to destroy these make him to do the Works of the Devil They make the Saviour of Sinners to be the Minister of Sin they make him not only a Friend of Sinners but a Friend of Sin and what is the Devil more It must no longer be said that Christ came to make an end of Sin to redeem from all Iniquity to fulfil all Righteousness but to countenance and encourage Sin and to fill the World with Unrighteousness What Doctrine would the Devil preach other than this Fear not to Sin God is merciful Continue in Sin for Grace hath abounded If there were any ground for such an hope we must quite invert the Gospel and whilst the Apostle tells us Tit. 2.11 12. The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly Lusts we should live righteously and soberly and godly in this present World It must be now written for Gospel The Grace of God teacheth us to deny all Godliness and to indulge to worldly Lusts and to live wickedly and filthily and ungodlily in this present World and yet still to look for the Blessed Hope and the glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Is this the Doctrine of Christ It must be so or thou art undone And if it be what difference betwixt the Doctrine of Christ and the Doctrine of Devils Presumptuous Sinner stand and tremble If the Word of God be not a lye If the Holy Jesus came not to build but to destroy the Works of the Devil there 's no hope for thee but if thou continuest thus thou must perish for ever Who shall bring thee into the Holy City who shall intercede and appear before God for thee Will Christ do it will he ever bring up the Servants of the Devil and set them before the Throne of God and say concerning them These are my Redeemed Ones These Lyars these evil Beasts these slow Bellies these Wantons these Earth-worms these blind and bruitish Souls these Rebels that all their life-time set at nought all my Counsels and rejected my Salvation these are mine I pray thee set the Crown upon their Heads for they are worthy Will Christ ever present such a Brood as these to his Father Will he plead for entrance for such as these Canst thou imagine that Christ would not blush and be ashamed to bring such an unclean thing as thou art before his Father at last and say This is my Child I pray thee let him live in thy sight Will he say to the Father O that Ishmael might live before thee that these Bond-men and Bastards and Belials that never knew thee nor car'd for thee that never minded any such thing as Religion and Godliness in the World but mocked and scoffed at all that did that would never be perswaded to seek the Lord or serve the Lord but all their life long gave themselves up to serve their Lusts and the Devil Let there be an entrance for these into the Everlasting Kingdom as black as they are and as resolute as they were never to be wash'd and made white with the Blood of the Lamb yet they are mine take them in Sinner if it were possible that Christ should thus plead for thee if thou be found in that day in the case that now thou art by all the Power and Interest he hath in Heaven he could not prevail for thee He might as well prevail for Cain and Judas yea for Beelzebub himself with all those black Legions which are already in Hell and fetch them up from the Deep to sit upon Thrones of Glory as ever he could prevail for thee 'T is against the determinate Counsel and Purpose of God against the Design and Tenour of the Gospel of Grace Christ had never any Commission from his Father to save or speak one word for any one Soul that lives and dies in his sins Objection But I will repent and turn from my Sins hereafter how-ever I live now I do not mean to die so I will reform and amend my wayes and then I shall have Mercy Answer This also is thy Presumption Thou neither wilt nor canst Thou wilt repent thou sayest but how long hast thou said so and yet the time comes not When wilt thou Canst thou repent when thou wilt Either thou canst or thou canst not If thou canst why not now Is it too soon for thee to be wise and to be happy Canst thou spare God and his Grace and Favour till hereafter Hast thou not enough of the Devil yet Art thou content to be his Bond-slave to be made such a Fool and a Beast by him yet a-while longer Dost thou chuse to leave thy Soul in hazard of Eternal Fire for a few dayes more If thou wert hungry or naked or harbourless wouldst thou say 't is time enough yet to have Bread or Cloaths or an House to put mine head in If thou wert sick of the Stone or the Gout or the Colick wouldst thou say Let me lie a while a little more torment a few more of these Pangs and Gripes It 's more madness than all this to say Yet a little longer for Sin and the Curse of God and under the Power of the Devil If it be not in thy power now