is an unreasonable doctrine and not worthy of credit that God should choose some and refuse others every way as good as those he hath chosen or if there be any certainty in that doctrine then men may throw the reins upon the neck of their lusts and live at what rate they list For if God have chosen them to salvation their wickedness shall not hinder it and if he have appointed them unto wrath their diligence and self-denial cannot prevent it Thus the Doctrine of free grace is by the like Sophistry of Satan turned into lasciviousness If grace abound men may sin the more freely and the shortness of our time upon earth which in its own nature awakens all men to diligence is by the subtilty of Satan turned to a quite contrary purpose Lâ—…t us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die Fifthly Satan darkens the minds of men and shuts them against the light by blowing them up with pride and self-conceitedness perswading them that they know all these things already and causing them to contemn the most weighty and precious truths of God as trite and vulgar notions The word cannot be received without meekness and humility of mind Jam. 1. 21. Psal. 25. 8 9. and pride is the nurse of ignorance 1 Tim. 6. 4. 1 Cor. 8. 7. The Devil is aware of this and therefore blows up the pride and conceitedness of mens hearts all that he can and this temptation of his generally prevails whereever it meets with a knowing head matched with a graceless and unsanctified heart And thus we see by what wiles and policies Satan keeps out the light and prevents the access of it to the minds of men But if he miss his design here and truth gets into the mind Then Secondly he labours to obstruct the efficacy and operation of the light that though it do shine into the understanding yet it shall be imprisoned there and send down no converting influences upon the will and affections and this design he promotes and manages diverse ways First By hastening to quench convictions betime and nip them in the bud Satan knows how dangerous a thing it is and destructive to his interest to suffer convictions to continue long and therefore it is said of him Mat. 13. 19. When any one heareth the word of the Kingdom and understandeth it not then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart Satan is compared in this Scripture to the fowls of the air which pick up the seed before it take any root in the earth The Devil is very jealous of this and therefore labours all he can to destroy the word before it comes to operate upon the heart which he doth sometimes by the cares of the world and sometimes by vain companions who prove meer quench coals unto beginning convictions One sinner destroyeth much good Secondly No sooner doth the God of this world observe the light of truth begin to operate upon the heart but he obstructeth that design by procrastinations and delays which delude and baffle the convinced soul he perswades them if they will alter their course it will be time enough hereafter when such incumbrances and troubles in the world are over is he prevail here 't is a thousand to one but the work miscarries James 1. 23 24. if the hearer of the word be not a doer i. e. a preâ—…ent doer while the impressions of it are fresh upon the soul he doth but deceive himself For it is with the heart as it is with melted wax if the seal be clapt to it presently it will receive a fair impression but if it be let alone but for a little while you can make none at all it was therefore Davids great care and wisdom to set about the work of Religion under the first impetus or vigorous motion of his heart and affections Psal. 119. 60. I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments Multitudes of souls have perished by these delays 'T is a temptation incident to all that are under beginning convictions especially young persons whom the Devil perswades that it were no better than madness in them to abridge and deny themselves so much delight and pleasure and steep their youthful thoughts in such a melancholy subject as Religion is Thirdly If all this will not do but convictions still continue and get ground in the conscience then he endeavours to scare and fright them out of their convictions by representing to them the inward terrours troubles and despairs into which they are about to plunge themselves and that henceforth they must never expect a pleasant day or comfortable hour Thus doth the God of this world blind the minds of them that believe not both by hindering the access of light to the mind and the influence of it upon the heart Thirdly There is yet one policy of Satan to keep souls in 3. darkness and that is by the mis-application of truth perswading them that whatsoever they read or hear of the misery and danger of Christless and unregenerate persons doth not in the least touch or concern them but the more notorious and prophane part of the world and by this policy he blinds the minds of all civil and moral persons Thus the Pharisees trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others And so the Laodiceans thought themselves rich and increased with See my Touchsâ—…one of sincerity upon Rev. 3. 17 18. goods that is in a very safe and good condition Now there are diverse things notably improved by Satans policy in order to these misapplications of truth as First The freedom of their lives from the most gross pollutions of the world Mat. 19. 20. All these things have I kept from my youth up A civil sober course of life is a most effectual blind before the eyes of many a mans conscience Secondly It is the policy of Satan to prevent conviction by conviction I mean effectual convictions by convictions that have been ineffectual and are now vanished away Thus the troubles that some persons have been under must pass for their conversion though the temper of their heart be the same it was their ineffectual troubles are made use of by the Devil to blind them in the true knowledge and apprehension of their condition For these men and women can speak of the troubles they have had for sin and the many tears they have shed for it whereby thorough conviction is effectually prevented Thirdly Gifts and knowledge are improved by the policy of Satan against the true knowlege of Jesus Christ and our own estate by nature As conviction is improved by Satans policy against conviction so is knowledge against knowledge This was the case of them in Rom. 2. 17 18. Thou art called a Jew and restest in the law and makest thy boast of God and knowest his will and approvest the things that are excellent being instructed out of the law and art confident that thou thy self
how are some vain minds puffed up with these things but ye have not so learned Christ. 3. That you steddily persevere in those good wayes of God in which you have walked and beware of heart or life apostasie You expect happiness whilst God is in Heaven and God expects holiness from you whilst you are on earth It was an excellent truth which Tossanus y Obtestor etiam vos liberos generos charissimos ne illius veritatis evangelicae unquam vos pudeat potest enim laborare sed non vinci veritas non semel expertus sum Dominum Deum mirabiliter adesse iis qui coram ipso ambulant in sua vocatione sedulò integrè versantur licet ad tempus odiis aut simultatibus aut calumniis agitentur Melch. Adams in vita Tossani recommended to his posterity in his last Will and Testament from his own experience I beseech you saith he my dear Children and Kindred that you never be ashamed of the truths of the Gospel either by reason of scandals in the Church or persecutions upon it truth may labour for a time but cannot be conquered and I have often found God to be wonderfully present with them that walk before him in truth though for a time they may be opprest with troubles and calumnies 4. Lastly That you keep a strict and constant watch over your own hearts lest they be ensnared by the tempting charming and dangerous snares attending a full and easie condition in the world There are temptations suited to all conditions those that are poor and low in estate and reputation are tempted to cozen cheat lie and flatter and all to get up to the mount of Riches and honours but those that were born upon that mount though they be more free from those temptations yet lie exposed to others no less dangerous and therefore we find not many mighty not many noble are called 1 Cor. 1. 26. Many great and stately Ships which spread much sail and draw much water perish in the storms when small Barks creep along the shore under the wind and get safe into their Port. Never aim-at an higher station in this world than that you are in z Lugebat moribundus Hermannus plus temporis operaeque se palatio quà m Templo impendisse luxum vitiae Aulae quae corrigere debuisset adjuvasse atque ita multo peccati dolore trepidâ spe divinae clementiae plurimo astantium horrore anceps sui anima aeternitatem ingressa est Hist. Bohem. lib. 11. some have wisht in their dying hour they had been lower but no wise man ever wisht himself at the top of honour at the brink of eternity I will conclude all with this hearty wish for you that as God hath set you in a capacity of much service for him in your generation so your hearts may be enlarged for God accordingly that you may be very instrumental for his glory on earth and may go safe but late to Heaven That the blessings of Heaven may be multiplied upon you both and your hopeful springing branches and that you may live to see your Childrens Children and peace upon Israel In a word that God will follow these truths in your hands with the blessing of his spirit and that the manifold infirmities of him that ministers them may be no prejudice or bar to their success with you or any into whose hands they shall come which is the hearty desire of Your most faithful friend and Servant in Christ Jo. Flavel THE EPISTLE Christian Reader EVery Creature by the instinct of nature or by the light of reason strives to avoid danger and get out of harms way The Cattel in the fields presaging a storm at hand fly to the hedges and thickets for shelter The Fowls of Heaven by the same natural instinct perceiving the approach of Winter take their timely flight to a warmer Climate This * Plin. l. 18. c. 35. Virg. Georg. l. 1. Naturalists have observed of them and their observation is confirmed by Scripture testimony of the Cattle it is said Job 37. 6 7 8. He saith to the Snow be thou on the earth likewise the small rain and the great rain of his strength then the beasts go into dens and remain in their places And of the Fowls of the air it is said Jer. 8. 7. The Stork in the Heavens knoweth her appointed times and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow observe the time of their coming But man being a prudent and prospecting creature hath the advantage of all other Creatures in his foreseeing faculty For God hath taught him more than the beasts of the earth and made him wiser than the fowls of Heaven Job 35. 11. And a wise mans heart discerneth both time and judgement Eccles. 8. 5. For as there are natural signs of the change of weather Mat. 16. 3. so there are moral signs of the changes of time and providences yet such is the supineness and inexcusable regardlesness of most men that they will not fear till they feel nor think any danger very considerable till it become inevitable We of this Nation have long enjoyed the light of the glorious Gospel among us it hath shone in much clearness upon this sinful Island for more than a whole Century of happy years but the longest day hath an end and we have cause to fear our bright Sun is going down upon us for the shadows in England are grown greater than the substance which is one sign of approaching night Jer. 6. 4. The beasts of prey creep out of their dens and coverts which is another sign of night at hand Psal. 104. 20. and the workmen come home apace from their labours and go to rest which is as sad a sign as any of the rest Job 7. 1 2. Isa. 57. 1 2. Happy were it if in such a juncture as this every man would make it his work and business to secure himself in Christ from the storm of Gods indignation which is ready to fall upon these sinful Nations It is said of the Egyptians when the storm of hail was coming upon the land Exod. 9. 20. He that feared the word of the Lord made his servants and cattle flee into the houses 'T is but an odd sight to see the prudence of an Egyptian out-vying the wisdom and circumspection of a Christian. God who provides natural shelter and refuge for all creatures hath not left his people unprovided and destitute of defence and security in the most tempestuous times of national judgements It is said Mic. 5. 5. This man meaning the man Christ Jesus shall be the peace when the Assyrian shall come into our land and when he shall tread in our Palaces and Isai. 26. 20. Come my people enter thou into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast My Friends let me speak as freely as I am sure I speak
