Selected quad for the lemma: reason_n
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A29748
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Christ the way and the truth and the life, or, A short discourse pointing forth the way of making use of Christ for justification and especially and more particularly for sanctification in all its parts, from Johan. XIV, vers. VI : wherein several cases of conscience are briefly answered, chiefly touching sanctification / by John Brown.
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Brown, John, 1610?-1679.
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1677
(1677)
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Wing B5028; ESTC R27232
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262,893
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482
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that therefore there is no pardon had or that this is not the way to pardon for as we shall shew afterward pardon is one thing and intimation of pardon is another thing we may be pardoned and yet suppose that we are not pardoned challenges will abide till the conscience be sprinkled and till the Prince of peace command peace to the conscience and put the accuser to silence who when he can do no more will marre the peace of a beleever as long as he can and stoppe the current of his comforts which made David pray that God would restore to him the joy of his salvation Psal. 51. 4. Nor would we think that upon our taking of this course for the pardon of our sins we shall never thereafter meet with a challenge upon the account of these sins It is true when sins are pardoned they are fully pardoned in God's court and that obligation to condemnation is taken away and the pardoned person is looked upon as no sinner that is as no person liable to condemnation because of these sins for being pardoned he becometh just before God yet we darre not say but conscience afterward being alarmed with new transgressions may mistake as people suddenly put into a fright are ready to do nor dar we say that God will not permit Satan to upbraid us with those sins which have been blotted out long ago as he suffered Shimâ—…i who was but an instrument of Satan to cast up to David his blood guiltinesse which had been pardoned long before The Lord may think good to suffer this that his people may be keeped humble and made more tender and watchfull in all their wayes 5. Beleevers would not mis improve or abuse this great condescendency of free grace take the greater liberty to sin because there is such a sure saifâ—… and pleasant way of getting those sins blotted out and forgiven Shall we sin because we are not under grace but under the law That be far from us sayeth 〈◊〉 Apostle Rom. 6 15. This were indeed to turne the grace of God into lasciviousnesse And it may be a question if such as have really repented gotten their sins pardoned will be so ready to make this use of it sure sense of pardon will work some other effect as we see Ezech. 16 62 63. 6. The beleever in going about this work of nailing his sins to the crosse of Christ and of improving Christ's Death Resurrection and constant intercession for the obtaining of pardon would not think of going alone or of doing this in his own strength for of himself he can do nothing He must look to Christ for grace to help in this time of need and must got about this duty with dependence on Him waiting for the influences of Light Counsell Strength and Grace from Him to repent and beleeve for He is a Prince exalted to give repentance first and last and He is the author and finisher of faith so that without Him we can do nothing 7. Let the beleever beware of concluding that he hath got no pardon because he hath met with no sensible intimation thereof by the flowing in of peace and joy in his soul. Pardon is one mercy and intimation of it to the soul is another distinct mercy and separable from it shall we therefore say we have not gotten the first because we have not gotten both The Lord for wise reasons can pardon poor sinners and not give any intimation thereof to wit that they may watch more against sin afterward and not be so bold as they have been and that they may finde more in experience what â—… bitter thing it is to sin against God and learne withall to depend on Him for lesse and more and to carry more humbly for it may be God seeth that if they saw their sins pardoned they would forget themselves and rush into new sins againe 8. The beleever must not think it strange if he finde more trouble after greater sins and a greater difficulty to lay hold on Christ for pardon of those then for pardon of others for as God hath been more dishonoured by these so is his anger more kindled upon that account and it is sureable for the glory of God's justice that our sorrow for such hainous sins be proportionably greater and this will likewise increase the difficulty and ordinarly the effects of God's fatherly displeasure make deeper wounds in the soul after such sins and these are not so easily healed all which will call for 〈◊〉 and proportionably greater godly sorrow and repentance and acts of faith because faith will meet with more opposition and discouragment there and therefore must be the more strong to go thorow these impediments and to lay hold on his crosse Yet though this should make all watchfull and to guaird against grosse and crying sins it should not drive any to dispaire nor to say with that dispairing wretch their sin is greater than it can be forgiven the ocean of mercy can drown and swallow up great as well as lesser sinnes Christ is an alsufficient Mediator for the greatest sins as well as for the least O for thy names sake pardon mine iniquitie for it is great will come in season to a soul ready to sink with the weight of this milstone â—…ied about its neck 9. as the greater sins should not make us dispaire of taking this course for remission so nor should the smalnâ—…sse of sin make us to neglect this way for the least sin cannot be pardoned but through Jesus Christ for the law of God is violated thereby justice provoked Gods authority vilipended c. and therefore cannot be now pardoned by reason of the threatnings annexed to the transgression of the law without a ransome death is the wages of all sin lesser and greater and the curse is due to all sinners greater and smaller Therefore the beleever would not suffer one sin seen and discovered to lie unpardoned but on the first discovery thereof take it away to Christ and nail it to his crosse 10. The beleever would not conclude that his sins are not pardoned because possibly temporal strokes inflicted because of them are not removed for though Davids sin was pardoned yet because of that sin of his a temporall stroke attended him and his family to his dying day for not only did God cut off the childe 2 Sam. 15 14. but told him that the sword should never depairt from his house and that He would raise up evil against him â—…ut of his own house and give his wives to one that should lie with them in the sight of the sun vers 10 11. So we read that the Lord took vengeance on their inventions whose sins he had pardoned Psal. 99 8. God may see this fit and expedient for his own glory and for humbling of them and causing them feare the more to sin against him Yea not only may temporal calamities be inflicted because of sin pardoned or continued after sin
