a godly Life therefore is in Christ Jesus and shall be saved 12. It is also by the Holy Spirit that Believers are sealed unto the Day of Redemption Also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise Strange Can these fall away Can such perish that have received the Earnest of Heaven and have the Witness of the Spirit and have it sealed to them No no God hath put his Seal or Mark upon them he by his Seal hath secured them to and for himself and all this is the Effects of Christ's Death and Resurrection 13. The Spirit also thus purchased by Christ's Death and given as the Fruits and Effects thereof to Believers the Promise of the Father is that it shall abide with them for ever it is the great Promise made to Christ in the Covenant My Spirit which is upon thee shall not depart from thee nor from thy Seed henceforth and for ever See the Words Isa 59. 21. there is the Promise of the Father it is an absolute Promise and it runs thus it shall be in Christ and in his Seed henceforth and for ever The Spirit is called the Promise of the Father Also we have a Promise of the constant abiding of the Spirit in all Believers made by Christ the second Person in the Trinity he told his Disciples The Spirit of Truth the Comforter should abide with them and be in them forever Unto these add the Testimony of the Holy Ghost himself for it is he that doth in the Word assure us of his own abiding with us he hath chosen our Souls to be his own Temple and Habitation for ever and also assures us That all the Promises are in Christ yea and amen to the Glory of God So that we have this great Truth sealed and confirmed to us by the Three that bear witness in Heaven Fourthly Pardon of Sin is another Effect and Fruit of the Death of Christ In whom we have Redemption through his Blood that is as the Effects of his Blood even the Forgiveness of Sin True Jesus Christ satisfied God's Justice for our Sins he paid our Debts it is not Remission without a Satisfaction but yet we are freely forgiven we have it of God's Free Grace but it is through the Blood of Christ Remission of our Sins follows Redemption as the necessary Effects thereof Christ hath procured this Favour and Blessing for us and Gospel-Remission or Pardon of Sin is for ever I will remember their Sins no more they are blotted out for ever he hath cast our Sins into the Depth of the Sea put them behind his Back yea he hath put them far away from him as the East is from the West Fifthly Adoption is the Fruit and Effect of Christ's Death He hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons God takes us through Christ or by virtue of Christ's Death into the Relation of Sons which Privilege we have for ever we shall never cease being Sons and Daughters of God Sixthly Free Access to the Throne of Grace or unto the Father is the Effect of Christ's Death Having therefore Brethren boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus by a new and living Way which he hath consecrated for us through the Vail that is to say his Flesh Christ's Blood His Death opened this Way it is by him we have access to the Throne of Grace Seventhly Another Fruit and Effect of the Death of Christ is Redemption from all Iniquity He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity c. Tit. 2. 14. Therefore this Glorious Effect his Death shall have upon all Redeemed Ones it was not to redeem only from the Curse of the Law as some talk but from the Guilt Pollution Power and Punishment of Sin therefore Believers shall never perish Eighthly Justification is also another Effect of the Death and Resurrection of Christ which is to acquit absolve and to pronounce us Righteous in God's Sight God accepting us Righteous by the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness which is ever the same Now Christ's Death being the Meritorious Cause thereof we are said to be justified by his Blood Rom. 5. 9. And pray see the Apostle's Argument from hence Much more then being now justified by his Blood we shall be saved from Wrath through him It is more to be reconciled and justified than it is to be saved such are justified and Christ's Blood having done the former will much more effect the latter those that Christ justifies he will glorify nay and his Death and Resurrection cannot be without this Effect And by him all that believe are justified from all things c. The Word Justified is opposed to Condemnation those that are justified are justified for ever Justification is not a gradual Act as Sanctification is it results not as the Fruits of our Repentance or inherent Holiness but as the Fruits of Christ's Death and Merits it is never less nor more as our Holiness cannot add any thing to it so the Sins and Infirmities of true Believers cannot diminish any thing from it there may be additions to our inherent Sanctification but not to our Justification Christ rose again for our Justification I may also challenge all the Men in the World to prove that any Man that was justified in the sight of God did ever fall away and come under Condemnation Ninthly Sanctification is another Effect of the Death of Christ You may again read that Text Heb. 9. 13 14. Christ died not only to justify Believers but to sanctify them also Object But some may say A Man may be sanctified and yet be defiled again We read of some that escaped the Pollution of the World through the Knowledg of Christ yet were again entangled and overcome Answ 1. If any sincere Christian be defiled again through any Sin or Corruption they shall be washed and cleansed again 2. Those that Peter speaks of were such that only had escaped gross Pollution through the common Operations of the Spirit it appears their swinish Nature was never changed he therefore saith It is happened to them according to the true Proverb The Dog it turned to his Vomit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire Such therefore never were sanctified in Heart they never experienced the Effects of Christ's Blood not that Soul-purifying Virtue that is in it they were cleansed from gross Idolatry through the Knowledg of Christ and also from some gross Acts of Prophaneness they had obtained a reformed but no renewed Life of Grace and Holiness therefore such fall into Sin again and are so overcome that the latter End is worse with them than the Beginning As to true Believers see what the Apostle says For by one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified By this one Offering our Lord Jesus hath procured our Sanctification
Absurdities attending the Doctrine of the final Apostacy of true Believers opened in twelve Particulars 313. The Application 315 to 318 Third Text Heb. 6. 4 5 6. 1. This Scripture mistaken by the antient Fathers 319 2. The Text opened with the Connection of what precedes and succeeds Doct. 1. The severest Doctrine useful to Professors that are slothful or dull of hearing 321 2. What those Persons Attainments were and what not 322 323 They were not true Believers 323 324 Doct. 2. It is a high Privilege for Men to be enlightened with the Knowledg of the Gospel 3. What common and saving Illuminations of the Spirit are and how they differ 325 to 331 Second Sermon What is meant by the Heavenly Gift 332 What by tasting the Heavenly Gift 333 334 How said to partake of the Holy Ghost 334 And tasted of the good Word of God 335 1. What is meant by the Word of God 335 2. Why called the good Word of God shewed in eight Particulars 336 What a kind of Taste an unsound Christian may have of the Word of God 337 338 What a kind of Taste Believers have of God's Word pag. 340 341 What is meant by the World to come 343 The Nature of the World to come 346 The Riches Honour Joy and Pleasures of the World to come 349 350 351 352 Third Sermon What meant by the Powers of the World to come 354 What a kind of Taste the Persons in the Text were said to have of the Powers of the World to come shewed in six Particlars 355 356 357 358 What is spoken concerning those Persons viz. They may fall away How it is impossible to renew such unto Repentance how not impossible 359 360 Why it is impossible c. 360 What the Sin against the Holy Ghost is 361 362 363 The Application 364 The fourth and last Text Heb. 2. 3. 1. The scope of the Text opened 368 2. The Terms and Parts explained 369 Doct. 1. That the Salvation of the Gospel is great and glorious Doct. 2. That the Means of this Salvation may be neglected Doct. 3. That such who neglect this Salvation cannot escape 369 Doct. 1. Two things proposed to be done 1. To prove the Proposition That Gospel-Salvation is great c. 2. To improve it by way of Application Arg. 1. Salvation great comparatively 369 370 Arg. 2. Salvation great positively Great and glorious in respect of the time when found out and promised 370 371 Arg. 3. Great in respect of that great Counsel held in Eternity between the Father and Son about it 371 Arg. 4. Great in respect of the Design of God therein which is threefold 1. His own Glory 2. The Ruin of Satan and his Kingdom 3. The Eternal Happiness of Man or of all that believe Arg. 5. Great considering how low Man was fallen and the seasonableness of it Second Sermon Arg. 6. Salvation is great considering the Persons that brought it about or do 〈◊〉 it viz. the Father the Son and the Holy 〈…〉 What part of Gospel-Salvation may 〈…〉 rectly attributed to God the Father 〈…〉 seven Particulars 〈…〉 79 What part Christ hath in it pag. 379 380 Christ a great and Almighty Saviour shewed in many Particulars 381 382 What part the Holy Ghost hath in working out our Salvation 382 383 Third Sermon Arg. 7. Gospel-Salvation great considering what we are delivered from 1. Sin that hath corrupted our Nature 2. From that which is destructive to our Nature which is Punishment both here and hereafter 1. The Evil of Sin opened in six Partic. 391 392 2. The nature of that Punishment we are delivered from 393 394 395 Arg. 8. Gospel-Salvation great considering what Christ hath done and suffered to effect it opened in five Particulars 397 398 399 Fourth Sermon Arg. 9. Salvation great considering the Subjects redeemed 1. The Soul of Man 2. The Body 400 The Soul of Man exceeding precious proved by eleven Arguments 401 402 403 404 405 The Soul Immortal proved by seven Arguments 406 407. The Application 408 409 Ministers and Parents have a great Charge committed to them the Charge of Souls 410 411 False Teachers much to answer for that deceive Souls Fifth Sermon Arg. 10. Gospel-Salvation great considering what Believers are thereby raised up unto or the Privileges invested with shewed in many Particulars 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 The Application Object I cannot rise to a full Perswasion that Christ is mine answered Such a full Perswasion appertaining not to the Being of true justifying Faith but is a high degree of it 420 Sixth Sermon Arg. 11. Gospel-Salvation great and glorious because a full compleat comprehensive Salvation 421. It hath all things in it that either Sinners or Saints do need proved at large 422 to 428 Seventh Sermon Arg. 12. Salvation great in respect of Christ himself the first and great Minister thereof 429 When Christ first began to preach this Salvation 431 Arg. 13. Gospel-Salvation great considering its wonderful Confirmation pag. 432 433 Arg. 14. Gospel-Salvation great because the holy Angels pry into it and are amaz'd at it 433 434 Arg. 15. Salvation great because so free a Salvation 434 435 Arg. 16. Salvation great because 't is eternal 435 Eighth Sermon Doct. 2. opened Gospel-Salvation may be neglected Four things proposed 436 1. What meant by neglecting it 436 2. Who may be said to neglect this Salvation opened in eighteen Particulars 436 to 443 Ninth Sermon 3. From whence it is Men neglect this Salvation largely opened 443 444 445 446 447 The Application 451 452 Tenth Sermon 4. The great Evil and Sin of 〈…〉 of the Gospel opened 453 1. In respect of God the Father 453 2. In respect had to Christ 457 458 459 3. In respect had 〈…〉 holy Spirit 461 462 Eleventh Sermon What a great Sin it is to neglect Gospel-Salvation opened in respect of the Sinner himself 464 c. Twelfth Sermon 1. What those cannot escape that neglect Gospel-Salvation 471 1. Not escape the Curse of the Law 471 472 2. The Guilt and Punishment of Sin 3. The Wrath of God 4. The Damnation of Hell 2. The Cause and Reasons why they cannot escape shewed in nine Particulars 475 Thirteenth Sermon 1. When or at what time they shall not escape shewed in four respects 477 2. The nature of that Wrath shewed in nine Particulars which they cannot escape 480 481 482 Fourteenth Sermon 1. Why the Gospel is attended with such Threats 483 484 485 486 2. What Sinners shall not escape 487 488 Fifteenth Sermon 1. What is not a Legal Doctrine 489 490 2. What is a Legal Doctrine 490 491. A TRUMPET Blown in ZION OR AN ALLARM IN God's Holy Mountain CONTAINING An Exposition of that Metaphorical Scripture MATTH III. 12. Lately delivered in Two Sermons and now Published to awaken the Drowsie and Formal Professors of this Age. Wherein the Nature of God's Wrath both Internal and Eternal is discovered as seizing upon the Chaff and Burning of it up
divided amongst themselves what abundance of Chaff is there here also Are there not many amongst these as bad as others viz. People of ill and corrupt principles bitter and censorious Spirits and of scandalous lives What Malice Envy and Hatred do they discover one against another because of their differing Sentiments in and about some principles of Religion rendering their Brethren odious to the World Back-biting Reproaching and Scandalizing each other to the great dishonour of God and shame of their sacred profession one while charging and condemning the Innocent and yet acknowldege not their Evil and at another time striving to vindicate and clear such as are greatly guilty before God both which are abominable and hateful in his sight who will judge righteously and render to every man at last according to his Works Certainly there is sarcely a worse Sin than the Sin of Back-biting he that hates his Brother Robbing him of his good Name out of Malice and Envy is a Murtherer and no Murtherer hath eternal Life abiding in him 1 John 3. 17. such who are destitute of Christian Love and Charity or hate their Brethren clearly shew they act contrary to the divine Principle of Grace nay of Morality and so are void of that sacred Life Nature and Image of God For as love to the Bretheren is an Evidence of our being the Children of God so he that is possessed with Wrath Envy Malice and Hatred shews he is one of the Children of the wicked one who is called the Accuser of the Brethren Clear it is that this is a Diabolical Sin and renders such in whom it is found like to the Devil In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother Nay this great evil and wickedness is a sad sign that such are given up and left of God as not retaining God in their knowledge as the Apostle speaks of the Gentiles who when they arrived to some degree of knowledge of God yet did not glorifie him as God but violated his Law written in their Hearts Therefore 't is said that God gave them up to vile Affections and they were filled with all Vnrighteousness Fornication Wickedness Covetousness Maliciousness full of Envy Murther Debate Deceit Malignity Whisperers Backbiters Despiteful Proud Boasters c. No doubt but that the Sin of Backbiting Wrath Malice and Envy is as bad if not worse than Fornication Swearing or Drunkenness and lamentable it is to see this Sin found among some who account themselves no small persons for Knowledge Zeal and Piety in these days But alas alas how sad and deplorable is their Condition and vain that profession they make of Religion let them repent of this their great wickedness and get a changed heart Moreover are there not in this floor others who are proud earthly carnal and covetous Persons they are called Nonconformists but 't is not so far as they ought from the Sins and Pollutions of this World they conform to them in their detestable fashions and covetous practices Do not many of them appear to love Sons and Daughters more than Christ or his sinking Interest they can lay out plentifully to feed and cloath their own Children whilst their bowels are shut up against the poor Members of Christ or Children of God they 'll spare more to gratifie the Pride and base Lusts of their Children than they will spare to supply the necessities of the poor Saints or to support the Interest of Christ and his Gospel Many pounds shall go for the first use when a Shilling is thought a great deal with some of them for the second they think nothing too much to enrich and uphold their own Families whilst the Family of God suffers want and the Cause of Christ languishes in their hands O how little does the power of Grace and true Godliness shine amongst this sort what formality and lukewarmness is there in these days amongst such who are called Saints and holy Brethren This it is true may be called Chirists Floor especially but abundance of Chaff no doubt will be found in it when the Fanner comes to fan it Look to it you Sinners in Sion Fearfulness will e're long surprize the Hipocrite Who among us shall dwell with devouring Fire who amongst us shall dwell with Everlasting Burning Isa 33. But so much as to what is meant by Christs Floor Quest 2. What is intended by the Fan Answ A Fan is a certain Instrument which the Husbandman uses to cleanse or purge his Corn from the Chaff evil Seeds and all silth whatsoever And this Instrument he holds in his hands and uses upon his Knees by which he tosses up the Wheat and Chaff together And then shakes it to and fro moving all at once by which a wind is made and the Chaff is blown away and the Wheat separated and purged from it Now John Baptist alludes to such an Instrument as this Quest But what is meant by Christs Fan in a spiritual sense what is signified hereby First I answer By Christs Fan is meant his Word his holy Gospel especially the Doctrine thereof 't is by this he cleanses and purges his floor Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you Now the unclean person the Traytor Judas is gone out from you Thro' my Word i. e. through my Doctrine you believing in me and receiving me by Faith for Righteousness and eternal Life 'T is said Christ gave himself for his Church that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word Eph. 5. 