from them is and for ever will be marvellous in their eyes Oh what mercy would the damned account it if after a thousand years torments in hell God would at last be reconciled to them and put an end to their misery But believers are discharged without bearing any part of the curse not one farthing of that debt is levied upon them If you say how can this be when God stands upon full Object satisfaction to his Justice before any soul be discharged and restored to savour freely reconciled and yet fully satisfied how can this be Very well for this mercy comes freely to your hands how Solut. costly soever it proved to Christ and that free remission and full satisfaction are not contradictory and inconsistent things is plain enough from that Scripture Rom. 3. 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus freely and yet in the way of redemption For though Christ your surety have made satisfaction in your name and stead yet it was his life his blood and not yours that went for it and this surety was of Gods own appointment and providing without your contrivement or thoughts O blessed reconciliation happy is the people that hear the joyful sound of it Fifthly and Lastly That God should be finally reconciled to sinners so that never any new breach shall happen betwixt him and them any more so as to dissolve the League of friendship is a most ravishing and transporting message Two things give Confirmation and full security to reconciled ones viz. The terms of the Covenant and the intercession of the Mediator The Covenant of grace gives great security to believers against new breaches betwixt God and them It 's said Jer. 32. 40. And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me The fear of God is a choice preservative against second revolts and therefore taken into the Covenant It is no hindrance but a special guard to assurance There is no doubt of Gods faithfulness that part of the promise is easily believed that he will not turn away from us to do us good all the doubt is of the inconstancy of our hearts with God and against that danger this promise makes provision Moreover the Intercession of Christ in heaven secures the Saints in their reconciled state 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation he continually appears in heaven before the Father as a Lamb that had been slain Rev. 5. 6. And as the bow in the clouds Rev. 4. 3. So that as long as Christ thus appears in the presence of God for us it is not possible our state of Justification and reconciliation can be again dissolved And this is that blessed Embassy Gospel Ministers are imployed about he hath committed to them the word of this reconciliation In the last place we are to enquire what and whence is this efficacy of preaching to reconcile and bring home sinners to 3. Christ. That its efficacy is great in convincing humbling and changing the hearts of men is past all debate and question The weapons of our warfare saith the Apostle are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into Captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. No heart so hard no conscience so stupid but this sword can pierce and wound in an instant it can cast down all those vain reasonings and fond imaginations which the Carnal heart hath been building all its life long and open a fair passage for Convictions of sin and the fears and terrors of wrath to come into that heart that was never afraid of these things before So Acts 2. 37. When they heard this they were pricked to the heart and said unto Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do What shall we do is the doleful cry of men at their wits end the voice of one in deepest distress and such outcries have been no rarities under the preaching of the word its power hath been felt by persons of all orders and conditions the great and honourable of the earth as well as the poor and despicable The learned and the ignorant the civil and profane the young and the old all have felt the heart-piercing efficacy of the Gospel If you ask whence hath the word preached this mighty power The answer must be Neither from it self nor him that preaches it but from the spirit of God whose instrument it is by whose blessing and concurrence with it it produceth its blessed effects upon the hearts of men First This Efficacy and wonderful power is not from the 1. word it self take it in an abstract notion separated from the spirit it can do nothing it is called the foolishness of preaching 1 Cor. 1. 21. foolishness not only because the world so accounts it but because in it self it is a weak and unsuitable and therefore a very improbable way to reconcile the world to God that the stony heart of one man should be broken by the words of another man that one poor sinful Creature should be used to breath spiritual life into another this could never be if this sword were not managed by an omnipotent hand And besides we know what works Naturally works necessarily if this Efficacy were inherent in the word so that we should suppose it to work as other Natural agents do then it must need convert all to whom it is at any time preached except its effect were miraculously hindered as the fire when it could not burn the three Children but alas thousands hear it that never feel the saving power of it Isai. 53. 1. and 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. Secondly It derives not this Efficacy from the Instrument 2. by which it is ministred let their gifts and abilities be what they will it 's impossible that ever such effects should be produced from the strength of their Natural or gracious abilities 2 Cor. 4. 7. We have this treasure saith the Apostle in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us This treasure of Gospel light is carried 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in earthen vessels as Gideon and his men had their Lamps 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in earthen pitchers or in Oyster-shells for so the word also signifies the Oyster-shell is a base and worthless thing in it self however there lyes the rich and precious Pearl of so great value and why is this precious treasure lodged in such weak worthless vessels surely it is upon no other design but to convince us of the truth I am here to prove That the Excellency
sad protestation doth Jeremy make against his ungrateful people Jer. 18. 20. shall evil saith he be recompenced for good for they have digged a pit for my soul remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them and to turn away thy wrath from them Gods mercy is eminently discovered in the institution and Satans malice is eminently discovered in the opposition of the Ministerial office Satan is a great and jealous Prince and it is no wonder he should raise all the forces he can to oppose Mr. Gâ—…rnals Christian Armor the Ambassadors of Christ When saith one the Gospel comes into his dominions it doth as it were by sound of Trumpet and beat of drum proclaim liberty to all his slaves and vassals if they will quit that Tyrant that hath so long held their souls in bondage and come under the sweet and easy government of Christ and can the Devil endure this think you if Christ send forth Ambassadors no wonder if Satan send forth opposers he certainly owes them a spite that undermine his government in the world Infer 3. Hence it follows that it nearly concerns all Christs Ambassadors Infer 3. to see that they be in a state of reconciliation with God themselves Shall we stand in Christ's stead by office and yet not be in Christ by Union Shall we intreat men to be reconciled to God and yet be at enmity with him our selves O let us take heed lest after we have preached to others we our selves be as cast-awayes 1 Cor. 9. 27. Of all men living we are the most miserable if we be Christless and graceless our Consciences will make more terrible applications of our doctrine to us in hell than ever we made to the vilest of sinners on earth O it 's far easier to study and press a thousand truths upon others than to feel the power of one truth upon our own hearts to teach others facienda quà m faciendo duties to be done than duties by doing them They are sad Dilamma's with which a learned Writer poses Gildas Salv. p. 15 16. such graceless Ministers If Sin be evil why do you live in it If it be not why do you dissuade men from it If it be dangerous how dare you venture on it If it be not why do you tell men so If God 's threatenings be true why don't you fear them If they be false why do you trouble men needlesly with them and put them into such frights without a cause Take heed to your selves lest you should cry down sin and not overcome it lest while you seek to bring it down in others you bow to it and become its slaves your selves it 's easier to chide at sin than to overcome i. That is a smart question Rom. 2. 21. Thou that teachest another teachest thou not thy self A prophane Minister was Converted by reading that Text once but how many have read it as well as he who never trembled at the consideration of it as he did 2. Use for Conviction Is this the method God uses to reconcile men to himself O then examine your selves whether yet the preaching of the 2. Use. Gospel hath reconciled you to God It 's too manifest that many among us are in the state of enmity unto this day we may say with the Prophet Isaiah 53. 1. Who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed We offer you peace upon Gospel terms and Articles but our peace returns to us again enemies you were to God and enemies you still continue The Evidence is undeniable for 1. Evidence Many of you were never Convinced to this day of your state 1. Evid of enmity against God and without Conviction of this reconciliation is impossible without repentance there can be no reconciliation and without Conviction there can be no repentance when we repent we lay down our Weapons Isai. 27. 4 5. But how few have been brought to this Alas if a few poor cold heartless ineffectual confessions of sin may pass for a due Conviction and serious repentance then have we been convinced then have we repented but you will find if ever the Lord intend to reconcile you to himself your Convictions and humiliations for sin will be other manner of things this will cost you more than a few cheap words against sin 2 Cor. 7. 11. In that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge 2. Evidence Many of us never treated seriously with the Lord about peace and how then are we reconciled to him What a 2. Evid peace without a treaty Reconciliation without any consideration about it it can never be When was the time and where was the place that you were found in secret upon your knees mourning over the sin of your Nature and the evils of your ways Certainly you must be brought to this you must with a broken heart bewail your sin and misery Friend that stony heart of thine must feel remorse and anguish for sin it will cost thee some sad days and sorrowful nights or ever thou canst have peace with God it will cost thee many a groan many a tear many a hearty cry to heaven if ever the peace be made betwixt God and thee thou must take with thee words and turn to the Lord saying Take away all iniquity and receive me graciously O for one smile one token of love one hint of favour The child of peace is not born without pangs and agonies of Soul 3. Evidence Many of us are not reconciled to the duties of religion and ways of holiness and how then is it possible we should 3. Evid be reconciled to God What reconciled to God and unreconciled to the ways of God By reconciliation we are made nigh in duties of Communion we draw nigh and can we be made nigh to God and have no heart to draw nigh to God it can never be Examine your hearts and say is not the way of strictness a bondage to you had you not rather be at liberty to fullfill the desires of the flesh and of the mind Could you not wish that the Scriptures had not made some things else your sins and other things your duties do you delight in the Law of God after the inner man and esteem his Judgments concerning all things to be right Do you love secret prayer and delight in duties of Communion with God or rather are they not an ungrateful burden and irksome imposition give Conscience leave to speak plain 4. Evidence Many of us are not Enemies to sin and how then are we reconciled to God what friends with God and our Lusts 4. Eivd too it cannot be Psal. 97. 10. Ye that love the Lord hate evil the same hour our reconciliation is made with God there is an everlasting breach made with sin this
