greatest danger is from the Sin that does most easily beset us 't is called by the Holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sin that hangs faltest about us Some by this understand Original Sin the depravation and Corruption of Nature some understand the carnal and ensnaring Fear of Man The Apostle arms the Hebrw Saints against this and would have them couragious and if called to it resist even to blood slriving against sin But by the Sin that does most easily beset us we may understand any sin that does so Yet when we take notice of the Master-sin which is most apt to prevail we should by all means trace it to its Original and take notice of the corrupt Fountain from which this strong and filthy Stream proceeds 3. Here is the way how to be secured from Danger by laying aside every weight and especially the greatest and the heaviest Clogg of all the Sin that does most easily beset us Cast away every transgression so iniquity shall not be your ruine but especially that which naturally you love best and more than all because this this is most of all pernicious and destructive Doct. The Doctrine which I raise from the words is this Though all sin is to be cast away the Master-sin especially is to be abandoned In the handling of this Doctrine I shall 1. Prove that all Sin is to be cast away 2. I shall shew you how the Master sin may be known 3. Produce the Reasons why this in a special manis to be forsaken And then in the last place make Application In the first place I am to prove that every sin should be cast away and the Argument to convince you of this is in the Verse where my Text lies Every Sin is a weight and a most unreasonable thing it is that Men should be fond of that which is burthensome and grievous The weightiness of Sin I shall demonstrate in these particulars 1. Sin is a weight to a softned and sensible soul though a stupid Transgressor feels Sin no more than a stone does a Mountain that lies upon it yet when once the Heart of Stone is turned into a Heart of Flesh Sin presently becomes very burthensome He that has a new Heart and a new Spirit given him will have new and other apprehensions of Sin he will look upon Sin with sorrow and himself with self-abhorrency Ezek. 36. 26 31. A new Heart will I give you a new Spirit will I put within you Then shall ye remember your evil wayes and your doings that have not been good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations David could not make light of sin when once convinced of its evil by the Spirit he grieves because he had offended God he fears his wrath that he had deserved and earnestly implores compassion and favour His Sin lay very hard upon him Psal 38. 4 6. Mine iniquities are gone over my head as an heavy burthen they are too heavy for me I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long 2. Sin is a weight unto the damned in Hell that 't is so I know but how weighty I cannot express no mind on Earth is able to conceive Sin is the weight which has sunk all the Souls that are there into that place of Wo and because sin will ly upon them for ever they shall never be able to rise up under it In Hell there is a full a general an everlasting Conviction that sin is heavy If we could discourse with the rich Man who as the Gospel tells us is in Hell and ask him whether his Gluttony Pride contempt of God hatred of Holiness are light or weighty Oh! what would that Tongue that cryed out for a drop of Water answer to such a question Surely none in Hell can make light of sin which brought them thither 3. Sin is a weight which burthens the whole Creation Hard-hearted Man groans not under it when the whole Creation besides does The Creatures were made subject to vanity not willingly but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope Rom. 8. 20. and v. 22. We know that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in pain together even until now And all these travelling pains they are the effects of Sin. Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes uses several very significant expressions Vanity of Vanities all is vaniny and all things are full of labour Man cannot utter it And again there are many things that increase vanity When Sin entred into the World it made a sad alteration in it well may the Creatures groan under it and though their pains are terrible pains of travel yet because such pains they are hopeful and will issae in a restauration which will certainly be for God has said it He has told us thus much that the Creature shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious liberty of the Children of God Rom. 8. 21. But the manner of this Restauration he has not told us Gods silence should repress inqutsitive Curiosity 4. Sin was found a Weight by Jesus the Mediator He undertook and 't was well for us he did to bear this Burthen and no Shoulders but his could have born it but when he bore it how did he groan under it This put him into an Agony this made him Sweat and Sweat drops of Blood. This made him cry out my Soul is excceeding sorrowful even unto Death And My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Oh! blessed Saviour what extorted such cryes as these from Thee Oh! Sinner It was thy Sin and the Sins of all others whom I save that lay so hard upon Me Isa 53. 6. All we like Sheep sayes the Prophet have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid upon him the Iniquity of us all if the Man Christ Jesus had not been the Eternal Son of God he could never have born such an heavy Load as all the Sins of his whole Church laid upon him at once all together 5. God himself complains of Sin as a weighty thing which He is very weary of Isa 43. 24. Thou hast made me to serve with thy Sins and hast wearied me with thine Iniquities And Amos 2. 13. Behold I am pressed under you as a Cart is pressed that is full of Sheaves Sin is a Burthen to the Almighty tho he be so rich and abundant in Forbearance and Long-suffering Nay Sin will make Duties to be a Burthen to Him Isa 1. 13 14. Bring no more vain Oblations your Sabbaths and calling of Assemblies I cannot away with it is Iniquity even the Solemn Meeting Your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth they are a Trouble to me I am weary to bear them And 't is observable when the Lord comes to a Resolution to punish Sinners because of their Transgressions He speaks as One about to ease himself of a Load
Sin will make you to shine less in your lives 't wil fully your Conversations and hinder you from adorning the Gospel Oh keep unspotted and walk exactly as in the day that you may be blameless and harmless the Children ó God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation and that you may shine as Lights in the World Phil. 2. 15. 5. This Sin may cause you to set in a Cloud It may fill you with doubts when you are dying and that will be very dreadful You may be terribly frighted with the fears of Hell when you are just at Heavens gate Be therefore upright keep your selves from the iniquity that does most easily beset you that you may be more useful in your lives have the stronger and more lively hope in Death and that your End when it comes may be more perfect Peace VSE III. Of Direction How the Sin which does most easily beset you may be laid aside 1. Pray for a clean Heart Psal 51. 10. David having been overcome by a strong Corruption and done a Deed that was very foul cryes for a purer Heart a more right and constant Spirit he knew that to purge the Fountain was the way to have the streams clean Go unto God for a new Heart which he has promised and will give to all who prize and desire such an Heart Strike at the root of in the Heart then the branches and tâ—â—â— top branch the Master-sin will wither 2. Seriously lay to Heart how much he Sin that naturally is most beloved does deserve your hatred Hated Sin is so weak that it can ruine none 't is the love of Sin that gives it power and as it were puts a Sword into its hand slay you 3. Resist the very first stirrings of this Sin in you I believe if David assoon as ever he beheld from his Palace the beauteous Bathsheba had presently turn'd away his eyes and had fallen upon his knees and gone to Prayer he had overcome the Temptation Sin is more weak at the beginning Our Lords Counsel is Watch and Pray that ye enter not into temptation Mat. 26. 41. 