Confusion that a Redeemer does pronounce it 4. After the Judge has pass'd the Sentence Conscience will pronounce it over again and will be a Judge to the Wicked always condemning them Conscience will be filled with unspeakable remorse it will continually be upbraiding them with their madness and folly in keeping their Sins and losing their Souls and will ever be telling them that the Lords ways towards them are equal but their own ways according to which they are Judged have been unequal and full of Iniquity Ezek. 18. 29 30. The Conscience of Sinners will side with their Judge against them It will tell the most wretched among the Damned that they cannot complain of God or of the least injury he has done them all that they suffer they suffer justly and what they suffer they have brought upon themselves The horrible and perpetual remorse of Conscience will prove that the Worm never dies that does torment them 5. When Sinners come to be condemn'd at the last day how many things will rise up in judgment against them pray mind this and minding tremble and trembling turn to God this very instant Thousands of Mercies will come and as it were plead thus Lord we have been all abused we never met with any thing but abuses and never could lead these men to Repentance The Rods of Affliction will have a Voice against them too Lord we have stricken Sinners often we have made them Bleed and Groan and smart exceedingly for their Iniquities but could never make them leave off Sinning against Thee and against their own Souls How many Sermons will rise up in judgment against them because they either slept them away or if they were awake they suffer'd them to slip out of their Memories and never applyed them to their Hearts And as for us the Ministers of the Gospel our Testimony against them will be true and terrible Lord we lifted up our Voices like Trumpets we gave them the Watchmans Warning we told them of the Sword that was coming and that if they turned not from Sin it would surely slay them we wooed them to come to Jesus that under his Wing they might be secure but nothing would prevail their Ears were deaf their Hearts they hardened they would not be converted and made clean they would rush on in Sin still they would needs Dye and there was no helping it The Condemnation must needs be dreadful when so many things rise up against them that are condemned VSE IV. Of Consolation to the Saints I must speak to them in another strain Lift up your Heads and let your Hearts be filled with Joy all ye believing repenting humble holy heavenly-minded Ones for the Day of your Redemption draws nigh with an earnest expectation wait for it and Triumph at the Thoughts of your great and everlasting Jubilee You will indeed behold the greatest part of mankind turned into Hell but what Joy will it be to find your selves for ever safe and fully blessed A dark Shadow sets off a beautiful Picture The sight of the Rich man in Hell Flames must needs make Lazarus to find a greater sweetness in Abrahams Bosome Two Grounds of Consolation I shall propound to you and so conclude 1. He is to be your Judge that is your Husband and your Head. The very same whom you now find interceding for you in Prayer whom you see walking in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks and blessing his Ordinances to you The very same whom you have found pitying and healing your Wounds with his own Blood succouring you in your Temptations and telling you that you are the Beloved of his Soul And since he is to Judge you be comforted He will behold you with an aspect that is highly favourable His own Spouse whom he has ransomed with his own Life Christ will not turn into devouring Fire He will not take the Members of his own Body and throw them into everlasting Burnings Having Redeemed them by his Blood having renewed and Sanctified them by his Spirit having raised them up at the great day certainly he will receive them to himself and they shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 17 18. wherefore be comforted with these words 2. You that are true Believers whose Faith purifies your Hearts and works by Love know that there is a Crown designed for you The Diadems that Monarchs have upon their Heads the Triple Crown of Him at Rome is but a Trifle to the Crown of life This Crown is purchased 't is promised 't is prepared and shortly you shall put it on and never put it off more How Splendid how Bright how Sparkling will that Crown be 'T is called a Crown of Life for Death shall be no more A Crown of Glory for the Saints shall be more than Conquerours and Triumphant over all Enemies and be advanced to the highest Honour and State whereof they are capable Finally 't is called a Crown of Righteousness 't is a Righteous thing with God to bestow it through Christ Jesus and perfect Righteousness and Purity will be a great part of the happiness of Saints in Glory This Crown the Apostle saw to his great encouragement and he would have all other Believers comforted with the same sight 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. I have fought a good Fight I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that Day and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing MAT. 11. 