doth extend unto but those to whom it doth extend are persons under such a condemnation So when we say the Tromises of Grace are made to persons as Sinners i. e. as they are in such a state and condition it doth not now follow that they are made to all sinners no but it onely shews that they are persons in such a state and condition which onely shall have benefit by the promise of Grace Object 5. But thus to tender the Promises of Grace to persons as they are sinners is the only way to make men presume and to harden them in their sins Answ 1. Not so The grace of God teacheth a quire contrary lesson T it 2. v. 11 12. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Rom. 6.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you for yee are not under the Law but under Grace 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleause our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 I grant some from the preaching of free Grace take occasion to presume yet is not the fault in the grace of God nor preaching thereof but in themselves and the naughtiness of their hearts As when a Magistrate proclaims pardon freely to a company of persons in actual rebellion if they from the grace and clemency of the Magistrate shall take occasion to persist or others to rise up in rebellion the fault is not in the Magistrate or his so doing but in them it is in him an act of grace and clemency it is their wickedness doth abuse it So in this case 3 Jesus Christ is set up as welt to be a stumbling stone and a rock of offence to some as to be salvation to others God hath laid Christ in Sion for these two great ends 1 Pet. 2. v. 6 7 8. Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone elect precious and hee that beleeveth on him shall not be confounded Unto you therefore which beleeve hee is precious but unto them which bee disobedient the stone which the builders disallowed the same is made the head of the corner and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence even to them which stumble at the word Rom 9.33 Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling stone a rock of offence Wheresoever the Gospel is preached there are two great designes on foot together the greatest that ever were in world viz. of the eternal salvation or condemnation of poor sinners The one glorified Justice the other Mercy what if some hearing the word of grace do presume it may bee God may have a secret design that some in hearing the grace of God should presume and stumble at that to their eternal condemnation which had they in love and sincerity imbraced would have been to their everlasting salvation The presumptions therefore of some men should not hinder the declaration of the grace of God 4 So long as a man in holding forth the grace of God doth really aime at the bringing in and building up of souls knowing no better way to effect it than preaching of grace abhorring from his heart the thought thereof that any should abuse this grace and turn it into wantonness if any do hee is free from the guilt of their sin and the danger will fall on their heads 5 The primary care of a Gospel Minister should bee to give children bread if they cannot have it but dogs will be snatching shall children be starved 6 If the grace of God should not bee held forth untill wicked men will not abuse it it must not whilst such are in the world for so long they will 7 Wee are not so much to look at the consequence of an action as whether the action it self bee according to the will appointment or institution of the Lord Jesus Christ Ill consequences oftentimes may and do follow the best practices as the bringing of some notorious Traitor or Murderer to his trial may occasion others to rise up in rebellion in his behalf yet doth not this make the act it self evil nay it is very good and the neglect or omission of it would be evill 8 If because sin takes occasion by the doctrine of grace it must not bee preached then must not men preach the Law neither because sin takes occasion from that also Rom. 7.8 Sin taking occasion by the commandement wrought in me all manner of concupiscence Upon this ground therefore neither Law nor Gospel must be preached Vse 1. Hence wee may see the mistake of many persons who look upon the Gospel and all the promises thereof as made to Saints whereas they are to sinners A sinner quatenus a sinner is the proper object of the grace of the Gospel Now looking on it thus there are these inconveniencies follow 1 They never come whilst they walk by such principles to any stedfastness in the faith for whilst they can look upon themselves as Saints they think grace is theirs and the promise theirs but when the contrary then they conclude they have no part in grace no right to the promise thus they are to and fro Saints to day to morrow Hypocrites to day in Gods favour to morrow out like a loose bone sometimes in joynt sometimes out 2 They injoy but little of the Spirit of Adoption which is a sweet child-like frame which makes a man come running to God and cry Abba Father Now they injoy but little of this being in continual doubts whether or no they may call God Father when they cannot see themselves Saints they are afraid to do it and when they can they speak it but faintly as fearing they may be deceived God is not their Father 3 They do God but little service whilst they can see themselves Saints they pray c. but when they cannot they are sullen and mopish and will do little or nothing for God 4 They know not how to bear afflictions for let but an affliction come and they have not faith to beleeve themselves Saints and then presently they cry out This is out or wrath now God meets with mee for such and such sins the affliction will undo me c. 5 Their very comforts and assurance are but seeds of doubting afterwards For will the soul say If I may conclude my self the childe of God when I see my self a Saint can pray c. then when I cannot see my self a Saint but the contrary why should I not conclude the contrary yea ought I not so to do 6 They are led back to an Old Testament faith It was very usual with the Saints of the Old Testament to conclude their condition to bee good or bad accordingly as they found themselves to bee thus and thus qualified or not as will appear if you look into many places in the Psalms And hence it is