4. If you would abandon the masteâ—-Masteâ—-sin Pray much for the contrary Grace Is Pride thy Master-sin Pray much for Humility Is Passâ—â—n thy Master-sin Pray much for Pâ—tience and for the Meekness and Gentleness of Christ Is Love to the World thy Master-sin Pray that thou may'st rise with Christ and love and mind a better World better Honours better Pleasures a more lasting Wealth than this World can yield 5. Let the Word of God which does â—â—rbid and threaten this Master-sin be carefully hid in your Heart This Word may be in thy Mouth thou mayest talk of it it may be in thy Mind thou may'st have a national Knowledge of it Nay â—t may go further and be in thy Conscience and be thought of in the very act of Sin. But if it will be in thy Heart if thy Will and Affections are taken with it then it will be an effectual Preservative against Iniquity Psal 119. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my Heart that I might not sin against thee 6. Improve the Death of our Lord Jesus Bring the Sin which does so easily beset you to the Cross of Christ No Sin truly dyis but upon Christs Cross Gal 5. 24. They that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts these are never Mortified but by being Crucified How can the old Adam dye but upon the Cross of the second Adam Rom. 6. 6. Knowing this that our old man is Crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin 7. Call in the Spirits aid He can make the Word sharp as a two-edged Sword to pierce the Heart and to slay the strongest Sin there He glorifies Christ and can draw you to him and enable you by Faith to derive Grace from him sufficâ—ent to help you against the most powerful Corruptions He can kill the Sin that is hardest to be slain he can mortifie all the deeâ—s of he body Rom. 8. 13. the strongest members on the Earth Col 3. 5. and he can seal you unto the day of Redemption FINIS
A WARNING GIVEN TO Secure Sinners TO Prepare for Judgment TO Flee from Wrath to Come AND Turn from All Sin BUT Especially the Sin which does most easily beset them By NATHANAEL VINCENT M. A. Minister of the Gospel Ezek. 33. 7. O Son of Man I have set thee a Watchman unto the house of Israel therefore thou shalt hear the Word at my Mouth and warn them from Me. LICENSED March 17th 1688. LONDON Printed by J. Astwood for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheap-side near Mercers-Chappel 1688. THE Epistle to the READER Reader WHen I Preached these following Sermons I had not the least thought of Publishing them They were taken from my Mouth by a dexterous and nimble hand that wrote almost every Word I utter'd I was very much sollicited to Print them and the Notes being written out fair and brought to me I have look'd them over and now they are presented to thee with a sincere Design that they may be beneficial to thee and not without Hope they will be so The Subjects here handled are awakening and in this secure Age what need is there of startling Sermons At this day in England there is work enough for many a Boanerges for ten thousand Sons of Thunder The guilt and defilement of Sin proves it to be Mans greatest Enemy but because it stupifies and hardens those that have been guilty of it it is likely the more effectually to destroy them for the Disease not being felt the Remedy is neglected A spiritual Lethargy is the general Distemper most continue fast asleep in Sin till Hell wakes them but then it is too late Though Christ has the Key of Hell that Saviour releases none that once are thrown into it Miserable World because it lies in Wickedness more miserable because it apprehends not how miserable its Wickedness has made it because it fears not it endeavours not to escape Eternal Misery Oh dreadful Day of God that 's coming when all Apostate Angels that are now in Chains of Darkness shall be brought forth and judged and dealt with as the Enemtes of God and Man These Principalities and Powers will be overpowr'd and utterly unable to avoid the severity of their Righteous and Almighty Judge How much evil have they done and still they are doing more of what Woe and Torment are they capable And all those of the Children of Men who have been led Captive by Satan at his Pleasure that have resolved rather to be destroyed themselves than that the works of the Devil should be destroyed in them 't is just that they should but how sad will it be for them to share in Torment with him Sin will have a very bad end all that are gone into another World are sensible of it though few in this World perceive it When the Servants of Sin have received their Wages which is Death then they will know to their sorrow what kind of Master they have served and what Pains they foolishly took for that Misery which they should have taken Pains to have prevented Reader Be wise believe and fear and take the Watchman's Warning The Sword in the Hand of the living Eternal God will give a dreadful and a deadly Blow to fall under his Vengeance will be fearful and thy Blood lying upon thy own Head it will lye very heavy and upon this will follow everlasting heavines and anguish Oh fear the Wrath to come before 't is come and fly from Sin nnd come to God by Jesus Christ a Saviour both from Sin and Wrath and a Saviour to the uttermost Better Counsel than this cannot be taken by thy self or given by any to thee N. V. ROM XIV 10. latter part We shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ I Have been lately Discoursing concerning Conversion The Digression I make this day is subservient to my great Design which is the Conversion and Salvation of this Assembly It infinitely concerns you all to turn to God for quickly you will have a Summons to come unto his Bar and how soon that Summons may be given who can tell Those that least think on 't and least care to be provided and ready for it perhaps may have it soonest and if the Converts themselves as the Scripture tells us are scarcely saved Oh where shall the Unconverted and the Sinner appear I wish that I may Preach and you may Hear as those who do really believe we shall all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ The Apostle in these words speaks enough one would think to startle the most stupid Conscience to make the most secure like Felix to tremble to awaken even those that are dead in Sins and Trespasses Let me tell you the Devils themselves are none of them Atheists and Infidels they all believe this Text and the thoughts of Judgment make them tremble therefore if any Sinner remains fearless and unsensible he does in this respect out sin the very Apostate Angels There are three things observable in the Words 1. Here is a Judgment Seat the most glorious that ever was the last that ever will be from this Tribunal there can be no Appeal unto any other the Sentence whether of Absolution or Condemnation that will here be pass't will never be revers'd but stand firm unto Eternity 2. You are told who is to be the Judge he is the Lord Jesus Christ We read of a twofold Appearing of Christ his first and his second Appearing He came at first in the form of a Servant he was to be made Sin and he was made Sin and a Curse for us He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and if he had given other and less than himself it would not have satisfied The Churches Sins could be done away by no lower a Priest than Christ the greatest and highest of all and the Priest was sain himself to be and that a most voluntary Sacrifice He appear'd at first to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself but when he comes the second time to Judge the World he will appear after another kind of manner From the beginning of the World there hath not been such a sight as there will be at the end of it The Lord Jesus will come with a Power which none can withstand with great Glory which will fill the Saints with Joy for they shall appear in glory with him but will be exceedingly amazing and confounding to all those who were the Enemies of his Kingdom 3. Here are the Persons that are to stand before this Judge if you ask Who are they I Answer by another Question Who or where are the Persons that shall be exempted All from the beginning of the World to the end of it All from the first Man that was made unto the last of his Posterity that shall be born must stand before Christ the Lord that from his Mouth they may receive their final and eternal Doom There is
