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A30920 Sermons upon several texts of Scripture by George Barker ... Barker, George, B.D. 1697 (1697) Wing B768; ESTC R22629 136,325 300

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by sense and if they may have ease for the present they care not what Extream misery they plunge themselves into afterwards 4ly They please themselves with some Slight hopes of doing well to Eternity because as to the Externall part of Religion they do as the best do and they differ much from the generality of the World who pretend to mind nothing but Earthly things therefore they presume they shall be a Difference between them at the great day and seing here they separate themselves in some sort from those who are openly loose and Wicked God will Separate them hereafter also Now men like it very well when by an easy Piece of Formality they can get themselves raised unto Hopes that it shall be well with them when this short Vncertain Life is at an end and can withall freely indulge themselves in the Enjoyment of whatever Pleasures are here below Vse Though by our Religion we may raise some Building for our selves if it be not such a Building as will afford us Comfort in the Greatest distress we can be in on this side the Grave either during this Life or in Death such as will do us good after this Life assuring us of Heaven and securing us against Hell we have little reason to rest here Indeed it is observed in all ages that it is some of this Building that undoes most as Christ in his time Observed that the Publicans and Sinners were in a fairer way then Scribes and Pharisees S. Mat. 21. 31. Not that hearing reading praying c. hinders men from Heaven but the Resting in these Duties doth when men pride and please themselves in these without pressing after something which is higher and better then these When men Build by their Religion and Build nothing to purpose they Ruin themselves by it When men have either no Religion at all or set nothing by their Religion they are far more easily wrought upon they are more ready to Consider truth when it is proposed and to submit unto truth when it is discovered Nothing but an Extraordinary Vivification of Christ could take S. Paul off from that Religion which he had profest and found advantage by Phil. 3. 7. What things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ Had not Demetrius found some Worldly advantage by the Religion he also professed he would never have to pertinaciously adhered to it and so stifly have opposed S. Paul when he acquainted him with a better Acts 19. 35. Doct. 2. They that only hear Christs sayings but do them not do only Build on the Sand that is they Build without a Foundation or on such a Foundation as will last but for a little while For 1st The Credit they get upon a Religious account has no Foundation they are not Really what they are taken to be though they have a form of Godliness they are without the Power of it if they do not deny it 2 Tim. 3. 5. Though they have a name to live yet they are Dead Rev. 3. 1. 2ly The Advantage they make by their Religion as to their Trades or Marriages has no Foundation All the ground there is for their being better Customed and more Desired then others are is their being supposed to be such as truly fear God when they are far from that Fear 3ly The Quiet they have in their Consciences is without Foundation It is only grounded on a Mistake that their Hearts and Lives are far better then they are that their Condition is a great deal safer then it really is 4ly The Hopes they have of Heaven and Happiness is without Foundation If they have any Grounds for these it is either because they suppose that all who Profess Religion shall go to Heaven and if so then will Judas and Simon Magus also for they were great Professors in their time or else they suppose that there is some Reason for their going to Heaven when others are excluded thence whereas notwithstanding that Profession they still have as Vile natures as any have Now thus it must needs be because there are but two Foundations on which to raise and continue any of these advantageous Buildings and both these are wanting in Men who Hear Christs sayings but do them not 1st Read Goodness within And this can in no wise be where there is no Change of Nature and there will never be any change where Christs words are only heard but never heeded The main Drift of all Christs Discourses are to bring unto Regeneration and this men will never be brought unto by a bare Hearing of Christs words There must be a Vehement striving of a mans Spirit and a potent work of Gods spirit upon the Soul before any can be brought to this Let men hear or read the Counsels Commands promises and Threatnings of the Gospel never so much if they be not hereby Excited unto the great Work of Believing S. Joh. 6. 29. Which is a laying hold of Gods power for the Cleansing of us throughly there is nothing of Worth and Goodness which may be a Foundation of outward Love and Esteem or of Inward peace and hope Good nature and good Parts good Morall qualifications and a fair profession of Religion will not serve here 2ly Gods peculiar favour It is God alone who gives Repute and Honour who raises Friends that shall be ready to help us when we stand in need When a mans wayes please the Lord he maketh even his Enemies to be at peace with him Prov. 16. 7. It is he who speaketh True peace to the Soul he Challenges this as his Prerogative Isai 57. 19. I create the Fruit of the Lips Peace Peace to him that is far off and to him that is near saith the Lord. Hence this peace is called the Peace of God Phil. 4. 7. The peace of God which passeth all Vnderstanding And God the Author of it is called the God of peace 1. Thes 5. 23. The very God of Peace sanctify you wholly When he giveth quietness who can make Trouble Joh. 3. 29. It is he who begets hope in his People if any be Begotten again to a lively hope it is by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his Abundant mercy hath Begotten us again to a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ He is the God of hope Rom. 15. 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and Peace When the Lord Roars out of Sion all other hope which is not of his Raising quite fails Joel 3. 16. The Lord also shall Roar out of Sion and utter his Voice from Jerusalem the Heavens and Earth shall shake but the Lord will be the hope of his People we must not Expect then that any of these Advantages should last when we have them only by Gods Common Providence not by his Peculiar favour Vse Let men please themselves never so much