency of merit in them for the redemption of the whole world not only of Believers but also of Unbelievers not only of Men but of Devils too Christs sufferings were of infinite value not in regard of the sufferings but in regard of the Divine nature so closely united unto the Humane nature Therefore the salvation purchased by these sufferings must needs be a great salvation 3. This salvation is a great salvation in regard of the Instrumental Cause and that is Faith faith is a grace of great worth and excellency insomuch as it doth not spring from any root or power of nature but is wrought by the power of God and requireth such exceeding great power in the effecting of it we read of the exceeding greatness of Gods power towards them that believe according to the working of his mighty power Eph. 1. 19. which shews that the salvation is great which is effected by this grace of Faith 4. This salvation is a great salvation in regard of the Final Cause and that is the manifestation of Gods glory 1. The glory of his Wisdom in contriving such a way for Mans salvation which no created understanding could have thought of 2. The glory of his Justice which is as fully satisfied through Christs sufferings as if all Believers had been eternally punished 3. And chiefly the glory of his free grace and mercy which is set forth and magnified so eminently in all the degrees of mans salvation that nothing may be ascribed unto Man but all unto God alone Thus you see that this salvation is a great salvation in regard of the Thing it self and in regard of the Causes of it It is so great salvation as it hath no comparison and is beyond expression therefore labour to attain this salvation some endeavour to get a great Estate others to get great Friends others to get great honour and repute in the world do you labour to obtain this great salvation which doth exceed all in greatness it is a high and noble design and is worthy your uttermost care and diligence in seeking after it other things are but small things meer toyes and trifles in comparison nothing in the world hath the least degree of worth compared with this so great salvation I shall be more brief in speaking of the other properties of this salvation II. This salvation is a Rare Salvation I mean that few do obtain it Many are called few are chosen Matth. 20. 16. Many are damned few are saved There are many troops of sinners that are prosting in the broad way of destruction it is but a thin scattered company that are pressing forward in the narrow way of life and salvation this is evident from the Answer of our Saviour upon the Question propounded unto him Luk. 13. 23 24. Then said one unto him Lord are there few that be saved And he said unto them Strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not