be convinced that they are treasuring up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God 2. When Man will be and do evil that God may be good in pardoning such there are who say Rom. iii. 8. Let us do evil that good may come Let us Sin that Grace may abound Against this presumption the Apostle thunders out a just Damnation and because that they might pretend that this was only the Consequence of that Doctrine of Free Grace which he Preach'd he abhors it as a scandalous report and that his Doctrine abetted no such abominable Inferences he owns indeed Rom. v. 20. That where sin aboundâ—…d grace did much more abound but he denies the Consequence chap. vi 1. That therefore any should continue in sin that grace might abound The Apostle Jude ver 4. notes those ungodly ones who turned the grace of God into lasciviousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where it will deserve observation 1. What it was they thus wretchedly abused It was the grace of God not the work of Grace upon their Hearts for that they were Strangers to they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as had thrown off all worship of God but it was the Doctrine of Grace which is indeed sometime called Grace because it is a revelation of free rich Grace offered to the Sons of Men. 2. Into what did they turn this Grace into Lasciviousness or an unbridled Licence to commit all manner of iniquity with greediness 3. But how could they do this Abominable thing They did it by a Metathesis most wickedly transposing inverting and perverting the Order Method and design of God and his Gospel in every thing and what should have been the strongest Argument to withdraw them from sin they made their great encouragement to sin and thus they turned the point of God's argument upon himself 2. Secondly When Men take up a Profession and form of Religion but deny the power of it upon their Hearts and in their Lives this is one of the Characters of those perillous those last and worst of days 〈◊〉 Tim. iii. 5. Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof for the great end of the Gospel is to Convert Sinners unto God to subdue them to the Authority of Christ but these Wretches represent it as a weak and inefficacious Doctrine that has no power nor prevalency upon their Souls they deny the power of it There 's nothing more certain than that if Mens Religion does not drive out their Lusts their Lusts will drive away their Religion and yet these will be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce and despisers of them that are good and yet which is wonderful they will maintain a form of godliness If you ask them Do you believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth They will tell you they firmly believe it Ask them again Do you believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary that he suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified dead and buried that he descended into Hell And all the other Articles of the Creed All these they stedfastly believe But when this Doctrine commands subjection of Soul to all these Truths That we should live to him that died for us and rose again 2 Cor. v. 15. In this point they desire to be excused which is an evident affront to the Gospel whose design is to turn them to God from Idols to serve the living and true God 1 Thess. i. 9. This is it which evidences that the Gospel comes not in word only but in power and in the holy ghost ver 5. And so the same Apostle Rom. vi 17. gives thanks to God that they who had once been the servants of sin had obeyed from their heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered unto them or rather that unto which they had been delivered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men may be sound and Orthodox in their Heads and yet Heterodox and rotten in their Hearts They can afford to lend Christ an Ear and give him a civil hearing still reserving their Lusts to themselves and their Hearts for the World and when the Word demands entrance into and to have a Throne in their Hearts they deny it the commanding power and bid it sit below at the Footstool sending away the blessed Gospel disappointed and ashamed 3. Thirdly The Gospel has been exceedingly stained when it 's entertained for no other end than to subserve some base low design of the Flesh and made a slave to some worldly interest This Reproach the Pharisees cast upon their own Religion Mat. xxiii 14. who under the Covert and Colour of long Prayers devoured widows houses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A pretence indeed they had but it was so thin and transparent that an ordinary Eye might see through it and discover the wicked Design at the bottom Such were they 1 Tim. vi 5. who supposed Gain to be Godliness But most notable was the Instance of Simon the Sorcerer Act. viii 13. This famous Hypocrite was baptized nay believed and adbered to Philip and was free of his Money too but all was that he might make his Markets of Religion that he might purchase the Gift of Miracles for himself and his Disciples and so maintain his former Repute that he was some Great Thing the very Power of God amongst the deluded People But all this Project was defeated and blown away with one breath of St. Peter's Mouth thy Money perish with thee We have a Generation of Men in our Age denominated from this Simon who have driven a mighty gainful Trade by the Gospel who buy or sell the Superintendency of Souls whose Money and we may justly fear their Souls too and those of their Flocks perish together These are a horrid Scandal to Religion not seeking Christ but themselves not feeding the Flock but their own Pride and Ambition who when the Great Shepherd shall appear must be compelled to stand before his presence but will not dare to lift up their Faces with a holy and humble Confidence and shall receive a just Recompence of Reward 4. A fourth thing that has blemish'd the Doctrine of the Gospel is those swarms of damnable Doctrines which have been poured out upon the World of these the Apostle 2 Pet. ii 1 2. has prophesied That there shall be false teachers who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction And many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of That they shall bring upon themselves swift destruction is very sad but the least part of the evil they have justly deserved it but that the way of Truth should be evil spoken of which
