Soul of Jesus Christ being separated from the Body did go and Preach to some of the Fathers of the Old Testament that were not as they say yet admitted into Heaven but were reserved in some out-rooms of Hell where they felt no pain but did not yet see the Glorious Face of God nor enjoy his Blessed Presence But this cannot be the true genuine sense of the words For 1. If Spirit signifies here the Soul of Christ and quickned imports his Resurrection then Jesus Christ must Preach to these Spirits not while his Body was dead but after his Resurrection which the Papists themselves will not own or admit 2. Spirit in the 18th Verse signifies Christ's Divine Nature and it was not in this or by this that he preached to the Spirits of the Old Testament after their Souls were separated from their Bodies 3. Those that Christ preached to lived and were disobedient in the days of Noah it is not said they did Repent of or break off from their sins but were hardned in their Unbelief and dyed in their Iniquities they went down uncircumcised in Heart into the Pit and so Eternal Death was their Wages and Hell was their own Place Now even Papists dare not say that Christ preached to the Damned their state is remediless the Sentence irrevocable their Loss irrecoverable there is no Year of Jubilee no Goal-delivery for imprisoned Spirits confined to and shut up in Hell Jesus Christ would not Preach to those that God had cast off for ever and doomed to Eternal Misery for their continued and obstinate Disobedience they whose Nature was not changed on Earth their Condition could not be altered in Hell 4. If the Soul of Christ had preached to Souls in the Prison of Hell what Reason can be assigned why he should Preach rather to those that were disobedient in the days of Noah than to those that were disobedient in the days of Abraham Moses or in the after-times of the Prophets This one Argument may shame this Notion and confute this ungrounded Exposition of the words that the Soul of Christ went down to Hell to Preach to Spirits there Before I come to the main Doctrines that the words afford I shall observe several other great Truths that the words do offer to us 1. That the Scripture is a most Excellent and Divine Book in that it gives us such a true Account and such sure Notions about a future and eternal state after Death As it tells us what is the Condition of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the Holy Prophets that they are in the Palaces and Kingdom of God Luke 13.28 so it informs us what is become of the Sinners of the Old World that these are cast into the Prison of God He that appoints Portion in the Paradice above and assigns places in the Prison below and adjudges to each of these by an irrevocable Sentence can best tell what is become of Saints and Sinners now they are departed out of the World 2. This Evidences the Immortality of the Soul that the Spirits of wicked Men are said to subsist after Death and to abide in God's Prison though their Garments of Flesh were pluckt off their Houses of Clay thrown down to the Dust yet their Souls did not expire or sleep as a Man can live though his Garments are put off or his House be demolished or drop down So the Soul hath no such necessary dependance on the Body but can exist though this Garment be put off this House be pulled down This Candle will burn though taken out of the Lanthorn of the Flesh Death doth not blow out only it removes this Light into another World 3. We may observe the Mercy and Goodness of God that though he had threatned a Flood and adjudged all the World besides eight Persons to be drowned by it yet the Son of God Preaches to this degenerate and wicked World before he destroys them though God designed Severity against their Bodies yet he offers Mercy to their Souls that though they could not avoid the first yet that they might decline the second Death and though their baser part were cast away yet that their Souls might swim to and Land safely on the Shoars of a blessed Eternity and God's means do not use to be totally ineffectual and in vain The Word is seldom if ever preached but that some are to be drawn out of the dead Sea and called out of their Graves by it Peter seems to tell us that the Word was not wholly lost on the Old World but that some received saving Benefit by it 1 Pet. 4.6 For this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that were dead that they might be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the spirit This may be Vid. Piscal in locum and is expounded to relate to and point at the state of the Old World the Gospel was preached to them that though they were judged were drowned and perished in the Eye of Men as to their Flesh yet they might live to and with God in their Spirits Though God proclaimed War against their Bodies yet he tendred Peace to their Souls 4. We may further Observe that even those that the Son of God Preaches to may stop their Ears close their Eyes harden their Hearts and for their Unbelief and Impenitency may be cast into God's Prison and perish everlastingly The Gospel is to some the savour of death unto death 2 Cor. 2.16 They did shut Christ out of their Souls and for this are shut up under the wrath of God and are the Subjects of Eternal Vengeance 5. We may Observe what a hainous Evil Sin is and what a terrible Adversary God is He did not only sweep away the sinners of the World and drown their Bodies in a Flood of Waters but he imprisoned and punished their Souls God drowned their Spirits in Destruction and Perdition 1 Tim. 6.9 Sin is committed against an Infinite Majesty and cannot be sufficiently punished or satisfied for in a Finite Time by a Finite Creature It is an Axiom in the Civil Law Accusatio rei morte finitat An Accusation is finished by the death of the guilty Person all Process and Proceedings then cease against the Delinquent But it is otherwise here God's Accusation is not let fall his Actions are not withdrawn his Controversie doth not cease when sinners dye he pursues and overtakes them in another World there he meets them as one bereaved of his Authority Honour and Glory by them he resents the wrongs done to him he pours out the full Vials of his Wrath on them and fights against them for ever They are that they may be Miserables a bare Stock of Being is continued that God may graft Misery and Eternal Torments on it The words afford us two Doctrines First That the Son of God did Preach before he was Incarnate and doth as truly Preach by Instruments as he doth immediately in his