a great difference between standing before the Judgment Seat and standing in Judgment the former implies being made to appear at the Tribunal the latter implies being Acquitted there The Psalmist tells us That the ungodly shall not stand in the Judgment nor Sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous Psal 1. 5. yet all of these shall be forced to appear at the Bar of God there they shall stand trembling expecting the terrible Sentence of Condemnation And Oh what a hideous Out-cry will the whole multitude of Wicked and Reprobate Ones make when without hope of Mercy they are adjudged to endless Misery Doct. The Doctrine I raise from the Words is this All shall be Judged by Christ at the great Day As certainly as you are all here so certainly at that day you shall appear at his Judgment Seat. Death is not more certain nay 't is not so certain as Judgment The Apostle tells us that all shall not Dye for some shall be Changed but even these that are changed though they scape the Grave they shall stand at the Tribunal and give account of themselves unto God. This Doctrine concerning Judgment was Preached early in the World we find 't was Published before the Flood of Noah as you may see Jude v. 14 15. where you have the summe of a Sermon but a very terrible one Preached by Enoch the seventh from Adam Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all the hard speeches which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him Under the Mosaical Dispensation the Children of Israel heard the same Doctrine That great Prince and Preacher Solomon thus concludes his Book of Ecclesiastes having displayed the Creatures Vanity having taught Man his Interest and Duty To fear God and to keep his commandments he closes with these words Chap. 12. ult God will bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil And how plainly does the Apostle Paul speak to the same purpose 2 Cor. 5. 10 11. For we must all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade Men. In the handling of this Doctrine this is the Method I shall observe First I shall Discourse concerning Him that is to be the Judge Secondly I shall speak concerning the Persons that are to be judged Thirdly Concerning the things that shall be brought into Judgment Fourthly I shall demonstrate the Certainty of this Judgmont And then in the last Place make Application In the first Place I am to Discourse concerning the Judge and the Text plainly tells us that the Judge is Christ The Father I grant is said to judge 1 Pet. 1. 17. If ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojourning here in fear Yet it is said in another place The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son Joh. 5. 22. How shall these Scriptures be reconciled The reconciliation is easie thus the Father judges because the Authority of Judging belongs to him because he does Consent unto the Sons Judgment and has ordained him to Judge the World in Righteousness the truth is the Father Judges all but 't is mediately by Jesus Christ And yet in another sense the Father judges not because Christ the Son the second Person in the Godhead alone was incarnate and manifested in the Flesh and He alone will visibly Judge the World at the great approaching Day These four things may be observed concerning Christ the Judge He is a Saviour to the uttermost He is the Only Saviour He is Lord of all And as such a Lord he will come with a most glorious Attendance 1. Christ the Judge is a Saviour to the uttermost and really at the Judgment-day he will compleat the Churches Salvation he began it here in this World and still is carrying it on but the last day will be the day in which he will put his last Hand to this Work and make it perfect Heb. 9. 28. Christ was once offered up to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin to Salvation then Salvation shall be consummate the whole of it shall be wrought nothing of Sin or the sad effects of it shall remain nothing that shall cause the least frown in the Face of God to eternity Death will be swallowed up in Victory the whole Man will be glorious and immortal Christ will then have compleated his whole Design upon all his Saints and Members he will have made them as holy and happy as he did intend to make them he will indeed present his Church a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but it shall be all holy and its Beauty without the least blemish Eph. 5. 27. 2. Christ the Judge is the Only Saviour therefore those that are Condemn'd by Him 't is in vain for them to expect Salvation from any other Christ is the only Foundation-stone on which all that build shall stand other Builders are foolish and build upon the sand and what they build will fall and great will be the fall of it They that are not intersted in the Lord Jesus by Faith that are not Justified by his Blood who besides can save them from Wrath those whose Iniquities are not done away by his offering up of himself without spot to God there can be found no other Sacrifice for their sins but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignation that shall devour the Adversaries And how dreadful will it be to be Sentenced to Death and Damnation by the only Author of Salvation and Life they that by his Mouth shall be doom'd to eternal Destruction that Destruction will be made ten thousand times the sorer by eternal Desperation Alas what Hope can be left when the Lamb of God who alone can take away Sin shall be so full of Wrath as for ever reject and cast away the Sinner 3. Christ the Judge is Lord of all this is a truth that the Tongue of an Angel did Proclaim Luk. 2. 11. a truth that every Tongue should confess Phil. 2. 11. that every Heart ought to believe and which the most unbelieving and obstinate at last shall be made to know Christ hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh this Name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 16. He has all Power in his hand things in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth are subject to him Those that are wise do willingly how before him and they who will not bow he can easily break and dash them to
will judge and punish the wickedness of which Man takes no notice This Doctrine of a Judgment to come of future Rewards and punishments is written in the heart of Man by Nature and he is fain to offer great violence to his own Soul before he can wear off what is written there and tho a Sinner become ordinarily very Stupid and Atheistical yet the thoughts and fears of Judgment will sometimes in spight of him return upon him The Apostle speaks of Conscience bearing witness and Thoughts accusing and excusing and then presently speaks of the Day when God shall judge the Secrets of Men by Jesus Christ Rom. 2. 15 16. Conscience judges at present and hints a future judgment 2. There is not such a Discrimination made in this World between the Righteous and the Wicked as is suitable to the difference that Grace has made between them Therefore there is a Day coming when there will be such a Discrimination Solomon tells us that in the course of Divine Providence at present no Man can know either Love or Hatred by all that is before him All things fall alike to all there is one Event to the Righteous and 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 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 inferr 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 inferr the truth of the Doctrine of the Resurrection The whole Man has sum'd the whole Man shall be judg'd and punished for sin Believers
