and their Lord in the heighth of Glory at the head of them He will be revealed also with his mighty Angels these excellent Spirits at his Command ministred unto his Members on Earth and they will wait upon the Head at the day of his appearing and his Kingdom There is much Work for the Angels to do at the Worlds end they are compared to Reapers that are safely to gather the Wheat and to bind the Tares in bundles for the fire Mat. 13. 41 42. The Son of Maâ— shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather ouâ— of his Kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth The greatest Train of Nobility and Courtiers that attend at the Coronation of the highest Emperour on Earth are but a poor shew to an â—â—â—â—merable Company of Angels for all in Heaven will be with Christ at Judgment to do him honour who is indoed the Head of all Principality and Power Thus of the Judge In the second Place I am to speak of the Persons that are to be judged The Text takes in All therefore none shall be exempted and none in a vain and foolish imagination should exempt themselves It will be a general Assize at which all the Sons and Daughters of Adam shall appear 1. The highest and greatest of Men will be brought to Judgment Death makes bold with them as well as others and enters the stateliest Palaces the strongest Forts as well as the Cottages of the meanest The Rulers and Conquerors of the World that caused Terror in the land of the living yet they are made to bear the shame of their Weakness and Mortality they are brought down to the Pit their Swords are laid under their Heads their Hands being able to hold them no longer Ezek. 32. 27. And if Death is not afraid to seize them surely Christ will not be afraid to Judge them This mighty Lord regards not the persons of Princes nor the rich more than the poor Job 34. 19. I have said ye are Gods speaking to the great Ones of the World but ye shall dye like Men Psal 82. 7. Princes are greater Worms other Men are lesser but all must call Corruption Father and when they come to stand before Christâ—â—ar foregoing earthly Dignity will be insignificant all must stand upon even ground And truly those great Ones of the World that have abused their Power and by a bad example drawn many to Sin and to Hell after them their greatness will but Increase their Account and Misery 2. As the greatest so the Meanest must be brought â— Judgment though there is never so vast a mulâ—tude God takes notice of them all now and â—onâ— of them must think to escape in a crowd then The Apostle speaks plainly of Individualâ—â—â—â— Rom. 14. 12. So then every one of us shall give â—â—count of himself to God Those that live most private and retired are under Gods continual Inspection they that are of the lowest rank and quality whom there are that disdain so much as to look upon yet God sees them The Sâ—â— shines upon a Mole-hill as well as upon a Mountain upon a Shrub as well as upon a Cedar upon a Fly as well as upon an Emperor and truly the All-seeing Eye of God beholds the â—oâ—â— well as the high and there is not any one of them all but shall be made to render an account â— all his doings 3. Righteous Ones must stand before Christs Judgment-seat All his Members must appear before Him their Head but shall be dealt with after different manner from others Grace and Lâ—â— makes a difference now but how highly magnified will the Grace of Christ be in the differenâ— it makes at that Day to sind Mercy of the Lâ—â— in that day which the Apostle Prays Onesiphâ—â— might find 2 Tim. 1. 18. when the greatest â—â—â— of the World shall with a strong hand the â—â— being deaf to all their cryes be turned into everlasting fire this is great Mercy indeed great the Heaven is high above the Earth The Righteous shall appear but they shall be set at thâ— Lords right hand to shew his peculiar Favourâ— them and they shall joyfully own what â—â— Hand has done for them Christs Appearing â—â— be glorious and so will be the appearing of â—â— Saints then 't will be understood what ' tâ—â—â— be a Saint Col. 3. 4. When Christ who is our â— shall appear than shall ye also appear with him iâ— Glory A Question is here started by some Whether the Sins of the Righteous shall be then made known The Scripture plainly tells us That when the Sins of such come to be sought for there shall be none and that they shall not be found none of them shall be imputed or laid to their charge none shall be so discover'd in Judgment as to rise up in Judgment against them to Condemn them But since there will such a light shine at that day that will make all things manifest both good and evil suppose the Iniquities of the Righteous should be made known to the whole Creation such will be their Purity such will be their Blessedness and Joy that there will not be the least room for shame or sorrow at the discovery But when all the Sins that have been Forgiven and Purged shall be revealed others as well as themselves will be filled with Wonder at the Blood of Jesus and the powerful Grace of God. 4 As the Righteous so the Wicked must stand before Christs Bar they would fain not come â—â—ither but there is an irresistible Power to force them The Malefactor who is Condemned for Murther Rape or Treason would fain decline â—he Judges View he is Self-condemn'd and therefore fears the Judges Sentence but the â—aoler the Officers compel him to the Bar where â—udgment is given against him to take away his â—ife Wicked Men will be horribly afraid to â—ake their Appearance before the Lord Jesus â—hose Salvation they have slighted whose Kingdom and Government they would by no means submit unto they will wish that their Bodies might sleep eternally in their Graves and never have such a Resurrection which will be only to Damnation they will wish rather to be turned into Nothing than to be turned into Hell they will call to the Rocks and the Mountains to fall upon them to hide them from the Face of him that sits upon the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb Rev. 6. 16. But will they nill they they must appear at his Seat and see him Eye to Eye though his Eye will be as a flame of Fire to terrifie them That just Indignation that sparkles from Christs looks how will it amaze them Rev. 1. 7. Behold he cometh with Clouds and every eye shall see him and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him even so Amen the thing is certain 5. They that never heard Christs Gospel
the Sun of Righteousness set and all hopes of Conversion and healing quite gone To have a Famine of the VVord sent it is to have a Church unchurched a Vineyard laid wast and not only turned into a Common but into barren and cursed ground To have a Famine of the VVord sent it is to have the Lord to spue a people out of his mouth and say I will never return to this Vomit again To have a Famine of the VVord sent it is to have the Lord to give a Bill of Divorce and upon this Bill of Divorce writ Loammi you are not my people Loruhamah I will no more have mercy on you Tremble tremble every one that hears me this day at the thoughts of such a Judgment as a Famine of the VVord of God! Pray pray that this Judgment may never be inflicted upon England I read that there was seven years plenty in Egypt before there was the greatest Famine that ever Egypt knew I heartily wish that our present Liberty and plentiful injoyment of the VVord of God be not a fore-runner of the most dreadful Famine of it that ever England knew Pray it may not be so pray that God would still give you Pastors after his own heart Pray that God would cause you to lye down in green pastures that he would load you besides the still waters that he would restore your Souls and lead you in the paths of righteousness for his Names sake Psal 23. 2 3. And when you pray for this fill your mouths with Arguments Tell the Lord of his own honour which his VVord doth direct the Children of Men to yield to him Tell the Lord of his Sons Interest He will neither be believed in nor known unless there be the VVord of God to reveal him Mention the promise that the Father hath made unto the Son the Mediator to give him the Heathen for his Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his Possession Psal 2. 8. That of the increase of his Kingdom and Government there shall be no end Isa 9. 7. Urge him with that word that he hath said the Earth shall be filled with Knowledge as the waters cover the Sea Isa 11. 9. Be importunate in pleading such Promises as these and it will manifest that you prize the VVord of God and are afraid of its going And this importunity will be mighty pleasing to God and very prevalent with Him. 4. Hence I inferr That whensoever the Word of God is effectual to the Conversion of any there is just cause of great thankfulness When means attain their designed end it is a satisfaction unto those that use them and the higher and better the end is the satisfaction is the more The Conversion of a Sinner to God is one of the best things that can be done in the World to feed the hungry to cloath the naked to relieve the oppressed to cure the dangerously diseased to sheath the Sword of War and to establish Peace in Kingdoms and Nations all these are works very good but let me tell you that the turning of a Sinner unto God doth imply a far greater benefit because it doth include Eternal Blessedness The lost Sheep the lost Silver the lost Son were all missed with trouble and were all found with great Joy. When the Word is Powerful to Convert a Soul Oh what a precious thing is then secured It is secured from Eternal Misery and there is an everlasting Kingdom that it shall at last be brought safe unto 2 Tim. 4. 