should be saved by Christ yet how many of us have refused these glorious profers of grace and unspeakable loving kindnes offered to our soules How many Markets for the buying of Spirituall foode hath the Lord vouchsafed unto us and yet stil we have come empty away Let us now look back confider how many Sermons we have heard how many times we have received the Sacrament and there renued our covenants with the Lord how many motions Gods Spirit hath made at our hearts to repent and returne when we have bin hearing of the word and likewise in our private meditation saying unto our soules why will ye dye yet sinfull wretches that we are have we not flighted these motious and cast them behinde our backs as though they did not concerne us let us now look backe upon all slightings of grace and mercy offered unto us and say with Pharaohs Butler Gen. 41.5 I will call to remembrance my faults this day and let our souls be deeply humbled under the remembrance therof before the Lord. Use 2 For instruction it teacheth us that the life of a Christian is not an idle but a laborious life that will cost a man much paines and travell if he will indeavour for to be sincere in his profession and walke uprightly with the Lord in an holy conversation watching all seasons and readily imbracing all opportunities as he ought to doe that so whatsoever he doth may rend to Gods glory and to the good of his Church and people Use 3 For incouragement seeing God doth now vouchsafe unto us so many glorious seasons opportunities which if improved might be to the eternall welfare of our soules now to step in that we may be cured even while the Angell is moving in the waters of the Sanctuary for so long as the Gospell is preached unto us and tenders of mercie offered so long our season of grace doth last we should therefore now take these opportunities by the forelocke for we know not how soone they may be removed from us or we from them and when the dore is once shut though with the foolish virgins we may knock yet it shlal not be opened unto us and for our helpe herein we should remember the former directions and likewise learne so to order and overlooke all our businesses that we may be able to allot to every imployment a proportionable time and we must alwayes take especiall care that our duty to our neighbour never justly out that homage and service that we owe unto our God we must therefore never over-charge our spirits with multiplicitie of worldly businesses but keepe our souls in such a frame that we may be able when ever we goe to converse with God in nny holy ordinance to set aside all worldly occassions that neither our hearts nor our thoughts may run out upon them Use 4 For direction we should therefore labour to prevent the time in getting aforehand with it saich David Psal 119. 148. Mine eyes prevent the night-watches to meditate in thy word He was more earnest in the Study of Gods word then they that kept the Watch were in their Charge and Psal 63.6 When I remember thee on my bedde and meditate on thee in the night-watches He got up before his Nobles when others were asleepe he was awake so that he had performed his duty to God before any State matters were brought before him before his thoughts were scattered upon the Affaires of his Kingdome he is a good President in this for all of us to imitate Lastly we should learn how to cut off all unnessary expence of time if it be sinfull to spend that time which should be for spirituall imployment in worldly businesses which in themselves are lawfull if seasonable discarged how much more sinfull is it to spend it in sinfull sports and pleasures we should therefore learne how to redeeme the time out of the hands of our lusts and corruptions which have too long imployed many precious houres and glorious opportunities in such services as doe directly tend to the eternall ruine of our immortall soules even now whilst it is called to day least the Lord sweare in his wrath that our soules shall never enter into his rest FINIS
disputes He as it were enters a Law Case with the poore sinnefull sonnes of men and proceedes in a judiciall course to recover a poore sinner from the pathes of death wherein hee straied to his owne worship which the sinner wholly declined from as yee see men goe to Law one saith the Land is mine another saith hee hath best right to it and so their title comes legally to be tried Even so sinne and Satan say the soule are theirs and the sinner is content to goe with with them to Hell but the Lord enters lists and claimes by a higher title and saith that the soule is his by him it was created Redeamed made to honour his Creator to be happy in his Saviour And how God strives herein you shall see afterwards But I take this to be the value of the sence so that from the first part of the Text observe these foure Doctrines The Spirit of God doth ever undoubtedly and unseperably accompany the Ministry of the Word Gods Word and his Spirit alwayes goe together The Lord by the power of his Spirit in the Word in the course of his Providence strives with poore rebellious Sinners for their good and they oppose both his Spirit and their own good God striveth long with Sinners here with the old world one hundred and twentie yeares Though God strives long with Sinners and yet they returne not God will leave them to themselves and their sinnes to the power and curse of sinne and the judgements and plagues deserved Of the first Doctrine viz. That Gods Spirit doth ever accompany the Word and the Ministry thereof By the Spirit of God I meane the eternall Spirit the holy Ghost doth in speciall manner accompany the Word know that God is every where and knoweth all things but in a speciall manner he is with this if the Word commands hee commands and if the Word forbids he forbids Rom. 1.16 The Gospell is the power of God to the salvation of man But how doth this appeare to be so I Answer it appeareth in three things First God doth please to set this worke apart to wit the Ministry of the Word to save and sanctifie our soules which all the learning in the world cannot do Secondly the Lord by the power of his Spirit doth constantly and continually accompany this worke as hee thinks good