by the subordinate administration of Angels If that Word the Law were so stedfast if it obtained full authority so that every transgression every disobedience against it received a just recompence of reward If men were severely punished for transgressing the Law of Moses how much more shall we be severely punished if we sin against the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation I would willingly spend the short time allotted for the present exercise in that discourse which might most conduce to general edification And therefore I shall without further delay present to you this doctrinal point of Observation from the words to be insisted upon Namely Doct. That those which go on in the final neglect of that Salvation which is offered and held forth in the Gospel they must unavoidably perish In the Handling of the point I shall propose this ensuing method First I shall shew what this salvation is Secondly Why it is called a great Salvation Thirdly How many wayes men are guilty of neglecting this great Salvation Fourthly What are the causes from whence the general neglect of this great Salvation may proceed Fifthly I shall wind up all in some usefull application First What this Salvation is The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifies the preservation of any thing or Person in a state of safety But in the Scripture it is taken divers ways First It is taken for a Deliverance from some temporal danger or calaminity Thus you have it in Exodus 14.13 When the Israelites were encompassed with an Army of Egyptians at their backs and the Red Sea was before them and that the murmuring of the people might be satisfied Moses stands up and bids them stand still and see the salvation of the Lord as if he had said Let not your hearts be troubled let not your spirits sink under a load of discouraging fears do not fall into the hands of unbeliefe for that is worse than if you should fall into the hands of your enemies but have a stedfast eye unto the God of Israel and so take notice what a seasonable and speedy deliverance he will work for you Secondly Salvation is taken for the providential care and power of God whereby he will not let his people want those things that are needfull Thus you have it Psal 78.22 When the Israelites murmured against God in the Wilderness for want of food why saith the Psalmist They trusted not in his salvation they believed not in God and trusted not in his salvation that is They trusted not in that wonderful providence of God which would certainly make a provision for them in their wants and difficulties had they but patience to wait for it Thirdly Salvation is taken in scripture for the Author of salvation Psal 27.1 The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear so in Luke 2.30 they are the words of Simeon Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace verse 30. for mine eyes have seen thy salvation that is I have beheld him that shall be the Author of salvation both to the Jews and to the Gentiles Fourthly Salvation is taken for that state of Glory and perfect Blessedness which the soules of Gods people shall enter upon immediately after the dissolution of their bodies Thus you have it in Heb. 1.14 speaking there conc rning the Angels Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth that they may minister for those which shall be the heirs of salvation the heirs of salvation that is the heirs of future Glory And Lastly Salvation is sometimes Metonymically taken for the doctrine of the Gospel because that is the only way which God hath ordinarily appointed for the salvation of his rational creatures And thus it is taken in the words of the Text How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation I have finished the first Branch and proceed to the second to enquire why this is here called a great Salvation And First It is so called because it doth concern our soules Oh! that men were more deeply sensible of the incomparable excellency and preciousness that is in their soules Why Pleasure is a Dream Honour is a smoak Wealth is a deceitful shadow Our soules are the onely jewels that are worth the preserving If these be saved no matter what is lost and if these be lost no matter what is saved Alas What would all the preferments the world can give avail us if after the enjoyment of all our souls should be swallowed up in a gulf of remediless torment I tell you and there is ground for it in the word of God that the loathsome toad and the venemous snake they are in a better condition than the highest unsanctified Monarch upon the earth who shall be condemned to have his portion in this present life If you highly esteem those things or persons which may be instrumental for the saving of your estates or to save the life of your bodies are you not infinitely much more engaged to set an high esteem upon the Gospel which God hath appointed to be the only instrument for the saving of your souls Why our time is here spent to very little purpose unlesse we do industriously promote the salvation of our souls We live here in vain unless that short time which is allotted for us to continue here upon the earth be wisely improved to prepare us for an everlasting enjoyment of God in heaven it had been better for us that our bodies had never lived the life of nature unless a life of grace here dispose our soules for a life of Glory hereafter Those which lay out all their care to cherish frail perishing bodies and in the mean time neglect their soules they goe the ready way to plunge both body and soul in everlasting ruine For oh sinner dost thou not know that at the Resurrection thy body shall be in the same condition with thy soul when they are reunited together they must be both companions in joy or companions in torment But when the care which we lay out upon our bodies is nothing if compared with the care which we lay out upon our soules we go the ready way to save both to make both eternally happy that is the first reason it is called a great salvation because it concerns our soules Secondly That salvation which the Gospel brings is therefore called a great salvation because it is often bestowed upon the greatest Sinners There is no person so deeply defiled with the pollutions of the world or grown so black with the guilt of high and hainous sins but that the Gospel can furnish him with a robe of imputed Righteousness large enough to cover all his spots and stains to conceal all his shame and nakedness in the presence of God No person hath so much run upon the score of divine justice but the Gospel can bring him acquainted with a Surety which is able to discharge his debt
