the Kingdom of Heaven sooner than the Pharisees who boasted in their own righteousness Matth. 21.31 He conversed with and called the worst of sinners to repentance Matth. 9.11 13. Indeâ—d when the Apostle maketh mention of notorious sinners he telleth us that such whilest such could not be saved 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor â—ffeminate nor Abusers of thâ—mselves with Mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous noâ— Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Those that are such notorious sinners and continue in the practice of such sins without repentance they cannot be saved but withall he addeth in the 11. verse that some of them had been such sinners but were now in a state of Salvation through their interest in Jesus Christ and the operation of the Spirit of God upon their hearts And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our God they were justified their sins pardoned and persons accepted in the name of the Lord Jesus through the imputation of his righteousness unto them and they were washed and sanctified by the Spirit of God through infusion of Grace by the Spirit into them I might add further instâ—nces of notorious sinners who have been saved as Manasses Mary Magdalen Paul who before Conversion calleth himself the chiefest of sinners yet obtained Mercy and Salvation and let me tell you moreover that if you repent now and apply your selves to Christ the greater your sins have been the more will Gods glory be illustrated in your Salvation and the abounding of your sins will make way for the super-abounding of his grace 3. All of you that hear these words may obtain Salvation it is possible that every one of you in this place may be saved it would be a rare thing but it is a possible thing indeed there are but few that shall be saved but who knoweth but all of you may be found in the number of those few and O how would it rejoyce my heart to see all those faces in Heaven whom I see here this day to hear the words of Salvation Be encouraged to seek after your salvation by the possibility of obtaining Now salvation is possible for all of you that have not as yet attained it but let me add that it will not be possible long for you all whilst you are in the land of the living it is possible though you be condemned to Hell for sin whilst unbelievers Ioh. 3.18 He that believeth not is condemned already yet the sentence of condemnation is traversible you may appeal from the Court of the Law to the Court of Chancery you may fly from the bar of Gods justice unto the throne of grace and if you heartily repent of sin and by faith lay hold on Christ you may obtain pardon and salvation Whilst the reprieve of your life lasteth salvation is attainable but when once your life is come to an end which you know not how soon it may be and you be found in a state of impenitency and unbelief then the percullis will be shutt down upon you for ever then the black flag will be hung out then the talent of lead will seal up the measure of your wickedness and your condemnation will be irreversible when the day of your life is spent the day of grace will be spent too and the door of mercy will be shut upon you for ever and it will be impossible for any of you that have not attained then to attain salvation 5. This salvation is a neer Salvation Say not in your heart Who shall ascend up into Heaven to learn what it is there or who shall descend into the deep to bring notice of it from thence or who shall take the wings of the morning and fly into the uttermost parts of the earth thence to bring tydings of it to you for the word of salvation is near unto you it is brought home to your own doors it is that word which is now sounding in your ears even the words which we Ministers preach unto you read what those words are which are brought so nigh Rom. 10.8 9 10 11 12 13. The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation For the Scripture saith Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed For there is no difference between the Iew and the Greek for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him for whosoever calleth upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved Heretofore salvation was only amongst the Jews and whoever of other Nations would be saved they must travel to Ierusalem and worship the Lord in his Temple and enquire for salvation in that place then salvation was afar off from the Gentiles especially from these Brittish Isles but now since the revelation of Jesus Christ as those which were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ so the word of salvation is brought nigh unto us you have many Messengers of Peace which bring the glad tydings of salvation near unto you and this may further encourage you to seek after it 6. This salvation is an Evident Salvation I mean that it is more clearly and evidently made known unto us than it hath been in former ages unto any or than it is in other places unto many In former ages this salvation was not made known so clearly unto any I mean in the ages before the coming of Christ the Prophets themselves who prophesied of it did not fully understand what the Spirit in them did signifie when it foretold of this grace which should come unto the Church in after ages 1 Pet. 1.10 11. And therefore the first preaching of the Gospel of salvation is called a revelation of the mysterie which had been kept secret since the world began unto that time Rom. 16.25 And a manifestation of that mysterie to the Saints which had been hid from ages and generations Col. 1.25 26 27. The Gospel of salvation was indeed revealed in the dispensation of the Law upon Mount Sinai by Moses but it was more obscurely it was wrapt up in types and figures and as there was a vail before Moses his face so there was a vail before the truths of salvation so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look unto the end of those things which were after to be abolished 2 Cor. 3.13 but this vail is done away in Christ v. 14. When Christ suffered upon the Cross the vail of
not desire and will not take pains to get an understanding in these things by beginning first with the Principles of Religion in the Catechisme and begging earnestly for the teachings of the Spirit and readiness to do according to what they already know 5. It reproves such who if they have some notional knowledge of the Doctrine of salvation preached by Ministers yet they do not believe the Doctrine their words seem to them like idle tales or some cunningly devised Fable they do not receive it as the Word of Truth as the Word of God which effectually worketh in them that believe 1 Thess. 2.3 they feel no effectual operation of the Word in the change of their hearts and the change of their lives they that were filthy are filthy still and they that were unjust are unjust still and they that were Drunkards and Swearers and the like go on still in their sinful course whatever notion they have of sin and whatever discovery of their danger and Saviour and way of salvation by him which is an evidence that they do not believe and this unbelief is the great God-provoking and Soul-damning sin such make God a lyar 1 Ioh. 5.10 but they will find him to be true to their cost and pain 6. It reproves such who if they have some notional knowledge and historical Faith yet do not relish the Words of salvation which are preached by Ministers 1. Those that do not relish the things who make no account of salvation as if there were no desireableness therein 2. Those that if they desire salvation from Hell-torments and future misery yet they do not relish the terms they do not like the Lords Yoak they will not bear his Cross they will not be perswaded to deny themselves to mortifie the deeds of the body they could like to be saved from Hell but they do not like to be saved from sin they could like to have Christ to be their High-Priest and Advocate but they will not have him to be their King and Lord and will not have him to reign over them To part with all sin and to be universally holy to lay down Estate Liberty Life it self at the Lords feer and be resolved to suffer the loss of all if they stand in competition with Christ are such hard sayings that they cannot bear But how hard will it be for them to bear the loss of Heaven and happiness and endure the dreadfull eternal wrath of God in Hell as they shall certainly do who will not accept of salvation upon the terms of the Gospel SECT XIV Vse 3. ARE Ministers to tell People Words whereby they may be saved I shall then endeavour to put in practice this duty of Ministers in telling you words whereby you may be saved In order to your salvation I shall speak 1. Some Words to try you whether you be in a state of Salvation 2. Some Words to move you to endeavour after your Salvation 3. Some Words to guide you in the way to attain Salvation 1. The first words shall be to try you whether you be in a state of Salvation and here I must put you upon the tryall of your selves wherein I may give you some help take the Exhortation of the Apostle 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves Examine your selves by the Rule of the Word And because these Words are chiefly intended in order to the salvation of such as have not yet attained it to prepare them for the following Motives and Directions which if they mistook themselves to have already attained to a state of salvation would likely do them no good Therefore I shall briefly out of the Word of God give Some Characters of such as are not in a state of Salvation 1. Ignorant persons are not in a state of salvation See this Isa. 27.11 It is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour Those that are grosly ignorant of the Fundamental Truths of Religion concerning God and Christ the lost estate of Man since the fall the way of Salvation Repentance Faith the Resurrection from the dead the last Judgement and the future Rewards and Punishments in Heaven and Hell and the like Principles of Religion which are necessary to be known in order to salvation they cannot for the present be in a state of Salvation the meanest understanding is capable of knowing these things by the teachings of the Word and Spirit therefore such as do neglect the means of Instruction and do not search the Word and cry to God for it but nuzzle up themselves in an affected ignorance in these things are inexcusable in their fault and will bring unavoidable destruction upon themselves Hos. 4.