Heart of Stone to a fleshy Table he can soften and melt the Heart and make it pliable and flexible Isa 51.4 Hearken unto me my People and give ear unto me O my Nation for a Law shall proceed from me and I will make my Judgment to rest for a light of the People When may the Son of God be said to make his Judgment to rest I Answer when he engrafts his Word and causes it to joyn unite and close with the Stock of the Heart James 1.21 When the Seed is turned into a new and Divine Nature when in this Noble Effect of it it dwelleth and abideth in the Soul for ever 1 Pet. 1.23 When it is mixed with Faith Heb. 4.3 when it molds and fashions the Soul into a Conformity to God and a compliance with his Will then it may be said truly to rest and abide A Graft that is not implanted into the Stock a Stone that is not joyned to the Foundation may be spurned to and fro but when the Graft is united with the Stock and the Stone is laid into the Building then it hath rest None can give a Rest in this sense to to the Doctrine of the Gospel but the Son of God and how weak soever Instruments are yet he can produce mighty Effects when he speaks in them and by them * 2 Cor. 13.3 Out of the mouths of babes and sucklicks he ordains strength Psal 8.2 The Disciples of Christ were but as Babes and Sucklings they were not trained up in the Schools of Philosophers or Rhetoricians but were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 4.13 Men unlearned and ignorant in the Eyes of their Adversaries the word translated Ignorant is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ideots and those by the Graecians are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ideots that have a very low Talent of Reason a scanty measure of Understanding at utmost fitting them to manage their own Private Affairs and small Concerns but disabling them from being employed in any Great High and Publick Affairs How Observable is it then that the Son of God should choose and employ Men of such mean Parts in the most high weighty and important Matters of his Kingdom and accomplish such great and Noble things by them The Son of God did speak in them 2 Cor. 13.3 and work with them Mark 16.20 so that they proselyted a world of Enemies and discipled Barbarous Nations to the Faith of Christ They famished the Heathen Gods of the Earth Zeph. 2.11 They drew away their Worshippers and deprived them of their Sacrifices The Hands of these Husbandmen cultivated and manured a barren and horrid Wilderness and reduced it to be a Spiritual Paradise and Garden of God The word of the Cross signified by the Living Water that came out from the side of the Altar Ezek. 47.1 2. flowing out into the salt and dead Sea of the World did heal these brackish unpleasant and unwholsom Waters O how wonderful was the Son of God in this that a little stream of Doctrine concerning Christ crucified should heal and make fresh the Waters of the great Sea of this corrupt and degenerate World How strange and surprizing is this that such few and weak Hands should pull down Satan's Kingdom should build the Ruines of many Generations and wrest the Captives from the Srong and the Prey from the Mighty The Arrows that the Son of God did shoot by his Ministers did hit right pierce deep and cause sinners to fall under them 2. If we consider the Office the Son of God doth sustain and is invested with this fits him to Preach to a sinful and lost World He is styled a Mediator 1 Tim. 2.5 If he had not undertaken to satisfie Justice and make Peace God would have kept silence as to any gracious or comfortable speaking to the World Had not he interposed between guilty Creatures and an angry God we could have heard nothing else from Heaven but denunciations of Vengeance threatnings of Punishment and messages of Death But now lively Oracles come from the Mercy-seat sprinkled with the Blood of the Mediator He that hath made a Testament and sealed it with his own Blood is fittest to open publish and declare it He that was intimate with God and acquainted with all his deep Designs and Bosom-Secrets was fittest to bring them forth and make them known to the World He that was to execute God's Purposes was meetest to reveal them God had Designs of Grace Counsels of Peace Purposes of Redemption and Salvation that were conceived in his Mind and formed in his Heart from Eternity But these could not step forth into execution but by the Interposition and Sufferings of Jesus Christ The pleasure of the Lord was to prosper in his hand Isa 53.10 And what his Hand was to accomplish his Mouth was to reveal He that satisfied Justice was fittest to discover Grace and Mercy The Lord Jesus is styled the High-Priest and Apostle of our Profession Heb. 3.1 What he merited as an High-Priest that he is meetest to reveal and declare as an Apostle We may see infinite Wisdom in this He that makes Peace by the Blood of his Cross Col. 1.20 He speaks Peace Zech. 9.10 He preaches Peace Ephes 2.17 He that paid the Ransom Matth. 