infested to undermine and destroy the whole work of faith but God makes his people victorious over them yea and even at that time they do assent to the truths of the word when they think they do not as appears by their tenderness and fear of sin their diligence and care of duty If I discern these things in a Christians life he must excuse me if I believe him not when he saith he doth not assent to the truths of the Gospel Thirdly our receiving Christ necessarily implies our hearty approbation liking and estimation yea the acquiescence of our very souls in Jesus Christ as the most excellent suitable and compleat remedy for all our wants sins and dangers that ever could be prepared by the wisdome and love of God for them we must receive him with such a frame of heart as rests upon him trusts to and relys upon him if ever we receive him aright to them that believe he is precious 1 Pet. 2. 7. this is the only soveraign plaister in all the world that is large enough and efficacious enough to cure our wounds and therefore as Christ is most highly esteemed and heartily approved as the only remedy for our souls so the soveraign grace and wisdome of God are admired and the way and method he hath taken to save poor lost souls by Jesus Christ most heartily approved as the most apt and excellent method both for his glory and our good that ever could be taken for 't is a plain case that none will espouse themselves with conjugal affections to that person whom they esteem not as the best for them that can be chosen none will forsake and quit all for his sake except they account him as the spouse did the chiefest of ten thousand Cant. 5. 10. There are two things in Christ which must gain the greatest approbation in the soul of a poor convinced sinner and bring it to rest upon Jesus Christ. First That it can find nothing in Christ that is distastful or unsuitable to it as it doth experimentally find in the best creatures In him is no weakness but a fulness of all saving abilities able to save to the uttermost no Pride causing him to scorn and contemn the most wretched soul that comes to him no inconstancy or levity to cause him to cast off the soul whom he hath once received no passion but a Lamb for meekness and patience there is not a spot to be found in him but he is altogether lovely Cant. 5. 16. Secondly As the believer can find nothing in Christ that is distastful so it finds nothing wanting in Christ that is necessary or desirable such is the fulness of wisdome righteousness sanctification and redemption that is in Christ that nothing is left to desire but the full enjoyment of him O saith the soul how compleatly happy shall I be if I can but win Christ I would not envy the Nobles of the earth were I but in Christ. I am an hungry and a thirst and Christ is meat indeed and drink indeed this is the best thing in all the world for me because so necessary and so suitable to the needs of a soul ready to perish I am a law-condemned and a self-condemned sinner trembling for fear of the execution of the curse upon me every moment in Christ is compleat righteousness to justifie my soul O there is nothing better for me than Christ. I see my self plunged both in nature and practice into the odious pollutions of sin and in Christ is a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness his blood is a fountain of merit his spirit a fountain of holiness and purity none but Christ none but Christ. O the manifold wisdome and unsearchable love of God to prepare and furnish such a Christ so fully answering all the needs all the distresses all the fears and burdens of a poor sinner Thus the believing soul approves of Christ as best for it And thus in believing it gives glory to God Rom. 4. 20. Fourthly Receiving Christ consists in the consent and choice of the will and this is the opening of the heart the opening and stretching forth of the soul to receive him thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power Psal. 110. 3. 'T is the great design and main scope of the Gospel to work over the wills of poor sinners to this and this was the great complaint of Christ against the incredulous Jews Joh. 5. 40. ye will not come unto me that ye might have life It is disputed by some whether faith can be seated in two distinct faculties as we seem to place it when we say it involves both the approbation of the judgement and the consent of the will I will not here intangle my discourse with that fruitless dispute I am of the same judgement with those Divines that think Faith cannot be expressed fully by any one single habit or act of the mind or will distinctly for that as one well notes there are such descriptions given of it in Scripture Dr. Owen in his Doctrine of Justification p. 135. Consensus denotare videtur concursum voluntatis cum intellectu ad sentiendum idem quod intellectus sentit 12 Q. 15. a. 1. Fides non est virtus simplex sed diversis constat partibus notitia assensu fiducia quae ad eandem potentiam non pertinent Wendelini Theol. p. 450. such things are proposed as the object of it and such is the experience of all that sincerely believe as no one single act either of the mind or will can answer unto nor do I see any thing repugnant to Scripture or Philosophy if we place it in both faculties Consent saith Vasquez seems to denote the concourse of the will with the understanding but to leave that it is most certain the saving justifying act of faith lies principally in the consent of the will which consent is the effect of the almighty power of God Eph. 1. 19. he allures and draws the will to Christ and he draws with the cords of a man i. e. he prevails with it by rational Arguments for the soul being prepared by convictions of its lost and miserable estate by sin and that there is but one door of hope open to it for an escape from the wrath to come and that is Christ being also satisfied of the fulness and compleatness of his saving ability and of his willingness to make it over for our salvation upon such just and equal terms this cannot but prevail with the will of a poor distressed sinner to consent and chuse him Fifthly and Lastly The last and principal thing included in our receiving of Christ is the respect that this act of acceptance hath unto the terms upon which Christ is tendred to us in the Gospel to which it is most agreeable 1 Cor. 15. 11. so we preach and so ye believed faith answers the Gospel offer Rom. 6. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The will like melted
the Saints would fall a weeping even in Heaven it self and say Lord Heaven will be no more Heaven to us except thou be there thou art the better half of Heaven Eleventhly Christ is an unsearchable mercy who can spell his wonderful name Prov. 30. 4. who can tell over his unsearchable riches Eph. 3. 8. Hence it is that souls never tire in the study or love of Christ because new wonders are eternally rising out of him he is a deep which no line of any created understanding angelical or humane can fathom Twelfthly and Lastly Christ is an everlasting mercy the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. All other enjoyments are perishable time eaten things time like a Moth will fret them out but the riches of Christ are durable riches Prov. 8. 18. the graces of Christ are durable graces Joh. 4. 14. all the creatures are flowers that appear and fade in their month but this Rose of Sharon this Lilly of the Valley never withers Thus you see the mercy performed with his desirable properties Thirdly The last thing to be opened is the manner of 3. Gods performing this mercy to his people which the Lord did 1. Really and truly as he had promised him 2. Exactly agreeable to the promises and predictions of him First Really and truly as he had promised so he made good the promise Act. 2. 36. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made the same Jesus whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ. The manifestation of Christ in the flesh was no phantasm or delusion but a most evident and palpable truth 1 Joh. 1. 1. That which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled A truth so certain that the assertors of it appealed to the very enemies of Christ for the certainty thereof Act. 2. 22. yea not only the sacred but prophane writers witness to it not only the Evangelists and Apostles but even the Heathen writers of those times both Roman and Jewish as Suetonius Tacitus Plinius the younger and Josephus the Jewish Antiquary do all acknowledge it Secondly As God did really and truly perform Christ the promised mercy so he performed this promised mercy exactly agreeable to the promises types and predictions made of him to the Fathers even to the most minute circumstances thereof This is a great truth for our faith to be established in let us therefore cast our eyes both upon the promises and performances of God with respect to Christ the mercy of mercies See how he was represented to the Fathers long before his manifestation in the flesh and what an one he appeared to be when he was really exhibited in the flesh First As to his person and qualifications as it was foretold so it was fulfilled His original was said to be unsearchable and eternal Mica 5. 2. and so he affirmed himself to be Rev. 1. 11. I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last Joh. 6. 31 32. Before Abraham was I am his two natures united in one person was plainly foretold Zech. 13. 7. the man my fellow and such a one God performed Rom. 9. 5. His immaculate purity and holiness was foretold Dan. 9. 24. to anoint the most Holy some render it the great Saint the Prince of Saints and such an one he was indeed when he lived in this world Joh. 8. 46. Which of you convinceth me of sin His Offices were foretold the prophetical Office predicted Deut. 18. 15. and fulfilled in him Joh. 1. 18. his Priestly Office foretold Psal. 110. 4. fulfilled Heb. 9. 14. his Kingly Office foretold Mica 5. 2. and in him fulfilled his very enemies being Judges Mat. 27. 37. Secondly As to his birth the time place and manner thereof was foretold to the Fathers and exactly performed to a tittle First The time prefixed more generally in Jacobs Phophecie Gen. 44. 10. when the Scepter should depart from Judah as indeed it did in Herod the Idumean more particularly in Daniel seventy weeks from the decree of Darius Dan. 9. 24. answering exactly to the time of his birth so cogent and full a proof that Porphyry the great enemy of Christians had no other evasion but that this Prophecie was devised after the event which yet the Jews as bitter enemies to Christ as himself will by no means allow to be true and Lastly The time of his birth was exactly pointed at in Haggai's Prophecie Hag. 2. 7 9. compared with Mal. 3. 1. he must come whilst the second Temple stood at that time was a general expectation of him Joh. 1. 19. and at that very time he came Luke 2. 38. Secondly The place of his birth was foretold to be Bethlehem Ephrata Mica 5. 2. and so it was Mat. 2. 5 6. to be brought up in Nazareth Zech. 6. 12. Behold the man whose name is the branch the word is Netzer whence is the word Nazarite and there indeed was our Lord brought up Mat. 2. 23. Thirdly His Parent was to be a Virgin Isai. 7. 14. punctually fufilled Mat. 1. 20 21 22 23. Fourthly His Stock or Tribe was foretold to be Judah Gen. 49. 10. and it is evident saith the Apostle that our Lord sprang out of Judah Heb. 7. 14. Fifthly His Harbinger or forerunner was foretold Mal. 4. 5 6. fulfilled in John the Baptist Luk. 1. 16 17. Sixthly The obscurity and meanness of his birth was predicted Isai. 53. 2. Zech. 9. 9. to which the event answered Luk. 2. 12. Thirdly His Doctrine and Miracles were foretold Isai. 61. 1 2. and Isai. 35. 4 5. the accomplishment whereof in Christ is evident in the History of all the Evangelists Fourthly His death for us was foretold by the Prophets Dan. 9. 26. The Messiah shall be cut off but not for himself Isai. 53. 5. He was wounded for our transgression and so he was Joh. 11. 50. The very kind and manner of his death was prefigured in the brazen Serpent his Type and answered in his death upon the Cross Joh. 3. 14. Fifthly His burial in the Tomb of a rich man was foretold Isai. 53. 9. and accomplished most exactly Mat. 27. 59 60. Sixthly His resurrection from the dead was Typed out in Jona and fulfilled in Christs abode three days and nights in the Grave Mat. 12. 39. Seventhly The wonderful spreading of the Gospel in the world even to the Isles of the Gentiles was fore-prophesied Isai. 49. 6. To the truth whereof we are not only the witnesses but the happy instances and examples of it Thus the promised mercy was performed Inference 1. If Christ be the mercy of mercies the medium of conveying all other mercies from God to men Then in vain do men expect Inference 1. and hope for the mercy of God out of Jesus Christ. I know many poor sinners comfort themselves with this when they come upon a bed of sickness I am sinful but God is merciful and it is very