to be a confutation to the wicked and a consolation to the godly 2 Cor. 2.16 17. To the one it is a favour of death to the other it is a favour of life it either kills the soule or saves the soule though it ever accompanies the word yet this work of the Spirit is a voluntary worke Thirdly it doth alwayes accompany the Word but doth not alwayes worke for some after twenty or thirtie yeares are converted so that it doth not alwayes worke Looke as the brazen Serpent was lift up in the wildernesse that whosoever looked on it that was stung with the fiery Serpents should be healed there was a healing vertue in it he set it apart for that purpose for that had no vertue of it selfe but because God would worke by it so that whosoever looked on it might be healed so it is with the Word of God for the Ministers thereof are no more able to convert then others but because God hath promised to accompany them in dispensation of it Reas Reason First taken from the fruit and effect of this Word that it is able to doe all things In the beginning it was able to doe that which men and Angells cannot doe Heb. 4.12 The Word of God is quick and powerfull and sharper then any two edged Sword piercing even to the deviding assunder of the soule and Spirit and a discoverie of the thoughts of the heart It is Gods faithfull word the reason why Carnall men fall out with the Ministers of the word and say you speake against mee I know you meane mee No no we know not your hearts but God doth and the word of God knows them and that findes you out John 5.25 The dead shall heare the voice of the Sonne of God the meaning is they that are dead in sins for by Nature everie man is dead in sinne It must be more then all men can doe as our Saviour said to Lazarus when men stood weeping by but Christ said Lazarus come forth Joh. 11.43 It must be Gods Word that must raise us from the death of sinne to the life of righteousnesse Vse First of Instruction to take heede of taking up of Armes against the Spirit of God we see the hainous sin of them that despise the Ministrie of the Gospell men may thinke it nothing but alas you know not what it is for the word of God and the Spirit of God goe together as the blessed Martyr Steven said to the Jewes Act. 7.51 Ye stiffenecked and uncercumsised in heart and eares yee doe alwayes resist the holy Ghost as did your Fathers so doe you therefore take heede you are neere to the sinne against the holy Ghost for it is not the Word of man but the Word of God it is the Spirit that thou shouldst be saved by that thou hast opposed you goe away with the contempt of the Gospell and make that nothing thou hast sinned against God and his Spirit that accompanies the Word O Counsell one another say doe you know what you do It is Gods Spirit that must comfort you that must save you It is that that you oppose when you oppose the word take heede for this is above incestuous sinnes Luke 3.19.20 Herod was an incestuous sinnner but above all his sins he added this that he put John in prison he was an incestuous Adulterer yet putting John in prison was above all Math. 11.21.22 It shall be easier for Sodome and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment then for you that oppresse the word of the Lord. So much for the first point And now I will fasten upon the second point which I conceive is the pith and substance even the maine life of the Text viz. That the Lord by the power of his Spirit in the word striveth with poore sinners for their good and they in the meane time oppose both his Spirit and their owne good The Parties are God and man God strives and the sinner strives The Lord invents wayes to work off the Soule from its sinnes and its destruction and the Sinner makes it his maine peece and care his cheife skill and cunning to hinder the good word of the Lord in the worke upon his soule for his salvation In common experience wee see it If God open the eies of a Drunkard or awaken the Adulterer what a deale of stirre there is One drinkes it off another plaies it out a third dambes up his Soule with untempered mortar Any thing or any way that the good Spirit of the Lord may not prevaile If the Lord turne the face of a child or a servant in the familie towards him then
presently there is hue and crie up by the Father or the Master He is an undone man or an undone woman then there is labouring by all meanes possible to stifle the worke of grace in the heart Thus when God striveth to pluck men out of their sinnes they continue in sinne and so subject themselves to eternall punishment therfore may the contention grow marvellous great God striveth and sinne and Satan strive and man holds it out to the last As appeares Math. 23.37 O Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that were sent to thee c. there is the businesse and marke how often would I have gathered you c. and you would not The Father would draw men to his Sonne to be faved but John 5.4 ye will not come unto me that ye may be saved whilst our Saviour thus strives with the cords of mercie to draw men to salvation they labour to withdraw themselves from him and to plundge themselves into damnation Act. 18.5 6. Paul strengthened with the spirit convinced them boldly and by strength of Argument laid hold upon their understandings proving that Jesus was the Christ But they came as in pitcht battell against that Doctrine of life and salvation they did gainsay and blaspheme it the word in the originall signifies They planted forces in order and came in battell array against those blessed truthes he delivered and in other places of the Acts when Paul revealed the truth part joyned with the Apostles part with the Jewes some were convinced others gainsayed and resisted See then how a poore sinner breakes all the cords of grace and mercie as Psalm 2.3 when there the wicked combine against Christ say they Let us breake his Bonds assunder and cast his Cords from us Gods Counsells Commands Reproofes c. are the cords they breake the threatnings of the word the checkes of Conscience all the tyes of mercie they snappe in peices they breake all and wilfully withdraw themselvs from salvation we neede no more witnesses to cast this cause wofull experience daily