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge 2. Negligent persons are not in a state of salvation I mean such as neglect their salvation Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Such as do not value and prize this great salvation purchased by Christ and published in the Gospel such as never were made sensible of their need hereof such as never had any great desires after it such as never took any pains in the use of means to obtain it all which are evidences of their neglect they cannot escape the dreadfull punishment of Hell which is prepared for such persons Such as are diligent to make provision for their Bodies but neglect the salvation of their souls if they persevere in this negligence they must needs miss of salvation 3. Impenitent persons are not in a state of salvation Luk. 13.3 Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish All are guilty of sin original and actual and have matter for repentance such as have an obdurate and impenitent heart which never was broken and melted and humbled which never was affected with true evangelical sorrow for sin but on the contrary can commit sin with delight rolling it as a sweet morsel under their tongue which they will not part withall they must needs perish everlastingly if they should die in this estate the word is express that iniquity will be the ruine of the impenitent Ezek. 18 30. 4. Vnregenerate persons are not in a state of salvation Ioh. 3.3 Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Such as never had a gracious change wrought in their hearts that are asleep in sin and never were awakened as are dead in sin and never were quickened such as have old natures and old hearts and never were renewed that never put off as concerning their former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to deceitfull â—usts and put on the new man which is created in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4.22 24. they are uncapable whilest such of this salvation there is no entrance for them into the Kingdom of Heaven 5. Christless persons are not in a
they are Christs Embassadours and Representatives The Galatians received the Apostle Paul notwithstanding his infirmities as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus Gal. 4.13 14. Give them reverence as those which stand in the room of Christ and are in this honoured above Angels to be employed by the Lord to preach the Gospel Give them countenance do not forsake them when they fall into trouble for the Gospels sake give them maintenance they impart their spirituals unto you and you ought to impart your carnal things far beneath in worth unto them and this by the Lords ordination 1 Cor. 9.11 12 13 14. Give them audience which is the second thing 2. Hear Ministers Wo be to them if they do not preach the Gospel when they are commissioned to the work rather than Angels and wo be to you if you do not hear the Gospel which they preach He that heareth them heareth Christ Luk. 10.16 And they that turn away their ears from hearing them it will be more tollerable for the Land of Sodom in the day of Judgement than for such persons vers 11. 3. Believe Ministers what they preach out of the Word of God it is not their own but is of Divine Authority and therefore is true infallibly Believe in Christ whom they tender to you by the preaching of the Gospel they call you to repentance hearken unto them they hold forth Christ believe in him close with him by faith If you do not repent and believe by their preaching you will not by any other means no though God should send some out of the other world to preach unto you If a Dives should come from Hell to his wicked brethren and tell them what torments he felt and must endure there for ever for such sins as they lived in the practice of and that they were like to come to the same place if they did not repent this might affrighten them but it would not convert them If they believe not Moses and the Prophets neither would they be perswaded though one should rise from the dead and preach unto them Luke 16.31 Suppose that God should send unto you which are wicked from Hell and let loose one of your wicked companions out of the dark prison where he hath been filled with unexpressible anguish under the sense of Gods immediate wrath which hath immediately been laid upon him and he should appear to any of you who are going on in a course of such sins as once he joyned with you in and should come and should appear to you in the dark silent night and awaken you out of your sleep with a hideous noise and there roar out before you under the sense of the pain which he doth endure crying out of his drunkenness his uncleanness his swearing and Sabbath-breaking and should tell you that for such sins he is tormented most horribly and must be tormented eternally and that your sins unrepented of will certainly be punished with the like plagues This might startle you and scare you it may be out of your wits but it would not convert you from your sins If you be not perswaded to repent by the preaching of Ministers who as certainly foretell you of the same eternal Judgements out of the Word of God which are prepared in Hell for the impenitent and with whose preaching God hath promised his blessing which alone can make any means effectual for working repentance surely the other means without his blessing which he hath no where promised would be ineffectual Or suppose that an Angel should come down from Heaven and tell you what he hath there seen and enjoyed and how happy all true Believers departed are in the vision and fruition of God and should set forth the joyes of Heaven with such words as no man can utter and withall should invite sinners unto Christ that they might through him have a title unto and at length share in this glory and happiness yet if they do not believe and will not be perswaded to come to Christ by the preaching of Ministers which is accompanied with the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven 1 Pet. 1.12 which is more than if an Angel should be sent down from Heaven they would not be perswaded by the preaching of an Angel 4. Obey Ministers Heb. 13.17 Obey them which have the rule over you for they watch for your souls 〈◊〉 they that must give an account And you also must give an account what they command you out of the Word of God obey as if God spake to you with an audible voice from Heaven and what they forbid out of the Word of God forbear as you wiâ—â—â— answer it at the great day SECT IV. Doct. 2. THat Ministers are to tell people such wordâ— whereby they may be saved In handling of which point I shall first shew what salvation is here meant and what it is for a people to be saved 2. What words Ministers are to tell people whereby they may be saved 3. How they are to tell the people such words 4. Why Ministers must tell people words whereby they may be saved where I shall give the Reasons of the point 5. And lastly Make some application 1. The first thing is to shew what salvation is here meant and what it is for a people to be saved Negatively we are not here to understand any temporal salvation not a salvation from numerous potent and furious earthly enemies which come forth against Gods Israel to destroy them not a preservation from a Senacharibs host or an Ethiopian Myriad â—r the confederate bands of Moab and Ammon and â—lount Seir who joyn together to cut off the name of Gods people from the face of the earth not a â—escuing from Egyptian bondage or Babylonian captiâ—ity or Turkish Vassallage not an opening of prison doors a pulling out of deep dungeons and â—nocking off strong Iron chains and shackles not a sheltring of houses from fire when in danger of being â—onsumed or of persons from the evil arrows of Peâ—tilence when they fly thick about the ears not a â—eliverance from sore pain of body or violent sickness or any outward calamity which might render the life grievous and keeping off for a while the â—ruel stroke of temporal death which none can long â—scape But positively by salvation here we are to understand spiritual and eternal salvation and a people may be said to be saved in the sense of the Text 1. When they are saved from the wrath and displeasure of an angry sin-revenging God who is the most potent and furious enemy against whom there is no lifting up the hand to defend when he lifts up the hand to destroy The whole world of mankind is guilty of sin before God our first Parents sinned and â—n them all their posterity who are conceived and born in sin and unto all of whom sin is natural unâ—ill the nature be renewed And as when the Angels â—inned they were cast out of Heaven and became
