the hand of God pointing at some of you for though he speaks in every word yet more especially in such as he sends by special messengers or directs to us by singular and remarkable providences Now there are two things which should stir you up to listen to this word as not being of common and ordinary consideration First that one is raised from the dead to speak to you Secondly that this word was put into his mouth especially for your sakes so that he can say that this work which he is about this day is part of his great errand for which the Lord sent him back again to this place Thirdly that you may know that I have you upon my heart in all conditions in sicknesse as wel as in health in life and in death But if none of these things move you know that God will raise up Nineveh in judgement against you who repented at his word whom God had brought from the grave Nay the rich man in hell will come against you who perswaded himself that his brethren would repent if one from the dead were sent unto them and that which is worse the Lord who hath now raised me up for you will raise me up to condemn you yea this word which I now preach to you shall be terrible and you shal not be able to stand before it in the day of the Lord. This is sufficient and to some may appear more then enough to my present occasion of handling the words Now to the occasion of the words themselves as they lie in the Text. The rise of these words is evident to be from Paul his discourse of which we have a full account in this Chapter The substance of his speech was to defend himself against the accusations of the Jews before Agrippa Festus the Governor and Bernice with others that sate as Judges betwixt him and the Jews The speech hath three principal Heads First an account of his life and especially of his zeal against the christians before his conversion from v. 4. to 13. Secondly his wonderful conversion ver 13.18 Thirdly his practice and profession afterwards v. 19.23 We have next considerable the issue of his speech it wrought variously upon his Judges First Festus deemed him mad yet he thought his madness was not common he judged it to be alearned madness not being able to entertaine the Doctrines which he preacht of the Resurrection nor to credit the story which Paul told of his conversion he thought that these were but clouds and fancies of his brain which was over-wrought Secondly Agrippa is of another mind and receives more candidely though he do not digest fully what Paul had said he seems to be so far convict of the truth that he is upon the turning point ready to come over to Paul Thirdly the whole Councel took such impressions from his discourse that they all agree that Paul is innocent vers 30 31. Then This shews us the coherence of these words with the former and it refers us either to Pauls speech or to Festus if we consider it as relating to the first then it shews us the ground of Agrippa's perswasion If to the latter then it helps to heighten his perswasion and to shew us how strong it was and hot at the present Then viz. when Agrippa had considered of what Paul had spoken either in his first speech which was to all the Council although directed more especially to him ver 2 Now if we consider these perswasions in Agrippa to arise from Pauls general speech it will according to the parts of it afford us these Observations First from the relation of Pauls former course of life 1. Observation That when the Lord makes great and visible changes upon open and violent enemies of his ways he causes much of conviction to fall upon the spirits of considering persons for they which consult with reason must needs conclude that there must be some remarkable thing something of weight that must cause such a change Observ 2. The discovering of the way the change is wrought in is as usefull and convincing as the change it self Paul thought it no idle story to tell them how God brought him over as well as that he had done it This may serve to justifie the practices of those who desire to know the way of Gods working upon souls in the bringing them over to Christ knowing how demonstrative this is of the work of grace beyond a bare professing that I do believe or repent Obs 3. From the account that Paul gives of his after-practice that boldnesse in living up to the truths we are convinc'd of does make much for the convincing of such as yet have not received the truth This argued that there vvas something of reâ—lity in that relation which he made of his change and the manner which at first hearing might seem ridiculous and incredible They who considered how Paul followed the truth in practise and with what hazard he profest it might conceive that his conversion was no dream Again vve may refer these words to Pauls particular speech mentioned v. 26 27. directed in part to Festus and in part to Agrippa in which he takes the advantage of defending himself both against his general charge by the Jews and the particular imputation put upon him by Festus v. 24. and this he does by taking hold of two things which did much conduce to his present purpose The first was Agrippa's general knowledge of customes and memorable storice and especially of the truth of the matter of fact related and questioned yea censured by Festus Secondly Agrippa's general assent unto the things contained in the scriptures v. 27. These things being hand somly couched in a wise and insinuating appeal draw out this profession from him Then said Agrippa unto Paul Almost thou perswadest me to be a Christian From hence observe Obs 1. It is a great advantage for a Minister when the people he is to deal withal have some principles laid beforehand for him to fasten his word unto This was the advantage that Paul had upon Agrippa more then upon the rest of his Judges and therefore he applies himself most to him and with good success Obs 2. There must be much wisdome and prudence mixt with the dispensing of the Gospel to know vvhen and how and to vvhom to speak and to espie out every little thing that might further or facilitate our vvork this vvas the craft which Paul mentions 2 Cor. 12.16 Being crafty I caught you with guile He saw Agrippa vvas the fittest person to work upon and he espied what vvas in him to lay hold of therefore he sixes most upon this mark Obs 3. A word of commendation and encouragement sometimes given to the hearer gains much respect to the truth it self Thus we finde that applause which Paul gave to Agrippa he returns to the truth which he profest and declares himself almost overcome with the Majesty and splendor of it which
