THE SINFULNESSE OF SINNE AND THE FULNESSE OF CHRIST Delivered in Two Sermons By Mr. WILLIAM BRIDGE Sometime Fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge and ' late Preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth LONDON Printed in the Year 1667. CHRISTIAN READER THou art desired to take notice That these two Sermons are not exposed to publique view by the Author 's own hand but were taken as they fell from his lips in his ordinary Preaching Nevertheless the style method spirituality conciseness and depth of them give in ample testimony to all that have acquaintance with him that they are his genuine off-spring And being suitable and usefull to all persons in all conditions thou mayest through the blessing of God reap much advantage by them THE SINFULNESSE OF SINNE Rom. 7. and part of the 13 Verse But sin that it might appear sin working death in me by that which is good that sin by the Commandment might become exceeding sinful MY purpose is now to speak something concerning the evil and sinfulness of sin and therefore have made choice of these words In this Chapter the Apostle Paul doth give us some account of the way and manner of his Conversion Before I was converted sayes he I was alive without the Law ver 9. but when the Commandment came sin revived and I died for without the Law sin was dead and I was alive without the Law once I thought my self a jolly man I was very brisk and jolly had good thoughts of my condition I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandment came when the word of the Lord came in power unto my soul for I had the Law and the Commandment always with me Concerning the Law I was blameless Phil. 3. 6. the letter of the Law was not absent from me but when it pleased God to set on the Word of the Lord in power upon my soul then whereas I was alive before now sin revived sin that lay dead before and was hid now revived and did appear to be sin for that in the 9 Verse and this in the 13 are the same Vers 9. Sin revived and I died but sin that it might appear sin working death in me in this 13 Verse But how did sin revive and appear By the coming of the Law by the coming of the Commandment thereby it broke out the more and so was discovered as by the coming and shining of the Sun-beams upon the Dung-hill the filth stinks the more not that the Sun-beams are the cause but the occasion thereof And sin revived by the coming of the Commandment and appeared to be sin appeared more to me in its own shape and struck me dead with the apparition thereof whereas before sin was dead and I alive now sin alive and I dead From whence then I take up this Observation Observ That there is a great deal of evil and sinfulness in sin which doth not appear to a man until he doth Convert and turn unto God Look when a man doth Convert and turn unto God then sin appears to be sin indeed and not before For the clearing and prosecution whereof I shall labour to shew First That there is a great deal of evil and sinfulness in sin Secondly That this evil and sinfulness of sin doth not appear to a man until Conversion-work pass upon his soul Thirdly Look when a man doth Convert and turn to the Lord in truth then sin appears in the sinfulness thereof unto him 1. There is a great deal of evil and sinfulness in sin To make it out in the general and then more particularly 1. In the general this may appear by the names of sin for sin hath taken up all the names of evil of all evils The Scripture doth not Nickname sin and yet what evil is there incident unto man but sin is invested with the name thereof in Scripture 1. Is it an evil thing for a man to be unclean and filthy Sin is called filthiness I will wash you from all your filthiness Ezek. 36. 25. 2. Is it an evil thing for a man to be naked Sin is called nakedness That your nakedness may not appear Rev. 3. 18. 3. Is it an evil thing for a man to be blind Sin is called blindness The blind shall lead the blind Mat. 15. 14. 4. Is it an evil thing for a man to be foolish Sin is called folly That you may no more return unto folly Psal 85. 8. 5. Is it an evil thing for a man to be mad The Prodigal returned unto himself Luke 15. 17 and I was mad sayes Paul Acts 26. 11. 6. Is it an evil thing for a man to be dead Sin is called death Dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2. 1. 7. It is called an Abomination Prov. 8. 7. and because there is no word that can express the evil and sinfulness of sin the Apostle in this place sayes That sin might become exceeding sinful Why Because there is no word of evil that can reach the evil of sin Now look what that is that doth ingross and take up all the names of all evils that must needs be exceeding evil So it is with sin 2. Look what that is that doth separate betwixt us and God who is the chiefest and universal good That must needs be the greatest evil Now sayes the Prophet Your iniquities have separated between you and your God Isa 59. 2. 3. Look what that is that doth unite us to Satan and make us the Children of the Devil That must needs be very evil Says our Saviour You are of your father the devil Why For his works you do Joh. 8. 44. Sin makes us the children of the devil 4. Look what that is that did put Christ to death that was the cause of his death That must needs be exceeding evil So sin did He was made sin for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. He bare our sins upon the Cross 1 Pet. 2. 