the whole Covenant shall be made good to them if their unbelief of Gods power and truth be not an hinderance 4. Now in this Day of Grace the great High-priest stands ready to intercede for us Never any sincerely begg'd for pardon and for grace but Christ pray'd that Prayer over again and a gracious return was made to it The Spirit also is ready to help infirmities to fill our hearts with such desires as shall be surely satisfied and truly we have to do with a God who of the best things which are most needful most desirable is alwayes most liberal Now are the mollia fandi tempora the times to speak and speed but when this gracious season is gone ah then the loudest cries will be in vain God will hear Christ will intercede the Spirit help no more 4. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is this That now the way is open to the Kingdom As you may come to the Throne of Grace so 't is possible to get into the Throne of Glory Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne Our Lord doth stand as it were with a Crown of Life in his hand and sayes Believe in me and continue faithful to the death and this Crown shall be put upon your heads The Kingdom is offered and the sure way to the Kingdom is revealed Life and Immortality are brought to light by the Gospel that is such a blessed and glorious life as will never by death have a period and if you cease to do evil learn to do well and patiently continue in well-doing this eternal life shall assuredly be given you The foolish Virgins had a Day oâ— Grace as well as the wise The Bridegroom came and the door was open iâ— they had been ready they might have entred but having lost the opportunity they knocked at last but it was too late the door was shut and they were sent away with I know you not Matth. 25. We read of a Ladder that reached from earth to heaven now there is a possibility of climbing up thither But there is no Ladder that reaches from hell to heaven If this present day of salvation be lost salvation it self also will be lost for ever 5. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is this That during this season the state of the wicked is not unalterable 'T is true the Holy Ghost expresly sayes that impenitent and unbelieving ones are condemn'd already Joh. 3. 18. Sentence of condemnation is past but it may be repealed if they at last are brought to mourn for their rejecting of a Saviour and with their hearts believe in the Name of the only begotten Son of God the consequent of this faith will be freedom from condemnation Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit There was condemnation heretofore to them as well as to others but now there is none for they are in Christ and shew it by renouncing the lusts and works of the flesh and giving themselves up to the Spirits guidance They whom sin hath set at a great distance from Christ are called to come to him and while this Day of Grace lasts that word holds good I will in no wise cast out But when this day is done then 't will be I will in no wise receive The Lamb himself then will be full of wrath and that 's dreadful The Lamb can pacifie the anger of God but who can appease the Lambs anger When the only Reconciler is himself irreconcileable when the only Intercessour is inexorable when the only Saviour punisheth with everlasting destruction what hope of help remains then But as yet 't is possible for Rebels to obtain a pardon and to be made children Though thou hast sinn'd thy self near to hell yet thou hast not sinn'd thy self into hell Though sin hath abounded if thou art brought by the entring of the Law to a sence how thy offences have abounded Grace will much more abound Rom. 5. 20. The Lord hath turn'd and chang'd as bad as the worst of you and that which hath been done may be done again since his hand is as mighty to save and his Grace as free as ever I have done with the priviledges of this Day of Grace In the third place follow the properties of it which are these 1. This Day of Grace is uncertain as to its duration 't is more uncertain then the day of life for that may end before this doth Nay the Day of Grace may be past while the very means of Grace continue The acceptable time was pass'd with the Jews when the Prophet was sent to preach among them Hark what a sad Commission he had Isa 6. 9 10. Go make the heart of this people fat make their ears heavy and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and convert and be healed 'T is dreadful when the Word shall make the ear more deaf and the Light the eye more blind and awakening means the heart more gross and stupid The Sons of Eli had outstood their day and yet after this their Father admonishes them and endeavours to reclaim them They were lascivious and made themselves vile and Eli said 'T is no good report I hear of you my sons ye make the Lords people to transgress If one man sin against another the Judge shall judge him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their Father because the Lord would slay them When Drunkards Sorcerers Liars Whoremongers Worldlings are reproved often and will not hearken who knows but the season of mercy may be ended and the Lord intends to slay them to damn them And if at the hearing of this they are unconcern'd there is greater cause to fear though we cannot absolutely conclude that 't is so indeed The day of grace is uncertain the means of grace may be before you are aware removed The golden Candlestick doth not stand so fast in any place as that 't is impossible it should be took away Tremble at that threatning uttered to the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2. 5. I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent And although Ordinances remain a blessing may be withheld from them Thou doest not know but every call may be the last time of asking and Christ may for ever after hold his peace and therefore presently give consent to be espoused to him thou dost not know but that every motion of the Spirit may have his last striving with thee and if thou still resistest the Spirit may take his leave and say Foolish Soul go on in sin go on to hell I will not strive any more to