23. Form. Part. And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto Heaven shalt be brought down to Hell Our Lord Jesus is called the Lamb of God who takes away the Sins of the World But in this Lamb there is Wrath and that Wrath is very terrible Oh the weight of the Mediatours Vengeance This Wrath is threatned against the impenitent and unbelievers who refuse to be Saved from their Sins resolving to live tho they Dye in them The Light of the Gospel being neglected highly aggravates the Works of Darkness makes them more inexcusable and a greater provocation None shall fare worse at the Day of Judgment than those that have had the longest and the clearest day of Grace but would not know in that their day the things which belonged to their Peace Thou Capernaum which are exalted unto Heaven shalt be brought down to Hell. These words which I have read do speak Christ's sorrow and his displeasure wherein you may take notice 1. Of the Persons with whom he is displeased Thou Capernaum the City is put for the Inhabitants of it 2. Here is the Reason of Christs displeasure they did not understand the great priviledge of being Exalted unto Heaven they did not improve the advantage they had of getting thither 3. Here is a Punishment threatned a sore evil and that is no less than Hell it self 4. Here is the manner specified of their going to Hell thou
time You are only Stewards intrusted with that which is Gods and not yours and are accountable at the last day for all you have received What sad accounts will most give up of their Stewardship when they must be no longer Stewards Imprimis So much daily for Eating and Drinking to Self and not to the Glory of God. Item So much for brave Apparel that Pride might be maintained and gratified Item So much for making provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Item So much for costly and vast Past-times a great deal of Wealth and much more precious Time being wasted together But unto good uses to maintain a Godly and laborious Ministry of the Gospel to the poor and needy given very little or nothing With what an Eye do you think that the Judge will look upon such accounts as these Think of Judgment that you may holily improve the unrighteous Mammon and Christ may say you have been Faithful Stewards even of worldly things 3. The Belief and Meditation of Judgment will make you exceeding diligent that you may be found of your Judge in peace without spot and blameless With what Seriousness and Fervency will he come to the Throne of Grace that has the Judgment-seat also in his Eye How will he hear and practise that remembers he must be called to an account how he has done both He will take care to be ready whensoever his Lord calls and that whensoever his Lord comes he may find him doing the Work he set him about and so doing it as He commands 2. The other word of Counsel is this Be sure in time to prepare for Eternal Judgment Do this seriously do it presently and as your main business That you may prepare indeed 1. Be Accusers and Judges of your selves take notice of your Sins with Grief with Hatred and holy Indignation accuse your selves of them before God with self-loathing and self-abhorrency Look down by Faith into the lowest hell and see the terrible but righteous Severity that is shewn there against obstinate workers of Iniquity then look up to God and judge your selves in his sight acknowledging that you have deserved one of the hottest places in that Lake of Fire Acknowledge he would be clear in the sorest judgment he should pronounce upon you and that He would be justified tho you should be damn'd eternally Psal 51. 4. This judging of your selves is the way to prevent Condemnation with the World 1 Cor. 11. 31 32. 2. If you would be prepared for Judgment believe in Jesus that you may the justified before God at present Receive Christ who is offer'd in the Gospel rely upon his Obedience and Sufferings for justification of life And being justified by Faith you shall have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. â—5 1. Being justified by his Bloud you shall be Saved from wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. What does ponere obicem put a Bar before Hell Gate and hinder us from falling into that place of Woe The Cross of Christ that 's the Bar you are to place your Confidence in Christ Crucified If justified by him now he will ratifie the justification at the last day and you shall not be condemned then Rom. 8. 