and being fallen into the Hands of Justice it self but meeting with a Friend who paid all he owed he cannot but cry out O great Love and Compassion that would be a Deliverance indeed But it is nothing to this we in a spiritual Sense being delivered from Hell by Jesus Christ who payed our Debts for us each of us owing not less than ten thousand Talents I mean so many Sins and every Sin a greater Debt than ten thousand Pounds And this brings me to the next Demonstration Eighthly The Salvation of the Gospel is a Great and Glorious Salvation if we consider the Way and Means by which this Salvation is wrought out and accomplished for us It could not be effected except the Son of God became Man or without the Incarnation Mediation and bloody Passion of Jesus Christ The precious Blood of Christ must be poured forth or there was no Salvation no Deliverance for our Souls Gold nor Silver could not purchase it nor the best of all earthly things For as much as ye know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from a vain Conversation received by Tradition from your Fathers but with the precious Blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spâ—t No such Price would be accepted of God so precious is the Redemption of the Soul Quest But may be some may say Could not the Law effect it Could not the keeping the Precepts the Law of the Ten Commandments do it nor the Sacrifices of the Law procure Salvation for us Answ No it was impossible the Law requires perfect Righteousness sinless Obedience besides we have broke it and thereby the whole World is become guilty before God And could the Blood of Beasts the Blood of Bulls and Goats take away Sin or satisfy Divine Justice and so make an Atonement for our Iniquities No no For it is not possible that the Blood of Bulls and Goats should take away Sin Sin cannot be done away without an infinite Price What Influence could the Blood of Beasts have to take away Sin being in their own Nature corporal things they could not deliver us from the spiritual Evil of the Soul nor were they ordained of God to that End and Purpose but to point out the great Sacrifice Besides saith the Text Sacrifice and Offerings for Sin thou wouldst not but a Body hast thou prepared me It must be the Blood of Christ whose Sufferings had a satisfactory and inconceivable Worth in them For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful Flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh Compare this with that Passage of the Holy Ghost in Heb. 1. 3. Who being the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power when he had by himself purged our Sins sat down on the right Hand of the Majesty on High He being God as well as Man or his Humanity being hypostatically united to his Divine Nature offered up himself by the Eternal Spirit a Propitiatory Sacrifice unto God by which Satisfaction and Merits he purged or took away the Guilt and Pollution of Sin and delivered us from that just and deserved Wrath that was due unto it by bearing of it himself in our Nature and stead so that God who was injured and whose Holy Law was violated might be just or that his Justice might appear for he could as soon cease to be God as cease to be just and yet hereby he magnifies his Mercy also What can we desire more than to be delivered from Sin and purged from Sin This was the Way and no other which the Wisdom of God found out in Christ both those Attributes are united so that Justice as well as Mercy says Whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ or lays hold of his Righteousness by Faith shall be justified and eternally saved The Apostle adds his being sat down on the right Hand of God to intimate he hath made our Peace obtained Redemption for us and brought in by his Obedience Everlasting Righteousness and made an end of Sin and as a mighty Conqueror has triumphed and is gone to Heaven and there appears at the Father's right Hand to plead the Merits of his own Blessed Sacrifice and that Atonement he hath made for us by his own Blood on the Tree O consider what our Salvation cost him what did he do to work about this Salvation Why he 1. Became Incarnate or was made Flesh And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we behold his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Though he was equal with God as you lately heard yet he took on him the form of a Servant 2. He became poor Sirs Jesus Christ who was rich that he might accomplish the Salvation of our Souls became poor May not this affect our Hearts We must be miserable for ever or Christ must become poor and seem to be miserable for a Time No Salvation for us useless our Blessed Saviour doth abase himself and take our Nature upon him For verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels but took on him the Seed of Abraham All this was Brethren to bring this Blessed Salvation to his chosen Ones 3. He in his humane Nature must be made under the Law and so become obnoxious or liable to the Obedience the Law required yea he was obliged to keep it exactly in every part thereof When the Fulness of time was come God sent forth his own Son made of a Woman made under the Law The Apostle adds the Reason of this to redeem them that were under the Law He thus became not only bound to do what the Law required but to suffer what the Law threatned and 〈◊〉 on us who had broke and violated it and this in our Nature or in the same Nature that had sinned in which 〈◊〉 the Justice of God required a Satisfaction for the wrong Sin had do 〈◊〉 unto him Which being impossible for sinful Man 〈…〉 and that we might not be exposed for ever unto th◠〈…〉 Wrath and Punishment in Hell which was due to 〈…〉 for us or in our place that we through 〈…〉 Obedience and painful Death and Suffering both in 〈…〉 Body might obtain a gracious Discharge from Siâ— or free Justification unto Life and a full deliverance from Wrath and Eternâ—â— Death 4. Nay and as he must diâ— if he procures Salvation for us so by this means he also was made a Curse for us for we having broken the Law 〈◊〉 under the Curse of it the Law le ts fly its bitter Curses against very 〈◊〉 thereof For as many as are of the Works of the Law are under the Curse and therefore impossible for us to be 〈◊〉 and saved by it Whosoever keepeth not the
reprove thee and set them in order before thine Eyes that is thy Sins and secret Works of Darkness He considers it Will he not consider it Many Men know much of their own Wickedness and of the Wickedness of others but they lay it not to Heart they do not consider it But God knoweth and seeth Wickedness after another rate He considers observes it and weighs the Nature of the Crime and the Aggravations of it the vile Purposes End and Intention of the Person doing it and how it is done wilfully against Light and the clear Convictions of his own Conscience He weigheth the Nature of their Wickedness as in Ballances as it is said of Belshazzar Thou art weighed in the Ballance and art found wanting thy horrid Pride filthy Lusts Counsels Policies and all the Contrivances of thy Heart and Government are weighed The Ways of Man are before the Lord and he pondereth all his Paths He puts them into a Ballance and doth not only see them but consider them ponder and weigh them Consol Lastly This may be also Matter of Comfort and Consolation to all the Sheep of Jesus Christ or holy and sincere Children of God Christ knows you I know my Sheep Job was glad that God knew him Thou knowest I am not wicked He doth not say thou knowest I am not a Sinner a Man of any Infirmities No but not an ungodly Sinner an Hypocrite one that lives in Sin loves Sin makes a Trade of Sin as wicked Men do 'T is no matter how Job or Paul are censured reproached or condemn'd by Men whilst they had the Testimony of their Consciences touching their Sincerity My Integrity saith Job I hold fast I will not let it go mine own Heart shall not reproach me so long as I live And saith holy Paul Our rejoicing is this the Testimony of our Consciences that in Simplicity and godly Sincerity not with fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World The consideration of this that their own Hearts cleared and did acquit them of all those foul charges of Friends and false Brethren and also that God knows that they are what they profess themselves to be O this was matter of great Comfort to them and may be so to all sincere and gracious Christians Christ knows our Fears our Straits our Temptations our Wants and all the Wrongs and Injuries we have sustained Is not this matter of Consolation O poor drooping Saint lift up thy dejected Spirit All thy Wants are in Christ's sight he sees the Place where every Sheep and Lamb of his dwells and what their Wants are And his Love Bowels Care and Compassion is infinite he that laid down his Life for his Sheep for this and that poor afflicted tempted and dejected Soul will not he think you seeing he knows your Condition supply support strengthen heal feed and comfort you whosoever you are if one of his Sheep He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things He that hath given himself shed his own precious Blood for us will not deny us a little Bread to feed our Souls nor Balm to heal them nor any Comfort he sees good will he deny or withhold from us He that gave the greater will not stick to give the less 2. Christ knows whatsoever you have done for his Glory and he is not unrighteous to forget your Work and Labour of Love which ye have shewed toward his Name in that ye have ministred to the Saints and do minister You have forgot what you gave to such and such poor Saints may be ten twenty or thirty Years ago yea but Christ hath not forgot it True there is no Work of ours that deserveth any thing from the Hands of Christ in point of Merit yet what though Rewards of Grace as I have often told you will exceed all Rewards of Merit A Cup of cold Water shall have a Reward of Grace the Gift of a Penny given in love to Christ when thou caust give no more shall have a glorious Reward at the great Day As I once told you of a King who meeting with a Baker's Boy as he was carrying Bread into the Town he being very hungry and lost his Nobles having been a hunting desired the Boy to give him a Penny Loaf which he readily did And for this the King knighted the Boy and gave a yearly Estate to him and his Heirs for ever O Sirs Christ's Rewards of Grace and Favour will exceed all that we conceive or can comprehend though we deserve nothing 3. Nay Christ knowing our good Intention and what we would do had we Power or were we able to do it he will reward that accept of that as if we actually had done it as in David's Case who had it in his Heart to build God's Temple though God would not have him to do it yet did accept it as if he had done it 4. Christ also knowing what we have suffered for his Name 's sake though we have forgot it yet he will remember it at the great Day JOHN X. 27. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me BELOVED I have shewed you what a kind of Knowledg Jesus Christ hath of all his Sheep Fifthly I shall now proceed to the fifth General Head and give some of the Characters or Properties of the Sheep of Christ But before I do this I shall shew you why the Saints are compared to Sheep 1. First it is from their clean and mild Nature Wicked Men from the consideration of their filthy and ravenous Nature are contrariwise compared to Lions Wolves Foxes Dogs Swine and the like But now God's People have through the Operation of Divine Grace their unclean and filthy Nature changed that brutish perverse and swinish Disposition which they brought into the World with them is gone Such were some of you but you are washed but you are sanctified but you are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Sheep are of a clean Nature they like not to wallow in the Mire as Swine do So the Saints have a clean and holy Nature wrought in their Souls or spiritual Habits infused through the renewing of the Holy Ghost having obtained a true Righteousness in which they stand justified and appear without Spot before God even in the perfect Righteousness of Jesus Christ which is counted to them for Righteousness to their Justification and are sanctified through the Spirit of Holiness 2. Sheep are a harmless and innocent sort of Creatures not crafty like the Fox nor devouring like the Lion So the Saints are harmless and innocent they seek the Hurt of no Man but desire to live peaceably in the Land and not like Romish Wolves who delight in nothing more than in Blood and Rapine They are like unto their
of this No Man taketh this Honour unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron He did not intrude himself upon this Service but he had a lawful Call unto it the Father called him and sent him into the World to keep feed and save his Sheep This shews the wonderful Love of the Father he is the first and principal Author of our Salvation All things are of God who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ All the spiritual Blessings we have by Christ spring from the Father the Father is held forth as the first Cause first Mover and Contriver of all spiritual Mercies for us The Father also fitted and qualified him or put him into a Capacity to accomplish this Work and Office he prepared him a Body that so he might die for his Sheep Thirdly Jesus Christ is a kind loving and compassionate Shepherd What Shepherd ever loved his Sheep as Christ loved his The greatness of his Love bowels of Affection and Compassion appears 1. By his coming so far as 't is from Heaven to the Earth to seek them For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost Luke reads it To seek and to save that which was lost My People have been lost Sheep Jer. 50. 6. 1. We were all lost in the first Adam not one Sheep but was lost and had not Christ came to seek and save us we had been all lost for ever 2. We were all lost not only by Original but also by our own actual Sin All we like Sheep have gone astray we have turned every one of us to his own evil way We were all gone out of the way gone far from God and without all hope or possibility of returning had not Christ came to seek us For we were all as Sheep going astray but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls 3. They also by the Grace of God at length came to see that they were lost they are lost in themselves and in their own sight Jesus sent forth and commanded them saying Go not in the way of the Gentiles c. but go rather to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel The whole House of Israel was lost but there were but a few of them that saw their lost State 2. The Bowels and Compassion of Christ to his Sheep chiefly appears by his dying for them He laid down his Life for the Sheep none could shew greater Love than this As the Father knoweth me even so I know the Father and I lay down my Life for the Sheep 3. His great Love and Affection to his Sheep is manifested by his care to gather them He shall gather the Lambs with his Arms and carry them in his Bosom Gathering implies bringing them Home unto himself by the Arm of his Power or by the effectual Operation of his Word and Spirit To whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed Or who hath felt and experienced the powerful Influences of his Spirit and saving Grace thereof on their Souls This must be before any poor Sinners are gathered or brought home to God Jesus Christ must rescue them out of the Mouth of the Lion and Paw of the Bear as David did his Sheep who was a Type of him We were all once in Satan's Hand that hungry Lion had us in his Teeth and was going to tear us to pieces but then comes our Blessed Shepherd and delivers us None but he whose Power is Infinite could gather us or bring us home to God such a miserable State were we in 4. Christ's Love is further expressed by that affecting Metaphor Luke 15. 6. He goes after the lost Sheep leaveth the rest in the Wilderness and never gives over until he hath found it And when he hath found it he layeth it on his Shoulders rejoicing O my Friends how great is the Love of Christ to one poor lost and undone Sinner He will not lose one that his Father hath given him No no though it be but one individual Soul that is missing yet he will go after that seek that leave all the rest to look after that one poor Sheep and when he has found it he sees it cannot go it has no strength therefore he lays it upon his Shoulders Sinners Christ must lay hold of you and take you up and lay you on his Shoulders and carry you home if ever you are saved It is upon Christ's Shoulders Christ's Power that every Elect Soul is brought home 't is not on the Power of their Will their Strength their Faith no but on Christ's Shoulders Moreover it is said He rejoiced and calls upon all his Friends the blessed Angels and Saints to rejoice with him for I have found my lost Sheep This shews his wonderful Love to poor undone and lost Sinners that are his Sheep whatever it costs him whatever Pains Labour or Charge home he will bring them saved they must and shall be I have other Sheep saith he that are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my Voice 5. His Love to his Sheep to his Saints also appears in his laying them in his Bosom in his Heart O how near and dear is every believing Soul to Jesus Christ It 's a Metaphor taken from a Father or tender Mother that hugs an only Child in his or her Arms and lays it in their Bosom knowing not how to express the Greatness of their Affections Christ himself is said to lie in the Bosom of the Father which denotes how he is beloved by him how near and dear he is to him Even so this discovers his great Affections to his People 6. He also makes his Love manifest to them by his gentle leading of them He shall gently lead them that are with young He will not lead them faster than they are able to go or lay more upon them than they can bear nay he gives Strength to them and supports their Souls under all their Troubles and Sorrows Jacob was a compassionate Shepherd If I over-drive them saith he all the Flock will die Christ had many things to tell his Disciples but they were not able to bear them He lets out or discovers his precious Truth to his People according as he knows they are able to receive it and take it in You shall not have harder Things Trials Temptations nor Afflictions than your strength is There hath no Temptation taken you but what is common to Man and God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able but will with the Temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it 7. His infinite Love and Bowels are made known also to his Sheep by his feeding them as well as it is by his leading them He feeds them with choice Food he gives them his own Flesh to eat and his own
I argue If Grace though never so weak shall be victorious if Grace be such a Blessed Principle such a Spark that Sin nor Satan can't quench such a Seed that no Enemy can get out of the Ground of our Hearts if Grace through the Spirit is Life Eternal Life in the Soul if Grace be the Darling of Heaven hath such great and Almighty Allies if the whole Trinity sate in Council about the Birth of Grace or the Way of its infusion into the Soul if it be the Gift of the Father's Free Love and a part of his Holy Nature if it be wrought in us to shew forth his Praise if Grace be God's great and glorious Workmanship if the Power of God be engaged to preserve it in us if God hath promised to maintain its Life in us if it cannot stand consistent with God's Wisdom Love Faithfulness and Holiness to let it be totally overcome and vanquished in the Souls of his Elect if Christ purchased Grace for us if he was manifest to take away Sin if Christ be the Author and Finisher of Grace in the Soul if the Life of Grace tends so much to the Honour of Christ if Christ's Work now in Heaven is to interceed for the continuation of Grace in us that it may never fail in the Seed or Habit of it Then no true Believer can fall so from Grace as eternally to perish But all this is true therefore no Believer can so fall from Grace as eternally to perish APPLICATION First Of Information 1. First from the whole we may learn that the State of Believers through the Redemption by Jesus Christ is far better than Adam's was by Creation for though we have no natural and inherent Power of our own yet we have a supernatural Power ingaged to help and uphold us we are kept by the Power of God He stood by the Strength of Nature and Power of Free-Will before the Fall We by the Strength of Grace and Power of the Mediator who hath a Charge to uphold us in a State of Grace which was not allowed to Adam nor the Angels we have not only the Word of Grace to encourage us but also the Power of Grace to establish us Adam stood by his own Original Righteousness our standing is by the Suretiship Righteousness and Undertakings of Jesus Christ Who of God is made unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption Adam's Life was in himself our Life is hid in Christ and so out of the Power of our worst Enemies to come at it or deprive us of it and as Adam and all his were condemned so Christ and all his are justified 2. It may inform us that such who make a Profession of Religion without attaining to a State of true Grace and real Union with Christ are in danger of eternal Ruin notwithstanding whatsoever their Knowledg Gifts and common Improvements may be and their Hopes thereupon and that they are of this sort that frequently fall away and perish in their Sins which if well weighed may put every Professor into serious Thoughts and upon a thorow Work of Self-examination about their present Condition and therefore in this respect there is need enough of those Cautions and Take-heeds in the Scripture Let him that thinketh he stands take heed lest he fall How many are there who do but think they stand or that their State is safe and good when in truth they are in no better Condition than the Foolish Virgins or the thorny and stony-ground Professors 3. It also may inform us that all those that shall be saved are such who take care to make their Calling and Election sure It is a palpable Demonstration that they are under strong Delusion who suppose Election only refers to the End and not to the Means or that Men that are elected shall be saved let them live how they please No no the Case is quite otherwise we are elected to be Holy as well as to be Happy the whole Design of God herein being to make us Holy and also to preserve us in a Way and State of Holiness Therefore if thou dost begin well hast obtained true Grace and dost continue in a Way of well-doing or dost bring forth good Fruit and dost not waver nor faint in thy Mind it may be an Evidence that thy State is Good and that thou art one of Christ's Sheep who follow him constantly and wilt so follow him unto the End Secondly This may be Matter of great Comfort to weak Believers and such who may be under spiritual Deadness and feel Corruption too strong for them O do not be discouraged the weakest Grace gives a deadly wound to Sin and a good ground of Hope thy State is safe your Names are written in Heaven which is as our Saviour notes the greatest Cause of Joy which it could not be if their Names might be blotted out again 'T is no wonder Sin is in thee and makes thee mourn when it made Paul to cry out O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Sin and Death 'T is one thing to have the Law of Sin in our Members and to have Sin in our Conversations and another thing to have it reign in us or to have it in our Affections Soul remember that weak Grace weak Faith shall become victorious Thou hast Grace enough in thy Head though thou hast but little in thy Hand O cry to God be much in Prayer that God would give thee more Grace and supply thy Wants and quicken and revive thy Soul as he hath promised A weak Faith renders the Soul as perfectly justified in Christ as the strongest Faith any Man hath whosoever he be and gives a Title to Eternal Life he that had but a weak or a dim Eye that look'd up unto the Brazen Serpent was as well healed as he that had a strong Sight or good Eyes 2. This Doctrine yields much Comfort to the strongest Saint also for if he that hath never so strong and lively Faith might fall finally away and perish what would Regeneration Justification Adoption c. signify to him Would not his Spirits droop and his Fears torment him But here by virtue of the Doctrine of final Perseverance is Comfort both for the Weak and Strong both have equal Interest in Christ in God's Love in the Covenant both are elected both are in Christ's Hand Such who have now a strong Faith had once but a weak Faith it was but a little Seed once and Christ's Charge extends to those that are weak He carries the Lambs in his Arms and the Stock in Christ's Hand is sure and his Promise of supply shall not fail and the Strong cannot stand of themselves Thirdly Caution Judg not of the Truth of thy Grace by the weakness of it a little Gold a Dram is Gold as well as a great Wedg 2. Let not this encourage thee to be negligent or remiss in Duty God
Heaven whereby we must be saved He that receives Christ believes in Christ shall be saved and he that believes not shall be damned 3. If Life be more worth than all the World certainly the Soul is more worth than ten thousand Worlds O do not part with it on any Terms for it cost Christ dear the Price of his own Blood his Heart-Blood was let out to save our Souls Alas there are some nevertheless that are like the false Prophets of old who sold the Souls of the People for a handful of Barley and for a piece of Bread 4. How near may some of you be to Death and if you have not got an Interest in Christ before then what will become of your precious Souls 5. Will you consider what Means of Grace God is pleased to afford you for the good of your Souls and know it is by the preaching of the Gospel that God commonly saves the Souls of Men I mean that it is the Means he uses for the begetting of Faith Shall the Word have some good Effect upon your Souls this Day 6. Consider all your Prayers Tears Alms-deeds all Reformation of Life Services Duties and inherent Holiness cannot save your Souls no none but Christ nothing but the Merits of Christ it is his Blood alone that made your Peace and must wash away all the Guilt and Filth of your Sins Your Souls your precious Souls O Sinners are wounded polluted naked what will you do Nothing but Christ's Blood I tell you can heal them nothing but his Flesh his Blood can feed them and nothing but his Righteousness can clothe them and nothing but the Graces of Christ's Spirit can inrich can deck and adorn your Souls and without Faith you cannot obtain any of those Blessings O what shall I say to you if going down upon my Knees could move you to lay to Heart what a sad State you are in who have not received by Faith this Salvation and incline you now to believe I would readily do it but alas it is God's Gift O look up to him do what you can pray and attend on the Word What do you say do you believe that this is a Great Salvation Will you esteem it and look after it above all things in the World It is Sirs that one thing needful chuse with Mary that good Part that shall never be taken from you Shall there be Joy in Heaven this Day how can you slight such a precious Soul and such a precious Saviour who spilt his Blood to save the worst of Sinners Will you tread his Blood under your Feet If so what will you do at the Day of Death and in the Day of Judgment Should your Souls be lost there is no repairing that Loss no redemption of the Soul out of Hell no other Price no other Saviour no other way if this be slighted you must perish HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation I AM upon the Proof and Demonstration of the greatness of the Salvation of the Gospel I closed with the ninth Reason of the Point the last time Tenthly Gospel-Salvation is a great and glorious Salvation if we consider what such who have interest in it are raised up unto or do and shall partake of I mean what great Blessings and wonderful Privileges they are invested with by it First Pardon of Sin This Blessing have all they that receive it 1. Consider the Blood of Christ is the way of Gospel-Remission no Remission of Sin without the shedding of Blood there is remission of Sin but no Blood could procure this Remission but the Blood of Christ he paid our Debts in whom we have redemption through his Blood even the Forgiveness of Sins It was by his offering himself an Expiatory Sacrifice to God there 's no Salvation without Pardon of Sin and no Pardon of Sin without a Compensation be made by Jesus Christ to the Law and Justice of God 2. Consider who are pardoned even all that believe though they were never such great Rebels against God such were Traitors and Enemies once who are now forgiven Here is a Pardon for the vilest Sinner that sees his horrid Evil and Rebellion and takes hold of Jesus Christ or looks up to him by Faith 3. Consider the Nature of this Pardon and Gospel-Remission Such are pardoned for ever I will remember their Sins no more they are blotted out for ever God promises to all penitent and believing Sinners to throw their Sins into the Depth of the Sea 4. Consider the Terms of Pardon it is a free Forgiveness we having nothing to pay God of his meer Grace and Goodness doth forgive us through the Atonement of Christ's Blood freely Even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgression for my own sake and will not remember thy Sins This is spoke to a People that had wearied the Lord with their Iniquities O what a glorious Salvation is this that here is Remission and free Pardon for rebellious Sinners such that deserve nothing but Wrath and Hell 5. It is a Pardon of all Sins great and small Sins of Omission and Sins of Commission Sins of all sorts and sizes 6. 'T is God that blotteth out our Sins he that can forgive he whose right it is to pardon he against whom we have sinned and he who when he gives a Pardon none can supersede it nor revoke it let them do what they can Secondly Reconciliation with God is another Blessing of this Salvation God doth not only forgive us but he takes us into his Bosom he is fully reconciled to us in Jesus Christ he cries Fury is not in me Again he says This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased When we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son And none can make God our Enemy again for ever if we are Believers none can separate us from his Love in Jesus Christ our Lord as something agâ— I shewed you no not Sin nor Satan Thirdly By this Salvation we come to have Union with God and to be made one Spirit with Jesus Christ and how great and glorious is this saâ—red Union but having formerly spoken to it I shall not say more to it nâ—w Moreover we are not only brought into a State of Union but are also admitted to have Communion with the Father and the Son Brethren it is one thing for a Traitor to be pardoned and another thing for him to be admitted into the King's Presence and to become one of his great Favourites Truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ Fourthly By this Salvation also we are justified Justification is a high Privilege By him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses Let me shew you what it is to be justfied that so this Salvation may appear the more