produces too many all difficulty rests in the Explication of this And therin observe three things First I will discover how God drawes and strives with the sinner what a deale of doe it is to bring a sinner to everlasting life Secondly the reason why God doth so strive Thirdly Application hereof First how doth the Lord strive The good Spirit of the Lord followes a Suit himselfe against a sinner and pleades a Law-Case with him I doe confesse the dealing of God is marveillous strange herein and I ingeniously acknowledge I want both skill and heart to set forth the pleadings of God herein But he is onely able to speake for himselfe and by his gratious assistance wee shall observe to you such pleaes as God affords in Scripture how the Lord hath dealt herein To the point then How the Lord pleades and strives with a sinner I referre to two heads 1. By way of perswasion 2. By way of constraint and compulsion Wherein we shall observe all the cords of mercie and bondes of compassion First striving and if those doe not prevaile execution of punishment terrours and a strong hand pursues a sinner in mercie and at last if all faile mercy overcomes the sinner wherein see God first discovers the matter in controversie Proceedes to execution and by repreive at last prevailes by mercy over judgement Touching the first part and of the pleaes of mercy in scripture we must referre our observation hereof to foure heads First As in a suite of Law before there can be a day of Heareing the Party is summoned to answer So the Lord having a Controversie with a sinner the Lord summons the sinner into his Court the Lord causeth a Writ to issue out to attach a sinfull Creature that lieth snorting in his sins and securely posts to destruction one that never saw his miserie and wants and never sought for mercy and supply Salvation being the furthest end of his thoughts and the least part of his care Now the Lord doth bring this about in his providence by bringing them to the word and therein mercifully making knowne the sinners estate before ever he imagined thereof Jsa 65.5 I was found of them that sought mee not Hence in ordinarie experience many a poore sinfull creature hath beene accidentally cast into such a Towne or into a good familie and the Lord comes upon him on a suddaine when he never dreamed of life and grace As many a soule in the acknowledgment of Gods mercy and providence breakes out in this wonder Oh that I should be brought into such a place such a familie and meete with such opportunities when I dreamed of it as little as of doomes day and desired nothing more then mischeife that God should stop me in the way to Hell See that of Saul when he was running to Damascus ah saith he I will take these Puritaines in their Conventicles a light shin'd suddenly from Heaven and almost tumbled him downe into Hell Even such a kinde of light is let into the soule not that we must expect a miracle or a new thing but when the word is brought home to the understanding the soule will thinke those strange things such as hee never heard or thought of And if the finner growes carelesse and will not attend God calls upon the soule and drawes the minde to attend holds the light to the eye and brings the Word so evident to the soule that it cannot evade Ezek. 16.2 Sonne of man cause the Children of Jsraell to know their abominations The Prophet 1 Kings 21.20 having a Message to Ahab after his great wickednesse see how the sight of the Prophet startles him and makes him snarle Hast thou founde mee out Oh mine Enemy saith Ahab The worde findes a man out and drawes the minde to attend it The soule would be carelesse and secure will not heare not attend The Lord knockes as the doore of the soule findes him out behinde the Pillor awakens him asleepe in his Pue finds him out his sinnes and discovers his abominations The Lord comes home to the soule and tells him thou art the man that hath sinned and thou shalt bee plagued God deales like a Wrastler first catches hold then comes in and at last throwes a man upon his back makes him yeeld and confesse I am the man Thus the Lord causeth the minde to attende the word The Lord tells the Drunkard that the Alehouse is not the way to Heaven and the Adulterour that his way leads to perdition brings them to the word and causeth them to attend thereto And further the Soule attending the word and being ignorant and knowing no good the Lord informes a sinner and sets up a light of wisedome in his minde to conceive of the nature of sinne whereby he hath provoked God He that yet never knew what sinne was now it stares him in his face and he beholds it with amazement and in
mercies on the one hand inviting thee justice on the other side threatning comforts of minde and horrors of conscience Oh at last heare and be perswaded to let the suite fall Oh especially yee ancient sinners notwithstanding all this yet to be an ancient Drunkard an old blacke mouthed swearer an ancient Adulterer an old gray headed sinner setled in wickednesse the father naught and the sonne naught ah vile wretches the bane of all goodnesse The Lord hath striven forty fifty sixty years together and doe you not thinke the Lord was admirably patient Now now let the word of the Lord prevaile and the Councell of Gods poore servants take place with you for your eternall good Thinke with your selves what shall I stand out in law with God shall I still resist his grace Goe into a corner and sigh and sorrow bewaile your selves ah miserable Creatures that we are how have we behaved our selves all our life time to God ah those cords of mercie that would not draw us those powerfull perswassions those keene reproofes those forcible exhortations and those bestowed and continued with much goodnesse and long sufferance and we not bettered by any of them to this very day why then it is high time poore wretches to lay downe the suite to renounce it and to yeeld to the word of God and not a word more Give up the day to the worke of Gods grace and the power of his Spirit as Job Job 39.37 38. though he held out long untill the Lord schooled him out of the whirlwinde shewed him his Glory and Power and Jobs vilenesse and nothingnesse Then he cries out I am