be deprived of their inheritance should not the Promises be fulfilled 3 Saints should sustaine injury by it should they not be fulfilled 4 The experience of all Ages shew us that God hath ever fulfilled his promise God made a promise to the Fathers that Christ should come this hee fulfilled when Christ came Act. 13.32 33. And wee declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise which was made unto the Fathers God hath fulfilled the same unto us their Children in that he hath raised up Jesus again as it is also written in the second Psalm Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee God made a promise to Noah that the Earth should not be drowned this though the world hath stood four thousand years since yet God hath never broken God made a promise to Abraham that at the end of four hundred and thirty years his Seed should come out from amongst those that afflicted them with great substance Gen. 15.13 14. This God punctually fulfilled to a day Evod. 12 vers 41. And it came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years even the self same day it came to pass that all the Hosts of the Lord went out from the Land of Aegypt God made a promise to Joseph that hee should rule over his Brethren God made a promise to David of the Kingdome God made a promise to Israel that at the end of seventy years Captivity in Babylon they should bee delivered and these Promises hee fulfilled God made a promise to his people of the Spirit Joel 2. Zach. 12.10 and chap. 2. the same in 14 15 16. Chap. of John and this God makes good Acts 2. Obj. 1. O but will some poor soul say True God hath made such a promise but me thinks I see so many and so great difficulties and discouragements in the way of Gods fulfilling the same that I cannot think ever God will fulfill it Ans 1 Are the difficulties or discouragements greater than those Abraham met with he had a promise of a Son 1 He waits twenty five years after the promise was made as will appear if you compare Gen. 12.4 with chap. 21.5 Abraham was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran where he had the promise Gen. 12.2 and he was an hundred years old when his Son Isaac was born unto him Gen. 21 5. was not this a great discouragement might not Abraham have said every year sure the Promise will never come 2 He waits so long till his own body was dead and Sarahs wombe the means by which the promise should be brought about there was a death upon it so as that in a Natural way there was no hope and therefore hee is said to beleeve in hope against hope Rom. 4.18 did not this much heighten the discouragements and make difficultie greater might not Abraham say well now I see there is no hope 3 After God had given him a Son yet God commands him to offer him up Did not this make difficulty the greater Abraham might say This Son of mine is the only Son in whom the Promise is to bee fulfilled and God commands me to offer him up Now notwithstanding all these Abraham beleeves before he had a Son hee beleeved that God who had promised was able to perform it and after when God bids him sacrifice his Son God still was able 2 Gods remembrance of his promise makes him to work wonderously over the head of all difficulties Psal 105.42 compared with the former verses For hee remembred his holy promise 3 Is any thing too hard for the Lord Obj. 2. O but I have sinned exceedingly against God since such and such a Promise hath been made unto me Ans Yet God remembers his promise Psal 106.45 compared with former verses And he remembred for them his Covenant yet ver 34. They did not destroy the Nations concerning whom the Lord commanded them vers 35. But were mingled among the Heathen and learned their works vers 43. They provoked him with their counsel and yet God remembred his Covenant v. 45 and as he remembers his promise so he will fulfill it Christ before his death gave his Disciples a promise of the Spirit after this they deal more unkindly with him than ever Peter denies him some sleep when hee was in the midst of his agony all forsake him and flye and yet Christ fulfills his promise to them How exceedingly did Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat King of Judah make Judah to sin 2 King 8 18. He walked in the way of the Kings of Israel as did the house of Ahab for the daughter of Ahab was his wife and hee did evill in the sight of the Lord. Yet for all this because God had made a promise to David that hee should alwayes have a light hee will not therefore destroy Judah as vers 19. yet the Lord would not destroy Judah for David his servants sake as hee promised to give him alway a light and to his children Gods Covenant Isa 54.9 is said to bee like the waters of Noah when God had brought a floud upon the world in Noahs time God sware to Noah hee would not drown the carth as you may read Gen. 8.21 For the imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth it should be rendred Although the imagination Such is Gods Covenant and Promise that hee will not break it although the heart of man bee evill Again thou hast sinned what is thy sin but a breach of the Law Now the Promise was before the Law and therefore thy breach of the Law cannot disanul the Promise Gal. 3. v. 15 16 17. And this I say that the Covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ the Law which was four hundred and thirty years after cannot disanul that it should make the Promise of none effect Object 3. But I am a poor unworthy creature Answ The Promise is a gift Gal. 3.22 That the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that beleeve Object 4. But had I something of that God hath promised in way of pawn or pledge I then could beleeve Answ Abraham had nothing but a bare promise and yet hee beleeves Act. 7.5 And hee gave him none inheritance in it not so much as to set his foot on yet hee promised that hee would give it to him for a possession and to his seed after him when as yet hee had no childe Wee should beleeve God upon his bare promise as the Samaritans beleeved Christ because of his own word Joh. 4.41 And many more beleeved because of his own word Object 5. O but I have waited so long for the promise and yet it comes not I see it not fulfilled that my soul faints I begin to be without hope that ever it will be fulfilled Answ Hast thou waited longer then Abraham Abraham had a promise of a Son but waited twenty five years as bath been shewed hast thou waited yet twenty five years
call him Father yet I will come to him as a Sinner who may in time call him Father Object 11. But thou hast made many vows and promises and resolutions and broken them all Ans This O Satan is true yet but a sinner and promises are made to sinners Object 12. But thou hast had many motions from the Spirit of God to forsake thy sins and come to God which thou hast sleighted Ans Yet but a sinner and promises are made to such Object 13. But thou hast been an open opposer of the wayes and people of God thou hast been a and jâ—erer a scoffeâ— at goodness Ans Yet I am but a sinner though my opposings were never so great for which I ever desire to bee humbled and to lye low before God that I should be such a wretch yet can they made me but a sinner and the promises are made to such Object 14. But thou hast sinned presumptuously Ans Yet but a sinner still and the promises are made to sinners Indeed were I to come to God as the least of Saints I should not dare to come but however I can come to God as a sinner and though as the greatest yet but a sinner still Object 15. But thou hast been a great neglecter of good as well as a committer of evil Ans Yet but a sinner and promises are made to sinners Object 16. But thou art an Hypocrite Ans This Satan is worst of all if true yet however I am but a sinner for an hypocrite is but a sinner and the promises are made to such I will therefore come to the promise that now I may be sincere Thus by holding this principle thou shalt more easily speedily effectually anâ—wer Satan than any other way The Life of Faith 2 Cor. 5.7 For wee walk by Faith not by Sight THe Text although included in a Parenthesis yet hath it relation to the foregoing verse being a reason of the latter part thereof Knowing this c. As if the Apostle should say This is the reason why we beleeve that whilst we are here at home in the body wee are absent from the Lord because the present life that now wee live is a life of Faith Now this wee know and are sure of that were wee present with the Lord wee should live by sight see him as hee is in the beauty and perfection of his glory but this being wanted here we conclude That whilst we are at home in the body wee are absent from the Lord. The words are a brief description of a Christians life here and hereafter here by Faith hereafter by Sight WE WALK the terme of walking in this Text is of equal extent with that of living Rom. 1.17 The just shall live by faith Gal. 2.20 And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God I grant indeed in strict propriety of speech it is of larger extent because a man may live which doth not walk walking denotes not onely life but life in exercise but when these termes are applied to Faith as walking by faith living by faith they are of equal extent because the life of faith consists in exercise which is a mans walking by faith If a man do not walk by faith i.e. carry faith along with him throughout all that hee does or suffers doing and suffering by faith hee doth not live by faith for thus to do is properly to live by faith and take this away you take away the life of faith though a man may have the habit of faith in him yet doth hee not live by faith unless faith be active carrying him out either in doing or suffering for God which when it doth as he lives so likewise he walks by faith Doct. 1. The life of Faith is the proper life of Saints in this world 2 The proper life of Saints in the world to come is a life of Sight Of the first viz. Doctr. That the life of faith is the proper life of Saints in this world It was even in the times of the Old Testament Abraham lived by Faith See that notable place Rom. 4.17 to 22. who against hope beleeved in hope that hee might become the Father of many Nations vers 19. And being not weak in faith he considered not his own body now dead when hee was about an hundred years old neither yet the deadness of Sarahs womb vers 20. Hee staggered not at the promise of God through unbeleef but was