24. and the Lord made the iniquity of us all to meet on him Isa 53. 6. 5. Look what that is that doth bring a general curse upon the whole Creation That must needs be evil So sin hath done cursed be the ground and the earth for thy sake Gen. 3. 17. 6. Look what that is that doth soil and stain all our glory and the Image of God in us That must needs be great evil Sin hath stayned the beauty of the Image of God that was stampt upon us and by sin saith the Apostle Row 3. 23. we come short of the glory of God For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God 7. Look what that is that doth bring such horror of Conscience that a soul is not able to bear and cannot be allayed but by the blood of Jesus That must needs be a very great evil Sin and the eating of the forbidden fruit hath bred this worm that never dies 8. Look what that evil is that is the fewel of Hell that feeds Hell-fire to all Eternity That
must needs be great evil Take sin away and Hell-fire dies Sin is that brimstone that Hell-fire feeds upon to all Eternity 9. Look what that Evil is that is worse than the worst of afflictions That must needs be very evil The least sin is worse than the greatest affliction For 1. Take an affliction and though it be never so great it doth not defile the man for that which is from without doth not defile the man but that which is from within Mar. 7. 15. Sin is from within affliction is not from within but from without but sin is from within therefore if I give a reproachfull word to another it more defiles me than a hundred reproachful words from another because my word comes from within me his words from without me Now affliction is from without and doth not defile but sin is from within and doth defile therefore the least sin is worse than the greatest affliction 2. Take an affliction and though it be never so great yet notwithstanding God is the Author of it Is there evil in the City and the Lord hath not done it Amos 3. 6. God bad Shimei curse David Let him alone God hath bidden him 2 Sam. 16. 11. I send Famine and I send Pestilence and I send Mildew sayes God God is the Author of Affliction but God is not the Author of any sin Indeed it is said God hardened the heart of Pharaoh and others but that is non infundendo malitiam sed subtrahendo gratiam not by infusing malice into their hearts but by withdrawing his grace God is not the Author of sin but God is the Author of all affliction 3. Take an affliction and though it be never so great yet it is not contrary to God but sin though never so small is contrary to God 4. Take an affliction and though it be never so great yet notwithstanding it is but the fruit and the Claws of sin What are the Claws to the Lion if the Lion be dead the Claws can do us no hurt but if the Lion be alive his life puts strength into his Claws afflictions are but the Claws of sin The sting of death is sin 1 Cor. 15. 56. and the sting of affliction is sin but as for afflictions they are but the bare Claws and it is sin that puts life and strength into these Claws 5. Take an affliction and though it be never so great yet God doth not hate affliction neither doth affliction make a man hate God but God hates sin and sin makes a man hate God 6. Take an affliction and though it be never so great a man may be a blessed man in the worst affliction Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is covered Psal 32. 1. but he cannot be a blessed man that lies in sin Cursed is every man that continueth not in all things written in the Law to do them Gal. 3. 10. Thus you see the least sin is worse than the greatest affliction therefore certainly the evil of sin is very great That 's the 9th 10. Look what that evil is that God doth punish with the greatest severity both in His own and others though it be but small in our eyes that must needs be exceeding evil Now he doth severely punish that which we look upon as a small sin both in his own and others In his own you think it was no great matter for Adam to eat the forbidden fruit You think Moses was but a little in passion with the Children of Israel for which he was kept out of Canaan And you think it was no great matter for Vzza to stay the Ark when it was falling yet God punished these small sins small in our eyes he punished them severely in his own people And as for others Because there is an infinite evil in sin and God doth justly punish he punisheth them to all eternity for the least sin for amongst men it is just to punish till a man repenteth but in Hell men never repent therefore God punisheth them to all eternity So that God doth punish sin with the greatest severity both in his own and others therefore surely it is very evil 11. Look what that is that is a worse evil than Hell or the Devil that must needs be a very great and exceeding evil Sin is worse than the Devil for the Devil is a Creature that God made but Sin is none of Gods Creature And it is worse than Hell for Hell is of Gods making too but Sin is not It is worse to be given up to sin than to the Devil if a man be given up to the Devil it is that his soul may be saved but if a man be given up to sin it is that his soul may be destroyed and not saved So that Sin is worse than Hell or the Devil 12. Look what that evil is that is a punishment in it self that must needs be exceeding evil Sin in it self is a punishment though there were no other punishment to follow in keeping thy Commandments there is great reward Psal 19. 