Pleasures nay their sinful Ways and wicked Practices above Jesus Christ and that Salvation he hath purchased O how great is the Sin of such who neglect this Salvation 5. Hereby also they abuse the matchless Love the unspeakable Love and Favour of Jesus Christ they do not only slight his Person contemn his Blood and cross the Design of the Father but they also abuse and disdain his precious Love which caused him to take upon him the Form of a Servant and to yield himself up to the cursed Death of the Cross Greater Love hath no Man than this that a Man lay down his Life for his Friend But Jesus Christ laid down his Life for his Enemies Whilst we were yet Enemies we were reconciled unto God by the Death of his Son And shall Sinners after the manifestation of such Love slight him and the Salvation wrought by him at such a dear Rate Nay shall Christ's repeated Calls Wooings and Intreaties be not regarded who spreadeth forth his Hands all the Day long Shall any be so ungrateful so blind so rebellious as to let Christ stand all Night at the Door of their Hearts even till his Head is wet with Dew and his Locks with the Drops of the Night This shews the great Evil and Wickedness of those who neglect this great Salvation Doth not this tend to expose the Son of God to shame to be thus slighted as if not worth the least regard Should a Prince come a thousand Miles to court or offer his Love to a low a contemptible and base-born Damsel and she should nevertheless slight him and give him no entertainment would not this be deemed an abominable Abuse of his Love as well as great Contempt cast upon his Person Sinners are ready to say there is no comeliness in him that we should desire him but alas 't is because they do not know him they are blind and see him not 't is the carnal Eye that can see no Beauty in Christ were the Eyes of their Understandings opened they would be of another Opinion concerning him 6. The Evil in neglecting of this is so great that it is as it were a piercing of Christ again nay and when a poor Sinner is convinced of this great Iniquity he cries out What have I done Have I not grieved nay wounded afresh my dear Saviour by not believing in him and not receiving the great Salvation offered by him Though I never saw the Person of Christ yet I have offered Violence to him in resisting his Authority despising his Love and slighting his Salvation As a Man is guilty of Treason by abasing the Statue or Image of a King so are Men guilty of the Blood of Christ and of trampling upon it when they count it as a Trifle or unprofitable to their Salvation seeking Life and Salvation some other ways or are wholly regardless about it it is as a Stab at his very Heart a tearing out as it were his Bowels he suffered willingly all those great Torments which were inflicted upon him to remove from us a necessity of Suffering had he not stept in to bear our Sins we had been lost for ever O why then is not he imbraced by Faith that works by Love It implies a Sinner has no Love to him no not so much as to his Sins and Folly it is a denying the Excellences of Christ the Preciousness of Christ for as Faith accounts all things but Dung in comparison of Christ so as one observes Unbelief counts Christ but Dung Union and Communion with him but Dung in comparison of this World and the Pleasures of Sin 7. Those that neglect the Salvation of the Gospel thinking to be saved some other way do seem to reflect upon if not despise the Wisdom of Jesus Christ Do they not charge him with Folly and Inconsiderateness in undertaking such a Task such a Work on such hard Terms when it might be had some other way What suffer such Pain Sweat great Drops of Blood and be nailed to the Cross to procure Salvation for us which might be obtained by a sober Life or by doing to all as they would be done unto or by following the Dictates of the Light of natural Conscience or by our own Inherent Holiness What did Jesus Christ aim at by shedding of his Blood but the appeasing of God's Wrath and the bringing in of an Everlasting Righteousness and to purchase Grace to sanctify Mens Souls and to open the Gates of Heaven which Divine Justice had shut and barr'd up against us Now certainly those who neglect this Salvation do either fancy these Blessings are not worth regard or looking after or else they may be procured by some other Way and on easier Terms than by Faith in the Blood of Christ And is not this to charge our Lord Jesus with Folly and with the Greeks of old to account the Preaching of the Cross Foolishness 8. They render it is evident the shedding of Christ's Blood to be in vain who neglect the Means of this Salvation and so thereby slight the Blessings which he hath purchased it must be an undervaluing of the price of Redemption for that which a Person regards not though procured at never so dear a rate he declares was in vain purchased this is with a Witness therefore lightly to esteem of the Rock of their Salvation it is to stop their Ears to the Cry of Christ's Blood His Blood as you heard cries to Sinners to apply it to their perishing Souls and to leave their sinful Ways but they regard it not though it seems afresh to stream forth from his Heart in the Virtue of it and flows through the Pipes of the Gospel in the Offers of it Did not they who refused to come to the Marriage-Supper declare that the King had in vain prepared all those costly Dainties for let who will come and eat thereof they will not And thus many render the bloody Sacrifice to be offered up in vain by neglecting the Salvation offered in the Gospel 9. Such also who believe not but reject and turn their Backs upon the Gospel-Salvation put Jesus Christ to Grief again It is said He was grieved because of the hardness of their Hearts So God said he was grieved forty Years with those who believed not in the Wilderness O how many Years have some of you grieved both the Father and the Son to speak after the manner of Men and is not this a great Evil Will you grieve and weary out the Heart of God and the Heart of Jesus Christ 10. It also gives occasion to Satan to vaunt boast and triumph over the Son of God See says he how little these Men and Women for whom thou gavest thy self to die the Death of the Cross do mind the Salvation thou hast purchased for them they like and approve of my Ways and Motions my Offers better than any thing thou hast procured for them and dost offer to them May
dreadful of all What can be a greater Token of Gods Divine Wrath it is the begining of that Future Vengeance that shall be poured forth upon them to Eternity Thus the Almighty dealt by the Jews for their Sin in rejecting of Jesus Christ and putting him to death by wicked hands for this he gave them up to an hard unbelieving and an impenitent heart and then let in the Romans upon them who utterly destroyed their City and Temple and so scattered them on all the face of the Earth and hence the Apostle saith that Wrath was come upon them to the uttermost 7. The Wrath of God like Fire sometimes also seizeth on the Consciences of men by which means they are fearfully tormented for their horrid Blasphemy Prophaness Atheism Apostacy c. We have had two Examples of this sort viz. Mr. Francis Spira in the last Century and Mr. John Child in this It is enough to make all who read those Naratives to Tremble at the very thoughts of the incensed Wrath and Anger of an offended God Who can stand before his indignation when his wrath is poured out like fire on the Souls and Consciences of Men O how doth he seem to Tear them into peices even to such a degree as they seem to be in the very torments of Hell while in the Body And not knowing but that a faithful reciting of some Passages concerning the inward Horror of the said Spira and Child may be of some use to Caution all to take heed of such like sins which they fell under I shall tho' more briefly than I intended compare their States Circumstances inward Anguish and Horror of their Spirits together SOME PASSAGES Of the Fearful Estate of Francis Spira SPira having received the Light of the Gospel became a Teacher of the Blessed Truths thereof amongst his Friends and familiar Acquaintance and says the Narrative in comparison seemed to neglect all other Affairs much pressing this main point of Doctrine viz. That we must wholly and only depend on the free and unchangable Love of God in the Death of Christ as the only way to Salvation As to his natural and corrupt Inclination ' I was saith he excessively Covetous of Money and accordinly applyed my self to get it by Injustice corrupting Justice by doing it ' c. As touching Spira's Sin and his grand fall it was thus viz. The Popes Legate Resident at Venice was stirred by the malice of the Papists to accuse Spira to him and by the Craft and Policy of the Legate and through slavish Fear Spira first fled and afterwards renounced his Testimony to the Truth before which it appears he reasoned thus within himself thro' the Suggestion of the Devil viz. ' Be well advised fond Man consider Reasons on both sides and then judge how canst thou thus overwean thine own sufficiency as thou neither regardest the Examples of thy Progenitors nor the Judgment of the whole Church dost thou not consider what misery this thy Rashness will bring thee into thou shalt lose thy Substance gotten with so great Care and Travel thou shalt undergo the most exquisite Torments that Malice 〈…〉 devise thou shalt be 〈…〉 an Heretick of all 〈…〉 to close up all thou shalt die shamefully What thinkest thou of the lothsom stinking Dungeon the Bloudy Ax the Burning Faggot are they delightful be wise at length and keep thy Life and Honour Go to the Legate Weak Man and freely Confess thy Fault ' c. And upon these thoughts he goes to the Legate and salutes him with this News viz. Having for these divers years entertained an Opinion concerning some Articles of Faith contrary to the Orthodox and received Judgment of the Church and uttered many things against the Authority of the Church of Rome and the universal Bishop I humbly acknowledge my Fault and Error and my Folly in my misleading others I therefore yeild my self in all Obedience to the supream Bishop of Rome into the Bosom of the Church of Rome never to depart again from the Traditions and Decrees of the Holy See I am heartily sorry for what is past and I humbly beg Pardon for so great an Offence The Legate at this commanded him to return to his own Town and there to confess and acknowledge the whole Doctrine of the Church of Rome to be holy and true and to abjure the Opinions of Luther c. After this he signed an Instrument of Abjuration and then fell under horrid Despairation ' And he thought he heard a direful Voice ' saying Thou wicked Wretch thou hast renounced the Covenant of thy Obedience thou hast broke thy Vow henc Apostate bear with thee the Sentene of thy Eternal Damnation He trembling in Body and Mind fellinto a Swound Now began some of his Friends to repent too late of their Rash Council not looking so high as to the Judgment of God laid all the blame on his Melancholly Constitution that over-shaddowing his Judgment wrought in him a kind of Madness and directed him to the use of Physicians c. To which Spira replyed Alas poor men how far wide are you do you think that this Disease is to be Cured by Potions believe me there must be another manner of Medicine it is neither Plaister nor Drugs that can help a fainting Soul cast down with the sence of sin and the Wrath of God 't is only Christ that must be the Pysician and the Gospel the Souls Antidote Amongst others that come to visit him was Panlus Vergerius and Mattheus Gribauldus principal Labourers for his Comfort they sound him about 50 Years of Age. Neither affected with Doteage nor with the unconstant head-strong Passion of Youth but in the strength of his Experience and Judgment in a burning heat calling for drink yet his Understanding active quick or Apprehension Witty in Discourse above his ordinary manner they forcibly infused some liquid Sustenance into his Mouth most of which he spit out again and in a fretting mood said As it is true that all things work for the better to those that Love God so to the wicked all to the contrary for whereas a plentiful Off-spring is the Blessing of God and his Reward being a stay to the weak Estate of their Aged Parents to me they are a cause of bitterness and vexation they do strive to make me tire out this misery I would fain be at an end I deserve not this dealing at their hands Oh that I were gone from hence that some body would let out this weary Soul My sin said Spira is greater than the Mercy of God nay answered his Visitors the Mercy of God is above all sin God would have all men to be saved it is true said he God would have all the Elect to be saved he would not have damn'd Reprobates to be saved I am one of that Number I know it for I willingly denyed Christ and I feel that he hardens me and will not suffer me to hope Being
know now the things that belong to your peace before they are hid from your Eyes Behold now is the accepted time c. 3. Close with Christ whilst the Spirit strives with thee and before Conscience is feared or let out against thee to tear thee into pieces 4. Attend carefully upon the means of Grace and know assuredly that the Wages of Sin is eternal Death even everlasting burnings therefore renounce it with the greatest abhorrence know all the Pleasures and Honours of this Life are but the Elements of carnal felicity and according to the Judgment of Reason and sense would any one chuse the enjoyment of the greatest Pleasures for a day and afterwards be satisfied to suffer the most exquisite Torments for a year much more folly and madness it is for momentary brutish delights to incurr the fiery Indignation of God for ever 1. One word to you that are Believers and I have done O bless God for Jesus Christ who has born the wrath of God for you and in your stead that you might never seel the bitterness of it even Jesus who delivered us from wrath to come 2. Admire the distinguishing Grace and special Love of God We love him because he first loved us It was his Love that overcame you The meer fear of Hell is not sufficient to Convert the Souls of men tho' it may stop them in their way and prevent great Abominations in the gross acts thereof yet does not cannot renew their Nature regenerate and make holy their hearts and lives that Religion that is the meer effect of fear will be according to the nature of its principle even legal wavering and inconstant yet the fear of Hell may awaken the sinner and in some sence prepare for Grace When the Soul is stormed by the terror of Wrath and the fear of Hell has made a breach Divine Grace enters but it is the Love of God and hopes of Heaven that works spiritual affections as the Obedience that flows therefrom is Evangelical free and voluntary from the entire consent of the Soul and are abiding 3. Be content with your Condition tho' poor in this World remember Lazarus how much better was his state than the Rich Glutton's O do not envy the wicked that are Rich they will pay dear for their Wealth when they come to Hell which they with greedy covetous minds heap up I remember a Passage which is related in History A General with an Army passing through another Princes Countrey gave strict Order that no Person should offer to touch the least thing which belong'd to the Inhabitants but nevertheless one Souldier as they were upon their March stole a Bunch of Grapes which the General being informed of gave Order that he should immediately be put to Death as he was going to Execution he fell a eating his Grapes and some Persons looking greedily on him he observing them said Do not envy me my Grapes for they cost me dear they cost me my Life 4. Let it appear to all that you do love Jesus Christ and preferr the honour of God and his interest above all things in this World let the main end and design of your Souls in desiring Grace Gifts Knowledge c. and in all you act and do in his Service be that you may advance his Glory Sirs the time is near when it will be known who are Christs Wheat true Christians and who are not but let all that are but Chaff tremble for Hell is prepared for them He will gather the Wheat into his garner but the Chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire FINIS THE BLESSEDNESS OF Christ's Sheep OR No final Falling from a State of true Grace DEMONSTRATED In Several SERMONS lately Preached and now for general Good Published Wherein all the grand Objections usually brought against the Saints final Perseverance are fully answered By BENJAMIN KEACH Heb. 10. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto Perdition but of them that believe to the saving of the Soul London Printed in the Year 1694. THE BLESSEDNESS OF Christ's Sheep c. JOHN X. 27 28. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand BELOVED these Words are the Words of our Blessed Saviour and they contain no small Comfort to all true Believers who are the Sheep and Lambs of Jesus Christ My main Purpose or Intention is to speak to the 28 th Verse and to defend the sweet and comfortable Doctrine of the Saints final Perseverance but shall begin with the 27 th Verse viz. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me In our Text are two Parts 1. Something Implied viz. Christ is a Shepherd and that he hath a People that are his Sheep 2. Something that is Expressed viz. That all such who are his Sheep hear his Voice and do follow him You have in the Words 1. The Property of Christ's Sheep 2. Their Security and happy State and Condition 1. Their Character or Property viz. They hear his Voice and do follow him 2. Their Security and happy State and Condition 1. He knows them that is he approves of them 2. He gives to them Eternal Life 3. They are in his Hand and shall never perish Our Saviour in this Chapter calls himself the Shepherd of the Sheep yea the Good Shepherd Ver. 11. I am the Good Shepherd the Good Shepherd giveth his Life for the Sheep Now if it be demanded who are the Sheep of Christ I answer All that the Father hath given to him and that believe in him Christ's Sheep may be considered as his two manner of ways 1. Decretively See Ver. 16. And other Sheep I have which are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my Voice The Lord Jesus meaneth the Gentiles these he calls his Sheep by virtue of God's Eternal Election Them also I must bring They are given unto me and all that the Father hath given me shall come unto me I lay down my Life for them or in their stead that they might not perish I therefore as if he should so say must bring them call them renew or regenerate them The Covenant I have made with my Father is such that it cannot be broken the Purpose Counsel and Promises of God shall stand This agrees with that Word of the Holy God to St. Paul Be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace For I am with thee and no Man shall set on thee to hurt thee for I have much People in this City They are called the Lord's People though then in a state of Darkness and Unbelief decretively or according to his Eternal Purpose they were his 2. Actually or such who are already brought in or who do believe and are visibly of his Fold The Doctrine I shall prosecute shall be
drawn as comporting with this latter Exposition Doct. 1. All true Believers are the Sheep and Lambs of Jesus Christ and he is their Shepherd they hear his Voice and follow him Two things I shall God assisting do Before I raise any other Point of Doctrine in prosecuting this I shall 1. Open or explain this Proposition 2. Apply it In speaking to the first I shall observe this Method First I shall explain the Proposition 1. I shall shew you in what respect they may be said to be his Sheep 2. Shew what is meant by Christ's Voice 3. What by hearing of his Voice 4. What by his knowing of them 5. Give you some of the Characters of Christ's Sheep and shew how they follow him 6. Shew what a kind of Shepherd Christ is First They are his Sheep by Choice or by virtue of Election Those that are Christ's are not only his Sheep but his Spouse also according to another Scripture-Metaphor and therefore 't is reasonable they should be his own free Choice and such as he can and doth dearly love not only such as the Father loved but he himself also loved all that were Elected from Everlasting were beloved by the Father and the Son from Everlasting with a Purpose of Grace and Favour or Love of Benevolence The Sign and Fruit of Christ's Love to his Sheep is the Choice he hath made of them Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained that you should go and bring forth Fruit and that your Fruit should remain John 15. 16. This Christ mentions here as an Argument of his greatest Love and therefore he doth not refer to that Choice of them as Apostles for so was Judas chosen who was not comprehended in God's Eternal Election I speak not of you all I know whom I have chosen John 15. 18. Judas was chosen to the Apostleship but was not chosen to Eternal Life he was a Devil and therefore not to be one of Christ's Sheep Have I not chosen you Twelve and one of you is a Devil Christ hath no Sheep but such that he was pleased to chuse or make choice of for his own and he knows them before they know him as the Apostle speaks The Lord knows them that are his that is all such that he hath chosen according to the Decree of Eternal Election Secondly Christ's Sheep are his by virtue of the Father's free Donation They are all given unto him I pray not for the World but for them thou hast given me I have manifested thy Name to the Men which thou gavest me out of the World thine they were and thou gavest them me They were given to Christ to be his Sheep to be his Spouse and Members of his Mystical Body Behold I and the Children thou hast given me are for Signs and Wonders in Israel Thirdly They are Christ's Sheep by Purchase He bought them all and that too at a dear Price He paid heartily for them every Sheep cost one and the same Price even the meanest poorest and weakest of them cost more than ten thousand Millions nay that which was in value more than ten thousand Worlds Ye are not your own but you are bought with a Price We had sold our selves to other Masters and they had possession of us I am carnal saith Paul sold under Sin He was formerly sold and was hardly yet got out of the Tyrant's Hand Behold for your Iniquities have you sold your selves but ye shall be redeemed without Money We were all sold to Sin sold to Satan and there was no ways to redeem us from the Wrath of God without a great Ransom Justice will have a satisfactory Price And since corruptible things as Silver and Gold will not do it no nor a thousand Rams nor ten thousand Rivers of Oil nor the Fruit of the Body which could not make Atonement for the Sin of the Soul Christ must come to the Price proposed to him and demanded of him if he will purchase these Sheep and that was his own precious Blood Take heed therefore unto your selves and to the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers that ye feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood I lay down my Life for my Sheep This was the Price so dearly did Christ buy his Sheep And this Day Beloved the Tokens of this Price or Sacred Signs or Symbols of this Purchase is to be set before your Eyes pray remember that Believers are Christ's Sheep by Purchase Fourthly Believers are Christ's Sheep by Renovation or Transformation In this lies a great Mystery they had not once a Sheep-like Nature but by Grace their swinish and evil Qualities are changed he hath infused new and holy Dispositions into them So that in this respect Jesus Christ excels all other Shepherds for they cannot turn Swine Bears or Tigers into Sheep but the Lord Jesus by the Holy Ghost makes such to become his Sheep or to have Sheep-like Natures and Dispositions that were before as vile filthy and abominable as the worst of Sinners the Holy Ghost compares them before Grace and Regeneration to Dogs Swine c. they having like evil Qualities with those unclean and filthy Creatures Such were some of you What a kind of such were they Why Thieves Covetous Drunkards Reviiers Extortioners Effeminate c. But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus that is by the Power of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Christ hath not one Sheep but what he hath made so to be He as God made them at first and they having lost their first Excellent and Holy Nature he new makes them forms them again or transforms them into his own holy humble meek and gentle Nature This People have I formed for my self they shall shew forth my Praise We are created in Christ Jesus unto good Works and thus they may be said to be his Sheep Fifthly Believers are Christ's Sheep by a Holy Covenant or Contract made with the Father and by virtue of this Covenant they were given to him By virtue of this Covenant he died for them by virtue of this Covenant they became his and he calls them renews them and changes them He shall see his Seed It was by the Blood of this Covenant the Great Shepherd of the Sheep was raised from the Dead that they might be raised quickned and justified By virtue of this Covenant he gathers them and carries them in his Arms and lays the young and tender Ones in his Bosom and gently leads such that are with Young Isa 40. 11. By virtue of this Covenant he puts his Fear into their Hearts that they may not depart from him Christ as Mediator in this Covenant is God's Servant and undertakes the Office of Shepherd to take care of feed heal and preserve all those
hear his Voice with Affection They like love and approve of his Word and Doctrine it is sweet to them Thy Word is very pure therefore thy Servant loveth it They know that there is no Falshood in it it is pure from all Mixture there is exact Purity and Holiness in it which makes unsanctified Persons to like it not but either disbelieve it or else despise and hate it But a godly Man loves it upon the account of its Purity in that it promotes nothing but Holiness both in Heart and Life The Word of the Lord is right and all his Works are done in Truth Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right and hate every false Way I do not reject such things that my carnal Reason cannot comprehend or such as are opposite to the Lusts and Corruptions of my Heart or worldly Interest but I approve of all things that come out of thy Mouth Some Men do not receive the Truth in the love of it and therefore are given up to believe a Lie or to strong Delusions 3. They hear Christ's Voice with Attention they hear it diligently He says Hearken diligently unto me and they with the greatest care do so Thus Mary heard Christ's Voice she gave such attention to his Word and Doctrine that she left all her secular Concerns to attend upon him though her Sister was offended with her And thus Lydia heard the Word of Christ Whose Heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul None can hear with attention but such whose Hearts the Lord doth open and none can open the Heart and cause the Soul to hear that is dead but Christ only 4. They hear Christ's Voice believingly Others hear it but do not believe it Who hath believed our Report and to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed Christ saith Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God But O how few stedfastly give credit to this Doctrine certainly if Sinners did believe this but with the same Humane Faith with which they believe many other Things and Reports it would make them tremble but Christ's Sheep or all gracious Persons give full credit to whatsoever he hath said and that not only with an Humane Faith but with a Divine Faith also or Faith of the Operation of God The Man believed the Word that Jesus had spoken unto him The great Doctrine of the Gospel is a Doctrine of Faith 't is to believe He that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the Vngodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness Mankind are generally for doing to be justified they will not be perswaded that all is done already for them and that they are only to believe and be justified but thus Christ's Sheep hear his Voice 5. Christ's Sheep hear his Voice tremblingly with great Fear holy Awe and Reverence Thus good King Josias heard the Word of God his Heart was tender and he trembled and saith the Lord To this Man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and that trembleth at my Word They know it is God's Word Christ's Word who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth Who is the only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords Where the Word of a King is there is Power Power goeth along with Christ's Voice to awe all their Hearts that are gracious My Heart standeth in awe of thy Word saith David 6. Christ's Sheep hear Christ's Word universally even all that he saith unto them Him shall ye hear in whatsoever he shall say unto you And those who do not thus hear this great Prophet shall be destroyed from among the People Some will hear Christ's Word which they like of but if any part of his Doctrine sutes not their carnal Hearts or Interest that they will not hear nor comply with but Believers are for hearing the hardest things that are contained in Christ's Word they approve of every thing as you heard before 7. They hear Christ's Voice with Retention they hear and keep his Word they lay it up in their Hearts as it is said of the Blessed Virgin They will not lose it and therefore with David hide Christ's Word in their Hearts 8. They hear his Voice always constantly unto the End they will attend unto his Word and Doctrine as long as they live let what will come they are not offended as the stony-ground Hearers are said to be 9. And lastly They hear Christ's Voice only his Voice and none else They will not hear the Voice of a Stranger that is they will not receive damnable Errors they know the Voice of Deceivers nor will they receive a Mixture in Doctrine nor in God's Worship they will not join Christ and Moses together Works and Faith together Christ's Righteousness and their own together Christ's Institutions and the Inventions and Traditions of Men together Quest May not Believers who are Christ's Sheep be beguiled so as to receive some capital Errors or an Error in some fundamental Point Answ 1. No doubt but they may be seduced I mean a particular Sheep or Saint may be grievously corrupted in his Judgment 2. But if a Believer be drawn away or seduced he shall if sincere if an Elect Person be restored again for it is impossible any of them should finally be deceived If it were possible they should deceive the very Elect but that cannot be Quest Why are false Teachers called Strangers Answ 1. Because a Stranger is one that we know not so a false Teacher is one that knows not Christ nor his true and saving Doctrine they are not acquainted with him are not brought into Union with Christ nor have Communion with him 2. They are Strangers to the Life and Power of true Religion and Godliness 3. The Saints also know them not they approve not of them nor of the Doctrine they preach they can discern between Truth and Error by the Anointing they have received 4. A Stranger is one that is not a constant dweller in one Place so false Prophets and false Teachers are not fixed long in one Opinion Her Ways saith Solomon are moveable speaking of the false Church or adulterous Woman many of these are one day for one thing for one Error and another day for another this shews they are false Teachers or Strangers to the Truth they know it not 5. They are called Strangers because they publish strange Doctrine Be not carried about with divers and strange Doctrines The Doctrine of Christ is one and the same being immutable can suffer no Change or Alteration but these bring in a new Doctrine not known in the Primitive Days not taught by Christ or his Apostles nor received in the purest Times of the Gospel before Corruptions crept into the Church They will not hear the Voice of Strangers or the Doctrine of false Teachers 1. Not