these words may have the Holy Ghost fall upon you and feel such a wonderfull power going along with them as shall draw you unto Christ and bring you out of the estate of spiritual death and damnation in which you are by nature into a state of life and salvation whilest I am speaking to your ears God may speak to your hearts whilest I am presenting these words before you and holding forth the light unto you God may open your eyes and give you by his Spirit such a spiritual discerning of these things as you never had before and so affect your hearts as no word of man is able to do hear then a Sermon of God out of the mouth of the Apostle Peter which hath been effectual for conversion and who knoweth but it may produce the same effect in some of you in the repetition and explication of it as it did in the Gentiles in the first preaching of it It is said the Holy Ghost fell upon all them which heard these words when Peter preached them O that the Holy Ghost might fall upon some of you whilest I am preaching them The Gentiles had extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost given unto them in their hearing Peter O that you might have a true work of conversion by the Holy Ghost given in the hearing of me They are the Words of God receive them as his words which may effectually work to your salvation if the Lord give faith in the hearing Look up then to the Lord for his blessing on which the efficacy of the Word doth depend The words are in Act. 10. from the 34th to the 44th Vers. I shall first read them and then open these words of salvation to you After that Cornelius had sent for Peter to Ioppa he sent for many of his friends to his house and when they were come together and Peter was come and had a relation from Cornelius of his â—ision and they had told him that they were all there present before God to hear the things which were commanded him of God Vers. 34. he begins his Sermon Then Peter opened his mouth and said Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him The Word which God sent unto the Children of Israel preaching peace by Iesus Christ he is Lord of all That Word I say ye know which was published throughout all Judea and began from Galilee after the Baptisme which John preached How God anoynted Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil for God was with him And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of Judea and in Jerusalem whom they slew and hanged on a tree him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly not to all the people but to witnesses chosen before of God even to us who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testifie that it was he which was ordained of God to be the Iudge of quick and dead To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins This Sermon of Peter's which is the first Sermon which was preached unto the Gentiles after the partition-wall was broken down is but brief but it hath much sweet and soul-saving doctrine in it and it is likely that the Scripture doth bâ—t briefly rehearse the heads of that which the Apostle discoursed of more largely unto them and therefore I shall endeavour to open this Sermon unto you which is like a rich Cabinet of most precious treasure wherein is to be found the Pearle of the greatest price which the wise Merchant-man will sell all that he hath to obtain because it is not only desireable to enrich him but also necessary to save him I mean the Lord Jesus Christ whom the Apostle doth describe and hold forth unto the Gentiles We read Luk. 24.31 that the Disciples hearts burned within them whilest our Saviour spake to them by the way and opened to them the Scriptures and O that you might feel your hearts burn within you whilest I am opening unto you this Scripture which doth relate Peters Sermon The Sermon of Peter may be reduced to Four general heads 1. Concerning God 2. Concerning the Word 3. Concerning Iesus Christ. 4. Concerning the way of salvation by Christ. SECT VI. 1. THE Apostle speaks unto the Gentiles concerning God v. 34. and 35. Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him Two things he gives them to understand concerning God 1. His gracious disposition to accept of Men. 2. His good will towards the Gentiles 1. He lets them know how gracious God was in being willing to accept of men of any men without respect of persons whatever their sins had been so that they did turn from them in his fear and wrought righteousness for the future This is needfull for sinners to know that they might be encouraged to seek after salvation For if they apprehend God only as he is holy and just and jealous if they are told only that he is powerful and furious and a sin-revenging God when they reflect upon their guilt they will be ready to fly away from him under a slavish fear of punishment and in discouragement and despair go on in the practice of sin as long as they can Therefore Ministers must represent God unto sinners as gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness pardoning iniquity transgression and sin as he sets forth himself to Moses Exod. 34.6 7. they must tell sinners that God is gracious and ready to accept of all those that fear him and turn from their evil waies and resolve to work righteousness for the time to come and that he will be found of and give a reward unto all such as diligently seek him Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of all them that diligently seek him O that you who are going on in sin were perswaded of this how gracious and merciful the Lord is whom you do so highly offend by sin and how ready he is to accept of you if you would but turn from sin He hath given us Ministers commission to tell you that there is an accepted time and a day of salvation for your souls which he yet lengthens out unto you Yea we are sent as his Embassadours to entreat and beseech you that you would be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5.20 And when God declares by us that he is so willing to accept of you that he desires you to accept of his salvation and beseecheth a reconciliation when he can so easily avenge
Chrisâ— Repent or else you will all certainly perish Luk. 13.3 Repent or else iniquity will be your ruine Ezek 18.30 Repent or else ye cannot be saved When thâ—â— Jews who had crucified the Lord of glory heard Peters Sermon which ripped up their sin and they being pricked in their hearts cry out to Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren What shall we do Act. 2.37 We have committed a great sin and what shall we now do What course shall we take that we may be saved from that eternal wrath and death which we have deserved The Apostle directs them to Repent for the remission of sin vers 38. And will not conscience accuse you of the guilt of sin Are there no drunkards in this place no swearers none that have committed adultery and been unclean in secret places no unrighteous persons that have defrauded their neighbour no Sabbath-breakers nor profane persons no lyars nor covetous persons and are not the most civil and morally honest of you all that are out of Christ guilty of many heart-heart-sins yea and lip-sins and some gross slips in your life which conscience doth sometimes twinge you for Are not you guilty of impenitency and hardness of heart and unbelief and want of love to God and his Son and neglect of your own salvation Let me tell you all that have not yet repented that unless ye repent and that speedily ye shall all perish certainly and ye shall be miserable everlastingly Repent of your sins mourn for sin and turn from sin or else you will weep for sin hereafter to no purpose and burn for sin for ever Loath sin and leave sin or else Christ will disdain you at the last day and sentence you to depart from him into everlasting fire Confess sin and forsake sin or else you will finde no mercy here nor end or the least asswagement of misery in the other world Drunkards repent of your sins you have felt after your revellings and excessive carousings your heads ake and have vomited up your drink sometimes O that you could now feel your hearts ake and that you would vomit up your sin by repentance Swearers repent of your sins you have taken Gods Name in vain yea even torn it in pieces by your oaths O that you would hallow Gods Name in confessing your sin and that you would rend and tear your hearts with sorrow for the affronts you have by your oaths offered to the highest Majesty Adulterers and unclean persons repent of your sins you have tasted sweetness in your â—oul sins O labour to taste bitterness in grief for your sins that you may not feel the bitterness of hell torments which without repentance will certainly be your portion Unrighteous persons lyars covetous persons repent or you will not escape Gods righteous judgements Sabbath-breakers get your hearts broken for your sins or else God will break you to pieces with his Iron Rod. Prophane persons and all ye that have sinned more grosly repent and humble your selves before the Lord the more deeply The most crimson and scarlet â—ins may be washed away those who embrewed their hands in the blood of Christ were forgiven upon repentance and there may be hope of remission for the worst of you if you repent And you that have been more civil yet under the power of some sin which hath reigned in your hearts though it hath not broken forth so notoriously in your lives and have moreover lived in the neglect of Christ and your own salvation by him not perceiving your need so much of him Let me tell you as our Saviour told the Scribes and Pharisees that sometimes Publicans and Harlots the vilest and most notorious come into the Kingdom of Heaven sooner than you because they are more readily awakened and humbled and made sensible of their need of Christ than the civil and fair dealing men and women who are very apt to lean and trust to their own righteousness without such earnest seeking of the righteousness of Christ to justifie them Therefore let me warn you also to repent of your sins of heart-sins and Gospel-sins which are the greatest sins and will certainly sink you without repentance Look upon your own righteousness as filthy raggs and cast it away and loath your selves and be perswaded that if ever you be pardoned and saved you must be as much beholding to free grace as the vilest sinner 2. Peter tells them that God sent a Word of Peace which was preached by Iesus Christ. It is said Ioh. 1.17 The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth and I may add peace too came by Iesus Christ. The Law which came by Moses was given for this end to lead men yea it was a School-master to whip men to Christ and God did enjoyn those legal services upon his people that they might look to Christ in them and look for Christ who should deliver them from that yoak of bondage The Law which was from Mount Sinai gendereth to bondage and was given with thunderings and lightnings to awaken men and in preaching of the Law God giveth a spirit of bondage to work men to fear and repentance But Christ came in a more mild way and in a more soft and still voice preached Peace and the Gospel of Reconciliation The word of Peace was that which the Angels preached unto the Shepherds at Christs birth Luk. 2.14 Glory be to God in the highest on earth peace and good will towards men Peace was that which Christ preached in his life Ephes. 2.17 He came and preached Peace to you which were afar off and to them which were nigh Peace was that which Christ purchased by his death Col. 1.20 He made Peace by the blood of his Cross. Peace was that which he spake to his Disciples at his appearance after his resurrection Ioh. 20.19 Iesus came and stood in the midst of them and said Peace be unto you Peace he left with his Disciples behind him as a Legacy when he was to go away from them Ioh. 14.27 Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you And Peace he commissioned his Disciples to preach unto the world Mark 16.5 Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel unto every creature Which Gospel is a Gospel of Peace containing glad tidings of good things Rom. 10.15 Christ preached Peace not Peace with men though this also he would have his Disciples endeavour after as much as in them lyeth to live peaceably with all men Rom. 12.28 and to follow after peace with all men so far as it consisteth with holiness and a pure conscience Heb. 12.14 For he tells his Disciples Luk. 12.51 Suppose ye that I am come to give Peace on earth I tell you nay but rather division Whatever peaceable disposition he taught and his Gospel doth work in the heart where it prevails yet accidentally it causeth division and stirreth up to opposition in those that will not yield obedience thereunto and