strong in faith giving glory to God vers 21. And being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform Here the Holy Ghost makes a Divine Comment upon the famous story of Abrahams beleeving and sets forth that life of faith which was in that holy man who against hope when nothing was left for Abraham to build hope upon in a way of sense but all things were at that pass that they made against his hope and endeavoured to destroy it yet then Abraham beleeved God comes to Abraham when that he was now about a hundred years old and his Wife Sarah near as many and promiseth him a Son by his wife Sarah and that in his seed should all Nations be blessed well might Abraham now say God hath promised me a Son and that in my seed shall all Nations be blessed How shall this word ever be I am now a hundred years old my body is dead to the begetting of Children my wife Sarah near as many her wombe is dead to the conceiving of Children how shall this promise be brought about But saith the Text Abraham considered not these things here was the life of faith hee did not suffer his minde to run on these things hee did not ponder them in a way of reason and sense but against hope beleeved in hope kept up his hope in a way of pure beleeving when all things to sense seemed to destroy his hope and so was strong in faith giving glory to God Hebr. 11. the Apostle reckons up throughout the Chapter many of the Worthies of the Old Testament Abel Enoch Noah c. recording their good Works and attributing all to their faith by faith they did thus and thus Abel offered Enoch was translated c. the Old Testament mentions only the bare work in many of these the Spirit of God in the New looks further into the nature of them not only the matter done but the manner of doing it records they were Gospel work and done from faith though wrought in Old Testament times so that the Saints of the Old Testament did live by faith yea Habbakkuk Chap. 2.4 saith expresly that the life of Saints or justified persons it is a life of faith so that this was the proper life of Saints in Old Testament times Come to the New we shall see still it is if in the Old when the Covenant of Grace by which this life of faith is begotten cherished was more dark and lay wrapped
what those things are that a Christian expects by faith 2 How Faith acts the soul in this business of expectation 3 Why we must live by faith in this respect 4 What manner of waiting that is that comes in beleeving And so apply it First Those things that a Christian waits for and expects are many but a Christian doth by saith wait for something more especially that he doth expect and wait for in a special manner as 1 The fulfilling of Promises if the Lord hath made a promise to the soul or it the soul hath been made to wait upon a word of promise now he waits upon God beleevingly to see the accomplishment of this promise David had a word of promise from the Lord and waits upon the Lord for the accomplishment of it Psal 119.49 ver Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope hee had a word and grounds his hope upon it waits upon God for the fulfilling of it So we read of Simeon that just and holy man spoken of in the second of Luke vers 26. he had a word that he should not dye until he saw Jesus Christ in the Flesh and he waited for the consolation of Israel he had a word and waited for it at the 25. and 26. verses A word was given in to him and it was revealed to him by the Spirit that he should see Christ and hee waited for the accomplishment of it so a poor soul when it hath any promise given in by the Lord or is enabled to take hold on any promise and meets with a promise sutable to its condition a soul that lives by faith waits upon God for the fulfilling of this promise 2 Again another thing that a soul waits for is the return of his prayers Prayers are the great ventures of a Christian according as a soul speeds or not speeds in these so he is either rich or poor these being a Christians great ventures he is waiting for their return to see what comes home and who comes richly loaden or not this in Psalm 85.4 5. ver the Psalmist having been earnestly praying to God Turn us O God of our salvation wilt thou be angry with us for ever shew us thy mercy O Lord and grant us thy salvation the Psalmist having been praying hard he waits upon God for an answer at the eighth vers I will hear what God the Lord will speak he had been praying and looks up now for an answer I will attend now for an answer for he will speak peace to his people and to his Saints I am sure I shall have an answer of peace and I will hear I will stand waiting for an answer And so the Prophet Habbak 1.2 How long shall I cry and thou wilt not hear even cry out unto thee of violence and thou wilt not save art thou not from everlasting O Lord my God mine holy one c. all the chapter is prayer now in the beginning of the second Chap. Habakkuk stands upon the Watch Tower to see if any answer cometh at the first vers I will stand upon my watch and will watch to see what hee will say unto me hee had been praying and now hee would stand upon his watch tower The watch towers are places in Cities where some stand to discry an enemies coming so in the Kings Jehu's coming was discryed by a Watchman in 2 King 9.17 And there stood a Watch man on the tower of Jezerel and he spied the company of Jehu as he came so Habakkuk here hee had been at prayer and hee went up to his Watch-tower to discry the coming of an answer and waits for the return of his prayer A poor soul that is another thing he waits for for the