20.28 He preaches Deliverance to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound Isa 61.1 He that was taken from Prison and Judgment himself Isa 53.8 He calls Prisoners to come forth Isa 49.9 He bids those that are in Darkness to shew themselves in the Heavenly Sanctuary and the Glorious Presence of God He that was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief he is the Consolation of Israel and comforts those that mourn Isa 53.3 with Isa 61.2 He that became the Father's Servant himself Isa 42.1 Proclaims the Acceptable Year of the Lord publishes a Spiritual Jubilee to us for the release of our Souls from the Servitude of Sin from the Bondage of Satan Man being fallen under the Wrath of God the Curse of the Law the Sentence of Death none but a Mediator that was made Sin and a Curse for us could bring us any good News could publish any glad Tidings that might be a Foundation for our Faith and Hope relieve and revive our fainting and sinking Souls He that is the Wisdom of God and knows all was fittest to be the Word of the Father to reveal all 2dly I shall now consider what it is that the Son of God Preaches 1. Jesus Christ Preaches the Doctrine of Faith and calls Men to believe it He Preaches good Tidings and that to the Poor Luke 4.18 The Law promises Life and publishes good Tidings only to those that are Rich in Habitual Righteousness and perfect Active Obedience But Jesus Christ Preaches good Tidings to those that are exceeding Poor to such as have no good dwelling in them Rom. 7.18 or good done by them Rom. 3.12 Compare those two Expressions Paul saith In me even in
whole World is his Diocess This Husbandman goeth forth to sow Matth. 13.3 and the large Field that he sows in is the World Matth. 13.38 The Field is the World This Noble Fisherman doth not Fish in the Rill of a Village in the Rivulet of a City in the River of one Country but in the Sea of the wide World Mat. 13.47 The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Net cast into the Sea It is observable what the Son of God saith Psal 40.9 I have preached Righteousness in the great Congregation What is this great Congregation It is the Church made up of Jew and Gentile it is Men of all Nations He did not come only to call the Jews to raise up Jacob and to restore Israel Isa 49.4 5. but he was to gather the Kingdoms of the Earth Psal 102.22 To gather all Nations Jer. 3.17 To call and bring home Sheep that were not of the Fold of the Jewish Church John 10.16 The Son of God preached to the Heathen Zech. 9.10 caused Barbarous People and the Inhabitants of Wildernesses to bow to his Sceptre and to submit to his Authority Psal 72.9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him and his Enemies shall lick the dust yea the Kings and Great Ones of the World shall fall down before him as Subjects and Worshippers And the Son of God preached with such Authority Efficacy and Success that those that knew him not before did at his call run to him Isa 55.5 And fly as the Clouds and Doves to their windows Isa 60.8 As the Jews did formerly attend on the Ministry of God's Prophets Zech. 11.11 The poor of the Flock that waited on me So now the Gentiles should wait on the Son of God listen to his Doctrine and receive his Law Isa 51.5 The Isles shall wait upon me And Isa 42.4 The Isles shall wait for his Law By the Isles we are to understand the Gentile Nations that were beyond the Seas and lived remote from the Land of Canaan even these should wait for the Rain of Christ's Doctrine for the Dew of his Word they should submit to be Scholars when the Son of God did Teach and become his Disciples when he did call As Isa 2.2 3. The Gentiles should exhort one another and say Come let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord's House for he will teach us his ways and we will walk in them This is observable that the Lord is not said to Teach alike every where but in the Mount of his House that is in his Church he Teaches here it is Day when it is Night with other Parts of the World Darkness doth cover the Earth gross darkness the People but the Glory of the Lord ariseth on and shines in the Church Isa 60.1 2 3. Therefore the Gentiles are said to repair to the Churches Light with a full Resolution to yield submit and obey what the Son of God should teach as Truth and dictate as Duty I shall come now to the Use of the Doctrine Use 1. The Son of God preached by Instruments and hath also preached immediately in his own Person this may inform us of the wonderful Grace and Kindness of Jesus Christ As a Priest he purchases Good Things for us and as a Prophet he Preaches them to us He bought precious things dearly at God's hands and he proposeth and proffers them freely to our hands he procured an Inheritance provided a Feast and prepared Salvation and he promulgates and declares them to us O what a condescention is this that the Son of God should be a Herald to Proclaim Peace and the King of Glory should deign to be the Father's Ambassador to treat with Rebels and beseech Enemies to be reconciled to him Use 2. Here is great matter of Consolation that the Son of God Preacheth as truly by Instruments as in his own Person He can give Efficacy and Success to his own Word Our case were deplorable yea desperate if Men only did Preach Could they open blind Eyes unstop deaf Ears quicken dead Souls As Eglon's Servants did wait till they were ashamed for his rising and opening the Parlour-door to them Judges 3.23.25 But their waiting and expectation was in vain Ehud had killed Eglon the King of Moab Judg. 3.21 22 and a dead Man could not open the Door to his waiting Servants without So Sinners are dead in Trespasses and in the uncircumcision of their Flesh Col. 2.13 And can such arise and open the doors of their Hearts to the Son of God Free-will ruined Mankind when the Image of God was drawn on their Souls and the Law of God was written in their Hearts and will Free-will now raise and recover Man again out of his Ruins with the aids of Common Grace when the poor Sinner is a Captive under the Law of Sin and Death This was the great Encouragement that Christ gave his Apostles to go forth into the World and Teach all Nations That he was and would be with them to the end of the World Matth. 