knows his owner and the Ass his Masters crib but Israel doth not know my people do not consider 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eveâ— thou this is very emphatical As if Christ should have said O thou Jerusalem who hast enjoyed so many means and mercies and hast slighted and abused them all notwithstanding all former folly and unkindness to God to thy self I wish that even thou wouldst at last have open'd thy eyes and ears and become wise unto thy own salvation At least in this thy day That was a day of special visitation God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets in that day spake unto them by his Son And although many Messengers and Servantâ— which were sent had been despised and persecuted to the death by them yet at least the Son should have been reverenced This was their day a time in which they might have been accepted a day in which salvation was brought near to them The things which belong unto thy peace Peace according to the Hebrew phrase does imply all the parts of happâ—ness the principal whereof does certainly lie in being reconciled to and enjoying God But the way of peace and reconciliation namely Justification by faith in Jesus they knew not An humbled Messiah who was to make mens peace by the bloud of his cross Col. 1. 20. they hid their faces from and esteemed him not Being puffed up with their own righteousness and external priviledges and prerogatives they would not submit unto the righteousness of faith which is revealed in the Gospel But now they are hid from thy eyes Christ here sets forth the spiritual judgment which they lay under and likewise removes the scandal and offence which his infirm Disciples might be apt to take because Jerusalem did reject him They had long refused to look unto the Lord that they might be saved and now God sends them the spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear and hearts that they should never understand This is a very sore and yet usual punishment when men receive the grace of God in vain and are resolved to walk contrary to the light which shines about them The Text does yield several points of Doctrine First Jesus Christ is exceeding full of pity and compassion His weeping here over Jerusalem shews how kindly affectioned he was towards them and is towards others in misery Secondly The Lord does grant unto sinners a day of grace in which pardon and life are proffer'd to them and may be obtained by them If thou hadst known in this thy day Thirdly To know in this day of grace the things which belong to our peace is our great happiness and wisdom If Jerusalem had been so wise her ruine would have been prevented Fourthly When sinners will not see they are smitten many times with spiritual blindness and the things of their peace are in a way of judgment hid from them Fifthly Souls being thus left under darkness their state is wretched and deplorable Our Lord with tears laments this sad condition of Jerusalem Doct. 1. The first Doctrine is this That Jesus Christ is exceeding full of pity and compassion The tears which he shed prove this and if tears will not satisfie a little after you may behold him shedding of his blood This compassion of Christ extends it self to them that perish as well as unto those he saves To them that perish his compassion is seen in four things 1. In causing the Light whereby he is discovered to shine upon them 'T is a mercy that the lost are told of a Saviour that they are informed how sin hath caused their misery and Christ is sufficient to cure it Nay herein 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tender mercy appears that the Day-spring from on high does visit them that sit in darkness which can guide their feet into the way of peace Luke 1. 78 79. They need not say Who shall ascend into heaven to understand the means of fallen mans recovery The word is nigh which can give a sufficient information 'T was the great advantage of the Jews that to them were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 1 2. But now those Oracles are pronounced more fully and plainly and to enjoy them is the priviledge of such as in a Land of light have their lot given them It was great mercy towards Capernaum that she was lifted up to Heaven that such words were spoken that such works were done in her and because she improved not the mercy how does our Lord upbraid her 2. Christs compassion towards them that perish is seen in calling and inviting them to come to him The Marriage-feast is prepared and the servants are sent into the high-wayes to invite all to come and partake of it Matth. 22. Wisdom cryeth without she uttereth her voice in the streets she cryeth in the chief places of concourse How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and scorners delight in scorning and fools hate knowledge turn ye at my reproof c. Prov. 1. 20 21 22. And Prov. 9. 2 3 4 5 6. we read Wisdom hath killed her beasts she hath mingled her wine and furnished her table she hath sent forth her maidens she cryeth upon the highest places of the City Whoso is simple let him turn in hither as for him that wanteth understanding she saith unto him come eat of my bread and drink of my wine which I have mingled forsake the foolish and live and go in the way of understanding Thus sinners are called after and though dogs yet the same bread which is prepared for the children is proffer'd to them the same inestimable benefits of Christ as pardon peace grace glory are tendred to them which believers have accepted of with the same eye-salve their eyes shall be annointed with the same tried gold they shall be enriched with the same white rayment all their nakedness shall be covered if they will but come and close with Jesus 3. Christs compassion towards them that perish is seen in waiting long that he may be gracious he knocks at the door and he stands knocking there Rev. 3 20. He stands till his head is filled with dew and his locks with the drops of the night He sees how Satan hath admission at his pleasure and unto Mammon at first approach the door is set wide open to receive him but against Christ 't is lock'd and bolted and yet his love and patience overcomes these indignities and he waits still to see if at last sinners will consult their own good and entertain him Christ by his Spirit strives long checking them from sin moving them to duty demonstrating the reasonableness of conversion and obedience the danger of continuance in their provocations Christ does not go away at the first repulse nor curse the Fig-tree for the first years unfruitfulness but he digs about it and dungs it and expects a great while before