take their Timbrel and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ He doth not say they take the Bible turn to the promises and rejoyce in Christ and the Covenant 't is not the melody of a good Conscience the joy of the Holy Ghost no no they have no acquaintance with such musick as that but the rejoycing of Believers is in those things 2 Cor. 1. 12. And this is well-built consolation which reaches the heart Secondly I told you that propriety and interest in Christ and the promises is required to all Spiritual Consolation but no unbeliever hath any title or interest in Christ and the promises and so they can signifie nothing to him in point of Comfort 'T is not another mans mony but my own that must feed cloath and comfort me nor is it another mans Christ but my own Christ that must justifie save and comfort my soul. Thirdly You were told that evidence of a mans peace and reconciliation with God is necessary to his actual consolation which no unbeliever can possibly have he hath neither grace within him to make him a qualified subject of any special promise nor any witness or seal of the spirit to confirm and clear his propriety in Christ for he never seals but where he first sanctifies So that it is beyond all contradiction that Believers and none but Believers are partakers of the Consolations that are in Christ Jesus Fourthly and Lastly There is one inquiry remains to be satisfied namely seeing Jesus Christ is consolation to Believers how it comes to pass that so many Believers in the world should walk so dejectedly as they do without any Spiritual Consolation First This may not be wondred at if we consider that the Consolations of Christ are of two sorts Seminal and in preparation or actual in present possession Every Believer in the world hath the root and seed of comfort planted and sown for him Psal. 97. 11. Light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart They have Christ and the promises which are the seeds of Consolation and will bring forth joy at last though at present they have no actual Consolation the seed of all joy is sown and in due time they shall reap the full ripe fruit thereof Secondly It must be remembred that interest and evidence are distinct blessings every Believer hath interest in Christ but every Believer hath not the evidence thereof Isai. 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord and obeyeth the voice of his Servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light Every Child of God is not of sufficient age to know his Father or take comfort in that blessed inheritance whereunto he is begotten again 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. Thirdly Every Believer doth not walk with like strictness and exact holiness all do not exercise faith in a like degree among Christians some are strong in grace rich in faith strict in obedience tender of sin to an eminent degree these usually are owners of much Consolation but others are weak in grace poor in faith comparatively careless of their hearts and ways frequently grieving the good Spirit of God and wounding their own Consciences the vessel into which Spiritual Consolation is poured and these are usually denied the joy and comfort which others abound withal Fourthly The Consolations of Christ are arbitrarily dispensed by the Spirit who is the Comforter and giveth to every man in such proportions and seasons as pleaseth him whence it comes to pass that he that is rich in comfort to day may be poor to morrow and contrarily the heart that is brimful of sorrow one hour is filled with peace and joy in believing the next Things that are necessary to the being of a Christian are fixed and stable but things belonging only to the well-being of a Christian come and go according to the good pleasure and appointment of the Spirit The use of all follows Inference 1. Hence it follows that the state of unbelievers is the most sad and uncomfortable state in the world having no interest in Christ Inference 1. the Consolation of Israel 'T is true they abound in Creature-comforts they live in pleasure upon earth Joy displaies its colours in their faces but for all this there is not the least drop of true Consolation in any of their hearts they have some comfort in the Creature but none in Christ that little they gather from the Creature now is all their portion of joy Luke 6. 24. Ye have received your consolation as this is all they have so they shall enjoy it but a little while Job 21. 13 17. and while they do injoy it it 's mixt with many gripes of Conscience Job 14. 13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful and the end of that mirth is heaviness whatever consolation any unbeliever speaks of besides this is but by rote for when the day of his distress cometh and the terrors of Conscience shall awake him out of his pleasant dreams all his sensual joys will vanish from him and the dores of true Consolation will be all shut against him Let him go to Jesus Christ knock at that dore and say Lord Jesus thy name is Consolation my heart is ready to burst within me hast thou no Consolation for me O Lord for one drop of Spiritual Comfort now but alas there is none no not in Christ himself for any unbeliever 'T is Childrens bread the Saints priviledge comfort and grace are undivided let him return into himself search his own Conscience for comfort and say O Conscience thou art more than a thousand witnesses and thousands have been comforted by thee where thou speakest comfort none can speak trouble hast thou no Consolation for me in my deepest distress Alas no if God condemn thee wherewithal shall I comfort thee I can speak neither more nor less than the Scriptures put into my mouth and I find not one word in all the Book of God warranting me to be thy Comforter believe it as an undoubted truth though the sense of the bewitched world over-rules it that the state of unbelievers even at the best is a sad and dismal state Inference 2. Let all Believers fetch all their Comfort out of Christ who is Inference 2. the Consolation of his people we rejoice saith the Apostle in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh That 's the true temper of a believing soul Take heed you live not partly upon Christ and partly upon the Creature for your Comfort much rather beware that you forsake not Christ the fountain of living waters and hew out Cisterns for your selves which can hold no water Jer. 2. 13. If you make any Creature the spring and fountain of your comfort assuredly God will dry up that spring if your souls draw their Comfort from any Creature you know they must out-live that Creature and what then will you do for Comfort Beside as your Comforts are so are you The food of
the hand of Satan I gave thee into the bosom of Christ I have pardoned unto thee millions of sins I have bestowed upon thee the riches of mercy my favour hath made thee great and as if all this were too little I have prepared Heaven for thee for which of all these favours dost thou thus requite me Inference 6. How precious should Jesus Christ be to Believers by whose Inference 6. blood they are ingratiated with God and by whose intercession they are and shall for ever be continued in his favour When the Apostle mentions the Believers translation from the sad state of nature to the blessed priviledged state of grace see what a Title he bestows upon Jesus Christ the purchaser of that priviledge calling him the dear Son Col. 1. 13. not only dear to God but exceeding dear to Believers also Christ is the favourite in Heaven to him you owe all your preferment there take away Christ and you have no ground to stand one minute in the favour of God O then let Jesus Christ the fountain of your honour be also the object of your love and praise Inference 7. Estimate by this the state and condition of a deserted Saint Inference 7. upon whom the favour of God is eclipsed If the favour of God be better than life the hiding of it from a gracious soul must be more bitter than death deserted Saints have reason to take the first place among all the mourners in the world the darkness before conversion had indeed more of danger but this hath more of trouble Darkness after light is dismal darkness Since therefore the case is so sad let your preventing care be the more grieve not the good Spirit of God you prepare but for your own grief in so doing Inference 8. Lastly Let this perswade all men to accept Jesus Christ as Inference 8. ever they expect to be accepted with the Lord themselves It is a fearful case for a mans person and duties to be rejected of God to cry and not be heard and much more terrible to be denied audience in the great and terrible day Yet as sure as the Scriptures are the sealed and faithful sayings Si voluntatem Dei nosse quisquam desiderat fit amicus Deo August of God this is no more than what every Christless person must expect in that day Mat. 7. 22. Luke 13. 26. Trace the history of all times even as high as Abel and you shall find that none but Believers did ever find acceptance with God all experience confirms this great truth that they that are in the flesh cannot please God Reader if this be thy condition let me beg thee to ponder the misery of it in a few sad thoughts Consider how sad it is to be rejected of God and forsaken by all creatures at once what a day of streights thy dying day is like to be when Heaven and Earth shall cast thee out together Be assured whatever thy vain hopes for the present quiet thee withal this must be thy case the dore of mercy will be shut against thee no man cometh to the Father but by Christ. Sad was the case of Saul when he told Samuel the Philistins make war against me and God is departed from me 1 Sam. 28. 15. The Saints will have boldness in the day of Judgment 1 John 4. 17. but thou wilt be a confounded man there is yet blessed be the God of mercy a capacity and opportunity of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 19. Isai. 27. 5. But this can be of no long continuance O therefore by all the regard and love you have for the everlasting welfare of your own souls come to Christ embrace Christ in the offers of the Gospel that you may be made accepted in the beloved The Eighteenth SERMON Sermon 18. JOHN 8. 36. Text. The liberty of Believers opened and stated If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed FRom the 30th verse of this Chapter unto my Text you have an account of the different effects which the words of Christ had upon the hearts of his hearers some believed verse 30. these he encourageth to continue in his word verse 31. giving them this encouragement vers 32. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free Hereat the unbelieving Jews take offence and commence a quarrel with him vers 33. We be Abrahams seed and were never in bondage to any man We are of no slavish extraction the blood of Abraham runs in our veins this scornful boast of the proud Jews Christ confutes vers 34. where he distinguisheth of a twofold bondage one to men another to sin one civil another spiritual whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin then tells them vers 36. The servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth for ever Wherein he intimateth two great truths viz. that the servants and slaves of sin may for a time enjoy the external priviledges of the house or Church of God but it would not be long before the master of the house will turn them out of dore but if they were once the adopted Children of God then they should abide in the house for ever And this priviledge is only to be had by their believing in and union with the natural Son of God Jesus Christ which brings us fairly to the Text If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed In which words we have two parts viz. 1. A Supposition 2. A Concession First A Supposition if the Son therefore shall make you free 1. q. d. The womb of nature cast you forth into the world in a state of bondage in that state you have lived all your days servants to sin slaves to your lusts yet freedom is to be obtained and this freedom is the prerogative belonging to the Son of God to bestow if the Son shall make you free Secondly Christs Concession upon this supposition then 2. shall ye be free indeed i. e. you shall have a real freedom an excellent and everlasting fredom no conceit only as that which you now boast of is if ever therefore you will be free men indeed believe in me Hence note DOCT. That interest in Christ sets the soul at liberty from all that Doct. bondage whereunto it was subjected in its natural state Believers are the Children of the New Covenant the denizons of Jerusalem which are above which is free and the mother of them all Gal. 4. 26. the glorious liberty viz. that which is spiritual and eternal is the liberty of the Children of God Rom. 8. 21. Christ and none but Christ delivers his people out of the hands of their enemies Luk. 1. 74. In the Doctrinal part of this point I must shew you First What Believers are not freed from by Jesus Christ in this world Secondly What that bondage is from which every Believer is freed by Christ. Thirdly What kind of