vile what shal I answer thee I will lay my hand upon my mouth once saith he have I spoken but I will answer no more So all of yee say that heare the word of God this day and perswade one another Say we have beene Brethren in wickednesse but now we will submit we will no longer deferre well then be incouraged The Lord strives with you nay hee promiseth you if you will at last yeeld whatsoever hath been formerly amisse shall bee pardoned whatsoever is or shall bee wanting shall be supplied why will yee yet contend Did ever any resist the Lord and prosper Oh yee have freinds or estates and yee beare your selves upon these and the like stayes these and all such are but broken staies Where are all the enemies of God where is stouthearted and stiffe-necked Pharaoh Hee would not let the people of God goe c. His body was drowned in the sea and his soule is roaring in hell unlesse God was more infinitely mercifull then we can conceive What became of proud Nebuchadnezar that exalted himselfe to the Heaven he was brought as low as Hell How doth God many times slay the drunkard and cut off the sinner on a suddaine And good Lord what are become of their soules Therefore let everie man consider no man can resist God and prosper either thou must overcome God or be confounded by him Consider also the longer ye stand out with God the harder to agree the suite and remember this yee strong ones A Law suite at the first might happily be ended for a small summe or nothing but if it proceede the charges of suite many times growes to be greater then the debt Aâ—â— thinke of this also ye ancient sinners gray-headed swearers constant secret opposers of God and goodnesse But forget it not I say againe yee young ones little ones goeing on in a way of sinning If yee doe not agree betimes with God God will recover his charges he will not lose all those exhortations reproofes his patience goodnesse loving kindnesse the mercie and bloud of Christ Christ paid deare for these ye make nothing of the abuse of all these but Christ paid for everie Sermon not profitted by everie intimation of Spirit slighted everie mercie not improved Oh this is able to undoe any man Oh poore people be wise in time especially I say ye young ones your reckoning is not yet so heavy if now ye get a hear to yeeld to the Councells and Reproofes of God to submit and come in your sinnes shall be pardoned your persons accepted and your soules eternally saved if not thou must pay charges answer for all the patience long sufferance and goodnesse of God And consider now even this day the Lord holdeth out the Golden Scepter of grace and if ye yet returne to him ye shall be accepted of him it may be the last time you shall have an offer of mercie How soone may Death seize on thy body and then Judgement overtake thy soule this may be the last day of thy living much more of thy hearing the word If ye now accept all arrerages shall be forgotten God will lay downe his suite all his anger and displeasure will be laid aside He will put up all if yee entertaine his mercie and imbrace Christ This may be the last offer And doth the Lord offer mercie after all the stubbornesse of the heart after all unprofitablenesse after all the neglect of all the meanes of grace after all thy drunkennesse and prophanesse hypocrisie after all thy sinnes and wickednesse Yes then heare what the Lord saith Are ye content to forsake these yes Then the Lord will not forsake you if ye will entertaine the Lord above all these he will entertaine you if ye lay downe your lusts and corruptions he will imbrace you for ever in the everlasting Armes of mercie Say answer and let every mans conscience answer that I may returne my message Me thinkes none of you should be so senselesse so unreasonable so desperately wretched as to stand out Good Lord shall all my evills be pardoned if I be content to receive Christ and his mercie will the Lord Jesus never leave me if I be content to leave my sinnes Good Lord take all my sins and throw them in a bottom lesse pit let me never see them againe I will never more strive against thy word Let thy word reveale my sins and subdue my sinfull soule Let that good Spirit of thine come in and rule this heart of mine Now the businesse is at an end all controversies cease when therefore occasions shall come temptations renew corruptions stirre Goe to God and for ever remember this daies resolution and let the Lord take place in thy heart and he will preserve thee to serve him here and eternally to be saved hereafter I should proceede to the third and fourth Doctrins but I am prevented by the time I will onely name them in one and so conclude Though God strives long with sinners he gives them a long time of repentance ye see the old world an hundred and twenty yeares and every knock in the Arke a Sermon of repentance yet after the long abuse of Gods mercie and patience the large time of repentance and unfruitfullnesse under all the meanes of grace The Lord ceaseth to strive with sinners anie more he takes
there be none to deliver you Ah the good Spirit of God ah the goodnesse of God his patience his long sufferance Everie one of these comes in and enters an action against the soule these that should refresh my soule relinquish it nay they aggravate my anguish and torment Job 14. 