the whole Heart as when a Child is formed in the Womb it hath all the Parts Nature doth not fashion one Part and leave another imperfect So the Holy Spirit forms every Part of the new Creature in the Soul of the Regenerate This Habit is but one 't is an intire Rectitude in all the Faculties and an universal Principle of inclining and disposing to that which is good and well-pleasing to God there is a Divine Light in the Vnderstanding by which the Soul sees God to be its chief Good and owns and looks upon him as such There is a Change in the Will that consents and chuses God as such there is a Change in the Affections There is no true Draught of the Image of God in us unless there be a Rectitude of Affection and Disposition There is therefore a conformity of Affections to God they love God and love as God loves and hate as God hateth they hate Evil because of that inward Filthiness that is in it and love Grace and Vertue because of its pure and native Beauty and Excellency therefore it is from hence the Soul comes to take delight in God 5. It changes not the Heart only but the whole Life also The Life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God Such live no longer to themselves but to God their Tongues speak for God their Ears hear for God their Hands work for God their Actions are Holy Just and Good There is a Change of Company also a Change of Labour of Endeavour and their whole End Aim and Design is to glorify God Heavenly Things are preferred by them before earthly Things they chiefly seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness They do not pursue the World as they did nor fashion themselves according to the former Lusts and the Course of this World nor pray as they did nor hear as they did nor give Alms as they did No no they do all things from another Principle from another End and with other Zeal Endeavours and Diligence Thirdly Christ's Sheep will feed in Christ's Pasture in their own Pasture where they are put by him not but that they may for good Reasons be removed into another Pasture but they will not unless under strong Temptation break down the Hedg or Fold where they were put and run away No no but are contented with that Food that Pasture God affords them though there may be some more Fat and Rich than theirs Some Sheep when they grow wanton are unruly and will break into other Mens Ground so there are some Professors some Church-members that rend themselves away from their own Flock and Fold in a disorderly manner Which as a Reverend Minister shews is an abominable Evil and a shame to them this destroys the Relation of Pastor and People for what may be done by one Individual may be done by all and saith he what Liberty belongs to the Sheep belongs also to that particular Shepherd who has the Charge of them much more it is a breaking Covenant with Christ and the Congregation and therefore a great Immorality 't is a Schism if there be any such thing in the World it is a despising the Government of the Church and there is as much reason a Person should come in when he pleases without asking Consent as to depart when he pleases It is also very evil and unkind in another Church to receive such a One as not doing as they would be dealt with Such a Practice can issue in nothing but in the Breach and Confusion of all particular Churches It tends saith he to Anarchy putting an Arbitrary Power in every Member and breaks all Bonds of Love and raiseth the greatest Animosities between Brethren and Churches The truth is how can another Shepherd justify such an Act to the great Shepherd of the Sheep I mean to take into his Fold his Neighbour's Sheep without Christ's Order and Authority Fourthly Christ's Sheep will and do follow him and this our Blessed Saviour lays down as an undoubted Character of all that are his They follow his Example his Steps The good Shepherd when he putteth forth his own Sheep he goeth before them and the Sheep follow him Jesus Christ hath gone before his Sheep in his Obedience to the Father leaving us an Example that we should follow his Steps 1. They follow his Steps in Humility He bids us to learn of him upon this Account Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in Heart How did Christ deny himself in taking our Nature upon him In this ought his Sheep to follow him Let the same Mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus O let the same humble Spirit and self-denying Temper be in you which was in him Who being in the Form of God thought it no Robbery to be equal with God and made himself of no reputation but took upon him the Form of a Servant c. Saints are or ought to be of a humble Frame having mutual Love and a condescending Spirit even to them that are in the lowest and meanest Condition bearing with the Weak and not exalting themselves nor offending one another in any thing that is indifferent in its own Nature I become all things to all that I might gain some 2. Christ's Sheep do follow him in Love and bowels of Compassion Be ye followers of God as dear Children and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us By this all Men may know we are his Disciples even when we have this Mark of his Sheep namely that we love one another Husbands are exhorted to love their Wives as Christ also loved his Church and gave himself for it even with a sincere pure ardent and constant Affection And thus ought all Christians to love each other also being united as Brethren together and Members of the same Body of which Christ is the Head He that loveth not his Brother is in Darkness he is none of Christ's Sheep He that saith he abideth in the Light ought also to walk even as he walked and love as he loved 3. They follow him in Holiness But as he that hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of Conversation Because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy God the Father is holy and Christ is holy He was holy harmless and undefiled separated from Sinners Therefore in this we should follow him in the whole Course of our Lives and in the several parts of our Conversations All those who are his Sheep they are such who are sanctified Persons who laying aside all filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit they go on perfecting Holiness in the fear of God 4. They follow the Example of Christ their holy Shepherd in Obedience Though he was a Son yet learned he Obedience by the things he suffered And being made perfect he became
precious Blood to drink knowing that except he doth this they must perish for ever This was that strange Doctrine in the Eyes of the Jews which they could not receive nor understand 8. Also by his healing of his Sheep with his own Stripes But he was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities the Chastisement of our Peace was upon him and by his Stripes we are healed What Shepherd ever thus loved his Sheep even to be wounded and bruised for them to heal them of their Wounds with his own Stripes But this Jesus Christ doth 9. By this washing them also in the same precious Blood Nothing could purge away the Filth and Guilt of our polluted Souls but Christ's Blood and if he wash us not we have no part with him He hath loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood This Love is wonderful Love amazing Love exceeding all Love O in what a Stream in what a Fountain are the Sheep of Christ washed Think upon it our Pollution was great but Christ hath washed us God sent his Son to take away our Sin and it must be done this way It is the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son that cleanses us from all Sin Fourthly Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd I am the good Shepherd the good Shepherd giveth his Life for the Sheep Our Lord Jesus shews in this that he excels all Shepherds Some Shepherds have ventured their Lives hazarded their Lives for their Sheep yet it was more than was required of them for the Life of a Man is much more valuable than the Life of a Beast But no doubt our Saviour refers to his great Work and Office as Mediator and as the Messiah that was to come who was to be cut off not for himself for his own Sins but for the Sins of the Elect or die for his Sheep It was required of him the Father gave him commandment to lay down his Life and he did it actually freely willingly nay he came on purpose into this World to do it and therefore he is the good Shepherd Fifthly Jesus Christ is a Wise Shepherd a knowing Shepherd I know my Sheep this I have already spoken to 1. He knows and sees all his Sheep at once with one look of his Eye in all the Nations of the Earth let them dwell where they will though never so far asunder or remote 2. He is so wise that he knows in what Condition they are and what Condition is best for them whether Poverty or Riches Sickness or Health Liberty or Bonds Peace or Trouble Honour or Disgrace Strength or Weakness either a fat or a lean Pasture Loss or Gain Cold or Heat whether a North or a South Wind. 3. He is wise to protect us wise to conduct us to feed us wise to fold us wise to heal us and wise to save us Sixthly Christ is the chief and great Shepherd of the Sheep And when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory And again the Holy Ghost calls him in another place the great Shepherd Now the God of Peace that brought from the Dead our Lord Jesus Christ that great Shepherd of the Sheep c. Jesus Christ may be called the chief and great Shepherd 1. Because he entered into Covenant with the Father as the great Surety of all the Sheep by which he came under a legal Obligation to pay the just Debts and to answer for the Defaults of all his Elect And then and thereby he undertook to bring in and gather all the Sheep to God by the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant by which Transaction he made our Peace and reconciled us unto the Father 2. Because he actually bought all the Sheep in pursuit of the said glorious Covenant-Transactions by the Price of his own Blood that so he might unite them all unto himself in one Body 3. He may be called the chief and great Shepherd because all the Sheep or Elect of God are given into his Hand to keep take care of feed heel protect and preserve to Eternal Life And this great Work and Office he hath undertaken and doth and will perform with all Faithfulness being every ways fitted endeared and qualified as Mediator and universal Shepherd and Head to discharge it 4. Because 't is he that calls them that justifies them that sanctifies them and presents them all faultless and without Spot before the Father 5. Because he is exalted in Glory and Dignity not only as the Head Lord and Sovereign of all the Sheep but also as the Prince of all Pastors and subordinate Shepherds that ever were are or shall be from whom they all receive their Power and Authority as his Deputies to take care of and watch over each part and parcel of his Flock committed to their respective Charge Jesus Christ is not only above all Shepherds all Ministers but they do all in his Name and must at the last Day be accountable to him for their Administrations 6. He is the great Shepherd of the Sheep a mighty Shepherd if we consider the greatness of the Flock which he hath not only received the Care and Charge of but they are all his own Sheep If a Shepherd had under his Care 100000 Sheep and all his own would not every body call him a great Shepherd Now though Christ's Flock is called a little Flock comparatively yet the Number of all his Sheep all his Elect is very great we read of ten thousands of his Saints and a Number that no Man can number they are all his and therefore a great Shepherd 7. He is great in Riches having a multitude of rich and choice Pastors enough to feed Millions of Sheep here on Earth And though his Flock will encrease e're long when the Fulness of the Gentiles shall come in and his antient Flock I mean the Seed of Abraham now scattered be gathered and all brought into one Fold yet he hath Pastures for them all Moreover he hath prepared a glorious and rich Fold for them Above which is Heaven it self that is the Fold into which all his Flock shall be put for ever and ever 8. Lastly He is great in Power No Shepherd hath such Power to defend protect preserve and save his Flock like to him None are able to pluck one Sheep out of his Hand as I shall prove and demonstrate when I come to speak to the next part of my Text. Another Shepherd for want of Power may lose his Sheep the Wolf or Lion may come and tear them in pieces and rob him of them But no Enemy neither Sin nor Satan nor the World can rend his Sheep from him he hath Power over all Adversaries and can subdue them with much case at his Pleasure therefore he is the great Shepherd Seventhly Jesus Christ is a watchful Shepherd This is one Property of a good Shepherd And there were Shepherds in the
Divine Majesty of God as so to charge the Doctrine of particular Election of lost Sinners Brethren Though Christ is not a Redeemer of Angels the Elect Angels needing none yet he is the Head of Angels and a Confirmer of them He is the Head of Principalities and Powers by him and for him were all things created that are in Heaven that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him Christ is God and he is the preserver of the Elect Angels they are committed to him and under his Power and he upholds them though he never died for them and shall we think he will not preserve his Elect Saints or that their Election should not as absolutely secure them for whom he as their blessed Lord and Head died and to whom he is a Redeemer as the Elect Angels to whom he is only a Confirmer And ye are compleat in him who is the Head of Principalities and Powers Ye are compleat fully compleat ye stand in him in his Righteousness compleat who is your Head and shall be preserved in him in whom you are elected to everlasting Life 6 thly Because they are chosen to Salvation that is to enjoy and possess Salvation if they have it not the Decree of God is frustrated but his Eternal Decrees are as firm as Mountains of Brass If the Decree of God in appointing his Elect to Salvation be frustrated or made void either it is done by himself or by others Now it cannot be made void by himself because it is an absolute Decree his Mind alters not and none else are able to do it And as to the Slips and Miscarriages of the Elect themselves God foresaw all their Evils from Everlasting and as that hindered not their Election so besure it shall neeer turn them out of it But we are bound to give Thanks always to God for you Brethren because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation c. From the beginning that is from before the World began or from Eternity for the absolute Decrees of God according to his Eternal Counsel are from Everlasting After the Apostle had shewed these Saints that there would come a falling away from the Faith and that many would be deceived and damned for ever to comfort and encourage them against the fear of final Apostacy he brings this in the 13 th Verse But we are bound to give Thanks for you Brethren beloved of the Lord c. You need not fear as if he should say of being deceived or of perishing by dangerous Errors or otherwise 1. Because you are beloved of the Lord. 2. And also are elected to Salvation and because beloved therefore elected Whomsoever God doth absolutely appoint to this or that End he will assist or enable to do whatsoever Means is necessary in order to that End Now the Elect are chosen to Salvation to inherit Eternal Life if therefore any of them miss of it his Decree and Purpose is frustrated which cannot be We have another Text of the like Nature with this For God hath not appointed us to Wrath but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ From hence the Apostle argues that they needed not to doubt of their Salvation and by what preceeds it appears that Election is a great Motive to Holiness as when a Man that is sure of the Victory will fight couragiously Let us who are of the Day or Children of Light not of Night nor of Darkness be sober putting on the Breast-plate of Faith and Love for God hath not appointed us to Wrath c. Children of the Night shall perish but none of the Children of the Light ever shall The Apostle ascends to the original Cause of it which is God's absolute Decree of Election Salvation would wholly else depend upon the uncertainty of Man's Will and not upon the immutable and unchangeable Will and Purpose of God Thâ—â— is more than appointing the Means it is an appointing the Persons not appointed to Salvation upon the foresight of Man's Faith because Faith is the Gift of God and proceeds from his Counsel that 's appointed too else a Man may say that I might be saved I must thank God but that I am saved I must thank my self because it was left to the liberty of my own Will whether I would believe and be saved or no. Two things are necessary in our Salvation 1. The Merits of Christ's Blood 2. Faith to apply it by which God's Image is restored to us and preserved in us and both these we have by his own free Grace through Christ Jesus as the Fruit of his electing Love 7 thly It doth further plainly appear that Election does eternally secure all Christ's Sheep all true Believers from final Falling or everlasting Ruin from the words of our Blessed Lord himself For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great Signs and Wonders insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect. Now is it not easy for any Man from hence to draw an Argument that the Elect cannot fall finally away so as to perish for if it is so that they cannot be deceived i. e. finally or take in damnable Errors so as to perish of which our Saviour speaks for the Elect have otherwise in a great measure and in many things I mean some of them been deceived but it is impossible they should be so deceived as to be damned And if this be granted then Election secures them they cannot finally fall If they might perish eternally they might be deceived with damnable Heresies and bring upon themselves swift and utter Destruction but they cannot be so deceived because they are the Elect therefore they caÌ„nnot fall away so as to perish Arg. If the Election of Grace be absolute as the Decree of Day and Night or as that of Christ dying for our Sins If we are elected in Christ as the Head we being all Members given to him to make up his Mystical Body if those that are elected shall be called justified and glorified if the Means as well as the End be under God's absolute Decree and Purpose if our Election doth as absolutely secure us from final Apostacy as the Election of the Holy Angels does secure them if we are elected to Salvation if it be impossible for any of the Elect to be finally deceived then none of them none of the Elect or no Sheep or Lambs of Jesus Christ can so fall away as to perish eternally but all this is true therefore none of them can so perish So much shall suffice as to the first Argument to prove the Saints final Perseverance Secondly My next Argument shall be taken from the Nature of God's Infinite Love to all his Saints The Love of the Father and Love of the Son doth secure them from perishing it is wonderful it passeth
all Understanding It is because God's Love is set upon them and it is such a Love What a Love 1. I answer it is an Everlasting Love The Lord appeared of old unto me saying Yea I have loved thee with an Everlasting Love c. It is a Love from Everlasting therefore it must be a first Love an early Love and because he loved them from Eternity he elected them from Eternity 2. It is a firm Love a strong Love an endeared Love nay an inconceivable Love I in them and thou in me and that the World may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me A Love of the same Nature of the same Quality O! what is the Nature of that Love the Father hath to Jesus Christ Who can conceive of it much less express it It is impossible for us to comprehend how firm strong and endearing it is but thus he loves all his Elect Ones Christ as Mediator is the Object of the Father's Love so are all his Members The same Love that is let out to the Head as to the Nature of it is let out to his Mystical Body and to every particular Member thereof 3. The Father's Love is a Love of Delight He is said to love others with a Love of Pity but he loves his Saints with a Love of Complacency He will rejoice over thee with joy he will rest in his Love he will rejoice over thee with singing He takes delight and satisfaction in his Love not in our Love to him but in his Love to us Again it is said As the Bridegroom rejoiceth over the Bride so shall thy God rejoice over thee 4. The Love of the Father is an inseparable Love nothing can separate his Love from his Elect like as nothing could separate his Love from his own Son so nothing can separate his Love from his Saints For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor Height nor Depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I am fully assured as some read it not by any special Revelation but by the same Spirit of Faith which is common to all Believers neither fear of Death nor hope of Life nor shall the Devils be able or evil Angels though they are Principalities or Powers though of that Rank or according to others who by Principalities understand the wicked Potentates of the Earth nor shall cruel Persecutors be able nor shall Things present whatever Temptations Miseries or Afflictions which you now lie under or may hereafter meet with neither height of Honour or Spiritual or Civil Advancement nor depth of worldly Disgrace or Abasement or the deepest of Spiritual Desertion that can befal them nor any other Creature or Thing shall be able to separate us who believe or are united to Christ from the Love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Arg. That which no Power of Earth or Hell no Potentate no Enemy no Friend or no thing whatsoever is or shall be able to do or effect cannot be done or it is impossible it should be done But no Power of Earth or Hell no Potentate no Enemy no Friend or nothing whatsoever is able or shall be able to separate true Believers from the Love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord Therefore it is impossible any such should fall so away as eternally to perish Object But stay say some your Argument is not good for Sin may separate them from the Love of God We grant indeed from what the Apostle says that nothing else can do it but Sin may for your Iniquities have separated between you and your God Answ I answer It is a mistake Sin cannot separate them who are his beloved Ones from his Love the Scripture mentioned proves not that such who are true Believers may be separated from God's Love or that Sin can finally separate them from their God therefore consider 1. That I deny not but Sin may separate such from God who are his People only by visible Profession or only his in an externally legal Covenant as the whole House of Israel at that Time was when the Prophet uttered those Expressions and it hath separated them and the greatest part of them I mean for ever for the Jews for the Sin of Unbelief and rejecting of Christ were utterly cast off 2. Sin may also separate God's Elect Ones from his sensible sweet and comfortable Presence for a time God may hide his Face from his dearest Children or bring them into great Afflictions 3. Israel when in the Babylonian Captivity was said to be separated from God because they were separated from his Temple and visible Worship where he promised them his Presence But it doth not follow from hence Sin can ever finally separate God and his Love which is eternal and abiding from those he hath chosen in Jesus Christ To make it appear yet more fully that Sin cannot separate them from the Love of God for ever consider First That though it is true as I have before shewed that God's Beloved Ones may grievously sin against him yet they cannot sin away his Love and Affection And to make this appear hear what God himself saith If his Children for sake my Law and walk not in my Judgments If they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandments What then will he take away his loving-Kindness from them and cast them off for ever O no Then will I visit their Transgression with the Rod and their Iniquities with Stripes nevertheless my loving Kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my Faithfulness to fail my Covenant I will not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my Mouth Object This is spoken of Christ My loving-Kindness I will not utterly take from him c. Answ 1. I grant that it is spoken of Christ but not of Christ personally but Christ mystically considered Did Christ personally ever forsake God's Law Besides doth not God say his Children 2. Christ and Believers are considered as one in regard of their mystical Union with him 3. Doth the Covenant of Grace made with Christ respect his Person only Or doth it not refer to all that are in him or given to him or all his true spiritual Seed But to put it out of doubt read the next Words and tremble whoever you be that assert that the Elect may perish for ever Once have I sworn by my Holiness that I will not lie to David Well what is that which God hath sworn by his Holiness and will not lie to do for David the true David that is his own beloved Son pray read the 36 th verse His Seed shall endure for ever and his Throne as the Sun before me His Seed that is all those that are given to him or