28 19 20. He that had all Power both in Heaven and Earth could make way for his own Word and cause it to be received and entertained Ministers need the special Presence and the powerful Working of the Son of God with them Weak and degenerate Man doth not only need an Auxilium sine quo non such an aid without which they cannot believe or come to Christ but an Auxilium cum quo as Jansenius * In his August excellently and truly distinguisheth We need such an aid as will certainly produce the Effect Such an aid as Free-will is Lord of and is to Husband and Improve will not suffice for our Recovery but such an aid of Grace we need as will Lord it in our Will and effectually incline it to yield and submit to Christ Ezek. 20.37 I will cause them to pass under the Rod I will bring them into the bond of the Covenant Blessed is he whom thou choosest and causest to draw nigh Psal 65.4 Christ can so influence the Will as to undertake it shall and cause it to comply Ars Coelestis Medici est Demonstrativae as Alvarez * De Auxiliis gratiae truly asserts it is in the Hand and Power of the Heavenly Physician to Cure the Will of its Malignity Enmity and Rebellion Surely he can Cure whom he will and when he will else he were not infinitely Wise and Omnipotent He could undertake that the Gentiles though deaf Isa 29.18 yea though dead John 5.25 should hear his Voice and be joyned with his Flock and gathered into his Fold God bids Moses to smite the Rock and it should give forth Water for the Thirsty Israelites to drink Exod. 17 6. But would the Rock yield Water if Moses alone had been there and smitten it with his Arm No a struck Rock would yield rather sparks of Fire than floods of Water had not the Lord stood on the Rock and caused it to cleave
not to the sinful and inordinate love of themselves It is mens Lust that is active in this Adultery the Creature is only Passive it groans under this Force put on it but cannot decline and avoid it the Creature is innocent but it is a Mans Unchast and Filthy Heart that is guilty For this Spiritual Whoredom men deserve to be cast into Gods Prison if God be broken by their whorish Heart Ezek 6.9 then surely they are worthy to be wounded and broken for it 2. Men are debtors to God every sin is a Debt Matt. 6.12 Forgive us our Debts as we forgive our Debtors we primarily owe to God a Debt of Love and Obedience but for default in the Payment of this Debt there arises another Debut we owe God Glory to be raised out of our Sufferings Eternal Misery and Torments all Creatures must bow to God and some way or other serve him Isa 45.32 Either as Vessels of Honour or as Vessels for Dishonour God must have glory either by his Mercy or our Misery it is but just that God should enter his Action against his Debtors that he should Sue Arrest and Imprison them If those that owe Mony to Men and do not pay it are cast into Prison much more those that owe Service and Obedience to God and not render it are to be thrown into an Eternal Prison 3. Sinners are now already in Prison they are called Prisoners Isa 24.6 Isa 49.9 they are Styled Captives Isa 61.1 they are said to be taken Captive by the Devil at his will and to be held in his Snare they are in the Bond of Iniquity Acts 8.23 The Sins of Men do take them and their iniquities do hold them Prov. 5.22 we read that Paul and Silas were cast into the inner Prison Acts 16.24 This Expression of the Inner Prison implies the Prison was divided into two parts there was an outer and an inner Prison so I may distinguish God hath an outer and inner Prison his outer Prison is in this World his inner Prison is in Hell here sinners are in the outer Prison they are bound Isa 61.1 they are held Rom. 7.6 They are taken captive 2 Tim. 2 last They are shut up under sin Gal. 3.22 Loaden with Dead Works Heb. 9.14 Guilty before God Rom. 3.19 And Condemned John 3.18 He that believes not is Condemned already and if men stay and continue in the outer-Prison and Death finds them here how just is it that God should cast them into his inner Prison and shut them up and hold them there for ever 4. Jesus Christ himself when he was a surety for Sinners and stood in their room and stead was made a Prisoner was under a restraint and confinement Isa 53.8 It is said He was taken from Prison and Judgment Jesus Christ could not have been taken out of Prison if he had not first been in Prison But how was Jesus Christ in Prison I answer 1. The great sorrow that was in the amazing fear that was on Christs Spirit was as a Prison about his Soul Matt. 36.37 38. he was sorrowful and very heavy he said My Soul is sorrowful to the Death He was sore amaz'd Mark 14.33 taking a prospect of the dreadful storm that did hang over him the deep and bitter Cup reach'd out to him the vast Ocean of Sorrows and Sufferings that were before him yet he was heard in that he feared Heb. 5.7 This implies that he was under fear yet he was deliver'd from it that it did not sink him or overwhelm him 2. Jesus fell into the hands of his Enemies they seized on him led him him away to Annas and Caiaphas they held him under their power for several hours till they Condemned and Executed him John 18.12 13. the Captain and band of Soldiers took Christ bound him and led him away as a Prisoner 3. Jesus was buried he was laid in the dust and shut up as a captive of Death in the prison of the grave but such was the dignity of his person the value of his Blood the satisfactory nature of his Suffering that his Captivity was short his Imprisonment lasted but a little while yet this confinement and prison of Christ doth teach us what sinners deserve doth instruct us what they must expect if they are not washed from their Sins in Christs Blood and reconciled to God by his Death his Person being infinite and his Sufferings satisfactory his Prison could only be temporary and short but the nature of Sinners being Finite and their sufferings not able to expiate their sins their Prison must needs be Everlasting 5. God threatens sinners with this Prison and he must needs be just to himself and true to his word the Lightening of Gods Threatning is not without a Thunderbolt of Execution and Vengeance Psal 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God God hath not only said it but also sworn it That he will never forget any of the deeds of impenitent Sinners Amos 8.7 the Lord hath Sworn by the Excellency of Jacob that is by himself that is Jacobs Excellency surely I will never forget any of their Works Tho men forget God and his Laws yet he will not forget their Crimes and Iniquities Gods Threatning must stand therefore sinners must fall into the Bottomless Pit Gods word must take hold of them Zack 1.5 6. therefore they will be cast into the Eternal Prison If we confirm not Gods Command by doing it Deut. 27. last God will confirm his threatning by executing it Dan. 9.12 6. The Spirits of Sinners departed out of the Body must be shut up in Gods Prison for God hath mighty Officers of Justice he hath powerful Bayliffs and Serjeants to Arrest to Seize on to carry away departing Souls Luke 12.