to repent then how darest thou presume on an after-Repentance Will it be more easie hereafter when thy Sin is grown stronger and thy Soul is grown weaker and thine Heart harder and put farther off from Repentance I will return and step over to Christ at last 'T is all one as if thou shouldst say I will run from mine House and my Home and my Friends as far as I can all day but I mean to step home again at night Why Man thou art a dayes journey from home and canst thou step back in a minute what thou hast been running out all the day Hast thou been running from Christ all thy Life long and yet is there but a step betwixt thee and him Thou hast been hampering thy self in the Net and tying thy self to the Threshold of the Devil hast been still knitting Knot upon Knot all along thy time to make thy self sure to him and canst thou unravel in an hour the Webs thou hast been weaving the Knots thou hast been tying all thy life long It 's true it is not impossible the Divine Grace may help at the last but it is a strange thing and so exceedingly unusual that it 's utterly improbable that thou that hast been sinning all thy life in Presumption upon Repentance in thy last hour shouldst not then find it flying as far from thee as thou dost now from it Presumptuous Sinner thou that goest on in thy Sin and countest upon Repentance at last 't is even such another piece of folly as to count upon Mercy at last without Repentance Thou mayest almost as well conclude that God will pardon thee though thou never repent as that God will give thee Grace
of Christ may be right in your Eyes and yet your Hearts not be upright in his Eyes You may be perswaded in your Hearts concerning the Way of Godliness that this is the Good Way that this is the Right Way and an Excellent Way that the Life of a Christian led according to the Rules of the Gospel is an Excellent Life Rom. 2.18 Thou knowest his Will and approvest the things that are more Excellent And to this good Opinion Men may be wrought 1. From the Self-evidencing Light of that Holy Doctrine which prescribes and requires Godliness 2. From the convincing Lives of the Sincere Professors of Godliness 3. From the Self-condemnation that is to be observed in all other wayes 1. From the Self-evidencing Light of the Doctrine of Godliness The Doctrine of Christianity proves it self to be of God by that Divine Light that shines forth in it there is a stamp of Divinity imprinted upon it Is God an Holy God So is this Doctrine an Holy Doctrine Is God a Merciful and Gracious God So is this Doctrine a Doctrine of Mercy a Doctrine of Grace there is Grace and Mercy runs through the whole Body of it nay they are the very Soul and Life of it Is God a God of Wisdom The Doctrine of Christianity is the Wisdom of God in a Mystery Is God a God of Truth and of Righteousness Such is the Doctrine of the Gospel that not only is according to Truth and reveals the Righteousness of God but requires Truth and imposes Righteousness upon all that will embrace it What is more contrary to this Word of Truth than a Lye or than Hypocrisie and Guile What is more contrary to this Word of Righteousness than Unrighteousness Doth the Word of the Gospel allow any Iniquity Is there any guile found in it or any toleration whereof in its Professors Doth it not command all Righteousness and condemn all Unrighteousness even while it justifies the Sinner it condemns the Sin This Religion is pure Religion and undefiled before God Jam. 1.25 Teaching us that denying all ungodliness and worldly Lusts we should live righteously soberly and godly in this present World Tit. 2.13 14. Now he that knows that God is an Holy and Wise God a God of Grace of Truth and of Righteousness and does but understand the Scriptures may without any great difficulty be led into a good opinion of that Godliness which is there held forth and required 2. From the Convincing Lives of the Sincere Professors of Christianity I do not say from the Lives of all Professors some Professors of Christianity there are who are not Christians Some such there are amongst Professors who are disorderly walkers whose Wayes are so evidently contrary to their Profession as if the Devil had led them into their Christianity on purpose to disgrace the Gospel and 't is like enough 't was his doing indeed to make Professors of them This Tempter may tempt Men into Religion as far as may sewe his own ends and Mens Lusts may make them Disciples Such I mean who while they pretend to the Spirit do walk after the Flesh who hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness Rom. 1.18 who are proud self-conceited self-willed heady giddy wandring and unstable Souls like crooked Lines that in some points touch with the Rule but for the most part do swerve from it on this hand and on that Who are scrupulous about some smaller Matters which they fancy to have an appearance of evil and yet allow themselves in apparent Evils straining at a Gnat and swallowing a Camel insisting much on some Circumstances and neglecting the weightier Matters of the Law like those Mat. 23.23 24. 