therefore the world hate and contend with his Disciples because he hath chosen them out of the world wicked men have an enmity in their hearts against Believers and will not be at Peace with them But Christ preached Peace with God Christ came from Heaven to bring this glad tydings to earth that the God of Heaven was willing to be at Peace with sinfull men It would not have been an easie thing to have made sinners believe especially if they had been convinced of sin how heinous it is in its own nature how highly it affronts and provokes the highest Majesty if they had been awakened with a sense of the dreadfulness of the punishment which God hath threatned and they had deserved for their sins that so great and holy a God should be willing to put up all affronts and forgive all iniquities and be at Peace with sinners yea that he should seek after it They might have questioned not only how this could be but also how any could have known it But to put all out of doubt Christ the eternal Son of God hath come forth from Heaven declaring what he hath heard of the Father and hath made known this that God is willing to be at peace with us Christ was sent from the King of Glory upon the Embassage of Peace and he preached Peace therefore unto men not unto all men for Isa. 57.21 There is no Peace to the wicked that is to such as are impenitent and senseless of their sins and go on still in their trespasses Christ threatned the wicked as severely as Iohn Baptist he tells the impenitent that they should perish Luk 13.3 and the unbelievers that they should die in their sins Ioh. 8.24 And he calls the hypocritical Pharisees who persevered in their opposition of him and his waies Serpents and Vipers that could not escape the damnation of Hell Matth. 23.33 But Christ preached Peace to all that repented were troubled for their sins that mourned and turned that believed and yielded up themselves to the obedience of the Gospel He preached the Gospel to the poor to the bruised and broken that is such as were sensible of their sins and their need of a Saviour Luk. 4.18 And we Ministers have commission from the Lord to preach Peace to the children of men we are Ministers of the Gospel of Peace unto us is committed the Word of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 Indeed we must sound the Trumpet of War from Heaven in the ears of secure sinners to awaken them but we are to hang out the white flag and to come with Olive branches of Peace from God to them that tremble at Gods Word and are humble for their sins Sinners are there any among you whose hearts the Lord hath touched and bruised for sin yea broken to shivers and melted and filled with grief and sorrow for a life of past-wickedness that have not only legal terrours but true Evangelical repentance I have a word of Peace to deliver to such of you from the Lord. God is willing to be at Peace with you through his Son There is an Advocate with the Father who is ready to make up the breach which sin hath made between God and your souls and God doth call you to lay hold on his strength that you may make Peace with him and he promiseth that you shall make peace with him Isa. 27.5 Thus concerning the word of Repentance and Peace which Peter tells Cornelius and them which were with him SECT VIII 3. PEter speaks to them of the Lord Jesus Christ by whom this Peace was purchased and the Word of Peace preached and that 1. Concerning his Vnction 2. Concerning his Life 3. Concerning his Miracles 4. Concerning his Death 5. Concerning his Resurrection 6. Concerning his Ordination to be the Iudge of the World 7. Concerning his Mission of them to preach 1. Peter speaks to them concerning the Vnction of Christ. He tells them that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with Power God poured forth his Spirit without measure upon Christ which qualified him for his offices and he gave him power and authority to execute them There is a Threefold Office which Christ was anointed unto 1. The Priestly Office 2. The Pâ—â—phetical Office 3. The Kingly Office 1. Christ was anointed to the Priestly Office who offered up sacrifice to God even a sin-offering and Peace-offering â—o make reconciliation for sin not the sacrifice of Bulls and Goats or Lambs or Rams which could never of themselves take away guilt but he through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God he offered the sacrifice of himself for a sweet-smelling savour and shed his own blood for the remission of sins by which blood having obtained eternal redemption for his people he entered into the Holy place not made with hands which was but figurative but into Heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God to make intercession for them Christ is the great High priest not after the order of Aaron who were many and mortall and sinfull and their Priesthood changeable but he is a High-Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec hath an unchangeable Priesthood therefore is able to save all those to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession in their behalf Heb. 7.25 Moreover v. 26. he is holy harmless undefiled seperate from sinners and yet very tender and compassionate towards sinners being touched with the feeling of our Infirmities and knows how to pity them which are tempted he is mercifull and he is faithfull too in this Office which the Lord hath anointed him unto Having therefore such an High-Priest over the House of God sinners have encouragement to draw neer unto God with full assurance of acceptance through him Hebr. 10.21 22. 2. Christ was anointed to the Prophetical Office Christ is that Prophet whom the Lord promised to raise up to his people like unto Moses Deut. 18.15 but is far greater than Moses who came down from Heaven to preach the Gospel of salvation to lost sinners who revealed the counsels of the Father which were hid from ages and generations and kept secret untill his time from the foundations of the World who discovered the purposes of Gods Love and the promises of his Grace and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel Christ is the great Prophet anointed by the Father to teach his people by his Word and Spirit who opens the eyes of the understanding which naturally is dark and blinde and leads his people into all truth who of themselves would wander into errour without whose teachings there can be no saving light nor spiritual discerning and relish of Gospel Mysteries 3. Christ was anointed unto the Kingly Office Peter in his Sermon calls him Lord of all God hath given him a Name above every Name he hath exalted him above all Principalities and Powers and Might and Dominion both in Heaven and
Earth and hath put all things under his feet and all power into his hand and appointed him to be head over all unto his Church He is the King of Saints whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and whose Scepter is a Scepter of Righteousness he hath given Laws to his people with great wisdom and ruleth in their hearts with great power and whosoever will not submit to his Sceptâ—r to be ruled by his Laws he will break them in pieces with his Iâ—on Rod. Thus concerning Christs Vâ—ction to his Offices 2. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Life that he went about doing good His Life was holy free from sin he did no evil no injury to any man he was harmless his whole employment was to do good Never was there such a man living upon the face of the Earth who never committed any sin in his life neither in thought word or deed Some indeed have said they had no sin but they have lied for no man liveth that sinneth not but Christ was born without sin and lived without sin he was perfectly good and righteous and he did good His Life was exactly according to the Rule he fulfilled the Law not only by his passive but also by his active Obedience 3. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Miâ—acles whereof they were witnesses instance is given of his casting out Devils likely he told them of more of his calming the Winds and Sea with a word his feeding five thousand with five Loaves his opening the eyes of them which were born blinde his raising the dead that had been buried several dayes and the like which works were a testimony of his Divinity and that he came from the Father 4. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Death Him they slew and hanged upon a tree Christ humbled himself not only to take upon him our Humane Nature to be born of a mean Virgin and live in a low condition when he was Lord of all and God equall with the Father to take upon him the form of a servant but he humbled himself further to become obedient unto Death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.6 7 8. It was a cursed disgracefull lingering and painfull death which he endured and however it was inflicted upon him by the hands of cruel blood-thirsty men yet it was according to the fore-appointment of God for the satisfaction of Gods Justice for the expiation of Mans sin it was not only for an example of suffering to men but in the room and stead of sinners who otherwise must all have unavoidably perished and for the ratification of the New Testament and Covenant of Grace So that the salvation of Man from sin and Hell and the Inheritance of glory and happiness doth depend upon the Death of Christ which was the purchase hereof 5. Peter speaketh to them concerning Christs Resurrection Him hath God raised from the dead and shewed openly Though Christ dyed and was buried yet the bands of death could not hold him and the Holy One did not see corruption his body was not so long in the grave as to putâ—â—fie but within three dayes he arose again from the dead and was seen of Mary Magdalen first after of two Disciples as they went unto Immaus after of Peter and all the Apostles after of above five hundred Brethren at once He was declared to be Man by his death he was declared to be the Son of God with power by the Spirit of holiness in him which raised him from the dead forty dayes he remained upon the Earth after his Resurrection and then was caught up to the Throne of God in the presence of his Disciples and there he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore whose Resurrection as it hath an influence upon the spiritual Resurrection of his people from sin who when dead in sin are quickened by the same Spirit which raised him up So it is the first fruits of the resurrection of his people from the grave who in their order and Gods appointed time shall be awakened out of their long sleep of death and come forth of the dust and be caught up to meet him in the Air at his last appearance to Judge the World which is the next thing Peter speaketh of Christ. 6. Peter speaketh to them concerning Gods ordination of Iesus Christ to be the Iudge of quick and dead God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in Righteousness and hath ordained Jesus Christ to be the Judge who will so soon as the mystery is finished and the Elect are gathered come down from Heaven where now he is with a great shout and the sound of a Trumpet and awaken all the dead and summon the whole world to his barr and render unto all according to their works to them that have repented and believed and by patient continuance in well-doing have sought for glory and honour and immortality he will give eternal life but to them which have been impenitent and hard-hearted and disobedient to the Gospel he will give indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish and sentence them to eternal Death 7. Peter speaketh to them concerning Christs Mission of them to preach He sent the Apostles to preach repentance and remission of sins in his Name and he hath appointed the Office of the Ministry to continue to the end of the World for the calling and conversion of those which belong to the Election of Grace and the building up and perfecting the Saints which are called untill they all come into the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.12 13. Thus the Apostle Peter preacheth Christ unto Cornelius and them which were with him SECT IX 4. AND lastly Peter speaks to them concerning the Way of Salvation by Christ vers 43. To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of sins There is no Name under Heaven whereby we can be saved but the Name of Christ Act. 4.11 and there is no salvation by Christ but by Faith When the Jaylor with trembling enquired of Paul and Silas What shall I do to be saved they tell him Believe in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Act. 16.30 31. There are three Arguments which will evidently prove That all such as truely believe in Christ do receive remission of sins and consequently are in a state of Salvation The First may be drawn from Christs Satisfaction The Second from Christs Intercession The Third from the Promises of the New Testament I. First from Christs Satisfaction If Christ hath fully satisfied Gods Justice for the sins of men and this satisfaction be accepted by the Father in the behalf of sinners and this satisfaction be imputed unto all them that truely believe in Christ as if they bad made it themselves Then all those that
truely believe in Christ do receive remission of sins inasmuch as guilt being an obligation to punishment and where satisfaction is made this obligation is removed 1. But first Christ hath made satisfaction to Gods Justice for the sins of men he only was qualified to do it and he hath actually done it 1. Christ only was qualified to do it no meer man could make it because Gods Justice being infinite requireth an infinite satisfaction and all Creatures are finite but Christ was more than a Creature he was God and Man in one person It was necessary that he should be a Creature because otherwise he could not have suffered the Deity being impassible it was necessary he should be Man because Gods Justice required that the same Nature which did commit sin the same Nature should suffer punishment for it Gen. 2.17 In the day thou eatest thereof Thou a Man shalt die Therefore Christ took not upon him the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham Heb. 2.16 And it was necessary that he should be God because otherwise he could never have born up under nor have got loose from that dreadfull punishment which was inflicted upon him It would have sunk the whole Creation under its weight Because otherwise his Merits would not have been of infinite value and fully satisfactory to Gods Justice therefore he was God and Man in one person and so duly qualified to make satisfaction 2. Christ hath actually made satisfaction to Gods Justice for Mans sin he hath born the punishment which their sins did deserve 1 Pet. 2.24 Who his own self bare our sins that is the punishment of our sins in his own body on the tree Isa. 53.5 He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and the chastisment of our peace was upon him And Ephes. 5.2 He hath given himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour which leadeth to the second particular 2. This satisfaction which Christ hath made unto Gods Justice is accepted in the behalf of sinners There might be sufficiency of value in Christs sufferings and sacrifice to make satisfaction for the sins of the whole world and yet God might have required the satisfaction from the offending party and received the debt from none but sinners themselves that owed it but God hath accepted Christs satisfaction as is evident 1. From Gods eternal Covenant with him that if he would make his soul an offering for sin he should see his seed and should prosper in his work Isa. 53.10.2 From his sealing and setting him apart for the office and work of Mediatour Ioh. 6.27 Him hath God the Father sealed 3. From his mission or sending him into the world for this very end Ioh. 3.16 Gal. 4.5 4. From his owning of him when he was sent and that both by a voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and by his large effusion of the Spirit upon him which did appear in his life so holy his doctrine so pure his miracles so powerfull 5. From his raising him up from the dead on the third day where he must have continued for ever if having undertaken to satisfie he had not done it and it had not been accepted 6. From his receiving him up into glory and setting him at his right hand and hearing his prayers in the behalf of sinners All which Arguments do abundantly prove Gods acceptation of Christs satisfaction 3. The satisfaction is as really imputed unto true Believers as if they had made it themselves Forasmuch as Faith doth appropriate Christ and his Righteousness and therefore Christ is called speaking of Believers the Lord our Righteousness Ier. 23.6 And we are called through the imputation of the merits of his death by faith The Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 Christs Righteousness is made over to Believers by Faith as if it were their own If then Christ hath fully satisfied Gods Justice for the sins of men and this satisfaction is accepted by the Father in behalf of sinners and imputed unto all true Believers then all true Believers are absolved from the guilt of sin and that not only upon the account of mercy but justice too which cannot require a double satisfaction therefore God is said as he is just to justifie them which believe Rom. 3.28 II. The second Argument to prove that all true Believers do receive remission of sins may be drawn from Christs intercession If Christ doth intercede for the remission of sins and this intercession be prevalent with the Father and all true Believers have an interest in this intercession then all true Believers do receive remission of sins 1. But first Christ doth intercede for the remission of sins Heb. 7.25 Heb. 2.17 He intercedeth for reconciliation therefore for remission of sins 2. This Intercession is prevalent with the Father Whatever Christ prayed for on earth he obtained Ioh. 11.42 Surely then his intercession in Heaven is prevalent which might be made further evident from his neerness and interest in the Father from the dear love of the Father unto him and because his intercession for remission of sins is for that which he hath purchased by his death and what the Father hath purposed and promised and is for his glory to give 3. All true Believers have an interest in Christs Intercession having by faith an interest in Christs person they have an interest in Christs intercession III. The third Argument to prove that all true Believers do receive remission of sins may be drawn from the promise of remission of sins in the New Testament Heb. 8.12 I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their sins and â—niquities will I remember no more Which New Testament is of full force through the death of Christ the Testator Heb. 9.16 17. And Believers have an interest in and by faith do apply the promises to themselves therefore true Believers do receive remission of sins Thus concerning Peters Sermon to Cornelius and them which were with him and the words which he spake to them whereby they were saved SECT X. 3. THE third thing is to shew How Ministers must tell people words whereby they may be saved Now this must be done 1. Sincerely 2. Plainly 3. Convincingly 4. Boldly 5. Compassionately 6. Warmly 7. Earnestly 8. Frequently 1. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Sincerely and that both as to the matter and as to the design 1. As to the Matter the Doctrine of salvation which they preach must be sincere in Doctrine they must shew uncorruptness sincerity sound speech which cannot be condemned Tit. 2.7 8. The Apostle complains of many who corrupt the Word 2 Cor. 2.17 The Word is corrupted when the Scripture is wrested and the sense perverted when errours and damnable opinions are broached and vented for truths and mingled with some truths of the word which will bring destruction and not salvation to them that receive them 2