11. So in breaking Gods Commandments there is great punishment Therefore sometimes when God would punish men for their sins he punisheth them by giving them up to great sins Rom. 1. 26. God gave them up to vile affections to uncleanness c. Now I say look what that is which is in it self a punishment that must needs be exceeding evil and thus it is with sin this therefore must needs be a very great evil Thus in the general you see there is a great deal of evil and sinfulness in sin But now more particularly I shall shew it you in three sorts of sins The sin of our Nature The sin of our Hearts and Thoughts And the sin of our Lives and Practises especially living under the Gospel the evil of these sins 1. First As for the sin of our Nature the more universal and overspreading any leprosie or contagion is the worse and the greater it is now the sin of our Nature spreads over all our faculties our Understanding Reason Will Affections it spreads over all our Faculties 2. Look what that contagion or leprosie is that is so great that nothing will help against it but the pulling down the house that must needs be very great Truly the sin of our Nature is such nothing will cure it but the pulling down the house 3. Look what that sin is that is most unwearied and whereby a man is unwearied in sin that must needs be very great The sin of our nature is unwearied as the Fountain is unwearied in sending up water bubbling up water a man may be wearied in drawing up water our of the Fountain and so a man may be wearied in sinful actions but sinful nature is never weary and that sin that is unwearied is exceeding great 4. Look what that sin is that is the ground of all our relapses and returns to sin That must needs be very great Now
case 1 Job 3. 2. It doth not yet appear what we shall be but it shall appear So say I in regard of sin It doth not yet appear but it shall appear to a mans self and others before a man convert and turn to God it doth not appear but to such a one it shall appear when a man comes to die and all his hoops be knocked off then it will appear how full of sin he is As a vessel that is full of liquor and the liquor issue through the hoops you see there is liquor in it but you do not know how full it is till the hoops are knocked off But then you will say O how full was this Vessel Ah now our hoops are on and it doth not yet appear how full of sin men are onely it comes issuing through the hoops through their duties but a day is coming when all our hoops shall be knocked off and then it will appear how full of sin men are But to the third part 3. If this be true that when a man doth convert and turn unto God then his sin doth appear in the sinfulness thereof unto him then why should we not all labour to get the true sight of sin to be sensible of sin it is the property of a man converted to be sensible of sin then sin revived As therefore you desire to have upon you the character of a man converted labour to be sensible of your sin that it may appear in the sinfulness thereof It is the mind of God that all his converted ones should think much on and be very sensible of the sins they committed before their conversion Such and such were some of you but ye are cleansed but ye are washed 1 Cor. 6. 11. I say it is the mind and will of God that those that are converted should be very sensible of their sins which they committed before conversion For 1. Thereby they pity others that are in their sins 2. Thereby they are kept from future sins What is the reason that men are not kept from future sins but because they are not sensible of their former sins 3. Thereby also they are kept in the sense of free grace towards them and so they magnifie the free grace of God I was a Blasphemer a Persecutor such and such a one I was but I am washed but I am cleansed and through grace justified O the freeness of the grace of God! Thus they magnifie free grace Therefore I say it is the mind of God that those that are converted should be still very sensible of their sins committed before their Conversion and this is a Character of a man converted sin appears to him to be sinfull Now therefore as you desire to have the character of a man converted labour more and more to see sin in the sinfulness of it Quest Well but then the Question is What shall we do whether converted or not what shall we do that we may be able to see sin in the sinfulness thereof Answ 1. Be sure of this that you look much upon Christ crucified Christ on the Cross is a glass wherein you may see the sinfulnes of sin Study Christ crucified much 2. Labour more and more to walk in the presence of God the shines of Gods countenance For as when the Sun shines into the room you see little motes so when God shines into your heart you see little sins the beams of Gods countenance do discover sin in the sinfulness of it Therefore labour to walk more in the presence of God and in the shines of his Countenance 3. Labour more and more to examine your own souls be much in private examination hardly an ungrowing Christian that is much in private examination hardly a proud man that is much in private examination Do you desire to see sin in the sinfulness