that are the Children of the Promise such who are renewed by his Grace or born of him by his Spirit these are his Seed and all these shall endure for ever And to make it good God hath sworn to Christ as Mediator by his Holiness they shall endure that is remain his Children for ever or abide in his Covenant to Eternity and therefore they can't be separated from his Love by Sin Now dare any go about through their great Ignorance to charge God with Perjury O let them dread the Consequents of their evil Opinion Object Those of the Seed of Christ or Believers who sin and afterwards do humble themselves we grant shall endure or be restored and they are such that the Spirit of God speaks of in that Psalm you mentioned Answ In answer to this Brethren pray consider that God hath promised Grace to all his Children that fall into Sin to humble them Repentance is in the Covenant of Grace a broken and tender Heart he will give them not only at first when they believe but afterwards when through Temptations and humane Frailties they are overtaken and sin against him 't is not a Repentance of their own getting whereby to oblige God to return again to them But pray see what he says to his beloved Ones For I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the Spirit shall fail before me and the Souls that I have made For the Iniquity of his Covetousness was I wroth and smote him and he went on frowardly in the Way of his Heart Well and what will God do with him now he hath sinned and that grievously too and God hath afflicted him as sorely smote him in his Wrath or as a Father seems to do when his Child that hath grievously offended him but he is not humbled he repents not but goes on frowardly under the Rod shall he perish stay a little see what God says verse 18. I have seen his Ways and will heal him although I might justly destroy him as if God should say and leave him to perish yet of my meer Mercy and for my own Name sake I will pity him I will give him Repentance I will heal him he shall mourn for his Sins and I will restore Comfort to him and to his Mourners Alas till God turn us we turn not therefore a godly Man says with poor Ephraim Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote on my Thigh After God hath graciously touched our Hearts convinced us of our Sins or changed our Minds we repent and alter our Practices and God will give Grace thus to do He remembers his Covenant and his Oath to our David c. I create the Fruits of the Lips Peace Peace to him that is afar off and to him that is near saith the Lord I will heal him I will in a wonderful manner and by my own Grace and Almighty Power do all and have all the Praise to my self Object But may be the Persons you speak of were a praying People they were found in their pious Duties and so their Sins were forgiven and they healed Answ How fain would some Men eclipse the Free Grace of God and find something in the Creature to oblige God to give the Mercy promised 1. I deny not but God will be sought unto for all the good Things promised to Believers But who is it that puts it into our Hearts to seek him or helps and influences our Spirits to pray unto him We know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit maketh intercession for us with Groanings that cannot be uttered 2. Yet nevertheless see what God saith of the People before mentioned But thou hast not called upon me O Jacob but thou hast been weary of me O Israel ver 22. Thou hast not brought me the small Cattel of thy Burnt-offerings neither hast thou honoured me with thy Sacrifices I have not caused thee to serve with an Offering nor wearied thee with Incense ver 23. Thou hast bought me no sweet Cane with Money neither hast thou filled me with the Fat of thy Sacrifices but thou hast made me to serve with thy Sins and wearied me with thine Iniquities ver 24. See now what a People these were they had not so much as done the least things commanded had not brought the small Cattel for a Sacrifice nor did they pray nor seek the Face of God Yet that God may magnify his Grace see what he speaks in the next Words I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgression for mine own sake and will not remember thy Sins Nothing you see can take off God's Love from his Covenant-Children nothing is done by our own Merits or for the sake or worth of our Duty but all wholly of his own Mercy and Goodness Secondly To make it further manifest that the Sins of Believers cannot separate them from the Love of God is evident because Jesus Christ hath fully satisfied his Justice for all their Sins he hath paid all their Debts Wrath and Divine Vengeance cannot hurt the Elect of God in whose stead Christ died Should their Sins work their Ruin and destroy their Souls it would follow that Christ made no perfect Compensation for them if he hath it would be injustice in God should he let out his vindictive Wrath against them for their Sins Surely he hath born our Griefs and carried our Sorrows c. All we like Sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquities of us all Thirdly Because they have an Advocate with the Father Christ pleads the Merits of his own Blood the Satisfaction he hath made for their Sins My little Children these things write I unto you that you sin not O take heed you sin not do not grieve your Father offend your God you know how hateful Sin is to him as if he should so say But if any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous Saints should neither presume to sin nor despair if overtaken thereby Fourthly Because Christ prayed in the Days of his Flesh that the Father would keep them that he had given him in the World from the Evil thereof though not from every Evil. I dare not say that because whatever Christ prayed for it was granted and yet we see the best of Saints do sin But he prayed that they might not fall so sin so as to perish in their sin or sin unto Death therefore their Sins shall never damn them Fifthly Their Sins cannot separate them so from the Love of God as that he should cast them off for ever because a broken Heart and pardon of Sin is contained in the Covenant of Grace I will be merciful unto their Vnrighteousness and their
loved his Sheep his People his Spouse as himself above himself Mary loved him so as to wash his Feet with her Tears but he loved Mary so and all his Elect Ones as to wash their Souls in his own most precious Blood Jacob loved Benjamin David loved Absalom but David said Jonathan's Love to him was wonderful passing the Love of Women But what is a Bubble to the Ocean a Spark of Fire to a Furnace or a finite Love to an infinite Love What is all Love to Christ's Love 5. Christ's Love to his Sheep to his Elect is wonderful because it passeth knowledg That ye may know the Love of Christ that passeth Knowledg 1. It passeth the Knowledg of the Natural Man What can he with all his natural and acquired Parts find out as to the greatness and wonderfulness of Christ's Love 2. It passeth the Knowledg of the Moral Man What can the Natural or the Moral Philosopher do as to the comprehending finding out or demonstrating the Nature of Christ's Love Can he sound the Depth of the Sea Can he measure the Breadth of the Heavens Can he account the Length of Eternity Besides here is a Height that their Art discovers not the Mathematicks teacheth not this Mystery That ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the Breadth and Length the Depth and Height and to know the Love of Christ that passeth Knowledg 3. It passeth the Knowledg of the Spiritual Man he cannot arrive to a full and perfect understanding of it 4. Nay it passeth the Knowledg of the Holy Angels their Wisdom and Understanding no doubt is wonderful but here they are at a loss they stand in amaze looking into and admiring with astonishment this Love to see him that is God become Man to save such a Vile and Sinful Creature to love and delight in him that was so great an Enemy 5. It is wonderful because a whole Eternity will be but little enough to let out to Believers the Love of Christ It will never be fully known it cannot be comprehended all above and all below are at a loss they are all at a nonpluss and astonished at it Thirdly Christ's Love therefore to his Sheep to his Saints is an immense incomprehensible or an infinite Love as the Wrath and Anger of God and the Lamb when kindled and let out is inconceivable so is his precious Love to his People this Breadth Length Depth and Height doubtless refers to the unsearchable Greatness and Immensity of God Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection Canst thou come to the uttermost of what God is Canst thou find out the inmost Recesles or Secrets of God's Heart of Christ's Heart Hast thou seen what is laid up in the inner Chambers of his Spirit then thou mayst know his Love for it is like himself God is Love Love is his very Nature It is as high as Heaven what canst thou do deeper than Hell what canst thou know longer than the Earth broader than the Sea Many Wits as one notes run Riot in Geometrical Notions about Moral Dimensions and whereas Naturalists give us but three Dimensions of a Body Longitude Latitude and Profundity the Love of Christ Brethren hath Altitude added which is a Fourth Doubtless all these Dimensions are mentioned only to set forth the Immensity of Christ's Love 1. Christ's Love is broad enough to spread over and cover like a Mantle all the Sins of his Elect and also to hide them from Satan's Rage and Fury His Love is long enough to reach us with his Arm of Affections where-ever we are or whatever our Wants be Christ's Love is deep enough to find us out and relieve us under all depths of Afflictions Despondency or Distress of what sort soever Christ's Love has a Height in it enough to defend us like a high Wall against all the Assaults of those Enemies that are in high Places and above us we cannot see them As-Satan is a Spirit he has the Advantage of us such is his Nature he is said to be in high Places he is the Prince of the Power of the Air. But God is above him Christ is in a higher Sphere his Love hath a Height in it so that neither Height nor Depth can separate us from his Love as well as it cannot separate us from the Love of the Father 2. Christ's Love is an infinite or an immense Love as appears because it is without beginning it is from Eternity before ever the Earth was That which was before the World was is without beginning but the Love of Christ to his Elect was before the World was even from Everlasting Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting Love 3. Christ's Love to his Sheep to his Saints is an infinite or immense Love doth appear because his Love to them is as that Love the Father hath to him As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you Though as may not be a Note of Comparison in every Sense yet it doth signify the Truth Firmness and Greatnese of Christ's Love The Father loveth Christ with an eternal immense immutable constant free full and perfect Love so doth Jesus Christ love every one of his Elect Ones Again saith Christ to his Father that the World may know that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me He would have all know how he loves his People or such that were given to him 4. It appears to be an infinite Love because it cannot be found out defined or comprehended it passing all Understanding as also by the glorious and amazing Effects thereof which are apparent to all 5. Because it is without ending all those that Jesus Christ doth love or hath set his special Affections upon he loveth to the End his Love is not only from Everlasting but also to Everlasting he abides in his Love notwithstanding all the Weakness Frailties or Decays of Love in his People towards him He heals and with a Nevertheless will heal their Back slidings and love them freely Fourthly The Love of Jesus Christ to his Saints is a Conjugal Love it is an Espousal Love Though I purpose to speak to the Nature of that blessed and mystical Union which is betwixt Christ and every Believer under a distinct Argument yet let it be considered here that the consideration that Christ's Love is such as that he doth espouse every Godly Soul and marry it to himself this must needs be one of the highest Arguments that can be produced to prove their final Perseverance because Espousal Love is the Sweetest the Firmest and most abiding Love especially the Love of Christ's Espousal I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in Righteousness and in Judgment and in loving Kindness and in Mercy I will even betroth thee unto me in Faithfulness and thou shalt know the Lord. What words can more fully express the Firmness of
this Marriage-Contract or Espousal Love of Christ to his true Israel This Conjugal Love of Christ is that never-exhausted Fountain of all our spiritual and eternal Comforts all Mercies like Streams which never fail flow to all Believers from hence Can a Man shew greater Love to a Woman than to espouse her to be his Wife This is beyond the Love of Parents to Children Christ bestows himself on us and all he hath nay and that he might do this he bought or purchases us Christ bought his Spouse none ever gave such a vast Sum for a Wife as Jesus Christ hath done and shall any think he will lose her after all this if he is able to help it How can that enter into any Man's Thoughts Will a faithful Husband a tender Husband suffer his most dear and beloved Wife that he hath such Affection to to be torn from him and be abused and pulled into pieces and he look on If he hath Power in his Hand will he not rescue her nay die upon the Spot before he will see this done But alas ala what is the Love of any mortal Man to his Spouse to his Wife when compared with the Love of Christ to his Saints who loved his Church and gave himself for her and whose Love is as you have heard so wonderful infinite and inconceivable Moreover I hope none doubt of his Power Others may see their Wives ravished and torn in pieces before their Eyes and cannot help it they are not able to help and save them but Christ wants no Power as he wants no Wisdom Care or Affections Now what are the Enemies the most dangerous Enemies of the Spouse of Christ Is not Sin the chief Sin the World the Devil c. Will he then think you let Sin prevail Satan prevail so far as to deflour murder and destroy that precious Soul he thus loves and hath espoused to himself Those who assert final falling from a State of true Grace must say he doth thus viz. He suffers Sin to destroy his Spouse even to put out the Eyes deflour strip wound and murder the Soul he has espoused whilst he stands by and looks on and can but will not help nor deliver her because the Soul is bliaded by some Lusts or drawn away by an Enemy therefore they say he will not He that can believe such a Doctrine let him But Fifthly Christ Love hath an attracting and a retaining Quality in it It draws the Soul to Christ and it keeps it close with Christ when it hath received and imbraced him it draws nay constrains the Soul to love Christ We love him because he first loved us And no Man or Woman that loves Christ sincerely but they hate Sin it constrains the Soul to return Love for Love Christ's Love is like Elijah's Garment that he cast upon Elisha who immediately run after Elijah and said Let me I pray thee kiss my Father and Mother and then I will follow thee And be said Go back what have I done unto thee Thus doth Christ's Love to the Soul in all that feel its Influences they follow him cleave to him and also keep with him for like as the Fear of God so the Love of God is put into our Hearts if we are sincere Christians and we shall not cannot finally depart from him Sixthly Christ's Love is a free Love as nothing did purchase it so nothing can nor shall lose or forfeit it I will love them freely From the whole I infer If the Love of Jesus Christ is an early Love a Love of Complacency if it be a wonderful and amazing Love if it be an immense infinite and incomprehensible Love if it is a conjugal Love an attracting and retaining Love a free and abiding Love which he hath to every Believer then he will not ever let go that hold he hath of every one of them so as to suffer them to fall from him as eternally to perish But such is the Nature of the Love of Jesus Christ therefore he will never so let go that hold he hath of every Believer as to suffer them to fall so as eternally to perish Brethren such is the Love of Christ to his Saints as that he gives them special Tokens and Assurance of his Eternal Favour Some of them are these following 1. He calls them with an effectual and special Calling 2. He renews them and stamps his own Image upon them 3. He puts his Holy Spirit into them 4. He justifies them freely by his own Grace giving them his own Robe of Righteousness which is beyond a Garment of Cloth of Gold 5. He sanctifies them and endows them with Power to mortify Sin and when they fall he helps them up again by his right Hand 6. He seals his Love to them with the Kisses of his Mouth or by his most sure and precious Promises 7. He commands his Holy Angels to attend them and to administer to them and keep them in all his Ways 8. He leads feeds and preserves them under all Trouble Temptation and Afflictions and sympathizes with them 9. He sets them as a Seal upon his Heart as a Seal upon his Arm they are engraven on the Palms of his Hands he hath sworn that his loving Kindness shall never be taken away from them As I have sworn that the Waters of Noah should no more go over the Earth so have I sworn that I will not be wroth with thee For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my Kindness shall not depart from thee c. 10. He puts his Law into their Hearts that none of their Feet should slide APPLICATION First To close with this O see you that are Believers that you strive after the Knowledg of Christ's Love Motives 1. It is the highest Ingratitude not to desire after the Knowledg of such Love Shall a Beggar be beloved by a Prince and she not be affected with it nor inquire after it 2. Because you are the Objects of this Love of this Affection doth it not seem an amazing Consideration to you May be you can't soon believe it because you see no worth in your selves Ah saith the Soul Christ loves me thus What such a poor sorry and filthy Wretch Wonder O Heavens be astonished O Earth The more you know it the more you will love your Blessed Saviour He loved me not a righteous Person but me a Sinner a loathsom Sinner when in my Blood and Filth 3. This will make you little in your own Eyes the more we know of God and of Christ and of his Love the more we shall loath and abhor our selves O that ever I should grieve him as I have done How did the sense of God's Love and Goodness to David humble him Who am I O Lord and what is mine House that thou hast brought me hitherto And yet is this a small thing in thine Eyes O God
for thou hast spoken of thy Servant's House for a great while to come and hast regarded me according to the Estate of a Man of high Degree O Lord. Thus may every Believer say The Love of Christ will have the like Effect on our Souls as the Knowledg of David's Love to Abigail when he sent Messengers to her to make her his Wife and raise her to his Throne Let me saith she be a Servant to wash the Feet of the Servants of my Lord. 4. The Knowledg of Christ's Love will beget greater and stronger Love in our Souls to him Love begetteth Love but not till it is known O taste Sinners of this Love had you but a Taste how would your Hearts be enflamed in Love to Jesus Christ And as to you Saints 5. The more you know of Christ's Love the more your Hearts will die and your Love cool to all earthly things 6. The more you know of Christ's Love the more firmly you will be fixed and setled in his Truth and be delivered from Fears and Doubts about your standing Alas it is not Sin nor Satan nor Hell nor Death that can deprive your Souls of Christ's Love if you are his If Satan says Thou art a vile Sinner and lays before thee the Baseness of thy Heart tell him Christ's Love passeth Knowledg Does he say that thou wilt fall one time or another Tell him Christ loved thee not for thy Righteousness and his Love that is so infinite will never suffer thee to fall and rise no more 7. The Knowledg of Christ's Love will make us to speak well of God and Christ and his Ways at all times still we shall say the Love of God and Jesus Christ is the same all is in Love whom I love I rebuke and chasten Christ's Love known and experienced will be a Cordial to bear thee up to the end of thy Days 8. This will set your Souls at liberty and bring you out of the Spirit of Bondage and make you to run after him But it is not the knowing of Christ's Love in any degree but to that degree that passeth Knowledg a Love that can't fail which will do this 9. The Knowledg of Christ's Love will make you cling and cleave to him Christ is the Loadstone and our Soul the Needle and now our Soul having touched him it makes to the Center and though you may like the Needle tremble for a Time yet you are hastening to him and never will rest till you come to him whom your Souls love 10. The more you know of him and of his Love the more will be your inward Joy and Peace For this is the Way to be filled with all the Fulness of God and to know the Love of Christ which passeth Knowledg that you may be filled with all the Fulness of God Secondly This may reprehend and sharply reprove such Christians that doubt of the Love of Christ especially those who affirm that justified and sanctified Persons may for ever lose his Love and perish for this renders his Love mutable and changeable according as the Love of Mortals change one towards another Thirdly and lastly What Comfort and Consolation doth this afford to all true Christians But I must proceed to the next Argument to prove That Saints shall not cannot finally fall so as to perish Fourthly Christ's Sheep his Saints shall never so fall as finally and eternally to perish I shall in the next place prove and that from the Nature of the Covenant of Grace First Because it is a Covenant of Grace We do not stand in this Covenant as Adam stood in the first Covenant And now that it is a Covenant of Grace will appear if we consider with whom this Covenant was primarily made and that was with Jesus Christ it was made between God in the Person of the Father and Man in the Person of Christ Our Lord Jesus was constituted in this Covenant the great Head Representative and blessed Surety for and in behalf of all the Father gave unto him Adam had no Surety that undertook for him in the first Covenant as a Covenanting Hand but was entrusted with all his Riches all being put into his own Hand which he soon by his Sin lost and undid himself and all his Posterity whom he was set up as the common Head and Representative of God foresecing this he would not enter into a Covenant any more with Man his Credit being for ever lost And since he lost all when he had Power to stand there was no likelihood or possibility of his standing after he had deprived himself of his Power of doing good being depraved in all the Faculties of his Soul Therefore Christ was set up set up from Everlasting by the Holy God who foresaw all things before they came to pass as the Head and Surety of the New Covenant called the New Covenant in respect had to the time of the Revelation of it to Mankind it being not known until Man had broke the first Covenant now Christ undertook in the Covenant of Grace for all the Elect he personating them when the Father and he entred into that glorious Compact or Covenant-Transactions we having not then an actual Being he represented all that were given to him out of the lost Lump of fallen Man and undertook as Mediator to make up that Breach that was between God and Man and by his perfect Obedience to merit for them Everlasting Life and to bring them all to Glory This being so nothing can more fully demonstrate the Certainty of their Salvation and the Impossibility of any of their perishing for they for whom Jesus Christ did undertake this great and glorious Work even all the Elect Seed were put into his Hand by the Tenour of this Covenant to work out Life and Salvation for them and to die in the room and stead of them thereby to bear that Wrath and Curse that they otherwise must have suffered born and endured for ever Now in this Covenant Eternal Life comes to us primarily by God's Free Grace in his finding out parting with and accepting of his own Son to be our Saviour and Surety And secondly by virtue of what Christ hath done and did undertake to do and suffer for all that should be saved they cannot perish I have found David my Servant with my Holy Spirit have I anointed him My Mercy will I keep with him for evermore and my Covenant shall stand fast in him His Seed also will I make to endure for ever His Seed that is all that are the Product of his Spirit or are quickned and renewed by him This is the Nature of the Covenant of Grace Christ is their Root and Head their Spirit of Life is in him and it is derived from him in Regeneration in a spiritual way as our natural Life was in and derived to us from the first Adam by Generation in a natural way My Brethren pray do not mistake about
nothing it is not such eating as the Idolatrous Papists dream of it is by the Holy Spirit by the indwelling of the quickning Spirit whereby we have a real participation of Christ He is in us by his Spirit as a Vital Principle changing our Hearts and working in us his own Holy Image infusing Gracious Dispositions and Sacred Habits in the Soul and we are in him by Faith in a gracious hidden and mystical manner and this Union cannot be dissolved Secondly This Union must needs be most intimate near and strong if we consider by what Metaphors it is set forth in God's Word 1. It is a Marriage-Union like as a Man and his Wife are said to be one Flesh so he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit No Man ever hated his own Flesh but nourished and cherished it as the Lord the Church He that loveth his Wife loveth himself a Man and his Wife is but one Mystical Self and what is in Nature as to the Perfection of it is much more eminently in Christ Now since God hath fitted to our Nature a Care of our Body this Care be sure is much more in Christ when the Apostle shews what the Love of the Husband should be unto the Wife and that a Man leaves both Father and Mother and cleaveth to his Wife and they two shall be one Flesh Saith he This is a great Mystery but I speak concerning Christ and his Church or of Christ and every believing Soul The Union between Husband and Wife is near ay but Death dissolves this Union because they can be united or be one no longer than both live But Christ lives for ever and the Soul of a Believer lives for ever Nay Believers have Eternal Life in them and they shall never die therefore it follows this Union abides for ever He hath betrothed his Saints his Spouse unto himself for ever And can any then dissolve this Marriage-Contract and Conjugal Union Is Christ able to preserve his Souse or the Soul that is united unto him Is it in the Power of his Hands Pray Brethren consider it well Will any of you that have a Spouse a Wife that you dearly love suffer her to be torn into pieces and basely murdered before your Eyes if you could prevent it And do any think that Christ who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth Power over Sin the World the Devil yea over Hell and Death will he I say ever suffer his Spouse to be destroyed and murdered by Sin World or Devil Strange did he die for her and has he married her and made her one Spirit with himself and will he leave her to conflict to fight and war with an Enemy that he knows is too strong and mighty for her and not come in rush in to her assistance to save and rescue her from such bloody cruel and barbarous Enemies No doubt but he will rise up with Indignation and Jealousy to save every Soul that is so related and united to him Thirdly This Spiritual Union between Christ and every believing Soul is set forth by that near and intimate Union which there is between the Natural Body and every Member thereof The Head and Members make but one Body even so Christ is the Head of his Saints and they being many are all Members of that one Body Christ and all Believers make but one Mystical Christ Even as the Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body so is Christ that is Christ Mystical Now this Relation of Head and Members I say holds forth this Spiritual Union between Christ and every Believer We are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone And it is from their Head Jesus Christ that every Member receives Divine and Saving Influences of Life Strength Government and Guidance as the Apostle shews From whom the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every Joint supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh encrease of the Body unto the edifying of it self in Love Our Union with Christ brings us into a fixed Settlement and secures us from all Fears or danger of miscarrying let all Enemies do what they can Can the Members be lost that have such a Head Our Union with Christ cannot consist in the communication of any thing unto us as Members from him the Head But it must be in that which constitutes him and us in this Relation saith a Reverend Minister he is our Head antecedently in order of Nature to any communication of Grace from him as a Head yet not antecedent to our Union it self Herein then consists the Union of Head and Members that tho they are many and have many Offices Places and Dependencies yet there is but one living quickning Soul in Head and Members The same Life that is in the Head is in the Body and in every Member thereof in particular and he that offers Violence to one Member offers Violence to the Body and the Head also And as one living Soul makes the natural Head and Members to be but one Man one Body so one quickning Spirit dwelling in Christ and in his Members gives them their Mystical Union and makes them but one Body As the first Man Adam was made a living Soul so the last Man Adam was made a quickning Spirit It is he that quickens by his Spirit or conveys a vital Principle to all his by which they live spiritually as from Adam all his live naturally Because I live ye shall live also So long as there is Life in Christ the Head there shall be Life in the Members because that Life that is communicated to the Head without measure as Mediator was to this very End that it might be communicated to every believing Soul that is united to him Now then if it be thus if this be the Nature of the Soul's Union with Jesus Christ that it is set out and opened to us by the Union that there is between the Body natural and its Members then I infer 1. That by the Life that is in the Head the Members live and because of that Life that is in him they cannot die it was by that Spirit that is in him that we were first quickned and Life is in us and shall be continued to us 2. I also infer That if Christ be able or can do it he will prevent his losing of any one of his Members And for any one to say it is not in his Power is Blasphemy and to say he can and will not is a like Evil to assert because it renders Christ less tender and careful of his Spiritual Members than we are of the Members of our Natural Body Which of us would suffer his Hand or Foot to be torn from us nay a Toe or Finger if we could prevent it 3. Furthermore I infer That all the Members of Christ's Mystical Body