18. The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and he will preserve me unto his Heavenly Kingdom When a Sinner is Converted how thankful should he himself be for he is catched as a Fire-brand out of the burning he is delivered from intolerable Wrath and interested in unchangeable Love How thankful should Ministers be when they see their spiritual Offspring and Christ formed in them How thankful should Saints be when they behold their Number increased If they beheld the Transgressours and were grieved certainly with gladness should they behold them turnâ—ng from Transgression Nay those Angels that are in Heaven take notice of Conversion as a just ground of great Joy What was said concerning the first Creaâ—ion may be applyed unto the new Creaâ—ion the Morning Stars do sing together and all the Sons of God the whole Host of thâ— Principalities and Powers of Heaven â— shout for Joy when any are converted and made indeed new Creatures 5. Hence I inferr that it is no wonder that Sathan and his Instruments would faiâ— have this VVord of God out of the VVorld since it is the great means of Conversion O what a hateful Book unto Hell is the Holy Bible If evil Angels might have their wish I am perswaded their wish would be this that Souls may burn â—â— Hell and that Bibles might be burnt on Earth Oaths Curses Blasphemies Lying Slanders Railing filthy Discourse prophane Songs and Laughter Mirth and Musick damnable Heresies and Doctrines these have all a very pleasing sound iâ— Sathans ears Ay but the powerful anâ— plain Preaching of the Word of God Sathan cannot bear this is very harsh and it is very grating to him and he dotâ— endeavour to stop the mouths of skilâ—â— Dispensers of the Word of Righteousness for he fears their voice lest his stroâ— holds should be pulled down If in spigâ— of him a door of utterance be opened thâ— evil and envious One endeavours to â—â— men with prejudices against them that theâ— may have but very few â—eâ—rers but their Hâ—aâ—â—â—â— are a very great Multitude O then â—â—w doth he bestir himself to â—inder the entrance of the Word that Eyes and Ears and Hearts may be shut against it Christ compares the Word of God unto Seed and evil Angels unto Fowls that endeavour to catch it away as soon as sown Mat. 13. 4. that so it may be altogether fruitless or bring forth no fruit unto Eternal Life When there are a great many Pick-pockets in a Crowd upon notice Persons are the more careful of their Purses O what a company of evil Angels are here that are arrant Thieves and they will endeavour to rob you of the Word of God it concerns you to heed the Word and to hide it in your Hearts and then it will be safe a good and an honest Heart will certainly secure this Treasure 6. Hence I inferr that the Dispensers and Preachers of the VVord of God which is the great means of Conversion ought highly to be esteemed in Love for their works sake 1 Thes 5. 12 13. VVe beseech you Brethren to know them that labour among you are over in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake and be at peace among your selves When Christ ascended up on high far above all Heavens that he might fill all things the Ministry of the VVord was a gift that he did bestow upon his Church Eph. 4. 11.
importunity and solicitations of Satans Instruments but for a Man to be at defiance with himself to be continually almost chiding loathing crossing and opposing himself in this lies the most difficult part of the Christian warfare Within the Converts own Breast is the very heat of the Battel Oh what striving is there against Self-exalting Imaginations what struggling against Self-will and selfish affections and designs And with good reason is Self thus opposed by the Convert since Self does so much oppose the Converts Salvation And if turning be thus Self-denying the prevalency of carnal Interest and the power of Self among Professors of Religion proves that though they are externally Called yet there are few sincere Converts among them How tender are they in point of Gain and Honour and Reputation every person and thing that here stands in their way is a great eye-sore Religion shall stoop to worldly Interest this shall be secured though Faith and Conscience be cast over-board Thus have I consider'd Conversion with reference to the Sinner himself Fourthly Conversion may be consider'd with reference to God The Sinner forsakes him and rebels against him the Convert â—eturns and submits to him 'T is God that â—alls to Conversion and 't is Conversion to â—imself that he calls for Zech. 1. 3. Turn â—e unto me saith the Lord of Hosts and I â—ill turn unto you saith the Lord of Hosts 1. Conversion is a turning to the living â—nd true God 1 Thes 1. 9 10. Ye turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from Heaven â—ven Jesus who delivered us from the Wrath â—o come The glorious and gracious Jehoâ—ah who made Heaven and Earth and â—reserves and governs all things who promised a Seed to Adam that should bruise â—he Serpents Head who renewed his Coveâ—ant with Abraham who spake from Mount Sinai to Israel who has deliver'd lively Oraâ—les by the Prophets and Apostles in the Hoâ—y Scriptures and who is the God and Faâ—her of Jesus Christ and has sent him to â—e a Propitiation and Saviour this Jehoâ—ah is the only living and true God and â—s such is known and acknowledged by â—very true Convert 2. Conversion is a turning to God for Himself Jer. 4. 1. If thou wilt return O Isâ—ael saith the Lord return unto me q. d. 〈◊〉 Israel expect all safety protection all manner of Benefits and Blessings from my hand but place thy principal happiness in my self The Hypocrite seems to turn and seek unto God but 't is for the Creatures sake his Security or advantage is in his Eye The Convert by the Creatures is led unto God and though he should receive never so many temporal Mercies he would look upon himself as miserable unless with the Mercies he enjoyed the Father of them 3. Conversion is a choosing of God before all things such a choice is wise and rational Moses saw Him that is Invisible and saw so much in him that the Egyptian Crown and Throne were esteemed trifles in comparison of Communion with the God of Israel The Psalmist though he had just had a sight of worldly Mens Prosperity and was ready to envy them their happiness yet going into the Sanctuary he did discern that in God which eclips'd and obscured the whole World with all its Wealth and Dignity and made it look but like a great and empty Bubble and he cries out Psal 73. 25. Whom have 〈◊〉 in Heaven but Thee and there is none oâ— Earth that I desire besides Thee The Convert chuses God for his Portion and accounts no other heritage so goodly He had rather have the Lord to be his God his own God as the Phrase is Psal 67. 6. and â—o enjoy the light of his countenance than â—o have the greatest abundance of Corn and Wine and whatsoever on Earth is call'd desirable There is a twofold enjoyment of God on Earth and in Heaven On Earth God is known but in part and Sin remaining in the very best is still a bar unto compleat Communion with him which shall be the priviledge of all that come to Heaven The Convert values fellowship with God in his Ordinances but principally â—ongs for the Vision of God face to face in his Kingdom he begs to be kept in the path of Life and to be brought at last to that heavenly City which has eternal foundations in which God does for ever vouchsafe his glorious Presence where God himself is All in All where there is fulness of Joy and Pleasures forevermore Psal 16. â—ult 4. Conversion is a devoting the whole Man to God. 'T is said of the Macedonians that most willingly they gave of their substance to a good use and they gave their own selves unto the Lord 2 Cor. 8. 5. Whos 's I am says the Apostle and whom I serve Act. 27. 23. 'T is the very Language of a Convert and he speaks it from his Heart The Convert is sensible he is not a Debtor to the flesh to live after the flesh Fleshly Lusts do war against the Soul and he that lives after the flesh shall dye Neither is he a Debtor to the World the World is not worthy of his Heart which can neither be a sufficient Price for Mans Redemption nor affords him any true Contentment But the Convert reckons himself a Debtor to God as his Creator Preserver Owner Redeemer and to be under innumerable Obligations to be subject to Him and active and zealous in his Service Well may Religion be styled Righteousness for all the acts of it which the Lord calls for he justly claims as due to him And since those bonds which Converts are under are bonds of Love and Kindness as well as Duty 't is most unreasonable for any to say as Psal 2. 3. Let us break these bands asunder and cast away these cords from us 5. Conversion to God is a transformation into his Image and Likeness 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. VVhere the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory The Apostle intimates that the Image of God is Mans glory and that his glory is the greater the more fully this Image is instampt upon him and that all that are Converted are changed into this Image Not a true Convert but partakes of the divine Nature and escapes the Corruption that is in the World. This Image of God consists in Knowledge Righteousness Holiness and Dominion over the Creatures All these things were lost by Adam's defection all are recovered in Conversion and the recovery is more compleat as Conversion is progressive The Convert is called out of Darkness into marvellous Light his Heart is made pure and clean his Works are righteous and the Creatures no longer Lord it over him but he makes them subservient to the religious designs he is carrying on Converts are in a sense the