of it Go alone call your self often to account be much in private examination 4. Take as much pains to keep the sense of sin upon your heart as ever you did to get it Some take pains to get themselves into a good frame but take no pains to keep themselves in it when they have gotten it As the Apostle speaks They view themselves in the glass of royal liberty and go away and forget what manner of men they were 5. In case you find any particular sin go round about it consider the circumstances thereof aggravate it upon your own soul 6. Improve your afflictions this way God sends afflictions sometimes to give you the sight of some sin that lay hid before and sometimes your afflictions have your sin written on their forehead Improve then your affliction for the discovery of the sinfulness of sin 7. Be sure you judge of sin as the Scripture judgeth of it and not as men judge of it the Scripture judgeth of sin by the consequence thereof as our Saviour Christ sayes I was an hungred and ye fed me not I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink naked and ye clothed me not How so In as much as ye did it not to one of these ye did it not to me Mat. 25. 42 43 44 45. Christ judgeth of sin by the consequence of it therefore if you would see sin in the sinfulness of it judge of it as Christ judgeth of it and as the Scripture judgeth of it and not as men judge of it 8. If you desire to see sin in its own colours in the sinfulness of it then look upon the Commandments of God as great things the more the Commandment of God is greatned to you the greater will sin be in your eye if the Commandment of God be great in your eye the sin contrary to the Commandment will be great in your eye too 9. Never think any thing small betwixt God and you there is nothing small betwixt God and us for God is an infinite God 10. Never look upon sin in the time of temptation for then you are in the dark and not fit to see the greatness of sin Labour to know the difference betwixt temptation and corruption and betwixt the sins of Gods people and others but never look upon sin in the time of temptation for then you are in the dark and cannot see the sinfulness of it 11. And lastly If you would see sin in the sinfulness of it then go unto God for the coming of the Commandment that God would set on the Commandment upon you as Paul here says he When the Commandment came sin revived and I died Some it may be here never yet had the Commandment set on upon their hearts O then go to God and pray for the setting on of the Commandment upon you then shall you see sin in the sinfulness thereof Now let me add two or three cautions to this and so conclude 1. Take heed that you do not so think on sin as to forget Christ If you think on sin without Christ you will despair if you think on Christ without sin you will
is better than wine thy name is as oyntment poured forth therefore do the virgins love thee Cant. 1. 3. Greater love than this hath no man saith Christ concerning his death Joh. 15. 13. There is love in Christ beyond all dimensions there is height and bredth and length and depth of love in him Ephes 3. 18 19. 1. There is giving love in Christ who loved us and gave himself for us Gal. 2. 20. Ephes 5. 25. 2. There is forgiving and pardoning love in Christ witness Peter whom Christ forgave when he had denied him 3. There is in Christ condescending love witness Thomas Come Thomas sayes he reach hither thine hand and thrust it into my side Joh. 20. 27. I condescend to thee 4. There is in Christ accepting love I tell thee sayes he wheresoever this Gospel is preached that which this woman hath done shall be told for a memorial of her Matth. 26. 13. accepting of what she did And 5. There is in Christ a sympathizing love For he is not such an High Priest as cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities Heb. 4. 15. There is the sweetest love in Christ And it is under the greatest ingagement for is not a brother ingaged to help his brother He is not ashamed to call them brethren Heb. 2. 11. Is not a Father engaged to help his Children He is the everlasting Father Isa 9. 6. Is not a Husband engaged to help his Wife The Church of Christ is his Spouse Cant. 4. 9. And now suppose there were one person that could stand under all these relations a Brother a Father a Husband how much would that person be engaged to help that should stand under all these relations Thus Christ doth he stands under all these relations Therefore there is in Christ the sweetest love under the greatest ingagement 5. There is that in Jesus Christ that suiteth to all conditions what condition can you come into but there is a promise suited to it and what are the promises but the veins wherein the blood of Christ doth run There is no condition but hath a promise suited to it and so there is that in Christ that suits to all conditions To instance a little 1. Are you poor and needy I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich Rev. 3. 18. 2. Are you naked sayes he I counsel thee to buy of me white raiment that thou mayest be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear 3. Are you out of the way wandering I am the way Joh. 14. 6. 4. Are you in the dark in reference to any business or your condition I am the light sayes he and the light of life Joh. 8. 12. 5. Are you hungry I am the bread of life Joh. 6. 