'T is but little that Godliness is beholden for the good Opinion it hath obtained to such as these But to the sincere and single-hearted Professors whose Lives are a Copy or Pattern of wholsom Doctrine holding forth the Word of Life exemplifying the Holy Rules laid down in Scripture and shewing forth the Vertues of Christ before the World Who are in the World as he was in the World who live by Faith and walk in Love being humble meek peaceable merciful temperate true righteous and holy in all manner of Conversation These are the Persons whose Lives do commend Godliness to the World and force their very Hearts many of them to acknowledg Sure this is the Way of God that these Men walk it cannot be but God is in them of a very truth sure these are the Servants of the Living God this is Religion indeed if there be any way of Life this is the way It 's true this way is every-where spoken against by the malicious but the more like to be of God for that So 't was in the Apostles dayes Acts 28.22 As for this Sect we know it is every-where spoken against Mark it Christianity was counted by the malicious but a Sect or a Faction and Christians but Sectaries so they were counted and called about 1600 years ago and therefore 't is no disparagement if they be counted so still But sayes the considering Sinner let them be called what Men please Sectaries Seducers Hypocrites or what else malice can invent yet as it was said of Christ John 10.21 These are not the words of him that hath a Devil so it may be said of his Followers Call them what you will yet these are not the Lives of Schismaticks or Hypocrites these Men are the Servants of the most High God and their way is the way of Life 3. From the Self-condemnation that all other wayes carry in them If this be not the way of Life there 's none if these be not the Servants of God there are none such in the World For where are they else to be found Are the Ignorant and the Earthly and the Irreligious are these the Religious Are the Carnal and the Formal and the out-side Worshippers that will give Christ the Cap and the Knee and yet can Drink and Riot and Swear and Scoff are these the sincere Worshippers of God This must be the Good Way or which else can it with any tolerable probability be imagined to be Surely if this be not it we must even all count to be damn'd for there is no other that so much as looks like the Path of Life The Atheist must say I am not in the way to God this Fool hath said in his Heart There is no God The Pope with his Doctrine must say I am not the Way I am Antichrist 't is Christ only that brings us to God Formality must say I am not the Way for God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth John 4.24 Profaneness must say I am not the Way to God I am the Way of Death and my steps lead down to Hell If there be any Way of Death in the World profaneness is it Drunkards and Swearers and Revellers and Rioters if their Consciences may but have the priviledg of their
and apprehend and be apprehended of Christ I will not say as Moses Stand still but go on and thou shalt see the salvation of God But yet as there is hope so there is also hazard thou art still between hope and fear let both joyn together and force out thy stronger cryes When Lord when Lord I see thou hast dealt graciously by others now one 's brought in then another but my Soul still sticks though something be done yet how little is it wo is mē I am but as a Cake half bak'd half perswaded half resolved O when shall this almost come up to altogether Shall this be the day when it shall be said Salvation is come into this heart O come Lord when so many be taken let not me be left when so many be brought home let not me be left at half-way though I have been so long a coming towards thee I doubt I am not yet come to thee though I be come to thy door do I not hitherto stand without Lord take me in Lord take me in make me one of thy Disciples an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile Cry thus lift up each one his Soul and beg this Grace of the God of Grace Beg and believe believe and hope hope and run and wait for the Salvation of the Lord but pray in fear run in fear wait in fear lest after all this you should fall short of the Grace of God Heb. 4.1 Let us therefore fear lest a Promise being left us of entring into his rest any of you should seem to come short of it 2. Take encouragement to seek Grace from the Promise of obtaining Matth. 