prayed the Father and was heard herein that all that the Father had given him might be one as He and the Father was one What can be a greater Argument to prove that that Union which is between Christ and Believers is an inseparable an abiding and an undissolvable Union The Union here doth not respect that Essential Union that is between the Father and the Son but in respect of Christ as he is our Head and Mediator in which respect the Father poured into him of his abundant Fulness that so we having a firm perfect and setled Union with him might in a glorious manner receive from him and be supplied with all things we need And Christ being the Medium of our Union with God both the Father's Union with Christ and Christ's Union with us are for the final Perfection and compleating that Glorious Work he hath begun in the Souls of his People until we all come to be with him where he is and behold his Glory If therefore we consider the Nature of this Union and the Prayer of Christ that it might be perfected and abide undissolvable it must follow that it is impossible for any Soul that is thus united to the Lord Jesus ever so to fall away as eternally to perish Fourthly By this Spiritual Union with Christ we partake of his Blessed Image or Divine Nature So that the Head and Members are of one kind and not like Nebuchadnezzar's Image a Head of Gold and a Belly and Thighs of Brass and Legs of Iron and Feet and Toes part of Iron and part of Clay This would be to make the Mystical Body of Christ a Monster an Immortal Head an Incorruptible Head and a Mortal Body and Members that may corrupt putrify and become loathsom No this cannot be such as is the Head as to Nature and Quality such is the Body and every Member in particular a living Head and living Members a Head of pure Gold and Members of pure Gold also a Head that cannot die and therefore the Members cannot die For Fifthly It is a Vital Vnion as you have heard that is to say the same Life that is in Christ is in all Believers And as it is in the natural Body the Members have not only Life in the Head but Life in themselves also and so long as there is Life in the Head there shall be Life in the Members so it is here And this must therefore be for ever for by the same parity of Reason that one Member may die or corrupt the whole Body may die and corrupt also But Christ is our Life and the Spirit which is the Bond of this Union communicates Life to every Soul in whom he resides and dwells and the Holy Spirit hath taken up his abode in Believers for ever He that hath the Spirit hath the Son and he that hath the Son hath Life I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me From hence I argue Arg. 1. If he that believeth in Christ or that hath Union with Christ is a Part or Limb of Christ Mystical then not one Soul that believes in Christ and has real Union with him can eternally perish Shall a Member of Christ perish or be torn from his Body Brethren was it Christ's Natural Body only that was concerned in that Prophecy A Bone of him shall not be broken Or did Christ take more care of the Members of his Natural Body than of the Members of his Mystical Body Arg. 2. If Christ's Love to and Care of the Members of his Mystical Body be greater than any Man's Love to or Care of the Members of his Natural Body can be then not one of Christ's Sheep or Saints can eternally perish But his Love to and Care of the Members of his Mystical Body is far greater than theirs can be therefore it follows no Believer can ever perish Arg. 3. If the Union between Christ and Believers be a Marriage-Union and that those that Christ does espouse and bring into that Relation to himself he doth espouse for ever if it is a Union like that Union that is between God the Father and Christ as Mediator if it be an indissolvable Union a Union which God nor Christ will ever break nor Sin Satan nor no Enemy can ever break then not one Soul that is truly and really united to Christ can ever so fall away as eternally to perish But all this we have proved to be true therefore not one Soul that hath true and real Union with Christ can fall away so as eternally to perish Arg. 4. If the Love of God and the Love of Christ abides firm for ever to every Soul that hath Union with Christ which is the Spring efficient and moving Cause of this Union then not one of them who have Union with Christ can perish But we have proved that the Love of the Father and Son abides firm for ever to every Soul that has Union with Christ therefore not one of them can perish for ever Arg. 5. If Christ died rose again and ascended into Heaven as the Head and Representative of all those that were given unto him and have Union with him then as sure as he is now in Heaven they shall every Soul of them come thither But this hereafter I shall fully prove and clearly God assisting make appear when I come to speak to the next General Argument Arg. 6. If the Union between Christ and Believers is so strong and firm a Union intensively that Christ and they become one Spirit so that as if there was but one Spirit in Christ and in them or what the Spirit is to Christ and doth to Christ as Mediator without measure he is to every Believer and does for every Believer in measure according to each Believer's Necessity and Capacity then this Union secures every Believer from falling so as to perish for ever But this we have proved is so the Spirit must either desert Christ as you heard or them if ever the Union be broken not Christ that all will say is impossible not Believers because of the blessed Union they have with him and also because Christ hath promised that the Spirit shall abide in them for ever Nay this is also the absolute Promise of the Father to the Son in the Covenant of Grace And as for me this is my Covenant with them saith Jehovah My Spirit that is upon thee and my Words which I have put in thy Mouth shall not depart out of thy Mouth nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed's Seed from henceforth and for ever Arg. 7. By virtue of this Sacred Union because Christ lives the Saints or those that have Union with him shall live also which Blessing besides he has by a positive Promise assur'd them of then no Soul that hath real Union with him can perish But this our Blessed Saviour doth assert Because I live ye shall live also that is the
doubt of that And if you can make it appear that he so died for us as you affirm namely in the room or stead of all his Elect then your Argument is not to be answered Answ I answer That Jesus Christ did not suffer Death for our Good only but in our room or stead also I shall prove and make clearly to appear 1. This Notion if you will so call it of Christ dying for us must denote his dying in our stead because it is so always generally taken when one Person is said to die for another one is condemned and another dies for him that is in his Room to save the guilty Person from Death And should not this be granted we should be all confounded and not know either what Men or the Scripture means when they say such a Man such a Person died for another or for others when the Person for whom that great Love and Favour was shewed to was as a Criminal and condemned to die which moved his Friend or Surety to step in and suffer the Penalty for him or in his stead Now it was so here we were all Criminals guilty of the highest Treason against the God of Heaven and were by the holy Law of our offended Soveraign condemned to die and to bear Eternal Wrath and our Blessed Saviour was chosen in our room and given up as an Act of the Father's Infinite Love and Favour and as an Act of no less Love Favour and Compassion in Christ to die for us and to satisfy Divine Justice for us or to bear the Punishment we were to have born and must had not he born it for us for ever 2. Is it not plainly foretold that the Messiah should be cut off but not for himself Now since he had no Sin of his own and yet was cut off for Sin it follows he was put in our Place and stood charged with our Guilt or Debt and so was penally cut off he was cut off for us to save us from Divine Wrath and Vengeance It was not for himself it was not for the fallen Angels it was therefore for us that we might not die but live eternally 3. Pray Brethren see what our Saviour saith upon this Account Greater Love hath no Man than this that a Man lay down his Life for his Friends Can this Expression intend any thing more or less than in the room or stead of his Friend or die for them Thus Christ died Even the Just for the Vnjust the Just in the place or stead of the Unjust or us the guilty Persons Hereby perceive we the Love of God Because he laid down his Life for us we ought to lay down our Life for the Brethren These Texts fully prove the Notion He that lays down his Life for his Brother or dies for the Brethren dies in their stead to save them from Death as some have done For scarcely for a righteous Man will one die yet peradventure for a good Man some would even dare to die But God commendeth his Love towards 〈◊〉 in that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for us Now then seeing Christ underwent Death and bore that Punishment that was due for Sins and there being no Cause in himself why he should suffer that Pain and Penalty it unavoidably follows that it was because he stood in our Place charged with our Offences 4. Again it must be thus taken and understood because it is said The Lord laid on him the Iniquity of us all Our Sins were made to meet in him He was wounded for our Transgressions he was bruised for our Iniquities It was not by Christ's praying and interceding to the Father for us to forgive us our Iniquities No no that was not enough it was his dying for them He bore our Sins in his own Body on the Tree He prayed again and again but that Cup could not pass by if we are delivered and saved from our Sins he must die nay his Soul must be made an Offering for Sin 5. That Christ died in our stead will further appear because he was made Sin for us that knew no Sin He bore the Sins of many that is the Punishment of them Our Sins were charged upon him though he had no Sin of his own in a moral Sense but was pure from all Iniquity yet in a judicial Sense he was made Sin as he was constituted and put in the Sinner's Place dying and making Satisfaction in our stead as our blessed Head and Surety And how frivolous is the Cavil of the Socinians who would have it be understood where it is said Christ was made Sin that he was accounted a Sinner by wicked Men. This cannot be the meaning of the Place because as he was made Sin for us that knew no Sin so it was that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him Do wicked Men account Believers to be made the Righteousness of God in him Or does not God look upon us or count us in him so to be 6. But why is it said by the Holy Ghost But when the fulness of Time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law c. Had he not stood in our Law-place why is it thus expressed Certainly God saw it necessary to substitute him and to accept of him in our stead and therefore he was made under the Law i. e. he was obliged to keep the Law perfectly for us God requiring that of us in order to Justification which we being fallen were not able to do therefore he did it for us and in our Nature being made of a Woman he took our Nature upon him and suffered Death making a full and compleat Satisfaction for our Breach thereof whose Sufferings and Obedience upon the account of his being God as well as Man had an infinite Worth and Merit in them And if this which the Apostle saith in this place doth not prove that he suffered in our room I must confess I know nothing of this great Gospel-Mystery 7. That he suffered not only for our Good or Profit but also in our room and stead doth further appear because it is said He died for our Sins Who was delivered for our Offences and rose again for our Justification This Particle saith a Learned Man joined with an Accusative doth generally signify the impulsive Cause and not final Mat. 10. 22. 13. 5. 14. 9. John 20. 19. 2 Cor. 4. 11. And particularly when it is used in reference to Sufferings it hath that signification and no other see Levit. 26. 18 28. Deut. 28. 11. 2 Kings 23. 26. Jer. 13. 22. John 10. 32. In all these Places it necessarily signifies the Meritorious and Impulsive Cause and nowise the Final for our Offences must needs be understood that our Offences were the Meritorious and Impulsive Cause of Christ's Sufferings Another Particle the Holy
the Law that believe not because nothing but a perfect Righteousness can deliver from the Curse thereof 3. Moreover God is obliged upon the account of his Covenant with his Son for us to discharge us for ever because Christ hath fully performed all things as the federal Conditions of our Restoration and Deliverance from Sin and the Curse of the Law which he covenanted to do Arg. 5. All that are delivered from the Curse of the Law and to whom there remains no more any legal and just Cause in God of Wrath and Separation from him unto their Eternal Condemnation cannot eternally perish But all that believe in Christ are delivered from the Curse of the Law and to them there remains no more any legal and just Cause in God of Wrath and Separation from him unto their eternal Condemnation therefore no Believer shall eternally perish Fifthly Christ dying for our Sins was a full and compleat Paiment of all our Debts which bound us over to Death and Condemnation we owed ten thousand Talents and Christ our Surety was charged with it even with all we owed to Justice and by his Death he paid the uttermost Farthing Now the Principal and the Surety are legally and judicially one Person so that in Christ we paid all though it was God and not we that found out the Surety and paid himself with his own Money and therefore we are acquitted in a way of Sovereign Grace we have it in a way of Mercy though in a way of Righteousness also That God might be Just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus From whence I argue Arg. 6. All those for whom Christ hath paid all their Debts or made a full Compensation for shall never perish But Christ hath paid all the Debts of Believers or made a full Compensation for them therefore they shall never perish Would it not be look'd upon as an Act of Injustice in a Creditor to arrest and throw a poor Debtor into Prison for those Debts his Surety paid for him and laid down every Farthing of his Money Now then say I either some of the Sins of Believers or some of their Debts Jesus Christ did not die for pay or satisfy for or else all must conclude it is impossible because God is Just any one of them should perish Now who is it that dares to affirm that Christ did not die and satisfy for all the Sins of Believers or for his Elect Ones If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness He will not exact from us the Satisfaction which he hath accepted in the Atonement of his own Son our Surety and in his own way applied God will not require double Payment Sixthly From the Death of Christ I further argue No Believer can eternally perish because his Death was the highest and greatest Expression and Demonstration of Divine Love both in the Father and Son Now say I as I hinted once before He that gave the great Gift will not deny the lesser Sure if God gave his Son to die for our Sins he will give us Grace to resist Sin to mortify Sin and will also pardon all our Sins And if Christ died for us spilt his Blood for us he will pray for us he will not refuse to intercede for us that our Faith may not fail or we lose the Benefit and Blessings purchased for us by his Death He that would not pray for his Friend or for his Neighbour will not die for him But on the other Hand if he yields himself up to die for him he will pray for him Christ died for his Sheep he will therefore both feed them heal their Diseases and preserve them that they may not be devoured by any Enemy whatsoever neither by Sin nor the Devil c. See Rom. 5. 10. Rom. 8. 32. Seventhly Jesus Christ by his Death purchased Grace and all things his Saints need or shall need in order to make them meet for Glory therefore they shall not perish Do they need Faith need Patience need Power against Sin need Pardon need Purging c. all these things and whatsoever else they stand in need of they shall have My God shall supply all your need according to his Riches in Glory by Jesus Christ All Grace is in Christ as the Fruit of his purchase And of his Fulness all we receive and Grace for Grace And this is to shew forth the Riches of God's Glory Will he lose his Glory Shall Satan insult over the Majesty of Heaven after this manner viz. Lo here is one of them for whom thou gavest thy Son to die whom thou hast left to me and I have destroyed him for ever Will God think you suffer this since his main Design in the Gift of Christ is the Glory of his own Rich and Sovereign Grace Nay and after he has with such large Expence of rich Treasure and such Pains restored his lost Image to a poor Believer will he suffer Sin and Satan utterly to deface it again whilst he looks on Our Opposites are Men for Natural Reason Now Sirs what think you of this is there any reason for you to believe God will suffer either of these things to be done Eighthly The Death of Christ preserves all Believers to Everlasting Life because he hath by one Offering perfected for ever them that are sanctified Christ as the Effects of his Death before he hath done will bring all for whom he was a Sacrifice to Heaven Justification in the Perfection of it shall be continued Sanctification shall be compleated our Interest in him shall not be lost Can any think that Christ will not maintain Life in that Soul which he made alive by his own Death Arg. 7. If therefore Christ's Blood was not shed for none in vain but that he shall have his whole Purchase then none of his Sheep or Elect Ones shall ever perish But Christ's Blood was shed for none in vain therefore he shall have his full Purchase none of his Elect shall perish No Man would lay down a Sum more in value than a whole Kingdom but would first see himself sure of it upon laying down that Price the Father's Covenant and Promise also made all the Elect certain of Eternal Life upon Christ's dying for them Besides Beloved the Sacrifice of Christ unites all the Holy Attributes together to secure a Believer's Interest Justice and Mercy are both agreed in Christ they meet together and kiss each other yea and join Hands to help and save every Believer The Flood-gates of Mercy are opened and the Fire of Divine Wrath confin'd in its Flames or rather quenched by the Streams of Christ's Blood that Mercy might flow down to us abundantly Christ's Blood hath eternal Virtue in it it is called the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant therefore extendeth to the Expiation of Sins to come as well as what are already
as ever Hand here and so in my Text by a Synecdoche is put for Strength or Power So also Isa 50. 2. Is my Hand shortned at all that it cannot redeem or have I not Power to deliver Behold at my Rebuke I dry up the Sea I make the Rivers a Wilderness c. Read the next Words following my Text My Father which gave them me is greater than all and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's Hand Secondly By the Hand of the Father may denote God's Eternal Purpose or his Counsel for Hand sometimes is put for the Purpose or Counsel of God To do whatsoever thy Hand and thy Counsel determined to do And if it may thus be taken here then this may be the Sense of it viz. All the Elect all the Sheep and Lambs of Christ are by God's Eternal Purpose and Counsel ordained to Eternal Life and none can pluck them out of his Election or change his Purpose For like as the Death of Christ was determined by the Hand or Counsel of God so were the Effects thereof I mean what Persons should be saved thereby even all and every one of them that he had given unto his Son as he is Mediator The Design and Purpose of God by Jesus Christ was to save all the Elect and the End and Design of Christ's Death cannot be frustrated they are in God's Hand that is it is his Purpose and Counsel to save them and his Counsel shall stand and he will do all his Pleasure 1. All the Counsels of God then from Eternity and all his Promises and Declarations that hold forth those Counsels having a special Relation to Christ's dying for his People and their actual Salvation must and shall have their absolute Accomplishment for the End of a thing is that for which the thing it self is And had it not been for that the thing had never been at all it being that the chief Agent principally aimed at and purposed to bring about 2. Therefore the Salvation of Christ's Saints must be certain from the consideration of the Immutability of God in which the Perfection of his Divine Nature shines forth and requireth a correspondent Affection of all the Internal and External Acts of his Mind and Will 3. From his Soveraignty in making good and executing all his Purposes which will not admit of any Mixtures of Consults as among Men the Lord may do what he will with his Creatures we are but as Clay in his Hand and such as he will make Vessels of Honour who shall contradict him or resist his Will Shall any change God's Mind or render his Thoughts liable to Alteration Also is it not from his Sovereign and Distinguishing Grace to some that makes the Apostle break out O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledg of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out 4. If we consider how his absolute Purposes doth excite his Omnipotency to the actual accomplishing of them who can once suppose any one Believer should miscarry The Lord of Hosts hath sworn saying Surely as I have thought so shall it come to pass and as I have purposed so shall it stand As God is able to do whatsoever he hath purposed so we may assure our selves there is nothing that shall fail which is according to his determinate Counsel He is of one Mind and who can turn him 5. And what Folly and unreasonable Incredulity is it once to imagine there should be any manner of suspending the Acts and Purposes of the Will of God upon any actings of the Creatures whatsoever seeing it cannot be done without subjecting Eternity to Time and the Will of Man to the Will of God or the First Cause to the Second the Lord to the Servant 6. Now then seeing God hath taken the Salvation of his Elect into his own Hand Power and Eternal Purpose and hath been at such vast Expence of Rich Treasure in order to the accomplishing of his great Design herein who can imagine that any one of his Saints should miss of Everlasting Life Suppose a Prince should have a wonderful Project in Hand which he carries on with the Advice of his Council to make so many of his Subjects that his Love and Affections are let out upon Great and Happy on Earth and in doing of which should expend all or the greatest part of his own Riches nay sacrifice his own Son Would he after all if he could help it suffer his Design to miscarry in the Advancement of any one of them Or should a most wise and cunning Artist contrive a curious Piece of Workmanship which might cost him thousands it being his whole Work and taking up all his Time for forty or fifty Years to bring it to Perfection suppose it be a rare Piece of Clock-work would he suffer any one part of it to be disjointed from the rest by an Enemy whilst he look'd on if he could prevent it or were it in the Power of his Hand Alas what are all the râ—rest the richest or most curious Things in Nature that are or ever have been in the World to this Work of God in the Redemption and Salvation of his Chosen Ones What Treasure hath he spent as I may say Hath it not cost him the parting with the Pearl of great Price even the breaking of it into pieces that so he might enrich and make great and glorious every one of his Elect Nay and after he hath curiously formed his own Image upon each of their Souls to the Joy and Wonder of the Holy Angels and to the Perplexity and Sorrow of Devils and this as the Contrivance of his Eternal Council will he after all think you suffer Satan to deface this his Image in the Souls of any one of them and so spoil and bring to nought part of that glorious expensive and curious Piece of his own Workmanship which was the absolute Result of his Council to compleat and deliver from miscarrying from all Eternity Now then seeing that all the Elect or all true Believers are thus in the Father's Hand viz. put under his Absolute and Eternal Decree and Purpose to save through Jesus Christ what can obstruct or hinder this God from effecting of his own Glorious Design herein To talk of Conditional Purposes concerning Perseverance saith Dr. Owen are either impossible implying Contradictions or ludicrous even to an unfitness for a Stage See the 29 th Verse My Father that gave them me is greater than all and none can pluck them out of my Father's Hand My Father as if Christ should say is equally concerned with me about my Saints Perservation and final Perseverance and they are in his Hand he hath put them into his own Power and he is greater than all he is greater than me as I am Mediator tho as God I and my Father are one tho he hath put them into my Hand as I am Mediator and their
Grace as I may say is the Off-spring of Heaven And what doth God love on Earth above his own Grace in the Souls of his People 'T is God's Gift though it be Christ's Merit And as Reverend Charnock notes Grace hath great Allies the greatest Power that ever yet acted upon the Stage of the World had a Hand in the birth of it Should we see all the States of the World engaged in bringing a Person to a Kingdom and maintaining therein his Right we could not rationally think that there were any likelihood they should be baffled in it The Trinity saith he sat in Consultation about Grace For if there were such a Solemn Convention held about the first creating of Man much more about the new and better creating of him and raising him somewhat above the State of Man the Father decrees it the Son purchaseth it the Spirit infuseth it The Father appoints the Garison what Grace should be in every Soul Christ raiseth this Force and the Spirit conducts it the Trinity hath a hand in maintaining it and all this is but the carrying on the New Creature The Father is said to beget us John 1. 13. and we are said to be the Seed of Christ Isa 53. 10. and born of the Spirit John 3. 6. therefore that which hath so strong a Relation and Allies cannot be lost Thus Charnock 2. The Father is the Root and Foundation of Grace as it is the Effect of his free Love and Favour and every Grace is part of the Divine Nature in it there is an imitation of one or other of the Divine Attributes and it exemplifies the Divine Perfections in its Operations The Design of God in infusing of his Grace into our Souls is to shew forth his Vertues or his Praise and Glory in all the Parts of it and doth glorify one or another Attribute of God 3. What is Grace and the Work of Grace in the Soul but God's Workmanship which as you have heard he hath shewed much Skill and heavenly Wisdom about and also hath been at more Cost to effect in us than in making the World he will not therefore suffer that Work to be marr'd and brought to nought We are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good Works Did he give his Son purchase Grace and will not the same Love engage his Power to preserve and perfect it in us 4. And since God's Power is concerned in preserving Grace in us and us in a State of Grace can it be thought that Satan that strong Man armed when he had full possession of the Soul and also had so strong a Party in us on his Side and yet could not prevent an overthrow he being vanquished and turned out should ever get possession again especially since now the Soul is so well armed and hath the strongest Party on its Side against him besides such wonderful Allies to stand by it to oppose its Enemies and to aid and assist it against him and all his Abetters If Grace when a Babe gave Satan such a fatal Defeat and Overthrow certainly now it hath got such strength in the Soul it will never be overcome by him We are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation And Christ hath prayed that our Faith fail not and was heard therein Brethren is the Power of the Omnipotent God limited to a Faith of the Creature 's getting and to his Care in securing If so it is as much as to say the Nurse will keep the Child in her Hand if it doth not get out of it and stray away from her We say God keeps us by his Power through Faith because he hath ordained Faith and Holiness to be the Means which he by his Power will maintain in us as well as Happiness or the Salvation of our Souls to be the End 5. God hath promised to help us to uphold us to strengthen us and to preserve us unto the End The Steps of a good Man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his Way Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his Hand If he falls into Sin into Temptation or Affliction the Lord will not leave him but help him up and bring him out of all his Distresses He hath promised never to leave us nor forsake us He hath also promised to be our God and our Guide even unto Death and hath assured us That the Righteous shall hold on their Ways and he that hath clean Hands shall grow stronger and stronger and to put his Fear into our Hearts that we shall not depart from him Again the Apostle asserts That he that hath begun aâ— good Work in us will perform it to the Day of Christ 6. In a word it cannot stand consistent with the Wisdom Love Faithfulness Holiness nor the Glory of God to suffer any of his own Children and redeemed Ones to be pulled away from him by Sin Satan the Flesh or this World or any Enemy whatsoever and Grace to come to nothing in them 1. Can it stand consistent with his Wisdom to suffer his own Eternal Counsel to be frustrated Or hath any Man the true Grace of God and yet not as the Result of God's Purpose from Eternity If so how comes it to pass that Paul tells the Saints That they were saved and called with an holy Calling not according to our Works but according to his own Purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ before the World began Can it stand consistent with Divine Wisdom to let Satan insult over God himself and boast after this manner Thou hast sent thy Son to die for these Persons thou hast renewed them by thy Grace and made them thy own Children and espoused them to thy own Son and this according to the greatness of thy Love and thy Purpose before all Worlds and didst it also to destroy and bring to nought my Design and laborious Work in seeking to devour them but see how thou art defeated and frustrated in all thou hast done I have tempted them to Sin I have again deceived their Souls and set thee against them and thy Design in saving of these is by me made of none effect I have turned those Saints into Swine and robbed them of all that Grace and rich Treasure thou gavest to them notwithstanding thou hadst put them into the Hand of thy own Son to preserve and keep 2. Can it stand consistent with his tender Love to leave his Saints in the midst of so many cruel Enemies who are unable to save themselves as poor Babes of two or ten Days old out of their Hands and yet suffer them by Sin and Satan to be torn to pieces whilst he stands by and looks on and yet they are such that are his own Children begotten and born of him by his Spirit Or shall his Love be so great in begetting Grace or in infusing