temper Gal. 〈◊〉 1. 23. He which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed thus a Tyger is transformed into a Lamb by the power of the word of God Secondly It makes the soul upon which it works to forgo and quit the dearest interest it hath in this world for Jesus Christ Phil. 3. 7 8 9. riches honours self righteousness dearest relations are denied and forsaken reproach poverty and death it self are willingly imbraced for Christs sake when once the efficacy of the word hath been upon the hearts of men 1 Thes. 1. 6. Those that were their companions in sin are declined renounced and cast off with abhorrence 1 Pet. 4. 3 4. In such things as these the mighty power of the word discovers it self Secondly Next let us see wherein the efficacy of the word upon the souls of men principally consisteth and we find 2. in Scripture it exerteth its power in five distinct acts upon the soul by all which it strikes at the life and kills the very heart of vain hopes For First It hath an awakening efficacy upon secure and sleepy sinners it rouzes the Conscience and brings a man to a sense and feeling apprehension Eph. 5. 13 14. the first effectual jog or touch of the word startles the drousie Conscience A poor sinner lies in his sins as Peter did in his Chains fast asleep though a Warrant were signed for his Execution the next day but the Spirit in the word awakens him as the Angel did Peter and this awakening power of the word is in order both of time and nature antecedent to all its other operations and effects Secondly The Law of God hath an enlightning efficacy upon the minds of men 't is eye-salve to the blinded eye Rev. 3. 18. a light shining in a dark place 2 Pet. 1. 19. a light shining into the very heart of man 2 Cor. 4. 6. When the word comes in power all things appear with another face the sins that were hid from our eyes and the danger which was concealed by the policy of Satan from our souls now lie clear and open before us Eph. 5. 8. Thirdly The word of God hath a convincing efficacy it sets sin in order before the soul Psal. 50. 21. as an Army is drawn up in exact order so are the sins of nature and practice the sins of youth and age even a great and terrible Army is drawn up before the eye of the Conscience the convictions of the word are clear and full 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. the very secrets of a sinners heart are made manifest his mouth is stopt his pleas are silenced his Conscience yields to the charge of guilt and equity of the sentence of the Law So that the soul stands mute and self-condemned at the Bar of Conscience it hath nothing to say why the wrath of God should not come upon it to the uttermost Rom. 3. 19. Fourthly The Law of God hath a soul-wounding an heart-cutting efficacy it pierces into the very soul and spirit of man Act. 2. 37. When they heard this they were pricked at their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do A dreadful sound is in the sinners ears his soul is in deep distress he knows not which way to turn for ease no Plaister but the blood of Christ can heal these wounds which the word makes no outward trouble affliction disgrace or loss ever touched the quick as the word of God doth Fifthly The word hath a heart-turning a soul converting efficacy in it 't is a regenerating as well as a convincing word 1 Pet. 1. 23. 1 Thes. 1. 9. The Law wounds the Gospel cures the Law discovers the evil that is in sin and the misery that follows sin and the Spirit of God working in fellowship with the word effectually turns the heart from sin And thus we see in what glorious acts the efficacy of the word discovers it self upon the hearts of men and all these acts lie in order to each other for until the soul be awakened it cannot be enlightned Eph. 5. 14. till it be enlightned it cannot be convinced Eph. 5. 13. Conviction being nothing else but the application of the light that shines in the mind to the Conscience of a sinner till it be convinced it cannot be wounded for sin Act. 2. 37. and until it be wounded for sin it will never be converted from sin and brought effectually to Jesus Christ and thus you see what the power of the word is Thirdly In the last place it will concern us to enquire whence the word of God hath all this power and it is 3. most certain that it is not a power inherent in it self nor derived from the instrument by which it is managed but from the Spirit of the Lord who communicates to it all that power and efficacy which it hath upon our souls First Its power is not in or from it self it works not in a Physical way as natural agents do for then the effect would alwayes follow except it were miraculously hindred but this spiritual efficacy is in the word as the healing vertue was in the waters of Bethesda John 5. 4. An Angel went down at a certain season into the Pool and troubled the water whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had It is not a power naturally inherent in it at all times but communicated to it at some special seasons how often is the word Preached and no man awaked or convinced by it Secondly The power of the word is not communicated to it by the instrument that manageth it 1 Cor. 3. 7. Neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth Ministers are nothing to such an effect and purpose as this is he doth not mean that they are useless and altogether unnecessary but insufficient of themselves to produce such mighty effects it works not as it is the word of man 1 Thes. 2. 13. Ministers may say of the ordinary as Peter said of the extraordinary effects of the Spirit Acts 3. 12. Ye men of Israel why marvel ye at this or why look ye so earnestly on us as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk If the effects of the word were in the power and at the command of him that preacheth it then the blood of all the souls that perish under our Ministry must lye at our door as was formerly noted Thirdly If you say whence then hath the word all this power Our answer is it derives it all from the Spirit of God 1 Thes. 2. 13. For this cause thank we God without ceasing Literâ jubetur spiritu donaâ—…r Aug. Ep. 157. because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God
which effectually worketh also in you that believe 'T is a successful instrument only when it is in the hand of the Spirit without whose influence it never did nor can convince convert or save any soul. Now the Spirit of God hath a soveraignty over three things in order to the conversion of the sinner viz. 1. Over the word which works 2. Over the soul wrought upon 3. Over the time and season of working First The Spirit hath a glorious soveraignty over the word it self whose instrument it is to make it successful or not as it pleaseth him Isai. 55. 10 11. For as the rain cometh down and the snow from Heaven c. so shall my word be that goeth out of my mouth as the Clouds so the word is carried and directed by divine pleasure 't is the Lord that makes them both give down their blessings or to pass away fruitless and empty yea 't is from the Spirit that this part of the word works and not another those things upon which Ministers bestow greatest labour in their preparation and from which accordingly they have the greatest expectation these do nothing when mean time something that dropt occasionally from them like a chosen Shaft strikes the mark and doth the work Secondly The Spirit of the Lord hath a glorious soveraignty over the souls wrought upon 't is his peculiar work to take away the stony heart out of our flesh and to give us an heart of flesh Ezec. 36. 26. We may reason exhort and reprove but nothing will stick till the Lord set it on The Lord opened the heart of Lydia under Pauls ministry he opens every heart that is effectually opened to receive Christ in the word if the word can get no entrance if your hearts remain dead under it still we may say concerning such souls as Martha did concerning her Brother Lazarus Lord if thou hadst been here my Brother had not died So Lord if thou hadst been in this Sermon in this Prayer or in that counsel these souls had not remained dead under them Thirdly The Spirit hath dominion over the times and seasons of conviction and conversion therefore the day in which souls are wrought upon is called the day of his power Psal. 110. 3. that shall work at one time which had no efficacy at all at another time because this and not that was the time appointed and thus you see whence the word derives that mighty power it hath Now this word of God when it is set home by the Spirit is mighty to convince humble and break the hearts of sinners Joh. 16. 9. The Spirit when it cometh shall convince the world of sin the word signifies conviction by such clear demonstration as compelleth assent it not only convinces men in general that they are sinners but it convinceth men particularly of their own sins and the aggravations of them So in the Text sin revived that is the Lord revived his sins the very circumstances and aggravations with which they were committed and so it will be with us when the Commandment comes sins that we had forgotten committed so far back as our youth or childhood sins that lay slighted in our Consciences shall now be rouzed up as so many sleepy Lyons to affright and terrifie us for now the soul hears the voice of God in the word as Adam heard it in the cool of the day and was afraid and hides it self but all will not do for the Lord is come in the word sin is held up before the eyes of the Conscience in its dreadful aggravations and fearful consequences as committed against the holy Law clear light warnings of Conscience manifold mercies Gods long-suffering Christs precious blood many warnings of judgements the wages and demerit whereof by the verdict of a mans own Conscience is death eternal death Rom. 6. 23. Rom. 1. 32. Rom. 2. 9. thus the Commandment comes sin revives and vain hopes give up the Ghost Inference 1. Is there such a mighty power in the word then certainly the word is of divine authority there cannot be a more clear and Inference 1 satisfying proof that it is no humane invention than the common sense that all Believers have of the almighty power in which it works upon their hearts so speaks the Apostle 1. Thes. 2. 13. When ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of man but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Can the power of any creature the word of a meer man so convince the Conscience so terrifie the heart so discover the very secret thoughts of the soul put a man into such tremblings No no a greater than man must needs be here none but a God can so open the eyes of the blind so open the graves of the dead so quicken and enliven the Conscience that was seared so bind over the soul of a sinner to the judgement to come so change and alter the frame and temper of a mans spirit so powerfully raise refresh and comfort a drooping dying soul. Certainly the power of God is in all this and if there were no more yet this alone were sufficient to make full proof of the divine authority of the Scriptures Inference 2. Judge from hence what an invaluable mercy the preaching of Inference 2. the word is to the world 't is a blessing far above our estimation of it little do we know what a treasure God committeth to us in the Ordinances Acts 13. 25. To you is the word of this salvation sent 't is the very power of God to salvation Rom. 1. 16. and salvation is ordinarily denied to whom the preaching of the word is denied Rom. 10. 14. It 's called the word of life Phil. 2. 16. and deserves to be valued by every one of us as our life the eternal decree of Gods election is executed by it upon our souls as many as be ordained to eternal life shall believe by the preaching of it Great is the ingratitude of this generation which so slights and undervalues this invaluable treasure which is a sad presage of the most terrible judgement even the removing our Candlestick out of its place except we repent Inference 3. How sore and terrible a judgement lies upon the souls of those Inference 3. men to whom no word of God is made powerful enough to convince and awaken them Yet so stands the case with thousands who constantly sit under the preaching of the word many Arrows are shot at their Consciences but none goes home to the mark all fall short of the end the Commandment hath come unto them many thousand times by way of promulgation and ministerial inculcation but never yet came home to their souls by the spirits effectual application Oh friends you have often heard the voice of man but you never yet heard the voice of God your understandings have been instructed but your