returns of prayer such a soul says I have prayed and I will wait for it as a wise Merchant sends out a Venture takes care of it and hearkens out for it and when it comes home hee looks for his gains c. So a Christian when he trafficks for Heaven he does not let it go and never mindes it but inquires after it and looks for his gaine and returns and thus he does wait for the return of his prayer that is the second thing 3 Again another thing a soul waits for is the return of Gods countenance it is not always Sun-shine here below sometimes Clouds doth interpose to hinder the Sun beams and cause darkness and obscurity so it is not always Sun-shine with a poor soul sometimes Clouds get in between the countenance of God and a poor soul and hinders the comfort of a poor soul and sometimes when it is so and it is not as it hath been formerly the soul waits then for the return of his countenance Psal 130.5 6. I wait for the Lord my soul doth wait and in his word do I hope my soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning he waits and he waits and waits more for God than they that watch for the morning Where was he why hee was in the depths as in a dungeon and could not see the light of Gods countenance in a dark condition and there waits and O when shall I see God again and so likewise at another time when the countenance of God was hidden from him and much dejected in Psal 42.5 6 7. O my soul why art thou disquieted within me trust in God who is the help of thy countenance and thy God and he puts his soul in waiting upon God for I shall yet praise him and behold him who is the help of my countenance and my God 4 Again as for the return of Gods countenance so he waits likewâ—se for the Churches deliverance that is another thing when the Church is under any trial or affliction in captivity he waits for the deliverance of the Church thus in Habakkuk The just shall live by his faith when the people were in Babilonish Captivity they lived by saith for the return of their Captivity so Gods people are called Watchmen in Isaiah Isa 62.6 I have set Watchmen upon thy walls O Jerusalem What do they watch for for the deliverance of Zion they wait for the prosperity of Gods people and the deliverance of the Church of God 5 Another thing is The ruine of Gods enemies as they wait for the prosperity of the Church of God so for the ruine of Gods enemies Zeph. 3.8 Therefore wait yee upon me saith the Lord that I may assemble the Nations the Kingdomes to pour upon them my indignation anger jealousie God hath a design to gather together his enemies to their ruine and destruction Wait upon mee untill I gather them together and till they bee destroyed 6 Again one more The soul waits for the Lords second coming that 's a thing the soul may wait for Heb. 10.38 The just shall live by faith Now look in the former words and hee shall live by faith in the expectation of Christs second coming
through that offence that I received from such an one O my heart was hardned against the Word and all means of grace whilst I lived and I am now in Hell and I dye I dye for ever through that offence which my heart took up through the walking of such a one Q. But you will say what shall I doe how shall I walk that I may not fall and offend the world Ans 1. Be oft in blessing God that hath kept thee from such falls unto this day 2 Censure and judge thy self when thou seest another fall say Lord I might have fallen I have as justly deserved to bee left of thee to my self as ever any such a one is fallen but Lord why not I why was not I the man why was not I the woman how comes it that I stand what hath kept me all this while 3 Deal gently and tenderly with thy Brothers wound doe not cruelly and mercilesly rake in it lest God make a wound in thy sides in thy conversation for others to rake in Gal. 6.1 4 Hearken to the voyce of offended conscience an enlightned man ever first offends himself If thy right hand offend thee cut it off Conscience is first offended and if men did but hearken to the voyce of conscience when that is offended and labour to nip the offending monster in the head it would never grow to that height as to be seen of others and to offend them 5 Walk with fear and trembling be not high minded but fear is a needful word in this case he that creeps on the ground gets no falls but he that will soar in the air let him look to himself You know what the Wise man saith A haughty minde goes before a fall when Peter had ceast fear and had most pride and carnal confidence then was his fall 6 Act faith much in the promises of perseverance as I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jerem 32.40 and renew the actings of faith in such promises so oft as thou seest others fall 7 Nourish no Dalilah in thy bosome Sampson played with his Dalilah in private a while but at last his Dalilah brought him upon the open stage So 8 Do not while thou bearest thy self upon the grace of God allow thy self in the practise of any known evil God will bear with much in his Children rather than he will shame them before the world but hee will never bear with that that I should make his Grace the Patron of my Sin because he is free and will pardon me and never damn me therefore I should bee more ventrous to wound Christ grieve his Spirit dishonour his Name shame his ways and people than otherwise I durst be 9 And lastly Play not upon the borders of any sin The fly that plaies about the Candle is at last burnt in it the Childe that wil be ever playing upon the pit side at last drops into it It is a dangerous thing and that man or woman