off from pressing Care and Diligence on the Mariners 4. That God who hath ordained the End I tell you again hath also ordained the Means Without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. We are chosen in Christ that we may be holy and without blame before him in Love Nor can any ever come to any well-grounded hope he shall be saved or know he is elected unless he is holy heavenly spiritual watchful and diligent in all Gospel-Duties which is the Fruits and Effects of Election 5. The Decree of Election considered absolutely in it self without respect had unto its Effects is no part of God's revealed Will that is it is not revealed that this Man is and that Man is not Elected This therefore can be made neither Argument nor Objection about any thing wherein Faith and Obedience are concerned 6. The Sovereign and ever-to-be-adored Grace and distinguishing Love of God is laid down in the Word of God to be the greatest Motive to Holiness imaginable Who maketh thee to differ from another O that God should open my Eyes call me by his Grace may a Believer say Shall I sin against him because his Grace so abounds to me God forbid If God hath elected me I may live in Sin walk as I list is the Language rather of a Devil than of a Man much less of a Saint I speak the more to this because I would shew you that are Believers what Improvement you ought to make of God's Free Grace and Love to you Put on therefore as the Elect of God Holy and Beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another And as Moses said Consider what great things God hath done for you Object 4. If I shall persevere to the End what need is there of those Take-heeds in the Scripture Why are we bid to watch and take heed lest we fall Answ This is all one with the former besides I answered it largely when I first entred upon my Work but yet let me add a word or two further 1. A Child of God may sin and fall grievously and greatly dishonour God and bring Reproach on the Gospel which may tend to grieve some and harden others nay he may lose his Comfort and Joy of God's Salvation therefore hath need to watch Satan is a strong a vigilant and cunning Enemy O see what Reasons you have from thence to watch and pray 2. If you grow careless carnal or indifferent in the Matters of Religion it may be a sign that your Hearts are not right with God Many of the Members of the Churches to whom the Epistles were directed were no more than Professors and if so they were liable to fall away and perish for ever Object 5. But same Branches in the Vine may bear no Fruit but may be cut off and wither c. Answ I have also fully answered this Objection already see the Argument taken from our Union with Christ There is a twofold being in Christ an External being in him by a Profession and a true Spiritual being in him Object 6. If Christ died not for all what ground have I to believe he died for me Answ 1. What doth it signify to believe Christ died for all unless thou findest the Effects of his Death in thee Many thousands shall perish notwithstanding Christ died for them in their Judgment that make this Objection yea the generality of them for whom he died therefore unless all were saved what Encouragement is there to believe from hence 2. He that believes shall be saved If thou therefore dost believe thou shalt be saved Is not this a better Ground of Faith than that of Christ's dying for all 3. A bare believing that Christ died for all I have proved is no Ground of thy Interest in his Death for that may be without any Fruits or gracious Effects 4. Thou hast the same Ground to believe as any have or as such had who do now believe before they did believe or as they had once who now are in Heaven 5. Christ died for the chiefest of Sinners and the Promises of Mercy upon believing are made to the vilest Sinners on Earth 6. Great and black Sinners have found Mercy and are now in Heaven even some of them that put Christ to Death And is here not Ground of Faith and Hope for thee 7. Remember that if thou believest not but dost continue in thy Sin and Rebellion against God thou shalt be certainly damned thy rejecting of Christ will have that Effect at last upon all Unbelievers 8. Moreover Christ calls to stout-hearted Sinners such that are far from Righteousness He brings his Salvation near to them He calls upon a People not called by his Name He hath received Gifts for the Rebellious also that God might dwell among them And is not here a good Ground to venture thy Soul upon Jesus Christ be thou who thou wilt 9. No Person is excluded by the Lord that we know of Can any Man say there is no Mercy for him unless he hath sinned against the Holy Ghost which may be not one in an Age is guilty of The Nature of which Sin I purpose to open after I have closed with this Text. Thy Condemnation O Sinner will be of thy self God will judg the World in Righteousness this we are all agreed in and set down as an undeniable Article of our Faith None shall have this to plead at the last Day I was not Elected God will vindicate his Justice and Righteous Proceedings in the Day of Judgment and all Mouths shall be then stopped and every Man's Conscience be a Witness for or against him And though foreseen Faith and Holiness is not the Cause why any are elected yet foreseen Wickedness is the Cause why Men are reprobated O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help Object 7. But is it not said Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling Answ 1. This Text the Papists do abuse as well as the Arminians who strive to make Man a Co-worker or a Partner with Christ in our Salvation But this the Apostle intends not because we are saved by Grace For by Grace are ye saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God Not of Works lest any Man should boast For we are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good Works 2. Whoever it is that brings in this Text as an Objection against the Doctrine of the Saints Final Perseverance you may be sure is a corrupt Person in his Judgment and one that pleads for a Covenant of Works or joins the Creature with Christ as a Co-workein the Salvation of Man For if it be to be taken in their sense then it would follow that Man is his own Saviour for if I procure my own Salvation by Works or by working it out for my self I save my self or am my own Saviour or I
the Gospel is true and that Christ is the only Saviour and that the Institutions and Ordinances of the Gospel are his Blessed Appointments Thus many of the Jews tasted of Christ's Word i. e. They believed in his Name when they saw the Miracles which he did But Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all Men They gave a true Assent to the Proposition of his Word yet did not close in with him they did not consent to receive him to desire love and obey him they had no Union with him by saving Faith and the like may be said of these Persons in our Text. 2. Nay these Persons finding Jesus Christ to be the true and great Saviour they may taste the Word or believe with some kind of Joy though it be a false Joy Who would not be saved or have Christ as a Saviour This they like they would be saved from Hell and Wrath but do not consider that Christ came to save his People from their Sins He will save none who abide in their Sins who hold them fast and resolve not to let them go Many may taste some sweetness in hearing of the Power of Christ to save who go on presumptuously in their ungodly Practices It is expresly said that the stony-ground Hearers received the Word with joy they had a taste of it A common Faith seems to give a taste the Name of a Saviour relishes sweet 3. They may taste of the Promises of the Word but may not like the Precepts of it or what sometimes follows and overtakes such who profess the Gospel or may like some Precepts but not like some others of them every Word of God with these is not precious they cannot deny themselves and follow Christ whither soever he goes They are not like David who saith Every Word of God is pure therefore I love thy Commandments above Gold yea above fine Gold Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false Way 4. A bare taste or a simple taste of the Word is enough for these a great deal of the World may be they think is too little yet a little Religion a little of the Word short Prayers and little Preaching will suffice them A great Portion is too little for their Children but Six-pence or a Shilling they may think is too much for the poor Saints or a small matter a great deal to be given to the Children of God It is evident these Persons gave little or nothing to the poor Saints by what the Apostle speaks in the Verses following our Text and therefore no sincere Believers For God is not unrighteous to forget your Work of Faith and Labour of Love in that ye have ministred to the Saints c. You as if he should say are not of that sort I am a speaking of they do not love the Children of God though they have had a taste of the Word This one Vertue Brethren is more than all those five Attainments mentioned in my Text when that which a Man gives is given in love to Christ 5. Yet this bare taste as you have heard might have some Effect upon these Mens Hearts 1. They might find some kind of delight in that Knowledg they have of the Doctrine of the Gospel and might speak in the Commendation and Vindication thereof Thus Balaam seemed wonderfully to be affected with the State of Israel and with the Tabernacle and Tents of Jacob yet he loved the Wages of Unrighteousness 2. It may work as you heard last Day a visible Change in them such a Power may go along with that taste they like Saul might become other Men. 3. They might have the same Lamp of Profession with true Christians and be taken for real Converts not known to the Godly but to be such The wise Virgins doubtless thought well of the Foolish they did not know they were unsound or foolish Ones 4. Such a Work and Effect the Holy Spirit and tasting of the Word might have that they might be full of great Expectation of bâ—ing embraced by Christ when he comes if they fell not away before 'T is said the foolish Virgins went out to meet the Bridegroom they had much Confidence may be more Confidence tho it was Self-confidence that the Wise for true Believers may be attended with many Doubts Dr. Owen speaking of this sort mentioned in my Text saith and no doubt saith the Truth That there is an inferiour common Work of the Holy Spirit in the Dispensation of the Word on many to whom it is preached causing in them a great Alteration and Change as to Light Knowledg Abilities Gifts Affections Life and Conversation when the Persons so wrought upon are not quickned regenerated or made new Creatures nor united to Jesus Christ that in the Persons thus wrought upon there is or may be such an Assent and Light and Conviction of the Truth proposed and preached to them as in its kind is true not counterfeit giving or affording to them a Profession of the Faith That is they are blinded and know not that they are unsound in the Main their Hearts for want of true Light deceive them as in the Case of the foolish Virgins nay and they may perhaps hold out in their Profession constantly unto Death nay may give their Bodies to be burned O see Brethren that your Faith is the Faith of God's Elect and that you are savingly renewed O look about you since it may be thus The Doctor adds That among these Persons are oft-times some that are endued with excellent Gifts and lovely Parts Qualifications and Abilities rendering them very useful to the Church of God being Vessels in his House to hold and convey to others the precious Liquor of the Gospel though never had their own evil Hearts changed To which let me add they are such or of this sort of Persons who are liable to sin the Sin against the Holy Ghost or so fall that it may be impossible for them to be renewed by Repentance Yet before they so fall it may not be impossible for them to become true Converts The Nature of which Sin against the Holy Ghost I purpose to open before I close with this Text. Fourthly I shall proceed to shew you what a taste of God and of his good Word it is which all true Believers have 1. 'T is a taste that arises from Spiritual Hunger There is a true sense of Want they have a craving Appetite and nothing but God in Christ can satisfy their Souls My Soul thirsteth for God for the living God saith David And hence it is that they are pronounced blessed Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled not have only a taste No no but they shall be filled they shall eat to satisfaction They see that they want a Righteousness whereby they may be declared Just and Righteous before God namely the
Brethren each Person in the Trinity hath a part in it the Father hath his Part the Son hath his Part and the Holy Ghost hath his Part also Remember that these three are one though three Persons or Subsistences yet but one and the same God one in Essence though distinguished as to their distinct Personalities the Person of the Father is not the Person of the Son the Father took not upon him Flesh and died for our Sins but the Son the Son sent not the Father but the Father sent the Son The Father and the Son do not proceed from the Holy Ghost but the Holy Ghost doth proceed from them But a little to open and insist upon the distinct Parts which each Person hath and how concerned in the accomplishing of this great Salvation 1. The Father is held forth in the Scripture as the Contriver or first Author of this Salvation All Things are of God who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ All Things in and about our Salvation are of God the Father as he is the Fountain and Spring of it He hath devised means that his banished might not for ever be expelled from him I have found a Ransom Where did God find it saith Reverend Caryl Certainly in his own Bosom in his own Heart Jesus Christ came out of the Bosom of the Father there he was and God found him in and with himself he did not find the Ransom by chance but he found it in his own Wisdom Love and Goodness 2. The Father was injured his Glory seemed to be eclipsed by Sin therefore must be righted and his Honour repaired and he sought out the proper way to do it I know as if God should say how to do the poor Sinner good I know how to save him and do my own Honour my Justice Truth and Holiness no wrong my Honour is secured my Justice is satisfied and yet the Sinner whom my Heart is set upon shall be saved 3. The Father could only appoint the Terms and Way of our Salvation Who but God could tell or did know what would comport with his Truth and Justice and with the Sanction of his Righteous Law and Infinite Holiness And he saw it did not comport with his Truth Justice Holiness and Blessed Law to save Man meerly as an Act of Sovereign Mercy but it did agree in his Infinite Wisdom to transfer the Punishment of the Sinner to another namely to his own Son he taking our Nature on him who from the Union of the two Natures in one Person procured an Infinite Satisfaction or made a Plenary Compensation for our Sins 4. God the Father is therefore held forth as the Person who substituted his own Son as Mediator and Surety in our stead and room to work out our Redemption or this great and glorious Salvation and to this end prepared him a Body A Body hast thou prepared me And the Father is said also to send his Son How many times doth our Blessed Saviour ascribe this unto the Father in the Gospel recorded by John I am perswaded not less than forty times The Father that sent me is with me God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World This is the Will of him that sent me 5. All the Blessings of our Salvation are ascribed to the free Bounty Mercy Love and Goodness of God the Father Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his People and hath raised up an Horn of Salvation c. And therefore he is stiled The Father of Mercies and God of all Comfort Now this being so what an abominable thing is it for the Socinians to say That the Doctrine of Satisfaction renders the Son more merciful and kind than the Father see Penn's Sandy Foundation shaken No this is very unjustly and unrighteously thrown upon this great Gospel-Truth Certainly it exalts the Goodness and Mercy of God the Father far more than their idle and absurd Notion of God's pardoning Sin in a way of meer Mercy without a Satisfaction to his offended Justice seeing God in a way of Mercy and Divine Goodness is so set upon this Work of our Salvation that though it cost him the Life of his own Son yet it shall be done he will not spare him He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all The Father did not spare him as an Act of his own Love and Goodness to us God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son Certainly that Person shews greater Love and Pity to another who to save him gives a Million than he that gives but a Pound Must God by these Men be deemed to have no Mercy at all because he seeks the Honour of his Justice equally with the Glory of his Mercy Is he not Merciful because he is Just as well as Gracious 6. Brethren it was the Father that loved us and chose us in Jesus Christ before the Foundation of the World which is the Spring of all Spiritual Blessings even of Redemption and Salvation it self 7. Moreover the Father is said to raise Jesus Christ from the Dead Though the Son being God could raise himself yet as Mediator the Power to quicken whomsoever he will is said to be given to him by the Father Besides it is the meer Grace and good Pleasure of God the Father to accept of Christ and his Obedience for us and to accept of us in Jesus Christ Also it is the Father that blesseth us with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus Nay no Man Christ says can come unto him unless it be given by the Father that is Power must be given to him to come And again he saith No Man can come unto me except my Father that sent me draw him We ought therefore to see we do not lessen the Glory of God the Father in our Salvation who is the Efficient the Original and moving Cause thereof My Father saith Christ hitherto worketh and I work Brethren we are not to attribute the Works of Creation and Providence to God the Father only for he hath a great and glorious Hand in the Work of Redemption I may say to accomplish this Work even the Salvation of his Elect he worketh hitherto and Christ also worketh which brings me to consider of the next Person in the Trinity concerned herein Secondly As the Father hath as you have heard his part in bringing in the great Salvation of the Gospel so Jesus Christ the Son of God hath his part in working of it out the Father fix'd on him as the great Agent actually to perfect it he is in such a peculiar manner concerned in it that his Name is Saviour his Name shall be called Jesus Jesus signifies a Saviour certainly this must needs be a great Salvation if we consider the Greatness Dignity and Glory of his Person whom God hath sent to save us
And because it is mainly from this Foot of account that the Apostle in the Text draws his Inference and calls Gospe-Salvation Great Salvation I shall a little further enlarge upon this particular 1. Jesus Christ hath a great Name given to him yea a Name above every Name that is he is so highly exalted as he is Mediator that he is clothed with Power Glory and Majesty above all Creatures in Heaven and Earth so that all in Heaven above and in Earth beneath must bow down before him and adore and worship him and be in subjection to him For unto us a Child is born a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his Shoulders And his Name shall be called Wonderful c. This his Name is according to his Person he is a wonderful or an admirable Person Wonderful in his Incarnation God man Wonderful in his Birth Wonderful in his Life Wonderful in his Death and in the Effects End and Design of his Death he is not only called Wonderful but also Counsellor Never such a Counsellor for Wisdom and Knowledg for he is the Wisdom of God it self and the only Wise God He is called the Mighty God the Everlasting Father or the Father of Eternity and the Prince of Peace Moreover he is called Immanuel God with us God in our Nature and also called the only begotten Son of God and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth the King of Kings and Lord of Lords the only Potentate he is called the Desire of all Nations Elect Precious And he is made so much better than the Angels as he hath by Inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they for unto which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my Son this Day have I begotten thee He is called the one Mediator time would fail me to speak of all his Names And 2. As is his Name such is his Nature He is God's Fellow he is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father he thought it not robbery to be equal with God O what a kind of Salvation must this be that such a Person is sent to work it out One clothed with such a Name with such a Nature with such Glory He is called a Saviour a great One He shall that is God shall send them a Saviour a great One and he shall deliver them He as he is God-Man is ordained Heir of all Things and all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to him nay he is the Upholder the Sustainer or Preserver of the World he is not only the Brightness of the Father's Glory and express Image of his Person but he upholdeth all things by the Word of his Power He is one and the same God with the Father the express Character of the Father's Pérson so that they that see and know him see and know the Father also He supports sustains feeds preserves governs throws down and raises up kills and makes alive whom he will he has the Keys of Hell and Death He is the Wonder of Angels the Consternation and Dread of Devils and the Joy and Delight of the Saints there is not such another Person in Heaven nor Earth perfect God and perfect Man and yet but one Christ one Person certainly here 's some great and wonderful Work to be done when such a Person is substituted ordained and so qualified and sent into the World to work out the actual Accomplishment thereof Nay God himself who delighteth in him put the Prophet to propound this Question concerning him Who is this that cometh from Edom with died Garments from Bozrah this that is glorious in his Apparel travelling in the greatness of his Strength Christ himself as I conceive answers I that speak in Righteousness mighty to save O happy Mortals that God hath sent us such a Saviour he is mighty to save 3. Consider also that none but he could save us procure and work about this Salvation for us There was none in Heaven nor Earth able nor worthy to open the Book and loose the Seals thereof but the Lion of the Tribe of Judah he hath prevailed 4. Jesus Christ is such an Almighty Saviour that he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him He has the Perfection of Power with him he can save to the full let the State of the Soul that comes to God by him be whatsoever it will or can be 1. Though a Man is sunk down to the very Gates of Hell under the pressure and sense of God's Wrath. 2. Though he hath the Guilt of Millions of Sins like Mountains of Lead lying upon him yet Christ can save him 3. Though Satan says there is no Hope and the Heart of the Sinner joins in with him and says there is no Hope no Pardon no Help no Salvation hang thy self drown thy self saith Satan thou art damn'd there is no Mercy for thee yet Christ can then save that poor Soul and many such he hath saved when but a little before all hope of Relief seemed to be gone 4. Though the Devil should raise up all the Force and Powers of Hell and Darkness against a Person to destroy him yet Jesus Christ can save him if he will work upon the Soul by stretching forth his Almighty Power nothing can obstruct or hinder him 5. Christ can save from the Sin from the Guilt the Filth and Power of it and break into pieces all the Bonds Chains and Fetters of the Enemy nay let the Sins of a Person be never so many never so great yet he can save to the uttermost though they are such Sinners as Manasseh and Mary Magdalen were nay such that put to death by wicked Hands the Lord of Life and Glory 't is as easy with him to save great Sinners as the least or less guilty Ones he can save the stout-hearted such who are far from Righteousness 6. He can save from the Curse of the Law and from the Wrath of God he is every ways furnished fitted and enabled to save 7. He is a Mighty Saviour and able to save to the uttermost in that he can save by himself alone by his own Power it is not if we will begin the Work if we will do what we can he can and will save us no but he takes the whole Work of Salvation into his own Hand he is the Author and Finisher of it 't is he alone 7. Moreover Christ is as willing to save poor lost and undone Sinners as he is able he had his Name given to this end i. e. because of his Power willingness and readiness to save Sinners Brethren this doth not only bespeak this to be a great Salvation but also it discovers the greatness of God's Love even the greatest Pity Power and Wisdom that ever was manifested Thirdly The third Person that is concerned in this Salvation is the Holy Ghost The Father chuses the Son
purchases and the Spirit applies the Blessings purchased Salvation is called a Garment He hath clothed me with the Garments of Salvation he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness The Father may be said to prepare the Matter which this Robe is made of the Son wrought it he made the Garment and the Holy Spirit puts it on the Soul the Garment of Salvation is Christ's Righteousness Again the Father sought out or chose the Bride the Son espouses and marries her but it is the Holy Ghost that inclines her Heart and stirs up nay that causes the Soul to like and to love this Blessed Lover and brings it to yield and consent to accept heartily and willingly of Jesus Christ We were sick of a fearful and incurable Disease and the Father found out the Medicine the Blood of Christ is that Medicine and the Holy Spirit applies it to the Soul We were in Debt in Prison and bound in Fetters and cruel Chains and the Father procured a Friend to pay all our Debts The Son was this our Friend who laid down the infinite Sum and the Holy Spirit knocks off our Irons our Fetters and Chains and brings us out of the Prison-house The Father loved us and sent his Son to merit Grace for us the Son loved us and died and thereby purchased that Grace to be imparted to us and the Holy Spirit works that Grace in us O what is the Nature of this Salvation how Great how Glorious That the whole Trinity both the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are thus imployed in and about it that we might have it made fure to us for ever APPLICATION 1. Reproof Wo to such that esteem their own filthy Rags above this Garment of Salvation or that seem to set light by it Hath God the Father Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost held a Counsel before the World began about the Salvation of our Souls and hath each Person of the Blessed Trinity such a Part in order to the making of it to be effectual to us And shall any dare to say there is no need of this Garment We may work a Robe out of our own Bowels by the Operations of the Spirit that will serve to hide our Nakedness trouble not us with your old Divinity We are for rational Religion He that is Righteous and obeys Christ and leads a Goldly Life need not doubt of his Salvation For in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him O how ready are Men to abuse the Scripture Can any Man think that his own personal inherent Righteousness can either justify or save him or that the Apostle Peter means any such thing God may so far accept of a Man in his Obedience in which he acts in all Sincerity and Faithfulness to him as to hear his Prayers so as to reveal himself to him in Christ as he did to Cornelius But was Cornelius a Believer and justfied before he heard of Jesus Christ and had Faith wrought in his Soul See how Peter preached Christ for Life and Salvation to this Man Notwithstanding all his own Righteousness Peter was commanded of God to tell him what he should do that he might be saved plainly intimating he did not know the Way or how to be saved before Peter preached Christ to him He saith the Lord shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do And in verse 43. Peter said To him that is to Jesus Christ gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of Sins Will any say Cornelius had remission of Sins before he heard this Sermon and believed in Jesus Christ Was not Peter sent to him and to those other Gentiles with him that they might be converted O take heed you stumble not at this Stone lest it fall on you and grind you to Pouder 2. Dare any of you think that this Salvation is but a small Matter and that you need not trouble your selves about it O tremble you who never had one serious Thought about it to this Day You have other things to mind are full of Business but O Sirs what is of such Moment as this Salvation Yet nevertheless some will not spare time to hear it or to attend upon the Word of this Salvation Others will not part with the Love of this World to have a Part in it they value their earthly Riches Pleasures and Honours above it nay too many esteem their filthy Lusts more than an Interest in this great Salvation But what contempt do such Persons cast upon the great God who hath manifested such Depths of Divine Wisdom Grace and Goodness in bringing of it in and working of it out for our precious Souls Did they know what God is Christ is Salvation is certainly they would change their Opinion and not a little blame themselves for their great Folly Brethren a true and spiritual Knowledg of the Great Salvation of the Gospel makes all the Things of the World seem little nay nothing in comparison thereof All things that Carnal Men have their Hearts set upon are poor thin and beggarly Things when compared to Grace here and Glory hereafter No sooner had Paul a true sight of this Great Salvation but immediately he consulted not with Flesh and Blood When the sweetness of Christ and Salvation is tasted and a Soul knows how good and satisfying it is every thing that hath a Tincture of Flesh and Blood all carnal Interests and fleshly Counsels expire A full sight of this Salvation seems to make Life uneasy and Death desirable Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation Nothing in this World could be worth a Thought of his Heart since his Eyes had seen God's Salvation Why what did he see It was Jesus Christ the Author of Salvation in whom he knew was Salvation and in no other He that lives so long as to see Christ by an Eye of Faith to be his Saviour and his Salvation will be willing to leave this World be willing to die because he then shall die in peace None can die happily that have not a sight of this Great Salvation nor can any have a true sight of this Salvation but they only who have by Faith a true sight of the Blessed Saviour Paul when he came to the Knowledg of Christ and of Salvation by Christ esteems every thing in the World to be no better than Dung and longs to be dissolv'd and to be in Christ's Arms and taste how good Salvation is in the full possession of it in Heaven 3. This reproves such who delay seeking after the Knowledg of this Salvation If it be so great it must and ought first of all be regarded Seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness May be ' ere long you will wish you had sought after Christ and Salvation by him before all things when you come to