16 17. For now thou numbrest my steps dost thou not watch over my sinne My transgressions are sealed up in a bag and thou sowest up mine-iniquitie Remember such a time what thou didst and how I did forbeare but I will forbeare no longer and at last Justice with a full swindge brings in all the bonds and all recknings all those exhortations that have beene slighted reproofes scorned meanes of grace enjoyed and not bettered by and those antient multiplyed and great transgressions these all will breake the back of mountains and rocks are not able to beare off the billowes of the wrath thus kindled and thus the soule is in prison and under execution and there like to lie and rot and perish Yet againe and at last cast after the wrath of God hath thus arrested the soule and the justice and truth and mercie and patience and the forbearance of God hath laid action upon action upon the soule and the soule is in execution everlasting ruine being ready to seize on it then mercy bayles the sinner even the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ comes in and undertakes that the soule shall appeare or mercie will satisfy for him so the sinner is yet reprived Mercy gets the day when a sinner comes out of the horror of conscience and the devourings of justice Oh the bowells of mercy Oh the mercy of a Father the bloud of a Christ the comfort of the Spirit calls the soule out of prison Oh turne why will ye dye Ezek. 18.13 Remember the knocks and horrors of conscience the beginnings of hell they all come and mourne over a sinner Oh ye Drunkard turne be drunke no more come to mee and be saved so to the proud prophane rebellious and malicious sinners why will ye yet oppose God and so ever be confounded by him why will ye goe to hell O ye sinfull sonnes of men Come to me and I will pardon your sinnes Come to me and I will satisfie and pay all your debts saith Gods Spirit I will subdue crush all your Rebellions Oh this this is the last time Now observe if ye come in receive all the good offered If ye now be a servant to the Lord your God all your former iniquities shall be pardoned old arrerages shall not be laid to your charge By me saith Christ beleeve and ye shall be justifyed from all things Act. 13.39 Now observe this is the last stroke the last period the suit is at an end if you entertaine mercy to pardon ye the bloud of Christ to satisfie for you the motions of the Spirit to quicken you T is well if not now what can be looked for but fire from Heaven to destroy Gods Adversaries Thus you see how God strives and wrastles hard before he brings men to repentance and salvation The upshot of all is this the Lord finding a sinner carelesse and secure by his word gives him notice of his waies when he hath the word he makes him attend attending awakens and informes him The sinner seeing his Estate begines to wrangle with God then God convinces him when convinced least hee should sit downe in dispaire comforts him and being incouraged the sinner againe groweth carelesse and delaies the time God waites he abuseth Gods patience and yet his long sufferance indureth and yet not work effectually then God is put to it with a strong hand layes hold on a sinner and sets his wrath to arrest a sinner and Justice binds him over to judgement yet at last Mercy comes in offers grace pardon of sins and salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ This is the pursuit of the Law-Case The Reasons why God strives with sinners thus are briefely First that he might expresse and glorifie his attribute of Mercy and that the world might know it rejoyce in it Secondly that he might leave the world without excuse that if they goe downe to the bottomlesse pit they must thanke themselves But to come to the Vses We see what God doth how he striveth with a sinner for his everlasting wellfare and we see what the poore soule doth strive with God for his owne eternall ruine that the great Greatour that was happy before all worlds and will be glorified if he should suffer thousand millions of us to perish and go down to hell should strive with a pooresinfull creature t is admirable First we see and let us stand amazed and wonder at the admirable goodnesse the riches of the kindnesse of the Lord together with the depth of the stubbornnesse rebellion and evill of the soule how strong in wickednesse to strive with the God of Heaven nay seemeth as we say with reverence to get the better The Lord teacheth and he will not heare the Lord convinceth and he will not yeeld the Lord is good to him and he despiseth him the Lord is patient and he abuseth it God beares long and he contemnes were it not that God is just as well as patient the sinner would overcome God but God will not have his patience alwayes wronged But yet observe the basenesse and depth of the wretchednesse of mans heart that nothing will do him good foule is the Leaper that all the water in the sea will not wash Great are the spots that nothing wil cleanse or take off what state is that body in that no diet will nourish no phisicke cure Death must needs appeare in his face it is thy estate and mine Let us goe home and reason with our selves in secret Good Lord what a heart have I Is there such an heart in hell The Divell never had that patience to strive with them that mercy to cure them the good Spirit of God to strive with them Oh! the Lord hath called and revealed himselfe to me yea found me when I sought him not nay caused me to see mine abominations made me to see the wickednesse of my waies yet oh the secret grudges of my heart that it bore to Religion How did I taunt the professours thereof and loathed the profession therof it selfe yee are one of those holy ones what shall I be so precise yet the Spirit of God did not leave me but laid hold on me surprized me in my bed and followed me wheresoever I went yet I opposed all did winde away from the power of the truth grieved the good Spirit of God good Lord what a heart have I and good reason hast thou to be ashamed of such a base heart A poore worme sinful dust and ashes a shadow a miserable hell-hound to grapple with the Almightie thus to strive against mercy patience and not to be tumbled into the bottomlesse pit of hell T is admirable unspeakable