48. 6. Are you thirsty I am the water of life He that drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst more Joh. 4. 14. 7. Do you need Justification He is the Lord our righteousness Jer. 23. 6. 8. Do you need Sanctification For this cause do I sanctifie my self that they also may be sanctified Joh. 17. 19. 9. Do you need Consolation I will send the comforter Joh. 16. 7. 10. Do you need Protection He is the rock of ages the Lord Jehovah Isa 26. 4. 11. Are you in a Paradise of Prosperity He is the Tree of Life Rev. 22. 14. 12. Are you in a wilderness of adversity He is the Manna that came down from Heaven Joh. 6. 50. So that then there is that in him that is suited to all conditions 6. There is that in Jesus Christ that doth answer to all our fears doubts and objections Hearken if there be ever a poor doubting soul here There is that in Christ that doth answer to all thy fears doubts and objections VVill you say I am a poor lost Creature Then saith Christ I came to seek and to save that which was lost Luke 19. 10. Will you say oh but I am a sinner a great sinner Saith Christ I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Mat. 9. 13. Will you say oh but I cannot repent Then see what the Apostle saith Act. 5. 31. concerning Christ Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel and remission of sin not onely remission of sin but repentance It is Christs work to give repentance as well as forgiveness of sin Will you say oh but I cannot leave my sins I cannot turn away from my sins Then read what the Apostle saith Act. 3. 26. Unto you first God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities Will you say Oh but I cannot come to Christ Then he tells you that he is come to you I came to seek and to save that which was lost He brings the lost sheep home upon his shoulder as in the Parable VVill you say Oh but his sheep follow him and I cannot follow him Then he tells you He will carry the Lambs in his armes and gently lead those that are with young Isa 40. 11. He will drive you at your own pace Will you say Oh but I have provoked Christ and he is angry and will cast me off You know what he sayes then Those that come unto me I will in no wise cast out Joh. 6. 37. He is meek and lowly He is meek and therefore will not be angry with you he is lowly and therefore will not disdain you Learn of me sayes he for I am meek and lowly Matth. 11. 29. VVill you say Oh but I have sinned to the very utmost Then the Apostle tells you that He is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. So that there is plainly that in Christ that answereth to all our fears doubts and objections 7. Yet one thing more There is that in Jesus Christ which doth and will supply all our wants VVhat is there that you want Do you labour under desertion Then saith he I will lead you in a way that you have not known Isa 42. 16. And I will never leave you nor forsake you Heb. 13. 5. Do you labour under corruption and bondage to sin There is freedom in Christ Those the Son makes free are free indeed Joh 8. 36. indeed really indeed eminently Those the Son makes free are free indeed indeed and indeed Do you labour under great Temptations It is he that treads down Satan under our feet Rom. 16. 20. and saye he My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12. 9. Do you labour under the want of the means of grace or the ministery of the VVord He hath received gifts for men and what those gifts are the Apostle tells you Ephes 4. 11. Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers Do you labour under weakness spiritual infirmity Then he hath seven Horns and seven Eyes as you find him described Revel
with excellency then this that I have said is to you and much to you And so you have the Doctrine cleared Now by way of Application 1. If this Doctrine be true that there is that in Jesus Christ alone which may and can and doth afford sufficient comfort and relief in the worst of times and conditions what a mighty encouragement is here for every one to get into Christ to get an interest in Christ Get but an interest in Christ and you have a standing relief in the worst of times and conditions No interest in Christ no relief in the worst of times Who would not get an interest in Christ If there be any such here that are yet without an interest in Christ man or woman consider what there is in Christ there is as you have heard that in Christ that will afford sufficient comfort and relief in the worst of times Times are evil O be encouraged to get an interest in Christ 2. If this Doctrine be true Why should we then complain why should we be discouraged in such times as these or any time or condition we can come into Shall the living man complain Lam. 3. 39. Shall a living Christian complain that hath a living relief by him The book of Job sayes of the wicked That in the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits Job 20. 