Soul of Jesus Christ being separated from the Body did go and Preach to some of the Fathers of the Old Testament that were not as they say yet admitted into Heaven but were reserved in some out-rooms of Hell where they felt no pain but did not yet see the Glorious Face of God nor enjoy his Blessed Presence But this cannot be the true genuine sense of the words For 1. If Spirit signifies here the Soul of Christ and quickned imports his Resurrection then Jesus Christ must Preach to these Spirits not while his Body was dead but after his Resurrection which the Papists themselves will not own or admit 2. Spirit in the 18th Verse signifies Christ's Divine Nature and it was not in this or by this that he preached to the Spirits of the Old Testament after their Souls were separated from their Bodies 3. Those that Christ preached to lived and were disobedient in the days of Noah it is not said they did Repent of or break off from their sins but were hardned in their Unbelief and dyed in their Iniquities they went down uncircumcised in Heart into the Pit and so Eternal Death was their Wages and Hell was their own Place Now even Papists dare not say that Christ preached to the Damned their state is remediless the Sentence irrevocable their Loss irrecoverable there is no Year of Jubilee no Goal-delivery for imprisoned Spirits confined to and shut up in Hell Jesus Christ would not Preach to those that God had cast off for ever and doomed to Eternal Misery for their continued and obstinate Disobedience they whose Nature was not changed on Earth their Condition could not be altered in Hell 4. If the Soul of Christ had preached to Souls in the Prison of Hell what Reason can be assigned why he should Preach rather to those that were disobedient in the days of Noah than to those that were disobedient in the days of Abraham Moses or in the after-times of the Prophets This one Argument may shame this Notion and confute this ungrounded Exposition of the words that the Soul of Christ went down to Hell to Preach to Spirits there Before I come to the main Doctrines that the words afford I shall observe several other great Truths that the words do offer to us 1. That the Scripture is a most Excellent and Divine Book in that it gives us such a true Account and such sure Notions about a future and eternal state after Death As it tells us what is the Condition of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the Holy Prophets that they are in the Palaces and Kingdom of God Luke 13.28 so it informs us what is become of the Sinners of the Old World that these are cast into the Prison of God He that appoints Portion in the Paradice above and assigns places in the Prison below and adjudges to each of these by an irrevocable Sentence can best tell what is become of Saints and Sinners now they are departed out of the World 2. This Evidences the Immortality of the Soul that the Spirits of wicked Men are said to subsist after Death and to abide in God's Prison though their Garments of Flesh were pluckt off their Houses of Clay thrown down to the Dust yet their Souls did not expire or sleep as a Man can live though his Garments are put off or his House be demolished or drop down So the Soul hath no such necessary dependance on the Body but can exist though this Garment be put off this House be pulled down This Candle will burn though taken out of the Lanthorn of the Flesh Death doth not blow out only it removes this Light into another World 3. We may observe the Mercy and Goodness of God that though he had threatned a Flood and adjudged all the World besides eight Persons to be drowned by it yet the Son of God Preaches to this degenerate and wicked World before he destroys them though God designed Severity against their Bodies yet he offers Mercy to their Souls that though they could not avoid the first yet that they might decline the second Death and though their baser part were cast away yet that their Souls might swim to and Land safely on the Shoars of a blessed Eternity and God's means do not use to be totally ineffectual and in vain The Word is seldom if ever preached but that some are to be drawn out of the dead Sea and called out of their Graves by it Peter seems to tell us that the Word was not wholly lost on the Old World but that some received saving Benefit by it 1 Pet. 4.6 For this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that were dead that they might be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the spirit This may be Vid. Piscal in locum and is expounded to relate to and point at the state of the Old World the Gospel was preached to them that though they were judged were drowned and perished in the Eye of Men as to their Flesh yet they might live to and with God in their Spirits Though God proclaimed War against their Bodies yet he tendred Peace to their Souls 4. We may further Observe that even