33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that Condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is at the Right Hand of God and maketh Intercession for us 3. Would you be prepared for Judgment Repent and be converted let your minds be changed and turn to God with your whole Heart This is the way indeed to stand before him Acts 3. 19. Repent and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. The Apostle looks as far as the last day Blotting out of Sins is Christ's absolving and acqutting them from all Trespasses The time of refreshing is that great day of compleat and glorious Redemption when all that are Christs shall lift up their Heads with Joy Repent and be converts in Truth if you would have that a day of refreshing and not of confusion Walk after the Flesh no longer but after the Spirit then you need not be afraid of Condemnation your being guided by his Spirit will shew you are in Christ and safe in Him Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit to be carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace USE III. Of Terrour to the ungodly the Hypocrites and the Vnbelievers Christ will judge them all and they may tremble to think what kind of judgment they shall have what sharp and piercing words are those which declare before-hand what will be their Doom Mat. 23. 33. Ye Serpents ye Generation of Vipers how can ye escape the Damndtion of Hell That I may if it be possible awaken such I would lay before them these terrifying considerations 1. When they appear at Christ's Bar all their secret wickedness will be made known How many will then be found what they were not in the least suspected Thy secret wantonness and Self-pollutions thy secret injustice and desrauding thy secret abominations of all kinds will then be as visible to every Eye as if written in Capital Letters with the brightest Sun-beam And what sname and confusion will cover the wicked Mans Face they that are impudent and cannot boush now how will they be confounded then The truth is as the Prophet Daniel speaks They will rise to shame and everlasting contempt Dan. 12. 2. 2. At the day of Judgment it will be too late and in vain for the wicked to pray and cry for Mercy they will find the Lord eternally removed from the Throne of Grace and to their Terrour behold him on the Judgment Seat. If the Ungodly roar out then Lord pity Lord pardon Lord send us not away into that flaming Furnace that me see before us it will be altogether in vain but 't is not in vain to cry thus now Oh seek the Lord while he may be found and call ye upon him whilst he he is near Isa 55. 6. 3. It will add to the Terrour of the Wicked That the Sentence of Condemnation is pronounced by the Only Saviour The merciful and faithful High Priest that now is so forward to make Reconciliation for Sin that is so ready to give rest to them that labour and are heavy laden The Man Christ Jesus will have no pity at all no compassion towards the Reprobate Children of Men but deal with them as with the Apostate Angels whose Nature be never took upon him The only Peace-maker will himself be so incensed and full of Wrath as not to be intreated not to be appeased The Sentence of Eternal Death and enduring everlasting Burnings will be confounding but 't will add to the
will judge and punish the wickedness of which Man takes no notice This Doctrine of a Judgment to come of future Rewards and punishments is written in the heart of Man by Nature and he is fain to offer great violence to his own Soul before he can wear off what is written there and tho a Sinner become ordinarily very Stupid and Atheistical yet the thoughts and fears of Judgment will sometimes in spight of him return upon him The Apostle speaks of Conscience bearing witness and Thoughts accusing and excusing and then presently speaks of the Day when God shall judge the Secrets of Men by Jesus Christ Rom. 2. 15 16. Conscience judges at present and hints a future judgment 2. There is not such a Discrimination made in this World between the Righteous and the Wicked as is suitable to the difference that Grace has made between them Therefore there is a Day coming when there will be such a Discrimination Solomon tells us that in the course of Divine Providence at present no Man can know either Love or Hatred by all that is before him All things fall alike to all there is one Event to the Righteous and to the Wicked to the good to the clean and to the unclean to him that Sacrificeth and him that Sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner and he that Sweareth as he that feareth an Oath Eccles 9. 1 2. Nay often times the worst of men have in this present Life the best on 't We read Luke 16. of a wicked Rich Man receiving his good things cloathed in Purple and fine Linnen and faring Sumptuously every day A poor Man ready to starve for Hunger was laid at this Rich Man's Gate his Body was full of sores and yet this Mans Soul was sanctified with Grace a good Man he was though here he received evil things since thus it is now there is a day coming when 't will be otherwise Job having spoken of the Prosperity of the Wicked in this World strongly argues that in the next World there will be a dreadful after-reckoning Job 21. 