Confusion that a Redeemer does pronounce it 4. After the Judge has pass'd the Sentence Conscience will pronounce it over again and will be a Judge to the Wicked always condemning them Conscience will be filled with unspeakable remorse it will continually be upbraiding them with their madness and folly in keeping their Sins and losing their Souls and will ever be telling them that the Lords ways towards them are equal but their own ways according to which they are Judged have been unequal and full of Iniquity Ezek. 18. 29 30. The Conscience of Sinners will side with their Judge against them It will tell the most wretched among the Damned that they cannot complain of God or of the least injury he has done them all that they suffer they suffer justly and what they suffer they have brought upon themselves The horrible and perpetual remorse of Conscience will prove that the Worm never dies that does torment them 5. When Sinners come to be condemn'd at the last day how many things will rise up in judgment against them pray mind this and minding tremble and trembling turn to God this very instant Thousands of Mercies will come and as it were plead thus Lord we have been all abused we never met with any thing but abuses and never could lead these men to Repentance The Rods of Affliction will have a Voice against them too Lord we have stricken Sinners often we have made them Bleed and Groan and smart exceedingly for their Iniquities but could never make them leave off Sinning against Thee and against their own Souls How many Sermons will rise up in judgment against them because they either slept them away or if they were awake they suffer'd them to slip out of their Memories and never applyed them to their Hearts And as for us the Ministers of the Gospel our Testimony against them will be true and terrible Lord we lifted up our Voices like Trumpets we gave them the Watchmans Warning we told them of the Sword that was coming and that if they turned not from Sin it would surely slay them we wooed them to come to Jesus that under his Wing they might be secure but nothing would prevail their Ears were deaf their Hearts they hardened they would not be converted and made clean they would rush on in Sin still they would needs Dye and there was no helping it The Condemnation must needs be dreadful when so many things rise up against them that are condemned VSE IV. Of Consolation to the Saints I must speak to them in another strain Lift up your Heads and let your Hearts be filled with Joy all ye believing repenting humble holy heavenly-minded Ones for the Day of your Redemption draws nigh with an earnest expectation wait for it and Triumph at the Thoughts of your great and everlasting Jubilee You will indeed behold the greatest part of mankind turned into Hell but what Joy will it be to find your selves for ever safe and fully blessed A dark Shadow sets off a beautiful Picture The sight of the Rich man in Hell Flames must needs make Lazarus to find a greater sweetness in Abrahams Bosome Two Grounds of Consolation I shall propound to you and so conclude 1. He is to be your Judge that is your Husband and your Head. The very same whom you now find interceding for you in Prayer whom you see walking in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks and blessing his Ordinances to you The very same whom you have found pitying and healing your Wounds with his own Blood succouring you in your Temptations and telling you that you are the Beloved of his Soul And since he is to Judge you be comforted He will behold you with an aspect that is highly favourable His own Spouse whom he has ransomed with his own Life Christ will not turn into devouring Fire He will not take the Members of his own Body and throw them into everlasting Burnings Having Redeemed them by his Blood having renewed and Sanctified them by his Spirit having raised them up at the great day certainly he will receive them to himself and they shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 17 18. wherefore be comforted with these words 2. You that are true Believers whose Faith purifies your Hearts and works by Love know that there is a Crown designed for you The Diadems that Monarchs have upon their Heads the Triple Crown of Him at Rome is but a Trifle to the Crown of life This Crown is purchased 't is promised 't is prepared and shortly you shall put it on and never put it off more How Splendid how Bright how Sparkling will that Crown be 'T is called a Crown of Life for Death shall be no more A Crown of Glory for the Saints shall be more than Conquerours and Triumphant over all Enemies and be advanced to the highest Honour and State whereof they are capable Finally 't is called a Crown of Righteousness 't is a Righteous thing with God to bestow it through Christ Jesus and perfect Righteousness and Purity will be a great part of the happiness of Saints in Glory This Crown the Apostle saw to his great encouragement and he would have all other Believers comforted with the same sight 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. I have fought a good Fight I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that Day and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing MAT. 11. 23. Form. Part. And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto Heaven shalt be brought down to Hell Our Lord Jesus is called the Lamb of God who takes away the Sins of the World But in this Lamb there is Wrath and that Wrath is very terrible Oh the weight of the Mediatours Vengeance This Wrath is threatned against the impenitent and unbelievers who refuse to be Saved from their Sins resolving to live tho they Dye in them The Light of the Gospel being neglected highly aggravates the Works of Darkness makes them more inexcusable and a greater provocation None shall fare worse at the Day of Judgment than those that have had the longest and the clearest day of Grace but would not know in that their day the things which belonged to their Peace Thou Capernaum which are exalted unto Heaven shalt be brought down to Hell. These words which I have read do speak Christ's sorrow and his displeasure wherein you may take notice 1. Of the Persons with whom he is displeased Thou Capernaum the City is put for the Inhabitants of it 2. Here is the Reason of Christs displeasure they did not understand the great priviledge of being Exalted unto Heaven they did not improve the advantage they had of getting thither 3. Here is a Punishment threatned a sore evil and that is no less than Hell it self 4. Here is the manner specified of their going to Hell thou
pieces A mighty Lord Christ is at whose Command Death shall deliver again all that for so many years he had imprisoned in the Grave he has indeed the Key of Death and Hell too Rev. 1. 18. both are under his Power at his Command also the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the works therein shall be burnt up There is no dealing with this Judge by way of resistance it concerns us all to be diligent that we may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless 2 Pet. 3. 10 14. 4. Christ the Judge will come with a most glorious Attendance How awakening to the World will the Voice of the Arch-Angel and the Trump of God be Christ will appear with a light far above the brightness of the Sun not a Member of his but shall shine like that glorious Luminary Mat. 13. 43. Then shall the righteous shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father And what a spectacle will all the Saints together be as so many millions of Suns shining at Once 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 Man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out 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 innumerable Company of Angels for all in Heaven will be with Christ at Judgment to do him honour who is indeed 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 Christs bar 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 to Judgment though there is never so vast a multitude God takes notice of them all now and none of them must think to ofcape in a crowd then The Apostle speaks plainly of Individuals Rom. 14. 12. So then every one of us shall give account 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 Sun 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 low as well as the high and there is not any one of them all but shall be made to render an account of 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 a different manner from others Grace and Love makes a difference now but how highly magnified will the Grace of Christ be in the difference it makes at that Day to find Mercy of the Lord in that day which the Apostle Prays Onesiphorus might find 2 Tim. 1. 18. when the greatest part of the World shall with a strong hand the Ear being deaf to all their cryes be turned into everlasting fire this is great Mercy indeed great as the Heaven is high above the Earth The Righteous shall appear but they shall be set at their Lords right hand to shew his peculiar Favour to them and they shall joyfully own what that Hand has done for them Christs Appearing will be glorious and so will be the appearing of his Saints then 't will be understood what 't is to be a Saint Col. 3. 4. When Christ who is our life shall appear than shall ye also appear with him in 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 thither but there is an irresistible Power to force them The Malefactor who is Condemned for Murther Rape or Treason would fain decline the Judges View he is Self-condemn'd and therefore fears the Judges Sentence but the Gaoler the