they would find mercy Prov. 28.13 The wicked must forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn to the Lord and then he shall have pardoning mercy abundantly Isa. 55.7 When men cease to do evil and learn to do well then though their sins have been as scarlet they shall be white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be like woâ—ll Isa. 1.16 17 18. Sinners turn from your evil waies you have done iniquity do so no more you have gone on hitherto in a way of sin proceed no further it is the way to Hell turn out of it Let him that hath stoln steal no more and him that hath been filthy be filthy no more and him that hath been unjust be unjust no more Drunkards forbear your drinking swearers refrain swearing lyars teach your tongues to speak truth Break off your course of sin turn from all gross sins as to the practice and turn from all sins as to the affection Direction 4. You must believe in the Lord Iesus Christ if you would be saved This is the direction which Paul gave to the Jaylor when under conviction of sin he came in to him and cryed What shall I do to be saved he saith to him Believe in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Act. 16.30 31. So in Peter's Sermon Act. 10.43 To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of sins There is no Saviour but by Christ and there is no salvation by Christ bâ—t by faith and therefore we are said to be saved through faith Ephes. 2.8 As faith is the instrument to apply the merits and righteousness of Jesus Christ. Let me then exhort you to get faith which is absolutely necessary unto salvation Get faith of the right kind there is a general common historical temporary hypocritical dead and ineffectual faith but do you labour after a special lively unfeigned effâ—ctual justifying and saving faith and that you may not be mistaken in this great point on which your salvation doth depend I shall describe that faith which is of the right kind and will certainly save you if you obtain it Faith is a grace wrought in the heart by the Spirit of God whereby a poor sinner being made sensible of the guilt and power of his sins and the utter insufficiency of himself or any creature in the world to give him any help or succour and having in the Gâ—spel a discovery and proffer made unto him of the Lord Iesus Christ as an all sâ—fficient most merciful and faithful Advocate and Saviour doth go quite out of himself and accâ—pt lay hold rely and rest vpon him and him alone for pardon and grace and eâ—erlasting happiness Or more brâ—efly thus Faith is a grace of God wherâ—by the humilâ—d sinner doth accept and rely upon Christ alone for salvation as he is held forth in the Promises of the Gospel If you would attain this grace of Faith take these Directions 1. You must be fully perswaded that the Scriptures which reveal Christ are indeed the word of God this is the foundation of all faith therefore I shall briefly suggest some Arguments to prove the divine Authority of the Scriptures As 1. Because of that majesty purity holinâ—ss heavenliness which doth appâ—ar in the Sâ—râ—ptures beyond all other writings 2. Because of the design and drift of the Scriptures to debase man and exalt God and his glory above all 3. Because of the admirable contexture and contrivance and sweet harmony of the Scriptures in all the parts thereof though written by so many several men in several ages and places which sheweth that they were all acted by the same Spirit of God 4. Because of the wonderfull work of mans Redemption there set forth at fiâ—st more darkly afterwards more clearly which no mortal bâ—ain could have invented much less could any created power have effected 5. Because of the great power which this word hath to convince convert and comfort 6. Because of the confirmation of the Scriptures by miracles 7. Because of the acknowledgement of the Scriptures to be Gods Word in all ages 8. Because of the many millions of Martyrs who have sealed the Truths of the word with their blood 9. Because of the witness of the Spirit in and with the word which doth bear testimony to the hearts of Gods people that the Scriptures are his Word and were indiâ—ed by his Spirit Whence it followeth that the Scriptures are true because God the Author of them is true and cannot lye and whatever is there revealed is as certain as those things which are most demonstrable to sense or reason This is the first step to your believing in Christ who is made known in the Scriptures to believe that the Scriptures are Gods Word 2. If you would attain a saving faith in Christ you must be convinced and fully pâ—rswaded of your lost estate without Christ and your absolute need of him of which before 3. You must be perswaded that it is not in your own power to believe that it is not of your selves but is the gift of God Ephes. 2.8 and therefore must apply your selves to God that he would not only give you his Son but also give you the hand of faith to lay hold on him that he would work in you this grace of faith by his Spirit 4. You must consider those Arguments of Scripture which encourage faith As for instance I shall mention four heads of Arguments for faith from the consideration 1. Of God 2. Of the Promises 3. Of Christ. 4. Of the Saints 1. From the consideration of God who hath given his Son to save sinners it is an encouragement to â—aith to consider 1. That God is mercifull and therefore willing to pardon and save otherwise he would not have sent his Son he doth not delight in the death of sinners Ezek. 18.23 but delighteth to shew mercy see Micah 7.18 19. Exod. 34.6 7. Psal. 103.8 9 c. 2. That God is faithfull in his Promises of salvation which he hath made through his Son in his Covenant of Grace God needed not have made the Covenant nor promised mercy to any sinners but having made the Covenant he is engâ—gâ—d to make it good 3. That it is for his glory to save sinners through his Son the glory of his free grace yea and justice too which hath been fully satisfied by Christs death 2. You have encouraging Arguments for faith from the consideration of the Promises which are 1. Large made to all sorts of persons and all sorts of sinners none are excluded 2. Full they extend to all sorts of sins though never so many and great Isa. 55.7 3. Free nothing is required on your part but accepting 4. Sure being the Promises of God in Christ. 3. You have encouragement to believe in Christ for salvation from the consideration of Christ the proper object of faith 1. The quality of his
me with all Graces as to kinde and measure as shall be needfull for me in my place and work to testifie Gods love to my Soul to give me earnests of Glory and to seal me up unto the day of Redemption And O that I might have the presence and abode of the Spirit of God with me and never grieve quench resist and drive away the Spirit any more Also because the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God endited by the Holy Ghost the Epistle of Iesus Christ wherein he hath given notice of his love and will because they are the only sufficient and in themselves a perfect Rule for Faith and a holy Life and so fully do declare the way and means unto everlasting happiness Therefore I choose the Word of God to be the Rule of my Faith and Life and the Ordinances of God therein prescribed to be the means of my acquaintance and converse with my God so far as I am capable of and he shall vouchsafe and to be the means also of preparing of me for the full and perfect enjoyment of him beyond my present capacity And because the Ordinances are but dark glasses to see the Lord in because ignorance and unbelief do exceedingly vail God from mine eyes flesh and corruption do damp my love to God and my spiritual Ioy in him and interrupt my communion with him because of the sins sorrows temptations and afflictions which I cannot be wholly free from and therefore cannot be perfectly happy here in this World and having life and immortality brought to light by the Gospel a discovery and promise of eternal Life made unto me in the Word and withall a command of my Lord to lay up my Treasure in Heaven Therefore I choose Heaven for my Treasure and Inheritance for ever to live there in the company of all the holy Angels and Saints in the blessed sight love and enjoyment of the infinitely blessed God to see and share in the glory of my Dearest Lord Iesus Christ whither I hope my Soul shall be transported by the Angels so soon as it is separated from my Body and that my vile Body when awakened and raised in the Morning of Chrisâ—s coming shall be fashioned like unto Christs most beautifull and glorious Body and both inherit the Kingdom prepared and promised by my Father Lastly being perswaded of my Duty and encouraged by Gods promise of assistance and acceptance I now dedicate and deliver up my self fully freely and for ever unto the Lord I yield and resign up my Soul with all its powers and faculties my Body with all its senses and members to be the instruments of righteousness unto God I resign up my Minde to think upon the Lord and those things which concern his Interest and Glory to receive embrace and maintain his Truths I resign up my Memory to be a store-house and receptacle chiefly of the great things which do belong to his Kingdom and other things of a more inferiour rank as they may have a reference unto his Glory I resign up my Conscience to receive light and purity from his Word and Spirit and desire that it may act faithfully as the Lords Deputy I resign up my Will unto the Will of God to submit to his Precepts to embrace his Promises to oppose what he hath forbidden to comply with all the dispensations of his Providence towards me to be willing that I should be and do and bear and choose and lose what God would have me I resign up my Heart and Affections to fear and reverence the Lord to believe and trust in the Lord to desire and seek after the Lord to love and delight in the Lord and desire to put them all under his Government and to have them exercised according to his will I resign up my Fancy to be governed and employed by my Reason in the service of my Master I resign