and under the Sentence of Eternal Death being Enemies to God and having Enmity in their Carnal Mind against God and great Mountains of Guilt lying upon them I say thus it is with them but they know it not It is with them as it was with the Church of the Laodiceans Because thou sayest I am Rich and increased in Goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked See what a sad State this professing People were in and yet ignorant of it thought they were perfect as that Man must needs suppose that thinks he wants nothing they no more knew their great Danger than did the old World of the Flood and Sodom of those Flames which suddenly consumed them all 4 thly Some conclude they believe and have true Grace they make a profession of the Gospel and have been baptized having great Gifts and Parts and yet for all this never were effectually changed never obtained the Faith of God's Elect but through Ignorance they are perswaded all is well with them and so they come not to look out to Christ but do neglect the Means of Conâ—â—rsion by being perswaded they are converted already Now this Ignorance may be occasioned several ways 1. Chiefly it arises from that natural Darkness that is in them and which naturally cleaves to all Mankind Sin has put out the Eyes of our Understanding But 2. It may also arise partly from the Ignorance of those blind Guides whose Teachings and Doctrine they may I mean some of them sit under My People are destroyed for lack of Knowledg and the Cause was those that taught them caused them to err If the Blind lead the Blind they will both fall into the Ditch O take heed under what Ministry you venture your Souls The Pharisees and Scribes were learned Men and some of them great Preachers but wholly ignorant of the Doctrine of the Gospel and of Salvation by Jesus Christ Many like the false Teachers of old Cry Peace Peace when there is no Peace 3. Moreover this Ignorance arises partly from Satan he hath too great an Influence on the Hearts and dark Minds of Men But if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost In whom the God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of those that believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them Satan hath a mighty Power over sinful Men by his cunning Devices to keep them in Ignorance and to hinder them from studying knowing and believing the Gospel and by this Means they neglect this Salvation Such are blinded by Satan that believe not he may perswade them that a general Faith or a common Faith is true Faith and sufficient and so he cheats them with a Counterfeit instead of saving Faith or Satan blinds Mens Eyes by moving them to seek Salvation in some other way than by Christ alone and by believing in him resting relying and depending on him like an evil Person who puts a poor Traveller out of his way or directs him the direct contrary way that so he may be robbed and murdered by him and by other Thieves that may way-lay him 2. Some neglect the Salvation of the Gospel from that inordinate Love they have to the things of this World Thus the young Man that came running to Christ neglected it he had his Heart so set upon his great Possessions that he went away from our Saviour sorrowful and refused the Salvation of his own Soul he could not part with the World for a Part in Christ and Eternal Life So they that were invited to the Marriage-Supper out of an inordinate Love to the things of the World refused to come The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a certain King which made a Marriage for his Son and sent forth his Servants to call them that were bidden and they would not come But they made light of it and went their ways one to his Farm another to his Merchandise This Marriage-Supper is this great Salvation but the things of the World are more valued by most People than the Salvation of their Souls Luke saith And he sent forth his Servants at Supper-time to say to them that were bidden Come for all things are now ready Many Persons refuse to feed on Christ they believe not will not eat of this Supper will not feed on a crucified Christ or eat his Flesh and drink his Blood by Faith through Love to their carnal Pleasures Honours and worldly Profits And they all began with one consent to make excuse The first said unto him I have bought a Piece of Ground and I must needs go and see it I pray thee have me excused And another said I have bought five Yoke of Oxen and I go to prove them I pray thee have me excused Another said I have married a Wife and therefore I cannot come Lawful things may be abused and the Heart so set upon them that they drown Men in Perdition and Destruction Mens Hearts naturally are earthly and sensual and as they know not so they desire not the Knowledg of God and Jesus Christ they are satisfied with that Portion they have this World is for them they care not regard not the things of another Life 3. Some neglect this Salvation out of Love to unlawful things They will feed on forbidden Fruit I mean on their filthy Lusts they will swear steal whore be drunk grind the Face of the Poor deal unjustly give way to Pride c. and from hence neglect the Salvation of their Souls I was lately told of a gracious Woman living near this City whose Daughter wore a very high Head-dress or that shameful Mode now in fashion which so grieved the Mother that she gave her a rich Ring upon condition she would leave off that Dress or Top-knots Her Daughter took the Ring and conformed for a while to her Mother's just Desire but it was not long before she gave her the Ring again and repented of her Reformation and got on her old Dresses again Alas some will not leave off and forsake their Lusts for Chains of Gold they will live in their Sins persist on in their ungodly Courses let what will come they matter not who they grieve they prefer their cursed Lusts and Pleasures above this Salvation though it be so great as you have heard 4. Moreover some neglect Salvation because there is a Cross joined to the Crown they must take Christ's Yoke upon them and be exposed to Reproach for his sake and this they cannot endure the Yoke is uneasy to the Flesh the Flesh cannot bear it No it is only easy to such whose Hearts are renewed who have got a new Nature The Cross makes many lose the Crown but Brethren had Jesus Christ refused the Cross where had we been 5. Some Persons neglect Salvation through the treachery and
wretched and naked and for Rebellion condemned to die nay to be burned for ever Unbelief was the Cause of Man's Fall at first he would not believe God who told him In the Day he eat of the forbidden Fruit he should surely die No he rather adhered to the Devil and gave credit to the Father of Lies This also was the grand Cause of the Israelites falling in the Wilderness And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his Rest but to them that believed not So we see they could not enter in because of Vnbelief Let us therefore fear saith the Apostle Brethren there is a notional and practical Unbelief Some believe there is a God but they deny him by their Works and deny Christ the only Saviour by cleaving to and trusting in other things for Salvation They perhaps think that their good Deeds their Prayers their just Dealings and sober and moral Lives will save them Some are like a poor ignorant Wretch that I heard of who being lately sick and a Christian Neighbour being sent for to come to him he asked him some Questions about his Soul who replied that he had been a Sinner but if God spared him he hop'd to make God amends for all Some sin and commit horrid Evils in the Day and then pray at Night and confess their Sins and may be drop a few Tears and that they think cures all and makes them as sound again as a Fish and so go on the next Day in their old trade of sinning as briskly as before Some have a humane Faith an historical Faith and from thence do many things though they do not live up to that Faith neither nor improve what Knowledg and Light they have received to that degree they ought and so shall be condemned like as was the Man that improved not his one Talent I call it a humane Faith because it is the Act of the Creature by virtue of his natural Powers and Capacity the Spring and Motive of their Faith is Humane therefore their Faith cannot be Divine I shall sum up the whole of this Head and come to the Application 1. It appears that the Salvation of the Gospel is neglected by many through Ignorance and natural Blindness their Understandings are darkned And Light shines in the Darkness but the Darkness comprehendeth it not Men love Darkness rather than Light Error rather than Truth If another come in his own Name him you will receive 2. There is a Perverseness and Rebellion in the Will and hardness in the Heart Ye will not come to me that ye might have Life The carnal Mind is Enmity against God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be 3. Men are ignorant and unsensible of their States and Conditions Are we blind also We are Abraham 's Seed was the Plea of old We are Christians the Off-spring of Christian People and good Protestants is the Plea now They are 4. Ignorant of God's Holiness and Justice and so trust in his Mercy not regarding of his Law and Justice They are ignorant and unsensible of that insufficiency there is in themselves or in any thing they can do to save their own Souls 5. 'T is through the Ignorance of some of their Teachers who preach not the Gospel truly to them 6. 'T is through an inordinate Love to the things of this World their Affections are corrupted and set upon the Creature upon their Riches Honours and Pleasures 7. 'T is through that Love many have to their Sins and sinful Practices and sinful Companions 8. 'T is through the deceitfulness and treachery of their own evil Hearts 9. Through slavish Fear or pretended Modesty they dare not be so bold to venture themselves on Christ being such great Sinners and having nothing to present unto him for acceptance 10. It is from Idleness and spiritual Sloth 11. From Unbelief not giving Credit to the Revelation of God's Word in many respects but think to be saved some other ways than by Jesus Christ alone or not by him and nothing else and conclude something is to be joined to Christ's Merits and Righteousness or they cannot be justified nor saved and thus this Salvation is neglected it is upon these or such-like Considerations as these are APPLICATION 1. Tremble you that slight or neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel Will you say that Jesus Christ cannot save you or is not willing to save you Certainly those who give way to such Thoughts and Temptations are sharply to be reproved 2. Your Sins and Unbelief is the Cause of your Misery and if you perish it will be the Cause of your Damnation for ever 3. And to you that are Believers let me speak one Word Have a care of Unbelief beware of unbelieving and desponding Thoughts Why do you hang down your Heads Object O the deadness of my Heart This I know is the Voice and Complaint of your Souls Answ How came you to know that you are dead Certainly this is a sign that there is Life in you Did ever any Person that was naturally dead say he was dead cold or unsensible that is impossible 't is only such who are alive that thus complain Object O the abundance of Sin that is in me that afflicts and distresses my Soul Answ Say you so is Sin your Sickness is Sin your Sorrow Is Sin that which afflicts wounds and grieves your Spirit Then rejoice this is a good sign Would you live and sin not Do you see a loveliness in Holiness this is no doubt an Evidence of the Goodness of your Condition provided you hate it and allow not of Sin in you Object But alas how little do I mind and am affected with this great Salvation Answ Canst thou be contented without it or give over minding it and trouble thy self no more about it Nay art thou willing to part with that Interest thou hast in Christ and in this Salvation I am perswaded you will say No not for ten thousand Worlds 4. Moreover from hence we may see the Madness and Folly of the generality of Men who live under the preaching of the Gospel and yet neglect Day by Day the Means of this so great Salvation they regard not their chief and main Business What Blindness is naturally in Mankind But because I shall have occasion to open more particularly the great Evil of neglecting the Salvation of the Gospel the next time I shall say no more to it now HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation I AM upon the Prosecution of the second Proposition I raised from this Text viz. Doct. 2. That the Means of the great Salvation of the Gospel may be neglected This is implied in the Words 1. I shewed you the last Day what the neglecting of Gospel-Salvation doth import 2. I also shewed you who they are that may be said to neglect it 3. And likewise from whence it cometh to pass
that so many Persons neglect their own Salvation I shall now proceed to the last thing proposed to be spoken unto in the Prosecution of this Proposition Which is Fourthly To shew you the great Sin and Evil of such who do neglect the Means of the Salvation of the Gospel First I shall shew you the Greatness of this Sin in respect of God or shew what a Dishonour it is to him Secondly Demonstrate the Greatness of the Evil thereof in respect of the Sinner himself that doth neglect it Thirdly Considering by whose Influences and Instigations they do it Fourthly Considering the Vanity of those things for the sake of which this Salvation is neglected First Such that neglect this Salvation do cast great Contempt upon God 1. They cast Contempt upon the Wisdom of God that found it out and on that glorious Counsel that was held in Eternity about it What is it but a breathing forth of the highest Disdain on the Wisdom of God What is the Voice of some Sinners Hearts We shall be saved tho we go on in our own Ways God is good merciful c. This is as it were an undervaluing of the glorious and no less gracious Contrivance of Infinite Wisdom to seek to be saved some other Way or to neglect this Way Suppose a Prince should hold a Council in order to make a Company of Rebels happy for ever not only to pardon them but to make them Rich Noble and Honourable and he should send them the Offers of this rich Bounty and Goodness and they should contemn it slight it and wholly neglect the free acceptation thereof would not this cast a Slight and Reproach upon that Prince And would not all Men say sure they were mad Brethren all ungodly Men who neglect this Salvation consult with the Devil take Counsel of the Devil and of their own wicked Hearts to frustrate if it were possible the Counsel of God He hath ordained the Preaching of the Gospel as the Way to work Faith in them and so to give them an Interest in Salvation but they slight and neglect attending upon the Word nay believe it not but conspire against God and set themselves against the Lord and against his Christ saying Let us break their Bonds asunder and cast their Cords from us Let us cast away the Offers and Promises of this God and of this Christ about Salvation and an Eternal Kingdom and those Threatnings of Wrath and Hell whereby they would one while allure us to forsake our Sins and beloved Lusts and at another time frighten us into Faith and Obedience and to submit our Necks to his Yoke Come let us slight all those Arguments he uses to win us over to him yea spurn at them and disregard all the Hopes and Fears these Cords would put us into could they get us under their Power What are all these things but Fancies vain Dreams Tush our State is good enough we can repent hereafter What is the Gospel but to do as we would be done unto Let us not trouble our Heads with any other Notions of Religion And thus they slight and cast contempt upon the infinite Wisdom of God who found out and contrived this way of Salvation and by which his manifold Wisdom is revealed 2. They also who neglect and slight the Salvation of the Gospel do cast Contempt upon the highest Goodness Love and Mercy that was ever shewed to Man God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him might not perish but have Everlasting Life Love to the wonderment of Men and Angels Shall such a Marriage be offered by the great King such a Banquet be prepared that cost so much and shall any make light of it and despise Infinite Goodness for the sake of their own filthy Lusts and think they may be saved some other Way They thereby render the Holy God cruel to his own Son in his giving him up to die and to become a Sacrifice for Sin Brethren if Salvation be neglected it is either out of Presumption or Despair 1. Now such that presumptuously neglect it seem to magnify God's Mercy in their own Conceit being wholly ignorant of his Justice and Holiness and so slight the constituted Method of his declared Goodness in Jesus Christ and so whilst they seem to magnify God's Mercy they impair nay contemn his Soveraignty by chusing and prescribing other Ways of God's communicating of himself to his Creatures than what he in his Eternal Counsel fixed upon and found out 2. If it be neglected through Despair they cast Contempt upon Christ's Blood as if there was not a Sufficiency in it to cleanse and save them from their Sins and not only so but also render God not to be believed who hath said There is Life in his Son and whosoever believes in him shall not perish Therefore Despair makes God a Liar as it is a high degree of Unbelief Moreover it renders God to be cruel to his Creatures for though they fall down at his Feet and humble themselves yet the Voice of Despair is God is only an angry Judg and clothed with nothing but Wrath and Fury Nay and it casteth a disparagement upon the Power and Sufficiency of God to save when he appears in his full united Strength for so he does manifest himself in Jesus Christ And hereby such seem to intimate as if a multitude of Sins could throw God's Mercy into the Depths of the Sea instead of Mercy 's casting our Sins therein notwithstanding Justice hath received a full Satisfaction for them by the Hands of our Blessed Saviour and Surety 3. From hence it appears that they who neglect this Salvation through Unbelief do cast also Contempt upon God's Power to save rendering him unable to do it by his right Hand even by Jesus Christ Man is very apt to question God's Power like them of old Can God spread a Table in the Wilderness All Distrusts arise from Fears and Jealousy either of the Strength or else of the Faithfulness and Justice of the Object addressed unto in a Time of Distress that either the Person is weak and unable to help or else dishonest and unjust and though he hath promised to save to help yet he will not Even so it is here all they that neglect the Salvation of the Gospel from Unbelief and desponding Thoughts either seem to strip God and Jesus Christ of his Power to save or else of his Truth and Faithfulness who hath said Look unto me and be ye saved all ye Ends of the Earth And again He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out A convinced Sinner before he comes to Christ nay and sometimes afterwards too when under Temptation is apt to say Can God pardon my Sins Can God remit my Sins that are so great Pray take notice of two Texts of Scripture the one respects such Sinners that are not awakened and so seem to presume
the other refers to convinced and awakened Sinners who seem to despair and yet go on in their Sins 1. Isa 57. 10. Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy Way yet sayest thou not There is no Hope Thou goest on in thy unjust and sinful Ways till thou hast even wearied thy self as if the Lord should say and yet thinkest thy State good wilt not say there is no Hope but contrariwise thou hast Hope and dost conclude all is well these are bold presumptuous Sinners Compare this Text with that in Jer. 2. 25. But thou sayest There is no Hope No for I have loved Strangers and after them I will go We are very vile our Consciences reprove us convince us of our abominable Evils but there is no Hope God will not pardon us nor take us into his Favour therefore we will go on in our own Ways and take our swing These were ashamed of their doings as the next Verse shews and yet not so ashamed as to leave their Sins and Doings and to return to the Lord but doubted of his pardoning Grace We see say some there 's no ground of Hope there is no help for such as we our Hearts are so hard Corruptions are so strong in us there is no Salvation for us we will therefore take our Course cleave to our Sins and Lovers and to our old Companions we will even follow our Trades and pursue the World and satisfy our Lusts with Pleasures Despair sometimes makes Persons desperate others of this sort grow melancholy and ready through Satan's Temptations to lay violent Hands on themselves when it prevails far upon them Now these I say do cast great Reproach upon the Power of God and his pardoning Grace in Jesus Christ 4. Such who believe not but neglect the Salvation of the Gospel cast contempt and dishonour on the Truth of God they do not give credit to what God says in his Word about Salvation by Jesus Christ and of that necessity there is of Faith in him and Union with him and of being born again if ever they are saved If ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your Sins But the Jews would not believe this Hence it is said He that believeth not maketh God a Liar because he believeth not the Record that God gave of his Son As such do who do not believe the Testimony of any Person though never so true And is it not a horrid Evil to render God a Liar He saith Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish and except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God But this is not believed by many Persons they hope to be saved though not regenerated 5. Such who believe not but neglect the Salvation of the Gospel yet think to be saved go about to cross and contradict the settled Will and Purpose of God it is in effect to shew a dislike of God's way of Salvation The Jews are said not to submit themselves to the Righteousness of God they magnified their Wills above the Will of God liked not of that way of Salvation that he in his Eternal Counsel fixed upon they will be saved by their own Righteousness that which God accounts but as filthy Rags they esteem as a choice Robe Suppose Brethren there was some other Way to be saved than by Christ yet is it not meet that the Creature comply with the Will of his Creator Shall he rebel against his Soveraign Were there two ways to such or such a City one by Sea and the other by Land and a Prince commands his Servant to go by Sea and not by Land shall he attempt to go by Land and so cross his Master's Will and violate his express Command But it is not so here there is but one Way of Salvation There is no other Name given under Heaven therefore such must needs be more inexcusable who neglect this Way and their Condition dangerous for let them think what they will damned they will be at last whoever they are that neglect this Salvation But more of that hereafter 2 dly Those that neglect the Salvation of the Gospel do slight and cast Contempt on Jesus Christ they seem to undervalue all that he has done certainly that was not worth his coming from Heaven to Earth to effect that you do not think worth your while to go a Mile or two to attend upon the Means of nor worth setting your Thoughts seriously upon Was our Salvation so great that he parted with his Life to procure it and is it not worth your parting with your Sins to have an Interest in it What is the Voice of the Hearts and Ways of such Sinners Do not they reproach the Son of God after this manner Why wast thou so unwise to shed thy Blood to purchase Salvation for us We do not value it above the Pleasures of the World we esteem our carnal Delights and earthly Profits more than that Salvation which thou hast wrought 2. Nay they slight the Person of Christ who says Behold me behold me look unto me Can you see me stand knocking at the Door of your Hearts and refuse to let me in Should one cry out Pity me pity me you will break my Heart if you do this thing suppose it be a dear Father or Mother that thus speaks to a Child that takes evil Courses and the Child regards not the Cry nor Tears of its Parent would not all say that such a Child contemn'd his Father Thus Sinners you will be found contemners and slighters of Jesus Christ one Day if you neglect this so great Salvation he stands ready to imbrace you in his Arms to espouse your Souls but you slight and despise him and his precious Love in your Hearts 3. Nay such who neglect this Great Salvation slight the Voice of Christ's Blood Sirs the Blood of Christ cries his Death has a Voice in it Hath Christ's Blood been shed to redeem you to cleanse you from Sin to save and sanctify your Souls and will you not hear the loud Cry thereof Nay doth not Christ himself cry to you after this manner Wilt thou continue in thy Sin and neglect the Salvation I have purchased What greater Ingratitude what worse Indignity canst thou cast upon me and upon that Sacrifice which I have offered up to make thy Peace and reconcile thee unto God After this manner Christ seems to speak 4. To neglect this Salvation is to cross or contradict the grand Design of God in sending his Son into the World was it not to exalt Jesus Christ to magnify him Last of all he sent unto them his Son saying They will reverence my Son God requires and commands all to honour his Son believe in his Son receive and imbrace his Son subject to his Authority to this End he sent him into the World But how do such seek to cross the Design of God herein who prefer their earthly Profits and