26. Cleansing here imports the means by which it is wrought or the Instrument namely the Word of the Gospel especially the Promise of free Justification and Sanctification by Christ received thro' Faith which Baptism was a Sign or Symbol of see 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seeing ye have purified your selves in obeying the truth thro' the Spirit c. This was done in subjecting themselves to the Faith of the Gospel to which the purifying of the heart is ascribed principally in Justification whereby the guilt of Sin is purged away as appertaining to the conscience he alludes also to the sanctifying power and virtue of the holy Spirit Compare this with Psal 119. 9. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way that is the way of his Heart and also the way of his Life The answer is By taking heed thereto according to thy Word that is let him take heed according to that holy doctrine taught and held forth in God's Word so that he attain unto a right knowledge of God and of the Messiah promised and typified by the Sacrifices of Aaron by whose Blood and thro' whose Righteousness only Justification is to be had for without Christs Blood there is no cleansing from Sin and silthyness neither of Heart nor Life for young nor old It is not only to
who were given to him by the Father Sixthly Believers are Christ's Sheep by Conquest They were fallen into the Enemy's Hand in the Hands and under the Power of most cruel Tyrants who designed to tear them in pieces and devour them They were in Satan's Hand and under the Power of Sin and were meer Bond-slaves and in fearful slavery to these Enemies having their Eyes put out their Fleece torn off or strip'd of their Robes being dangerously wounded And although Jesus Christ to redeem them from Wrath and Misery laid down a great Price as you heard before to satisfy God's Justice yet alas Satan takes no notice of that they were in his Hand who like a strong Man armed keeps the Soul and had Power over them therefore Jesus Christ puts forth his Almighty Hand to vanquish and subdue this cruel Foe and thereby redeems and rescues all his Sheep out of Slavery and Bondage by which means they come to be his by a blessed Conquest of their Enemies and by overcoming them for he subdues their Hearts bends and subjects their rebellious Wills by the Power of Divine Grace before he can have one of them All the Sheep of Christ yield themselves up to him as being conquered by him overcome by his Love and the Power of his Spirit This brings me to the next thing Seventhly and lastly Believers are Christ's Sheep by virtue of a holy Resignation of themselves to him They have chosen him to be their Shepherd other Sheep can't make choice of their Shepherd but Christ's Sheep can do this their Eyes being enlightned to see the Excellency of Christ the Greatness of his Love and what he hath suffered and undergone for them they commit their Souls to his care and keeping that he may watch over them feed and lead them They gave themselves first unto the Lord and unto us by the Will of God First They gave themselves unto the Lord by the Power of his Spirit to be his and no more their own but to be his People his Spouse his Sheep and then gave themselves to his Church to be of his Flock Christ hath no Member no Sheep of his visible Church or Fold on Farth but such who know him I am known of mine They are not ignorant Persons or such who are unable to give themselves up to him Others are not required to give them No no they must be able to give or resign themselves to him as being overcome by his Love and thus they become his Sheep also Secondly I shall shew you what is meant by Christ's Voice There is a Four-fold Voice of Jesus Christ which his Sheep hear 1. The Voice of his Word 2. The Voice of his Spirit 3. The Voice of his Holy Doctrine 4. The Voice of his Rod. First Christ's Sheep hear the Voice of his Word The Holy Scripture is Christ's Word and therefore the Voice of Christ and this Voice his Sheep hear They give full credit to the Truth of the Sacred Scriptures they believe they are of Divine Authority All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness They are none of Christ's Sheep that do not will not hear this Voice of Christ that is do not believe the Truth of the Sacred Scriptures do not hear nor regard what they speak but magnify unwritten Traditions above the Word of God or the Light of Natural Conscience The Sheep of Christ hear Christ's Voice in the Ministry of his Word they attend upon the preaching of the Gospel and look upon the Word delivered in Christ's Name by his faithful Ministers to be the Voice of Christ unto them But how or after what manner Christ's Sheep do hear his Voice viz. the Voice of his Word I shall open under the third Head Secondly There is the Voice of Christ's Spirit and this Voice of his his Sheep hear also and indeed none but they Sirs this is that Voice of Christ which doth the Work and that which discovers who are his Sheep The Voice of Christ's Word without the Spirit is not sufficient the Word will not make Sinners hear though it be spoken a thousand times over except the Spirit 's Voice do accompany it I shall therefore open to you the Nature of this Voice of Christ I mean the Voice of his Spirit 1. 'T is an awakening Voice Sinners are asleep yea in a dead Sleep and sleep they will till they hear this Voice The powerful Voice of Christ awakened dead Lazarus after he had lain in the Grave four days And it must be the like Voice that doth awaken the sleepy and dead Sinner Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the Dead and Christ shall give thee Life 'T is sad to see what a multitude of poor People sit day by day under the hearing of the Word and yet remain in their Sins they are asleep the Word doth not awaken them but when the Spirit 's Voice is heard when that works with the Word they are quickly roused up out of that dead Sleep in which they lay 2. The Voice of Christ's Spirit is a convincing Voice Come see a Man that told me all things that ever I did The Spirit of Christ reached her Heart convinced her what a vile Sinner she was We do not read of many things Christ told her she had done but that he she had then was not her Husband ver 18. so that she lived in Adultery with him But now as soon as the Spirit convinced her of this one Sin she is convinced of all her other abominable Evils and therefore cries out Come see a Man that told me all things that ever I did Is not this the Christ Intimating none but Christ can make the Evil of Mens Hearts and Lives appear unto them So 't is none but the Holy Spirit can pierce the Soul or convince the Sinner throughly of his Sin and Misery and discover the Vileness of their Hearts and States unto them They were pricked in their Hearts and said Men and Brethren what shall we do Is there any hope that such Sinners as we may be forgiven and be saved Verily we were guilty concerning our Brother said Joseph's Brethren God's Spirit now convinced their Consciences and brought their Sin to remembrance So there are none that hear the Voice of the Spirit but their Sin appears presently before their Eyes their Sin is aggravated on their Consciences and is most hateful and odious to them 3. Christ's Voice is a Soul quickening Voice Verily verily I say unto you The Hour is coming and now is when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live The Voice of Christ doth not only cause the Ear to hear but the Heart to hear also All Mankind naturally are dead in a spiritual Sense they have no divine nor spiritual Life in them Man is not
said they hear Christ's Voice i. e. the Doctrine he taught This is my beloved Son saith the Father in whom I am well pleased hear him 1. Not Moses Moses is not our Shepherd our Guide our Law-giver We are not his Disciples his Sheep No no but we are Christ's Sheep Christ's Disciples The Jews said they were Moses 's Disciples 2. They hear Christ's Voice not the Pope's not the Voice of Antichrist 3. They hear Christ's Voice not the Voice of the Light of Nature only or the teaching of Natural Conscience though 't is true they hear and follow that Light yet they know the Light that is in all Men which is in Pagans Turks and Heathens is not the Voice of Christ as he is Mediator and the great Shepherd of the Sheep 4. They hear Christ's Voice follow his Voice not the Voice of General Councils and National Synods they will no further hear any than they hear and adhere to the Voice and Doctrine of Jesus Christ 2 dly They will not receive or embrace any Capital Errors they will not hear the Voice of Strangers but keep to all the Essentials of Christ's Doctrine of the Principles of true Religion Particularly 1. They believe the Holy Scripture is of Divine Authority and that it is the only Rule of Faith and Practice 2. They stedfastly believe the Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity that there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit and that these three are one One in Essence yet three Persons or Subsistences 3. They stedfastly believe the Doctrine of Christ's Divinity or have a right Faith about the Person of Christ not doubting but that he is God by Nature the most High God coeternal and coequal with the Father and the Holy Ghost abominating the Doctrine of Arius who asserted he was not of the same Substance of the Father but rather a created Spirit the first and chief Spirit or Angel God created And the Doctrine of Socinians who affirmed He is a meer Man and had no Pre-existence before he was Conceived and Born of the Virgin They abominate that Voice or Doctrine of Eutychians who maintain that the Matter of Christ's Flesh was from Heaven or that it was a Conversion of the Deity of the second Person of the Trinity into Flesh and that he partook not of the Nature of the Virgin They abominate their Doctrine who declare that Christ doth consist of one Nature only and those who affirm that the Light that is in all Men which is but an inward Quality created of God with which the Soul of Mankind is naturally indued is the only Christ of God they know these are Strangers and the Voice of Strangers they will not hear 4. They hear and stedfastly believe and receive the Doctrine of Christ's Headship over the Church 5. The Doctrine of Satisfaction by Christ in his Expiation of Sin and of Justification by his Righteousness imputed as it is received by Faith alone without inherent Righteousness wrought in us or good Works done by us 6. The Doctrine of Regeneration the Resurrection of the Body and of the Eternal Judgment and World to come In all these Respects they hear Christ's Voice i. e. his Doctrine and in all other respects so far as they receive Light and Knowledg touching any one or all the blessed Truths and Ordinances of the Gospel Fourthly There is the Voice of Christ's Rod also which his Sheep hear The Lord's Voice crieth to the City and the Man of Wisdom shall see thy Name hear ye the Rod and who hath appointed it When Christ's Sheep will not hear as they ought the soft and sweet Voice of God's Word he speaks to them by the Voice of his Rod by Afflictions and sharp Rebukes which by his Providence he brings upon them And though others cannot hear so as to understand this Voice of Christ yet his Sheep do they see his Name and hear the Rod and know whose Voice it is and to what End 't is appointed but this I shall not insist further upon here I should now come to shew you how Christ's Sheep hear his Voice but that must be for the next time APPLICATION 1. Bless God you have Christ's Voice Christ's Word sounding in your Ears Blessed are they that know the joyful Sound for they shall walk in the Light of thy Countenance O Lord. It is not all they that hear the joyful Sound but only such that know it with an experimental Knowledg who have felt the Divine Power of it on their Souls 2. Rest not therefore upon a bare hearing of the Word of Christ take heed that the Gospel comes not to you in Word only but in Power also 3. Labour to hear the Voice of Christ's Spirit in and with the Word or you are undone for ever JOHN X. 27. My Sheep hear my Voice and they follow me DOCT. All true Believers are the Sheep and Lambs of Jesus Christ they hear his Voice and they follow him Beloved we have shewed you in what respects Believers are said to be Christ's Sheep and what is meant by his Voice which his Sheep or such who belong unto him do and will hear Thirdly I shall now proceed to the next general Head of Discourse propounded to you I am to shew you how Christ's Sheep hear his Voice his Word his Holy Doctrine They hear Christ's Voice his Word and Doctrine understandingly He that heareth the Word and understandeth it c. Some tho they hear it yet they are ignorant and know not the Nature Power and divine Excellency of it The sacred Scripture is as a sealed Book to some that are learned with Humane Arts and Sciences they see but the outside of the Book as it were and others they are ignorant Persons neither have Humane nor Divine Teachings then he opened their Vnderstandings that they might understand the Scriptures See how Christ does honour the holy Scriptures He did not open their Understanding without the Scriptures he sends them to that because they testify of him but he knew the Scripture would not sufficiently give them the knowledg of himself without the Influence and Illumination of his Spirit Sirs they hear Christ's Voice aright who are taught of God and by his Spirit to understand his Word Some Men are so far cheated by the Devil that they cry up the Light of natural Conscience and magnify that above the Holy Scripture He perswades them to cast away the Scriptures as a dead Letter in expectation of the Spirit 's Teachings whereas the Spirit teacheth by not without nor contrary to the Sacred Scripture The Word of Christ is full of Mystery its holy and sublime Doctrine is not easily understood nor can it be without the Spirit helps the Understanding In a right and saving manner it is given to Christ's Sheep to understand the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven and to others it is not given 2. Christ's Sheep
