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
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
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
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
from secret Sins Which Petition implys that Sin though never so secret defiles the Soul moreover the holy Prophet hath not only regard in the word secret to those Sins which the Eye of man had not seen but to those Sins which were secret to himself which in thought Word or deed he had perpetrated and yet not observed Psal 51.2 Wash me throughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin vers 7. Purge me with hysop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter then Snow Which Scripture doth evince that Sin doth defile and therefore the Soul needs cleansing which cannot be done but by the Blood of Jesus Christ 1 Jo. 1.7 The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin The Prophet Isaiah witnesseth this truth when he beheld the glory of the Lord Jesus Isa 6. proved by Jo. 12.41 he cryed Wo is me for I am undone because I am a Man of unclean Lips Isa 6.5 When he had a vision of the Lord Jesus and was nigh unto him then he exclaims that he is unclean so it is with thee if thou art come to Christ thou art convinced that Sin hath polluted and defiled thee the conviction of which drives thee to that Fountain viz. the Blood of Christ laid open for Sin and for uncleanness Every Sin commited is against the blessed Trinity and the goodness love wisdom and Patience of God Zach. 13 1. 4ly Thou art convinced that Sin is against God Psal 51.4 Against thee thee only have I Sinned and done evil in thy sight Agreeable to this is that of the Prodigal Luk. 15.18 I will arise and go to my Father and say unto him Father I have Sinned against Heaven and before thee Thou art convinced that every Sin is against the Essence and Being of God contrary to his nature and to his revealed will I leave thee to inlarge upon this in thy private meditation 5ly Thou art convinced of the dangerous consequences and effects of Sin if persisted in for then there is nothing to be expected but wrath confusion and eternal destruction wher 's Malum culpae the Evil of guilt preceeds and goes before Malum penae the Evil of punishment follows after If the preceeding sins be not repented of and the Soul washed with and justifyed through the blood of Jesus Ro. 2.8 9. To them who are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every Soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile Ro. 1.18 The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodlyness and unrighteousness of Men who hold the truth in unrighteousness here is nothing but wrath upon wrath threatned against disobedient Sinners 6ly Thou art convinced of Righteousness as Jo. 16.8 When be it come he shall convince the World of Righteousness Thou art convinced that a righteousness thou needest a righteousness thou must have both internal which is wrought by the Spirit and external which is wrought by Christ God is a righteous God and his Law is righteous and there is no standing the tryal without a compleat and perfect righteousness the Law will admit of no repentance as the gospel doth it requires full satisfaction in point of suffering or compleat and perfect performance in point of doing if the offence be but one and against one clause of the Law there is a breach of the whole Jam. 2.10 and how shall the poor Sinner do now who hath broken all the Spirit convinces the Sinner of the righteousness of Christ which is apprehended by faith and he inables the Sinner to lay hold of it and to say Christ was made Sin for me who knew no Sin that I might become the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 Paul was thus convinced when he said I would not be found in my own righteousness but in the righteousness of God which is by Faith in Christ Phil. 3.8 9. Thou art convinced of the necessity of a perfect righteousness if thou art truely come unto and hast closed with Christ 7ly and Lastly thou art convinced of Judgment Jo. 16.8 he convinces of Judgment Heb. 9.27 It is appointed for Men once to dye and after death comes judgment a particular as well as a universal and it shall be a righteous judgment Rom. 2.5 speaking of the Sinner who is impenitent Thou treasurest up wrath against the day of wrath and Revelation of the righteous judgment of God now being convinced of this thou expectest preparest dayly for it because it is the day in which thou shalt be acquitted but the enemys of Christ condemned For there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus Rom 8 1 But there is no standing forth ungodly in Judgment Psal 1.5 That which is the ground of terror to the wicked scil the day of judgment is a ground of comfort and consolation to the righteous the Apostle James doth exhort the afflicted Brethren to be patient upon this consideration that the coming of the Lord was at hand the Judge standeth before the Door Jam. 5.7.8 9. 3ly If thou art come to the Lord Jesus then the holy Spirit hath inclined thy will and made it flexible Psal 110.3 They shall be a willing People in the day of thy Power Cantic 6.12 The Margent of some Bibles read it thus My Soul set me on the Chariots of my willing People It is true that the will remains still in Man Wollebius Mansit quidem arbitrium hominis liberum à coactione sed non ad bonum malum idem but it is as true that it is depraved as one saith Mansit Voluntas sed depravata the Spirit doth not coact or inforce the will for the will of Man remains free from compulsion but yet not equally so both to good and evil for it is free only to evil Now I say the Spirit hath not drawn compulsively but willingly lead thee unto the Lord Jesus of unwilling by nature he hath made thee abundantly willing through the Work of grace 1. Thou art made willing to part with thy Sins to shake hands with them and bid adieu to all thy former vanitys which by nature thou art Prone to there is a purging out of the old leaven For the Temple of God is holy 1 Cor. 3.16 17. And believers are that Temple it is inconsistant for Sin and Christ to dwell together for Christ came to destroy Sin and to redeem his People from it Tit. 2.14 2ly Thou art made willing by the holy Spirit to renounce thy own ragged and imperfect righteousness for as I have declared before this keeps back many from coming fully to the Lord Jesus but there must not only be Sin cast away but self-righteousness also for it is the ruin of many and hath been so that they relye more upon their own righteousness then on Christs righteousness the Jews lost themselves by this Rom.