by faith and apprehends and applies this to it self 3 It not only leads to Christ but into Christ The Soul when once brought out of all self-confidence will rest and center in Christ when it has wandred about like the silly Dove and can find no safe rest she returns to the Ark Christ Jesus and seeks admittance into him for the Soul is not content only to behold Christ but also desires to enjoy him not only to come unto him but to get into him thus it was with the Apostle Paul Phil. 3.9 He would be found 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in him though stript naked of all his righteousness yet be found in him alone in him in life in him at death for ‖ Rev. 14.13 blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. Faith is the uniting and implanting grace whereby the Soul is ingrafted into Christ and so becomes a living branch of that living Vine the Lord Jesus Joh. 15.5 I am the Vine ye are the branches This is the import of the expression believe ‖ Joh. 3.36 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into Christ thus we see that by coming to Christ is meant believing in him So much for the invitation Come 2dly I come now to the second particular and that is to shew who this person is that invites weary laden sinners to come to and believe in him for I know the sinner may be ready to say who is he he makes a fair invitation but can he give rest can he make good his promise I answer yea he can to the uttermost make good his promise for he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-man 1 Tim. 3.16 God manifest in the flesh Rom. 9.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God blessed to eternity he is not a created Angel as Ebion saith neither is he one Person with the Father as Sabellius attested neither is he one that God only dwelt in as Nicholaus said but know this for thy consolation thou heavy laden and labouring Soul that he is the true God and eternal life Joel 5.20 He is the a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 same divine Essence with the Father and not like unto it Joh. 10.30 I and my Father are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Essence 1 Joh. 15.7 these three are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one speaking of the Trinity of Persons in the Unity of Essence the Lord Jesus and his Father are not b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dissimiles essentiâ unlike in Essence neither are they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of diverse Essences for God is indivisible as to his simple and eternal essence neither are they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sicut homines like men a eadem essentiâ sed non innumero the same in essence but not in number for they are coessential and consubstantial having one and the same Essence Basil contra Eunomium calleth the Lord Jesus b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 goodness itself life it self and righteousness it self in the very abstract and how can he be otherwise when there dwells in him the fulness of the Godhead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bodily Coll. 2.9 The Father and the Son Christ Jesus are at c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 once and together in nature as the Sun and light the one hath the priority in order but not in nature so God the Father and God the Son both persons were from eternity the Father in order first but not in nature But let us go to the d melius est petere fontes quà m sectari rivulos fountain scil the holy Writ to the Law and to the Testimony Is 8.20 for if our speech and proofs be not according to that there will be no light in us Therefore we will see whether or no from thence we may more perspicuously and evidently understand this divine truth for the Scripture doth best discover this great verity scil that Christ is God-man in two distinct natures and one person therefore seeing the right understanding of this is the ground of our encouragement to come unto him and to forsake all others and relye upon him alone for ease and rest I shall endeavour to prove that the Person that invites sinners to come unto him is the true and living God therefore those that come unto him shall not fail of rest 1. Argument shall be taken from what the Scripture saith of his divine Original he is called John 1.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The only begotten of the Father Heb. 1.6 the first begotten 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to that Joh. 1.1 In the begining was the Word and the Word was with God and the word was God The divine Apostle being guided by an infallible Spirit did foresee that this truth would meet with Opposers therefore he is positive in his assertion that he who was the eternal Word is God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and if all Socinians deny this evident Scripture or put false interpretations upon it and call for humane arguments and reasons we are not to believe them for here is that in the word of God which doth far transcend all Philosophical notions and Scholastick distinctions which do rather darken than illustrate this truth for the Spirit of God was the dictator of it and he wants not wisdom to apprehend nor sutable words to express aright this fundamental point in Divinity I shall not make it my business in this Discourse to enter upon Controversy but labour to confirm this weighty point In 1 Joh. 5.20 Christ Jesus is called the Son of God in one part of the verse and in the other part he is called the true God and eternal life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What ever the Socinians say of this text is invalid for it is evident to any truly enlightned mind that the main scope of the words is to prove the Divinity of the Son of God this were sufficient grounds for faith if there were no other Scriptures to prove the Deity of Christ when Christ asserted that he was one with the Father Joh. 10.30 the unbelieving Jews did rightly apprehend the words but could not understand or conceive the thing for they said that he by this expression who was but a meer man as they thought made himself God vers 33. therefore they term it blasphemy which yet Christ never sought to deny or vindicate himself from so enormous a crime if it had been blasphemy but goes on to confirm it Joh. 10.36 37 38. he owns that he said he was the Son of God which must necessarily be understood that it was by eternal generation therefore one with the Father in essence But I shall wave all prolixity and contract in as narrow compass as I may not being prejudicial to the truth moreover knowing that it is more learnedly and copiously handled by many worthy Divines My work shall be only to touch upon particulars to prove this point and to confirm