those that the Son of God Preaches to may stop their Ears close their Eyes harden their Hearts and for their Unbelief and Impenitency may be cast into God's Prison and perish everlastingly The Gospel is to some the savour of death unto death 2 Cor. 2.16 They did shut Christ out of their Souls and for this are shut up under the wrath of God and are the Subjects of Eternal Vengeance 5. We may Observe what a hainous Evil Sin is and what a terrible Adversary God is He did not only sweep away the sinners of the World and drown their Bodies in a Flood of Waters but he imprisoned and punished their Souls God drowned their Spirits in Destruction and Perdition 1 Tim. 6.9 Sin is committed against an Infinite Majesty and cannot be sufficiently punished or satisfied for in a Finite Time by a Finite Creature It is an Axiom in the Civil Law Accusatio rei morte finitat An Accusation is finished by the death of the guilty Person all Process and Proceedings then cease against the Delinquent But it is otherwise here God's Accusation is not let fall his Actions are not withdrawn his Controversie doth not cease when sinners dye he pursues and overtakes them in another World there he meets them as one bereaved of his Authority Honour and Glory by them he resents the wrongs done to him he pours out the full Vials of his Wrath on them and fights against them for ever They are that they may be Miserables a bare Stock of Being is continued that God may graft Misery and Eternal Torments on it The words afford us two Doctrines First That the Son of God did Preach before he was Incarnate and doth as truly Preach by Instruments as he doth immediately in his
of Gold and Silver And should not we more greedily and earnestly catch at the Doctrine of Reconciliation and the Promise of Eternal Life 5. We should yield submit to and obey Christ's Word The Scripture speaks of receiving Christ's Testimony John 3.33 34. and of receiving Christ John 1.12 If we receive the Doctrine of Christ we shall receive Christ himself on the other hand we reject Jesus Christ if we receive not his Word John 12.48 The Natural Man receiveth not entertaineth not the things of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though Men do exercise Hospitality and take in Natural and Moral Truth yet how is the door of the Heart shut against those supernatural Doctrines and Mysteries that the Spirit revealeth There is no room no Lodging or Entertainment for these wonderful and Divine Truths But we must comply with and yield Obedience to these things that the Spirit makes known We must believe them that they may work effectually in us 1 Thess 2.13 The Word of the Gospel must be a Mold to shape and fashion our Souls Rom. 6.17 You have obeyed from the heart that mold of Doctrine into which ye were delivered for so it is in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Gospel of Christ is elegantly compared to a Mold into which the Hearts of Men as melted running Metal are delivered that they may be fashioned aright and conformed to the Word that they may be Holy Spiritual and Heavenly as the Word is The Gospel must leven all the Powers and Faculties of your Souls Mat. 13.33 and so give them a new taste and relish as a Graft doth meliorate improve the Sap of the Stock and makes it to bring forth better Fruit than ever it could otherwise do so the Gospel heightens ennobles and advances all the Faculties of the Soul to better and more excellent Operations than otherwise they would rise to or bring forth We must steadily look into this Spiritual Glass and behold the Glory of Christ in it 2 Cor. 3. last So by beholding the Glory of the Lord we shall be changed and transformed into the same Image Yield therefore to Christ and his Word let Christ erect his Tribunal in your Souls suffer him to Judge your State Condemn your Sins to pass Sentence on your Lusts that when he hath wounded he may heal you when he hath cast you down he may raise you up Isa 2.4 It it said of Christ That he shall Judge among the Nations and Rebuke many People Christ executes a Judicature by his Word to this you are to stand by this you are to be sentenced to Life or Death O therefore when you come to hear do not carp cavil and judge the Word because it thwarts your Foolish Notions or crosseth your vise Affections but yield and submit to Christ Judging and Commanding of you by his Word I shall now proceed to give and press some Motives to urge you to listen to comply with and obey the Son of God that Preaches to you 1. It is Wisdom that Preaches to you Prov. 1.20 21 22. The Son of God is the Wisdom of God and Wisdom is now come forth into our Nature and cries without in our Streets Doth not Wisdom deserve to be styled A wonderful Counsellor Isa 9.6 who is so fit to advise us how to fly from the Wrath to come to escape the Corruption that is in the World through Lust Who is so meet to Teach