indeed to suffer as an evil doer or as a busie body in that which it does not concern us to be doing but to suffer as a Christian as a Convert is an happy thing and should be rejoyced in because the Spirit of Glory and of God does rest upon those that thus bear the Cross of Christ 1 Pet. 4. 13 14. He gives them boldness in Confessing the Truth a Mouth and Wisdom to silence those that gainsay it and Faith Fortitude and Patience to bear the uttermost of their Force and Fury A fiery Furnace though seven times heated is not to be dreaded if the Son of God be there with us 5. None that come to Heaven repent of having parted with any thing that stood in competition with it The Apostle while here called Afflictions light but how did he look on them when they were all past and the weight of Glory was actually received All Heads are Crowned in Heaven and all Crowns are bright all Vessels of glory are so full that there is not room for the least envy yet there seems to be a special note of Honour set upon Sufferers the Scripture represents them as pointed at for their Faithfulness and for their Reward Rev. 7. 14. These are they that came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Obj. 7. A seventh Objection against Conversion runs thus We see very few that are perswaded to turn to God the generality of those whom we live among remain Unconverted and why should we be singular Ans 1. The general bad Example that is given is a great mischief to the World whereby wicked men do harden one another A few indeed there be that are chosen out of the World and who do seek and chuse a better World but the generality are worldly minded the shrodest Heads the greatest Wits the deepest Polititians mind Earth and neglect Heaven and refuse to be Converted that they may come thither and multitudes going in pernicious wayes they are walked in with the greater security yet they are not at all the less destructive 2. Is it any harm to be singular in what is excellent To be singular in good Nature to be singular in Parts to be singular in Learning is not matter of reflection and why should it be accounted disgraceful to be singular in Grace and Holiness He that sayes Mat. 7. 14. Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to Life and few there be that find it intimates plainly that his followers must not herd with the multitude and that those must be singular who will go in the safest and most excellent way 3. Is it any harm in a time of Pestilence to be of the Number of those few that escape the Contagion Sin is the worst sort of Plague and most in the World dye of it and dye the Death that is Eternal Oh what madness is it to refuse to be Converted and healed and to resolve to dye and to be damn'd for Company 4. Multitudes in Hell will be no ease or relief to one another They that have been drawn to Sin by others with what eyes will they behold them in torments cursing the Counsel and Example they gave them and especially their own madness in imitating such pernicious Patterns And the perswaders to Sin will have their misery increased because they have occasioned others eternal misery 'T is very probable that the Rich man Luk. 16. was afraid of having his own torment increased by his Brethrens company unto whom perhaps he had been exemplary in Profaneness and Sensuality therefore he wish'd them a Messenger from the Dead to perswade them to Repentance Obj. 8. In the eighth place another Objection is this We have no strength no ability to turn to God. If we were endued with a Power to Convert our selves and to make our own Hearts new ' tweâ—â— reasonable to perswade us to exert and put that Power forth But man since the fall is without strength and therefore in urging us to Conversion you urge us to that which is impossible by us to be performed Ans 1. I grant mans inability to make himself a sincere Convert to turn is a Sinners Duty but from hence it does not follow that he has ability of himself to do it A man that owes ten thousand Talents does not cease to be a Debtour because he has never a Farthing to pay To help to answer this Objection we must not introduce the Pelagian or Semipelagian Errour 2. Are you glad that you are unable to turn to God do you rejoice that you have such an excuse for your laziness and perversness If so it shews the naughtiness of your Hearts And your Conscience must needs yield that your Plea of Impotence is a very weak one If a Servant that by a fall were made a Crâ—â—ple were glad that hereby he is disabled from serving his Master his Master would be just in punishing him for not doing what he can't do because he has such a naughty mind that he is glad he can't do it 3. If you are sensible of your inability to â—urn to God and sorry because unable and â—â—sirous to have ability to turn indeed your Condition is really very hopeful Obstiâ—ate Sinners had rather be without strength to turn to God than have it in vain therefore do they plead want of Power when Will is so much wanting But if you are sensible you have no might and desire Power from above God is ready to strengthen you by his Spirit to that unto which Nature is unable He is willing to give his Spirit unto any that seriously ask him Luk. 11. 13. He gives Power to the faint and to them that have no might and are sensible they have none he increases strength Isa 40. 29. Make use of and attend upon the appointed means and ordinances of Grace wherein this Strength is conveyed Fury is not in God when once Sinners begin to yield Lay hold upon his Strength that you may turn in Truth and make peace with him and you shall make peace with him Isa 27. 5. Obj. 9. A ninth Objection is this Though we do not turn to God at present yet we are not absolutely against the thing hereafter we intend to do it This is both an excuse for not turning and an argument against the present doing it because 't is time enough as they say hereafter Ans 1. Delay to turn to God is bottom'd upon very great mistakes as if Sinners could turn when they would or could command the Grace of God at Pleasure to assist them or were sure of the continuance of Life and the season of Salvation 2. Delay provokes the Lord exceedingly and very much grieves his Holy Spirit if a Master commands a Servant to do his work and he replyes he will do it seven year hence this is justly look't upon as disobedience and mockery joyn'd together How would a Master
on Earth take such an Answer Surely it must needs anger the God of Heaven who bids you turn to day to say that seven and seven and seven years after that will be time enough to do it The Spirit urges to present Conversion delay vexes the Holy Ghost and being vexed he may give over striving Gen. 6. 3. My Spirit shall not alwaies strive with man. And if he be quite gone Conversion becomes impossible you never never can or will be turned 3. Delay hardens the unconverted Satans holds are stronger Sin is rooted deeper Conscience is more stupified Custom in Sin more fully takes away the Sense of it And surely the more dead asleep the Conscience is the more unlikely 't is to be awakened the more the Heart is like an Adamant stone the more improbable 't is that ever it should be mollified 4. Delayes are unconceivably dangerous 't is far greater folly to defer thy turning to God than if thou shouldst defer the cutting off a Grangren'd member or than if thy house were on fire and thou shouldst say A twelve month or seven year hence were time enough to put out the flame Martial has an excellent Epigram against delaying the amendment of the Life lib. 5. Epig. 58. Cras te victurum cras dicis Posthume semper Dic mihi cras istud Posthume quando venit Quam longe est cras istud ubi est aut unde petendum Nunquid apud Parthos Armeniosque latet Jam cras istud habet Priami vel Nestoris annos Cras istud quanti dic mihi possit emi Cras vives hodie jam vivere Posthume serum est Ille sapit quisquis Posthume vixit heri The design of the Poet is to shew that purposes of future amendment are idle and vain that to amend presently is late enough and that it would have been true Wisdom to have done it long ago Obj. 10. The last Objection against Conversion is that of Despairing Sinners Oh! say they we are afraid 't is quite too late to turn to God. He has called long but we have as long refused he has stretched forth his hand but we have still been stiff-necked and gainsaying If we had turned sooner we might have hoped but now our Sins are so increased over our heads and we have persisted so long in our rebellion that we quite despair of Pardon and Reception Ans 1. God calls those to turn who sinn'd long and with an high hand nay with their whole might Jer. 3. 5 7. Behold thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest And I said after she had done all these things Turn thou unto me Those that have sliden back with a perpetual backsliding are invited to return to God from whom they have deeply revolted such a call you have Jer. 3. 