is nothing but perpetual Commotions and distractions but when this Legion is ejected and cast out and the Soul hath bathed it self in the tears of Repentance and is made pure by the Blood of the Lord Jesus O then what inward sedateness and tranquility is there Sin whilst a Man remains in an impenitent State and condition like a Mad-man rageth in the Soul but when Christ brings the Soul to himself by the weeping-cross of Repentance he then saith to it as he did to the Sea Peace be still or as he did to his Disciples Jo. 14.1 Let not your Hearts be troubled and Vers 27. My peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you let not your Hearts be troubled The Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of peace Rom. 10.15 and Eph. 6.15 Because it proclaimeth Peace and speaks peace from God and Christ unto poor wounded and distressed Consciences the Blood of Christ is the only sanctifying Medicine which the Gospel holds forth to cure wounded consciences Thus I have finished the first particular I come now to the second particular grace by which a person may know that he is come to Christ and it is this the Spirit hath wrought the grace of Faith in the Soul for it is by Faith the Soul apprehends and lays hold upon the Lord Jesus Although there are four kinds of Faith yet there is but one true Evangelick and saving Faith and my business must be to acquaint you how you may discern this from the others which will never end in salvation and I shall do it with as much brevity as may be for the discussing so great a question as this is how may I know that I have saving Faith I answer it may be known these four ways 1. By the Author or Efficient 2. By the Objects 3. By the Nature of it and 4. By the effects 1. By the Author and he is the Spirit of God for no Man can work Faith in his own Heart or can believe by his own Power it is a supernatural and Divine work Faith is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 It is the work of the Spirit of God Gal. 5.22 The Fruit of the Spirit are Love Peace Joy Goodness Faith If the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father hath not been at work upon thy Soul never conceit thy self to have any Grace we find this work once attributed to Christ Heb. 12.2 Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith but this must be understood Agit filius per spiritum sanctum Ursin * that Christ doth it by his holy Spirit and the Spirit works powerfully and with the irresistable efficacy he makes the Soul believe those things now which all Men or Angels could never have done if they had Preached Millions of years it now believes unseen things an unseen Jesus and an invissible glory 1 Pet. 1.8 If you have no more Faith then what your own reason or judgment helps you to or the teachings of men hath principled you with do not conclude it to be saving but Sinful the Spirit is the Efficiently and works instrumentally by the word of God by which he brings the Soul to believe in and close with Jesus Christ 2ly It is known by the objects of it 1. The Word of God that is an object of true Faith the Soul is brought to believe the verity and certainty of it therefore it believes not because Man saith so and so you must believe but because the word of the Living God saith it as the Apostle 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy to which ye do well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place Materia quae objecti rationem habet communiter quidem Dei verbum est propriae vero gratuitae promissiones in Christo fundatae Wol. de fide salvis until the day dawn and the day Star arise in your hearts Shee believes the reports of men no farther than they concur with the clear and evident truth of the word of God for as the Prophet saith to the Law and to the Testimony Isa 8.20 2ly Faith eyes the promises therein contained which relate unto and are founded in Christ as one saith the material cause of saving faith which may be termed an object is commonly the Word of God but properly the gracious promises founded in Christ It is said 2 Cor. 1.20 All the promises of God are in him i. e. in Christ Saith God by the Prophet Isaiah Chap. 43.25 I will blot out thy transgressions for my one name sake and will not remember thy Sins 2 Cor. 5.19 The Apostle tells us God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses unto them So that we see what God promiseth in one place to do for his own name-sake in the other we find made good in Christ promises of Peace Pardon Grace and Glory upon the account of Christ are the objects of a saving Faith For indeed it is by laying the mouth of Faith to the brest of the promises that the Soul sucks and draws nourishment by which it grows in grace for had not Faith a promise of such and such mercys benefits and Priviledges to go to at all times it would grow languid and decay it would pine away The promises by the assistance of the holy Spirit keep Faith alive and active vigorous and strong as it is said of Abraham that Father of the Faithful Rom. 4.15.20 He staggered or doubted not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God But how came he to be so strong but by Eying the Promise and the power of that God that made it vers 21. And being fully perswaded or knowing most certainly that what he had promised he was able certainly to perform It was the apprehention of the promise that held his head above water so I say if thy Faith be of a salvific and evangelic kind it hath an Eye to the promises of God which contain those spiritual Blessings made over through Christ to the Soul 3ly And that principally it hath Christ for an object Act. 20.21 Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ He is the foundation for Faith to build upon as 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundation can no man lay then that is laid which is Jesus Christ The Gospel throughout directs the Eye of Faith unto the Lord Jesus Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith Joh. 3.16 God so Loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not Perish but have everlasting Life That is no saving Faith which hath not an Eye to the Lord Jesus But having spoken more fully to this before I shall pass it over and come to the third particular by which it may more evidently be discover'd 3ly The nature and propertys of