Families be Profane This one thing further Brethren I have to beg of you or rather of God for you that you may most zealously and unweariedly pursue the things that make for Truth Holiness and Peace and never to divide those things which God has joyned together and God even our God shall give you his Blessing This is the unfeigned Desire and shall ever be the fervent Prayer of him who is and shall endeavour to approve himself to God to his own Conscience and to yours Feb. 25. 1695 6. The faithful Servant of your Souls through Christ Vin. Alsop The Reader is desired to Correct these few Errors which notwithstanding all our Care have escaped the Press PAge 19. Line 27. for not read yet p. 112. line 16. for heart read hurt TITUS ii 10. That they may Adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THE Exhortation here given us is of far greater extent than the Occasion on which it was given The Occasion was narrow but the Equitable Construction is wide It was given immediately to Servants but it reaches their Masters None so low as to be beneath it none so high as to be above it The poorest Servant in his humble Capacity must demean himself with that Fidelity and Integrity that he may Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel The highest Prince in his exalted Orb must remember that he has a Lord and Master in Heaven In a word whatever Figure any one makes whatever Character he wears in whatever Relation he stands whatever Place he fills yet he comes within the compass of this Command to walk soberly righteously religiously that he may Adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things The Christian Religion is a Piece of exact Symmetry a Face of excellent Beauty 'T is all glorious within and its cloathing is of wrought Gold Psal. xlv 13. But we must take up a most bitter Lamentation over it its Harmony has been disordered its Beauty blemished much filth thrown in its Face not only by the Reproach of declared Enemies but the unsuitable Conversations of those that profess it who value themselves highly upon it who pretend to have an Interest in it and their highest hopes and expectations from it In short it has been wounded in the house of its friends Zac. xiii 6. What Plato once said of Virtue may be more justly affirmed of the Gospel if it could be seen in its native and genuine Beauty Omnes in sui admirationem abriperet it would allure all Eyes ravish all Hearts draw all Mens Affections and raise it self a Throne in every Man's Conscience But here we must acknowledge with grief and shame that either we have got such feeble Conceptions of it in our own Souls or so miserably misrepresented it to others that we have rendred it cheap and unlovely and most wretchedly scandalized it before the Sons of Men. If therefore there be any who have already heard or shall hereaster read this mean but well-meaning Discourse whose pious Souls are grieved that this Holy Doctrine has been trampled in the mire by unhallowed Feet or whose Consciences have been toucht that they themselves have been the Cause of or given occasion to this Scandal unto such is the word of this Exhortation sent That they would conscientiously endeavour to retrieve the Credit to vindicate the Honour and in the Language of the Text to adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things In which words you will easily observe Three Parts 1. The Great End which God has propounded to us and which we are to propound to our selves that in the whole Course of our Conversation we adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel 2. The Extent of this Exhortation In all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may refer to all the Parts of this holy Doctrine to adorn it in all the Precepts all the Promises all the holy Examples laid down therein or else it may refer to all the various Relations wherein we stand the various Conditions wherein the Providence of God may cast us that in all these we make it our Business to adorn this Doctrine to beautify this blessed Gospel 3. The Reason assign'd to inforce this Exhortation it is the Doctrine of God our Saviour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of our Saviour who is God It 's the Doctrine of our God who has Authority over us the Doctrine of our Saviour who should have the great commanding Interest in us and our greatest Concerns are wrapt up in it It 's the Doctrine of a Saviour and it 's a saving Doctrine and all the Reproach thrown upon this Doctrine falls upon Christ what falls upon Christ falls upon God and whatever Reproach flies so high as God will certainly fall down again with an overwhelming Vengeance upon the Head of him that throws it There 's little that will need Explication to clear our way to the Doctrine only two words may deserve some Consideration 1. Doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will not be so critical to distinguish it from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeing Suidas makes them Synonymous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These two words then are of adequate significations and both of them denote 1. Matter of Faith what we are to believe Or 2. Matter of Practice wherein we are to obey Thus where the Apostle Tit. 1. 9. amongst the other Characters of a Bishop requires this That he be able by sound Doctrine to exhort Occumâ—…nius thus glosses it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sound Doctrine is that which teacheth Orthodoxy and a regular Conversation 'T is that which makes a sound Head in opposition to Heresy and a sound Heart in opposition to Hypocrisy and both these will produce a sound Conversation 2. A second Word which I will touch upon is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they may Adorn The adorning commanded is not by painting Religion or adding any Artificial Colour to the Face of it 't is not by superinducing any varnish above its natural Complexion for Religion needs none of our over-officious Skill to deck and trim it up after the newest Mode or to recommend it to the wantoâ—… Affections of Men with a meretricious dâ—…s for Gold needs no Gilding but the way of Adorning here enjoynd is by rubbiâ—… 〈◊〉 the Rust wiping off the Dust washing oâ—… the Dirt which by the injury of Time it has contracted or by the reproach of Enemies it has suffered that we restore it to its primitive Lustre its original Simplicity by walking up to the Commands answering the Demands living up to its Ends and expressing the true Native real Glory of it in a suitable Conversation From the words thus opened and cleared I recommend to you this Doctrine It ought to be the conscientious Care of all that do profess the Gospel of Christ to adorn the Doctrine of that Gospel which they profess in all things The Apostle lays so