Secondly why we should labour to get purity of heart Thirdly what means we should use to have our hearts purified Fourthly in what particulars this purity of heart will especially discover it self I. There are many things implyed or comprehended in this purity of heart First the justification of our persons civilizing morality doth onely furnish men with some sweet sented flowers which may perfume their outward conversation rendring it more acceptable to humane society though still their hearts may continue as filthy and impure as ever they were before Moral men commonly have a high conceit of themselves and yet they may be abominable in the sight of God as Solomon speaks Prov. 30.12 There is a Generation that are pure in their own eyes and yet is not washed from their filthiness but no true purity can be effectually produced in our inward parts until we come to be sprinckled in the blood of Christ Rev. 1.5 Who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood We can never be clensed from our sinful abominations until we be washed in the blood of that immaculate Lamb which takes away the sins of the World when the soul is brought into a state of justification it is cloathed in the wedding Garment of Christs imputed righteousness which is large enough to cover all its natural deformities and then though it were never so black and filthy before it presently appears full of amiable lustre and shining excellency bright and clear beautiful as an Angel without spot or blemish in the sight of God Secondly Purity of heart doth imply a renovation of our nature We are all defiled in our very birth and conception the poysonous Leprosie of Original sin hath spread it self over every faculty of the soul and member of the body therefore if ever we obtain any acceptable purity this corrupt depraved nature must be changed hence is that Petition of the Prophet David which you may read in Psal 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Tit. 3.5 we are said to be saved by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost And the Apostle Paul likewise prays in the behalf of his Thessalonians that they may be sanctified throughout both in body soul and spirit 1 Thes 5.23 The soul and the spirit are here to be distinguished The Spirit here signifies the most Noble sublime and Angelical part of man comprehending his will conscience and understanding the soul that signifies the inferiour faculties of sensitive desires and affections and the body that is the outward man the instrument of the soul In Ezek. 36.25 26. you have an excellent Gospel promise I wil sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be washed from all your filthiness and from all your Idols will I cleanse you a new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you Oh that men were generally more convinced about the excellency and necessity of this sanctifying work Thirdly purity of heart requires the casting out of defiling sins all sin is of a very defiling nature therefore it s shadowed forth in the book of Leviticus under the notion of a spreading Leprosie t is compared likewise to the vomit of a Dog and to that filthy mire which Swine delight to wallow in But more particularly sinful pleasures must be cast out of the heart In the 47. of Ezek. there you read concerning the River of the Sanctuary that is the Doctrine of the Gospel which is dispersed amidst the wilderness of the Gentiles and most places where it came received a healing vertue from it but in the 11 vers the Miry places and the Marishes thereof shall not be healed By the Marishes and Miry places some fitly understand those men women that have given themselves over to sinful pleasures these kind of persons are very unlikely to be healed by the waters of the Sanctuary what gross defilement do many contract while they let loose the raines to vile affections and drown the masculine activity of their spirit in a loathsome pudle of sensuality Also earthly-mindedness is another sin which must be cast out if we desire to have a pure heart When a thing is mingled with that which is of a superior nature it s thereby made more rich and precious as when silver is mingled with gold but if it be mingled with that which is of an inferiour nature as silver mingled with lead such a heterogeneus mixture doth debase and impoverish it thus when the soul of man is as I may so speak mingled with the graces of the spirit this makes it more Noble exalting it to a higher degree of perfection But if it be mingled with the drossy vanities of the world this makes it base and vile The Scripture tells us concerning the pollutions of the World 2 Epist of Peter Cap. 2. vers 20. and in James 1.27 saith he This is pure Religion and undefiled before God and the father to visit the fatherless and the widows in their afflictions and to keep himself unspotted from the world the things of the world they are a dirty defiling nature they are like Pitch t is hard to touch them and not contract some defilement or other How is it possible that that man should have a pure heart that can be contented from morning to night to entertain nothing but the world in his soul John 17.15 saith Christ I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil Fourthly Purity of heart requireth that we should adorn our selves with purifying Graces First Hope 1 Joh. 3.3 He that hath this hope purifieth himself even as he is pure Raised expectations of future happiness should stir up in the soul strong and vigorous endeavours after present holiness because a defiled heart and a undefiled inheritance cannot stand together Secondly Faith that 's another purifying grace as you have it Acts 15.9 Purifying their hearts by faith Those which perswade themselves that they doe believe in Christ and yet their hearts are as carnal and corrupt as filthy and impure as ever they were before They may know that their faith is but a fantastick dream or deluding shadow there is nothing of truth nothing of reality in it Faith having tied a marriage knot between Christ and the soul layes a strong engagement upon her to keep her self chast and pure till the approach of her glorious Bridegroom when she shall be taken into the everlasting embraces of his love Thirdly Repentance that is another purifying grace Repentance pulls off the mask from the face of sin causing it to appear in its proper colours so that it hath no alluring paint nor counterfeit dress by which it should ensnare or delude the soul any longer Repentance fills the soul of a sinner with hatred and detestation against sin making him restless in his desire till he can procure an