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they shall require and demand thy Soul of thee they that shall require it will not be denied will not be rejected and sent empty away they will take hold of guilty Creatures drag them to the highest Tribunal and present them to the Sovereign Judg of Heaven and Earth good or bad Angels seize on dislodging and removing Souls I have been credible informed concerning a wicked man that I knew my self That when he was on the brink of the Pit and on the Borders of Eternity Something in the likeness of a Crow appeared in his Chamber and sate on the Testar of his Bed and could not be driven away till the sick man gave up the Ghost and then it suddenly Vanished away The Antient Rabbins have talked of the Angel of Death that did appear to Sick and Dying Men and was very Terrible to them by this Angel of Death they seem to mean some good or bad Angel sent to fetch the Soul to God's Tribunal to give its Account and to receive its final Sentence God doth not want Means or Messengers to attach and apprehend guilty Souls and to Conduct them into his Terrible and glorious
snare till he takes up his snare Amos 3.5 seizes on the prey he hath caught and carries it away to Hell As the Lord liveth there is a place of Misery there is a dreadful Prison and place of Torments Do not banish it out of your Thoughts do not ridicule it as a meer Invention of Men or as vain ungrounded Fancy entertained in weak and timerous Minds Do not go on to despise or question it till God confutes your unbelief and punishes your Atheism by the woful painful feeling of that which you would not believe or fear 2. Vse Do not envy Sinners do not grudge them their full Cup of sensual Delights their calm and smoath Streams of Prosperity God hath a reckoning with them Judgments are travelling towards them Hos 5.1 Vengeance is ready to take hold of them those that now will bear no Yoak will be restrained by no bounds must shortly be laid fast in the Eternal Prison They that now swim in Rivers of Pleasures must soon be drowned in Perdition and Destruction They that suck in large draughts of sensual Delights must within a little time drink the Wine of the Wrath of the Almighty Would you envy a Malefactor a large Meal or a full Glass of Wine that next day is to be executed Would you grudge a Man Fine Cloaths or delicate Fare that next hour is to be cast into devouring Fire their Comforts are measured by Time but their Misery and Torment is to be measured by Eternity 3. Vse O examine your selves what grounded Hope you have that you shall be secured from Eternal Bondage and delivered from the wrath to come are you in the Road to the Prison or in the way to the Palace there are but these two Receptacles and places of Entertainment for departed Souls Consider well of it are you in a perishing way Psal 1. last or in the way Everlasting Psal 139. last Put these following Questions to your Souls 1. Are your Eyes opened Isa 42.7 This is the means to bring us out of our spiritual Prison and the first step towards our Liberty Why are Men so quiet so contented so satisfied to stay in Gods outer Prison Surely it is because their Eyes are shut they discern not where they are and how great their danger is Jesus Christ first opens the blind eyes and then he brings the Prisoners out of the Prison-House Inquire therefore did you ever come to your selves take up true Notions or form a right Judgment concerning your lost deplorable and miserable Estate Luk. 15.17 The Prodigal came to himself he conversed with reflected on himself dwelt on the sad Thoughts of what his Folly and Lusts had reduced him to and then he took up this fixed Resolution I will arise and go to my Father Luk. 15.18 19 20 21. If Men did come to themselves they would leave Sin as a bad and hard Master and would return to God their Heavenly Father The Apostle Paul speaks of Sinners recovering themselves out of the snare of the Devil 2 Tim. 2. last The Word in the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifies to recover out of Drunknness and to become sober and those that thus become sober do escape out of the snare of the Devil Sinners are drunken with false Notions with wrong Conceptions and ungrounded Imaginations concerning themselves the goodness of their own Estate the sweetness of the Pleasures of Sin the worth of the Riches of the World Men must return to sobriety of Mind to a right Judgment of their State and Ways that they may recover out of the snare of the Devil Are the Scales of Ignorance fallen off from your Eyes is the Veil drawn off from your Hearts Act. 12.7 9. A Light shined into Peters Prison and then he was raised and called out of it so here 2. Are you come to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament and to the Blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than the Blood of Abel Heb. 12.24 Are you come into his Righteousness Psal 69.27 That is an observable Phrase to come into the Righteousness of the Messiah Believers come into it as their Garment that must cloath and cover them their Fortress and City of Refuge that