not have any great affection for him But where the Lord turns away his wrath the stream of his love doth run amain The time of our reconcilation and returning is called a time of love And this love is the more to be admired because it finds us in our bloud which makes us deserve loathing it finds no beauty no comeliness at all in us but what it puts upon us The Apostle speaks of rich mercy and great love which the reconciled have an interest in Ephes 2. 4 5. But God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ by grace ye are saved This love of God is exceeding liberal it sets open his fulness which is so all-sufficient and we may come and take what we need at pleasure And as they who are at peace with God have an interest in his love so this love doth enkindle love in them to him again The unreasonable enmity of their hearts against God is cured the soul lifts up it self to God Psal 25. 1. which before very unreasonably doated upon the world and much more unreasonably upon its own lusts 3. Peace with God implies the establishment of a sure and everlasting Covenant between him and us As the Lord makes this Covenant so he makes over himself in this Covenant He becomes ours and he takes us for his own Ezek. 16 8. Nâ—w when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy time was the time of love and I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy nakedness yea I sware unto thee and entred into Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine This Covenant is styled the Covenant of peace The Lord being once a friend will never become an enemy he will be merciful to the unrighteousness of them that are in Covenant with him and as he hath engaged not to leave and forsake them so he hath promised to put his love and fear into their hearts that they shall not leave and forsake him they are apt to be unstedfast 't is well they have to do with a God that is faithful and changeth not to this is owing their perseverance and their blessedness That 's a sweet place Isai 54. 10. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Oh that our hearts were but set to study this Covenant of our God! How precious how sutable are the Promises of it We are guilty defiled troubled weak and lost creatures but in this Covenant Pardon the Spirit Peace strengthening Grace and eternal Salvation are made over And he that hath promised can as easily perform as promise Nay Christ hath confirmed this Covenant by his death so that it cannot be altered Our Lord at his death engaged his Father to be a Friend unto all that did or should believe in him and therefore that he will be a sure and never failing Friend may securely be built upon 4. Peace with God implies his taking us into a new and near relation to himself He makes us his Children and surely then we shall abide in his house for ever He not only sayes I will be a God to you but also I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 18. Well may we wonder with the Apostle 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God! Those who are at peace with God are espoused unto Jesus Christ unto such a Bill of divorce shall never be given And as Christ becomes their Husband and God their Father so they consent to carry it like Children to love and fear the Lord in a child-like manner to follow fully and hard after him they are willing to be faithful unto Christ and to be subject unto his commands which are far from being grievous 5. Peace with God implies freedom of access to him Those who proudly harden themselves in sin the Lord beholds them afar off but he is nigh to those whose peace is made such are invited not only to come but to come with boldness to the Throne of Grace and mercy and grace to help shall not be denied them Heb. 4. ult They may without discouragement approach to God and tell him of their temptations He is ready to succour them they may tell him of their weakness he is ready to strengthen them with might in their inward man they may tell him of the distempers which they are burthen'd with he is ready to heal them they may spread their desires before him he is ready to fulfil the desire of the humble Psal 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear And as the Soul whose peace is made hath freedom of access to God so God hath freedom of access unto the soul When Christ knocks the heart opens when the Spirit moves he doth prevail when God comes to dwell the heart yields it self to be his Temple and habitation and how much hereby is the soul dignified and advanced The sinner is no longer foolishly stubborn he denies the Lord nothing when he requires his heart his desire his love none of these shall be kept back any longer from him 6. Peace with God implies fellowship and communion with him There is a kind of a commonness between God and them that are reconciled to him whatever is in God is theirs because God is not ashamed to be called their God Heb. 11. 16. They have an interest and propriety in his Power and Wisdom and Mercy and fulness and they are sensible of the blessed effects of these and other of the Lords Attributes God having given them himself what will he refuse to communicate He is ever manifesting himself and bestowing those blessings upon them which Aliens never do receive He deals not towards them with a sparing hand the promise runs thus Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Psal 81. 10. And this is certain that the more open our mouths are the more open will the hand of God be Thus you see what Peace above what Peace with God is In the next place I am to speak of Peace within 'T is natural to man to be his own enemy and tormentor He that was possessed with unclean spirits 't is said no man could bind him no not with chains but he was in the Tombs and Mountains crying and cutting himself with stones Mar. 5. 5. In like manner a child of disobedience in whom the Prince of the power of the Air worketh will not be bound will not be hindred from doing his soul harm those cords of restraint that the Word casts upon him he breaks asunder and casts away he is