7.7 Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened to you for every one that asketh receiveth c. Jam. 1.5 If any of you lack Wisdom let him ask it of God who gives to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him If any man lack Grace let him ask it he that will not be a Beggar shall ever be poor Let him ask and it shall be given him it is not to be had without asking and it is to be had for the asking There are four especial Encouragements in this Promise 1. The Lord giveth He is not like to him that sets up himself above God Antichrist who Sells all he has God giveth you shall have it freely without money and without price Isa 55.1 2. To all men to any man that asks and asks aright to the worst as well as the best Those that need it most if they be duely sensible of their need are most like to speed the emptiest Vessels are those that God will fill the foulest Vessels are those that God will cleanse he will give Grace to any that seek it as they ought to the worst as well as the best 3. Liberally A drop is more than thou deservest but if thou wilt the whole Fountain shall be thine thou as poor as thou art mayst have Grace and have it in abundance these dry trees these pining and perishing and starveling Souls that sit lamenting your poverty go to God and you may all have enough every Vessel shall be filled with the water of Life 4. And upbraideth not he will not upbraid any man nor upon any account that is a serious suitor to him 1. He will not upbraid any man with boldness or sauciness If a poor man come to a Prince to beg any great Favour from him what is his ordinary entertainment What a saucy Fellow is here here 's a bold Begger indeed get you gone you are a saucy fellow God will not upbraid any of you so you may come boldly to the throne of Grace 2. He will not upbraid any man with his unworthiness Sirrah you are a Rebel and mine Enemy remember how you have carried it to me and besides you are such a poor and inconsiderable thing that you are never like to do me much service if I should give you never so much get you gone thus men upbraid but God will not do so he hath gifts for Rebels Grace for his Enemies the unworthiest among them all he hath put them into the hands of his Son on purpose to distribute amongst such Psal 68.18 How is it Sinner that thou hast gotten no grace all this time how is it that thou art not yet before the throne of Grace a begging for it O I am an unworthy wretch a vile sinner a rebell against God sure he will not look upon such a one as I No yes he will look upon any one that comes he upbraideth no man 3. He will not upbraid any man with coming too often or asking too much He will not say as men to Beggers Why you were here but yesterday my door can never be empty for you He will not say Can you not be content with a little will not one Alms suffice you God will rather say why have you stay'd so long ere you came why have I heard no sooner or why hear I no oftner of you Go Sinner speak to the Lord for that poor graceless Soul of thine beg thy pardon ask his Grace and Mercy knock at his door and lye at his door take no other answer but an Alms God doth not use to send away his Beggers that will not be deny'd but sooner or later he will surely give unto them 2. For Believers who have already obtained Grace in truth my word to them shall be Follow on towards perfection in fear of falling back from or walking unworthy of that Grace wherein you stand Hast thou obtained Grace hast thou so indeed May be now thine heart will be ready to say to thee Fear not thou art now out of danger of miscarrying for ever thou art pass'd from Death to Life and shalt not come into condemnation But yet take heed for 1. If thou be so secure from condemnation as thou thinkest thou art yet thy Fear is one of those necessary Means by which thou must be preserved from it As the Apostle saith concerning Faith 1 Pet. 1.5 so may we say concerning Fear We are kept by the mighty power of God through Fear unto salvation Consider that Scripture Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me 2. If thou be indeed secur'd from wrath art thou secur'd from sin also Is there no fear that sin may hurt thee though thou shouldst not die for it Is there nothing to be feared but Hell is there no fear but that of a Slave If thou be a Child of God is there no fear of disingenuity and unworthiness If thou be his Servant is there no fear of ill husbandry if thou be his Disciple is there no fear of non-proficiency He hath nothing of Christ that thinks nothing is to be feared but wrath and damnation Fear Sin fear to be unworthy unthankfull unfruitfull fear sinfull decayes and declinings and negligences