worth Nor need they object their long refuseing and resisting many calls for he will make such as are willing welcome at the Eleventh houre Him that cometh he will in no case put away Ioh. 6 37. Nor can they object their changeablenesse that they will not stand to the bargan but break and returne with the dog to the vomite for Christ hath engadged to bring all thorow that come to him He will raise them up at the last day Joh. 6 40. He will present them to himself holy and without spote or wrinckle or any such thing Ephes. 5. The covenant is fully provided with promises to stoppe the mouth of that objection Nor can they object the difficulty or impossibility of beleeving for that is Christ's work also He is the author and finisher of faith Heb. 12 1. Can they not with confidence cast themselvs upon him yet if they can hunger and thirst for him and look to him he will accept of that look to me sayes he and be saved Esa. 45 22. If they cannot look to him nor hunger thirst for him yet if they be willing all is well are they willing that Christ save them in his way and therefore willingly give themselves over to him and are willing and content that Christ by his spirit work more hunger in them and a more lively faith and work both to will and to do according to his owne good pleasure it is well But it will be said that the tearmes and conditions on which he offereth himself are hard Ans. I grant the tearmes are hard to flesh and blood and to proud unmortified nature but to such as are willing to be saved so as God way be most glorified the tearmes are easie most rationall and satisfying for 1. We are required to take Him only for our mediator and to joyne none with him and to mix nothing with him Corrupt nature is averse from this and would at least mix something of self with him and not rest on Christ only corrupt nature would not have the man wholly denying himself and following Christ only and hence many lose themselves and lose all because with the Gallatians they would mix the law and the gospel together do something themselvs for satisfaction of justice take Christ for the rest that remaines Now the Lord will have all the glory as good reason is will have none to share with him He will give of his glory to none And is not this rationall and easy What can be objected against this 2. We are required to take him Wholly that He may be a compleat Mediator to us as a Prophet to teach as a King to subdue our lâ—…sts to cause us walk in his wayes as well as a Priest to satisfie justice for us to die inâ—…ercede for us Is it not reason that we take him as God hath made him for us Is there any thing in him to be refused And is there any thing in Him which we have no need of Is there not all the reason then in the world for this that we take Him wholly and what stumbling block is here 3. We are required to take Him Freely without money and without price Esa. 55 1 for He will not bâ—… boughâ—… any mâ—…nner of way thâ—…t free grace may be free grace therefore he will give all freely True enough it is corruption would be at buying though it have nothing to lay out Pride will not stoup to a free gift But can any say the tearms are hard when all is offered freely 4. We are required to take him absolutely without any reversion or mentall reservation Some would willingly quite all but one or two lusts that they cannot think to twinne with and they would deny themselvs in many things but they would still most willingly keep a back door open to some beloved lust or other And who seeth not what double dealing is here And what reason can plead for this double dealing Corruption it is true will think this hard but no man can rationally say that this is a just ground of discouragment to any or a sufficient ground to warrand them to stay away from Christ seing they cannot be supposed sincerely to desire redemption from any sin who would not desire redemption from every sin He who loveth any known lust and would not willingly be delivered therefrom hath no reâ—…ll hatred at any lust as such nor desire to be saved for one such lust would be his death 5. It is required that we accept of Him really and cordially with our heart and soul and not by a meer externall verbal profession and is there not all the reason in the world for this He offereth Himself really to us and shall we not be reall in accepting of Him what I pray can justly be excepted against this or what reall discouragement can any gather from this 6. We are to take Him for all necessities that iâ—… with a resolution to make use of Him as our alsufficient Mediator And is not this most reasonable Ought we not to take Him for all the ends and purposes for which God hath appointed Him and set Him forth and offered Him to us What then can any suppose to lie here which should scarre a soul from laying hold upon Him Nay should not this be looked upon as a very great encouragement And should we not blesse the Lord that hath provided such a compleet and alsufficient Mediator 7. We are to take Him and all the crosses that may attend our taking or following of Him we must take up our crosse be it what it will be that He thinketh good to appoint for us and follow Him Matth. 16 24 Mark 8 34. for he that taketh not up his crosse and followeth not after Him is not worthy of Him Mat. 10 38. I know flesh and blood will take this for a hard saying but they that consider that Christ will beare the heavyest end of the crosse yea all of it and so support them by his Spirit while they are under it that they shall have no just cause to compleane and how He will suffer none to goe his errand upon their owne charges but will be with them when they goe through fire and watter Esai 43 2. so that they shall suffer no losse neither shall the watters over flow them nor the fire kindle upon them and that he who loseth his life for Christ's sake the gospels shall save it Mark 8 35. yea that they shall receive an hundered fold for all thâ—… losses Matth. 19 29. and that even with persecution Mark 10. 30. and in the world to come eternall life They I say who consider this will see no discouragement here nor ground of complaint nay they will account it their glory to suffer any losse for Christ's sake 8. Hence it followeth that we are to take Him so as to avouch Him and his cause and interest on all hizards stand to his truth and not be ashamed of