and Direct us how we may come out of Debt and get out of Prison as Infinite Wisdom Who can so well Instruct us how our Consciences may be purged the fore-skin of our Hearts cut off our Diseases healed our Guilt and Filth purged away as the Wisdom of God Shall we exalt our vain Minds and our foolish Understandings in Opposition to the Counsels and Dictates of Wisdom We are entangled in a Wilderness of Woe we are in a Labyrinth of Iniquity and Guilt and Wisdom only can teach us the right way to get out and lead us to the Glorious City of God above We knew not how God should be Just and yet justifie the Ungodly how his Righteousness should be glorified in Punishing and yet his Mercy magnified in Pardoning how Sin should meet with a Hell of Punishments and yet Sinners enjoy a Heaven of Blessedness Yet the Son of God that is Wisdom doth reconcile these things and make them to consist with each other 2. The Son that Preacheth is Love it self Cant. 3.5 The Church chargeth the Daughters of Jerusalem not to stir up nor awake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Love Christ is called by way of Excellency that Love that admirable that transcendent Love O will you not listen to him that is Love it self If he had not been Love it self he could never have stooped so low have drank so bitter a Cup have endured so heavy a Burden have exposed himself to so dreadful a Storm He that was Rich became Poor 2 Cor. 8.9 He that was the Holy One of God and without spot and blemish was made Sin he that was God over all blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 Was made a Curse John 3.14 And in order to all this he that made all things was made Flesh John 1.1 2.14 He shewed himself to be Love that as a Head he would choose and take a Body below and as a Bridegroom be related to a Spouse on Earth O how wonderful is this that Nobility should wooe Vileness and Baseness That Riches should court Poverty And Beauty be enamoured with Deformity O! is it not wonderful Love that the Heir of all things should make Addresses to those that had nothing yea were indeed worse than nothing For nothing cannot go Astray cannot run a Whoring cannot Rebel and Provoke yet sinful Men and Women are guilty of all these If the Son of God were not Love would he have dyed to open a Fountain to wash us Zech. 13.1 to provide a Remedy to heal us Isa 53.5 By his stripes are we healed If he had nor been Love would he have been a Sacrifice 1 Cor. 5.7 8. that we might have a Feast on his Altar Heb. 13.10 If Jesus Christ were not Love would he cast his Net to draw us out of a dead Sea * Ezek. 47.10 Would he speak to raise us out of a Spiritual Grave * John 5.25 Would he call us out of a dark and doleful Prison Isa 49.9 If he were not Love would he Preach to raise Sinners out of their Ruins and to build them up as a House and Temple for God 1 Pet. 2 4 5. Would he enclose and take us within the Walls of the Spiritual Jerusalem Jer. 31.38 39 40. Jerâ—miah Prophesies of a Jerusalem that should be built to the Lord that is for him to dwell in the Name of this City is Jebovah Shammah Ezek. 48. last It is an Honourable and Glorious Name that Jehovah is there that his special Presence is to be found
THE Preaching of Christ AND THE Prison of God As the Certain Portion of them that reject Christ's Word Opened in Several SERMONS On 1 Peter III. 19. By SAMUEL TOMLYNS M.A. And Minister of the Gospel of Christ in Marleborough LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel 1694. TO My Honoured Friends Robert Grove of Dunnet in the County of Wilts Esq And to his Worthy Consort Madam Tryphena Grove Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplyed from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ THE True God is styled The Excellency of Jacob Amos 8.7 The Glory and Praise of his People Isa 60.19 Deut. 10.21 Though Pharaoh King of Egypt boasted thus I am the Son of the Wise the Son of Ancient Kings Isaiah 19.11 Yet David Glories in this Lord I am thy Servant I am thy Servant the Son of thy Handmaid Psal 116.16 This is your Honour That you are descended of Parents that owned Christ's Gospel espoused his Interest and countenanced God's pure Worship in Dark Difficult and Dangerous Times I Rejoyce that you tread in their steps and endeavour to promote God's Kingdom in your Family and among your Neighbours As this hath been the Glory of your Predecessors so I desire it may descend to and be inherited by your Children that the Entail of God's Covenant may never be cut off from your Posterity The World counts it Honourable when Estates continue and Lands descend from one Generation to another But this is most valuable when Piety and God's pure Worship descends from Father to Son It is said Deut. 33.4 Moses commanded us a Law even the Inheritance of the Congregation of Jacob. As God hath commanded and Commended his Law as an Inheritance to the whole Church so every Particular Member of it should by his Choice accept the Word of God as his Inheritance as the Psalmist saith he did Psal 119.111 Thy Testimonies have I taken as my Heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my Heart Children will be sure to claim their Father's Lands but it is much more desirable to claim their Father's God as Moses did Exod. 15.2 He is my Father's God and I will exalt him How Excellent is it when they Inherit their Parents Graces Vnfeigned Faith dwelt in his Grandmother Lois then in his Mother Eunice and then in Timothy himself This is to be an Ancient Family and truly Noble As in the Temple of Old there were Treasurers over the Dedicated Things 1 Chron. 