mellifluous Streams of that Nectorean Eloquence which flows from the lips of well skilled Orators but Tractates are not Veriores quia disertiores more true because more eloquent for as one said there is ambitiosum eloquentiae mendacium and I would not seem to affect words more than matter or to catch at the shaddow and let the substance go and I hope thou art one that puts a more inestimable appretiation upon plain and simple verity then upon painted figments and elaborate trifles which if it be so then I have some humble confidence that in the perusal of these my mean endeavors thy expectation shall not meet with a total frustration or thy labour prove nulla opera moliri to be in vain My grand design in the publishing this work is the exaltation and advancement of the Lord Jesus that lapsed and miserable mankind may be alliciated and induced to have precious valuations and inextinguishable Ceraphic love to the Lord of Glory the knowledge of whom is life eternal Joh. 17.3 1 Joh. 4.7 Joh. 14.6 Rom. 9.5 1 Cor. 3.23 love to whom is a sure character of a Heaven-born Soul faith in whom is the infallible way to glory and whose to be is no meaner then to be the Almighties Now this glorious one is he that makes free tenders of himself to perishing sinners condescends so as to invite the infirm laboring and heavy laden to come unto him who alone give rest The Subject on which I have fixed doth sufficiently demonstrate Christs abundant willingness to receive and ease poor wounded and oppressed Mortals And who is there that has not an absolute necessity of accepting such offers of Peace and Mercy are not all by actual sin wounded by original sin contaminated and polluted by multiplied transgressions intolerably laden did any escape that primitive lapse of our first Parents no none that was or is or shall be who are acted meerly by a rational Soul The serious consideration of which should prevail with all to seek out for cure for their wounds medicines for their maladies rest for their burdened Souls all which and infinitely more the Lord Jesus is willing to confer What more delectable than Divine imbraces what more excellent than celestial knowledge what more desirable than rest and comfort for the weary and disconsolate Soul all which is to be found in Christ and he that seeks unto him shall certainly obtain for he is the Divine Treasurer who has all necessaries to communicate and he is a full Fountain of living waters Col. 2.2 which flows freely to all thirsty Souls Therefore if thou art not yet come unto Christ let me perswade thee no longer to make demurs and let me be Christs Ambassador to call thee home unto him I know thou canst have no reasonable argument that should deter thee Acts 4.12 Gal. 3.10.13 1 Thes 1.10 1 Cor. 2.14 I know thou hast a Soul to save from the curse of the Law and eternal wrath then come unto Christ for it is he alone can save thee from the Curse and everlasting Vengeance I know by Nature thou wantest Divine knowledge come to Christ Mat. 11.27 and he will teach thee the knowledge of the Almighty And surely if Robert King of Naples did so much prise human learning as to say Chariores sibi literas regno esse it was dearer to him than his Kingdom how much more then should'st thou and I esteem the true knowledge of the Eternal Jehovah that Divine learning Joh. 17.3 which begins with the prelibation and ends in the fruition of eternal life thou wantest grace to enrich and beautifie thy Soul and to make thee meet for glory why it is out of his fulness thou must receive if ever grace for grace Joh. 1.16 There is not any thing which may conduce to thy everlasting benefit but Christ has rich supplies and is ready to extend to all indigent and humble mendicants and seeing thou mayst have for asking and receive for coming let this Treatise lead thee by the hand to the Lord Jesus for Christ sayes come and thy miseries if thou consultest thy Soul say go or thou art undone it may be that through some stratagems of Satan thou art prevented from getting into Christ therefore I have here laid open thirty two of them and I think the most subtlest of his Arguments and Baits and I have also in a weak measure laboured though in brief to invalidate and discover the danger of them Other obstructions which are from our selves whilst we continue in an unconverted State likewise some from the world thou shalt here find them manifested and removed but I could not be so large for the removal of them quite out of the way as I at first intended because my volumn grew bigger then I expected therefore I was forced to contract in some things and in fine to draw up those things which I thought largely to handle into a very narrow compass But Reader pardon my abruptness for I design'd this piece for a common good that the meanest sort might be able as well as willing if any be so to purchase it and this I would further intreat of thee if thou pleasest to spend thy labour read with an unprejudiced and impartial mind with a design to profit if thou hast not already made such a proficiency as some perswade themselves that thou needest no further instruction do not read it as too many go to hear Sermons to wit that they may judge of them not thinking that they are to be judged by them but do thou peruse it I beseech thee in the name of Christ with a respect to the good of thine immortal Soul and although thou may'st find some things which are in other Authors yet know that I have used those arguments for the confirmation of that great truth necessary to be known and absolutely needful to be believed to wit the Divinity of the Lord Jesus And it may be my Book may fall into the hands of some who never yet read so much of his Eternal Deity I know this truth has too many opposers but we must not let the Truth go because of opposition but as it was said of the Romans Victi multo fortius nesistant being conquered the more valiantly they resisted so if thou hast been overcome in pleading for this fundamental point the more earnestly contend for the faith of it now as the Apostle exhorts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jude 3. vers There are two many who are called Christians that are yet unable to confirm what they profess to believe Therefore that providence may order that this book may be helpful both to thy understanding of and also establishment in that glorious Truth and likewise be a means to bring thy Soul to close with Jesus Christ and that the eternal God may have the glory of all shall be the perpetual prayers of Tâ—y Souls servant in the Lord John Hopwood BLESSED REST for the BURDENED