must secure them from the Curse of the Law and Revenging Justice Those that lay hold of and come into the Righteousness of Christ are passed from Death to Life and shall never come into Condemnation John 5.20 These things are linked with and depend on each other coming into Christs Righteousness secures us from coming into Condemnation have you fled by Faith to the Mediator and his Blood so that you have received the Atonement that he made Rom. 5.11 Do you apply the Reconciliation that Christ hath made to your selves 2 Cor. 5.18 All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ 3. Are you made Free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 The Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death The Law of the Spirit is the mighty powerful effectual working of the Spirit of Life Though the Law of Sin be strong yet the Law of the Spirit of Life is stronger This Law of the Spirit can prevail and carry it against the Law of Sin have we ever experienced this mighty Law of the Spirit hath it broke our Fetters and Chains mortified our Lusts enlarged our Hearts Psal 119.32 Then will I run the way of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my Heart It is the work of the Spirit to enlarge the understanding by beaming in new Light and to enlarge the Will by kindling new spiritual Love when Christ by his Spirit doth cirtumcise the Heart then the Chains of Lust do fall off Is the Law of God written in you Jer. 31.33 Is this a prevailing reigning Principle in your Hearts and as a powerful Byass on your Wills Do you choose the way of Truth and choose Gods Precepts Psal 119.30 173. 4. Have you New Honourable and Ornamental Chains cast about your Souls Isa 45.14 It is promised the Church that the Egyptians and the Ethiopians and other Gentile Nations should come over to her and be hers they should come over to her and after her in Chains We are not to understand the Words as if Christ should force Proselites into his Church or Subjects into his Kingdom Jesus Christ never did violence to the Bodies of Men or by an outward force hale Men to him but the Phrase signifies the powerful work of Christ by his Spirit on the Minds and Consciences of Men he casts Chains of Light and Love about the Souls of Men He mightily convinces and perswades them of the Truth of his Doctrine of the Excellency of his Promises He plants strong Inclinations in them he makes powerful Impressions on them that they cannot but subject themselves to him and yield and submit to his Church Those that are bound with Chains
it must not be a doubtful Opinion but a rooted Perswasion God is wronged by wicked Men and he must right himself they have pressed him with their Iniquities as a Cart is pressld under the sheaves and he must ease himself Isa 1.24 Ah I will ease me of my Enemies and avenge me of my Adversaries Sinners rise up proudly against God Psal 138.21 Am I not grieved with those that rise up against thee and God must humble and abase them Psal 73.29 Thou settest them in slippery places thou castest them down into destruction Ungodly men break God's Yoak Jer. 5.5 and therefore must be broken with that Rod of Iron that is in Christ's hand Psal 2.9 God will draw near to them in Justice Mal. 3.5 I will come near to you to Judgment that are gone far from God as to Obedience Psal 73.27 Lo those that are far from thee shall perish 2. Acknowledge that you have deserved to be thrown into this Prison Have you not lived without God in the World Eph. 2.12 and and so have you not begun your Hell on Earth have you not executed a great and grievous part of the Eternal Punishment on your selves by neglecting Converse with God and cutting your selves off from Communion with him Have you not contentedly been without God in Time and is it not righteous that you should be without him to Eternity 3. Submit to the Spirit of God when it becomes a Spirit of Bondage to your Souls Rom. 5.15 It is then a Spirit of Bondage when it arrests the Conscience with a deep heavy sense of Sin when it sets home the Threatnings and Curse of the Law when it seals to a Sinner a Sentence of Condemnation and fills the Soul with the Terrors of God Gal. 3.22 The Scripture hath concluded all under Sin the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 might as well be rendred shut up The Scripture hath shut up all men and all the Acts of the Natural man under sin it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things that appertain and belong to the Natural man and flow from him For they that are in the flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.8 The Sacrifice of the Wicked that is his best Religious Service is an Abomination to the Lord And the Prayer of the Wicked that is all his common Actions are also an Abomination to the Lord Prov. 15.8 9. If the Sacrifice and the Way of the Wicked be an Abomination then the Scripture may well conclude his All under Sin Ungodly men seem to walk at Liberty to be secure merry and unconcerned at Sin the Wrath of God and an Eternal State but the Spirit of God comes and arrests secure Sinners and shuts them up under the bitterness of Sin and the dreadful sense of the Wrath of God in this Case it is dangerous for Persons to shake off the Terrors of God to despsse his Threatnnings and to break God's Prison Those that quench Convictions and return to a loose and licentious Life are in great danger of undoing themselves to Eternity Be therefore perswaded that the Spirit and the Scripture do mercifully shut up Unregenerate Men and all their Actions under sin it is not that they may sink under their Guilt languish under their Disease and perish everlastingly but all this is to humble their proud Minds and break their hard Hearts that they may sue to Free Grace to remit their Debt break their Chains heal their Disease and save their Souls The Scripture shuts up all under sin that the Promise by Faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe The Spirit of Bondage prepares Persons