hear his Voice with Affection They like love and approve of his Word and Doctrine it is sweet to them Thy Word is very pure therefore thy Servant loveth it They know that there is no Falshood in it it is pure from all Mixture there is exact Purity and Holiness in it which makes unsanctified Persons to like it not but either disbelieve it or else despise and hate it But a godly Man loves it upon the account of its Purity in that it promotes nothing but Holiness both in Heart and Life The Word of the Lord is right and all his Works are done in Truth Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right and hate every false Way I do not reject such things that my carnal Reason cannot comprehend or such as are opposite to the Lusts and Corruptions of my Heart or worldly Interest but I approve of all things that come out of thy Mouth Some Men do not receive the Truth in the love of it and therefore are given up to believe a Lie or to strong Delusions 3. They hear Christ's Voice with Attention they hear it diligently He says Hearken diligently unto me and they with the greatest care do so Thus Mary heard Christ's Voice she gave such attention to his Word and Doctrine that she left all her secular Concerns to attend upon him though her Sister was offended with her And thus Lydia heard the Word of Christ Whose Heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul None can hear with attention but such whose Hearts the Lord doth open and none can open the Heart and cause the Soul to hear that is dead but Christ only 4. They hear Christ's Voice believingly Others hear it but do not believe it Who hath believed our Report and to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed Christ saith Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God But O how few stedfastly give credit to this Doctrine certainly if Sinners did believe this but with the same Humane Faith with which they believe many other Things and Reports it would make them tremble but Christ's Sheep or all gracious Persons give full credit to whatsoever he hath said and that not only with an Humane Faith but with a Divine Faith also or Faith of the Operation of God The Man believed the Word that Jesus had spoken unto him The great Doctrine of the Gospel is a Doctrine of Faith 't is to believe He that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the Vngodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness Mankind are generally for doing to be justified they will not be perswaded that all is done already for them and that they are only to believe and be justified but thus Christ's Sheep hear his Voice 5. Christ's Sheep hear his Voice tremblingly with great Fear holy Awe and Reverence Thus good King Josias heard the Word of God his Heart was tender and he trembled and saith the Lord To this Man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and that trembleth at my Word They know it is God's Word Christ's Word who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth Who is the only Potentate King of Kings and Lord of Lords Where the Word of a King is there is Power Power goeth along with Christ's Voice to awe all their Hearts that are gracious My Heart standeth in awe of thy Word saith David 6. Christ's Sheep hear Christ's Word universally even all that he saith unto them Him shall ye hear in whatsoever he shall say unto you And those who do not thus hear this great Prophet shall be destroyed from among the People Some will hear Christ's Word which they like of but if any part of his Doctrine sutes not their carnal Hearts or Interest that they will not hear nor comply with but Believers are for hearing the hardest things that are contained in Christ's Word they approve of every thing as you heard before 7. They hear Christ's Voice with Retention they hear and keep his Word they lay it up in their Hearts as it is said of the Blessed Virgin They will not lose it and therefore with David hide Christ's Word in their Hearts 8. They hear his Voice always constantly unto the End they will attend unto his Word and Doctrine as long as they live let what will come they are not offended as the stony-ground Hearers are said to be 9. And lastly They hear Christ's Voice only his Voice and none else They will not hear the Voice of a Stranger that is they will not receive damnable Errors they know the Voice of Deceivers nor will they receive a Mixture in Doctrine nor in God's Worship they will not join Christ and Moses together Works and Faith together Christ's Righteousness and their own together Christ's Institutions and the Inventions and Traditions of Men together Quest May not Believers who are Christ's Sheep be beguiled so as to receive some capital Errors or an Error in some fundamental Point Answ 1. No doubt but they may be seduced I mean a particular Sheep or Saint may be grievously corrupted in his Judgment 2. But if a Believer be drawn away or seduced he shall if sincere if an Elect Person be restored again for it is impossible any of them should finally be deceived If it were possible they should deceive the very Elect but that cannot be Quest Why are false Teachers called Strangers Answ 1. Because a Stranger is one that we know not so a false Teacher is one that knows not Christ nor his true and saving Doctrine they are not acquainted with him are not brought into Union with Christ nor have Communion with him 2. They are Strangers to the Life and Power of true Religion and Godliness 3. The Saints also know them not they approve not of them nor of the Doctrine they preach they can discern between Truth and Error by the Anointing they have received 4. A Stranger is one that is not a constant dweller in one Place so false Prophets and false Teachers are not fixed long in one Opinion Her Ways saith Solomon are moveable speaking of the false Church or adulterous Woman many of these are one day for one thing for one Error and another day for another this shews they are false Teachers or Strangers to the Truth they know it not 5. They are called Strangers because they publish strange Doctrine Be not carried about with divers and strange Doctrines The Doctrine of Christ is one and the same being immutable can suffer no Change or Alteration but these bring in a new Doctrine not known in the Primitive Days not taught by Christ or his Apostles nor received in the purest Times of the Gospel before Corruptions crept into the Church They will not hear the Voice of Strangers or the Doctrine of false Teachers 1. Not
received the saving Graces thereof are Christ's Sheep they have his Mark these he will own and say where eâ—er he find this Seal this Man and this Woman is mine And on the other hand Now if any Man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his he is none of his Sheep he hath no special Interest in him Remember the Spirit of Christ true Grace Faith Love Humility c. is the Ear-mark of Christ's Sheep 3. And why may not inward Sincerity be Christ's Mark also for that I am sure does distinguish them from all others from Hypocrites and all unsound and false-hearted Professors whatsoever 2 dly The Mark in their Foreheads is seen by all that may denote their holy Carriage Behaviour and Deportment in this World to all that behold them 1. It may shew that they hate Idolatry and all false Worship 2. It may signify their holy Conversation for Holiness is written as it were in legible Characters on all their Foreheads There is not one of Christ's Sheep without this Mark for without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. This shews who they are and whither they are going and to what Country they do belong Sixthly Christ's Sheep follow the Footsteps of the Flock i. e. the Primitive Church in Church-Constitution Doctrine and Discipline They contend for that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints and keep the Ordinances as they were at first given forth they are for no mixture in Doctrine nor Discipline be sure before all things they keep pure the Doctrine of Justification and do not join Work and Grace together Their great care is to exalt the free Grace of God and abase the Creature accounting all their own inherent Righteousness as Dung or Dogs-meat in comparison of Christ and the Righteousness of Christ Seventhly They love to drink in pure Christal soft and gentle Streams Sheep do not love to drink of muddy rough and raging Rivers No more do Christ's Sheep He makes me to lie down in green Pastures he leadeth me beside the still Waters They will not forsake the Waters of Shiloah that run softly and drink of the proud swelling and troublesome Rivers of Babylon Tygris and Euphrates They like the Teachings of God's Spirit in the meanest Instrument tho such who are despised and contemned of Men better than the highest Elegance and lostiest Rhetorick of all the Cicero's and Plato's of the World What are the artificial Flourishes of Demosthenes or exact Method of Aristotle and Galen or all humane Curiosities or itch of Words to the Teachings of the Holy Ghost Paul spoke not in the Wisdom of this World or with the inticing Words of Man's Wisdom but in the Demonstration of the Spirit and with Power These Waters Believers chuse and love to drink of I am afraid some Men are more nice in studying Words than Matter to affect the Ear rather than to work upon the Heart of their Hearers Though Humane Learning is not to be despised yet no doubt Dr. Carlton was in the right That a Lay-man that has the Spirit of God is better able to judg of spiritual Things than a Man in Ecclesiastical Function destitute of the Spirit of God Infelix est sapientia extra Verbum Dei sapere saith Justin Martyr Our Annotators say well viz. 1. Ministers ought to speak Intelligibly so as the People may understand 2. That they speak gravely and decently all other study of Words and Phrases in a Divine say they is but Folly and Vanity Eighthly and Lastly Christ's Sheep do relie upon the Care and Faithfulness of their Shepherd They know on whom they have believed and can and do venture their Souls on him knowing he will keep that which they have committed to his Charge They depend on Christ rest on Christ believe in Christ relie on his Word and Promises for all things they need They can say with David The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want neither any thing for this Life which is really necessary nor for the Life which is to come They leave the Alimighty to chuse for them knowing they are not competent Judges as touching what is best for themselves Though he slay me saith Job yet will I trust in him Let God do what he will with me yet I will rest upon him my hope shall be in him and I will not be offended if I have Poverty Sickness Persecution Reproaches or whatsoever else I know saith a true Christian God sees it good for me and I will not murmur nor complain APPLICATION 1. We may infer from hence that Christ hath but a few Sheep but a few Followers O what a small Number have these Characters upon them 2. It may be for Lamentation Cyprian brings in the Devil triumphing over Jesus Christ after this sort As for my Followers I never died for them as Christ did for his I never promised them so great Rewards as Christ hath done to his and yet I have more Followers than he and they do more for me than his do for him O how blind and deceived are poor Sinners that they chuse to follow Satan rather Jesus Christ What a great Multitude hath the Devil his Flock is a mighty Flock Christ's Flock is a little Flock Fear not little Flock it is your Father's good Pleasure to give you a Kingdom Every Saint shall have a Kingdom a Crown this is Christ's Promise to all his Sheep and yet how few are they that cleave to him that believe in him and follow him 3. By what you have heard you may try your selves O see have you these Characters these Marks of Christ's Sheep certainly if so you have no cause to doubt but your State is happy if not labour for them 4. The way to be one of Christ's Sheep is to believe and to pass under the New Birth JOHN X. 27. My Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me THE last Day I shewed you who are the Sheep of Jesus Christ by giving you the several Characters and Marks of them Sixthly I shall now proceed to the last General Head viz. 1. Shew you What a kind of Shepherd Christ is 2. What those Pastures are where he feeds them 3. What a Fold he hath for his Sheep First Jesus Christ is a chosen Shepherd No Man hath a right to be a Shepherd but he that is first chosen by the Owner of the Sheep Christ is called the Elect of God My Servant whom I have chosen Again Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth He was fore-ordained in the Decree Design and Purpose of God to be our Redeemer and as a Shepherd to take care of feed heal nay to die for the Sheep Secondly And as he was chosen so he was called also to this Work and Office For as the Apostle speaks concerning Christ's Priesthood or touching that Office so I may say
saving Knowledg the Doctrine of Free Grace of Justification Adoption Pardon of Sin and free access to the Father which shews it to be a sat and blessed Pasture and thus it feeds their Understanding 2. It feeds and raises their Affections also in Love to Christ and desire after him to hear what God is to them and Christ is to them what a Covenant is made with Christ for them what Promises are made to them what Love the Lord Jesus hath to them and what Grace is purchased laid and treasured up in Christ for them what Care he hath of them and what Glory he hath prepared for them 3. They receive the Word they assent to the Truth of it and fâ—el a so the Power thereof inclining bowing and subjecting their Wills to a holy ready and hearty Consent thereunto in a way of universal Obedience to what is required of them 4. It feeds their Faith also and every Grace of the Spirit in their Souls it increases their Faith in Christ and their Love to Christ whilst they meditate thereon and believe with an unfeigned Faith the Veracity of God's Word and apply the Promises and Blessings thereof which are purchased by Jesus Christ now is to eat and digest the Word Secondly The Ordinances of Christ may be said to be another Pasture where his Sheep do feed The Spouse no doubt enquired after this Pasture Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest c. where thy Holy Ordinances are truly administred 1. The Ordinance of Preaching or Administration of the Gospel is a rich Pasture especially when it is preached powerfully by the Influence and Demonstration of the Spirit the opening and explaining the Word of the Gospel is like the opening the Pasture-Gate and so letting the Sheep into it Did not our Hearts burn within us while he talked with us and opened the Scriptures 'T is like the opening of the Box of precious Ointment causing a sweet Perfume in the Soul like as Mary's did in the House The Work of the Ministry is to open the Scripture Vnderstandest thou what thou readest saith Philip. The Eunuch answered How can I unless some Man should guide me He might have added some skilful Man Alas some are unlearned unexperienced and ignorant Preachers they know not the Lord themselves they never learned of the Father but want the Teachings of the Holy Spirit They understand not the Scripture the Holy Bible is a sealed Book to them notwithstanding all their Humane Literature and Knowledg of the Tongues with their Arts and Sciences The preaching the Gospel is the feeding of the Soul But O what care should be taken that nothing is delivered by the Preacher but sound Doctrine not to feed the People with airy and empty Notions corrupt and poisonous Doctrine for that is to destroy the Sheep especially such that are weak in Knowledg and cannot quickly discern Truth from Error They are not to feed the Flock with Humane Traditions nor with their own Dreams Simon Son of Jonas lovest thou me Feed my Sheep Not with good Doctrine only but good Discipline also and with an holy and good Example Good Government is precious Food to the Sheep and Lambs of Jesus Christ 2. The Holy Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper is another part of this blessed Pasture And such are ill Sheep that will not feed where the Shepherd willeth them or like not a Pasture of his chusing With what gladness did those Saints at Jerusalem when they received the Word yield themselves up to Holy Baptism The Eunuch also found that Ordinance he meeting with Christ in it very sweet and therefore when baptized he went away rejoicing The Mystery of the Gospel is preached or held forth in a lively Figure in Baptism to the very sight of the natural Eye which being understood conveys much Light and Knowledg to the Understanding It shews that Christ was dead buried and rose again for our Justification 1 st Baptism saith the Learned Tilenus is the first Sacrament of the New Testament instituted by Christ in which there is an exact Analogy between the Sign and the Thing signified The outward Rite in Baptism is threefold 1. Immersion into the Water 2. Abiding under the Water 3. A Resurrection out of the Water The Form of Baptism saith he to wit External and Essential is no other than the Analogical Proportion which the Sign keeps with the Thing signified thereby The plunging into the Water saith he holds forth to us that horrible Gulph of Divine Justice in which Christ for our sakes for a while was in a manner swallowed up abiding under the Water how little time soever denotes his descent into Hell even the deepest of Lifelessness and lying in the sealed or guarded Sepulchre he was accounted as one dead Rising out of the Water holds forth to us in a lively Similitude that Conquest which this dead Man got over Death And saith the same worthy Author so dipping into the Water in a most lively Similitude sets forth the Mortification of the old Man and rising out of the Water the Vivification of the new Man it being meet that we being baptized into his Death and buried with him should rise also with him and go on in a new Life The Apostle clearly confirms the same great Truths Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his Death Therefore we are buried with him by Baptism into Death that like as Christ was raised up from the Dead by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of Life We have Fellowship with Christ in his Death in Baptism or the Efficacy of his Death evidenced to us as the outward Symbol of it is held forth in the external Administration of it For as Christ died for Sin so we are hereby obliged to die to Sin and as he rose again from the Dead so we ought as we covenant in this Ordinance to walk in newness of Life Dr. Cave saith In Immerging there are in a manner three-fold Acts The putting the Person into the Water his abiding under the Water and his rising up again thereby representing Christ's Death Burial and Resurrection and our Conformity thereunto in our dying to Sin and the destruction of its Power and our resurrection to a new course of Life O learn what your Baptism holds forth and what you are taught thereby and promised therein and live accordingly Brethren you will find blessed Food in this Ordinance for your Souls and if you experience the Things signified thereby happy are you if not in vain were you baptized 2 dly What sweet Food or how good a Pasture is the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper to a hungry Soul who longs after the Bread of Life and Communion with Christ A Crucified Christ is the Bread of Life and by Faith in this Ordinance we feed on