if thou dost Sin God is Merciful he is full of Pity Exod. 34.6.7 He is gracious and long suffering Therefore question not but thou wilt do well we find this answer very ready in their Mouths when we come to set their Sins before them and demand how they expect to be saved seeing they live so in Sin the answer is God is merciful and I hope he will pardon my iniquities By this wile of Satan the mercy of God is abused and the Sinner undone for ever it is true that Gods mercys are infinite and he is full of pitty and tenderness unto poor Creatures but his mercy will not save without Christ I shall not now enter into that dispute whether or no God could save Sinners by his mercy alone without any Consideration of or relation unto the Lord Jesus but this I assert from Christs own words Jo. 14.6 That there is no coming to the Father but by the Son no coming to him for mercy pardon and salvation but by Christ alone But consider further it is the Malice of Satan to thy Soul and he designs only Cruelty when he keeps thee in thy Sins and yet flatters thee with hopes of Mercy I do not write this to discourage any poor penitent Sinner from finding mercy but to bring deluded Sinners from the abuse of it and discovering the Wile of Satan shewing them the only way to obtain it for never think to be saved by his mercy when thou hast lived as long as thou canst in Sin for God is a consuming Fire to all such Heb. 12.29 And instead of extending Mercy he will on the contrary Condemn thee if thou dost not come unto Christ Rom. 8.1 21ly He impedes them by begeting prejudices in them against the faithful Ministers of the Lord Jesus and if he can but do this he thinks he hath done the work thus he did in the Jews Act. 3.45 when Paul and Barnabas had Preached Christ and so consequently Salvation to the Gentiles they then contradict and Blaspheme and are filed with envy against them Christs Embassadors are the very Butt Satan Shoots at and he knows if he can but keep Sinners from imbracing their Doctrine then he has them secure because Christ has committed such treasure unto them and his chosen them as instruments in an ordinary way to convert Sinners and turn them from darkness unto light and from the power of Satan unto God Act. 26.18 and as Christ saith Jo. 15.20 If they have kept my sayings they will keep yours also Satan is not ignorant of this that the Preaching of the Gospel is the means of conversion and the hearing of it the means of the begeting faith in the Lord Jesus Rom. 20.14 Therefore he doth all he can to prevent Sinners this he doth sometimes by scandalizing of them and casting contempt upon them giving forth names of Schismaticks Hereticks and the like as the Church of Rome hath done and some others sometimes by blaspheming the Doctrine they deliver as though it was not congruent to the word of truth But Sinner thou hast no reason to believe him for he is a Lyer and a Murderer and seeks the Blood of thy Soul and under pretence of keeping thee from delusion he deludes thee altogether For although the World and Devil hate them persecute them and speak evil of them that is no Argument that they are not therefore Christs Ministers and Servants but rather that they are so Jo. 15.30 22. Satan hinders by perswading the Sinner that Christs service is very difficult his Yoke is heavy and his burthen Intolerable that Christ is a hard Master and will exact the whole tale of Bricks but will not allow Straw there is no abiding long in his Service for there are several that have made tryal but are returned to their former courses if he become his Servant he must take up his Cross and deny himself he must be universal and constant in his obedience Pray always Watch always and in all things 2 Tim. 4.5 Thus Satan renders the service of Christ as unlovely and intolerable as may be to the end he may impede the Sinner from coming home to Christ but Satan is not to be credited before Jesus Christ therefore I say hearken to what Christ saith Mat. 11.30 My Yoke is easy and my Burthen is Light All his commands and injunctions are light and easy because he puts under everlasting arms to support the Soul and inables it to go chearfully under it There is no service like his for it is perfect freedom and the Soul is never free till it is subject to him The experience of all his sincere disciples and servants will confute this lying Argument of Satan for there is not a faithful servant of his but will say they have found his ways pleasant and his Burthen tolerable thou maist hear them cry out of the thorn in the Flesh 2 Cor. 12.7 8. of the Body of Sin Rom. 7.24 And of the Burthen of it Psal 38.4 Mine iniquities are gon over my head as a heavy Burthen they are too heavy for me to bear But they are so far from accounting his service difficult or crying out of the weightiness of Christs Burthen that on the contrary they cry O how do we love thy Law as David in Psal 119. I rejoice in them more than in hid Treasure so Paul Rom. 7.22 I delight in the Law of God after the inward Man Da quod mandas manda quod vis Aug. This is their language give but strength Lord and command what thou wilt let not this discourage thee for it is only Satans wile 23. If all this will not do then he will let fly his fiery Darts and by terrors and horrors of Conscience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 6.16 he will seek to scare the Sinner from coming to Christ he will send forth Thunder and Lightening against the poor Soul and threaten nothing but damnation if it go to seek for Salvation he will give it no peace till it returns again to folly Woful experience doth confirm the truth of this many have tasted of the powers of the World to come but yet by Satans Darts have been shamefully overcome If Christ promise Peace Satan will give the Soul nothing but trouble he will terrify and amaze it if once it offer to look to Christ when his sophystry and subtilty will not do then he plays his Engines of War and makes the poor Sinner willingly yield and lay down Arms upon condition of peace It is willing to comply and yield subjection rather then stand the contest with such a potent adversary but let not Satan with his fiery Darts beat thee back from coming unto Christ the Captain of thy Salvation Pray Christ to give thee the sheild of faith wherewith thou may'st quench his fiery Darts Eph. 6.6 If thou come to Christ he will tread this Enemy Satan under thy Feet and bring thee conqueror out of the