20.26 So in the Spiritual Temple the Church of Christ God hath constituted Christian Parents as the Treasurers over the Dedicated Things Children of Believers are Dedicated to God in Baptism and Parents should Carefully and Faithfully watch over these Holy Dedicated Things that they may not be alienated from God by cold Neutrality or open Profaneness and Degeneracy The ensuing Discourse Treats on two Noble Subjects The Preaching of the Son of God and The Prison of God which will be the certain Portion and Punishment of those that reject the Word of the Son of God I am sensible of manifold Weaknesses Defects and Imperfections in my self that might deter me from exposing my self to the Censures of a Cavilling Contentious Age but because my Life declines apace my Days do post away my Sun will quickly set I am willing to publish something that may contribute to the Informing the Ignorant and awaken the Secure Christ's Preaching may be a Load-stone to draw perishing Sinners to him and the Prison of God may Alarm and Rouze up drousie Souls and be a Spur to Quicken them to fly for Refuge to lay hold of the Hope set before them I bow my Knee to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Lights and the God of all Grace that he would Grant unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation and thereby Seal Instruction to your Souls that being built upon your most Holy Faith you may grow up into Christ in all things and at last obtain an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified by Faith in Christ These are the unfeigned Desires of Your Affectionate and Humble Servant Samuel Tomlyns Milcot May 11. 1694. 1 Pet. III. 19. By which also he went and Preached to the Spirits in Prison IN these words we may observe 1. A Subject He. The Person spoken of is called Christ in the 18th Verse Though he was put to death in the Flesh yet he was quickned by the Spirit He tasted Death for a little time but soon abolished and swallowed it up for ever His Humane Nature rendred him obnoxious to Death but his Divine Nature made him Victorious over it 2. We have something affirmed and asserted of this Subject viz. That he went by it that is by his Divine Nature and preached Though the Son of God had not yet assumed a Humane Nature yet he did exist in his Divine Nature though he came to Men in time yet he was with the Father from Eternity and so was in a capacity to Preach before he was manifested in the Flesh As a Candle can shine and give Light before it is put into a Lanthorn and the Light created the first day did Illuminate the World before the Sun was created the fourth day So the Divine Nature of Christ did enlighten the World before he rose and appeared as a Sun of Righteousness shining in and through a Body of Flesh while the fourth Thousand of Years was yet currant And this Expression is observable that by his Divine Nature he went and preached Where the Son of God preaches thither he comes and there he is Spiritually present where the Gospel is dispensed there is a special Presence of the Son of God In Ephes 2.17 it is said He came and preached Peace to those that were far off and to them that are nigh So the Housholder is said to go forth to the elder Brother and entreat him to come in to the Feast Luke 15.28 Where the Word is preached the Father and the Son do come forth and draw near to Men and treat with them about their Spiritual and Eternal Good 3. We may observe to whom the Son of God preached Peter tells us it was to the Spirits in Prison but yet he preached to them before they were cast into Prison while they were yet seated in Bodies cloathed with Flesh and were dwelling in the World it is such that are meet to be preached to that are yet in the way in a state of Tryal and Candidates for Eternity When once the Final Sentence is passed and the eternal state of Sinners fixed it is too late to set on foot a Treaty of Peace with them or to make offers of Mercy to them Those that were Prisoners in the days of Peter were living and at Liberty in the days of Noah The * Vid. Rhemish Test and the Notes on it Papists would impose and obtrude this sense on Peter's words as if the