made it maintains it as he sits upon the Throne He it was that made it as he is a Priest and he maintains it as he is a King upon the Throne he will never suffer Sin to get such Head in us that we shall cast off God any more or violate our Covenant with him nor will he suffer Satan to do it therefore they who are reconciled shall never perish no not one of the Elect of God Thirdly The Gift of the Holy Spirit is another Effect of the Death of Christ This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we are Witnesses And having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear The Father promised unto his Son upon his dying for us that the Holy Spirit should be given to all his Seed I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed Indeed Christ receiving the Holy Spirit without measure for us in his own Person as Mediator antecedent to our believing is the fullest Security to us imaginable We are blessed with all spiritual Blessings in Christ that is in him as our Head And although Christ received the Spirit before he suffered yet it was upon the account of his Sufferings the Father trusted his Son took his Son's Word and gave him part of his Wages from the beginuing for all the Saints under the Old Testament had the Spirit upon no other Account than as we have it namely as the Fruits and Effects of Christ's Death and Purchase who was to die Now Brethren pray consider what the Work of the Holy Spirit is which is promised to abide with the Saints and Seed of Christ for ever 1. His Work is at first to quicken them You hath he quickned 2. To renew to regenerate to sanctify them this is the Work and Office of the Spirit I will sprinkle clean Water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your Filthiness And hence the Gentiles are said to be sanctified by the Holy Ghost But pray take notice of this the Rock in the Wilderness was first smitten before Water gush'd forth So Christ was first smitten first crucified then the Spirit like Water was poured forth It is Sirs wholly the Effects and Fruits of his Death 3. It is the Work of the Spirit to cause us to walk in God's Ways and to keep his Statutes I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them We should not do this were it not for the Spirit we could not keep God's Precepts nor walk in his Paths but God puts his Spirit into us that we shall not depart from him that is we shall not finally apostatize from him but shall keep his Precepts to the End 4. It is the Work of the Spirit to help us to pray and breathe forth our Desires to God We know not how to pray but as the Spirit helps our Infirmities and maketh intercession for us with Groans that cannot be uttered Christ having redeemed us from the Curse of the Law it is that this Blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father 5. The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit is to enable us to mortify Sin Rom. 8. 13. If ye through the Spirit mortify the Deeds of the Body ye shall live And hence it is also that Sin shall not have Dominion over them and therefore Believers cannot perish they having such a Helper He destroys all that Dominion Sin and Satan had in them and Power over them The Spirit utterly spoils Satan's Kingdom in them Because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the World saith John speaking to the Saints This is such a Helper that can never be worsted 6. It is hereby we perform all our Holy Duties By the Spirit Ministers preach to profit and Hearers hear to their profit hereby we read to profit and sing God's Praise to our profit and sweet comfort for as we pray with the Spirit so we sing with the Spirit and the same Measure the same Fillings of the Spirit that enable us to do the one enable us to do the other By the Spirit we are also helped to meditate on God and on his Word and hereby our Meditations of him are sweet to our Souls 7. 'T is by the Spirit we resist and repel Satan's Temptations Or if he doth at any time worst us the Spirit will help us up again 8. It is the Holy Spirit that doth confirm and establish us in the Truth 9. In a word All Grace is from the Spirit and it is by the Aid and Assistance of the Spirit that we are enabled to exercise that Grace for as he first formed the Habit in our Souls so it is he helps us to do the Act also or that doth influence us in the Exercise thereof 10. The Holy Spirit is also the Earnest of the Saints Inheritance 'T is given to them as an Earnest of that Glory they shall one Day absolutely be possessed of 'T is given to assure them that as certainly as they have received the Holy Spirit here and he is in them so certain it is that they shall be saved or have the Eternal Inheritance True I have mentioned this two or three times already yet it is of so great Importance I cannot pass it by here It is no small Matter that God gives us when he gives the Holy Spirit to us for as he is that Principle of Life in us so he gives us a full Assurance of Eternal Life hereafter and it is upon this Earnest-Money a Saint may be said to live whilst in this World nay and it will defray all his Charge and supply all his Need and manifold Wants as long as he lives upon the Earth even until he comes to the full possession of his Inheritance above 11. And as the Spirit is the Earnest of Glory or of Everlasting Life so he is also the Witness of God in our Souls yea such a Witness whose Testimony every Christian may trust to and rest upon The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God It witnesseth to us our Adoption that we are Children and so Heirs Heirs of God and joint Heirs with Christ There is a twofold Witness of the Spirit 1. The Spirit witnesseth by a direct Act we taking hold of Christ and of the Promise Saith the Spirit to the Soul I testify that Christ and Eternal Life is yours you believe and therefore you have Christ and shall be saved 2. There is the witnessing of the Spirit by a reflex Act A Man finds such and such gracious Effects of Divine Grace upon his Soul and by these the Holy Spirit testifies he is gracious One that loves God that hates Sin is changed renewed lives
final falling away and that because it is said It is impossible to renew them again unto Repentance 2. It doth intend or comprehend such Persons that have received the Knowledg of the Truth or of the Way of Righteousness according to that in 2 Pet. 2. 20 21. They are such who have not only been enlightned but also are such who had tasted of the Heavenly Gift 3. Yet never were savingly illuminated wrought upon or regenerated by the Spirit and Grace of God Brethren there are great Attainments which Persons may arrive unto without one Dram of true saving Grace as the young Man also the foolish Virgins and those meant by the stony and thorny Ground Mat. 13. I shall now come to the Text it self And First Consider the Words with the Connexion of those things preceding and succeeding Secondly The Subjects or Persons spoken of under their divers Qualifications Thirdly What it is that is said concerning these Persons First As touching the Connexion of the Words with what precedes it is evident that the Hebrew Church or some among them had been slow and dull of hearing or very ill Proficients in the School of Christ viz. they had not attained to that Knowledg and Experience which for the time they had they might have arrived unto Chap. 5. 12. They seemed but Infants or Babes in Knowledg and had need to be taught again which were the first Principles of the Doctrine of Christ And from hence the Apostle acquaints them with the Danger of not persevering in the Knowledg of Christ and of not pressing forward or going on to Perfection And also intimates that this would give just Cause or Ground to fear that they were not sincere Christians and from thence gives them an Account of those that might sin the Sin against the Holy Ghost or of the miserable State and Condition of such who after high Illuminations and great Knowledg of the Divine Truth and a Profession of the Gospel do fall away whose Apostacy though at first it might be but partial yet might they not being truly regenerated end at last in a total and final falling away And that deadness dulness and non-proficiency in Godliness might and would end if their Hearts were not right with God in a final Apostacy Or as a worthy Writer notes he presupposeth Except they study to make Progress they shall go backwards and that going backwards tendeth to Apostacy And that voluntary and compleat Apostacy from known Truth doth harden the Heart from Repentance and cutteth off a Man from Mercy He accounteth our natural Security so great that there is need of most fearful Threatnings to awaken us out of it and that the way to be freed from final falling is to make a good Progression From hence note Doct. 1. That the severest Doctrine is not only useful but exceeding necessary towards Persons that are observed to be remiss and slothful in their Profession Yet Charity becomes a Minister nevertheless and not to censure a People from hence And this we may gather from what he saith with the Connexion of the Words with what succeeds But Beloved we are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany Salvation though we thus speak ver 9. Secondly We shall consider the Persons here spoken of under their divers Qualifications and great Attainments which are five-fold and yet notwithstanding all that they might fall away and perish for ever and if they did fall totally before they were truly regenerated their Apostacy would be final or it would be impossible for them to be renewed again by Repentance either to that State in which they were before or unto a better from whence there is no possibility of their final falling In this general Description of the Persons here mentioned let us consider four or five things more particularly 1 st Consider the Apostle's Design which is to declare or discover the fearful State and just Judgment of God against the Persons here meant or intended 2 dly That those five Attainments he here speaks of are acquired by some who had been Professors of the Gospel and look'd upon as eminent Christians such that had made a Profession of Repentance from dead Works and of Faith towards God and had been baptized and owned all other Principles of the Doctrine of Christ See ver 1 2 3. 3 dly That all those high Privileges and Attainments whereof they were made Partakers by the Gospel they afterwards despised or when under their Apostacy did contemn which loudly proclaims their Destruction from God to be just and deserved 4 thly That all their Privileges and Attainments as Reverend Dr. Owen observes do consist in certain Operations of the Holy Ghost under the Dispensation of the Gospel and therefore not such Persons that never professed it or had been enlightned thereby 5 thly And let it be well and for ever observed that the Apostle mentions not one of those special and distinguishing Marks or Characters of true Believers or Sanctified Christians As 1. Here is not a word of the Covenant of Grace into which they had been received nothing spoken of the Faith of the Operation of God in all those five Attainments they had arrived at 2. Not a word of their having attained to Union with Christ or of the Implantation of the Holy Spirit though they had had some kind of taste thereof 3. Not a word of Regeneration he doth not say It is impossible for such that have been born of God begotten of the Spirit No no nothing of that 4 Here is nothing spoken of their being justified or of Justification unto Life 5. Not a word in all their fivefold Attainments of Sanctification by the Spirit we read not of any effectual Calling they had arrived unto 6. Nothing is mentioned of their Election of Adoption nor of their Love to God or to his poor Saints none of these things are expressed or assigned unto them which do all appertain to every true Christian 6 thly It ought also carefully to be noted that when the Apostle comes to speak of his Hope of the Saints to whom he wrote i. e. that they were not such he lays down or describes by way of Intimation the Characters of true Believers by other distinguishing Qualifications But Beloved we are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany Salvation though we thus speak Now observe if those Persons he mentions that had been once enlightned and had tasted of the Heavenly Gift c. had been true Christians what better things could the Apostle be perswaded was in these Hebrews than was in them Are there better things than Vnion with Christ than Justification than Regeneration true Faith Pardon of Sin Love to God and to his People Sanctification of the Spirit and Adoption No no there are no better things that any Christian can attain unto in this Life than these Moreover 7 thly The Apostle clearly intimates that they were such who
that changed them into a State of Grace 2. Nay they partake not only of common Gifts but common Grace also even such Grace that doth reform their Lives bridle restrain and curb their inordinate Lusts and Passions so that through the Knowledg of Jesus Christ they esteeming him as their Blessed Saviour they are said to escape the Pollution of the World as Peter plainly declares though afterwards they are again intangled therein and overcome 3. They did no doubt by the Assistance of the Holy Spirit leave and forsake those evil Ways and prophane Courses and Practices in which they lived before May be they were gross Idolaters Adulterers Blasphemers c. but the Spirit by its common Operations did so far strive and prevail with them that they became other Men As it is said of King Saul The Spirit of God will come upon thee and thou shalt be turned into another Man but not a new Man And God gave him another Heart 4. These Persons may partake of such Grace which the foolish Virgins had to keep their Lamps of Profession burning for a Time Doct. 4. The Holy Spirit may be with Persons nay in them by his common Operations with whom he is not by his gracious Inhabitation they may partake of common but not of saving Grace 4 thly The fourth Attainment of these Persons or these false Professors is this viz. And tasted of the good Word of God Four things I shall do in speaking unto this First Shew what is meant by the Word of God Secondly Shew why it is called the good Word of God Thirdly Shew what a taste an unsound Christian may have of the good Word of God Fourthly And also shew what a taste it is that a true Christian hath of it First By the Word of God is meant the Word of the Gospel Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Again it is said From you sounded out the Word of God that is the Gospel of Christ Secondly It is called the good Word of God 1. Because it bringeth good News to Sinners the Tidings it brings are good and profitable to all that receive it in Truth 2. Because it is a Declaration of that good and gracious Counsel and Purpose of God in saving poor Sinners by Jesus Christ it is Heavenly Sublime the Nature and Glory of God in all his Attributes is made manifest thereby 3. It is good in the blessed Effects thereof That which is excellent and precious in it self and also doth as much good we esteem very good Now as divine Truth is pure Thy Word is pure therefore thy Servant loveth it so it is precious above Gold in the Effects of it on the Heart 1. It enlightens the Eyes it illuminates dark Minds it is a shining Light Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet and a Light unto my Path. 2. It quickens and revives a Soul under Deadness therefore it is good Thy Word hath quickned me 3. It is that which inriches the Soul Let the Word of God dwell in you richly We have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us Hence Ministers by preaching the Gospel though they may be externally poor yet make many spiritually rich 4. It may be said to be Good because of the powerful Effects it hath on Mens Souls where it comes not in Word only The Word of God is quick and powerful sharper than any two-edged Sword It makes the Dead to live infusing through the Spirit Life and regenerating Grace into the Hearts of Sinners it searcheth and purges out all Corruption by the means of it young and old come to have their Hearts and Ways cleansed Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you 5. It is our Sword by which we offend and wound our Enemies and defend our selves against all their Assaults and Temptations 6. It is good in respect of that discovery it makes of God of Jesus Christ and of Salvation as also of future Glory there is contained in it a Revelation of the Incarnation of the Son of God with all the Effects of infinite Wisdom in the glorious Contrivance of our Redemption What doth the Pagan World understand or know of these things who have not the good Word of God with them 7. It hath a comforting a healing and strengthning Virtue in it and it also preserves from Sin therefore it is good Thy Word have I hid in my Heart that I might not sin against thee It gives peace and quiet to a disturbed and distressed Mind when the Promises are set home with Power upon the Conscience How many hath that one Word revived that have been ready to drop into Hell in the sense of their Sin Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest 8. It is our Food I mean the Food of our Souls yea both Milk for Babes and strong Meat for Men of riper Age nay it is sweet satisfying and Soul-fatning Food therefore it is good Sirs if you have never tasted how good the Word of God is your State doubtless is bad but it is not enough to have a taste of it but you must feed upon it Eat O Friends drink yea drink abundantly O Beloved Thirdly I shall proceed to shew you what a kind of taste an unsound Christian may have of the Word of God It is evident that the Apostle here carefully keeps himself to such Expressions as we have in the Text to shew he intends not such Persons who by Faith truly receive and spiritually feed on Jesus Christ therefore it is said have tasted True by tasting sometimes is meant a spiritual feeding O taste and see that the Lord is good Compared with that in Peter If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious Brethren every one that feeds may be said to taste though he doth more than taste but every one that tasteth may not be said to feed no nor be said to love approve of nor digest that which he tasteth of Pray remember to feed is more than to taste I did but taste a little Honey saith Jonathan And it is said of our Saviour When he had tasted thereof he would not drink he tasted but did not drink So Men may taste and yet may not eat not feed upon that they tasted of I shall now come to shew you what a taste they may have of the Word of God 1. As tasting respecteth Experience or simple Knowledg of the Truth of a thing so these Persons may have a taste i. e. may have a simple Knowledg or Experience of the Truth of the Word of the Gospel they may taste in this sense they may believe or be fully convinced in their Consciences by what they have heard and have met with by such Operations of the Spirit that have past upon them that
the Gospel is true and that Christ is the only Saviour and that the Institutions and Ordinances of the Gospel are his Blessed Appointments Thus many of the Jews tasted of Christ's Word i. e. They believed in his Name when they saw the Miracles which he did But Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all Men They gave a true Assent to the Proposition of his Word yet did not close in with him they did not consent to receive him to desire love and obey him they had no Union with him by saving Faith and the like may be said of these Persons in our Text. 2. Nay these Persons finding Jesus Christ to be the true and great Saviour they may taste the Word or believe with some kind of Joy though it be a false Joy Who would not be saved or have Christ as a Saviour This they like they would be saved from Hell and Wrath but do not consider that Christ came to save his People from their Sins He will save none who abide in their Sins who hold them fast and resolve not to let them go Many may taste some sweetness in hearing of the Power of Christ to save who go on presumptuously in their ungodly Practices It is expresly said that the stony-ground Hearers received the Word with joy they had a taste of it A common Faith seems to give a taste the Name of a Saviour relishes sweet 3. They may taste of the Promises of the Word but may not like the Precepts of it or what sometimes follows and overtakes such who profess the Gospel or may like some Precepts but not like some others of them every Word of God with these is not precious they cannot deny themselves and follow Christ whither soever he goes They are not like David who saith Every Word of God is pure therefore I love thy Commandments above Gold yea above fine Gold Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false Way 4. A bare taste or a simple taste of the Word is enough for these a great deal of the World may be they think is too little yet a little Religion a little of the Word short Prayers and little Preaching will suffice them A great Portion is too little for their Children but Six-pence or a Shilling they may think is too much for the poor Saints or a small matter a great deal to be given to the Children of God It is evident these Persons gave little or nothing to the poor Saints by what the Apostle speaks in the Verses following our Text and therefore no sincere Believers For God is not unrighteous to forget your Work of Faith and Labour of Love in that ye have ministred to the Saints c. You as if he should say are not of that sort I am a speaking of they do not love the Children of God though they have had a taste of the Word This one Vertue Brethren is more than all those five Attainments mentioned in my Text when that which a Man gives is given in love to Christ 5. Yet this bare taste as you have heard might have some Effect upon these Mens Hearts 1. They might find some kind of delight in that Knowledg they have of the Doctrine of the Gospel and might speak in the Commendation and Vindication thereof Thus Balaam seemed wonderfully to be affected with the State of Israel and with the Tabernacle and Tents of Jacob yet he loved the Wages of Unrighteousness 2. It may work as you heard last Day a visible Change in them such a Power may go along with that taste they like Saul might become other Men. 3. They might have the same Lamp of Profession with true Christians and be taken for real Converts not known to the Godly but to be such The wise Virgins doubtless thought well of the Foolish they did not know they were unsound or foolish Ones 4. Such a Work and Effect the Holy Spirit and tasting of the Word might have that they might be full of great Expectation of bâ—ing embraced by Christ when he comes if they fell not away before 'T is said the foolish Virgins went out to meet the Bridegroom they had much Confidence may be more Confidence tho it was Self-confidence that the Wise for true Believers may be attended with many Doubts Dr. Owen speaking of this sort mentioned in my Text saith and no doubt saith the Truth That there is an inferiour common Work of the Holy Spirit in the Dispensation of the Word on many to whom it is preached causing in them a great Alteration and Change as to Light Knowledg Abilities Gifts Affections Life and Conversation when the Persons so wrought upon are not quickned regenerated or made new Creatures nor united to Jesus Christ that in the Persons thus wrought upon there is or may be such an Assent and Light and Conviction of the Truth proposed and preached to them as in its kind is true not counterfeit giving or affording to them a Profession of the Faith That is they are blinded and know not that they are unsound in the Main their Hearts for want of true Light deceive them as in the Case of the foolish Virgins nay and they may perhaps hold out in their Profession constantly unto Death nay may give their Bodies to be burned O see Brethren that your Faith is the Faith of God's Elect and that you are savingly renewed O look about you since it may be thus The Doctor adds That among these Persons are oft-times some that are endued with excellent Gifts and lovely Parts Qualifications and Abilities rendering them very useful to the Church of God being Vessels in his House to hold and convey to others the precious Liquor of the Gospel though never had their own evil Hearts changed To which let me add they are such or of this sort of Persons who are liable to sin the Sin against the Holy Ghost or so fall that it may be impossible for them to be renewed by Repentance Yet before they so fall it may not be impossible for them to become true Converts The Nature of which Sin against the Holy Ghost I purpose to open before I close with this Text. Fourthly I shall proceed to shew you what a taste of God and of his good Word it is which all true Believers have 1. 'T is a taste that arises from Spiritual Hunger There is a true sense of Want they have a craving Appetite and nothing but God in Christ can satisfy their Souls My Soul thirsteth for God for the living God saith David And hence it is that they are pronounced blessed Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall be filled not have only a taste No no but they shall be filled they shall eat to satisfaction They see that they want a Righteousness whereby they may be declared Just and Righteous before God namely the
is acted and influenced by the Devil in the Times of his Ignorance 8. It is not the Sin of Unbelief though that be a damning Sin yea the damning Sin as it is a Sin against the Remedy God hath provided and against the highest manifestation of God's Goodness and against the highest Testimony and Witness yet many that thus sin nay continue at present in and under the Power of Unbelief may come to see their horrid Evil and by the Grace of God may believe and be forgiven this as well as other Sins Lastly I have shewed you that no true Believer can commit this Sin He that is born of God cannot commit Sin viz. he cannot sin unto Death So much in the Negative what Sin the Sin against the Holy Ghost is not Secondly I shall shew you in the Affirmative according to that Light I have what Sin this Sin is or open the Nature thereof and what sort of Persons they are who do or may commit it 1. The Persons that may commit the Sin against the Holy Ghost our Text informs us are such who have been once enlightned and that have attained to the Knowledg of the Truth or true way of Salvation by Jesus Christ and have had such a kind of Taste of the Heavenly Gift and of the good Word of God and Powers of the World to come more or less of which I have shewed they have received the Gifts and common Graces of the Spirit 2. And also have escaped the Corruptions of the World through the Knowledg of Jesus Christ or attained to a great Reformation of Life in so much that they were look'd upon as Saints and eminent Christians many of them being Professors of the Gospel and might be great Preachers thereof Tho it seems that others who never professed the Gospel were and may be guilty of committing of this Sin as those Jews no doubt were who said our Blessed Saviour did cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils 3. It is a sinning wilfully after a Person hath received the Knowledg of the Truth or Gospel of Christ For if we sin wilfully after we have received the Knowledg of the Truth there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin Though every wilful sinning is not this Sin yet every one that is guilty thereof doth sin wilfully and that in the highest degree Pray note it 't is a wilful casting off and forsaking the Truth of God and an utter deserting the Church and People of God nay a wilful rejecting the Truth which they before had embraced and tasted some sweetness in opposing and contradicting that which the Holy Spirit testifies to their Consciences is the Truth of Christ therefore they wilfully reject the Motions of the Holy Ghost nay contemn the Operations thereof 4. And as it is a rejecting of the Motions and Operations of the Holy Spirit after those Illuminations they had received so also it is done maliciously or from Spite and Malice And hath done Despite unto the Spirit of Grace They wilfully desert the Assemblies of God's Church and People and esteem the Blood of Christ whereby he was consecrated a Sacrifice unto God or as some whereby they thought once they had been sanctified an unholy Thing and accounting the Motions of the Holy Spirit and his Operations a meer Delusion of the Devil And thus some of the Pharisees sinned Christ healed one possessed of an unclean Spirit a Work wrought by the Power of the Holy Ghost they imputed it to the Devil saying This Fellow casteth out Devils by the Prince of Devils This was a wilful Sin and done no doubt in Malice and against the Convictions of their own Consciences for they could not certainly but know that he was the Son of God by the wonderful Works he did See ver 31 32. Upon this our Saviour doth intimate that they were guilty of sinning the Sin against the Holy Ghost that shall never be forgiven unto Men. 5. It is a treading under Foot the Son of God contemning and vilifying him as these Pharisies seem'd to do and which as it is thought by many Julian the Apostate was guilty of who in difdain when he was wounded threw his Blood up towards Heaven crying Thou Galilean thou hast overcome me or to that purpose he in reproach and hatred seemed to call Christ a Galilean would not call him by any one of his own proper Names 6. And lastly It doth consist in a fatal and utter renunciation of the Christian Religion and all the Institutions Doctrines and Principles thereof and a turning to Judaism or Idolatry or else to perfect Atheism and all this as Dr. Owen signifies with an avowed and professed Enmity to Christ and Christianity and therefore not without the highest Reproach and Contempt imaginable against the Person of Christ as well as against the Gospel imbracing the Love of Sin or of the Riches and Honours of this present evil World valuing their Lusts above the Comfort of the Holy Ghost We have as if they should say tasted of the Spirit and of heavenly Things and do disclaim him and them and witness against him and by that Experience we have had do disown all that pretended Good that some boast of 〈◊〉 be in their Divine Things and contemn that Spirit they glory in and are led by APPLICATION First Take heed of those Sins that tend or lead to this unpardonable Sin 1. Take heed of a malicious Thought against the Holy Ghost don't think it is the Devil that disquiets and disturbs you about Sin Wrath and Hell you convicted Sinners look to it that you charge not these Convictions you have of the Evil of your Sin upon Satan He you may be sure will not trouble you for your Sins but let you go on peaceably in your wicked Ways though when you are awakened he may perswade you that there is no Mercy for you Doubts and desparing Thoughts commonly rise from Satan but not Sorrow and Grief for Sin No no that is from your Conscience a it is influenced by the Holy Ghost 2. Beware of harbouring a malicious Thought of Religion or of praying by the Holy Spirit as I heard lately or a wicked Man who hearing a Minister pray in a most excellent manner that said How doth the Devil help him or to that effect O this is dangerous 3. Take heed of blasphemous Words against the Holy Spirit Will any dare to say that the Devil is in God's People that they are so resolute in their Ways and will not conform to the National Church 4. Beware you that make a Profession of Religion and that have been enlightned how you fall away and turn again to Folly and to your sinful Practices for this is the high Way to the unpardonable Sin or Sin unto Death you know not but that a partial Apostacy may end in a total one at last 5. Above all things look to it that you rest not on a common Work of the