are and you should be stirr'd up to abound in them but other works are not excluded for afterwards our Lord does only mention the mercilesness and uncharitable Omissions of the wicked and yet 't is plain from other Scriptures that their other Sins will be punished their not knowing God their disobedience to the Gospel of Christ 2 Thess 1. 8. 3. The Sentence which will be past upon them will be a Sentence of Absolution they shall be absolved and acquitted openly before Men and Angels All their Sins will be forgotten and buried there will be an eternal deliverance from the Curse With what Admiration Joy and Triumph will they hear Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World Mat. 25. 34. What a Kingdom is that that never shall be moved What a Crown is that that is incorruptible What gladness will fill their Hearts when the Crown of Life is put upon their Heads The Sentence being pronounced presently 't will be done according to this Sentence possession will be taken of the glorious Inheritance they shall enter into life Eternal Mat. 25. 46. Thus of the Righteous I am to speak also concerning the Wicked and as to these you must understand 1. All the works of wicked men will be brought into Judgment All their sinful Deeds will follow them to the Bar of God! they will rise with them and against them at that Day when a Sinner shall appear and all his Drunkenness his Whoredoms his unjust and cheating Actions all his evil Deeds of every fort shall surround and appear with him before the Holy and Righteous Judge How will he be amazed at the sight of all his Transgressions How will he tremble to hear how loud they cry for Vengeance upon him Not a deed of Darkness but then will be brought to light to his greater confusion 2. Not only the Works of the Wicked but their very Words shall all be accounted for The Judge himself speaks this very plainly Mat. 12. 36. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of Judgment By idle words may be meant words useless and unprofitable to the Speakers and to the Hearers or idle and vain according to the Hebrew use may signifie false deceitful lying God does hear all words at present Psal 139. 4. There is not a word in my Tongue but lo O Lord thou knowest it altogether And words which very much declare what most abounds in the Heart must be answeerd for at last And if unprofitable talk will then be condemned how sad will be the Case of all obscene and filthy Speakers of all egregious Lyars of all injurious Slanderers and Back-biters of all Blasphemers cursing cursed Swearers of all whose impious Tongues have made bold with the Blood and Wounds of God their Judge and instead of serious praying have most presumptuously called upon and dared God to Damn them 3. As the works and words so the Thoughts of wicked men shall be brought into Judgment Thoughts are Sins and need forgiveness and ought to be repented of Memorable is that which Simon Peter says to Simon Magus Act. 8. 22. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thy Heart may be forgiven thee If these are not repented of and pardon'd alas these also must be charged upon Sinners vastly to the increasing of their punishment How innumerable are the Thousands of thousands the Millions of Millions of vain and wicked thoughts desires and lustings that have lodged in the Hearts of the ungodly The heart searcher sees every one of them and will make them know at the last day that he remembers all Proud and Self-conceited Thoughts and touring imaginations impure and lascivious Thoughts and inward boyling of Concupiscence insatiable Covetousness and eager projects for filthy gain the stirrings of Envy Malice Anger and Revenge the Judge will take notice of all for he knows what is in Man Joh. 2. 25. It will be a large Bill of Inditement where Deeds Words and Thoughts are all written down from first to last and not so much as one forgotten The opening of the Book of Gods remembrance where all are recorded will be very amazing 4. The Sentence that will be past upon the wicked will be unconceivably full of horrour Mat. 25. 41. Then shall he say to them on the Left-hand Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels For Him who is the way to come to God to say Depart to God to say Depart to depart from Christ the Sinners only Hope and Saviour to depart with a Curse to depart into Fire the Extremity of Torment to depart into everlasting Fire to be tormented without any intermission or end to be for ever in such evil and hateful Company as Devils and damned Angels this is woful beyond all utterance And this Sentence as soon as pass'd will be put in Execution Now indeed such is the patience of God Sentence against an evil work is not speedily Executed and therefore such is their Malignity and Ingratitude the Heart of the Sons of men is fully set in them to do Evil Eccles 8. 11. But at the great day as soon as the wicked are Sentenced they will be sent and forced to go away into everlasting Punishment Mat. 25. ult the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 everlasting Punishment or Torment are remarkable for here it is necessarily imply'd that the wicked shall certainly be to Eternity that they may be Punished and Tormented to Eternity and they shall be sensible else it would not be Torment of the Punishment they undergo By eternal Destruction you are not to understand eternal Annihilation or being turned for ever into Nothing for if a wicked Man should altogether cease to be he must needs also cease to be punished For 't is no more a Punishment to be nothing to Eternity than it can be called a Punishment to have been nothing from Eternity Wicked men must be for ever and alas they must bear for ever the Lord's Vengeance and Indignation I speak thus terribly not without bowels of Compassion towards you I would fain fright you by telling you of Wrath and the Vengeance of eternal Fire that you may never never feel it In the Fourth place I am to demonstrate the certainty of this Judgment If Faith concerning it were but more strong what an Influence would it have upon the Hearts and Lives of them that do believe it The Arguments to prove a future Judgment are these 1. Are there not fears of this Judgment impress't even upon natural Conscience What 's the reason that when Men commit the most secret wickedness that is very unlikely to be known there is notwithstanding a dread upon their Spirits The true reason is Conscience tells them there is a God that sees what Man does not see and that he
time You are only Stewards intrusted with that which is Gods and not yours and are accountable at the last day for all you have received What sad accounts will most give up of their Stewardship when they must be no longer Stewards Imprimis So much daily for Eating and Drinking to Self and not to the Glory of God. Item So much for brave Apparel that Pride might be maintained and gratified Item So much for making provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Item So much for costly and vast Past-times a great deal of Wealth and much more precious Time being wasted together But unto good uses to maintain a Godly and laborious Ministry of the Gospel to the poor and needy given very little or nothing With what an Eye do you think that the Judge will look upon such accounts as these Think of Judgment that you may holily improve the unrighteous Mammon and Christ may say you have been Faithful Stewards even of worldly things 3. The Belief and Meditation of Judgment will make you exceeding diligent that you may be found of your Judge in peace without spot and blameless With what Seriousness and Fervency will he come to the Throne of Grace that has the Judgment-seat also in his Eye How will he hear and practise that remembers he must be called to an account how he has done both He will take care to be ready whensoever his Lord calls and that whensoever his Lord comes he may find him doing the Work he set him about and so doing it as He commands 2. The other word of Counsel is this Be sure in time to prepare for Eternal Judgment Do this seriously do it presently and as your main business That you may prepare indeed 1. Be Accusers and Judges of your selves take notice of your Sins with Grief with Hatred and holy Indignation accuse your selves of them before God with self-loathing and self-abhorrency Look down by Faith into the lowest hell and see the terrible but righteous Severity that is shewn there against obstinate workers of Iniquity then look up to God and judge your selves in his sight acknowledging that you have deserved one of the hottest places in that Lake of Fire Acknowledge he would be clear in the sorest judgment he should pronounce upon you and that He would be justified tho you should be damn'd eternally Psal 51. 