22. and shall we be in straits in the midst of Christs sufficiency Shall we complain or be discouraged when we have Christs sufficiency for our relief at all times You have heard of that woman who when she met with any loss would still comfort her self thus True I have lost such a Child or I have lost such a friend such a friend or such a relation is dead but still God is alive and when she had lost her Husband and cried and lamented very much her Child came to her and asked her But Mother is your God dead So may men say to us while we complain and are discouraged in these times Is your God dead Is your Saviour dead But either there is a reality in this Doctrine or not if not why doth the Scripture speak at this rate as you have heard and if there be a truth in this Doctrine why should we be discouraged or complain whatever our condition be 3. If this Doctrine be true why should we not own Christ in the worst of times why should we not confess Christ in the worst of times Shall Christ be our relief in the worst of times and shall we not own and confess him in the worst of times Shall we not own his truth and wayes and Ordinances and confess them before the Sons of men in the worst of times When the Sun shines scorching hot men run to the shadow of the tree and when it rains much men run under the tree for shelter but when the heat is over and the rain over the tree stands alone and no man looks after it So long as the Sun shines upon the Dial you will run to the Dial but when the Sun is off the Dial you come not at it So when the times shine upon the Ordinances the truths and ways of God many will run to them but when the shine is gone and truth be in the dark the Sun off How few will own Christ and his truth But if this Doctrine be true why should we not own and confess Christ in the worst of times 4. If this Doctrine be true here you may see what an evil thing it is to sin against Christ It is to sin against our remedy our relief it is to sin against our succour of all sins those sins are worst that are against the remedy Therefore as I use to say Adultery in married persons is worse than Fornication in those that are unmarried because it is against the remedy Christ is our remedy our relief in the worst of times therefore to sin against Christ Oh what a great sin is it It is to sin against the remedy Now 1. Look when men offend the weak brethren in things indifferent the Apostle sayes expresly they sin against Christ 1 Cor. 8. 12. 2. And look when men and women will not believe notwithstanding all the offers of grace and love that Christ makes to their souls then they sin against Christ 3. And look when a Professor a member of a Church shall walk scandalously haunt Taverns or Alehouses or deal unjustly and is a dishonour to the name of Christ he sins against Christ 4. And look when men persecute the wayes and people of Christ they sin against Christ Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Act. 9. 4. These and many other wayes do men sin against Christ and O what an evil thing it is to sin against Christ it is to sin against the remedy the greatest remedy in the world Take heed how ye sin against Christ 5. If this Doctrine be true that there is that in Jesus Christ which may and can and doth afford sufficient comfort and relief in the worst of times and conditions then here we may see what we should do and whither we should go for relief why should we not go to Christ for relief in all conditions and relieve our selves in him upon all occasions If there were a soveraign water that would cure all diseases what flocking of people would there be unto that water Here is that water that soveraign water Christ alone that can cure all diseases that can succour and relieve in the worst of times Why should we not now come to him and draw water out of this well of salvation Quest. But you will say I confess indeed Christ is the well of salvation and there is enough in him to succour and relieve but the well is deep and my line is short and my arm is weak and I know not how to get this water I know not how to improve Christ What shall I do that I may be able to draw water out of this well of salvation what shall I do that I may improve Christ for my succour and relief in the worst of times and conditions Answ 1. If you would draw water out of this well of salvation and improve Christ for your relief and succour be sure of this that you look upon Christ as the great institution and appointment of the Father for all those succours and reliefs that are in your eye In the sixth of John saith Christ Ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled But at vers 20. sayes he Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life Where shall I have it Which the Son of man shall give unto you How shall I get it from him Look upon him as the appointment of the Father for him hath God the Father sealed him hath God the Father appointed look upon him therefore and go to him as the great appointment of