Field for Consider although Satans Darts are terrible yet the terrors of the Lord are infinite and there is none but Christ alone that can deliver thee from them both therefore come and lay hold upon his strength Isa 27.5 24 Is by another means perswading the Sinner his Sins are greater than can be Pardoned and it will prove in vain to seek for a remission of them God never promised Pardon or acceptance to such a one Christ dyed not for such Crimson Sinners therefore it is the best way to sit still and bare his burthen with content for there is not Vertue in the Blood of Christ to wash their filthy and polluted Souls or to justify them from their guilt then he aggravates the hainousness of his Sins in the number nature and circumstances of them the number infinite the nature abominable and considering the circumstances irremissable here he terrifies the poor Soul so that it finds no rest because it hath had Sin presented through a magnifying glass but the mercy of God in Christ to be small and altogether too short to cover his Wounds or cure his distemper by this Dart he drives away the Sinner from coming unto Christ as Adam and Eve were driven out of Paradice least they should eat of the Tree of Life and live for ever But believe not Satan when he thus Wars against the Soul for the mercy of God in and through Christ to poor Sinners is infinite the Price which Christ paid was infinite I write not this that Sinners may presume but that poor penitents may come unto Christ for mercy It was the Blood of God Act. 20.28 Therefore he is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 Although thy Sins are great yet the mercy of God and the merit of Christ are much greater Therefore come unto Christ when Satan thus assaults thee and see whether he has not purchased Pardon for thee are thy Sins greater than Peters who denyed his Lord Master do they exceed Manasses Idolatry Murder Witchcraft 2 Chron. 33.6 or Paul when a Persecuter and Blasphemer and Injurious 1 Tim. 1.13 Yet these penitentially returning to God found mercy through the Lord Jesus Rom. 5. By him we have access into this grace wherein we stand 25. He doth all he can to bring the Soul into dispair and to cry out as those Jer. 18.12 There is no hope but we will walk after our own devices and we will every one do the Imagination of his own Heart Thus he served Judas first leads him into Sin then into dispair and makes him lay violent hands upon himself and that notable instance of Francis Spira who left the World in a dispairing condition for his denying the Lord Jesus This doth exceedingly dishonour God when we dispair of finding mercy unbelief is the main Wheel that moves this Engine of dispair 1. It calls Gods Pity and Mercy into question as in Psal 77.8 Is his mercy clean goâ—… for ever 2. His Love and Grace vers 9. Hath he forgotten to be gracious 3. His Faithfulness as in vers 8. Doth his promises fail for evermore 4. His Omnisciency and is ready to tax God of imperfection Like unto Man hath he forgotten saith the dispairing Soul By this Dart he hath for a time kept some of the elect from coming unto Christ till the Lord Jesus hath broke in and rescued the captive out of his hands and declared his faithfulness to his promise and his readiness to save all repenting believing Sinners Luk. 4.17 it is certain that Satan keeps off more by presumption then by dispair but when the one will not effect his grand design scil The destruction of the Soul then he will make his best improvement of the other if he cannot make the Sinner run precipitantly into Hell he will labour to bring him into dispair of ever getting to Heaven now seeing Satan is thus busy watch against his Wiles Devices and fiery Darts remember what is said Heb. 2.17 Jesus Christ is a Merciful and faithful High Priest And in that Jo. 1.9 If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness Therefore I say be not discouraged but come unto Christ and thou shalt find Peace for thy Conscience and rest for thy Soul 26. Another fiery Dart by which Satan deters Poor Sinners from coming unto Christ is by telling them there is no God Psal 10.4 The Wicked through the Pride of his countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or as in the Hebrew all his thoughts are there is no God There have been and are some who have attained to that degree of impudence as to deny that there is an eternal being who himself was before all and gave being and existence to all Creatures Diagoras Milesius and Protagoras Abderites and Theodorus commonly called the Atheist and others in former times denyed that there is a Numen or Deity that by his omnipotency hath created all things and it is very much to be lamented that there have been and are at this day in England those who boldly and impudently write and dispute against this eternal divine truth these have suffered the wicked one to abcecate the Eye of reason and so they are led captive by him at his will but methinks it is one of the absurdest points that may be for a rational Animal thus ignorantly to reason what is there not a supream being who created sustaineth and gubernates all things It is most impudent to assert the negative for either they must be produced into being from themselves and so prove Independent or else it is from some more noble supream and eternal being who himself wants beginning and so consequently will never cease to be according to that maxim Lacttantius du plesses de vera Religione Rawleighs Guost cum multis aliis Quod caret principio effective caret etiam fine That we have not our being from our selves that no creature can be the immediate Efficient or first moving Principle in the production of it self but that there is a supream Author and Efficient of all things whom we call God hath been so copiously proved by many Famous Men both for Piety and Learning that I shall not now insist on it Nay some of the Heathen Phylosophers have owned and declared that there is a God the natural Phylosopher proves it Ex motu fine causa efficiente From the Motion the End and the efficient Cause Ens Finitum a finite thing Closed within bounds and limits as this World and every Creature in it is could not be but from some Maker or Creator with many Arguments to confirm it The Moral Phylosopher hath found many strong Arguments that there is a God as from the Natural inclination and propensity that is in Man to confess and own some God or Deity for as it is seen in all Nations