22. and the call is hearkned to and obeyed Return ye backsliding Children and I will heal your backslidings behold we come to thee for thou art the Lord our God. 2. Some have been Converted very late Grace has recover'd them that have been very far gone in Sin and by Sin have been brought to the very brink of the bottomless pit Some have been Converted not only at the ninth hour but at the eleventh hour nay at the last moment of the twelfth hour of the day To prevent despair we have one instance of a Man that began to live when he was just dying and that was the Penitent Thief upon the Cross his Soul was joyn'd to Jesus by a true Faith just before 't was separated from his Body his Heart was changed not many moments before his great change But do we find any more such instances in Scripture No. One we find to prevent Despair but one to check Presumption and foolish Procrastination That Thief upon the Cross seems though just before so great a Sinner of a sudden to be made the greatest Believer upon Earth a Hic Latro rarum memorabilâ— fidei exemplum altius penetrâ—â— quam Apostoli omnes Christum in patibulo Regem adorat Regnum ejus celebrat in borrendâ plusquam deformi abjectionâ— moribunduâ— pronunciat vitae Authorem Calvin ad Luc. 23 43. As Calvin observes concerning him he did altius peneâ—rare pierce deeper into the mystery of Christ Crucified than at that present all the Apostles did they were all offended at the Cross but this poor Penitent places his Confidence in that which was their scandal and he sees Life and Salvation in Christ when Christ and himself were both dying 3. Though you that have deferr'd Conversion long ought bitterly to bewail your former obstinacy yet add not the Sin of despair to all the rest A great many years spent in wickedness should be reflected on with serious sorrow and self-condemning Yet say not there is no hope for this will neither better your Estate nor you Despair is a greater sin than most are aware of reflecting much dishonour upon the Grace and Mercy of God which 't is his special design to glorifie in the Gospel Eph. 1. 6. Despair is a disparaging of and a Sinning against our Lord Jesus who came into the World to save Sinners and the very Chief of Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. and how contrary is this despair unto the holy Spirit the Comforter And as despair is evil in its own Nature and very unreasonable so 't is evil in its tendency it either tends to self-murther Hope was first kill'd in Judas and then Judas kills himself Mat. 27. 4 5. or else it issues in profaneness when Sinners conclude their Case is desperate and that they shall certainly be damn'd at last 't is not unusual for them to resolve to enjoy all the Pleasures and gain of Sin while they may and to endeavour to expell their fad and self-tormenting Thoughts by sensuality and earthly-mindedness Jer. 2. 25. Judah first sayes There is no hope and then resolves upon a continuance and greater eagerness in an evil way I have loved strangers and after them will I go But pray mistake not the Nature of Despair You must despair of Saving your selves by your own Worth and Power you must despair of ever obtaining Mercy if resolved still to go on in your trespasses But 4. If now at last you are but truly willing to turn to turn to God to turn from all Sin and to turn with all your Heart God is much more willing to turn you to turn to you and to shew you Mercy None ever turn'd and was rejected none ever truly desired Grace to turn and went to Hell without it and perisht unconverted When Ephraim cryed Turn thou me and I shall be turned God surely heard him Jer. 31. 18. and v. 20. he sayes Mâ— Bowels are troubled for him and I will surely have mercy upon him Thus I have answered the Objections against Conversion I have endeavour'd to level the Mountains and Hills to fill the Valleys to make the Crooked straight and the Rough wayes smooth and plain that
he left all that he might enjoy pure publick Ordinances Certainly he found that of Grace that of Christ in them as was much more valuable to him than all his Pleasant and Plentiful Estate which is one of the chief Flowers in Italy the Garden of the World. 5. God is turned unto these true Converts that are turned to him and will never turn away from them to do them good and to keep them good and upright before Him. Regeneration and Conversion is a great Fruit and effect of the Resurrection of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 3. Believers are said to be begotten again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead And as Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more Death hath no more Dominion over him Rom. 6. 9. so they who by Converting Grace are made spiritually a live shall never totally relapse under the Dominion of Sin nor become again dead in Trespasses That God who has called these Converts is faithful and therefore as the Apostle sayes he will preserve their whole Spirits and Souls and Bodies blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 23 24. The Lord turns to them that are turned Zech. 1. 3. Turn to me saith the Lord of Hosts and I will turn to you saith the Lord of Hosts he turns his Eye his Face his Ear his Heart his Hand towards them for good And he has said he will never leave them nor forsake them neither shall they leave nor forsake him for he will establish them with his Free Spirit he will uphold them with the right hand of his Righteousness Oh Happy Converts who have Glory promised upon their Perseverance and have Strengthning Grace Promised to make them persevere unto the end 6. Conversion will end in Coronation All Converts are by Adoption the Children of God heirs of his Kingdom and shall for ever wear a Crown of Life Though the Heathens knew something of future Rewards and Punishments yet their Apprehensions of these were low and unsuitable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who knows saies Euripides whether to live be not to dye and to dye be not to live He seems to guess there was a better Life after this yet he is not certain of it When Vlysses imagined Achilles the bravest among the Greeks to have been most happy after Death Homer Odyss l. 11. brings in Achilles appearing to him and saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which may be thus Englished I 'd rather serve a Clown on Earth for bread Than in those Regions of the Dead Command and be of all the supream Head. Heaven is here set forth as a poor and undesirable thing But Life and Immortality is brought to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. Here the Glory of the other World is displayed here is an excellent Map of the heavenly and everlasting Kingdom where Knowledge and Light is compleat without Darkness Holiness perfect without the least remainder of Defilement Blessedness and Joy is full without any Grief or Fear or Possibility of Sorrow where there is no such thing as Sin or Death or Trouble but God himself is All in All 1 Cor. 15. 28. All Converts their Feet are turned into the way to Heaven their Hearts are now set upon it it won't be long e're they be there and Crown'd there themselves Conversion is called a Rising from the Dead Eph. 5. 14. for it has some likeness to and is an earnest of a future glorious Resurrection What a glorious Creature will the Convert be when Christ has done his whole VVork upon him and has put to him his last hand in making his whole Man every way perfect Glorified Bodies will shine as the Sun glorified Souls will be pure and spotless like the Seraphim and Wonder Love Joy and Praise will be in Heaven the everlasting business I have spoken much to Comfort Converts but no Tongue can tell the thousandth part of all their Happiness The Heart of Man is too narrow at present to comprehend what God has prepared for them that Love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. VSE VII Of Counsel unto them that are Converted and my Advice shall be in these particulars 1. Thankfully admire the Grace of God which has Converted you The best thing in this World which is Grace and Glory in the World to come certainly do well deserve your thanks Sin has made you less than the least of Mercies by Conversion you come to partake of the greatest Christ is formed in you and you are made New Creatures that a New Song should be in your Mouths and that you should shew forth the Praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. Let every Convert admire and admiring Praise and say How much has God done for me and how has he done that for me which he has not done for thousands and millions in the World in the very Church who are let alone to live and dye in Sin and to damn themselves for ever 2. Labour to be more thoroughly Converted Pray for this that God would still turn you more and more unto himself follow on to know him follow harder after him and strive still more to please him 1 Thes 4. 1. Furthermore then we beseech you Brethren and exhort you by our Lord Jesus that as ye have received how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more The more fully you turn the more you please him and to please him will be pleasant to you The nearer you come to God the safer you will be under his shadow the more evidently will you see and the more abundantly will you taste his goodness 3. Do nothing unbecoming Converts Think often with your selves whose you are and what a Price was pay'd to redeem you from all Iniquity and to make you Zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14. Reckon it bruitish to be Intemperate and Unclean base to be Covetous and Earthly-minded hellish to be Malicious Envious and Proud. Be Patient under Gods Corrections under Injuries from Man Let your Tongues be true and kind your Hands merciful and just in your Morals be of great exactness Divine Morality without thee Religion is a vain shew holy Duties are but lost labour and Confidence that all is well is but self-deceiving What Brutus said of Vertue may be used concerning Faith O miserable Faith without moral Honesty thou art nothing else but an empty Name Take heed of falls especially great ones after Conversion least you wound both Conscience and Religion and go smarting and groaning to your Graves 4. Pity the Vnconverted about you Misery moves Bowels and stirs up Mercy who more miserable than Sinners who are at a distance from God and under his Wrath and who are so far from fearing and turning that they are still running farther from him and provoking him to