up my Sensual Appetite after meat and drink sleep and any pleasures to be subsâ—rvient to my Rational Appetite and no further to have satisfaction than will tend to the glory of the Lord. Iâ— sign up my Hands to work for God my Feet to walk for God my Ears to hear for God my Eyes to see for God my Tongue to speak for God I resign up all my Graces all my Gifts all my Talents to be used for the Glory of my Lord and Master and my whole Man to be ruled and governed by his Laws Promising though my Flesh do contradict and rebell that I will endeavour to order my whole conversation according to his Word humbly looking up to him for strength so to doe that I may be enabled by him to every duty And now I look upon my self no longer my own or that any thing I have is at my own dispose but I wholly belong unto the Lord And therefore blessing and praising and giving thanks unto the Lord for vouchsafing to enter into Covenant with me and enclining my heart to enter into Covenant with him Bending my neck under the feet of the most glorious Iehovah I subscribe my self Witness my Hand and Seal The devoted Servant of the Lord A. B. Direct 10. You must be stedfast and persevere in the wayes of God unto your lives end if you would be saved And here you must be stedfast 1. In the wayes of Truth 2. In the Wayes of Gods Commandements 1. You must be stedfast and persevere in the wayes of Truth in the belief of the Truths of the Word without turning aside into wayes of Errour there are wayes of Errour which will lead you as certainly and more securely to Hell than the wayes of open profaneness The Apostle tells us of damnable errours as well as open damnable sins 2 Pet. 2.1 and we read of some that are damned for believing a lye that their delusion hath been the cause of their damnation 2 Thess. 2.11 12. The Devil leads as many as he can in the cords of more gross and known sins towards the place of endless misery but if any of them begin to perceive their thraldom and danger if their eyes be a little opened and Conscience awakened and hearts affected and they are perswaded to look after their salvation then he endeavours to draw them into wayes of Errour he hath his Agents and Ministers who are very subtle and crafty and lye in wait to deceive who with good words and fair speeches insinuate poysonous doctrines and pretending more glorious discoveries higher and more excellent wayes draw them out of the way of the Word and Ordinances into paths of darkness where they wander and lose themselves for ever where they are tossed up and down and beaten to and fro with every winde of doctrine unto the shipwrack of their Faith and their Souls As you hope for salvation you must take heed of Errour diligently inquire after Truth search for it as for silver and digg for it as for hidden treasures digg for it in the golden Mines of the
be acquainted with God in Christ you must acquaint your selves with the Scriptures Read the Scriptures daily and search them Ioh. 5.39 read not only the history of the Word but labour to understand the mystery of Godliness therein revealed 1 Tim. 3.16 endeavour after a spiritual discerning of the things of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.14 when you meet with Doctrines in your reading the Word labour to understand and believe them when you meet with Precepts labour to obey them when with Prohibitions and Threatnings be cautioned against sin by them when you meet with promises labour to apply them to draw vertue from them Read this Book as the Word of God and hide it in your heart lay it up there as a choice treasure get your hearts cast into the mould of it get it written upon your hearts and let it have an influence upon your whole conversation and that you may the better understand and apply the truths of the Word read as you have time other good books which open the Scriptures and treat of needfull points of Religion especially such as direct in the great work of Conversion and give Rules out of the Word for the ordering of your whole conversation but above all Books read and study the Scriptures Means 3. Hearing the Word Preached It is by the foolishness of Preaching that God saveth such as do believe 1 Cor. 1.21 however the preaching of the Word is to them that perish foolishness yet unto Believers it is the power of God unto salvation therein God doth put forth his power and maketh bare his arm in bringing salvation to lost souls Hear and thy Soul shall live Isa. 55.3 Faith cometh by hearing Rome 10.17 Lydia's heart was opened whilest she attended upon the Word preached by Paul Act. 16.14 Attend therefore diligently upon the Word preached by Christs Ministers as an Ordinance of his own institution for the working and increase of Grace Look upon Ministers as Christs Ambassadours he that heareth them heareth Christ and he that turneth away his ear from hearing them turneth away his ear from Christ who by his Spirit in them speaketh from Heaven unto men and how impossible it is for such to escape the wrath of God see Heb. 12.25 Much more shall not they escape that turn away their ear from him that speaketh from Heaven Hear the Word with reverence as the Word of God as if the Lord should speak to you from Heaven with an audible voice hear the Word with diligence and attention as for your lives as for the salvation of your Souls hear the Word with faith and love without which it will not profit and work effectually in your hearts and in hearing look not so much for those things which may please as for that which may edifie I mean do not regard so much mens fancies as the wholsom Truths of the Word which tend most to conviction edification to the killing of sin quickning and increase of Grace and nourishment of the spiritual life Means 4. Meditation The Word like Food must be digested by Meditation that it may turn to spiritual nourishment you must ponder and consider in your mindes the Truths of the Word that you may both understand them and get your Hearts affected with them and your Lives ordered by them Meditation is a great help in Heavens way such as are remiss herein cannot walk so steddily nor chearfully accustome your selves unto this duty set apart time for it I know that some complain of barrenness in their thoughts when they endeavour to meditate such I would advise if they have not that fruitfulness of thoughts themselves to supply them with matter that they would make use of others help let them meditate on the Scriptures they read on the Sermons they hear moreover I would offer some general heads for Meditation which you may make use of 1. Sometimes meditate on God his Attributes his infinite Majesty power holiness omnipresence omniscience eternity unchangeableness his infinite wisdom truth faithfulness justice goodness mercy and loving-kindness his Councels especially his eternal decree of Election which is of most sweet consideration to Believers his works of Creation and Providence 2. Sometimes meditate on Christ his near relations of Friend Brother Husband his needfull Offices of Priest Prophet and King 3. Sometimes meditate on the Spirit his way and workings on the minde and heart how he enlighteneth enliveneth strengtheneth comforteth c. 4. Sometimes meditate on the Covenant of Grace and the rich free suitable sure Promises of pardon grace salvation therein 5. Sometimes meditate on the Gospel and its priviledges Justification Adoption Sanctification Assurance of Gods love peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost communications of grace c. 6. Sometimes meditate on the four last things namely Death Judgement Heaven and Hell 7. Sometimes meditate and that frequently daily of such Arguments as tend to the mortifying of your particular sins which are most strong and prevalent and to the strengthening of your graces which you finde most weak and deficient Means 5. Prayer Pray secretly retire your selves from company into your Closets or some private place and there confess your sins and make known your requests to God that seeth and heareth in secret and hath promised an open reward to such as secretly and sincerely seek him Pray frequently be often upon your knees give your selves unto Prayer begin the day conclude the day with Prayer and recover some other time to visit and speak to God at least mingle ejaculatory Prayer with every other work and labour that your minds may be always in a praying frame and do not withdraw but be glad when an opportunity offereth it self to come to the throne of grace Pray fervently pour forth your hearts before God in the duty wrâ—stle with God in Prayer like Iacob be earnâ—st in your Petitions as for your lives be instant and importunate take no denyal follow hard after God stir up your selves to take hold on him use arguments in Prayer to plead with him Pray believingâ—y mingle your prayers with Faith make use of the name and mediation of Jesus Christ and make application of the Promises which God hath made to his People which he hath made to Faith and which he hath made to Prayer Means 6. Christian Conference Take heed of the company of the wicked from such turn away if â—â— and when you are there labour to mourn for sin which hath pierced the Lord to hunger after his righteousness to receive him by Faith to apply the Promises of the Covenant of Grace whereof the Sacrament is a Seal endeavour after a burning love to him whose love hath been so great as to dye for you and let your hearts be filled with joy and your mouths with Praises and deliver up your selves in Covenant unto the Lord in this Ordinance After you come from the Lords Table reflect upon your carriage towards the Lord if you have been straitened endeavour to find out the cause mourn and by after-pains and application of Christ endeavour to get some benefit and prepare better against the next time if you have been enlarged be humble be thankfull be watchfull live up to Obligations draw vertue from Christs death for the crâ—â—cifying more and more of your flesh with its affâ—ctions and lusts and fetch influences of grace and spiritual nourishment that you may encrease with the encreases of God Finally be diligent in the use of these and all other means and helps and so at length you shall attain the ultimate end for which they are appointed even your Salvation and Eternal Happiness FINIS Motive 3.