30. The Wicked is reserved to the day of destruction they shall be brought forth to the day of Wrath This is the day I am speaking of a day of the revelation of the righteous Judgment of God Rom. 2. 5. Who then will render to every man according to his works to them that by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life but to them that are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile v. 6 7 8 9. 3. Christ hath Promised his Church that he will come again to Judgment and hath raised her hopes and expectations of his coming Rev. 3. 11. Behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy Crown Heb. 10. 36. For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry He thus speaks to his Disciples Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me I am indeed about to leave you but I go to prepare a place for you and assure your selves I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there may be also Joh. 14. 1 5. Christ is the Amen the true and faithful Witness he will certainly be the Judge The Church will assuredly see him at last upon the great White Throne and her self safe and triumphant at his right hand When he comes how will he be glorified in his Saints and how will he be admired by all Believers in that Day 2 Thes 1. 10. 4. There are several things that are hastening Christs coming to Judgment The World grows old in Wickedness and all the Sins of the World have tongues to cry for the appearing of a Judge to pay their deserved Wages the World grows riper and riper for Vengeance dryer and dryer for that Fire that is to burn it The Church of Christ is also hastning Christs Appearing with their incessant Cryes Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Rev. 22. 20. The Spirit and the Bride say Come not only unto Sinners to come to Christ but unto Christ himself to appear that he may put an end both to Sin and Suffering That 's the longing and language of the Spouse Cant. 8. 14. Make haste my Beloved and be like a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountains of spices And this is not the Voice only of the Church on Earth but they in Heaven wish for and intreat the same thing How long Lord holy and true is heard from the Souls under the Altar Rev. 6. 10. In the last Place I come to the Application I begin with Inferences from the Doctrine 1. If there will be a Day of Judgment hence I inferr that there is a present Providence Will the Lord judge all at last surely he observes all now The Lord Jesus would have all the Churches to know as well that he searches the Reins and Heart as that he will render to every man according to his Works Rev. 2. 23. Whether thy Eye be upon God or no his Eye is never off from thee 't is indeed in every place beholding the evil and the good What a foolish Creature hast thou reason to call thy self who considerest not in thy heart that God remembers all thy Wickedness Hos 7. 2. and Gods remembrance at last will rub up thine and what thou now forgettest will sadly be recalled to thy Mind 2. Shall all be Judged hence I inferr the Love of God to the Righteous and his hatred of Iniquity Not one righteous Man but shall be acquitted and received by the Judge not a righteous action or sincere intention but shall be rewarded It will be found at the last day that a Widdows Mite given with a Charitable spirit and according to the ability was a great deal in Gods Treasury and that a Cup of cold Water given to a Disciple in the Name of a Disciple was well taken and shall not go unrewarded Mat. 10. 42. And there has not been there is not a Wicked Man on Earth but his Sin that has been hunting and pursuing to overthrow him will then find him out Psal 11. 5 6. because the Lords Soul hates the workers of Iniquity therefore upon the wicked he will rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their Cup By fire and brimstone and tempest understand a suddain grievous surprizing and intolerable Punishment and by snares understand that they in Hell shall never be able to extricate themselves out of that Misery into which their Wickedness has brought them 3. If all shall be Judged hence I inferr the truth of the Doctrine of the Resurrection The whole Man has sum'd the whole Man shall be judg'd and punished for sin Believers