is not far from some shameful fall whose heart is come to that that they will goe as near to sin as they can The wise man knows the further he keeps out of the Lions reach the safer he is and none but children and fools will play with his paws Obj. But put case I have fallen and offended the world what shall I doe Is there now no hopes for me no remedy for such a disease Ans Yes all things are possible to him that beleeveth though this sin be a mountain faith will remove it But wouldest thou know what to doe First Humble thy self before God for this thy sin labour to clear thy self before him that so though wicked men in Hell should accuse thee hereafter yet God may have cleared thee before they accuse thee Secondly Labour to make the fence strongest where the gap has been broken if pride has cast thee down begge above all things humility if earthly-mindedness above all things heavenli-mindedness if extravagancy in words above all things keep a watch Thirdly Pray to God that others may bee kept Thou hast been lavish of Gods honour and it is now too late to remedy that labour now to fetch God in honour by endeavouring to prevent others from the like Fourthly Take all well and thankfully whatever shame or loss God casts upon thee for it Fifthly Let thy words as well as thy deeds be a warning to others Sixthly Labour now by all ways to doe all the good thou canst to poor sinners thou hast done them a mischief it is too late to help that only thou art to mourn for it and leave the issue with God labour to make it up by doing others good Matth. 11.6 And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me THe words naturally hold forth these two things to us 1 That there is an aptness and proneness even in good men to be offended 2 That it is a blessed thing for a man or woman to get over this evil Either of these will afford us many necessary Questions but I shall not strictly tye up my self to either but I have fixed upon this Scripture to speak somewhat to the subject of Offences more in general as it is a case of Conscience OFFENCE is two-fold either offence given or offence taken Offence given is when by somewhat trans-acted done or spoken an occasion of stumbling and being offended is laid before others An offence taken is when at the occasion of the offence the other is offended Of either of these there is an offence good and bad 1 There is a GOOD offence given and a BAD offence given 1 A GOOD offence given is that offence which hath no evil in it in respect of the Giver though yet it proves an offence to some and this is 1 When by instructing of the weak in things necessary to be known I doe offend the superstitious Thus Christ offended the Pharisees Matth. 15.10 11 12. Hear and understand not that which goeth into the mouth defileth the man but that which cometh out of the mouth this defileth a man Then came his Disciples and said unto him knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended after they heard this saying 2 When by maintaining of my Christian liberty against those who would infringe it I doe offend the obstinate Thus Paul Gal. 2. the beginning 3 When by the light of Christian Doctrine and conversation I doe offend the world by discovering and destroying their deeds of darkness thus the Apostles when they went forth with the Gospel did in all places offend 4 VVhen by following of God in somewhat which I am really convinced is my duty yet dark to another I do offend that other Thus Peter by going unto Cornelius's house 2 A BAD offence given is when an offence hath evil in it in respect of the Giver which is 1 VVhen by compliance with some that are Superstitious I do endanger the faith of such who are free from superstition
at rest now I am well now I am sure for Heaven settled shall never fall this is without the vail For the Sanctuary or holy place which was a type of the visible Church that was not the Holy of Holies that was without the vail So if thy hope for Heaven Brethren and Sisters here of the Church look where your hope is pitcht if it bee grounded upon this that I hope God will save mee because I am in the Church O I tell thee that thou mayest bee and yet perish for ever thou mayest have thy hope grounded upon this that thou art a Church-member and yet no hope at all within the vail but upon a sandy foundation and when a storm comes thou wilt suffer shipwrack if a Church suffer not shipwrack for thee If this bee the ground of thy hope O go home labour to pull up Anchor and cast thy Anchor upon that within the vail This is not enough to bee in a Church-society as those of old might come into the place of worship and yet never come within the vail so mayest thou the Lord help us that wee may look to this that our Anchor of hope bee pitched within the vail bee grounded upon something there else it will not hold it is not to walk in the Heathenish way of Morality nor Profession nor holy place within the Sanctuary it must bee within the vail If thou art a moral man not so bad as others art thou one that hath made a profession of Christ and done something answerable or art come into a visible Church art a Church-member for the Lords sake go home pluck up Anchor pluck up such hopes by the roots as you love your souls as you love your eternal souls Pull up Anchor or thou art undone for ever thou wilt surely suffer shipwrack my life for thine if thou goest on if thou Anchor here if thou pitch not within the vail thou wilt suffer shipwrack one day thou wilt not hold when the storm comes but if thou hast cast Anchor upon Jesus Christ the Great Sacrifice upon