for the Spirit of Adoption that Men may act Faith on Jesus Christ lay hold of the free Promise and so have Justification and Salvation as an Alms of Mercy 4. Listen to Christs Voice that calls you out of the spiritual Prison Isa 49.9 That thou mayst say to the Prisoners Go forth and to them that are in darkness Shew your selves O desire and cry to Jesus Christ to speak this effectually to your Soul You need he should speak with a strong hand Isa 8.11 Look to Jesus Christ to open the door of Gods Prison Isa 61.1 and also to open the door of your hard heart Acts 16.14 God opened the Heart of Lydia O desire Jesus Christ to speak so that your Chains may fall off your Doors fly open and you be brought out of darkness and the Prison-house Isa 42.7 You need to be sprinkled with the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep destroying Justice out The Blood of the Paschal Lamb sprinkled on the Door-posts of the Israelites was a Sign to the destroying Angel that he was not to break into that House or kill any there Exod. 12.22.23 It is the Blood of Jesus Christ the True Paschal Lamb 1 Cor. 5.7.8 that must be our Guard Security Protection and where this is sprinkled God sets a Sign on those Souls that they shall not perish but escape that they are not appointed to Wrath but to obtain Salvation by Jesus Christ God saith in Isa 66.19 that he would set a Sign among the Jews Calvin on the Place thinks that there is an allusion to the Blood of the Paschal Lamb sprinkled on the Israelities Doors that was a Sign they should be safe So Christs Blood applyed to us and sprinkled on us is a sure Sign and Token of our Salvation that we shall not come into Condemnation but find Mercy with the Lord O therefore apply your selves by Faith to Jesus Christ as a Redeemer Isa 59.20 that you may be Ransomed by the Blood he hath shed by the Price he hath paid address your selves to Jesus Christ as a Deliverer Rom. 11.26 that you may be Rescued by that Power he can put forth Jesus Christ is a Redeemer by Price and a Deliverer by Power these two conjoyned do render him a Compleat and perfect Saviour If Jesus Christ be a refining Fire to you in this World Mal. 3.2 3 4. God will not be a Consuming Fire to you in the world to come Heb. 12. last 5. Repent unfeignedly of and truly break off from your Sins Mark 1.15 Repent and believe the Gospel O wash your Hearts from Wickedness put away the evil of your doings escape that Corruption that is in the World through Lust Jer. 4.14 Isa 1.16 17. 2 Pet. 1.4 Break and shake off the bond of Iniquity Acts 8.23 Get out of the Snare of the Devil 2 Tim. 2. last and you need not dread the Eternal Prison God will not condemn those that bear his Image live his Life wage War with his Enemies As you seek to Jesus Christ to quench the Fire of God's Wrath by putting his Blood on it so do you pluck away the Fuel of this Fire by Repentance and continual Mortification suffer in your Flesh in your corrupt Nature here 1 Pet. 4.1 that you may not suffer in your Soul for ever hereafter dye to sin that you may not dye for sin If your Lusts do still find Favour with you how can you hope to find Mercy with God Curb your Flesh restrain your selves from Carnal Liberty and you shall be safe and secured from eternal Bondage Make a Covenant with your Eyes Job 31.1 restrain them from wandring and gazing on tempting and enticing Objects Cry to God Lord turn away mine Eyes from beholding Vanity Psal 119.37 Keep your Hearts with all diligence Prov. 4.23 suppress vain thoughts that spring up quash sensual desires that are ready to sprout forth The old man is a stock still budding In-dwelling sin is still tempting this Womb would still conceive and bring forth Fruit to death there is a Law in us Rom. 7.21 that Satan hath enacted Members that he hath made Col. 3.5 Lusts that he hath kindled 1 Joh. 2.15 16. Our daily Work therefore must be to contend with our corrupt Wills and vile Affections to fight against sin to conflict with and overcome our selves He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second Death Rev. 2.11 You must restrain your Tongues and set a Watch before the door of your Lips the Psalmist said he would take heed to his ways that he did not sin with his Tongue he would keep his Mouth with a Bridle Psal 39.1 Much sin would be prevented if we did watch over our Words Christs great silence when he was falsly accused points at Sinners great sin in abusing their Tongues in rash and evil speaking We must also refrain our Feet from the ways of Sin and Death Psal 119.101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way that I might keep thy Word By the Word of thy Lips I have kept my self from the Path of the destroyer Psal 17.4 Wicked men take Liberty to themselves to say or do what they please Jer. 14.10 They love to wander they have not refrained their Feet It is dangerous for you to affect a Liberty for your corrupt Hearts roving Senses and wandring Feet If you give Liberty to your Lusts God will proclaim Liberty to the Sword Jer. 34.17 Would you have Gods punishing hand at Liberty to destroy you would you have his Glistering Sword at Liberty to cut you off shall all banks be cut and the Flood of the Wrath of God be at Liberty to overwhelm and swallow you up for ever Abridge your selves deny carnal Liberty to your Flesh and it's Lusts If you walk in the Narrow Way of the Law-giver you shall not fall into the strait Prison of the Judge FINIS