but that they may occasionally hear such preach yet if they know they are Deceivers they will not so much as hear them neither ought they but to shun them as such who have Plague-Sores upon them yet they may hear and read their Books to know the better their cursed Principles and Errors 2. Therefore they do not so hear them as to like and approve of their Doctrine as I said before 3. They will then be sure not so to hear them as to receive and embrace their pernicious Principles unless lamentably deluded which as you heard they may be through the subtilty of Satan and the craftiness of his Emissaries for some time if they do not watch and take the better care APPLICATION Caution To you that are Believers beware lest you are led away by the Error of the Wicked be sure that you are not corrupted in any main or fundamental Truth First O labour to maintain and abide firm in the Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity God hath revealed or made known himself as three in one and therefore as such to be worshipped Look what way God hath manifested his Being and Properties unto us in his Holy Word Our Worship consisteth in a due application of our Soul unto him according to that Revelation of himself And that there are three distinct Persons subsisting in the same infinitely holy One undivided Essence as manifested in his Word is most evident and those Persons are so distinct in their peculiar Subsistence that distinct Actings and Operations are ascribed unto them The Father knoweth the Son and loveth him and the Son seeth knoweth and loveth the Father In these mutual Actings saith Reverend Dr. Owen one Person is the Object of the Knowledg and Love of the other The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his Hand No Man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any Man the Father save the Son No Man knoweth the Divine Essence or Eternal Generation of the Son but the Father Nor no Man knoweth the Essence or Counsels of the Father or Dispensations of the Gospel save the Son Or as Calvin saith The Son is said to know the Father as he is the lively and express Image of his Person This mutual Knowledg and Love of the Father and Son is expressed at large in Prov. 8. 22. And they are Absolute Infinite Natural and Necessary unto the Being and Blessedness of God So the Holy Spirit is the mutual Love of the Father and the Son knowing them as he is known and searching the deep Things of God And saith the Doctor in these mutual and internal and external Actings of themselves consists much of the infinite Blessedness of the Holy God Again 2. there are distinct Actings of the several Persons in the Godhead which are voluntary or Effects of Will and Choice and not natural or necessary and these are of two sorts such as respect one another for there are external Acts of one Person towards another but then the Person that is the Object of these Actings is not considered absolutely as a Divine Person but with respect unto some peculiar Dispensation and Condescension So the Father gives sends commands the Son as he had condescended to take our Nature upon him and to be the Mediator between God and Man So the Father and the Son do send the Spirit as he condescended in a special manner to the Office of being the Sanctifier and Comforter of the Church Now these are free and voluntary Acts depending upon the sovereign Will Counsel and Pleasure of God and might not have been without the least diminution of his Eternal Blessedness Although this is such a Mystery that it 's beyond our Capacities fully to comprehend it yet there are as appears by what hath been said clear Scripture-Demonstrations that in the Deity there is a plurality of distinct Persons which might further be evinced as the Learned have shewed 1. A Being that stands under divers mutual Relations eternally and unalterably fixed that one cannot be the other must admit of such a Consideration of Existence But thus it is here God the Father eternally begets and never can be begotten the Son is eternally and unchangeably begotten and can never beget the Father also the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son and neither Father nor Son can proceed from the Holy Ghost 2. Where one doth as it were command and another obey one sends and another is sent there must needs be a personal distinction between each other But as it was before shewed the Father doth as it were command and send the Son not himself the Son is held forth as obeying not commanding or sending the Father 3. Where there is something done by one that is not done by another that argues the Persons are distinct one from the other But thus it is in respect of the Deity there is something done by the Son that is not done by the Father The Son assumed Man's Nature the Father did not this the Son in that Nature died and satisfied for our Sins by the Sacrifice of himself the Father did not this The Holy Ghost is sent by the Father and the Son he doth not send the Father nor the Son 4. Where there is a distinct mutual Converse in which one speaks of himself to another and of a third there is the formality of three Persons but in the Deity there is such a Converse 5 Where there is an Image one of another there is such a Distinction one from another that one is not the other in that respect but in the Deity there is an Image one of another The Mystery is most manifest from express Scripture It is a received Rule that cannot be contracted That things alike are not the same in that respect wherein they are alike Dr. Chauncy Secondly Also labour to abide firm in the Faith concerning the Person of Jesus Christ who is both God and Man the Eternal God not God by Office but God by Nature the most High God who made Heaven and Earth and yet truly Man taking our Nature into a mystical Union with his Holy Deity being made like unto us in all things Sin only excepted and thus both God and Man in one Person 1 st It is requisite that he should be God 1. Because none can satisfy for Sin but he that is God no Creature though never so Holy could do it because Sin hath an infinite demerit in it being against an infinite God it therefore deserveth everlasting Punishment From hence it appears that the Satisfaction for our Sins must be infinitely meritorious otherwise it could not satisfy the infinite Justice and Wrath of God Now from the Dignity of Christ's Person he being God as well as Man his Obedience and Suffering hath an infinite Worth in it 2. No meer Creature was able to abide and overcome infinite Wrath or the Punishment due to us for our Sins therefore
as they were all given to him so they are all known by him they are so many Members numerically and no more as it is in the Body natural In God's Book are all his Members written as David speaks of the Members of his Body which some conclude refers to Christ chiefly and to the Members of his Mystical Body 4. I infer That if Jesus Christ loses one Member of his Mystical Body then his Body will be an imperfect Body a maimed Body for so we know it is in the natural Body though the loss be but of one of the least Members thereof 3 dly The Union between Christ and Believers is set forth by the Union of a Tree and its Branches Thou being a wild Olive-Tree wert grafted in amongst them and with them partakest of the Root and Fatness of the Olive-Tree Now the Branches have a close and near Union with the Tree and being grafted into it partake of the Juice and Fatness of the Root the Tree and Branches being nourished thereby There is the same fructifying and fatning Virtue in the one that is in the other only with this difference in the Root and Tree it is originally in the Boughs or Branches by way of Communication This is brought by the Holy Ghost to open the Union of Christ and his Saints both he and they are partakers of the same Fruit-bearing Spirit he that dwells in them dwells in him also only it is in him as to them originally in them by communication from him Take a Cyon a Plant a Graft fix it to the Tree with all the Art you can and bind it on as close as possible yet 't is not united to the Tree until the Sap that is in the Tree be communicated to it which Communication states the Union Even so and in like manner let a Man be bound to Jesus Christ by all Bonds of visible Profession imaginable yet unless the Holy Spirit be in him to unite him to Christ unless he hath that Divine Sap and Life communicated to him he hath no real Union with him Object But doth not our Saviour say Every Branch in me that beareth not Fruit he taketh away And again If a Man abideth not in me he is cast forth as a Branch and is withered and Men gather them and cast them into the Fire and they are burned Doth not this prove that such who have real Union with Christ may eternally perish Answ I know this is brought as a grand Proof for final falling away But to give an answer hereunto 1. Some tell you that there is no need to translate the words so but that it may as well be translated Every Branch not bringing forth Fruit in me that is that have not real Union in me For though there can be no true Fruit brought forth without real and saving Union with Christ yet Men may bring forth some kind of Fruit and such that looks like good Fruit it is called Fruit He may pray hear the Word and lead an honest moral and sober Life yea and give to the Poor and yet not bring forth this Fruit in Christ or from a real Union he hath with him for all Acts of an External Profession in Religion may be brought forth without any Divine Principle of Grace or being rooted and grafted into Christ by the Holy Ghost and such a one the good Husband-man will discover for this Man's Fruit will not continue but wither Having not root in himself but endureth for a while for when Tribulation and Persecution ariseth because of the Word by and by he is offended Evident it is that all that received the Seed into good Ground or were sincere Christians brought forth Fruit to Everlasting Life though not all the like Quantity But 2. Let it be considered that there is a twofold being in Christ spoken of in God's Word as Christ also is compared to a Vine under a twofold Consideration 1. There is a Spiritual Real and Invisible being in Christ by Faith and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and these are grafted into Christ the Vine spiritually considered and so have that true Union with him of which we speak 2. There is also an External or Visible being in Christ by an outward profession Hence those that are baptized in his Name are said to be baptized into Christ Paul saith of some that they were in Christ before me How did he know who were savingly invisibly in Christ No doubt he speaks of their visible being in him by that Profession they made of the Gospel and by their being baptized and in this respect Vine is to be taken for the Church which sometimes bears Christ's Name Now evident it is many that thus are in Christ that is by a Profession and Sacramental Implantation may bring forth some sort of Fruit for a while but for want of a real Union with Christ they having not a Supply of Grace and Divine Sap from the Root they abide not in Christ that is in a visible Profession but are cast forth as withered Branches and at last will be cast into the Fire But now whosoever bringeth forth true Spiritual Fruit who is visibly in Christ the Vine him will God purge that he may bring forth more Fruit. And that this is the true meaning of this Text is plain if we consider what Christ saith of all his Elect Ones as hinted to you before viz. That he had not only chosen them but ordained them that they should go and bring forth Fruit and that their Fruit shall remain And this he speaks to his Disciples soon after in this very Chapter to comfort them lest they might fear miscarrying and become like such who are withered Branches And this is sufficient to remove this Objection Thirdly The Union of the Soul with Christ as to the excellent firm and abiding Nature thereof is further demonstrated and strengthened by the consideration of the Union of Christ to the Father and them as it is expressed by our blessed Lord I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in One 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into one First the Father in Christ the Fulness of the Godhead being in him bodily then Christ in Believers so that from that fulness of Grace Strength c. that the Father communicated to the Son as Mediator by virtue of his Union with him and which is communicable to us all his Members do receive from Christ by virtue of their Union with him Our Lord prayed in Verse 20 That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us c. Now though it be hard to understand the Nature of this Union in some Respects yet this is easy to comprehend viz. that the Union between the Father and Christ is an inseparable Union it is an abiding Union or it is a Union that cannot be dissolved Why then let us consider since Christ
a Sum 12. That Purchase of Remission of Sin and Salvation that leaves Men under a Certainty of Damnation is not esteemed Redemption at all but a Purchase of Remission and Salvation upon the Condition these Men talk of leaves most under a Certainty of Damnation because it is an impossible Condition in respect of Man he being dead in Sins and Trespasses therefore can't perform it and also in respect of Christ because he never purchased Grace for them to enable them to perform that Condition 13. If the Death and Resurrection of Christ shall have its proper Effect to the Eternal Salvation of all them for whom he died as a Corn of Wheat that falleth into the Ground or is sown in the Earth in that respect hath its Effect then all for whom he died shall be saved But his Death c. shall have like Effect see his own Words And Jesus answered them saying The Hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified Verily verily I say unto you Except a Corn of Wheat fall into the Ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much Fruit. See here all that are and shall be saved our Lord ascribeth unto his Death as the absolute Effect thereof all his Elect being virtually in him as all the Increase virtually is in that one Corn of Wheat that is sown into the Earth that is produced by it See Reverend Dr. Chauncy If saith he there be the same Eternal and Unchangeable Cause of Redemption as of Application as to the same Persons then whosoever is redeemed shall have Redemption applied and be saved eternally But there is the same Eternal and Unchangeable Cause of both Ergo. 3. All that are redeemed must be saved or if they be not saved the Reason is from the Insufficiency of his Redemption and whatsoever is not efficient is not sufficient to attain the End either from want of Virtue in the Thing or Will in the Efficient Now if Christ's Intention were to redeem all he intended that which he could not do if he intended not to redeem all whatever the simple Virtue of his Obedience might have done had it had an Intention of the Agent annex'd to it yet having it not it is limited by it and becomes insufficient 4. If the Death of Christ be sufficient to redeem all and all are not actually redeemed so as to be saved it is Nonsense to talk of Universal Redemption for an Universal Redemption without Universal Salvation is an Absurdity of the first Rate 5. If Christ's Death be universally sufficient then it is irresistable in attaining its End and if so Man's Will cannot hinder it But these Men that hold Universal Redemption will say That notwithstanding this Redemption some Men will not be saved therefore this Redemption is not sufficient to save all for it seems it doth not conquer every Man's Will so as to make him willing to be saved and it seems by them Christ is such a Redeemer as cannot save whom he will and therefore not being an Alsufficient Redeemer cannot be a sufficient Redeemer to save all 6. He that died to redeem all died instead of all But Christ did not die in the room or stead of all The Major wants no Proof and all Opposition to Christ dying in our stead is but a meer Wrangle And that Point is yielded of late by our soberest and most Learned Vniversalists I proceed to the Minor Christ did not die in the stead or room of all for if so in what Christ suffered in their stead that are not saved he was injured To pay this or that Man's Money and be accepted and taken Debtor and Paymaster in his stead and yet for all this if the Man is not discharged nor one Farthing of his Debt both Christ and the Sinner must needs be fallaciously and injuriously dealt with 7. It is not fit Christ should die for all seeing his Father elected not all and gave not all to him for Christ to redeem more were to disobey his Father's Will and not to do it If any say God elected all it 's most absurd to talk of chusing some from among many others When a Man takes the whole Number this is no Election or if any say that Election is Conditional provided a Man will this also is no Election for if Election be upon the Condition of Man's free Will one Man is not chosen and not another but all have equal previous Designation to the End and so there is no Election at all 8. All that Christ shed his Blood for he loved with a Conjugal Love and therefore must be married to them in Application and they must necessarily be saved 9. The Works peculiarly ascribed to each Person according to their Divine Order and Manner of working are of equal Extent whom the Father elects the Son redeems and the Holy Ghost sanctifies Thus far the Reverend Dr. Isaac Chauncy I might add divers other Arguments against this pretended Universal Redemption but because what I have already said under this Argument taken from the Death of Christ doth so fully overthrow such a pretended conditional Universal Redemption I shall say no more unto it Object But doth not the Scripture say that Christ died for all and for the whole World and for every Man Answ 1. It cannot be taken for every Individual Man and Woman in the World for the Reasons we have given 2. It is evident by All that the word World doth in many places only intend some of all sorts by a Synecdoche a part being put for the whole As it is said All Judea and Jerusalem and all the Regions round about Jordan went out to be baptized of John Behold the same baptizeth speaking of Christ and all Men come to him Again Christ saith When I am lifted up I will draw all Men to me Also Paul saith That the Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal Hath every Man and Woman in the World the Holy Ghost in them and the eminent Gifts thereof The Apostle says That every Creature of God is good and nothing to be refused that is to say every Creature of God is good for Food Now pray are not these words to be taken with restriction Are not Toads and Snakes and a multitude of other Creatures and Things the Creatures of God and are they therefore good for Food or intended here I even wonder to see how Men run into Mistakes through ignorance of some Texts of Scripture As Mr. Joshua Exel lately and very confidently and boldly hath asserted in print That John the Baptist did certainly baptize all universally even both Men Women and Children because the Text says That all Judea Jerusalem and all the Regions round about Jordan went out and were baptized of him which I have answered and shewed his weakness in asserting any such thing from thence All there no doubt intends but