either the meanes from them or them from the meanes or his blessing from both God hath bounds of his bounty and patience hitherto and no further he will strive but not alwaies when his time is expired not a jot or minute is further to be expected As with the Sun it hath its time of increasing and so there is the spring and harvest it hath its time of decreasing and then blasting and winter there is also a time of consuming the store as of bringing it in so it is with the Son of Righteousnesse who hath a time to receive quicken and ripen the graces of his people and a time to leave men to hardnesse of their hearts in the darkenesse of Aegipt He will ridde them of his word or in hearing they shall not heare Gods season of mercie doth not allwaies last there is a Terme time and a vacation the sun-shine of Gods goodnes now comforts and makes grace to grow the Gospell is gon and all mercie and comfort is gon when Ephraim was gon to Idolatrie Hos 4.17 God was also gon nay Let him alone saith God he is joyned to Idols let him make up his match with mischiefe let him have his belly full of sinning I will now no more strive with him The Lord make us wise to know the day of our visitation least he remove his Candlesticke from us and he be seene no more least he in his wrath goe away and leave us to die and perish in our sinnes FINIS THE CARNALL MANS CONDITION Set forth in a Sermon on Rom. 1.18 By THOMAS HOOKER late of CHELMSFORD in Essex now Minister of the Gospell in New ENGLAND LONDON Printed for John Stafford dwelling in the Alley against Brides Church 1645. THE CARNALL MANS CONDITION ROM 1.18 The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungoodlinesse and unrighteousnesse of men who hold the truth in unrighteousnesse IN the beginning of this Chapter the Apostle Paul by way of Preface prepareth way for those many excellent truths that the Spirit of God had furnished him withall to send to the Saints that were at Rome And that those Heavenly Mysteries might take the deeper roote in their hearts and find the better acceptance with them In the first place he cleareth the Authority of his Calling and that he came not before he was sent of God ver 1. Paul a Servant of Jesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated unto the Gospell of God And therefore being thus called it became them to receive his doctrine not as the notions of his owne braine but as the Word of the immortall God Secondly by way of insinuation he prayseth them for that good progresse that they had made in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ verse 8. Thirdly He discovers the tendernes of his love and affection towards them and his uncessant and unwearied desire to doe them good from the ninth to the sixteenth verse Fourthly He laieth downe the maine point the Criticall point the hinge upon which all the rest of his glorious building should move viz. That a man is justifyed in the Sight of God by faith and not by workes which Proposition he proveth first by Scripture ver 17. The just shall live by faith Secondly by force of Argument in the words of the text shewing that no man can stand righteous before God by workes because the best workes that a man can doe of himselfe are wicked and unjust and therefore punished of God for all men out of Christ stand guilty both of ungodlinesse and unrighteousnes so are subject to condemnation therefore they must needs seek righteousnesse in some other his Argument runneth thus If no man by the workes of the Law can appease the Wrath of God then by the workes of the Law no man can be saved but by the workes of the law no man can appease the Wrath of God therefore by the workes of the Law no man can be saved this he propounds in the text and prosecutes in the Chapter following In the words of the text we may observe in the generall these two parts First that carriage and disposition of heart that is in wicked men towards the Truth of God Secondly Gods dealing with them in requitall of that their carriage they stand in opposition to the truth Holding it in unrighteousnesse God stands against them in a way of Wrath and Vengeance they deale roughly with the truth and God deales as rigorously with them More particularly here is first the subject The Wrath of God secondly the object Ungodly and unrighteous men Thirdly The Universality of it in this word al God doth not deal partially but all be they what they may be that Hold the truth in unrighteousnesse shall feele the Wrath of God no sinne how little soever it seemeth to a carnall eye shall escape it Fourthly The place from whence this Wrath shall come that is from Heaven Obser 1 From the Method that the Holy Ghost useth in placing ungodlinesse before unrighteousnesse we may learne That Sinnes against the first table are sinnes of a deeper dye of a sadder nature then Sinnes against the second table Obser 2 Secondly in that it is said against ungodlinesse and not ungodly men we learne That Gods Wrath is not primarily not principally intended against mens persons but against their sinnes and wicked wayes Obser 3 Thirdly in that it is said they hold the truth in unrighteousnesse we learne That the Gentiles naturally had that ingrafted in them whereby they might come in some degree to the Knowledge of God of the Almighty Power greatnesse goodnesse and everlasting Nature of God even by looking upon his Creatures so that their own reason might condemn them of their wickednesse both towards God and men For the clearer understanding of the words wee are to consider First What is ment by the wrath of God The wrath of God is an act of Gods Justice punishing wicked men sometimes it is put for the judgements themselves as plague sword famine and such like It is here set down in opposition to the Righteousnesse of God spoken of ver 17. which is Gods mercifull goodnesse and gratious dispensations towards poore lost men Secondly what is meant by truth by truth here is ment the remainder of light that was left in Man kinde after the fall that rubbish that was left upon the fall of that first glorious building that Common light that is in every mans conscience since the fall of Adam that serves to shew him what God is in His Power Glory Majesty and Bounty and that he is to be worshipped by adoring and fearing of him above all somtime truth is put for the efficacy and power of truth Gal. 2.14 Paul reproveth Peter and the rest for not walking according to the truth of the Gospell because the truth had not beene so efficatious with them as to drive them from those beggerly elements of the Ceremoniall Law but they would have had the Gentiles