Isa 1. 24. Therefore thus saith the Lord the Lord of Hosts the mighty one of Israel Ah! I will ease me of my Adversaries and avenge me of my Enemies If Sin be thus a Weight I advise all to be weary and beg to be eased of it He is a senseless Fool indeed who makes a Mock of Sin and still goes on to add unto his own Burthen In the second place I shall shew you how the Master Sin may be known And here I would premise these three things 1. All Sin that is allowed of may truly be said to Reign where 't is allowed A Man that wilfully continues in the Commission of any Sin is certainly the Servant of it whatever it be 'T is the Misery of the unregenerate that they have tot Dominos quot vitia so many Lusts so many Lords 2. There is in many Persons a particular Sin which does prevail more than any other In the Natural Body there are all the Humours yet One commonly is Predominant and the Denomination is from that Thus 't is in the Body of Sin tho there is a Mass of all Corruption yet there may be some special Corruption that has the greatest strength and prevalency This in Scripture is called the sweet Sin in which the greatest delight is taken compared to a sweet Morsel under the Tongue Job 20. 12 13. Tho wickedness is sweet in his Mouth tho he hide it under his Tongue tho he spare it and forsake it not yet at last it proves extremely bitter deadly as the very Gall of Asps within him 3. There are some in whom several Sins are so Predominant that 't is hard to determine which is most Master Some have so hot an Anger and so hot and furious a Lust that you cannot so easily judge which of these is hottest Nay in some Sins that seem very contrary one to another yet in several respects they will both prevail Many a Man is liberal and profuse as to his Ornaments and Cloathing he spends freely in the Sumptuous furnishing of his Table Hand and Purse are open if he be in Riotous Company Yet if you ask this Man but for a lutle to a good use Tell him that the Members of Christ are many of them very needy and that he who gives to the Poor lends unto the Lord here he is strangely Covetous and close Fisled These things premised I shall discover the Master Sin. 1. That is a Master Sin unto which the Constitution does most strongly incline They that are of a Sanguine Complexion are inclined to Lasciviousness Voluptuousness and an aiery frothiness of Spirit which a great hinderance unto serious Impressions In the Cholerick Passion and Anger are apt to prevail and to hurry them to revengeful words and Actions not considering what injury they do to others and how much more to themselves The Melancholick are prone to Envy Malice Discontent The Flegmatick unto Stupidity Carelesness and Sloth Now Satan takes notice of the Complexion sails with the Stream of it and suits his Bait to it and hereby has very great advantage Tho no sin has the Dominion in Believers for they are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. yet the Complexion Sin is apt sometimes to master even them also therefore they had need to be watchful against it and to take great care and pains to mortify it The Apostle Paul observes his own Constitution and makes conscience of keeping under his Body that his Temperament might not be his Temptation 1 Cor. 9. ult I keep under my bring it into subjection lest by any means when I have Preached unto others I my self should be a cast-away 2. That is a Master-sin unto which your Callings and Conditions make you most liable They that trade in the World how apt are they through the Corruption of their own Hearts to defraud and over-reach to get immoderate and dishonest gain hence that strict Prohibition 1 Thes 4. 6. Let no man go beyond or defraud his Brother in any matter knowing that the Lord is the Avenger of all such as we also have forewarned you and testified How apt are they to venture upon the Sin of Lying and Equivocation for advantage and they teach and command their Servants and Children to follow their pernicious Examples as if Earthly gain were so considerable that 't is no great matter how many Souls are lost for the sake of it They that are Rich in this World are prone to be high-minded and to trust in uncertain Riches 1 Tim. 6. 17. to withhold the Hire from the poor Labourers to live in wantonness and pleasure Jam. 5. 1 2 3. to be full and deny God and say Who is the Lord They that are poor in the World are prone to Steal all unjust dealing is Stealing an unjust action makes a Man a Thief in Gods account and to take the Name of God in vain Prov. 30. 9. 3. That is a Master-sin which the Sinner is most unwilling should be brought to light and cannot bear to be reproved for We read Joh. 3. 20. Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved but of all others he cannot endure to be reproved for the Sin that easily besets him and that he loves most He tramples the Pearl of reproof under his Feet and is read to turn again and rend the reprover John the Baptist was a burning and a shining Light. Herod the King heard him some of his Exhortaions and Doctrines went down with Herod and produced a partial Reformation At length the Baptist comes home and strikes at the Master Sin tells Herod of his Herodias and that it was not lawful for him to have his Brothers Wife This was not to be born the King counted the Prophet too bold to meddle with his beloved Lust. He hears him no longer he suffers him to Preach to others no longer He first puts him into Prison and afterwards puts him to Death and thus was this burning and shining Light extinguished Mar. 6. 