of you that you are arrived no further then the forme and my fear is as great that you will hinder others from going beyond it by perswading them into an opinion of themselves that they are Christians before they are or know what it is to be such If this may prevent any of you from miscarrying any way I shal heartily blesse the Lord and rejoyce to be also a helper of your Faith Finally my friends of all sorts Lay what you have heard or may hearread to the Word your hearts to both and judg faithfully in this matter Put it to the Question whether you are Altogether Christians or no and resolve to be such or to be nothing Be in good earnest with God and cleave to him with ful purpose of heart Oh fulfil my joy which you cannot more considerably further then by a candid acceptance and conscientious improvement of what I here tender to you That it may be everyway for your good you shall have with it the Prayers of Your willing Servant in the work of the Lord Jo. Chishull London Jan. 16. 1656. ACTS 26.28 Almost thou perswadest me to be a Christian CHAP. I. The Introduction IT is not usual with me to make Apologies for or Introductions to my Discourses but at this time I conceive it is convenient if not necessary to speak something of this nature Though it be sufficient warrant for me to pitch upon this portion which I have chosen because it is the word of the Lord and the same consideration is weighty to enjoyn your best attention yet there is something more which hath swayed with me to take these words into my serious thoughts and to present the result of them to you which I hope when you have weighed they wil seem as additional arguments to awaken your spirits and you wil account your selves particularly engaged to hear what I am so deeply ingaged to speak I had chosen another subject to treat upon which I conceived might suit wel with that which I so lately finished but my resolutions to prosecute that were changed by some impressions which the Lord made upon me in my late sickness That I was visited with weakness is known to you all but how great it was and how near to the grave it brought me is known but to few But in this which was the soarest which I ever experienc'd yea in the very height and prevalency of it when my friends did many of them look upon me as under a sentence of death then was the Lord pleased First to give me a particular assurance of my recovery from that scripture Ps 118.17 Thou shalt not die but live and declare the works of the LORD Secondly a particular knowledg of the time of my recovery from Hos 6.2 After two dayes I wil revive thee in the third day I wil raise thee up and thou shalt live in my sight All which I found exactly made good unto me to a day according to the Word of the Lord which was then set upon my spirit Thirdly the Lord did not onely assure me of my life but did also appoint me out my work without which I account my life of very smal value At that time when I was under a strong Fever and other distempers which might very well be judged unfit companions for meditation I say being under the paines of my growing disease my thoughts were then drawn strongly out to consider of the state and condition of this place and considering the people of it I rankt them under three Heads Frst some that minded not God nor Religion and that sat unshaken under the VVord Secondly some that I hope have received it and that do sincerely desire to follow it Thirdly such as halt betwixt two opinions that hang betwixt God and the world that are wrought upon by the Word and are under strong convictions and workings of spirit but yet are not brought fully to close with Christ these are I am perswaded not a few in this place The serious consideration of these did most of all affect my soul with pitty and that pitty wrought in me strong and earnest desire It grieved me to see so many souls like Laodicea Rev. 3.15 Lukewarm or like Ephraim hal-fbaked Hos 7.8 it did not a little trouble my spirit to see so many persons carry their convictions about them as prisoners dragg their chains after them I am perswaded if every person that hath been convine'd under the word in this place and that hath had some kinde of perswasions to come in to Christ and yet stands it out had but a chain about his Legg we should hear a fearful ratling of iron when the Congregation moves Thus was my soul grieved for many of you but my affections did not spend themselves in pittying but awakened my desires and I then cast about me how I might be serviceable to you with that little inch of time that the Lord should give me even to you that seem at some times not to be far from the kingdom of God and yet if you go no farther are never like to come there While my thoughts were thus working it pleased the Lord to set this portion of Scripture which I have read unto you upon my spirit in which I saw your condition exactly presented in Agrippa But this word it self was not barely brought home to me but the Lord gave in then to my thoughts those things which I have to deliver to you so that I may safely say that hee put the word into my mouth for what I have now to deliver both for the doctrine and all the particulars relating to explain and confirm it were penn'd when I was unable to govern a pen they were framed in my greatest weakness taken from my mouth by a Friend that came to visit me These things I mention to you that you may be perswaded First to passe by any thing of weakness in this discourse knowing it was composed in the midst of weakness and that I aim not to commend my self to you but to present your conditions before you and that with all manner of plainess Secondly that if you meet with any thing useful seasonable you would gâ—ve the glory to God if the Word meâ—t with any of your souls say the Lord hath met with me this day if it hit as right as Davids stone did and stick in your foreheads know I threw it as he did not by skil but by Faith it is the Lord that guided my hand If any say Can all that which is delivered in several sermons be the product of a few houres meditation I answer that I can say without faining what Jacob offered to excuse his hasty dinner for his Father Gen. 27 20. The Lord brought it unto my hâ—nd Thirdly to shew you what special and peculiar reason some of you have to attend diligently to what shall be spoken ô you cannot but see a finger in the margent bidding you observe and