fiercer indignation Compassionate these Counsel these Pray for these and endeavour though they are and will be without the Word to win them by a wisely expressed Love and by a well-ordered Conversation 1 Pet. 3. 1. Let not your Bowels be straitned but Pray for the Worlds Conversion to God that he would return to this Earth which for Sin he has so justly forsaken and that he would turn the VVorld into a New One wherein may dwell Righteousness 5. Be sure to Love all true Converts Love them all because God loves them and love what you see of God in them The Image of God is so excellent that in whomsoever it shines it ought with pure affection to be owned and respected Converts I grant may differ in many things but they agree in the main all of them believe in Jesus all of them turn to God all of them endeavour to Glorifie him here on Earth and all of them are bound for Heaven And Vniversal Agreement thus far is a strong reason for Catholick and Vniversal Charity All Converts of what Perswasion soever of what Nation soever of what Rank and Condition soever in this World they are all adopted by one Father all redeemed by one Christ Jesus all espoused to one Husband all members of one Body all enlivened by one Spirit and shall all meet at last in one Heaven where they shall perfectly be joyned together in Union and in Love and this should strongly move and perswade unto Unity and Love at present 6. Lastly and so I conclude this Doctrine you that are Coverts see that you abide with God and be stedfast in his Covenant they that totally and finally depart from God never were totally and fully turned to him Let your Perseverance be an evident Demonstration to prove the truth of your Conversation let not the hardest labour the hottest service that you may be put upon the greatest sufferings that you may be exposed to in the least discourage you for God doth not require that you should do or that you should suffer any thing for him but only by the strength that he himself hath promised and doth intend to give All you Converts have done well in turning to God do better in following hard after him and best of all in finishing your course that you may get the Crown of Righteousness To conclude Let your Faith be firm like to the Rock it is founded upon let your hope be stedfast Be rooted and grounded in your love and let your hearts be so united to fear the name of God Psal 86. 11. that it may be as possible to hinder the Sun from rising as to hinder you from shining like lights in the World. That it may be as possible to cause the Moon and Stars to cease their wonted courses as to turn you out of the way of Truth and Holiness That it may be as possible to alter the Ordinances of Heaven as to make you neglect Heaven and become again earthly-minded Thus have I done with the first Doctrine that I raised from the words which I have been large upon That Conversion is of absolute necessity and the great thing that God requires of Man. Doct. 2. I proceed unto the second Doctrine that I raised from the words and that is this Conversion is then sincere when the soul is Converted The Soul of Man is the chief subject of Sin. It is the Soul that uses or rather abuses the members of the Body as Instruments of Unrighteousness The Beasts that have no rational Soul are not capable of committing Iniquity and as the Soul is the chief subject of Sin so it is the chief subject of Converting Grace if this be not turned really there is no true turning unto God. God is a Spirit and he weighs the Spirits of Men and he doth chiefly require the Heart and Spirit Prov. 23. 26. and accordingly the Convert with David sayes Psal 25. 1. Vnto thee O Lord do I lift up my Soul. And Psal 119. 129. Thy Testimonies are wonderful therefore doth my Soul keep them In the handling this Doctrine 1. I am to shew you when the Soul may be said to be Converted 2. To prove that till the Soul is Converted Conversion is not sincere 3. To demonstrate the necessity of turning to God with the very Soul. And then in the last place to make application 1. I am to tell you when the Soul may be said truly to be Converted the opening of this is the chief thing that I design in this Doctrine 1. When the Soul is Converted there is a marvellous Light that shines into the Mind The Tree of Knowledge was so called because it was a Tree of Tryal whether Man would persevere in goodness or whether he would be tempted and drawn away to evil but when this Tree was once tasted Man presently fell under the power of darkness The eyes of all understandings are blind till enlightned by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation Eph. 1. 17 18. All the Stars that are in the Firmament cannot make day without the Sun and all the works that God hath wrought all the words that he hath spoken cannot of themselves enlighten the mind of Man without the Spirit of God. It is He that takes off the Vail and causes the Light to shine upon and into the very Soul. This Light makes things manifest Eph. 5. 13. For all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light This Light that shines into a Converted Soul doth discover Sin it shews the filth the spots the sting the poyson the death the wrath the Hell that is in Sin or is annexed to it It doth discover the deceitfulness of Sin in hiding its own bad nature and the dreadful consequences that follow upon it And as this Light doth make sin manifest so it doth discover Christ too the sufficiency of his justifying Righteousness the excellency of his sanctifying Grace and how to turn to God is of miserable to become truly blessed This Light also is directing It directs what Converts must do that they may be saved It shews them the End and the proper Means for the attaining of that End. It leads them out of the broad way and from all the snares and stumbling-blocks and the precipices that are there and it leads them into the way that is everlasting Psal 139. ult Finally This Light that shines into the Converted Soul hath Heat and Influence like the Light of the Sun in the Spring-season that causeth the Trees and Plants to be flourishing and to be fruitful The Light of the Converts hath a mighty influence upon them The things that are freely given of God are so seen as that the heart is taken with them as the principal things of all and undervalues other things in comparison of those Thus the wise Merchant that sought goodly Pearls when he had found one Pearl of great price he went and sold all that he
were the Amanuenses of the Spirit and whatever they wrote they wrote what was by him dictated Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. ult And they have given us a Testimony of the Will of God upon record a full and compleat Declaration of his Mind Now concerning this Perfection of the Word of God I shall speak 1. By way of Negation 2. By way of Position 1. I am to speak by way of Negation and that in these following particulars 1. You must not understand that the Word is so perfect as that by it self without the concurrence of the Spirit it can give either Grace or Life to any The most saithful and skilful Preachers of the Word as to success have many times laboured in vain That Evangelical Prophet Isaiah who spake so much and so plainly concerning Christ you have him crying out Lord who hath believed our report Isa 53. 1. Weeping Jeremiah you may hear him complaining after this manner Jer. 6. 10. To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear Behold their ears are uncircumcised and they can't hearken the Word of the Lord is a reproach to them and they have no delight in it The Word of God in the mouth of the Apostle Paul that great Preacher of the Gospel it found ay and it left many a hearer in their Infidelity The hearers of the Apostle Paul it is said that divers of them believed not Acts 28. 24. Nay our Lord Jesus Christ himself the Prince of Preachers the greatest that ever was that ever will be he thunders out a Wo against Corazin and Bethsaida and Capernaum because the Word that sounded from his lips did not perswade them unto Repentance So that the Word alone is not so perfect as to give Grace as to give Life to any There is need that the Spirit of God should work along with it until He doth open the eyes of the understanding the Soul still remains under darkness till he doth renew the Heart the Will will never yield nor submit to God till he doth put the Laws of God in the mind and write them in the Heart they will never be believed they will never be liked nor obeyed 2. You must not think that the Word is so perfect as to give a knowledge here on Earth as is equal to the knowledge that is in Heaven The Apostle Paul himself professes we know but in part and we prophesie in part but when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away 1 Cor. 13. 9. And in 12. ver of the same Chapter he says We see through a glass darkly The Greek word it is remarkable We see through a Glass in a Riddle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Truly Heaven is but a Riddle at present unto the best of Saints here on Earth They are no more able to comprehend the joys the Glory that is there they are no more able to comprehend what it is to see God face to face than an Infant in the womb can imagine what Light is than an Infant in the womb can comprehend what Philosophy is or the mysteries of State policy here is no Theologia meridiana visionis perfect day here is no beatifical vision I grant indeed the Saints are sometimes brought into the Suburbs of Heaven and when they are there Oh! what do they see They see and tast that in God that does make the greatest sweetness of earthly Enjoyments despicable and that doth obscure all Worldly Glory but yet the Suburbs are not the Heavenly City but infinitely below it Hark to the Apostle 1 John 3. 2. Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Wicked Men think nothing of what the Saints shall be and truly the Saints themselves when their minds are most elevated and raised and enabled to to see most they apprehend but little what themselves shall be hereafter That Glory is too great a thing for such minds as ours at present to take in It hath not entred into the Heart of Man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. 3. You must not think that the VVord is so perfect as that the hearing of that is enough and is to exclude all other Ordinances Indeed those Ceremonial Ordinances that were imposed only for a time that are called Carnal and that were to last only till the evangelical Reformation as the Apostle speaks Heb. 9. 10. these Ceremonial Ordinances are abolished under the Gospel Administration Col. 2. 20 21. If you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the World why as though living in the World are ye subject to Ordinances touch not tast not handle not which all are to perish with the useing after the Commandments and doctrines of Men. But though these Ceremonial Ordinances are abolished there are other Ordinances that God hath Instituted that are still standing and will remain and be in force till our Lords second coming These Ordinances have a warrant from this perfect Word it self and there is a Promise made of a divine special powerful gracious presence with them As you are to have an Ear to hear the VVord so you are to have a Tongue to pray to God and praise him and your Hearts and Tongues should joyn together in supplications and thanksgivings Ay and you are to have an Eye to behold the Seals of the Covenant that so your Hearts may be more affected and your Faith by things sensible may be strengthned in God who hath made and confirmed this Covenant and will keep it everlastingly Zachary and Elizabeth were a noble Pair indeed excellent patterns of uprightness before God for they walked in all the Commands and in all the Ordinances of the Lord blameless Luke 1. 6. It is a great Affront unto the Authority of Christ the Law-giver when we shall give our selves a Dispensation as to some Ordinances that he hath appointed There is no Ordinance of God to be neglected and I am sure if any of the Ordinances are neglected through the prevalency of Temptation the inward Man by its weakness and by its trouble will quickly find the want of these Ordinances O! prize the Ordinances of God that you may still enjoy them these are the vehicles of Grace Spiritual strength and spiritual comforts are conveyed in the use of them And those that are the most experienced Saints do perceive most reason to esteem them 4. You must not think that the explaining of the Scripture by it self is excluded by the perfection of it but rather included Expounding of Scripture is not an Argument of Scriptures imperfection for Scripture if rightly expounded is expounded by it self To impose that as Gods which is none of his to say this and that is the mind of God
to the Wicked to the good to the clean and to the unclean to him that Sacrificeth and him that Sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner and he that Sweareth as he that feareth an Oath Eccles 9. 1 2. Nay often times the worst of men have in this present Life the best on 't We read Luke 16. of a wicked Rich Man receiving his good things cloathed in Purple and fine Linnen and faring Sumptuously every day A poor Man ready to starve for Hunger was laid at this Rich Man's Gate his Body was full of sores and yet this Mans Soul was sanctified with Grace a good Man he was though here he received evil things since thus it is now there is a day coming when 't will be otherwise Job having spoken of the Prosperity of the Wicked in this World strongly argues that in the next World there will be a dreadful after-reckoning Job 21. 30. The Wicked is reserved to the day of Destruction they shall be brought forth to the day of Wrath This is the day I am speaking of a day of the revelation of the righteous Judgment of God Rom. 2. 5. Who then will render to every man according to his works to them that by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life but to them that are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile v. 6 7 8 9. 3. Christ hath Promised his Church that he will come again to Judgment and hath raised her hopes and expectations of his coming Rev. 3. 11. Behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy Crown Heb. 10. 36. For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry He thus speaks to his Disciples Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me I am indeed about to leave you but I go to prepare a place for you and assure your selves I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Joh. 14. 1 5. Christ is the Amen the true and faithful Witness he will certainly be the Judge The Church will assuredly see him at last upon the great White Throne and her self safe and triumphant at his right hand When he comes how will he be glorified in his Saints and how will he be admired by all Believers in that Day 2 Thes 1. 10. 4. There are several things that are hastening Christs coming to Judgment The World grows old in Wickedness and all the Sins of the World have tongues to cry for the appearing of a Judge to pay their deserved Wages the World grows riper and riper for Vengeance dryer and dryer for that Fire that is to burn it The Church of Christ is also hastning Christs Appearing with their incessant Cryes Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Rev. 22. 20. The Spirit and the Bride say Come not only unto Sinners to come to Christ but unto Christ himself to appear that he may put an end both to Sin and Suffering That 's the longing and language of the Spouse Cant. 8. 14. Make haste my Beloved and be like a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountains of spices And this is not the Voice only of the Church on Earth but they in Heaven wish for and intreat the same thing How long Lord holy and true is heard from the Souls under the Altar Rev. 6. 10. In the last Place I come to the Application I begin with Inferences from the Doctrine 1. If there will be a Day of Judgment hence I inferr that there is a present Providence Will the Lord judge all at last surely he observes all now The Lord Jesus would have all the Churches to know as well that he searches the Reins and Heart as that he will render to every man according to his Works Rev. 2. 23. Whether thy Eye be upon God or no his Eye is never off from thee 't is indeed in every place beholding the evil and the good What a foolish Creature hast thou reason to call thy self who considerest not in thy heart that God remembers all thy Wickedness Hos 7. 2. and Gods remembrance at last will rub up thine and what thou now forgettest will sadly be recalled to thy Mind 2. Shall all be Judged hence I inserr the Love of God to the Righteous and his hatred of Iniquity Not one righteous Man but shall be acquitted and received by the Judge not a righteous action or sincere intention but shall be rewarded It will be found at the last day that a Widdows Mite given with a Charitable spirit and according to the ability was a great deal in Gods Treasury and that a Cup of cold Water given to a Disciple in the Name of a Disciple was well taken and shall not go unrewarded Mat. 10. 42. And there has not been there is not a Wicked Man on Earth but his Sin that has been hunting and pursuing to overthrow him will then find him out Psal 11. 5 6. because the Lords Soul hates the workers of Iniquity therefore upon the wicked he will rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their Cup By fire and brimstone and tempest understand a suddain grievous surprizing and intolerable Punishment and by snares understand that they in Hell shall never be able to extricate themselves out of that Misery into which their Wickedness has brought them 3. If all shall be Judged hence I inserr the truth of the Doctrine of the Resurrection The whole Man has sinn'd the whole Man shall be judg'd and punished for sin Believers are sanctified both in Soul and Body therefore in Body and Soul they shall be gloryfied The Dead shall rise again all that are in the Graves shall hear the Voice of Christ and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of Life they that have done evil to the resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. The Grave is only a Prison for a time not a Body that is there that shall lye there always the same Body that was employed in the unfruitful works of darkness shall be raised by the Power of the righteous Judge to share in the demerited Punishment And the same Body of the Saints the Members of which were used as Instruments of Righteousness unto Holiness by Vertue of its Union with Christ shall rise again and be made like unto Christs glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3. 21. It is not another Body I grant that qualities are alter'd but the substance is the same therefore the Apostle does not stick to say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This corruptible shall put on incorruption this mortal shall put on immortality so