17 -27. 4. The Master Sin Conscience when awakened by distress is very apt to accuse the Sinner of and furiously to fly in his face for Conscience though it sleeps in a Calm usually awakes in a Storm when Death-threatning Affliction lies hard upon the Sinner and he looks beyond Death unto Judgment and into Eternity then Conscience speaks plainly rebukes boldly and especially the Master-Sin makes it very clamorous Envy was a Sin Predominant in Josephs Brethren they could not bear the thoughts of his future advancement they sold him a Slave to prevent his being exalted over them as was presignified by his Dreams Many years after God calls for a Famine upon the Land down go these Brethren into Egypt to buy Food there Joseph seizes them deals hardly with them and they are in great Distress Conscience now awakes with great terrour flies in their Faces and their envy and cruel dealing with Joseph
Sin will make you to shine less in your lives 't wil fully your Conversations and hinder you from adorning the Gospel Oh keep unspotted and walk exactly as in the day that you may be blameless and harmless the Children ó God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation and that you may shine as Lights in the World Phil. 2. 15. 5. This Sin may cause you to set in a Cloud It may fill you with doubts when you are dying and that will be very dreadful You may be terribly frighted with the fears of Hell when you are just at Heavens gate Be therefore upright keep your selves from the iniquity that does most easily beset you that you may be more useful in your lives have the stronger and more lively hope in Death and that your End when it comes may be more perfect Peace VSE III. Of Direction How the Sin which does most easily beset you may be laid aside 1. Pray for a clean Heart Psal 51. 10. David having been overcome by a strong Corruption and done a Deed that was very foul cryes for a purer Heart a more right and constant Spirit he knew that to purge the Fountain was the way to have the streams clean Go unto God for a new Heart which he has promised and will give to all who prize and desire such an Heart Strike at the root of in the Heart then the branches and tâ—â—â— top branch the Master-sin will wither 2. Seriously lay to Heart how much he Sin that naturally is most beloved does deserve your hatred Hated Sin is so weak that it can ruine none 't is the love of Sin that gives it power and as it were puts a Sword into its hand slay you 3. Resist the very first stirrings of this Sin in you I believe if David assoon as ever he beheld from his Palace the beauteous Bathsheba had presently turn'd away his eyes and had fallen upon his knees and gone to Prayer he had overcome the Temptation Sin is more weak at the beginning Our Lords Counsel is Watch and Pray that ye enter not into temptation Mat. 26. 41. 4. If you would abandon the Masteâ—-sin Pray much for the contrary Grace Is Pride thy Master-sin Pray much for Humility Is Passâ—â—n thy Master-sin Pray much for Pâ—tience and for the Meekness and Gentleness of Christ Is Love to the World thy Master-sin Pray that thou may'st rise with Christ and love and mind a better World better Honours better Pleasures a more lasting Wealth than this World can yield 5. Let the Word of God which does â—â—rbid and threaten this Master-sin be carefully hid in your Heart This Word may be in thy Mouth thou mayest talk of it it may be in thy Mind thou may'st have a national Knowledge of it Nay â—t may go further and be in thy Conscience and be thought of in the very act of Sin. But if it will be in thy Heart if thy Will and Affections are taken with it then it will be an effectual Preservative against Iniquity Psal 119. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my Heart that I might not sin against thee 6. Improve the Death of our Lord Jesus Bring the Sin which does so easily beset you to the Cross of Christ No Sin truly dyis but upon Christs Cross Gal 5. 24. They that are Christs have Crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts these are never Mortified but by being Crucified How can the old Adam dye but upon the Cross of the second Adam Rom. 6. 6. Knowing this that our old man is Crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin 7. Call in the Spirits aid He can make the Word sharp as a two-edged Sword to pierce the Heart and to slay the strongest Sin there He glorifies Christ and can draw you to him and enable you by Faith to derive Grace from him sufficâ—ent to help you against the most powerful Corruptions He can kill the Sin that is hardest to be slain he can mortifie all the deeâ—s of he body Rom. 8. 13. the strongest members on the Earth Col 3. 5. and he can seal you unto the day of Redemption FINIS