not strowed Men affect a broad way a wide Gate tho it tend to Destruction Matt. 7.13 They cannot Endure the Girdle of Gods Covenant or the Bond of his Laws and therefore how just a Punishment is it that those should be cast into Gods Prison that have cast off his Yoke How Righteous is God in punishing sinful Carnal Liberty with Eternal Bondage and Confinement 2. Sinners are Criminals and Debtors and in both respects do deserve a Prison 1. Wicked Men are Criminals they rob God they withold his due they usurp his Rights It is said of Jesus Christ that he restored what he took not away This was prophesied and spoken of our Surety Psal 66.4 If he did not take away from God who did it Surely sinful Man did take away from God he robb'd God of his Trust of his Love of his Religious Worship He alienated himself from God he withdrew and estranged all the Creatures from God Men should have been first Fruits devoted to God and as living Sacrifices offered to him In this respect God may charge the whole World as of Old he did charge the whole Nation of the Jews Mal. 3.1 Ye have robbed me in Tyths and Offerings O how many Thieves are there in the World that rob God both of the Seventh of their Time in profaning of his Sabbath and of the Tenth of their Goods They care not how little they expend to maintain God's Service and to uphold his Worship in the World do they not daily rob God of their precious thoughts and of their choicest affections They set up their own ends and exalt their own Wills and do not make God's Will their Sovereign Law his Glory their Supream End How many Families rob God of his Worship every day There is no praying to him no calling upon him Psal 14.4 Jer. 10. last All their Life is the sowing of Mammon the pleasing themselves the gratifying their own Lusts and Vile Affections Is it scandalous to steal from Men and is it not more heinous to rob God 2. Men are Enemies to and rebel against God Col. 21. You that were Strangers and Enemies in your minds through wicked works Sinners are Strangers to God they do nothing to oblige him they are Enemies to God they do much to provoke him they are Enemies against God in their minds it is an hearty a deep rooted Enmity their Minds are still intent on Evil Works The Apostle seems to me to glance at and have respect to those words of God recorded by Moses Gen. 16.5 the Lord saw that the Imaginations of the Thoughts of Man's Heart were only evil continually And Men express their Enmity to God by their Rebellion against God Hear how God accuseth Israel and complaineth against them Isa 1.2 Hear O Heavens and give ear O Earth I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebelled against me God calls in the whole Creation summons all the Creatures to give in Evidence and to be Witnesses against them the Sun Moon and Stars did run their Race and afford Light and Influences continually to them the Earth did bear them and bring forth Fruit to supply their Wants and continue their Lives God made so many Servants above and below to minister to Man yet this proud ungrateful Creature withdraws his Service from God denies Obedience to his Maker Oh hear and be astonished both Heaven and Earth that Israel that I have adopted the Jews that I have nourished taught educated as my Children yet have made void my Laws and rebelled against me Princes have Prisons for Thieves and Rebels against them and shall not the King of the whole World have a Prison for those that rob him and rebel against him Rebellion against God is far worse than a Rebellion against any Earthly King for God is an Infinite and an Eternal Being he gave us Life Breath and all things his Laws are all righteous his Commands are holy they ask but for the Rights of a God They are just they demand but what we owe our Neighbour they are good for our selves in the keeping of them is great reward Psal 19.11 The Apostle commends the Law and saith the Command is Holy Just and Good These are Three weighty comprehensive Epithites When we yeild God his Right we reap Benefit to our selves just as the Trees that serve us in bringing forth Fruit do also serve themselves in bringing forth a Stone or Kernel to continue their own Kind Obedience to God is grounded on our very Nature and founded in our very Being Those that have received a Being from God's Hand surely ought to receive a Law from his Mouth Rebellion against God therefore must needs be an heinous Crime and deserve an Eternal Prison Those that serve their own Lusts and do Satan's Will in time are worthy to suffer God's Will to Eternity 3. Sinners are guilty of Spiritual Whoredom and Adultery Psal 73.27 Thou hast destroyed such as go a whoring from thee Ye Adulterers and Adulteresses know you not that the Friendship of this World is Enmity with God James 4.14 As a Rebellious Son was by God's Law to be stoned to Death Deut. 21.20 21. so a Woman guilty of Adultery and the Adulterer were both to be put to death by God's Command Levit. 20.10 Judah gave Sentence against Tamar for her Whoredom Let her be brought forth and burnt Gen. 38.24 If the Rebellion of a Son against an Earthly Father was Capital if bodily Adultery was punished with Death what then doth Soul-Adultery deserve God is our Lawful Husband Isa 54.5 Thy Maker is thy Husband Yet have not sinful Souls affected the Bed of a Stranger have they not turned from God after Creatures As Christ admonishes and accuseth the Woman of Samaria for living in Adultery or at least in Fornication John 4.18 He that thou now hast is not thy Husband so God may charge unconverted Men and Women that they live in Spiritual Adultery that the object they most love and doat on is not their Lawful Embraces the Creatures were not made to be Idols to Entice us from God but are bestowed as Love tokens to allure our Hearts to God yet the Hearts of Covetous Sinners do go after their Covetousness Ezek. 33.31 And the Hearts of Idolaters do walk after the Heart of their detestable things Ezek. 11.21 tho this was a great cheat to think that Dead Idols or false Gods had a heart to retaliate their Love or to Requite them for their Worship on this Account God is the only Lawful Husband and meer object of our Love because he hath a Heart to Love us again Prov. 8.17 I love those that love me Idols or Creatures cannot say so Dead Idols and Dead Creatures have no Heart to love us O! consider then what a horrid Crime Spiritual Adultery is hereby we defile the Creatures do offer Violence to them and put a Rape on them they call and invite us to the Love of God they entice us