they themselves shall be utterly extinct in time as concerning an immortal State when they are mortal and shall one day totally cease to be By this false Argument he overthrows many a Soul and intangles them in the Labyrinth of their Lusts one continually attending the other upon the consideration that the Soul is Mortal but let it not be thy case thus to hearken to the wicked suggestion of Satan but believe truth and the word of God which evidently manifest that the Soul is Immortal 2 Cor. 5.6.8 We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord. If the Soul were not Immortal the Apostle would not desire to be out of the Body that so he being a believer should be present with the Lord. So the Scripture before spoken to fully manifests the Mortallity of the Soul Eccle. 12.7 Phil. 1.23 To prove this at Large I leave you to that excellent treatise of Mr. Wadsworth concerning the immortallity of the Soul But if the Soul be as certainly it is Immortal that by the decree of God it shall never die or utterly cease to be then that it may live for ever with Christ in bliss and hapiness come unto him now he is pleased to invite thee 30. And the next Impediment is this that there is no such Heaven and Hapiness for the Righteous as they imagin neither is there any Hell to be a tormenting place for the Wicked He sometimes is so bold as to set upon gracious Souls with these Falsities of his but Christ brings them off victorious and in fine fixes the Crown of Glory upon their Heads but hear Satan implicates and insnares the Sinner as may be daily seen if observed for how few by their conversation do discover that they believe and expect the Glory of Heaven and an immortal state or that they fear the torments of Hell for if they did it would make a wounderful change in the Heart Words and Actions the promises of Glory do not prevail with them to leave their Lusts nor the threatenings of Eternal Torments terrify them from the ways of Sin but they go on vigorously in Satans Service But O Sinner be not deceived for there is certainly a reward for the Righteous even Heaven Life and Glory for ever Ro. 2.7 Certainly there is a Heaven where God resides in magnificent Glory Mat. 25.34 Lok 12.32 Christ exalted at his Right Hand with Angels Adoring and Saints admiring him and where all Christs beloved ones shall be and reign for ever 1 Thes 4. 16.17 And so shall we be for ever with the Lord. Rev. 3.21.30 Likewise there is a place of Torment prepared for the Wicked which is called Hell Psal 9.17 The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Mat. 25.41 Then also shall he say unto them on the Left Hand depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Dâ—vil and bis Angels Therefore seeing it is certain there is a Heaven and a Hell come unto Christ that thou mayest escape the one and possess and enjoy the other 31. By perswading them there will be no resurrection I mention this because Satan is so subtil that if he cannot prevail with the Sinner by these Arguments as that there is no God or that he doth not intermeddle with or observe humane affairs or that he hath not a Soul which is distinct from his Body or that it is not immortal and also that there is no Heaven or Hell I say if the Sinner gets above all these and is able to confute the subtle Sophyster then he comes with the impossibility of the resurrection of the Dead and so overthrows the faith of some A Temporary and commom Faith Whilst the Watchmen were a Sleep or absent we find he sowed this seed among the Corinthians which was the occasion of the Apostles wrighting that excellent Chapter to prove it 1 Cor. 15. To which I refer the Reader and if thou art one whom Satan seeks to keep in Sin and neglect of coming to Christ upon this false Argument labour to shake it off and come to Christ that thou may'st be raised and thy Soul and Body reunited in that great day The Sadduces were of this opinion that there is no resurrection Act. 23.8 But Christ confutes them by that inferrence consequential from the Scripture that God being the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob he was so of them Living i. e. in their Souls and at the general resurrection their bodys should be raised in Glory and with their Souls united together 32. And lastly he deters them by perswading them there will be no future Judgment I should not have particularized thus but have contracted and joyned some two heads in one but considering that the Tempter is malicious and subtil and that means by which he doth impede one he doth not lay to obstruct another but considering our complection inclination and disposition the place where the time when with all the circumstances and state of our condition he most pollitickly bends the force of his Temptation accordingly so that if one will not do he will not fail it possible to do by another therefore I say one he may hold with that Argument that there is no resurrection of the Dead and by that means he perswades him to all licentiousness and another by this there will be no future Judgment therefore thou maist take thy fill of Sin and never look after Christ Jesus for if there is no Judgment there is no need of Christ O how many are there in this day of Sin and Abomination that are impeded by some one of these Arguments but I beseech thee let it not be thy case but Read and beg that thou maist believe these Scriptures Heb. 9.27 Rom. 14.10 2 Cor. 5.10 Act. 17.31 Eccle. 11.9 and 12 14. And bare upon thy Spirit that of Jerom surgite Mortui venite ad Judicium Arise ye Dead and come to Judgment And also consider this that if thou hast a Soul that is immortal and if there be a God which certainly is true then his Faithfulness Righteousness Love and Kindness to his People do ingage and oblige him to make good his Word fulfil his Promises and execute his Threatenings Therefore begg grace that thou maist repulse all the Darts discover all the baits and devices of Satan against thy Soul and also that thou maist come unto Christ and accept of him upon the terms of the Gospel 3ly I come now to the third external obstacle or hinderance which impedes the Sinner from coming unto Christ and that is the World 1. The men 2. The things 1. The men of the world have been great obstacles and that 1. By their corrupt Doctrines as those Luk. 11.52 Mentioned by Christ with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wo to you Lawyers for ye have taken away the Key of knowledg ye enter not in