universal divorce and perpetual separation from it Those that continue impenitent can lye soaking in the mire of bloody raigning lust and yet not be sensible of the least defilement but the truly penitent soul is solicitous to wash out every spot and stain Fourthly Love that has a notable purifying influence upon the heart Love chiefly stands in a reciprocal similitude of disposition They that love God will strive every day to have more and more of his likeness of his picture they are ambitious to be beautified with the most plentiful participation of his image They that love God will endeavour for such a measure of holiness and purity as may dispose and fit them to maintain a refreshing fellowship and communion with God You that can wallow in the fink of common profaness without the least check or remorse of conscience Oh! it is a sign you have not the least dram of true love to God Fiftly Purity of heart requireth that we should be consecrated devoted and given up to the service of God Men of drossy impure spirits look after carnal self in whatsoever they doe they aim at nothing but the pleasing and gratifying of their flesh that 's the great end which they propose to themselves in all their actions but those who have a pure heart endeavour to glorifye God by yeilding impartial obedience to his Commands They act according to the simplicity of the Gospel walking in the plainess candor and ingenuity of a gracious spirit Pharisaical Hypocrites how ever they may cleanse the outside yet their hearts are rotten and impure because they onely serve God for by-ends and self respects Sixthly purity of heart requireth that we should resist vain thoughts Jerem. 4.14 Oh Jerusalem wash thy heart from wickedness that thou mayst be saved what wickedness was this which must be washed away lest it did hinder salvation the holy Ghost tells you in the following words how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee Those which indulge themselves in the harbouring of vain thoughts must never look to have their hearts clensed therefore when ever thoughts begin to rise in thy soul command them to stand and undergo a serious examination if they can shew a pass from the Scripture let them go on and be encouraged but if they appear to be vain idle and impertinent send them back to hell from whence they came not giving them the least countenance or approbation In the last place purity of heart requires that we should bridle immoderate affections You know water though it be never so fresh and pure while it runs in its proper Channel yet if it overflow the banks it will quickly grow mudy and defiled thus thy affections if they be kept within due bounds and proper limits they may be pure but when once they overflow the banks of sobriety and moderation they presently are defiled Take heed therefore lest thy spirit be defiled by the irregular distempers and corrupt excess of joy anger carnal love or other the like transporting violent passions In the next place I proceed to shew why we should labour after this purity 1. Because without this we cannot hear the word so as to profit by it If the stomack be filled with corrupt matter the most wholesome food will prove distastful thus when the heart abounds with impurity the most spiritual and heavenly truths that can be delivered will scarce find any acceptable or savoury relish those which cannot feed upon the word with such sweetness delight satisfaction if they would seriously examine themselves they may possibly find that they have defiled their consciences by some secret way of sinning against God and that 's the reason why their hearts are so little affected under the Preaching of those Gospel truths which were formerly entertained with highest esteem and were thought worthy of all acceptation 2. Without this we cannot draw nigh to God in any other Religious duties James 4.8 Draw nigh unto God and he will draw nigh unto you but how shall we be made partakers of this incomparable priviledge the former words direct us cleanse your hands you sinners and purifie your hearts you double-minded Isaiah 1.16 wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes come now let us reason together saith the Lord there is no coming unto God except we be first wash'd and made clean Heb. 9.13 How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself up without spot unto God cleanse your consciences from dead works that you serve the living God you cannot serve the everliving God in an acceptable manner unless your consciences be clensed from dead works and this can onely be done by the blood of Jesus Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself up without spot unto God 3. We should therefore labour for purity of heart because without this we can have no true peace peace and purity go together When God appears in his Majesty and Glory when he ariseth terribly to shake the earth and magnifies his excellent power working wonders amongst the children of men this is the priviledge of those which are pure in heart that they shall remain undaunted because conscience will speak peace to them Job 11.14 15. If iniquity be in thy hand put it far away and let not wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacles for then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot yea thou shalt be stedfast and shalt not fear So Psal 51.7 8. saith David purge me with Hysop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter then snow make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce as if he had said Lord I have defiled my self by this bloody sin which I have committed and because of my defilement joy and gladness hath been banished from my spirit but do thou wash me purge me clean and then the joy of thy salvation will be restored peace will return again Many they complain for want of comfort for want of peace let them consider whither there be not some sin or other that they harbour with allowance for beleive it one sin will fill the heart with bitterness vexation and galling perplexity Sin is a Jonah that raiseth storms and tempests where ever it comes Fourthly We should labour for purity because without this there can be no scriptural wel grounded hope of getting to heaven David saith Psal 24.3 4. Who shall ascend into the Hill of the Lord who shall stand in his holy place hee that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his soul unto vanity Those that live after the flesh wallowing in all impurity 't is strange that they should cheat themselves with such confident expectation of future blessedness The new Jerusalem is Civitas Sancta gloriosa tota ex auro tota gemmis et margaritis decorata as Zanchy speaks Consider that magnificent description of this City which