have seen the King the Lord of Hosts Isa 6. 5. and sayes Job I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee What then I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Job 42. 5 6. Look when I see God the glory of God the goodness of God the holiness of God the wisdom and the soveraignty of God then sin appears in its sinfulness to me 3. Then also a man comes to see Christ crucified and not till then there is nothing can give us such a sight of the sinfulness of sin as Christ crucified By the Law is the knowledg of sin Rom. 3. 20. but by the sight of Christ crucified I see the hatred that God hath against sin I do not see by the Law so much the hatred that God hath against sin as in Christ crucified the more I see Gods hatred against sin the more I see the sinfulness of it Now look when a man doth convert and turn unto God then he sees Christ crucified 4. Look when a man hath gotten the true prospect of Hell and of the wrath of God then sin appears sinful to him Now look when a man convert and turn unto God in truth then he sees the wrath of God and hath the true prospect of Hell from which he is delivered 5. The more a man is tired out and wearied with the dogging and haunting of his sin that he can rest no where for it the more the sinfulness of sin appears to him Now when a man doth convert and turn unto God what sayes he Ah I am never at rest I am dogged and haunted and tired out continually with my sin O now it appears very sinful to me 6. Look when a mans heart is filled with the love of God and possessed with the Holy Ghost then sin appears to him to be very sinful for what comes the Holy Ghost for To convince the world of sin Joh. 16. 8. Now look when a man doth convert and turn to God then comes this convincing work of the Holy Ghost then his heart is filled with the love of God and possessed with the Holy Ghost therefore then sin appears in the sinfulness thereof unto his soul And thus I have done with the Doctrine namely That there is a great deal of evil and sinfulness in sin which doth not appear to a man until he doth convert and turn unto God By way of Application 1. First For the first part If there be so much evil and sinfulness in sin behold the power of the grace of God the grace of God with out you the grace of God within you If a spark of fire should be preserved alive in an Ocean of water you would think it is some strong hand that did it If a Candle should be kept light in a great wind and storm you will say it was a strong hand that kept it light There is an Ocean of sin in our hearts and that a little spark or Candle of grace should be preserved in us in the midst of this Ocean of sin Oh the power of the grace of God! 2. If this be true Behold the riches and the freeness of the grace of God that you should be delivered from all this evil sin sinful and so sinful and evil and you delivered from all this evil oh the riches and the freeness of the grace of God! 2. But secondly For the second part If the sinfulness of sin doth not appear until a man convert and turn unto God Then 1. Here we may see some reason why some men are not sensible of their sins though very great it is bccause they are not converted the Commandment never came the Commandment is not yet come such a poor soul goes on in his sin and is not yet convinced of the evil of it for the Commandment never yet came 2. If this be true what a sad condition are all those in that are not converted and brought home to God they are in their sins and their sin is in them The whole world lies in wickedness 1 Joh. 5. 19. 1 They lie in their sin and are full thereof they are full of this evil this evil is full of evil and they are full of this evil they are full of it For 1. They are always filling and never emptying A vessel that is always filling and never emptying must needs be full Thus it is with a man not converted not turned to God he is always filling with sin and never emptying yea when he thinks he is emptying when he thinks he is repenting and reforming then he is filling with sin always filling and never emptying therefore must needs be full 2. They are full of it because they sin beyond their temptation If a Beggar begs of me and I give him more than he begs for if he begs for 6 d. and I give him 12 d. he will say I am full for I give him more than he begged for so when temptation begs and a man sins beyond his temptation what doth this argue but that he is full of sin Thus it is with men unconverted they sin beyond their temptation and what doth this argue but that they are full of sin 3. And full they are because they are dropping their sin wheresoever they go You will say a Beggar is full of vermine that drops his vermine wheresoever he goes So men not converted not turned unto God they are dropping their vermine wheresoever they go if they come in good company they are dropping their vermine there if they come in bad company they are dropping their vermine there why because they are full of vermine full of sin 2. But secondly As men not converted not turned to God are full of sin so they are under the power of it Why How doth that appear Because their sin commands them off from their duty Suppose a company of men sitting at table at meat together and another comes into the room and sayes to one of them Take your Cloak and follow me and he presently rises from his meat and follows him you will say certainly this man is his Master because he arises from his meat at his command and follows him So when sin shall command a man off from his duty from reading the Word from private Prayer What doth this argue but that he is under the power of sin As when a man is sinning and grace comes and calls him off from his sin it argues he is under the power of grace so when a man is at his duty and his sin comes and calls him off from his duty it argues he is under the power of sin so it is with men unconverted they are under the power of their sin 3. As a man unconverted is full of sin and under the power of it so he knows it not for sin doth not appear to a man to be sin untill he convert and turn unto God it doth not yet appear as the Apostle sayes in another