4. This judging of your selves is the way to prevent Condemnation with the World 1 Cor. 11. 31 32. 2. If you would be prepared for Judgment believe in Jesus that you may the justified before God at present Receive Christ who is offer'd in the Gospel rely upon his Obedience and Sufferings for justification of life And being justified by Faith you shall have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. â—5 1. Being justified by his Bloud you shall be Saved from wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. What does ponere obicem put a Bar before Hell Gate and hinder us from falling into that place of Woe The Cross of Christ that 's the Bar you are to place your Confidence in Christ Crucified If justified by him now he will ratifie the justification at the last day and you shall not be condemned then Rom. 8. 33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that Condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is at the Right Hand of God and maketh Intercession for us 3. Would you be prepared for Judgment Repent and be converted let your minds be changed and turn to God with your whole Heart This is the way indeed to stand before him Acts 3. 19. Repent and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. The Apostle looks as far as the last day Blotting out of Sins is Christ's absolving and acqutting them from all Trespasses The time of refreshing is that great day of compleat and glorious Redemption when all that are Christs shall lift up their Heads with Joy Repent and be converts in Truth if you would have that a day of refreshing and not of confusion Walk after the Flesh no longer but after the Spirit then you need not be afraid of Condemnation your being guided by his Spirit will shew you are in Christ and safe in Him Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit to be carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace USE III. Of Terrour to the ungodly the Hypocrites and the Vnbelievers Christ will judge them all and they may tremble to think what kind of judgment they shall have what sharp and piercing words are those which declare before-hand what will be their Doom Mat. 23. 33. Ye Serpents ye Generation of Vipers how can ye escape the Damndtion of Hell That I may if it be possible awaken such I would lay before them these terrifying considerations 1. When they appear at Christ's Bar all their secret wickedness will be made known How many will then be found what they were not in the least suspected Thy secret wantonness and Self-pollutions thy secret injustice and desrauding thy secret abominations of all kinds will then be as visible to every Eye as if written in Capital Letters with the brightest Sun-beam And what sname and confusion will cover the wicked Mans Face they that are impudent and cannot boush now how will they be confounded then The truth is as the Prophet Daniel speaks They will rise to shame and everlasting contempt Dan. 12. 2. 2. At the day of Judgment it will be too late and in vain for the wicked to pray and cry for Mercy they will find the Lord eternally removed from the Throne of Grace and to their Terrour behold him on the Judgment Seat. If the Ungodly roar out then Lord pity Lord pardon Lord send us not away into that flaming Furnace that me see before us it will be altogether in vain but 't is not in vain to cry thus now Oh seek the Lord while he may be found and call ye upon him whilst he he is near Isa 55. 6. 3. It will add to the Terrour of the Wicked That the Sentence of Condemnation is pronounced by the Only Saviour The merciful and faithful High Priest that now is so forward to make Reconciliation for Sin that is so ready to give rest to them that labour and are heavy laden The Man Christ Jesus will have no pity at all no compassion towards the Reprobate Children of Men but deal with them as with the Apostate Angels whose Nature be never took upon him The only Peace-maker will himself be so incensed and full of Wrath as not to be intreated not to be appeased The Sentence of Eternal Death and enduring everlasting Burnings will be confounding but 't will add to the
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 wil not come to Him that they may have Life Joh. 5. 42 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 gratned 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 utter 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 had 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
you whom you shall fear fear him who after he hath killed hath power to cast into Hell yea I say unto you fear him Yes he is indeed worthy to be feared It was a saying of one Omnia supplicia graviorum suppliciorum vincuntur formiâ—ine all Punishments are overcome by the fear of greater Punishments When thou art called forth to bear Testimony to Christ and to his Truth before a sinful and an adulterous generation though thou seest Wracks and Wheels though thou seest Flames and Furnaces of scalding Lead be not affrighted at the matter the Grace and Comfort of the Spirit of Christ shall be sufficient to carry thee through these Pains and these are nothing compared with the Vengeance of eternal fire which will be inflicted upon those that draw back unto perdition VSE III. Of Direction How this whole Congregation may escape the Damnation of Hell. I hope every Eye is broad awake and should not every Ear be open and every Heart exceedingly attentive when Directions concerning this are given The Directions are these 1. If you would escape Hell think of Hell the effect of Sin so long 'till you utterly fall out with Sin the Cause Sin is the only way that leads to Hell shun that way and you are safe Depart from evil and though possibly you may become a Prey in this World ye Satan shall not make a Pery of you If Sin had never entred into the World none in the World would have been turned into Hell if neither Men nor Angels had sinn'd against God there would have been no such thing as Hell in being Oh! View the Flames that are so furious and that will last for ever and then consider Sin was that which kindled them and the demerit of Sin is so infinitely great that it hinders them from being ever quenched Does thy Pride expose thee to Damnation never be Proud more Will thy Earthly-mindedness bring thee to Hell Oh cease thy loving the World and the things that are in the World 1 Joh. 2. 15. Will any Sin that rules in thee and that thou art willingly subject to reign unto Death and ruine thee for ever Oh be unwilling that any Sin should reign any longer and if Sin be out of thy Will 't is out of the Throne Cry with David Psal 119. 133. Order my steps in thy Word and let no Iniquity have the dominion over me Weary you must be of Sins dominion as well as fear Hells Damnation You must not think to go to Heaven and carry your beloved Lusts along with you thither if you are resolved to hold fast these you and they will go to Hell together 2. If you would escape Hell take notice how the door of Hope is open to the very worst of you Those that are gone far in Hells road and are within a step of the burning Lake t is possible for them to be catched as firebrands out of the burning The door is open to day I advise you to enter presently I cannot assure you 't will stand open 'till tomorrow While it is called to day harden not your hearts Heb. 3. 8. Though you are fallen by your Iniquities yet if you will Now return to the Lord there is hope for the very worst of you past Sins shall all be buried if there be a present Conversion Redemption is plenteous and that should abundantly encourage all to Hope and Turn Psal 130. 