has promised thee Victory but thou must sight Grace teacheth us to deny all Vngodliness He that is not under the Influence of Grace never had the Truth of it in him Fourthly Always consider this in thy Heart that thy standing is by Grace and that thou art in Christ's Hand O depend on him for all and fly to him for whatsoever thou dost need JOHN X. 28. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand BRETHREN I closed the last Time with the Consirmation of the Doctrine which I have for several days been upon I shall now proceed to consider of the Objections and give an Answer to them that are usually brought against this great and comfortable Doctrine of the Saints final Perseverance Several of which I have answered already as I met with them occasionally under divers of those Arguments I have spoken to in clearing up the Truth of the Proposition therefore shall labour to answer such that remain which take as they here follow Object 1. If Christ did not die for all how could the Birth of our Saviour be said to be Matter of Joy unto all People And the Angel said unto them Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great Joy which shall be to all People For unto you is born this Day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Answ 1. I answer All People doth not intend every individual Person to all People that is the good News is not to you only but to both Jews and Gentiles I have shewed you before that all and every and whole World is taken in many places of Holy Scripture with restriction and takes in but a part as on the contrary when the Vniversality of the Subject is intended it is expressed by singular If a Man die shall he live again Which refers to every Man He that believeth shall be saved it signifies all that so do So I will pour out of my Spirit upon ALL Flesh as you have it in Joel that is upon Persons of every Age Sex and Degree upon Young Old Masters Servants Sons and Daughters so it may be taken here and in several other places as that in 1 Tim. 2. 4. Who will have all Men saved c. that is Kings as well as Peasants Noble as well as Ignoble Rich as well as Poor Gentiles as well as Jews or some of all sorts The Gospel is said to be preached in Paul's Time to every Creature under Heaven whereas it reached then but to a small part of the World one great part not being at that time known or found out as one well observes 2. Was the Birth of Christ Matter of Joy in the Effects of it to Judas and to the unbelieving Jews and to many more 3. I argue thus If the Birth and Death of Christ was cause of greatest Joy to all Persons individually considered it must be thus either in respect of the Design Purpose and Intention of God because of such Joy unto them or else in respect of the certain Effects of his Birth and Death But 1. Who will say that God according to his Eternal Purpose and Design did intend it for the Salvation of every individual Person None can be so weak sure to assert that for who shall resist God's Will or withstand God's absolute Design Purpose and Intention Christ must accomplish or effect the Salvation of all if in that sense it was Matter or Cause of Joy unto all or that he died for all or that God would have all that is every individual Man and Woman in the World saved 2. And as to the Effects of the Death of Christ it is evident quite otherwise for Multitudes have no saving Benefit thereby Therefore it follows clearly that that is not the sense of the Text nor Mind of the Spirit of God though in some sense the Birth and Death of Christ was Cause of Joy to all since every one received all that Good thereby whatsoever it is they are possessed of 4. Did not Simeon by the Holy Ghost say that this Child speaking of Christ is set for the Fall and rising again of many in Israel Unto some the word is a Savour of Death unto Death and Christ a Stone of stumbling the Reason is because they that believe in him shall be saved and they that believe not shall be damned We freely grant the intervening of Mens Unbelief Malice and Opposition to Christ and his Gospel is the proximate meritorious Cause of the Fall and Ruin of any Soul 5. Also it is said Every Man shall have praise of God 1 Cor. 4. 5. which can refer to none but to good Men or godly Men only So it is said God is the Father of all One God and Father of all Eph. 4. 6. Yet as Mr. Cole observes on that place the Devil is the Father of the greatest part of the World Christ is said to reconcile all things to himself whether they be things in Earth or things in Heaven Col 1. 20. Yet what a multitude are not nor ever shall be reconciled to him All certainly intends none but the Elect So it is said it is written in the Prophets they shall all be taught of God John 6. 45. It respects only Believers or God's New-Covenant-Children Now seeing the word all and every in many Places refers only to the Elect and is taken with such Restriction why should it be taken Universally here and in those other Places mentioned especially considering the Arguments I have laid down to prove that Christ did not die for any but those that were given to him by the Father we having also proved he died in their stead for whom he suffered Death so that they might never die Eternally Object 2. If there be such a Decree of Election and that none shall be saved but those that God hath ordained to Eternal Life what need Men seek after or regard the Salvation of their Souls Answ This Objection we have largely answered under our first Argument to prove the Saints final Perseverance taken from the Election of Grace to which I refer you Object 3. This Doctrine of Election and Final Perseverance tends to make Men loose and remiss in the Service of God Answ 1. What can be a greater Mistake Do the certain Grounds of Hope of obtaining the Victory tend to make a Souldier remiss and careless when engaged in the Battel Or do they not much more animate him to fight couragiously 2. Shall a Child be taken off from his Duty or be remiss in serving his Father because his Father tells him he shall never be disinherited 3. Did not Christ know that the Angels had Charge over him yet was he less careful of his own Preservation And did not Paul assure all that were in the Ship with him that they should all be saved yet did that take him
Is it some Temporary Act of his whereby he hath declared himself unto them Then I say grant that Salvation is to be had in a Redeemer in Jesus Christ and give me an Instance how God in any Act whatsoever saith he hath declared his Mind and revealed himself to all Men of all Times and Places concerning his willingness of their Salvation by Jesus Christ a Redeemer and I will never more trouble you in this Cause Secondly Doth this Will equally respect the All intended or doth it not If it doth why hath it not equal Effects towards all What Reason can be assigned that all they whom God equally intended Salvation for by Christ have it not However they who have Salvation either have it as the Effects of Free-Grace or of Free-Will Who will assert the latter Besides this would follow i. e. God will have some Men be saved to whom he wills not the Means of their Salvation for so he doth not to one great Part of the World But since we have proved that there is not a Sufficiency of Grace granted to all universally that is Grace subjective to enable them to believe and change their Hearts but to some only I shall say no more to this for if it were sufficient it would have the same Effect on all as it hath on some that which is sufficient to such an End would be made no doubt efficient by the Will of the great Agent who worketh all our Works in us and for us of his own good Pleasure and without whom we can'do nothing Object 14. Well say some say what you will if this Doctrine of Election and Final Perseverance be true we see not to what purpose we should preach the Gospel to Sinners any more or press Saints to Holiness Answ 1. I am weary of these impertinent Objections God hath ordained the preaching of the Gospel as the great Ordinance to call in his Elect and to beget Faith in them It pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe And not only to beget Faith but also to strengthen that Faith and to perfect the Saints more and more in Holiness These Men dream of an Election without the Means and of a Salvation without Faith and Regeneration and a preserving Men to Eternal Life without a Perseverance in Grace and Holiness It is a Perseverance in well-doing we plead for and this we say Christ will in the use of Means not without it enable all his People to do he will help them strengthen them and keep their Souls alive Pray consider the Ways by which Jesus Christ preserves his People unto Everlasting Life the Saints are said to be sanctified by the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ 1. It is in a Way of Holiness And from fainting or being weary in well-doing he stirs us up by his Spirit to wait upon him and promises That they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their Strength they shall mount up with Wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary walk and not faint or grow stronger and stronger both in Faith and Patience 2. Christ preserves us in a Way of Perseverance in well-doing by shewing us our own Weakness and that without him we can do nothing but that we must wholly rely upon him in the Way of our Duties for all things we need 3. By increasing Grace in us He by his Word shews that the Grace we have already received is not sufficient to keep us from falling therefore he stirs us up to seek to him for more Grace more Faith more Patience more Humility more Wisdom c. 4. By succouring us under all Temptations For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he is also able to succour them that are tempted He has purchased Help and Succour for tempted Saints His Bowels move him to help us against Sin and against Satan He hath a soft and tender Heart and hath a fellow-feeling of our Infirmities which is a Spring of great Comfort to tempted Christians 5. By warning and forewarning us of the Danger we are in by our spiritual Enemies and charging us by his Word always to be upon our watch and not to sleep as others do 6. By putting his Fear into our Hearts that we may not depart from him that is not finally to depart which he doth when at first he infuseth Holy Habits in us 7. By his putting upon us that Holy and Spiritual Armour Ephes 6. 10 11 12 13 14. Do these Men think Christ's Soldiers can expect the Victory and not fight or overcome their Enemy though they throw away their Sword which is the Word of God The Preaching of the Gospel is of wonderful use to them it is the Word of Command their Captain speaks to them thereby and shews what they are and are not to do and how they should keep their Ranks and maintain true Order and Discipline in themselves Church and Families 8. By his continual Intercession for them he prays for us that we may be kept in the World from the Evil of it that we may not be finally overcome thereby These things being considered pray Brethren remember that as the Saints cannot perish as Hypocrites and Unbelievers may so they cannot sin live in Sin and in neglect of Holy Duties continually as unsound Persons may do And now Brethren I having answered all the grand Objections that are usually brought against the Saints final Perseverance I shall shew you some of those Absurdities which do attend the contrary Doctrine viz. That Christ died to save all and every individual Person in the World and that the Elect may fall totally and finally away and perish for ever 1. It renders the Death of Christ as to its Effects and the Success thereof uncertain as to the Salvation of any one Person 2. It doth imply a Deficiency in God or want of good Will in him to prosecute his Design to perfection in Man's Salvation they affirming that Christ died for all even every individual Traitor who lies in strong Chains and Fetters under the Power of Sin and Satan but he will not break off the cursed Irons and bring out of the Prison-house but a very few of them only 3. It would also follow then that the Purpose of God yea his Eternal Counsel in Christ Jesus may be disappointed and Eternity be subjected to Time the Will of the Creator to the Will of the Creature the first Cause to the Second and all or many of God's Absolute Acts to be suspended unto the actings of sorry Man and so the Lord submit to the Servant Yea as saith a Reverend Minister It sets God at an uncertainty because it doth subject the Grace of God to the Will of Man it hangs the Glory of his Grace in all the Motions of it and the Efficacy of the Promises upon the slipperiness of Man's Will and Affections It makes the Omnipotent Grace of God follow not