your selves and them who were entring ye hindred Or forbid those Lawyers called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are sometimes taken for the Scribes called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they were writers of the Law and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 1.7 Dionisius de tribus sectis l. 2. Chap. 11. The teachers of the Law of Moses they did expound the Law to the People in Esra 7.6 But yet by their false interpretation took away the Key of Knowledg i. e. the right meaning of it and so shut out both themselves and others from happiness by their false and corrupt glasses Upon Texts of Scripture it is probable they prohibited and forbid the Jews to believe that Christ was the promised Messiah therefore they ought not to obey him who is the only way to Eternal Life Thus the Papists Socinians and Pelagians have perverted Souls and caused whole Kingdoms to deviate and turn out of that direct way which leads unto Christ but O what a dreadful account will these Soul-Murderers have to give in at the day of Christ The Papist is for his Works and Merits the Socinian for his Faith not laying hold upon the object and Foundation the Lord Jesus the Pelagian for his free Will he will come to Christ when he pleaseth Others by a bare notion and assent thus when they should do as the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.5 Not Preach themselves but Jesus Christ they on the contrary Preach down Christ and extol themselves but Sinner receive none of these Doctrines which Savour not of Christ but reject them with that saying of Augustine when he read Cicero's Works Dukes non sunt quia nomen Jesu non est in illis Aug. They are not sweet because the name of Jesus is not in them Let him be alone exalted and held forth as the Brasen Serpent for the Eye of thy Faith to look unto Jo. 3.14 That thou maist receive cure for thy wounded Soul 2ly By their evil example for this hath a great influence upon the common sort and generality of mankind Exemplis sanè qui docet ille docet He teacheth well who teacheth by examples These pretend to believe in Christ yet live like the Servants of Satan Linaker reading the 6. 7. Chap. of Mat. and considering the lives of Christians threw away his Testament saying Certainly Certè aut hoc non est Evangelium Christi aut nos non sumus Christiani either this is not the Gospel of Christ or we are not Christians I say this has been and is at this day a very great Let to poor Sinners and keeps them from coming to Christ The conversation of such who profess Christ ought to be mannaged so uprightly that thereby they might win others unto Christ I know the evil of this by experience for when I was Puris Naturalibus in my Natural State and Condition and observing the loose conversation of one who seemed a great Zealot for Christ and pure Christianity it proved an obstacle unto me for a time and kept me back from fully closing with the Lord Jesus Therefore I only say this Christians look to your lives that they be exemplary for holyness and Sinner look to the word of God which will lead thee unto Christ who is the best example and pattern of Piety 3ly By their Edicts and strict Laws against them and their threatning of them Thus the Jews threatned the Apostles that they should not Preach up Christ Act. 4.17 And thus the Papists threaten people with fire and faggot if they come unto Christ their Bloody Inquisitions scares many from believing professing and imbracing the truth of the Gospel this they have done ever since Christs time but let not these things deter thee but consider the answer of the Apostles when called before the Councel Act. 4.19 Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more then unto God judg ye 4ly By keeping the word of God from them and not permiting them to read the holy Scriptures which are able by the assistance of the holy Spirit to make one wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Chrisostom calls them Animae Pharmaca the Medicines of the Soul there the wounded may find cure the blind may receive sight the Scriptures are such a copious treasure that the Soul may have full supplies in time of straits there it may have councel as David had they were the men of his councel there the Soul may come to understand its misery the way of justification and Salvation by a Redeemer who and what person he is that he is the Eternal Son of God Jo. 3.16 The only begotten Son of God In fine there are all things necessary to Salvation it is like a well stored Magazin wherein there is plenty of Amunition to offend and defend against the Enemy and also plenty of Provision to supply the wants of those inclosed in the Garison But cruel Papists deny them to the Layety and by that means prevents them from knowing who Christ is and the necessity of coming unto him many have been converted by reading the Scriptures as Augustine Tertullian and Luther with several others therefore labour to get the Scriptures to read and understand them that thou maist come unto Christ and that thy Soul may be made eternally happy by him 5ly By persecuting of and destroying those who are Christs faithful Embassadors that would bring them to Christ Justin Martyr was converted by seeing the undanted Spirit of those who suffered for Christ And many more instances I might give Thus the Papists have spit out their poisonous venome how many have they made to deny the Lord that bought them although it must be confessed that God is pleased to order it so that Sanguis Martyrum est semen Ecclesiae The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church and the more they have been oppressed the more they have Augmented and by scattering have been increased as they were in the Apostles days yet quite contrary to the design of their Adversaries as it is said of the great King of Assyria Isa 10. He designed to destroy Nations not a few But God designed no such thing but only to convert and chastise those who had sinned against him so the wicked persecutors of the World in all the ten bloody persecutions and in the Marian Days here in England their whole purpose and intent was to keep Persons from believing in Christ and laying hold upon him for Salvation therefore they destroyed the shepheards that the Sheep might go astray others through fear of their cruelty be impeded and letted from coming but that this may not hinder consider that to have Christ at a dear rate is better than to have the World at a Cheap for thou wilt infinitely be a looser if thou hast the whole world and yet missest of Christ One Christ will make thee amends for all thy sufferings and afflictions