the blood of Jesus the righteousness of Jesus if thy hope bee grounded upon the Intercession of Jesus the Covenant of Grace the Promises of God this is that foundation of hope within the vail that will hold Therefore go home labour to pluck up your salfe hopes and say Lord Lord Pitch Pitch my Anchor of hope upon the blood of Jesus upon the Covenant of Grace upon the Righteousnesse of Christ J have all along hoped for Heaven upon something without the vail Lord Lord Come now now Pitch my Anchor upon this within the vail the Blood of Christ the Righteousness of Christ the Intercession of Christ the Covenant of Grace the Promises of God such things as these ground thy hope for Heaven If thou ground upon any other thou wilt perish for ever And O how many are there that if I should aske What is your hope built upon O saith one I hope God will save mee I am not so bad as such and such I doe not live in such sinnes I pray sometimes doe some good Duties I hope God will save mee I am a Church-member Are your hopes grounded pitched upon such things as these O you will perish if your hopes continue here if they bee not pitched within the vail there is the onely place where a Christians hope is to Anchor Nay I am not to pitch my hope upon my Graces or Qualifications though they are good and things desireable to have as much grace as may bee yet I must not pitch my hope upon this that I finde an humble heart a heart full of love to God a broken heart I must not Anchor my hope upon this because these are short of the vaile I doe not say this is such a foundation as the other That a soule that pitches upon shall split his soule for ever though God may save him yet hee shall bee split in respect of his peace comfort assurance day after day If you ground your hope upon this That you have an humble broken heart It may bee to day thou findest an humble heart but to morrow a proud heart Where is thy hope now Thy comfort is split if thou groundest thy hope upon this that thou hast a broken heart to weep in this duty and the other but thou findest a heart like a stone in another where is thy comfort now If thou groundest it upon thy love to thy brother it may bee to day thou lovest him to morrow thou art full of wrath though thy hope shall not perish for ever though the foundation bee from God though within us from the Spirit of God yet all the comfort thou takest from this will bee split thou wilt bee undone in thy comfort for a time therefore the onely ground for our hope must be within the vail Let this then stir up every one to pitch their Anchor within the vail Art thou such a one as hath thy Anchor yet to cast That is one that hath no hope not from any thing at all or one that hath some hope it may bee from Profession Civility or Church-membership O labour now to pitch thy hope upon something within the vail I will onely shew you a few things by way of motive from the consideration of that glorious place within the vail it would incourage any one to cast their Anchor of hope there there are so many gloious things to bee injoyed there First Consider within the vail that is in heaven there is the blessed presence of God to bee seen for ever There is the Beatifical vision beholding of God for ever and ever it is within the vail there is the beholding God as a reconciled God for ever and ever there they shall see God face to face behold all the glory of God not a little bâ—t fully and perfectly Secondly Within the vail there is full participation of God A poor soul that casts his hope within the vail there hee shall come to partake of God of the love of God there hee shall not have it by drops as now but it shall come streaming forth wee are here to pray that wee may bee filled with all the fulness of God there wee shall have the answer of this prayer in being filled with all the fulness of God Thirdly There is the society of all the blessed Saints and Angels There is society and injoyment of all the Saints and Angels all the Saints of God they shall see them within the vail and what a blessed thing is it to have society with all the blessed glorified Saints and all the blessed Angels together There are all the Saints wee knew here all that are Saints wee shall injoy them all together there there wee shall come to the General Assembly of the spirits of just men made perfect Fourthly There are many glorious Priviledges Freedomes and Immunities there that are not to bee injoyed any where else 1 There is freedome from
sin not onely freedome from the power and dominion of sin O but there is freedome from the appearance of sin thou shalt bee rid of all thy corruptions when thou goest within the vail shalt shake them all off there is not one sin nor corruption can bee carried with thee thither the poor soul that hath been buffeted and beaten under his corruption and cryed out I shall perish one day when thou comest within the vail there shall bee freedome from all these every one left behinde and thou shalt go a pure spotless soul without any sinne sticking to thee O who would not go to such a place cast their Anchor there 2 Within the vail there is freedome from all stings and torments of conscience There shall bee peace blessed peace for ever and ever and nothing but peace shall the poor soul injoy Conscience within the vail is altogether a friend sometimes here conscience appeares as an enemy but there conscience shall bee a continual friend everlastingly speake for thee beare witnesse for thee for ever O how is a soule tormented with stings of conscience many times Take a poore carnal creature how is hee