cleare it in these three particulars 1. What is the Power of truth 2. How wicked men hinder it 3. The reason why they doe so hinder it Quest 1. First What is the power of truth or what would it worke upon the soule that wicked men oppose it Answ The worke and power of it will appeare in soure particulars .. 1. First it is a word of information discovering things in their native and proper collours pulling off that vizard that carnall reason hath put upon them Prov. 6.23 For the Commandement is a Lanthorn an instruction a light A Light is usefull in a darke and narrow way so is the word of God to direct us and informe us how to walke in the narrow path that leadeth unto life by this a man is informed what is to be shunned what to be followed what is to be loved what to be hated A man cannot miscarrie nor loose his way so long as he is directed by the Light of the truth as the Sun sheweth all the moates that be in the house so this discovers all the corrupt corners that be in the soule all that envie pride hypocrisie blasphemy that lodgeth in the heart Ephes 5.13 But all things when they are reproved of the light are manifest for it is light that maketh all things manifest A man may there be resolved in everie doubtfull case of conscience the ballance of the Sanctuarie is that wherein we should weigh our thoughts words and workes Secondly as it is a word of information so it is a word of quickening a vigorous powerfull word which not onely sheweth the way and pointeth to the right path but enableth a man to walke in that path in the strength thereof so that he walketh on cheerefully in Heaven way notwithstanding all the rubs and oppositions that he meeteth withall in the world It is not onely as the Sun to shew us the right way but as a strong streame to carrie us on in that way David Psal 119.50 speaking of the word of God saith It is my comfort in my trouble for thy promise hath quickened mee Thirdly The word hath a drawing power in it saith the Church Cant. 1.3 Draw mee and I will run after thee The Church confesseth that shee cannot come to Christ except shee be drawne now the word of God hath such a drawing power in it though corruption be strong and the Outward man heavy yet it will lead a man on in the right way that he should walke 4. Fourthly it is a word of conviction it is powerfull to overthrow all the gainsayings of man it hath a soveraigne supreame Authority in it to beare downe all carnall reasonings when the Lord is pleased to accompanie it 2. Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warefare are not carnall feeble and weake but mighty thorough God to the pulling downe of strong holds There is a mighty operation in the truth hence saith the Apostle 2. Cor. 13.8 We cannot doe anie thing against the truth but for the truth So that truth is powerfull and though corruption be strong the world inticing and the Divell ensnaring yet if the Lord be pleased to set the truth home upon the soule either to informe it or to quicken it or to draw it on in Heaven waies or to convince it all these avocations and pull backs shall not hinder it thus we see the truth wil work Quest Secondly How doth a carnall man hinder the powerfull working of this word that is may not prevaile with his soule the word would have the Soule but the Soule will have its sinnes And its opposition against the truth doth appeare in these foure particulars Answ 1. First a carnall heart is marvellous unwilling and altogether indisposed to listen to the Truth of God so as to be instructed therein and examine himselfe thereby it is tendious to flesh and blood to waite upon the truth it is not willing to know its duty to know what the word saith in such and such cases least it should pull some of his sweete morsells from betwixt his teeth cut off his right hand pull out his right eye some bosome sinnes that are as neere and deare unto him as either of them therefore he is willing to be a stranger to the Truth of God and though Manna from Heaven lyeth at his doore yet he will not step out to gather it in men naturally stop their eares agaainst the truth Esay 30.10 They say to the Seers see not and to the Prophets prophesie not right things speake to us smooth things prophesie deceits Get thee out of the way turne aside out of the path cause the holy one of Israel to cease from before us So Job 21.14 They say also unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes They desire nothing more then to be exempt from all subjection unto God that in Acts. 28.27 is likewise here considerable For the heart of this people is waxed fat and their cares are dull of hearing and with their eyes have they winked least they should see with their eyes and heare with their cares and understand with their hearts and should returne that I might heale them Winked with their eyes that is they made as though they saw not that which they did see against their wills carnall men are loath to know the truth if they doe search for it it is onely as a Coward doth for his Enemy with a hope not to finde him yea with a feare lest he should find him So a naturall man is fearefull to search and loath to find the truth but if the truth doe glanse in and conscience begin to recoile then he seekes out for some merry company that may help him to smother these motions of the Spirit as Saul sent for David to play before him when the evill Spirit came upon him We use to draw a Curtaine before the Sun when it shineth too bright in our eyes so saith every carnall heart when the word shineth in his soule Oh draw a Curtaine before it let me heare no more of this least it drive me out of wits I would have Christ but I would have the world also if God would but allow me such a finne meaning his bosome corrruption I would willingly come up unto him in every thing else that he should require at my hands thus conscience puts them to doe somthing and the word hath some slightly worke upon them like the seede that fell in the stonie ground but yet they will not part with their Dalilah Corruptions but when it toucheth the covetous mans gaine the voluptuous mans pleasure then they crie out draw a Curtaine before it Secondly A carnall heart is alwayes ready to raise an evill report of the blessed truth of God that so it may appear deformed to the eyes of them that begin to expresse some desire after it they deal with it as the spies did with the Land of Canaan Num. 13.32 So they brought up an evill