not Satan insult after this manner over the Lord of Life and Glory whilst Sinners close in with his Temptations and cleave to their Lusts earthly Profits and Pleasures and neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel 3 dly Such who neglect this so great Salvation offer Violence to the Holy Ghost 1. They do resist the Holy Spirit whom God hath sent as his great Messenger to influence enlighten and convince their Hearts and Consciences about the Worth and Weightiness of this Concern He will reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment Of Sin because they believe not on me Because they neglect attending upon the Means of this Salvation believe not the Necessity there is of this Saviour nor of Faith in him and seek it not above all things Is it a small Matter to resist the Holy Ghost O lay it to Heart 2. They grieve the Holy Spirit also yea and hereby tire him out so that he at last withdraws his Influences from the Sinner and will strive with him no more like as he did by the World and if so the ruin of the Soul will be unavoidable for without the Holy Spirit no Man can repent believe or be renewed be regenerated and so come to have Interest in this so great Salvation 3. Such quench the Spirit who neglect this Salvation and do not believe it is to cast Water on that Divine Spark which the Holy Ghost strives to kindle in the Soul of a poor Sinner or to blow out the Candle of the Lord so far as the Sinner is able to do it whereby Spiritual Light and Knowledg comes to be let into the Heart 4. Nay to neglect this Salvation in the Means of it is as much as may be to hinder the Work and Office of the Holy Spirit in and about this Salvation The Holy Spirit hath more immediately to do with Sinners his special Work is to enlighten to convince of Sin to work Faith in the Soul and to renew and sanctify the polluted Heart and all that neglect this Salvation or that slight those Convictions they have of the Evil of Sin or Sense of their woful Condition do seek to obstruct the King's great Officer and Messenger in the discharge of his Office Look to it Sinners for if it be deemed a dangerous thing to resist a Constable in the exercise of his Office because he is the King's Servant what Danger do you expose your selves to that oppose withstand and strive to hinder the Spirit in the discharge of his great Work and Office It is to contemn the King's Ambassador the Holy Spirit is sent to treat with Sinners in Christ's Name it is hereby Christ himself speaks to them from Heaven and they that adhere to the Motions of the Spirit do adhere to Jesus Christ and they that oppose or resist his Motions do oppose and resist Christ also The Holy Spirit is the great Gospel-Blessing promised to infuse Grace in the Soul all Grace is from the Spirit Sinners cannot believe without the Holy Spirit nor love God The Love of God is shed abroad in the Hearts of Believers by the Holy Ghost There is no Regeneration without the Spirit Those that are born again are born of the Spirit no Union with Christ without the Spirit no broken Heart no Cries no Tears that will prevail with God without the help of the Spirit Such that will not adhere to his Motions and Influences say in their Hearts that they will not be changed will not believe nor repent nor have Christ to be their Prince and Saviour The Spirit awakens the Conscience and stirs up Fears in the Soul and sets before the Sinner's Eyes his great Evil Guilt and horrid Pollution therefore if they refuse the Wooings Intreaties and Influences of the Spirit they must perish for ever APPLICATION 1. O let us lament and mourn over all that neglect this so great Salvation All Unbelievers and Neglecters of the Means of Salvation are horridly guilty before the Lord 't is hereby all their Sins are bound upon their Consciences and cleave to them and are charged upon them not only Original but all actual Sin whatsoever 2. O infinite Love and Patience May we not stand amazed and wonder at the long-suffering and forbearance of God O House of David saith the Prophet is it a small thing for you to weary Men but will you weary my God also What greater Wickedness and Ingratitude can there be than this Will you contemn and resist your Saviour and the Holy Ghost How long shall God wait upon you Will he always wait to be gracious O know that his Mercy will at last be turned into Fury 3. Unworthy are such to live to be fed to be clothed to be protected and preserved that thus despise God's Mercy and sovereign Goodness Would a Man feed clothe and bestow great Favours on such that despise slight and contemn him 4. What do you think of your selves Sinners to you I speak that neglect this so great Salvation O this is your Sin you refuse the only Remedy God hath found out to heal and save your Souls therefore your Damnation will be just and deserved with a witness You love Darkness rather than Light you contemn the highest Good the best of Beings and the highest Expressions of his Love and Favour that God that made you that Christ that spilt his Blood to redeem the worst of Sinners those Bowels that pitied you you refuse and resist that Spirit that would renew you sanctify you and make you meet for Heaven and all this out of love to your base Lusts your cruel Enemies that seek to destroy and murder your precious Souls Abhor your selves Alas Men do not see what Monsters of Wickedness they are whilst they neglect this so great Salvation You sin I say against the Remedy the costly Remedy the only Remedy against the Remedy that Infinite Wisdom hath found out and Infinite Goodness hath vouchsafed Yet if you return to God there is Mercy for you say O Lord now we see our Sin O that you could but say so in truth and fall down at the feet of God and say Thou hast overcome us with thy Love 5. Lastly Here is Comfort for Believers who have received this so great Salvation O bless God for Faith cherish the Motions of the Holy Spirit that hath broken your Bonds you prefer Christ and the Salvation by Christ before all things live worthy of a Part and Interest in this Salvation you have Salvation and shall not lose it O walk so that you may never lose the Joy of it for that you may do God may hide his Face Christ may withdraw himself if he hath done it enquire when you had him and consider what you have done that he hides his Face from you let the Cause if it be Sin be bewailed and let the loss of him be more grievous to you than the loss of Comfort from him and be willing to
many Devices whereby he strives to do this which I shall not now insist upon he shews them the Glory of this World thereby to allure them into his hungry Jaws to devour them and destroy their Souls for ever He has many Nets spread and Multitudes are caught by him either one way or another 1. Some he deprives of this Salvation through love of sinful Profits or worldly Gain This way he destroyed the young Man mentioned in the Gospel that came running to Christ and also Demas who forsook the Gospel and fell away for love to the sinful Profit of this evil World And how many daily by Earthly-mindedness and abominable Covetousness lose this Salvation through the Craftiness of the Devil and the Evil of their own Hearts 2. Some by sinful Honours O how many love worldly Grandure and a Name among Men above the Salvation of their Souls These are like those jews who are said to believe on Christ but did not confess him for fear of being put out of the Synagogue for they loved the praise of Men more than the praise of God 3. Others by earthly Pleasures and sinful Delights he catches in his Net and makes a Prey of 4. Also Multitudes he destroys by cursed Errors and damnable Heresies That way he deceives them and robs them of this Salvation concluding that those Principles they have sucked in are the undoubted Truths of Jesus Christ and do not doubt of the Goodness of their Condition Fourthly And lastly Consider the Vanity of all those things for the take of which Men neglect this so great Salvation What is Sin the Pleasures of Sin or all the Râ—â—hes and Glory of this World when compared to the Salvation wrought by Jesus Christ Sin is the Soul's Sickness the Scabs and Sores the Plague and Poison of the Soul 't is the Spâ—wn of the old Serpent and yet Sinners lick it up and esteem it above all that Good that is in God and in Jesus Christ and value it more than the Crown of Glory in Heaven Sin is the Leprosy and Plague of the Soul 't is compared to the rottenness and stinking Putre action of a filthy Sepulchre nay to the superfluity of Naughtiness O that Men should neglect so great Salvation and expose themselves to eternal Flames and Wrath in Hell for love to that which the Holy Ghost thus paints out and discovers the detestable Nature of Besides how soon are Men deprived of all those things which their deceived Hearts are set upon they are not sure of enjoying them one Day no not for one Hour O how soon will all the seeming Sweet of Sin and of this World be turned into Bitter and all earthly Joy into Sorrow all their Pleasures into eternal Pain and Misery And O how will they cry out against themselves for slighting the Salvation of their Souls for the sake of and love to these things when it will be too late HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation I Closed the last Day with the second Point of Doctrine namely That the great Salvation of the Gospel may be neglected I shall now proceed to the third and last Proposition Doct. 3. There is no possibility for such or any one Soul of them to escape that neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel First I shall shew you what it is they cannot escape Secondly Why they cannot escape Thirdly When or at what time they shall not escape Fourthly Shew why the Gospel hath such fearful Comminations and Threatnings contained in it First They shall not escape the Curse of the Law which all ungodly and unbelieving Sinners lie under for no Man is nor can be delivered from the Curse thereof but only those who believe in Jesus Christ and embrace the Salvation of the Gospel For Christ is the End of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believeth to them that believe and to every one of them but not to those that believe not Christ hath born the Curse of the Law he by his actual Obedience fulfilled the Righteousness thereof and by bearing the Penalty of it which our Sins incurr'd by his Death he hath delivered all that believe from the Curse thereof but the Curse of it remains on all them who receive not Jesus Christ it hath its full blow and stroke on all Gospel neglecters because it is by him and no other ways we can be delivered from the Curse thereof 2. Therefore it follows in the second place that they cannot be delivered from the Guilt and Punishment of their Sins their Sins lie upon them they are charged upon all that neglect or refuse the Salvation wrought out by Jesus Christ It is the Decree of the Eternal God that all such that believe not shall bear their own Sins because they reject Jesus Christ who hath born the Punishment that was due to Sin Some conceit that they need not this Salvation need not the Righteousness of Christ or Faith in Christ and this through Ignorance concluding their State is good Jesus said unto them If ye were blind ye should have no Sin but now ye say We see therefore your Sin remaineth They thought their own Righteousness was sufficient and were ignorant of God's Righteousness and hence the Guilt of their Sin remaineth upon them 3. All those that neglect this so great Salvation shall not escape the Wrath of God This follows as the natural Consequence of the former Divine Wrath parsues them and every Soul of them that believe not but refuse the Grace of God offered by Jesus Christ in the Gospel like as the avenger of Blood pursued the Man slayer under the Law The Cities of Refuse were a type of Christ 't is to him all guilty Sinners must fly if they escape the Wrath and Vengeance of God Divine Justice is only satisfied in Christ and Sinners for not accepting and receiving by Faith that Atonement and pleading that Satisfaction he hath made Wrath follows them even at their Heels and will strike them down He that believeth not shall not see Life but the Wrath of God abideth on him Wrath is upon all naturally we are all by Nature the Children of Wrath but it remains no longer upon them that believe but it abideth on such that believe not 4. They shall not escape the Damnation of Hell or everlasting Burning Our Saviour speaking to the Scribes and Pharisees saith How can ye escapâ— the Damnation of Hell Yet they were a People that appeared outwardly righteous to Men and boasted that they were not Extortioners Vnjust Adulterers or such as Publicans were But alas no Righteousness will carry a Man to Heaven but a perfect compleat sinless Righteousness Paul was not an Hypocrite as some of the Pharisees were before he believed yet his Righteousness tho according to the Letter of the Law was such that few attained unto As touching the Righteousness which is of the Law
accounted all things as loss or as nothing for the Excellency of Jesus Christ his Lord. 4. Doth Jesus Christ rule and reign in thee by his Spirit He that hath Christ in him may feel his ruling Power and that he by his Spirit hath spoiled the ruling and predominating Power of Sin every evil Habit in the Heart and Life of such being broke 5. Moreover if Christ is in thee and thou by Faith art in him then thou art a new Creature This the Apostle positively doth assert Therefore if any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new Such have new Understandings or are renewed in their Understandings Wills and Affections they have also new Thoughts new Love new Fears new Joy new Desires new Companions and new Conversations all things with such are become new Lastly And to conclude with all I shall say from this Text here is also Matter and Cause of Comfort and great Consolation to all Believers to all who have a part in this Salvation I need not shew you which way this appears for every one that hath heard what a kind of Salvation it is may easily infer from thence that all that have a part in it are happy for ever 't is a great and glorious Salvation Remember what you are delivered from by it and what you are raised up unto by it and also that it is a sure and certain Salvation no Enemy no Sin no Devil can dispossess you of it if you are Believers and have received the Earnest thereof which is the Holy Spirit by which also you are sealed to the Day of Redemption Therefore it remains that you endeavour to shew forth the Praises of him who hath called you out of Darkness into his marvelous Light and hath given you a true sight of and interest in this great Salvation wrought by Jesus Christ To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be Glory Honour and Praise now and for ever Amen FINIS A. Access FREE access to the Father an Effect of Christ's Death Pag. 262 Accompany What those things are that do accompany Salvation 323 366 Adoption Adoption a glorious Privilege 417 Afflictions Afflictions compared to a Refiner's Fire 17 Afflictions Christ's Fan 17 Aggravation The Aggravations of Sin opened in ten Particulars 356 All. Christ died not eternally to save all Men proved 248 to 256 Christ in some sense did die for all universally or for every individual Person 256 Angels Angels pry into our Salvation 433 Angels great understanding yet learn by Experience of the Church 434 Arian Heresy what 85 Arminianism Arminianism detected 146 147 Arminianism again detected 158 Arminianism further detected 228 to 256 Attributes All the Attributes glorified equally in our Salvation by Jesus Christ 372 All the holy Attributes united together in Christ to save Believers 247 All the Attributes of God in Arms to cut down such who neglect the Salvation of the Gospel 467 468 B. Backbiting a notorious Evil such may be guilty of Murder 7 Baptizing is dipping 132 Baptism of great use to Believers 133 Beguiled Christ's Sheep may be beguiled by Deceivers how far 89 90 Blood unlawful to be eaten The whole World forbid to eat it because it is the Life of the Creature Pag. 256 Business The Salvation of our Souls the chief Business we have to mind whilst in this World shewed in many Particulars 441 442 443 C. Cease Such who are begotten and born of God cannot cease being his Children 214 Chaff Why false or hypocritical Professors are compared to Chaff shewed in six things from p. 18 to 25 Who are Chaff from p 18 to 25 Charity Ministers should exercise Charity towards such Christians that seem dull and drowsy 322 Child John Child's Sin what 48 Some Passages of his Desparation 48 49 50 He hang'd himself 51 Children The happy State of being the Children of God born of God 222 to 227 How God's Children are known 219 220 Christ Christ is God and Man wherefore 93 94 Christ coequal to the Father 380 Christ the express Image of the Father's Person 368 How Christ is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God 273 274 Condition Conditional Christ not a Conditional Redeemer 251 The Condition that Arminians say the Creature is to perform is impossible 250 251 252 Their Conditional Redemption no Redemption at all 250 251 252 253 254 It renders Salvation not free or wholly by Grace 151 Cornelius not saved without Faith in Christ tho his Prayers are said to be heard 385 Curse of the Law remains on all Unbelievers 474 D. Darkness Hell a Place of utter Darkness Pag. 5 Dead Man naturally dead 145 How Men may know they are spiritually dead or dead in Sin 146 Death The Nature of natural Death 145 Natural and Spiritual Death compared 145 146 Death of Christ secures the Saints Final Perseverance 235 Christ suffered Death in our stead 239 Dear How a dear Child of God may be known 219 220 Despair a great Sin 449 455 456 Utter Despair will add to the Damneds Misery 61 Devil The Devil the Cause of Sinners spiritual Blindness 445 The Devil will torment the Damned by upbraiding them 61 Devils and wicked Men tormented together 62 Discipline The Fan of Church Discipline twofold 13 14 15 E. Effect 1. Appeasing God's Wrath an Effect of Christ's Death 257 2. Reconciliat an Effect of Christ's Death 258 3. The Holy Spirit as given to the Elect an Effect of Christ's Death 259 4. Adoption an Effect of Christ's Death 262 5. Pardon of Sin an Effect of Christ's Death and Satisfaction 262 6. Free Access to the Throne of Grace an Effect of Christ's Death 262 7. Redemption an Effect of Christ's Death 262 8. Justification an Effect of Christ's Death 263 9. Sanctification an Effect of Christ's Death 263 10. Glorification an Effect of Christ's Death 265 First Effect of Christ's Death in us by the Spirit is Life 267 Second Light Conviction 267 Christ's Death shall have its Effect on all for whom he died like as a Corn of Wheat that is sown will have its Effect 253 Elect Election There is Election of Grace Personal Election proved 170 171 172 c. Christ the Head of Election 170 Election secures the Saints Final Perseverance 172 177 178 179 181 182 Envy a great Sin 7 Essentials What the Essentials of Christianity are 85 86 Every Man doth not intend oft-times all and every individual Person in the World 299 Eutychians What the Eutychian Heresy is 85 F. Faith Justifying Faith is a reliance on Christ A full perswasion that Christ is mine not essential to the being of Faith 420 Of a direct Act of Faith 420 A general Faith to believe Christ died for all therefore for me not to be valued and may be a false Faith 268 Fall Fallings Saints may fall foully 162 Causes of the Saints Fallings 164 165 166 167 Falling from Grace No final falling from Grace proved
177 to 298 Objections for final falling answered 298 to 312 Fan. What is Christ's Fan shewed in six Particulars from p. 9 to 17 Father God the Father the Contriver of our Redemption 377 The Father could only appoint the Terms or Way of our Recovery 378 The Father substituted and appointed Christ to be our Saviour and Surety 378 The Father prepared Christ a Body and sent him into the World The Father chose us in Christ the Father draws us to Christ 378 379 Fire Why God's Wrath is compared to Fire shewed in eight things 31 32 33 Grace compared to Fire 288 Floor What is Christ's Floor shewed 3 4 5 6 1. Jewish Church 2. National Churches 3. Congregational Churches Follow How Christ's Sheep follow him opened in eight Particulars 115 116 117 Food The Nature of Spiritual Food opened in seven Particulars 137 Full. Gospel-Salvation a full and compleat Salvation opened at large 421 to 429 G. Garner What meant by Christ's Garner viz. 1. His Church 29 2. Heaven 30 Chaff as well as Wheat in Christ's Garner below but none in his Garner above 30 Ghost Sin against the Holy Ghost what 360 361 362 363. How false Professors may be said to partake of the Holy Ghost 334 Good The Word of God Good in what respect 335 336. Grace Vocation of God's Free Grace 151 Faith is a Grace and of God's pure Grace and Favour 151 Repentance a Grace 151 Why Eternal Life is meerly of Grace shewed in five Particulars 154 155 The Father sent Christ to merit Grace for us the Son purchased Grace for us and the Holy Spirit works Grace in us 382 383 Grace works physically 448 The Spring Author and Excellency of Grace as 't is a Divine Principle in Believers opened 286 287 288 289 Gross Acts of Sin may be left by unrenewed Persons 448. H. Habits To change the evil Habits of the Heart is the Work of the Spirit of God only not in Man's Power 448 Hand What meant by the Father's Hand 249 250 251. What meant by Christ's Hand 273 to 280 In what sense Christ's Sheep may be said to be in his Hand 280 to 284 The happy State of Believers by being put into Christ's Hand 276 278 280 281 Heaps Many Heaps of prophane Persons in the National Floor 4 5 6 Hell Torments direful opened in many respects 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 c. Hypocrites How Hypocrites may be known or the Chaff from the Wheat 18 to 25. I. Importance The Salvation of our Souls matter of chiefest Importance we have to mind whilst in this World 441 442 443 Intercession The Nature and Power of Christ's Intercession opened 293 294 Interests All Interests concerned about our Salvation are secured in Christ how 275 Judgment Eternal Judgment an Essential of the Christian Religion 86 Justification Justification how or what 95 96 Justification wholly of Grace 151 The Nature of Justification opened 414 415 Justification compleat 416 Christ's Righteousness being the Matter of it 415. Justification not a gradual Act as Sanctification is in us those that are justified are perfectly justified and for ever justified 263 415. K. Kingdom What meant by Christ's delivering up the Kingdom to the Father 345 Kingdom of Christ very near 353 Kingdom of Christ when it begins 345 It will be glorious 344. Knowledg The Knowledg Christ hath of his Sheep largely opened 98 to 107 Non-proficiency in Knowledg very dangerous 321 Some People perish for lack of Knowledg 445 L. Lake Hell a Lake of Fire 55 Law The Law must be satisfied for our Breach made of it Pag. 152 The Gospel justifies not as a mild Law of Grace requiring sincere Obedience according to the new Doctrine 153 Perfection of Obedience as well required under the Gospel as under the Law tho not of us in point of Justification 152 153 154 Moral Law not abrogated 153 154 Why Christ was made under the Law 238 239. Life Eternal Life A threefold Life of Man 143 What meant by Eternal Life 143 144 How and why Eternal Life is meerly of God's Grace 147 148 149 150 153 154 Why Christ will give Eternal Life to his Sheep 155 156 How Christ is said to be our Life 264 Believers have Eternal Life now how 144 Love The Love of the Father what 184 It secures the standing of Believers in a State of Grace 185 186 c. Love of Christ an early a wonderful a conjugal an attracting and an inconceivable Love it passeth Knowledg 195 196 197 Christ's Love secures our standing also 198 Love to the poor Saints and relieving them for Christ's sake a better sign of true Grace than the greatest of spiritual Gifts 323. M. Mark What the Mark is on the Forehead and right Hand 119. Means The Means of Salvation as well as the End is ordained of God 300. Memory A strong Memory but a natural Gift 38. Mercy God's Mercy manifested in its greatest Glory in Christ 372 Had not God vouchsafed a Redeemer Divine Mercy had never been manifested 372 Divine Mercy will rise up against such that neglect the Gospel-Salvation 468. Ministers Christ the great Minister of the New Testament 429 Ministers Office a high and sublime Office 431 Ministers Christ's Ambassadors 431 Ministers to be careful lest Chaff be let into the Church which is Christ's Garner 30. Murder Self Murder not an unpardonable Sin 51 361. N. Name Names Christ a Name above every Name what 380 What Names Christ hath 380 Christ's Name according to his Nature Nation National The National Sins what great odious and hateful to God 4 5 6 National Church of the Jews dissolved and gone 4 33 No National Church under the Gospel 33 34. O. Office The Office of the Holy Spirit what 461 Such that neglect Gospel-Salvation strive to obstruct the Holy Spirit in the discharge of his Work and Office 461 462. Old The Old Heaven and Old Earth shall pass away to make way for the New 345 Orphan Believers are in Christ's Hand as an Orphan is in the Hand of a faithful Guardian 283. P. Pardon Pardon of Sin what 413 Pardon of Sin a great Blessing opened in six Particulars 413 Passions All the Passions of the Soul let out in Hell will add to their Misery 58 59 60. Pastures What the Pastures are where Christ feeds his Sheep 130 131 132 134. Peace a Gospel-Blessing it passeth all understanding 418. Perseverance Final Perseverance of the Saints proved 177 to 297 Objections against the Saints Final Perseverance answered 297 to 310. Personal Election what Personal Election proved 170 172 173. Portion God the Portion of Believers What a Portion God is opened in eleven Particulars Pag. 427 428. Prayer The Nature of pure spiritual Prayer 134 135. Prayer one of Christ's Pastures 134. Principle From what Principle true Christians act towards God 324 Grace a Vital Principle 288 Grace an abiding Principle 289 to 296. Promises Promises of God a fat Pasture for Christ's Sheep 135. Providences The profit
and usefulness of Experiences of God's Providences 136. Q. Quench Dangerous to quench the Holy Spirit Satan cannot totally quench the Spirit in Believers 228. Quickning The Spirit the quickning Principle of the Soul 228 R. Resurrection of the Body an Essential of the Christian Religion 86 Right-Hand Christ the Father's Right-Hand 274 Righteousness What Righteousness it is a Man may turn from 307 Christ's Righteousness which is the Material Cause of our Justification is an Everlasting Righteousness and therefore cannot be lost 307 Such that trust to their own Righteousness shall perish 307 Christ's Righteousness a Garment 382 383 Rod. The Rod Christ's Voice 86. S. Salvation wholly of Grace Pag. 147 Shewed and proved in eight Particulars 147 148 149 150 Salvation a Garment the Father prepared it the Son wrought it the Holy Ghost puts it on the Soul 382 383 Salvation great 369 to 435 Who neglect the great Salvation 436 to 443 From whence Salvation is neglected 443 444 Great Evil of neglecting Salvation 452 453 c. Great Evil in respect of God the Father 452 453 In respect of Christ 457 In respect of the Holy Spirit 461 In respect of the Sinner himself 468 469 470 Salvation our greatest Business proved 441 442 443. Sheep Believers Christ's Sheep 1. By Choice 2. By the Father's Donation 3. By Purchase 4. By Renovation 5. By Covenant made with the Father 6. By Conquest 7. By their Resignation of themselves to him 77 78 79 80 Characters of Christ's Sheep 11â— to 121 Shepherd What a kind of Shepherd Christ is 122 to 129 Sin The Evil of Sin opened in many Particulars 388 389 390 391 392 393 c. Sins of the Saints of a heinous Nature on several respects 168 Sins of Believers cannot separate them from God's Love 185 186 187 188 c. Why Saints cannot dare not sin 191 192 The great Evil of the Sin in neglecting Gospel-Salvation 464 to 469 Those that are born God cannot commit Sin shewed 216 217 The odiousness of Sin shewed 470 Christ died for all the Sins of the Elect. 236 241. For their Unbelief 241 No vindictive Wrath due to Believers their Sins Pag. 243 Sin the greatest Evil. 58 Socinians what their Errors are 85 Soveraignty It is God's absolute Soveraignty to chuse and call whom he will and send the Gospel to whom he will 169 172 173 314 Soul The Soul of Man very precious proved by many Arguments 400 401 402 c. The Soul proved to be Immortal by seven Arguments 406 407 Ministers and Parents have a great Charge having the Charge of Souls No impairing the final loss of the Soul 409. Spira Francis Spira's Fall what 44 Spira's natural Disposition 44 Some Passages of his fearful State 44 45 46. Spirit The great Blessings we receive by the Holy Spirit opened 259 260 261 1. The Spirit an Earnest to us 260 2. A Seal a Witness 261. A twofold Act of the Witness of the Holy Spirit 1. A direct Act. 2. A reflex Act. 261. State The State of Sinners by Nature very miserable opened in many Particulars 393 394 395. Stead Christ died not only for our good but in our stead proved by 9 Arguments 237 238 239 240. Strangers Who are Strangers and why so called 90 How Christ's Sheep will not follow nor hear the Voice of Strangers 90 91. Supper The precious Nature of the Lord's Supper opened 133 134. T. Taste What a Taste of God's Word Hypocrites may have 337 What a Taste the Saints have 340 341. Threatnings Why there are such Threatnings contained in the Gospel 483 484 485. Torments Torments of Hell what largely opened 53 54 55 56 57 Torments of Hell eternal why 58 59. Tremble What sort of Persons have cause to tremble at the thoughts of Wrath and Hell 50 59 60. U. Vnbelief the greatest Sin shewed in many Particulars 449. Vnion Vnion with Christ opened 224 225 226 Vnion with Christ secures Believers from Final Apostacy 227 228 229 230 231. Vniversal No Vniversal Redemption from Sin and Wrath proved by many Arguments 252 253 254. Voice What meant by Christ's Voice shewed in four things 80 to 86 What a kind of Voice the Voice of Christ's Spirit is shewed in 8 Particulars 81 82 What meant by hearing Christ's Voice and how the Saints hear it shewed in many Particulars 87 88 89. W. Water The Nature of Water 138 What meant by Water of Life or Spiritual Water 139. Weigh God weighs all Men and their Spirits Graces Duties 37 38. Wheat Why the Saints are compared to Wheat shewed in nine respects 27 28 29. Will. The Will of Man determines the whole Event of Man's Redemption according to the Arminian Doctrine 15â— World There is a World to come what meant thereby 343 The World to come in its greatest Glory begins when Christ comes the second time 344 The Riches Honours and Pleasures of the World to come opened 449 450 451 452 453. The World to come will consist of a new Heaven and new Earth 344 The word World sometimes refers to the Elect 256. Wrath. The Wrath of God dreadful Pag. 41 The External Wrath of God what 42 The Internal Wrath what 43 The Eternal Wrath in Hell opened 52 1. Inconceivable 2. According to the fear of it 53 3. No Misery like Wrath in Hell 53 54 4. Wrath of God in Hell without mixture 54 55 At what time Sinners shall not escape God's Wrath. 478 479 The Nature of God's Wrath opened which they shall not escape that neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel 480 481 What kind of Sinners shall suffer and undergo God's Wrath. 487 489. Y. Yoke There is a Yoke to be taken up by all such that will be saved 447 The Yoke uneasy to the Flesh or to all unrenewed Persons 447. ERRATA â—â—ge 52 line 15 read Elementary P. 53. l. 25. r. Wretch P. 118. l. 24. for his 〈…〉 P 170. l. 29. for saith r. said P. 212. l. 27. r. whosoever hath that efficacious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 transforming Soul-renewing c. P. 213. l. 26. dele sooner than Flesh P. 9. l. 10. for in self r. in it self 224. l. 4. for Thirdly r. 2. P. 236. l. 23. dele the 〈◊〉 P. 246. l. 5. for great r. 〈◊〉 l. 16. for nor r. or 〈…〉 9. dele not P. 255 〈◊〉 read it is evident that by the word All and the word 〈…〉 is only intended c. P. 302 l. 6. for thy r. the. P. 324. l. 20. read 〈…〉 things which they acted P. 368. l. 33. for only r. also P. 379. l. 38. r. Gospel-Salvation P. 381. l. 38. dele the first the. P. 405. l. 8. dele because Sermon 1. Preacht Feb. 5. 1693. Parts opened Luk. 7. 28. Mal. 3. 1 2. Terms opened What meant by Floor John 15. 1. National floor opened Pro. 6. 32. Pro. 16. 13. Mat. 4. 1. 1 Cor. 1. 18. Isa 42. 8. Jer. 10. 11. 1 Joh. 3. 10. Rom. 1. 28. 29. What is meant by Christ's Fan. John 15. 3. Act. 15.