the way be never so great or many As he said necesse est ut eam non ut vivam 't is necessary that I go on 't is not necessary that I live so saith the soul that is taught of God 't is easier with me to dispense with ease honour relations yea with life it self than to part with Christ and the hopes of eternal life Lesson 12. Twelfthly They that come to Christ are taught of God that whatever guilt and unworthiness they discover in themselves and whatever fears and doubts hang upon their hearts as to pardon and acceptance yet as the case stands it is their wisdom and great interest to venture themselves in the way of faith upon Jesus Christ whatever the issue thereof be Three great discouragements are usually found upon the hearts of those that come to Christ in the way of faith First The sensible greatness of guilt and sin how can I go to Christ that am in such a case that have been so vile a wretch and here measuring the grace and mercy of Chris by what it finds in it self or in other creatures 1 Sam. 24. 19. the soul is ready to sink under the weight of its own discouraging and misgiving thoughts Secondly The sense they have of their own weakness and inability to do what God requires and must of necessity be done if ever they be saved my heart is harder than an Adamant how can I break it My will is stubborn and exceeding obstinate I am no way able to bow it the frame and temper of my spirit is altogether carnal and earthly and it is not in the power of my hand to alter and change it alas I cannot subdue any one corruption nor perform one spiritual duty nor bear one of those sufferings and burthens which religion lays upon all that follow Christ this also proves a great discouragement in the way of faith Thirdly And which is more than all the soul that is coming to Jesus Christ hath no assurance of acceptance with him if it should adventure himself upon him 't is a great hazard a great adventure 't is much more probable if I look to my self that Christ will shut the door of mercy against me But under all these discouragements the soul learns this Lesson from God that as ungodly as it is as weak and impotent as it is as full of fears and doubts as it is nevertheless it is every way its great duty and concernment to go on in the way of faith and make that great adventure of it self upon Jesus Christ and of this the Lord convinceth the soul by two things viz. 1. From the absolute necessity of coming 2. From the incouraging probabilities of speeding First The soul seeth an absolute necessity of coming necessity is laid upon it there is no other way Acts. 4. 12. God hath shut it up by a blessed necessity to this only dore of escape Gal. 3. 23. damnation lies in the neglect of Christ Heb. 2. 3. The soul hath no choice in this case Angels Ministers duties repentance reformation cannot save me Christ and none but Christ can deliver me from present guilt and the wrath to come why do I dispute demur delay when certain ruine must inevitably follow the neglect or refusal of Gospel offers Secondly The Lord sheweth those that are under his teaching the probabilities of mercy for their encouragement in the way of believing and these probabilities the soul is enabled to gather from the general and free invitations of the Gospel Isai. 55. 1 7. Rev. 22. 17. from the conditional promises of the Gospel Joh. 6. 37. Mat. 11. 28. Isai. 1. 18. from the vast extent of grace beyond all the thoughts and hopes of creatures Isai. 55. 8 9. Heb. 7. 25. from the incouraging examples of other sinners who have found mercy in as bad condition as they 1 Tim. 1. 13. 2 Chron. 33. 3. 1 Cor. 6. 10 11. from the Command of God which warrants the action and answers all the objections of unworthiness and presumption in them that come to Christ 1 John 3. 23. and lastly from the sensible changes already made upon the temper and frame of the heart Time was when I had no sense of sin nor sorrow for sin no desires after Christ nor heart to duties but it is not so with me now I now see the evil of sin so as I never saw it before my heart is now broken in the sense of that evil my desires begin to be enflamed after Jesus Christ. I am not at rest nor where I would be till I am in secret mourning after the Lord Jesus Surely these are the dawnings of the day of mercy let me go on in this way it saith as the Lepers at the siege of Samaria 2 King 7. 3 4. If I stay here I perish if I go to Christ I can but perish Hence Believers bear up against all objected discouragements certum exitium commutemus incerto 't is the dictate of wisdom the vote of reason to exchange a certain for an uncertain ruine And thus you have heard what those excellent Lessons are which all that come to Christ are taught by the Father The Twenty third SERMON Sermon 23. JOHN 6. 45. Text. It is written in the prophets And they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me IN the former Sermon you have been taught this great truth Doct. That the teachings of God are absolutely necessary to every soul that cometh unto Christ in the way of faith What the teachings of God import hath been formerly opened and what those special Lessons are which all believers hear and learn of the Father was the last thing discoursed that which remains to be further cleared about this subject before I come to the Application of the whole will be to shew you 1. What are the Properties of divine teachings 2. What influence they have in bringing souls to Christ. 3. Why it is impossible for any man to come to Christ without these teachings of the Father First what are the properties of divine teachings Concerning the teachings of God we affirm in general that though 1. they exclude not yet they vastly differ from all humane teachings as the power of God in effecting transcends all humane power so the wisdom of God in teaching transcends all humane wisdom For First God teacheth powerfully he speaketh to the soul with a strong hand when the word comes accompanied with the Spirit 't is mighty through God to cast down all imaginations 2 Cor. 10. 4. Now the Gospel comes not in word only as it was wont to do but in power 1 Thess. 1. 4 5. a power that makes the soul fall flat before it and acknowledge that God is in that word 1 Cor. 14. 25. Secondly the teachings of God are sweet teachings Men never relish the sweetness of a truth till they learn it from God Cant. 1. 3. His
from all other teachings 3d Use of Exhortation The last use I shall make of this point shall be a word of exhortation both to them that never were yet effectually Use 3. taught of God and to them also that have heard his voice and are come to Christ. First To those that never yet heard the voice of God speaking to their hearts and truly this is the general case of most men and women in the professing world they have heard the sound of the Gospel but it hath been a confused empty and ineffectual sound in their ears we have heard the voice of man but have never yet heard the voice of God the gifts and abilities of Preachers have in a notional and meer humane way improved their understandings and sometimes slightly touched their affections all this is but the effect of man upon man O that you would look for something which is beyond all this satisfie not your selves with what is meerly natural and humane in ordinances come to the word with higher ends and more spiritual designs than to get some notions of truth which you had not before or to judge the gifts and abilities of the speaker if God speak not to your hearts all the Ordinances in the world can do you no good 1 Cor. 3. 7. O remember what a solemn and awful thing it is to come to those Ordinances and attend upon that Ministration in and by which the eternal decrees of Heaven are to be executed upon your souls which must be to you the savour of life unto life or of death unto death wrastle with God by prayer for a blessing upon the Ordinances Say Lord speak thy self to my heart let me hear thy voice and feel thy power in this Prayer or in this Sermon others have heard thy voice cause me to hear it it had been much better for me if I had never heard the voice of Preachers except I hear thy voice in them Secondly Let all those that have heard the voice of God and are come to Christ in the vertue of his teachings admire the wonderful condescension of God to them O that God should speak to thy soul and be silent to others there be many thousands living at this day under Ordinances to whom the Lord hath not given an ear to hear or an heart to obey Deut. 29. 4. To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given Mat. 13. 11. and I beseech you walk as men and women that have been taught of God When Satan and your corruptions tempt you to sin and to walk in the wayes of the carnal and careless world remember then that Scripture Eph. 4. 20 21. But ye have not so learned Christ if so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus To conclude see that you be exceeding humble and lowly in Spirit humility qualifies you for divine teachings Psal. 25. 9. The humble he will teach and the more ye are taught of God the more humble you will still be And thus you see that no man can come to Christ without the application of the Law and the teachings of the Father which being considered may be very useful to convince us which indeed is the design of it that among the multitudes of men and women living under the Ordinances of God and the general profession of Religion there are but few very few to be found who have effectually received the Lord Jesus Christ by saving faith And now Reader I suppose by this time thou art desirous to know by what signs and evidences thy union with Christ by faith may be cleared up and made evident to thee and how that great question whether thou hast yet effectually applied Christ to thy soul or no may be clearly decided which brings me to the third general Use of the whole viz. The Examination of our Interest in Christ. By 1. The donation of the Spirit from 1 Joh. 3. 24. 2. The new Creation from 2 Cor. 5. 17. 3. The mortification of sin from Gal. 5. 24. 4. The imitation of Christ from 1 Joh. 2. 6. Of each of these Trials of our interest in Christ I shall speak in their order and first of the donation of the Spirit The Twenty fourth SERMON Sermon 24. 1 JOHN 3. 24. Text. And hereby we know that be abideth in us Of the manner and importance of the Spirits indwelling by the Spirit which he hath given us THe Apostle in this Chapter is engaged in a very trying Discourse his scope is to discriminate the spirits and states of sincere Believers from meerly nominal and pretended Christians which he attempts not to do by any thing that is external but by the internal effects and operations of the Spirit of God upon their hearts His enquiry is not into those things which men profess or about the duties which they perform but about the frames and tempers of their hearts and the principles by which they are acted in religion According to this Test he puts Believers upon the search and study of their own hearts calls them to reflect upon the effects and operations of the Spirit of God wrought within their own souls assuring them that those gracious effects and fruits of the Spirit in their hearts will be a solid evidence unto them of their union with Jesus Christ amounting to much more than a general conjectural ground of hope under which it is possible there may subesse falsum lurk a dangerous and fatal mistake but the gracious effects of the Spirit of God within them are a foundation upon which they may build the certainty and assurance of their union with Christ hereby we know that he abideth in us by the spirit which he hath given us In which words we have three things to consider viz. 1. The thing to be tried our Union with Christ. 2. The trial of it by the giving of his Spirit to us 3. The certainty of the trial this way hereby we know First The thing to be tried which indeed is the greatest 1. and weightiest matter that can be brought to tryal in this world or in that to come namely our union with Christ expressed here by his abiding in us a phrase clearly expressing the difference betwixt those that by profession and common estimation pass for Christians among men though they have no other union with Christ but by an external adhesion to him in the outside duties of Religion and those whose union with Christ is real vital and permanent by the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ in their souls Joh. 15. 5 6. opens the force and importance of this phrase I am the vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit if a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered the thing then to be tried is whether