measure and clearness of these such wil be their shame and such will be their confusion to see how near they came to the kingdom of God and yet shut out God convinâ—es those of sin whom he intends to save that they may condemn themselves and justifie God here and he convinces many whom be intends not to save that they may be forced to justifie him hereafter when he shal condemn them Psalm 51.3 4. Against thee have I sinned that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest and pure when thou judgest David did not sin that God might be justified but David was convinced of his sin that God might be cleared and David condemned in himself Saints convictions make them humble themselves and the convictions restraints which are thereby made upon wicked men will make very much for the justifying of God at the last and for the taking of all excuse from them for they can never answer this plea If there were not evil in sin why did you fear or refrain from any and if there was evil in it why did you not refrain all sin and this will stop their mouths that they had knowledg of this day of the judgement of it for God wil take out a copy of the Judgement of the day out of their own consciences CHAP. VI. Shewing the reasons why men so far perswaded go no further QV How comes it to pass that men thus far perswaded go no farther As it is a wonder that men go so far as some do without grace so it is as strange a thing that being brought so far they should stop here but this is First from Satan he labours to blinde their eyes that they should not see the things that belong to their peace but if he cannot keep them in a gross darkness and in a total neglect of Heaven then he hath a hundred ways to couzen them and to bring them to composition and to perswade them to half it with God if he cannot keep them where they are yet he will make them sit down in the mid way to Heaven he knows that he that underbids shal buy the truth no more then he that never cheapens it He knows Christ hath set the price upon it and he that vvil not give all that he hath for the kingdome of Heaven shal as surely lose it as he that wil give nothing He that wil keep one sin or deny one command of Christ to submitt to it shall thereby be excluded as well as he that yeelds in nothing to Christ the devill does labour therefore to hinder awakened soules from comming up fully to Christ when he cannot hinder them from doing something he wil perswade them to keep the right hand or to spare the right eye If they will take their lamps yet he wil not suffer them to take oyl for their vessells and this way Satan cousins not a few who cannot be tempted to sitt still yet are easily kept from pressing forward to the mark Rea. 2 From their consciences Conscience having attained its end which was peace the man sits down It was nothing but trouble of conscience at first that makes such men stirr and now by doing something having obtained a little peace they say soul thou hast enough they never act in religion beyond necessitie nor goe further then the terrours and feares of conscience will drive them and these are oft times removed without grace and they sit down without Christ I shewed you in the former how the devill did hide from them the extent of their duties and the latitude of Christ commands that so they might not attempt to goe farther then hâ— might consent unto with security to his own interest in them having cozened them into a good opinion of themselves mis-represented the work of grace and the change which is wrought in them they think all is wel and conscience is in a great calme and this being once asleepe againe they settle upon their lees the dregs which are yet left are not purged out for all the motions of man which proceed from no other principle then the feares of death hel carry a man no farther then to seeke his own peace the conscience is wounded and if the man can lick that whole again hee is quiet but if the will were wrought upon he would not set down till he were perfectly changed Reas 3. may be from their own corruption Being awakned by the word they begin to stirr under the sense of the danger and being convinced of the truth they receive it with joy and like Herod do many things til it comes to some peculiar corruption and there they are stopped there is some darling lust or other that they cannot leap over they march like Jehu furiously vvith a seeming zeal for God til they come to the golden Calves of Dan and Bethel and they cannot pull these down some lust some interest some advantage hinders them from following of Christ fully and had they but grace in their wils sutable to the light in their understandings they would be Christians indeed as in the case of Jehu 2 King 10.25 29 30. The young man in the gospel goes on very chearfully and bids fair for Heaven as one that was resolved to have it upon any termes Mat. 19.20 What lack I yet He seems to be vvilling to give more for Heaven then all had yet given and to do more then yet he had done as if all that God had required in the law had been too little and too low a price for glory but when Christ makes a proposal to him which met with his darling sin which was the love of the world he goes away sorrowful This man that was so near the kingdome of Heaven in all appearance leaves it behind him for the love of one corruption this is the case of every haif-Christian one Iust or other hinders them though they seem to run wel and parts Christ and them for ever Reas 4. From the meanes they live under they may live under a fawning and flattering Ministry who vvil perswade them that the smoak is a fire and the spark is a flame that cry peace peace where there is none healing their vvounds sleightly and daubing them vvith untempered mortar Ezek. 13.10 How many are there that go to Hel in peace whom their Ministers canonize here for Saints how many are careless of themselves by reason of their Ministers considence who wil salute his people by the name of beleevers as if he knew their place in Heaven This makes them think they live high when indeed 't is he that preaches low and that all is wel because he never shewed them how ill it is Men preach the work of conversion by halves they search not their people to the quick they come not neer the consciences of their hearers neither do they labour to do it if they can cloath their matter in silken and soft language that may please the ears