tormented with stings of conscience O! but if such a poore soule could pitch his Anchor within the vaile hee should finde a great deale of the sting taken off here for the present and wholly at that day when hee comes within the vaile There is nothing but peace peace there 3 There is freedome from all Accusations and Temptations of Satan when within the vaile the Devill shall never accuse more hee cannot come there never tempt more Now what violent Temptations are wee under One while tempted to one sinne another while to another but then wee shall bee free from all never tempted to distrust the Grace of God more never tempted to unbeleefe more never tempted to murmure against God more never tempted to bee proud more Temptations cease within the vaile Thou shalt leave all that is evill on this side the vaile never shall a poore soule meet with a Temptation there 4 Within the vaile is freedome from all persecution and scoffes and reproaches There shall bee no cruell Cain to kill his brother no persecuting Ishmael no reproach of Saints there but altogether blessing within the vail 5 Within the vaile shall bee freedome from all afflictions and sorrowes that lye upon thee here Here are Afflictions Trials and Sorrowes while wee are here on this side the Vaile but when a poore soule commeth within the Vaile there shall bee no more Sorrow nor Crying nor Weeping nor any more paine If that bee true in the New Jerusalem much more true within the Vaile no more affliction trouble nor griefe of heart all these things shall bee left on this sidethe Vaile 6 There shall bee freedome from all Infirmities of Soule or Body of Nature or Grace There are many Imperfections of Nature wee have here and many Imperfections of Grace O! but when wee come within the Vaile there shall bee no Imperfection of Nature nor of Grace but all perfect no Imperfection in the Soule nor in the body the body shall bee like the glorious body of Jesus Christ Phil. 3. last and then the soul shall bee perfect as Heb. 12.23 To the spirits of the just men made perfect O then soul and body shall bee treed from all imperfection And is not this a blessed place to cast Anchor in where are such blessed things to bee injoyed Seventhly There shall be feedome from all subjection and superiority There shall bee no subjection arising from any relation as here the wife not subject to the Husband servant to Master children to Parents inferiours to Superiours all shall bee equall within the vail Eighthly Then within the vail there shall bee freedome from death it self then death shall bee swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15.54 There shall bee no more death there A wicked mans death is an eternal death because hee is without the vail therefore an eternal death but a Saints death who pitches his Anchor of hope within the vail that is an entrance into everlasting life as soon as his death hath put him within the vail then death is swallowed up there shall be no more death death doth but put him within the vail into eternal life What glorious freedomes are within the Vail 5 Again within the vail there is a glorious inheritance to bee injoyed a Kingdome is prepared for all those that enter there those that cast Anchor there before hand have a Kingdome there ready for them against they come there and that is called the Inheritance of the Saints in light a glorious Inheritance therefore our hope is called an Anchor because the exercise of the grace of hope is chiefly about our Inheritance Faith is about the Promise our hope is about the Inheritance and it is pitched upon the Inheritance before hand If you cast Anchor within the vail you cast Anchor upon a Kingdome a glorious Inheritance which when thou comest there shall bee thine a blessed glorious Inheritance a Crown of glory Henceforth is laid up for mee a Crown of glory saith Paul O who would not cast Anchor there that shall Anchor upon a Kingdome Who would cast Anchor without the vail and bee contented one minute when by casting Anchor within the vail hee shall have a glorious Inheritance made his for ever 6 Within the vail there is immediate feeding and teaching Within the Mosaical vail in Heb. 9.4 there was the golden Pot that had Manna the Pot of Manna was to shew that immediate feeding whereby the people Israel were immediately fed from God in the wilderness This argues when we come within the vail there shall bee immediate feeding from God and hee in the midst of the Throne shall feed them then they shall never have a hungry soul for God more the soul shall have its fill from Jesus Christ there is immediate feeding and it was precious feeding that Manna was sweet as honey so shall the feeding within the vail bee sweet precious feeding 7 Within the vail there is extraordinary growth It is the complaint of a Christian here O I grow but a little I finde little or no growth O poor soul dost thou grow but a little cast Anchor within the Vail and thou shalt finde extraordinary growth within the Vail There was Aarons Rod that budded in one night it budded brought forth Almonds and all in a night here was extraordinary growth this Rod was within the Vail When souls come within the Vail they shall not grow by little and little and sometimes grow as they think backward but extraordinary growth 8 Within the Vaile is Stability Within the Vail is the Covenant Now the Covenant is that upon which our strength is founded for by Grace yee stand by the Covenant of Grace you stand now the Covenant upon which our standing is founded is within the Vail you can never fall from that condition who would