person and real participation of his benefits now this is the question to be determined the matter to be tryed than which nothing can be more solemn and important in the whole world Secondly The rule by which this great question may be 2. determined viz. The new Creation if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature by this rule all the titles and claims made to Christ in the professing world are to be examined if any man be he what he will high or low great or small learned or illiterate young or old if he pretend interest in Christ this is the standard by which he must be tryed if he be in Christ he is a new Creature and if he be not a new Creature he is not in Christ let his endowments gifts confidence and reputation be what it will be a new Creature not new Physically he is the same person he was but a new Creature that is a creature renewed by gracious principles newly infused into him from above which sway him and guide him in another manner and to another end than ever he acted before and these gracious principles not being educed out of any thing which was preexistent in man but infused de novo from above are therefore called in this place a new Creature this is the rule by which our claim to Christ must be determined Thirdly This general rule is here more particularly explained 3. old things are passed away behold all things are become new he satisfies not himself to lay down this rule concisely or express it in general terms by telling us the man in Christ must be a new Creature but more particularly he shews us what this new creature is and what the parts thereof are viz. Both the 1. Privative part old things are passed away 2. Positive part thereof all things are become new By old things he means all those carnal principles self ends fleshly lusts belonging to the carnal state or the old man all these are passed away not simply and perfectly but only in Non simpliciter perfectè sed partim re partim spe Estius in loc part at present and wholly in hope and expectation hereafter So much briefly of the privative part of the new Creature old things are passed away a word or two must be spoken of the positive part all things are become new He means not that the old faculties of the soul are abolished and new ones created in their room but as our bodies may be said to be new bodies by reason of their new endowments and qualities super-induced and bestowed upon them in their resurrection so our souls are now renewed by the infusion of new gracious principles into them in the work of regeneration These two parts viz. the privative part the passing away of old things and the positive part the renewing of all things do betwixt them comprize the whole nature of sanctification which in other Scriptures is expressed by equivalent phrases sometimes by putting off the old and putting on the new man Eph. 4. 24. sometimes by dying unto sin and living unto righteousness Rom. 6. 11. which is the self-same thing the Apostle here intends by the passing away of old things and making all things new and because this is the most excellent glorious and admirable work of the spirit which is or can be wrought upon man in this world therefore the Apostle asserts it with an Ecce a note of special remarque and observation behold all things are become new q. d. behold and admire this surprizing marvellous change which God hath made upon men they are come out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. out of the old as it were into a new world behold all things are become new Hence Note DOCT. That Gods creating of a new supernatural work of grace in the Doct. soul of any man is that mans sure and infallible evidence of a saving interest in Jesus Christ. Suitable hereunto are those words of the Apostle Eph. 4. 20 21 22 23 24. But ye have not so learned Christ if so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness where we have in other words of the same importance the very self-same description of the man that is in Christ which the Aposte gives us in this Text. Now for the opening and stating of this point it will be necessary that I shew you 1. Why the regenerating work of the Spirit is called a new Creation 2. In what respects every soul that is in Christ is renewed or made a new Creature 3. What are the remarkable properties and qualities of this new Creature 4. The necessity of this new Creation to all that are in Christ. 5. How this new Creation evidences our interest in Christ. 6. And then Apply the whole in the proper uses of it First Why the regenerating work of the spirit is called a 1. new Creation this must be our first enquiry and doubtless the reason of this appellation is the Analogy proportion and similitude which is found betwixt the work of regeneration and Gods work in the first Creation and their agreement and proportion will be found in the following particulars First The same Almighty Author who created the world createth also this work of grace in the soul of man 2 Cor. 4. 6. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ the same powerful word which created the natural createth also the spiritual light it is equally absurd for any man to say I make my self Minus el te fecisse hominem quam sanctum to repent or to believe as it is to say I made my self to exist and be Secondly The first thing that God created in the natural world was light Gen. 1. 3. and the first thing which God createth in the new Creation is the light of spiritual knowledge Col. 3. 10. And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that Created him Thirdly Creation is out of nothing it requires no pre-existent matter it doth not bring one thing out of another but something out of nothing it gives a being to that which before had no being So it is also in the new Creation 1 Pet. 2. 9 10. who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy the work of grace is not educed out of the power and principles of
nature but is a pure work of creation The heathen Philosophers could neither understand nor acknowledge the creation of the world because that notion was repugnant to this maxime of reason ex nihilo nihil fit out of nothing nothing can be made thus did they insanire cum ratione befool themselves with their own reasonings and after the same manner some great pretenders to reason among us voting it an absurdity to affirm that the work of grace is not virtually and potentially contained in nature the new Creation in the old Fourthly It was the vertue and efficacy of the spirit of God which gave the natural world its being by Creation Gen. 1. 2. the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters it hovered over the chaos as the wings of a bird do over her eggs as the same word is rendred Deut. 32. 11. cherishing as it were by incubation that rude mass by a secret quickening influence by which it drew all the Creatures into their several forms and particular natures So it is in the new Creation a quickning influence must come from the spirit of God or else the new creature can never be formed in us Joh. 3. 8. So is every one that is born of the Spirit and ver 6. that which is born of the spirit is spirit Fifthly The word of God was the instrument of the first creation Psal. 33. 6 9. By the word of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth for he spake and it was done he commanded and it stood fast the word of God is also the instrument of the new Creation or work of Grace in man 1 Pet. 1. 23. Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever So James 1. 18. Of his own will beg at he us with the word of truth of his own will that was the impulsive cause with the word of truth that is the instrumental cause great respect and honour love and delight is due to the word upon this account that it is the instrument of our regeneration or new Creation Sixthly The same power which created the world still under-props and supports it in its being the world owes its conservation as well as its existence to the power of God without which it could not subsist one moment Just so it is with the new Creation which entirely depends upon the preserving power which first formed it Jude ver 1. Preserved in Christ Jesus and 1 Pet. 1. 5. Who were kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation as in a natural way we live move and have our being in God Acts 17. 28. so in a spiritual way we continue believing repenting loving and delighting in God without whose continued influence upon our souls we could do neither Seventhly In a word God surveyed the first Creation with complacence and great delight he beheld the work of his hands and approved them as very good Gen. 1. 31. so is it also in the second creation nothing pleaseth and delights God more than the works of grace in the souls of his people it is not any outward priviledge of nature or gift of Providence which commends any man to God circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but a new creature Gal. 6. 15. And thus you see upon what grounds the work of regeneration in man is stiled a new Creature which was the first thing to be opened Secondly Next we must enquire in what respects every soul that is in Christ is renewed or made a new Creature 2. and here we shall find a threefold renovation of every man that is in Christ viz. He is renewed 1. In his state and Condition 2. In his frame and Constitution 3. In his practice and Conversation First He is renewed in his state and condition for he passeth from death to life in his Justification 1 Joh. 3. 14. he was condemned by the Law he is now Justified freely by grace through the redemption which is in Christ he was under the curse of the first Covenant he is under the blessing of the new Covenant he was afar off but is now made nigh unto God an alien a stranger once now of the houshold of God Eph. 2. 12 13. O blessed change from a sad to a sweet and comfortable condition There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 1. Secondly Every man in Christ is renewed in his frame and constitution all the faculties and affections of his soul are renewed by regeneration his understanding was dark but now is light in the Lord Eph. 5. 8. his conscience was dead and secure or full of guilt and horrour but is now become tender watchful and full of peace Heb. 9. 14. his will was rebellious stubborn and inflexible but is now made obedient and complying with the will of God Psal. 110. 2. his desires did once pant and spend themselves in the pursuit of vanities now they are set upon God Isa. 26. 8. his Love did fondly dote upon ensnaring earthly objects now it is swallowed up in the infinite excellencies of God and Christ Psal. 119. 97. his joy was once in trifles and things of nought now his rejoycing is in Christ Jesus Phil. 3. 3. his fears once were versant about noxious creatures now God is the object of the fear of reverence Act. 9. 31. and sin the object of the fear of caution 2 Cor. 7. 11. his hopes and expectations were only from the world present but now from that to come Heb. 6. 19. Thus the soul in its faculties and affections is renewed which being done the members and senses of the body must needs be destinated and imployed by it in new services no more to be the weapons of unrighteousness but instruments of service to Jesus Christ Rom. 6. 19. and thus all that are in Christ are renewed in their frame and constitution Thirdly The man in Christ is renewed in his practice and Conversation the manner of operation alwayes follows the nature of beings now the regenerate not being what they were cannot walk and act as once they did Eph. 2. 1 2 3. And you hath he quickned who were once dead in trespasses and sins wherein ye walked according to the course of this world c. they were carryed away like water by the strength of the tyde by the influence of their own corrupt natures and the customes and examples of the world but the case is now altered So in 1 Cor. 6. 11. the Apostle shews believers their old companions in sin and tells them such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified c. q. d. the world is now well altered with you thanks be to the grace of God for it This wonderful change of practice which is so universal and remarkable in all the regenerate and immediately consequent to their conversion sets