What dismal Noyses will fill their Ears how fierce and unquenchable are the Flames that they shall feel all their parts shall be in pain not so much as one free The whole Body was defiled and at Sins service all the Members were yielded as instruments of Vnrighteousness 't is but righteous that all should be Punished Why are the Bodies of the Wicked raised at the last day surely that they may bear their part in the Condemnation which the whole Man by Sin has deserved This Resurrection is certain but 't is a dreadful Resurrection which is a Resurrection to Damnation Joh. 5. 29. In these Torments you may well suppose that Death will be wisht for and that the Damned would rejoyce if they could find a Grave but alas after the Resurrection the first Death is no more The Damned in a sad sense do put on Incorruption and Immortality they can never dye and cease to feel their Pains they must always live a Life ten thousand times worse than Death and there is no remedy O you Wicked Men where 's your true Love to your Bodies that you seem to be so tender of I beseech you mind your Souls and love your Bodies better than by Sin to expose them to the Vengeance of eternal Fire You see how in Hell there is a Deprivation of good an Infliction of evil pain and torment I add 3. In Hell there is an Eternity of both the deprivation will be without Hope of Restitution and the Torment will be without any end without the least Mitigation Eternity is an amazing word the thing it self much more amazing Who can see to the end of Eternity who can see half way into Eternity Time is continually passing but Eternity never in the least spends 't is not capable of any diminution after myriads of Ages 't is still as bulky and whole as ever If Hell were Ten thousand times hotter than it is yet were it but a Temporal Punishment and at last to end 't would be Nothing in comparison But since those that are thrown into it must lye in it for ever Hells Eternity is the very Hell of Hell. In Eternity whether of Joy or Woe there is tota simul perfecta possessio the whole of it perfectly possess'd at once Hell is not parcel'd out unto the Damned but they continually feel the whole of it This is terrible there is not the least part of the punishment that ever they are exempted from undergoing but 't is much more terrible that their Suffering must be always and never have a Conclusion Divines have stretch'd their Wits to represent Eternity that apprehensions of it might be more suitable and affecting but were never able to reach it We can no more comprehend Eternity than a Nut-shell can contain the whole Ocean Suppose that all this World were fill'd with Sand from the Earths Centre round and up to the highest Heaven and once in a Thousand Years one single Sand should be taken away How sad would it be to lye in Torment till the whole vast heap were gone But after so many Millions and Millions of Years for the Damned to be every whit as far from the End of their Misery as they were the very first moment they began to feel it here all words fall short and I must conclude in Astonishment Do not think that these are frightful things invented by Vs to scare you into better manners When we warn and tell you of the Eternity of Hells punishment we speak the certain Truth of the Eternal God. In the second place I am to prove the Doctrine That they who will not turn to God shall most certainly be turned into Hell. The Arguments to prove this are these 1. The first shall be drawn from the Wrath of God. This is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteouness of Men Rom. 1. 18. They that are called to turn and yet refuse that Wrath abides upon them still unbelief and impenitency bindes as it were all their Sins fast upon them and they must needs remain under Wrath also Joh. 3. ult He that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the Wrath of God abideth on him Nay Wrath instead of being appeased is increased by contemning the Gospel-offer of Gods favour and mercy in Christ And where will unpacified Wrath at length issue See Deut. 32. 22. A Fire is kindled in mine Anger and it shall burn to the lowest Hell. 2. A second Argument shall be drawn from the Truth of God. He has threatned Hell for the punishment of unconverted Sinners Psal 9. 17. The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Let there be never so many of them Hell has room enough to hold them and their multitude will not be any Security The Truth of God is engaged to make good all his promises to the Faithful and also all his threatnings to the Wicked A man must believe the Promises in order to the accomplishment of them But tho the Threatnings are dis-believed they will be fulfilled and the greater the unbelief the more certainly and sorely will they overtake and lay hold on the Vnbeliever The Lord is to be credited when he speaks because he is a God that cannot Lye but when he adds his Oath to his word what he sayes is the more firmly to be assented to His Covenant of Grace is confirm'd by an Oath and when he could Swear by no greater he Swore by himself And his Oath also confirms his Threatnings of Wrath Heb. 3. 18 19. And to whom Swear he that they should not enter into his Rest but to them that believed not So we see that they could not enter in because of Vnbelief 3. Another Argument to prove that unconverted Sinners shall be turned into Hell shall be drawn from their present Impunity Escaping now scot-free we may conclude the greater certainty of a future reckoning They that will not turn to God we see that many of them are in Health at ease enjoy peace and plenty and Sentence against their evil works being not now executed and they hereupon being fully set to do Evil 't is reasonable to believe there will be and 't is very Righteous there should be a terrible Sentence of Condemnation and that Sentence put in Execution upon them in the other World. 4. They that will not turn to God at the Gospel call shall be turned into Hell for they slight the only Saviour Christ calls himself a Door so he has been from the beginning of the World so he will be to the End of it There is no Door through which Hell can be escaped but this Unconverted Sinners will not come to Him that they may have Life Joh. 5. 40. therefore they are unavoidably Siezed by eternal Death Corruptible things as Silver and Gold they know how to value but the precious Blood of Christ is not prized and not being Sprinkled with the Blood of Christ our Passover who
was Sacrificed for us the Destroyer has power over them and they fall into eternal Predition In the third place I am to vindicate the Righteousness of God in thus dealing with and eternally punishing them that will not turn to Him And here 1. Let the Majesty and greatness of God be consider'd against whom all Sin is committed How much greater a Crime is it to strike a Prince upon the Throne than to strike a Peasant How much is Sin greatned being committed against the Highest Majesty of all who is infinitely Superiour to all other Powers Psal 104. 1. O Lord my God thou art very great thou art Cloathed with Honour and with Majesty Psal 145. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised and his greatness is unsearchable Sin is a Transgression of a Law enacted by the King of Heaven and is indeed a disowning of his Soveraign Authority as if he had no right to rule the Sinner Think of the infinite distance between the God who is offended and Man that is the Offender and how much Sin offends for it disowns his Government and strikes at his very Being for the Sinner wishes there were no God to be subject to I say think of all this and you will perceive that Sin deserves everlasting Punishment The carnal Mind thinks Hell too much for a Sinner to feel because it measures God by it self and thinks too little of the Glorious Jehovah 2. Sinners can never by all that they suffer themselves satisfie for their Iniquities therefore their punishment in Hell is justly endless No meer Creature can make satisfaction for Sin. If Christ the Mediatour had not been over all God blessed for ever by his Death and all his Sufferings he would never have made Peace His God-head put a real and infinite value upon the price he paid and made it sufficient for our Redemption The Damned in Hell cannot satisfie the Justice of God for their Transgressions therefore they justly are kept eternal Prisoners there It is above five Thousand Years ago that the Evil Angels were cast down to Hell by the punishment they have undergone have they made any Satisfaction for their offences No no still they have continued in their Enmity and deserved more punishment And from Satans utteâ— alienation from God and all goodness we may infer that Hell is not a place to mend any but Sin is hight'ned those that were bad on Earth become worse in Hell and are unalterably confirm'd in Evil. 3. The punishment of Sin in Hell is justly Eternal because Sin is insatiable Suppose a Sinner could live in this World to Eternity there is corruption enough in his Nature to make him an Offender of God unto Eternity If he were an everlasting Liver upon Earth he would be an everlasting Transgressour If the Carnal Heart would but speak out that would be its Language I would desire no other no greater happiness than that I might live here for ever that I might Sin here for ever This insatiable Nature of Sin this inclination and desire of the Sinner is known to the Heart-searcher therefore the punishment he inflicts is very Righteous tho 't is everlasting 4. For the Vindication of the Righteousness of God take notice what has been offered unto Sinners and rejected Christ is offered his justifying Righteousness his unsearchable Riches all his Fulness all the Benefits which he has purchased at so dear a Price and yet the offer is made