only upon this viz. That as he bringeth forth fruite so it is fruite in due season So the Point hence considerable is this Doct. viz. It is the duty of a godly man not onely to performe those duties discharge those services that God requireth of him but to doe them in the fittest season Or take it thus in breife The duties of Saints ought to be seasonable The point may seeme strange to some it is little knowne and lesse practised amongst most I shall therefore 1. Prove the point 2. Shew the grounds and reasons of it 3. Apply it First for the proofe of it the Lord commands it Numb 9.2 3. The Children of Israell shall celebrate the Passover at the time appointed thereunto In the foureteenth day of this mounth at Even ye shall keepe it in his due season according to all the Ordinances of it and according to all the Cerimonies of it shall ye keepe it That is in all points as the Lord hath instituted it if they did not observe the right time and season the Lord would not accept it And as the Lord commandeth it So Exod. 12.1 Levit. 23.5 28.16 Deut. 16.2 so he practiseth it Psal 145.15 The eyes of all waite upon thee and thou givest their meat in due season And the Prophet Esay sheweth that for this end the Lord sent him to his people Israell Esay 50.4 The Lord God hath given mee the tongue of the Learned that I should know how to minister a word in due season to him that is weary And Christ sheweth in the parable of the Vineyard Mat. 21.41 That God will let out his Vineyard to such husbandmen as will deliver him the fruites in their seasons And he shall be Steward of Gods Houshold who will give unto his fellow-servants their meate in season Luke 12.42 And it is said Ecclesiast 10.16 17. Woe to thee O Land when thy King is a Child that is without wisedome and councell and thy Princes eate in the morning that is out of season more for just then for necessity But blessed art thou O Land when thy King is the Sonne of Nobles that is noble for vertue and wisedome and thy Princes cate in due time for strength and not for drunkennesse And Prov. 15.23 How good is a word in due season for there is a season for words as well as for actions and everie good thing is proper onely in its place and a thing in it selfe prayse worthy loseth its commendation unlesse it be set in its proper seate So we see that the point is plaine that the Saints of God ought to observe the fittest seasons and opportunities for their performance of duties and that is a thing both commanded and commended Quest But now the Question will be How shall a man be able to discerne the due season for his services the sit time for those duties that are to be discharged by him Ans First in the generall when all circumstances and occasions doe concurre for a duty that is the season and the time for that duty As for instance the day time is a season for a man to walke in there is time enough for it in the night but that is not a season and when the winde and tide serveth then the Sea-fairing man is to lance forth or else though he may have time enough afterwards yet he may waite long enough for a season So when the Gospell is cleerely preached and the deep mysteries thereof discovered and the hazard that such men run as neglect these opportunities fully layd open then it is a fit season for a man to bethink him selfe of repenting and returning For in hell a man shall have time enough to repent but there he shall want a season an opportunity therefore a Christian should be wise to observe his season and when occasions opportunities and abilities Sure to take that time for the performance of his duties 1. In particular 1. We must be sure to let each time have his allowance that concernes that day and that time saith Christ Mat. 6.34 Take no thought for to morrow for sufficient to the day is the evill thereof Every day bringeth evill enough with it there are sinnes failings and imperfections enough this day therefore no neede to take care for a second or third day it is seasonable therefore to set our thoughts upon our present condition for as sufficient to the day is the evill thereof so sufficient to the day are the duties thereof that dayly taske that God hath set us may be sufficient to take up our whole thoughts we are every day to beg our dayly bread to sue out the pardon of our sinnes to make our peace with God we know not whether we shall live till the morrow therefore we ought dayly to discharge those dutyes that are suited to the present day Secondly that time is most seasonable for the discharge of our duties when we finde our bodies and Spirits best disposed for such services we should strike while the iron is hot fashion the vessell while the clay is soft so we should set upon dutyes when we are in full strength and activity of spirit It is not seasonable for a man to goe to pray when almost asleepe or when in bed but when his spirit is awake active and stirring For a man to put off his repentance and making his peace with God till he is old and weake both in body and spirit and then thinke of serving of the Lord when he can serve the devill no longer this is not seasonable what man would accept of such service This is just as if a young man that is in his prime strength should say here is such a burden that I must carry upon paine of death before I dye I will let it alone untill I am old and weake and then I will carry it Doth not this man lose his season As Water-men take the advantage of the tide so should we learn to take the advantage of our natures The Holy Ghost giveth this charge Honour the Lord with the first fruits of thine increase Pro. 9.10 and to such he annexeth this promise So shall thy barnes be filled with plenty And in the old Law the Lord required the first that opened the wombe that also is here considerable Malac. 1.13.14 The Priests and the people were weary of serving the Lord and regarded not what sacrifices they offered up unto him therefore saith the Lord Cursed be the deceiver that hath in his flock a male that is ability to serve the Lord according to his word and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing that is serveth the Lord according to his covetous minde Thirdly that our duties may be seasonable we should so discharge them that one may be helpfull and not hindering unto others and we should learne so to forecast the businesses of our outward calling that we might lose no opportunities for our soules advantage Further we must so discharge our