thy delight as once they were but thy shame and sorrow This is a comfort that thy case is not singular but more or less the same complaints and sorrows are found in all gracious souls through the world and to say all in one word This is the comfort above all comforts that the time is at hand in which all thâ—…se defects infirmities and failings shall be done away 1 Cor. 13. 10. When that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away For ever blessed be God for Jesus Christ. And thus I have finished the third general Use of Examination whereby every man is to try his interest in Christ and discern whether ever Christ hath been effectually applied to his soul. That which remains is a Use of Lamentation Wherein the miserable and most wretched state of all those to whom Jesus Christ is not effectually applied will be yet more particularly discovered and bewailed The Thirty first SERMON Sernâ—… EPHES. 5. 14. Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest and rise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Text. Of the state of Spiritual Death and the misery thereof THis Scripture represents unto us the miserable and lamentable state of the unregenerate as being under the power of spiritual death which is the cause and in-let of all other miseries From hence therefore I shall make the first discovery of the woful and wretched state of them that apply not Jesus Christ to their own souls The scope of the Apostle in this Context is to press believers to a circumspect and holy life to walk as children of light This exhortation is laid down in ver 8. and pressed by diverse arguments in the following verses First from the tendency of holy principles unto holy fruits and practices ver 9 10. Secondly from the convincing efficacy of practical godliness upon the consciences of the wicked ver 11 12 13. It awes and convinces their consciences Thirdly from the co incidence of such a conversation with the great design and drift of the scriptures which is to awaken men by regeneration out of that spiritual sleep or rather death which sin hath cast them into And this is the Argument of the Text Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest c. There is some difficulty in the reference of these words Some think it refers to Isa. 26. 19. Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust Others to Isa. 60. 1. Arise shine for thy light is come c. But most probably the words neither refer to this or that particularly but to the drift and scope of the whole Scriptures which were inspired and written upon this great design to awaken and quicken souls out of the state of spiritual death And in them we are to consider these three things more distinctly and particularly 1. The miserable state of the unregenerate they are asleep and dead 2. Their duty which is to awake and stand up from the dead 3. The power enabling them thereunto Christ shall give thee light First The miserable state of the unregenerate represented under the Notions of sleep and death both expressions intending 1. one and the same thing though with some variety of Notion The Christless and unregenerate world is in a deep sleep a spirit of slumber senselesness and security is fallen upon them though they lie exposed immediately to eternal wrath and misery ready to drop into hell every moment Just as a man that is fast asleep in a house on fire and whilst the consuming flames are round about him his fancy is sporting it self in some pleasant dream this is a very lively resemblance of the unregenerate soul. But yet he that sleeps hath the principle of life entire in him though his senses be bound and the actions of life suspended by sleep Lest therefore we should think it is only so with the unregenerate the expression is designedly varied and those that were said to be asleep are positively affirmed to be dead on purpose to inform us that it is not a simple suspension of the acts and exercise but a total privation of the principle of spiritual life which is the misery of the unregenerate Secondly We have here the duty of the unregenerate which is to awake out of sleep and arise from the dead This is their great 2. concernment no duty in the world is of greater necessity and importance to them Strive saith Christ to enter in at the strait gate Luke 13. 24. And the order of these duties is very natural First awake then arise Startling and rousing convictions make way for spiritual life till God awake us by convictions of our misery we will never be perswaded to arise and move towards Christ for remedy and safety Thirdly But you will say if unregenerate men be dead men to what purpose is it to perswade them to arise and stand up 3. The very exhortation supposes some power or ability in the Quamvis verba videntur velle primum excitari surgere deinde illuminari tamen intelligendum est vi lucis Christi excitari eum surgere Roll. in Loc. unregenerate else in vain are they commanded to arise This difficulty is solved in this very Text though the duty be ours yet the power is Gods God commands that in his word which only his grace can perform Christ shall give thee light Popish Commentators would build the power of free will upon this Scripture by a very weak argument drawn from the order wherein these things are here expressed which is but a weak foundation to build upon for it is very usual in Scripture to put the effect before and the cause after as it is here so in Isa. 26. 19. Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust But I will not here intangle my discourse with that controversie that which I aim at is plain in the words viz. DOCT. That all Christless souls are under the power of Spiritual death Doct. they are in the state of the dead Multitudes of testimonies are given in Scripture to this truth Eph. 2. 1 5. You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins Col. 2. 13. And you being dead in your sint and the uncircumcision of your flesh hath he quickened together with him with many other places of the same importance But the method in which I shall discourse this point will be this First I will shew you in what sence Christless and unregenerate men are said to be dead Secondly what the state of spiritual death is Thirdly how it appears that all unregenerate men are in this sad state And then apply it First In what sense are Christless and unregenerate men 1. said to be dead men To open this we must know there is a threefold death viz. Death 1. Natural 2. Spiritual 3. Eternal Natural death is nothing else but the privation of the principle of natural life or the separation of
behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord. Against this discourse the Apostle foresaw and obviated this objection If your Gospel be so clear what is the reason that many who live under the ministration of it and they none of the meanest neither for wisdom and understanding do yet see no glory nor excellency in it To this he returns in the words I have read if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost whose eyes the god of this world hath blinded c. q. d. 'T is true multitudes there are who see no glory in Christ or the gospel but the fault is not in either but in the minds of them that believe not The Sun shines forth in its glory but the blind see no glory in it the fault is not in the Sun but in the eye In the words themselves we have three parts to consider 1. A dreadful Spiritual Judgement inflicted 2. The wicked instrument by whom it is inflicted 3. The politick manner in which he doth it First We have here a very dreadful Spiritual Judgement inflicted upon the souls of men viz. the hiding of the Gospel 1. from them if our Gospel be hid For these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are a concession that so it is a very sad but undeniable truth Many there are that see no beauty in Christ nor necessity of him though both are so plainly and evidently revealed in our Gospel if our Gospel be hid 't is called our Gospel not as if Paul and the other Preachers of it were the Authors and Inventers of it but our Gospel because we are the Preachers and Dispensers of it We are put in trust with the Gospel and though we Preach it in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power using all plainness of speech to make men understand it yet it is hid from many under our ministry 't is hid from their understandings they see no glory in it and hid from their hearts they feel no power in it Our Gospel notwithstanding all our endeavours is a hidden Gospel unto some this is the sorest and most dreadful Judgement Secondly We have here an account of that wicked Instrument 2. by whom this judgement is inflicted viz. Satan called here by a Mimesis the god of this world not simply and properly but because he challenges to himself the honour of a God rules over a vast Empire and hath multitudes of souls even the far greater part of the world in subjection and blind obedience to his government Thirdly Here also we have an account of the politick manner of his government how he maintains his dominion 3. among men and keeps the world in quiet subjection to him namely by blinding the minds of all them that believe not putting out the eyes of all his subjects darkning that noble faculty the mind or understanding the thinking considering and reasoning power of the soul which the Philosophers truly call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the leading and directing faculty for it is to the soul what eyes are to the body and it is therefore called the eyes of the understanding Eph. 1. 18. These eyes Satan blinds i. e. he darkens the mind and understanding with ignorance and error so that when men come to see and consider spiritual things they see indeed but perceive not Isa. 6. 9 10. They have some general confused notions but no distinct powerful and effectual apprehensions of those things and this is the way indeed none like it to bar men effectually from Jesus Christ and hinder the application of the benefits of redemption to their souls 'T is true the righteous God permits all this to be done by Satan upon the souls of men but wheresoever he finally prevails thus to blind them it is as the Text speaks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in them that are lost or appointed of God unto perdition The elect of God are all blinded for a time but Christ applieth unto them his Eye salve effectually opens the eyes of their understandings and recovers them thereby out of Satans power and dominion but as for those who still continue thus blinded the Symptoms and Characters of eternal death appear upon their souls they are a company of lost men DOCT. That the understandings of all unbelievers are blinded by Satans policies in order to their everlasting perdition Four things must be opened in the Doctrinal part of this point First what the blinding of the understanding or hiding of the Gospel from the understanding is Secondly I shall demonstrate that the understandings of many are thus blinded and the Gospel hidden from them Thirdly I shall shew what policies Satan uses to blind the minds of men Fourthly That this blindness is the sorest judgement and in order to mens everlasting perdition Fifthly And then apply the whole First we shall enquire what the blinding of the mind or hiding 1. of the Gospel from it is Two sorts of men are thus blinded in the world 1. Those that want the means of illumination 2. Those that have the means but are denied the blessing and efficacy of them The former is the case of the Pagan world who are in midnight darkness for want of the Gospel The later is the case of the Christian world The greatest part of them that live within the sound of the Gospel being blinded by the God of this world Isa. 6. 9 10. And he said Go and tell this people hear ye indeed but understand not and see ye indeed but perceive not make the heart of this people fat and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and convert and be healed Thus when the Son of righteousness actually rose in the world it is said John 1. 5. The light shined in darkness but the darkness comprehended it not So we may say of all that light which is in the understanding of all unbelievers what Job speaks of the grave Job 10. 22. That the light there is as darkness But more particularly to open the nature of this Spiritual blindness I will show you 1. What it is not opposed unto 2. What it is opposed unto First Let us examine what Spiritual blindness or the hiding of the Gospel from the minds of men is not opposed unto and we shall find First That it is not opposed unto natural wisdom a man may be of an acute and clear understanding Eagle-eyed to discern the mysteries of nature and yet the Gospel may be hidden from him Who were more sagacious and quick-sighted in natural things than the heathen Philosophers renowned for wisdom in their generation Yet unto them the Gospel was but foolishness 1 Cor. 1. 20 21. S. Augustine confesseth that before his conversion he was filled with offence and contempt of the simplicity of the Gospel Dedignabar esse parvulus saith he I scorned to become a child again And that great