est honos vernis and please it with a vanishing glory which like the Flower this day is Beautiful and pleasing to the Eye but to morrow is quite withered and decayed Christ tells us of some such Jo. 5.44 Which receive Honour one of another but seek not the honour that cometh from God only And in the beginning of the vers Christ makes it an Argument of their unbelief How can ye believe saith he the Introgation implys a Negation as if he should have said whilst you thus seek after the honour of Men ye cannot believe there is a kind of impossibility in it How few Moses's or Galeaceus's are there in the World who devest themselves of this fading Earthly Honour to the end they may partake of true honour immortality and eternal Life Rom. 2.7 Dayly observation doth confirm this I need not stand to give instances for the World doth afford innumerable both abroad and at home who for this Worlds glory will refuse Christ and everlasting bliss but let it not be so with thee Reader who ever thou art Fix thine Eye upon Christ and that Crown of Righteousness he will give thee Here thou maist live iâ— honour but like a Candle which gives but a dim light and soon is extinct but if thou comest unto Christ Dan. 12.3 thou shalt shine as a Star in the Firmament and as the Sun for ever and ever I come now to the second particular which is to declare what impediments there are ab intrâ— from within that let and hinder Sinners from coming unto Christ and there are many of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall begin first with carnal reasonings which are great obstacles in the Sinners way 2 Cor 10.45 and these must be thrown down before the Sinner will come unto Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for they are strong holds which keep the Sinner secure 2 Cor. 10.4 He is as it were in a Garrison by these his reasonings â— Saith Reason how can God assume the Nature of Man live and converse among Men suffer and Die and be made a Curse can these things be is it possible for God to Die who is immortal I can never believe it my Reason cannot apprehend or conceive it it can never dive into my thoughts that God would ever come down from Heaven to suffer for Men to satisfie for their Sins is not God infinite is he not from eternity to eternity and shall he be made a finite Creature and of yesterday certainly this doth derogate from the Honour of God and doth reflect upon the greatness and infinitness of his glorious Majesty Is it not said of God his Throne is in the Heavens and that no Mortal Eye can behold him and if it be so I have no reason to believe that it was God who shed his Blood without the Gates of Jerusalem and that I must expect Salvation from him alone To the removal of this Impediment 1. I say art thou wiser then God that thou thus reasonâ—st against his revealed truth for in 1 Tim. 3.16 It is said Phil. 2.6 God was Manifest in the Flesh i. e. The second Person in the glorious Trinity who was equal with God the Father did assume humane nature and so was manifest in the Flesh and so became God-man united in one person although there ever remains two distinct Natures 2dly This God-Man suffered for Sin he made himself a Sacrifice to satisfie divine justice therefore it is said Act. 20.28 The Church of God which he Purchased with his own Blood not that the divine Nature shed Blood or suffered for that is impossible and incapable of afflictions or death but that nature which was united to the divine suffered and effused Blood by which our Sins are washed away 1 Jo. 1.7 we redeemed and reconciled unto God Rev. 5.9 1 Jo. 3.16 Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his Life for us His Life who was God blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 went to redeem us from eternal Death 3. This great truth is a Divine Mistery no where revealed but in the word of God 1 Tim. 3.16 as Christ said to the Jews Jo. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal Life and they are them that testify of me Therefore thou must not reason with Flesh and Blood Gal. 1.16 or think ever to comprehend this by Carnal disputes and reasonings for these do but exalt themselves against the knowledg of God and are not brought into the obedience of Christ as 2 Cor. 10.5 The Gospel cals for Faith which is a supernatural Work for according to that common saying Although it is not contrary to reason yet it is above it And if by reason it might be apprehended Faith would then be unnecessary but Faith is absolutely necessary for without it it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 And he that believes shall be saved Jo. 3.36 In a word if thou wilt not come unto Christ till thy Carnal reason or thy Worldly wisdom as the Apostle calls it 1 Cor. 2.6 can comprehend this profound Mystery thou wilt never come for as the World by Wisdom knew not God 1 Cor. 1.21 so neither canst thou by that Wisdom know Christ for he said unto Peter when he made that excellent confession of the Deity of the Lord Jesus Flesh and Blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven Mat. 16.17 Therefore let this be no Lett unto thee when thy Reason cannot conceive the Depths of this Mystery but humbly beg God to give thee Faith to apprehend and believe it because the holy word of God doth declare it Credo quia tu dixisti against all Arrians and Socinians whatsoever 2ly I cannot conceive saith the Sinner carnally reasoning how finite Punishments could satisfie for infinite offences and how it may be then safe for me to venter my eternal welfare on this account could so small a time of suffering procure Redemption from Eternal Torments this cannot stand with reason for an infinite Person is offended and so an infinite Punishment is due for every Sin All this is granted that every Sin deserves eternal Punishment because an infinite Person is offended and yet it is clear both by Scripture and reason that the Punishment Christ underwent though but finite as to the time has satisfied fully for infinite offences Gods Justice is thereby Salved and the Sinner who is brought to believe eternally saved 1. His obedience of his Fathers will the Scripture saith Heb. 10.10 By which will we are sanctified though the offering of the Body of Jesus once 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one single time wherein Christ suffered although but Momentary as to the duration yet it made full compensation and satisfaction for the eternity of misery due to Sinners v. 12. But this Man i. e. The man Christ Jesus After he had offered one sacrifice for Sin for ever