convinced how your natures are depraved being wholly destitute of Original Righteousness empty of all good and inclinable wholly unto evil that they are a polluted fountain from whence can proceed nothing but what is unclean that they are a bitter root from whence doth spring forth such cursed fruits of sin in your lives and you should look upon your sin of nature to be the worst because the Original of all actuall transgressions 2. You must be convinced of your actual sins how you have broken Gods Law in thought word and deed you must see your sins of Omission and your sins of Commission against the first and second Table of the Law and take notice of the number of them so far as you can remember together with their aggravations if they have been committed through ignorance when you have had means of knowledge if against light of Nature and the Word if against the reluctance of natural Conscience if against many Warnings and Reproofs if they have been committed with security hardness of heart delight greediness pride presumption obstinacy and the like and that you might be convinced of the guâ—lt of sin you must look into the Law in which as in a glass you may see your natural face and all the spots thereof the Law will discover the sin of your natures as it requireth perfect conformity thereunto in habit disposition and inclination and forbiddeth all evil byasses of the will and heart to sin as well as external transgressions Moreover the Law will discover to you your actual sins but then you must look beyond the head Precepts of the Law which are but ten for you must take notice of the several branches belonging to every head which are many as for instance If you would finde out whether you are guilty of Adultery you must not only look upon the Precept as forbidding only the gross outward act Thou shalt not commit Adultery but as reaching to the inward desires and inclinations and so our Saviour Math. 5.28 interprets this Precept that whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart and so in the Precept Thou shalt not kill it is murder not only to take away the life of another by violence but also to be angry with our brother without a cause and so in the other Precepts And as you must look into the Law for Conviction of sin so you must also look into your own Consciences and read what is there registred and compare your hearts and lives with the Law and you should call to minde the places you have lived in the businâ—sses you have been employed about and the circumstances of your lives may bring to remembrance many sins committed long ago with their aggravations You must get thus a conviction of the guilt of your sins especially if you have fallen into any grosser sin in your life as adultery drunkenness theft if you have been guilty of swearing Sabbath-breaking profaneness or the like you must see the heinousness of them and withall you must see that every sin which you have committed is heinous as it is a dishonour to the highest Majesty who is infinitely more exalted above the greatest Earthly Kings and Potentates than they are exalted above the meanest Worm or Flie and for such as you to dishonour and affront him by sin is very heinous This is the first thing a Conviction of your sins which you must endeavour after 2. That you may be sensible of your lost estate you must get a convicâ—ion of the punishment which God hath threatned and you have deserved for your sins will the Lord put up the affronts which are offered to him by his Creatures will he bear the dishonours of his great and glorious Name by sin without punishing the sinnâ—rs No surely his holiness will not permit it his Justice hath been offended and must have satisfaction and therefore he threatneth to punish the offenders most severely God threatneth temporal calamities and death as the wages of sin and because through patience he forbeareth to punish many transgressions so remarkably in this life and the most dreadfull temporal Judgements which he inflicteth upon any are no wayes proportionable to the desert of their sins and the demands of his infinite Justice therefore he threatneth eternal punishment in Hell look into some places of Scripture where the Lord doth denounce severe threatnings against sinners Gal. 3.10 Cursed in every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Rom. 1.18 The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men Eph. 5.6 Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience 2 Thess. 1. 8 9. Christ will come in flaming fire taking vengeance on them which know not God and obey not the Gospel who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power Rom. 2.6 8 9. God will render unto every man according to his deeds to them who are contentious and do not obey the truth indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish on every soul of man that doth evil That you may see and be sensible of your lost estate you must be convinced not only in the general of the justice and equity that such Judgements should be inflicted on sinners because God himself hath denounced them in his Word who cannot be unjust toward his Creatures and because sin hath deserved them being the breach of his Law which is holy and just and good and an offence of an infinite Majesty whose Justice is infinite and must be satisfied with a proportionable punishment unto the offence but also you must be convinced that you are such sinners that you have committed such and such sins that you have broken the Law in such a point and such a point and in every point that you are guilty of fornication or drunkenness or theft or covetousness or lying or profaneness and it may be of all these and more than these The first is the conviction of the Law the second the conviction of the Fact then follows the third conviction which is of the State that therefore you are under the Curse that you are condemned that the wrath of God hangeth over your head and that you must be tormented for sin most horribly and eternally in Hell It is the conviction of the dreadfull punishment of Hell which God hath threatned and unto which you are exposed for sin that will awaken you to a sense of your lost state when the conviction is imprinted deep upon you by the Spirit when you believe that Hell is no Fiction but a reality as certainly prepared for the wicked as God is above preparing places in Heaven for his people and you have a peep-hole as it were into Hell and imagine something of the torments which the damned there do and shall endure for
such sins as you have committed how they roll and tumble in flames of brimstone how they are lashed by an accusing Conscience tormented with and by the Devil and even consumed by the wrath of a sin-revenging God how they cry roar and howl how they weep and wail and gnash their teeth and that this must be their condition for ever and when withall you think that you are walking upon the brink of this pit and hastening towards the place of these flames that Hell doth belong to you that you are in the number of the cursed crew some of whom have already taken up their lodging in Hell and that you are like to come thither shortly that you are lyable every moment to drop into the burning Lake then you will perceive that you are lost and undone 3. That you may be sensible of your lost estate you must be convinced of your insufficiency to satisfie Gods Iustice for your sins if you could do this you might do well enough but this you cannot do Gods Justice is infinite and requireth infinite satisfaction which you being finite are insufficient to give what can you offer to God thousands of Rams rivers of Oyl Mines of Silver Mountains of Gold Rocks of Pearl yea the whole Creation if it should offer it self to be annihilated could not make compensation to Gods Justice for one sin nothing less than infinite must be the satisfaction and therefore this should make you further sensible of your lost estate in your selves 4. You must get a conviction of your inability to resist and defend your selves against God who hath threatned so severely to punish you for sin as Gods Justice is infinite and therefore you cannot satisfie it so his Power is infinite and you cannot resist it who can stand in his sight when once he is angry who can defend himself against an Omnipotent arm If God whet his glittering Sword and his hand take hold on vengeance what Powers of Earth are strong enough to make resistance Read how God expresseth himself concerning such as set themselves against him Isa. 27.4 Who would set the bryars and thorns against me in battel I would go thorow them I would burn them together Look upon your selves as briars and thorns yea as dryed stubble before a consuming fire which hath no power to resist the flame and therefore that you are lost and undone in your selves because of your sins 5. You must get a conviction of the impossibility of your fleeing from and escaping Gods wrath which hath you in pursuit whither can you go from his presence or whither can you flee from his anger and indignation See Amos 9.2 3. Though they dig into Hell thence shall mine hand take them though they climb up into Heaven thence will I bring them down and though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel I will search and take them out thence and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the Sea thence will I command the Serpent and he shall bite them You cannot flee into any place but God will follow you you cannot hide your selves in any place but God will finde you there is as little hopes of escaping Gods Wrath as of resisting his Power See Psal. 21.8 9. Thine hand shall finde out all thine enemies not only some but all sinners thy right hand shall finde out them that hate thee Thou shalt make them as a fiery Oven in the time of thine anger the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath and the fire shall devour them By this time sinners methinks you should perceive your selves to be lost and undone all refuge now fails you there is no escaping for you 6. But lastly that you may fully know that you are in a lost estate you must get conviction that as yet you have no interest in Christ who alone can deliver you from the wrath of God which is to come upon the ungodly Indeed Christ can and doth deliver his people from wrath and the punishment their sins have deserved but when you know that you are out of Christ then you may know you are in a lost estate if you suppose that you have an interest in him without good grounds you are like to be lost irrecoverably and not know it till it be too late therefore you must know that as yet you have no interest in him that all your pretensions to him have been presumptuous conceits that so you may be lost in your own apprehensions Can you think you have an interest in Christ that never truly mourned for sin that never hungred after Christ that have no true Faith to apply him have you interest in Christ that have no true Love to Christ and never yielded subjection to Christ Have you interest in Christ that have no Influence from Christ have you Union to Christ that have no Communion with him No no all you that are Unbelievers and have persisted hitherto in a sinfull course are strangers unto Christ and therefore be convinced that you are in a lost estate And O how should fear and trembling possess you through the apprehensions of the dreadfull wrath of God how should you go up and down like condemned malefactors that are condemned to Hell and know not how soon they may be dragged to execution O what reason have you to lye down in terrour and rise up in terrour and feed upon terrour all the day long Such thoughts as these are suitable to the condition of such as you It may be the next step I take I may step into Hell Alas Alas I am in a state of damnation and did not know it I have been dancing about the brinks of Hell and did not perceive it I have been affronting God all my daies by my sins now I see that God is highly offended with me for those sins I made light of I am the covetâ—us person whom the Lord abhorreth Psal. 10.3 I am the deceiver whom he curseth Mal. 1.14 I am the Adulterer whom he will judge Heb 11.4 I have greatly sinned and now I see God is greatly angry and his anger burns like fire he frowns and his frowns are most dreadfull and I fear he will cast me to Hell and make me feel the power of his anger in my everlasting ruine I fear I must dwell with devouring fire and take up mine eternal abode with the Devil and my fellow-damned sinners O I fear I am damned I am damned O happy is the Dog and the Hâ—rse yea the Worm and the Toad who ere long shall be anihilated but I am cursed and I fear that I shall eternally be tormented O I am lost I have lost my God and I fear I am lost and shall be lost for ever O I am undone undone I vile and miserable sinner O wo be to me that ever I was born that ever I sinned and provoked God to such displeasure But is there no spark of hope yet is there no escaping no