light of How much is contemn'd when Christ is Contemn'd and how much of Sin is there in the Contempt The blessed God in the Glorious Gospel does call to Sinners to turn to him and what does he offer His own all-sufficient-self I my self am yours if you will turn to me and become sincerely mine I will be a God to you all my attributes shall be for you I will be your Shield and your exceeding great Reward and your Portion for ever Now for a Sinner to turn a Deaf Ear to all this is such a Sin as does deserve the Eternal loss of what is offer'd and the feeling of everlasting Wrath is just since such infinite and everlasting Goodness has been despised I might also add that the Sinner is told of this Eternal Punishment before-hand therefore if his Lusts are so dear that he will venture to be Damned rather than part with them when those Lusts that War against his Soul have quite undone him and brought him down to Hell indeed he cannot charge God with Injustice but he must blame himself because when warned of Hell and Wrath he would not fear and Flee from it I come now to the Applacation I begin with some Inferences that may be drawn from the Doctrine 1. If Sinners that will not turn shall be brought down to Hell certainly Sin is another kind of thing than is commonly imagined Oh Sin how much art thou mistaken Thou art very little understood on Earth In Heaven thou art better understood by Saints and full glad they are they are quite rid of thee In Hell thou art better understood by Sinners and they must Groan for ever under the weight of thee O all of you Study Hell more if you would know Sin more fully Gods severity towards Man for Sin argues it a very vast Evil. I am perswaded that all the Men upon Earth that all the Saints and Angels in Heaven since they cannot comprehend the greatness and goodness of God neither can they comprehend all the Evil that is in Sin And if God alone does fully understand how Evil Sin is he alone is the competent Judge what Punishment is due to it O exceeding sinful Sin Rom. 7. 13. thou canst not be called by so bad a Name as thy own is 2. Learn from hence the Misery of unconverted Sinners Are there none unconverted here I wish there were not Are there not many unconverted in this place I fear there are Seriously consider in what State you are You walk upon the Brink of Hell you Eat and Drink upon the Brink of Hell in your Shops at the Exchange you are still upon the Brink of Hell when you lye down at Night you Sleep upon the Brink of Hell. Oh what Hearts are yours that you can Sleep securely Is such a perilous State to be rested in In such danger and depths of Misery how should you cry to the Lord for mercy Psal 130. 1. Davids words are proper for a Sinner to make use of Psal 51. 1. Have mercy upon me O Lord according to thy loving kindness and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my Transgressions 3. Hence I infer That they who refuse to turn to God are certainly besides themselves else the broken Cisterns would not draw them away from the Fountain of living waters and a little gain and pleasure would not make them venture to lye in Flames unquenchable God sayes Turn ye turn ye Will you turn or will ye not If you will you shall live if
be espoused to Christ This Sin stands up and forbids the Banes. We read of a young man in the Gospel soberly inclined he saw the necessity of eternal Life and the value of it he comes to Jesus and says Good Master What shall I do that I may inherit eternal Life Our Lord tells him of the commands the young man is glad of this for as to the letter of the second-Table-precepts he had been a strict observer of them all from his Youth up At length our Lord who knew Love to the World was his Master Sin bids him to go and sell all that he had on Earth and follow him and he should have a more enduring and better Treasure in Heaven But his Love to the World hindred his Believing and Conversion he goes away very sorrowful for he was very rich Mat. 19. 21 22. His Riches were very unreasonably and excessively loved he cleaves to Mammon and leaves the only Saviour 6. That is a Master Sin which pretends most highly to consult the Sinners safety gain and pleasure To be safe to be advantaged and delighted are things very taking to Humane Nature pretences this way are prevalent but all Sins pretences are vain When our Lord commands that the right eye should be pluckt out the right hand cut off the meaning is not that Christianity binds us cruelly to dismember our selves Indeed the abuse of our members is severely forbidden but our members themselves are not to be parted with but employed after an holy manner That therefore which our Lord intends is this either that we should be as without an eye to behold vanity and tempting Objects as without an hand to work that which is evil Or that though Sin be naturally as dear to us as our right eye as seemingly necessary as our right hand yet we must part with it and not spare it to the hazard and ruine of our selves for ever Mat. 5. 29 30. I might also add that Sinners are apt above all to wish that the Master Sin were no Sin at all And because the Law forbids it they hate the Law and the motions of their wicked Hearts towards it are more strong and violent And here is a notable difference between an unsanctified and a sanctified Heart The unsanctified Heart wishes that the Law were less Holy that Sins were no Sins but the Heart that is sanctified does not desire the Law were less strict and pure but that it self were more pure and more conformed unto a Law that is so good and excellent it does not desire a Liberty to commit Sin but that all the remaining lustings of the Flesh that way were more throughly mortified In the third place I am to produce the Reasons why this Master Sin ought especially to be abandoned 1. Because this is Gods Principal Enemy All Sin is against him but this is a special Provocation in the the eyes of his Holiness and Glory The Apostle tells us that Love is the greatest Grace and Christ himself says that Love is the first and great Commandment The Master Sin which is most beloved which takes away the affection of the Heart which God chiefly requires must needs provoke Him unto great Jealousie This is the Presumptuous Sin 't is greatly offensive for deservedly 't is called the great Transgression â—â—al 19. 13. 2. The Master Sin should be abandon'd because in a special manner it separates between God and the Soul that is guilty of it Sin has many bad effects but a worse can't be named than this Isa 59. 2. Your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear Let the Saints in Heaven speak what 't is to see the Face of Godâ— Oh the evil that is in Sin which causes the Face of God to be hid from the Sinner Every Sin may be compared to a cloud but the Sin which does most easily beset us is the blackest the darkest cloud of all which does most totally deprive us of the Light of Gods Countenance 3. If the Master-Sin be not abandon'd no other Sin whatsoever can be truly repented of A man may indeed abstain from some Sins but he does not abstain from them as Sins and because they are displeasing to God because contrary to his will and because they hinder Communion with God if he did then certainly he would keep himself from the beloved Sin which is principally hateful to God and the grand obstruction of fellowship with Him. 4. The Master Sin should be abandon'd because this is so great a grief unto the Holy Spirit of God. How often does he tell the false Professour of his lying Tongue and the unjust Professour of his unrighteous dealing The good Spirit vouchsafes to strive with very wicked men and moves them to hate the Sin which they unreasonably Love to their own ruine But if Sin be loved still the Spirit is grieved and vexed And is it safe to grieve and vex the Sanctifier the Comforter No. Read what follows upon vexing the Spirit Isa 63. 10. But they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit therefore he was turned to be their Enemy and he fought against them 5. The Master Sin should be abandon'd because 't is this chiefly that keeps the Lord Jesus out of the Throne Why do so many say in their Hearts we will not have Christ to Reign over us The reason is because they are resolved their fleshly and their wordly Lusts shall rule there still And if Christ rule not 't is in vain to expect he will save for he is the Author of Eternal Salvation unto them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Nay as he will not save them that will not be subject to him so he has threatned to slay them As for those mine Enemies that would not I should reign over them bring them forth and slay them before me Luk. 19. 27. I come in the last place to the Application and the Vses are these three VSE I. By way of Examination Try your selves whether you are willing to abandon the Sin that does so easily beset you and for you your help in this matter I would ask you 1. Are you willing to have this Sin whatever it be discover'd Are you willing that God should signifie to you what 't is in you that most of all displeases him Job professes that he cover'd not his Transgression as Adam by hiding his Iniquity in his Bosom Job 31. 33. He that hides Sin loves it he that pleads for Sin is a Servant a Slave to it The defence of Sin is worse than the Offence it self Can you come to God and say Lord I open my Heart to Thee Search Ransack here Let no sin lye concealed Let not so much as one be spared but especially discover the Master-sin which is my greatest Enemy as well as thine 2. Are you willing to hear all the Evil the Word does speak against the Master-sin If so this would argue that