7 8. Let I srael hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy and with him there is plenteous redemption and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities 3. If you would escape Hell you must be sure to look unto Jesus Lord Jesus Turn every Eye to thee and cause every Heart to open and receive thee Those that were stung with the fiery Serpents liv'd notwithstanding if they lookt unto the brazen Serpent Those that are in danger of Hell and have very well deserved it shall be delivered from it if by Faith they look to Christ Isa 45. 22. Look unto me and be ye saved all ye ends of the Earth Look unto him for Pardon look unto him for Converting Cleansing and Renewing Grace look unto him to be the Author of true Faith in you and having been the Author to be the Finisher of your Faith also Heb. 12. 2. Christ was for saken that you might graciously be received by the Lord He was Condemn'd to dye and suffer'd Death upon the Cross that you might be deliver'd from eternal Death and Condemnation that this was his design is plain Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should scape Hell and be brought safe to Heaven should not perish but have everlasting life HEB. 12. Part of v. 1. And the Sin that does so easily beset us IN the foregoing Chapter the Apostle discourses concerning Faith which is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen He declares at large the wonderful and glorious effects that this Faith produced in the Saints under the Old Testament By Faith these Believers denyed themselves by Faith they Conquered the whole World not fearing its siercest Persecutions despising all its Wealth all its Pleasures all its Glory and confessed they were strangers and sojourners on the Earth By Faith they saw Him that is invisible and looked for a City that that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God. Now in this Verse where my Text lies the Apostle applyes unto those believing Hebrews to whom he writes what he had spoken concerning their faithful Fore-fathers These are called a Cloud of Witnesses Witnesses they were concerning what truly concerning the Vanity of all things that are seen that are but temporal Witnesses concerning the excellency of those things that are not seen which are eternal They are styled a Cloud because of the greatness of their Number and perhaps there may be some allusion to the Cloud in the Wilderness that guided Israel into Canaan For though our Lord Jesus was typisied by that Cloud and he is the unerring Pattern and Example whom we are bound to follow yet in Scripture we are advised also to follow the foot-steps of the Flock and in this very Epistle to be followers of them who through Faith and Patience inher it the Promises The Course of a Christian in this World is compared to a Race this Race must be run that the Prize at the end of it may be obtained and that we may run it the better we are removere prohibens to remove Impediments to lay aside every Weight and the Sin that does so easily beset us In the Words I have read there are three things observable 1. Here is an Inimation of a Danger and that is from Sin Sin and Danger are inseparable how can it chuse but be prejudicial to him that 's guilty of it you may as well imagine Hell to be without Pain as Sin to be without Peril 2. The
Isa 1. 24. Therefore thus saith the Lord the Lord of Hosts the mighty one of Israel Ah! I will ease me of my Adversaries and avenge me of my Enemies If Sin be thus a Weight I advise all to be weary and beg to be eased of it He is a senseless Fool indeed who makes a Mock of Sin and still goes on to add unto his own Burthen In the second place I shall shew you how the Master Sin may be known And here I would premise these three things 1. All Sin that is allowed of may truly be said to Reign where 't is allowed A Man that wilfully continues in the Commission of any Sin is certainly the Servant of it whatever it be 'T is the Misery of the unregenerate that they have tot Dominos quot vitia so many Lusts so many Lords 2. There is in many Persons a particular Sin which does prevail more than any other In the Natural Body there are all the Humours yet One commonly is Predominant and the Denomination is from that Thus 't is in the Body of Sin tho there is a Mass of all Corruption yet there may be some special Corruption that has the greatest strength and prevalency This in Scripture is called the sweet Sin in which the greatest delight is taken compared to a sweet Morsel under the Tongue Job 20. 12 13. Tho wickedness is sweet in his Mouth tho he hide it under his Tongue tho he spare it and forsake it not yet at last it proves extremely bitter deadly as the very Gall of Asps within him 3. There are some in whom several Sins are so Predominant that 't is hard to determine which is most Master Some have so hot an Anger and so hot and furious a Lust that you cannot so easily judge which of these is hottest Nay in some Sins that seem very contrary one to another yet in several respects they will both prevail Many a Man is liberal and profuse as to his Ornaments and Cloathing he spends freely in the Sumptuous furnishing of his Table Hand and Purse are open if he be in Riotous Company Yet if you ask this Man but for a lutle to a good use Tell him that the Members of Christ are many of them very needy and that he who gives to the Poor lends unto the Lord here he is strangely Covetous and close Fisled These things premised I shall discover the Master Sin. 1. That is a Master Sin unto which the Constitution does most strongly incline They that are of a Sanguine Complexion are inclined to Lasciviousness Voluptuousness and an aiery frothiness of Spirit which a great hinderance unto serious Impressions In the Cholerick Passion and Anger are apt to prevail and to hurry them to revengeful words and Actions not considering what injury they do to others and how much more to themselves The Melancholick are prone to Envy Malice Discontent The Flegmatick unto Stupidity Carelesness and Sloth Now Satan takes notice of the Complexion sails with the Stream of it and suits his Bait to it and hereby has very great advantage Tho no sin has the Dominion in Believers for they are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. yet the Complexion Sin is apt sometimes to master even them also therefore they had need to be watchful against it and to take great care and pains to mortify it The Apostle Paul observes his own Constitution and makes conscience of keeping under his Body that his Temperament might not be his Temptation 1 Cor. 9. ult I keep under my bring it into subjection lest by any means when I have Preached unto others I my self should be a cast-away 2. That is a Master-sin unto which your Callings and Conditions make you most liable They that trade in the World how apt are they through the Corruption of their own Hearts to defraud and over-reach to get immoderate and dishonest gain hence that strict Prohibition 1 Thes 4. 6. Let no man go beyond or defraud his Brother in any matter knowing that the Lord is the Avenger of all such as we also have forewarned you and testified How apt are they to venture upon the Sin of Lying and Equivocation for advantage and they teach and command their Servants and Children to follow their pernicious Examples as if Earthly gain were so considerable that 't is no great matter how many Souls are lost for the sake of it They that are Rich in this World are prone to be high-minded and to trust in uncertain Riches 1 Tim. 6. 17. to withhold the Hire from the poor Labourers to live in wantonness and pleasure Jam. 5. 1 2 3. to be full and deny God and say Who is the Lord They that are poor in the World are prone to Steal all unjust dealing is Stealing an unjust action makes a Man a Thief in Gods account and to take the Name of God in vain Prov. 30. 9. 3. That is a master-Master-sin which the Sinner is most unwilling should be brought to light and cannot bear to be reproved for We read Joh. 3. 20. Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved but of all others he cannot endure to be reproved for the Sin that easily besets him and that he loves most He tramples the Pearl of reproof under his Feet and is read to turn again and rend the reprover John the Baptist was a burning and a shining Light. Herod the King heard him some of his Exhortaions and Doctrines went down with Herod and produced a partial Reformation At length the Baptist comes home and strikes at the Master Sin tells Herod of his Herodias and that it was not lawful for him to have his Brothers Wife This was not to be born the King counted the Prophet too bold to meddle with his beloved Lust. He hears him no longer he suffers him to Preach to others no longer He first puts him into Prison and afterwards puts him to Death and thus was this burning and shining Light extinguished Mar. 6. 17 -27. 4. The Master Sin Conscience when awakened by distress is very apt to accuse the Sinner of and furiously to fly in his face for Conscience though it sleeps in a Calm usually awakes in a Storm when Death-threatning Affliction lies hard upon the Sinner and he looks beyond Death unto Judgment and into Eternity then Conscience speaks plainly rebukes boldly and especially the Master-Sin makes it very clamorous Envy was a Sin Predominant in Josephs Brethren they could not bear the thoughts of his future advancement they sold him a Slave to prevent his being exalted over them as was presignified by his Dreams Many years after God calls for a Famine upon the Land down go these Brethren into Egypt to buy Food there Joseph seizes them deals hardly with them and they are in great Distress Conscience now awakes with great terrour flies in their Faces and their envy and cruel dealing with Joseph
their Brother comes to remembrance with great anguish and trouble Gen. 42. 21 22. They said one to another We are verily guilty concerning our Brother in that we saw the anguish of his Soul when he besought us and we would not hear therefore is this distress come upon us therefore behold also is his blood required Conscience does Comment upon Affliction and has its terrible glosses These blows are given thee for thy secret filthiness for thy intemperance for thy injustice for thy earthlimindedness for thy doing the Work of God Heartlesly and negligently Observe what Conscience now says for the Master Sin it takes special notice of 5. That is a Master Sin which when the Sinner is almost perswaded to be a Convert hinders him from being a Convert altogether That Jacob might have Corn he was contented that ten of his Sons should go and fetcht it but how loath was he to let Benjamin go When a Sinner is convinced of the necessity of Conversion he may consent to part with two or three or ten Sins but that which is most beloved he huggs still that Sin and he must never part When the Sould is ready to 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 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 Justings 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 Psal 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 God! 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 our 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 't is no longer loved 'T is a Sign of malice towards our Neighbour if we are glad to hear all the Evil that is spoken of him and all the Reproach that is cast upon him 'T is a Sign of hatred to Sin when we like to have it discovered when we like that its deceitful and damnable Nature should be represented and the falsness foulness and filthiness of it should be laid open and naked Sin is so great an Evil that there cannot be too much Evil spoken of it 't is so great an Enemy that you can never too faithfully and plainly be warned against it 3. Do you apprehend your greatest danger to be from your Master Sin and therefore continually endeavour the Mortification of it The King of Syria give this Commission to his Army Fight neither against small nor great save onely with the King of Israel What were all besides to be spared No certainly many Israel fell in the battel But there was a principal design to take at least if not to cut off the King of Israel All Sin deserves thy hatred no Sin is so small an Enemy as that thou mayest safely spare it But the Master Sin is the chief foe therefore its destruction should chiefly be designed That Man that is an Enemy to his Master Sin desires it may be still weakned by all means Oh! faith he that every Mercy may help to kill it leading me to Repentance for it That every stroke of the Roa may help to strike it more dead that every Sermon may give this Sin a blow that by every Prayer I may obtain more strength against it That every time I come to the Table of the Lord this Sin may be in a greater measure Crucified VSE II Of Exhortation And of this there are two Branches I shall speak to Sinners that are under the full Power of their Master Sin. Then I shall speak to Saints in whom there are too great remainder of it 1. I am to speak to Sinners who are under the full Power of their Master Sin. It is storied concerning Agrippina the Mother of Nero Coesar that it was told her by an Oracle that her Son should be Emperour of Rome but afterwards should kill his own Mother Agrippina replies Occidat mode imperet Let him kill me so he does but reion O 't is the Language of all presumptuous Sinners concerning their Master Lusts Let them but reign no matter though they are our Damnation and Destruction But what do you see in Sin or in its Wages that any of you should be thus fond of its Service What good reason can be given why Sin should have one slave in this whole Congregation or in the whole World I earnestly exhort you to lay aside every weight but especially the Sin that does most easily beset you Arguments to perswade are these 1. Consider the Master Sin is the strongest hold of Satan While Sin keeps up its Dominion Satan holds fast his Possession This Sin is your most deadly disease and the strongest Cord in which the Devil binds you and leads you Captive at his Pleasure 2. The Master Sin is the great hindrance of the efficacy of the means of Grace This makes the Preachers pains lost labour this makes Mercies and Afflictions to be lost upon you this makes you to lose all the duties you perform 3. This Master Sin is not without its Train A great Person especially a Crown'd Head is not without a great many that attend him A Master Sin has a great Attendance Many lusts are subservient to this Main one that the greater and more plentiful Provision may be made for the fulfilling it How great is thy danger who hast many Enemies lodging in thee and lording it over thee 4. Suppose this Master Sin were alone this were enough to ruine thee If a Pistol is discharged at the Heart and a small Bullet enter there it kills as certainly as if there were a thousand Cannons discharged at a man at once One Sin suffered to rule in thy Heart is sufficient were there no more effectually and eternally to ruine thee 5. The Master Sin wars against thy Soul most dangerously and wounds most deeply And after it has ruined thee Oh with what anguish will it be reâ—lected on in the lowest Hell This will be there thy heaviest load Thou wilt rememâ—er how deaf thou were to all Counsel to cast it away and how great thy madness was in taking most pleasure in that which proves the cauie of the greatest even everlasting Sorrow and Vexation Oh be so wise as to change your old Master Sin and let Christ become your Lord. 2. I am to speak to Saints in whom there are too great remainders of the Sin that was once their Master I exhort you more effectually and throughly to mortifie it Pray consider 1. If this Sin does frequently prevail it will keep you very low in Grace Faith will be weak Hope will be dampt Love will be cool and the whole inward Man will wofully languish 2. As you will be weak in Grace so will be low in Comfort When Temptations are yielded to Conscience will be disquieted Peace will be disturbed Thy Pride thy Passion thy carnal Affections prevailing will make thy Heart too much like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast forth mire and dirt Isa 57. 20. 3. The Prevalency of this easily besetting Sin will binder you from being so serviceable to your great and gracious Lord. It will make his work to be neglected and when done to be done too negligently sorry Servants you will be and very sorry your services will be The more sanctified you are the fitter you are for your Masters use 2 Tim. 2 21. but Sin makes you unmeet and more unable and unwilling to serve him 4. This