greater which was said of our own Mr. Perkins Primus Theologiam è coelis in Terras deduxit He was the first who amongst us reduced Doctrine to Application Speculation to Practice However that be most certain it is that every Truth Doctrine Proposition in the Gospel aims at the subduing of Sin in the Heart and of the Heart to God to make us better rather than wiser The design of the Scripture is not to Amuse and Puzzle us but to Reform and Sanctifie us not to Confound our Heads but to Conform our Hearts and Reform our Lives to the holiness of its Principles not to make us lose our Wits but to save our Souls But the truth of this will most clearly appear in some few instances 1. The Doctrine of God's Electing some out of the Mass of mankind from all eternity unto eternal Life is a Doctrine which swallows up our Reasons and we are lost in the depth of it here indeed Faith will swim but naked Reason unassisted by Revelation will certainly sink and drown in that vast Abyss for who is he that standing upon the Shoar of that unfathomable Gulph will not cry out with Apostle Rom. xi 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out And yet when this sublime Doctrine shall produce its effects in the calling home of Souls to God it comes cloathed with visible Grace and approves it self to our experience and terminates in practical godliness Eph. i. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the World that we should be holy and without blame before him in love As the Sun whose glory we cannot safely behold nor gaze upon in his meridian Lustre without endangering our Eyes yet we can comfortably view by Reflection So that Doctrine which would strike us blind in its direct and immediate Prospect Administers a sweet and sensible Consolation when it comes to take hold upon the Heart in effectual Calling Those curious Speculations which Men have spun out of their own Brains and woven into subtle Webs as the Spider her Nets out of her own Bowels are but Elaborate Nothings refin'd triffles we may know them and be never the better be ignorant of them and never the worse Only Gospel-Doctrines have this singular excellency that they bear hard upon the Corruption of the Heart to Mortifie it upon Pride to abase it and press vigorously upon the Conscience to purifie and pacifie it They are therefore styled in 1 Tim. vi 3. Wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to godliness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wholesome in themselves and healing to the Soul such as being taken down into the Heart purge out the Corruption of depraved Nature and in a word it 's a Doctrine whose every line is drawn by the straight Rule of Holiness and centers in that one point of Godliness 2. The Doctrine of Redemption is another great instance of this Truth what more amazing than that God should send and give his Son and that the Son should give and offer up himself to Redeem lost self-lost Sinners to Redeem them by Price paid to God out of the hand of Justice to Redeem them by Power out of the hand of the Devil This would lead us back to the Covenant of Redemption between the eternal Father and the eternal Son when the Counsel of Peace was between them both Zech. vi 13. But here we may lose our selves and perhaps not find out God till we relieve our selves by such Scriptures as that Tit. ii 14. He gave himself for us to Redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Not only Redeeming us from Hell but Sin nor only to purchase but to purifie us to himself nor only to deliver us from the future but from this present evil World Gal. i. 4. Not only to rescue us out of the Devils power but out of our own and thus this Doctrine terminates in Godliness in Good Works for so the Apostle concludes his Discourse that he might purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works II. Another Peculiar Glory of the Doctrine of the Gospel is that it never more directly designs the advancement of a Sinner than when it abases him most and lays him lowest it suits indeed the Sinners Misery but always crosses his Lust Empties the Creature when it designs to fill it and humbles the proud Worm that it may exalt it the Gospel breaks first and then binds up Wounds that it may Heal and Condemns that it may Justifie It will make the Sinner plead Guilty before he be absolved It strips him Naked before it cloaths him and makes him know and see and feel himself the most beggarly Wretch in the World before it discovers the unsearchable riches of Christ. In a word it will convince us all that we are the most miserable undone lost things ' ere it Saves us And in this Point the Apostle has fully satisfied us 1 Cor. i. 29. 31. That the Method of the infinitely wise God isâ—…ues in this That no flesh might glory in his presence but he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. In Election God had no respect to Faith Works or the right use of Free-will foreseen that no flesh might glory in his presence the same Method he takes in justifying a Sinner That no flesh might glory in his presence so Rom. iii. 27. Where is boasting then It is excluded By what Law Of Works Nay but by the law of Faith There are two things upon which the haughty Creature would value it self It s own Righteousness it s own Strength and we may add a third it s own Wisdom upon these especially the proud Worm lifts up its Crest on high the gracious God has provided all these in his Covenant that the Sinner shall have Righteousness shall have Strength shall have Wisdom but none of his own but Gods First For Righteousness This is one of the strong Holds wherein the proud Flesh fortifies it self and goes about to establish his own righteousness Rom. x. 3. And this strong Hold God will dismantle and level it with the ground before he builds the House upon the impregnable Rock of his own righteousness i. e. that of Christ. Conviction of Sin and comparing our selves with the Holy Perfect Law of God will thoroughly effect this and then the Sinner stands upon other terms with God and his own Conscience you shall hear this stately proud Creature speaking in another Language when he comes to be distressed about his sin Mich. vi 6. Where-withal shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the most high God What perplexity is here between the necessity of coming and the hazard of coming I must come before the Lord either to be justified or judged I must come before