that remains in Believers and will have good and spiritual Fruit to attend it therefore this Doctrine must needs promote Holiness that is thus founded on such a Sacred Principle and the Motives are every way as strong 5. It appears Brethren that our standing by Grace is most firm and sure it is like the standing of those who are in their consummate State in Glory The Good Angels and Blessed Souls above are confirmed in that State by superabounding Grace for by Nature as one observes the Angels are mutable What was the Reason some of them fell who beheld the Face of God The bare beholding the Face and Glory of God will not continue one Creature in a happy State without an Act of Divine and Confirming Grace it is a continual Addition of Grace and Supplies of Grace that preserves our Souls in a State of Life and to this End are we united to Jesus Christ I mean to such an Head that of and from his Fulness we might have a Communication of Strength and all Divine Influences as our Souls do stand in need 6. And this being so labour after the Exercise of Grace rest not in a small Degree thereof the more Grace you have the more Glory you will bring to God and the more easy it will be for you to resist Temptations 7. The more Grace also the more Peace Holiness is that which God calls for it is that which becomes his House for ever and without it no Man shall ever see the Lord. Therefore let this be the Use of all the Sermons you have heard from this Text even to work up your Hearts to Thankfulness to Holiness in all the whole Course of your Lives and to depend upon Christ alone into whose Hand you are committed by the Father that he would give you fresh Supplies of Grace and keep you from falling To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be Glory and Praise for ever Amen The Trial of the False Professor OR The Danger of Final APOSTACY Opened in three SERMONS preached lately at Horse-lie-down Wherein the Nature of the Sin against the Holy Ghost is discovered HEB. VI. 4 5 6. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift and were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost ver 4. And have tasted the good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come ver 5. If they fall away to renew them again unto Repentance seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame ver 6. BELOVED this Place of Holy Scripture was sent to me in Writing some Months ago I know not by whom perhaps by some who hold a Total and Final Apostacy from a State of True Grace But before I entered upon this Text I resolved in the Strength of God to endeavour to prove the Impossibility of their final Falling who are True Believers or such who have Real Union with Jesus Christ which I hope I have effectually done I know that this Text is brought by some to prove That True Believers may fall not only foully but also finally Which certainly is a great Mistake which I shall endeavour God assisting to make appear Mr. John Goodwin speaking of this Place and that in Heb. 10. 26. If we sin wilfully c. saith Evident it is from these two Passages the Holy Ghost after a serious manner and with a very pathetick and moving sirain of Speech and Discourse scarce the like to be found in all the Scripture admonisheth those who are at present true Believers to take heed of relapsing into the ways of their former Ignorance and Impiety This Caveat or Admonition he presseth by an Argument of this import that in case they shall thus relapse there will be very little or no hope at all of their Recovery or Return to the Estate of Faith and Grace wherein now they stand before the Faces of such Sayings and Passages as these rightly understood and duly considered there is no standing for that Doctrine which denies a Possibility either of a total or final Defection of the Saints c. He add That the Supposition or Hypothetical Proposition If they fall away doth denote here a Possibility of it which I will not deny but that these Persons of which the Apostle speaks were true Believers I see no ground at all to believe but do utterly deny it yet I readily grant this hath always been look'd upon as a very difficult place of Scripture to be rightly understood I have therefore consulted the best Authors and Exposuors I could meet with upon it 1. And I find that some of the Antients mistaking the Drift and Design of the Holy Ghost herein would take no Repentance from such who fell under Temptation in Times of Persecution especially if they fell into Idolatry 2. Nay such as fell into scandalous Crimes as Adultery and the like they would not admit by Repentance into the Church or have Communion any more with them And from hence I find that Tertullian reflects upon the Bishop of Rome that had admitted an Adulterer upon his Repentance Also Novatus as I find him quoted by a good Author denied all Hope of Church Pardon unto such Persons that had fallen into gross Sins after they had made a Profession of the Gospel and that from hence Which may seem strange considering that Paul admitted the incestuous Person upon his Repentance that being so notorious a Crime as most do or can fall into But no more as to this Brethren before I proceed let me premise three or four things 1. That the Apostacy here spoken of is not a bare falling into this or that Actual Sin be it of whatever Nature it will For do we not read how grievously some of the Saints of God sinned and fell and yet were restored again by Repentance 2. Nor is it a partial Apostacy or a falling upon Temptation or Surprizal in Time of Persecution though it be to the denying of Christ for did not Peter so fall and yet was restored afterwards 3. Neither is it a falling into some Capital Error as some of the Corinthians fell by denying the Resurrection of the Dead whom Paul laboured to recover Or like that of the Galatians who fell by denying Justification by Faith alone but mix'd Works with God's Free Grace in that great Point of Faith 4. Nor is it a falling of Ignorant Persons who never made any Profession of Religion such are not capable so to sin as is here mentioned because it is expresly said to be such who were once enlightned c. 5. And lastly Neither is it a falling away of such who are justified Persons or of those who have savingly been enlightned and quickned by the Spirit of God for such I have sufficiently proved cannot fall totally and finally so as to perish Thus far in the Negative But in the Affirmative 1. This Apostacy is a total and
were like the Ground which the Rain falls oft upon that nevertheless brings forth Briars and Thorns and no good Fruit. 8 thly There is one thing particularly noted by the Apostle concerning these Hebrew Christians which they had and which the other had not therefore not gracious Persons See ver 10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your Work of Faith and Labour of Love which ye have shewed toward his Name in that ye have ministred to the Saints and do minister 1. This he mentions as a Reason of his good Opinion of them and why he was so perswaded of them and which was better than all those high Attainments of which he speaks concerning such that are in danger of Final Apostacy Love to the poor Saints in ministring to them for the sake of Christ or because they are the Members of his Body is more than all those five Attainments mentioned in the 4 th 5 th and 6 th Verses Now also let it be considered that if this Fruit of true and saving Grace I mean Charity or Love to the poor Saints as such had been in the Persons he speaks of who were in danger of falling finally how then could this be an Argument of such Confidence in Paul concerning them or of Comfort to those Saints he wrote unto Alas what are common Illuminations What is it to have some transit taste of the Heavenly Gift or to be made Partakers of the common Operations of the Spirit in Convictions of Sin or of Duty to the Inhabitation of the Spirit or unfeigned Love to Christ and to the Children of God Or what is it to have some taste of the good Word of God to a spiritual feeding and digesting it or to be affected with the powerful Doctrine of the Gospel in respect of the World to come or with the Resurrection of the Dead and last Judgment to the gracious Experience of the Power of Christ's Resurrection and so feel in our Souls a Discharge from the Judgment of the Great Day through Faith in Jesus Christ 2. The Apostle was perswaded concerning these Hebrew Christians that they had such things in them that did accompany Salvation that is such things that are inseparable from Salvation i. e. such who have them shall certainly be saved He describes such who are sincere Christians by the Fruits and Effects of true Grace namely the Work of Faith and Labour of Love by which their Obedience unto God did appear 1. He notes the Principle from whence they acted in their Duty to God 2. The Constancy of their Obedience they continued in bringing forth of that good Fruit they had ministred to the Saints and still did minister to them 3. He takes notice of the Principle from whence they acted or did what they did viz. they ministred to the Saints in Love to God and to Jesus Christ it was Love shewed to his Name 4. He adds that in their Preservation in their happy State the Faithfulness of God God is not unrighteous to forget your Work of Faith c. which comprehends his Covenant and Promise to them which for their farther Comfort he enlargeth upon ver 13 to ver 19. to which he subjoins the Promise and Oath of God made to all that are sincere Believers or Heirs of the Promise But to proceed to speak to those five Qualifications or Attainments of the Perso she speaks of in our Text who may fall away and finally perish for ever First The first is their being once enlightned They might be instructed in the Doctrine of the Gospel beyond many or be illuminated not only by learning the literal Knowledg of the Gospel as Men learn Philosophy but also may attain to some supernatural Light by the common Illuminations of the Spirit and may understand many profound Mysteries of the Gospel yet remember Knowledg puffeth up they might have knowing Heads but graceless Hearts Note from hence Doct. 2. That it is a high Privilege and an Attainment for Men to be enlightned with the Knowledg of the Gospel yet nevertheless Men may attain to much Light therein and yet not be savingly enlightned but may finally fall away and perish notwithstanding at last First I shall shew you what the common Illuminations of the Spirit are that Men may fall from Secondly Shall shew you what the saving and special Illuminations of the Spirit are and how they differ 1 st Common Enlightnings of the Word and Spirit may tend to convince the Conscience of a Sinner of Sin 1. As to the horrid Guilt thereof as it exposeth the Soul to God's Wrath Thus was Judas enlightned his Conscience was convinced that he had betrayed the Innocent Blood Thus also Felix was enlightned under Paul's preaching 2. From these Convictions they may also with much horror confess their Sins Cain Judas and many others did this 3. From these Illuminations and Convictions they may reform their Lives and do many things like as Herod did upon his hearing John the Baptist 4. Nay common Illuminations may discover to the Sinner much of that Evil that there is in Sin that God abhorreth it and that it is contrary to his Nature as well as a violation of his Holy Law and this Light they may receive from what God declares concerning Sin and of his abhorrence of it in his Word as also by those fearful Judgments which he inflicteth upon and pronounceth against such that sin live in Sin and make a Trade of it Likewise by the Knowledg they may attain concerning Christ's suffering for Sin and by the Punishment of the Damned in Hell and no doubt but the Devils know the great Evil of Sin in all these respects But pray observe that although these Persons may know that Sin is against God contrary to his Holy Nature and that he doth abhor it yet this Light and Knowledg they have never brings them to loath and abhor it in themselves because of the evil Nature of it and as it is against God 2 dly They also by these common Illuminations may come to know that God is Man's chiefest Good The Heathen found this out by the Light of Nature considering in themselves that nothing in this World could satisfy the Soul c. But these Persons attain unto a farther Sight and Knowledg of it by the Word in a supernatural manner but yet remember that the Light they have never leadeth them to make choice of God as their chiefest Good and only Happiness 3 dly They may attain unto the Knowledg of all the great and essential Principles of the Christian Religion and be able to dispute and contend for them also against Opposers nay may be able Preachers of that Holy Doctrine Have we not prophesied in thy Name c. No doubt but Judas was a great Preacher as well as Peter Yet observe and note it well they may be utter Strangers to that Grace Faith Love and Regeneration which they may open explain and press upon others
their Bodies to be burned and yet be destitute of saving Grace or of true Love to God and therefore not self-condemned Hypocrites whose Hearts condemn them and yet be far from the State of sincere and renewed Christians APPLICATION 1. O see what Light what Spiritual Light you have received and what Convictions you have had the experience of 2. Which do you account the greatest Evil Sin or Suffering the Torture or Pain you feel or the Sin you have committed Do you groan most under the sense of Sin and want of Holiness or under the presages and fear of Hell and Damnation May be you cry out your State is sad but what think you of your Sin which is the Cause of it 3. Be exhorted to labour after true Spiritual Illuminations and thorow Convictions of Sin Motives 1. Sin will be your Pain and Sorrow first or last either here or hereafter 2. Consider what a good and gracious God you have offended 3. Without effectual Convictions there will be no true Conversion and where the first is indeed wrought the last will follow those that God kills in this respect he will make alive 4. Remember the Word never comes with Power until Convictions come with Power and also abide on the Soul and Conscience of the Sinner 5. Consider that it is better to be broken in Mercy than in Judgment better here than in Hell 6. Remember that true and thorow Convictions tend to let out the Life or Power of your Sin and consider also what Means of Convictions God is pleased to afford you 7. Sinner Christ was wounded for thy Sin look up to him nothing breaks the Soul rightly you have heard but a sight of a broken and crucified Christ HEB. VI. 4 5. For it is impossible for those c. I Have closed with the first Qualification or Attainment of these Persons spoken of in my Text I shall now proceed to the Second And have tasted of the Heavenly Gift 1. By the Heavenly Gift some understand the Heavenly Doctrine In that sense it may be true for Herod had some kind of Taste of the Heavenly Doctrine which John the Baptist preached he heard him gladly or with Joy As the Baptism of John is said to be from Heaven so all the Truths and Ordinances of the Gospel may be said to be but one intire Heavenly Gift 2. Others by the Heavenly Gift understand the Holy Ghost according to that in Acts 8. 20. Thou hast thought the Gift of God may be purchased with Money So Acts 10. 45. That on the Gentiles also was poured the Gift of the Holy Ghost Quest But what Gift of the Holy Ghost is it which these Persons are said to have a taste of Answ 1. The miraculous Operations of the Holy Ghost in the Times of the Gospel in the extraordinary Gifts thereof which are said to come down from Heaven in a way of Eminency as Acts 1. 4 5. and of those Gifts these Persons might have some taste either by their receiving those Gifts themselves for that unsound Persons may do And in thy Name we have cast out Devils so 1 Cor. 13. 1 2. And though I have all Faith so that I could remove Mountains and have not Charity I am nothing or else they may be said to have a taste of those Gifts by being wonderfully affected by beholding the miraculous Operations of this Heavenly Gift wrought by others 2. By tasting of the Heavenly Gift it may refer to the Doctrine of the Gospel it may denote their making some trial by Hearing and diligently attending on the Doctrine of Salvation there is a tasting for trial either to receive or refuse as we commonly do Meats or other things Every tasting is not a digesting Men taste before they eat and digest food These Persons may taste of the Doctrine of Justification taste of the Heavenly Gift or Doctrine of God's Free Grace taste of the Ordinance of Baptism and the Lord's Supper and seem also to like the Heavenly Gift well in all these and in other respects yet may feed all the while on some one Lust or another on the Love of this World or on their carnal and sensual Pleasures and because they were never savingly renewed having no new Nature they could not feed on spiritual Things so as to digest them No doubt it was or is such a tasting as the full Stomach takes sometimes of Food a full Stomach will taste yet refuse to eat they have no Appetite these being glutted with the Love of other things the Heavenly Gift is not so sweet to them as Food is to an hungry Man The Sum then is this these Persons had or may have some Experience of the Holy Ghost in the miraculous Gifts either in themselves or in others their Understandings being enlightned for it is evident that 't is a Taste by Illuminations by what we before shewed and they also might taste the Heavenly Doctrine or Ministration of the Gospel and might find the Truths the Institutions and Worship thereof to be good they making a trial of it so far as their carnal and unsanctified Hearts were capable to do yea they might find the Ways of God better than once they thought before they were inlightned and from thence imbraced them to appearance owned and walked therein for a time Doct. 2. That there is a Goodness and an Excellency in the Heavenly Gift and Heavenly Doctrine of the Gospel which such may taste of that never receive the Truth in the Power and Love thereof Doct. 3. That the rejecting and utter casting off the Gospel and the Ordinance and Worship thereof after some Tastes and Experience of it is an high Offence to God and a fearful Aggravation of Sin and a certain Presage of Damnation So much as to their second Attainment 3dly And were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost This seems to be more than a bare tasting Object Doth not this seem to interfere with your Exposition of the Attainment you mentioned last Answ 1. To this take Dr. Owen's Answer It is saith he ordinary to have the same thing twice expressed in various words to quicken the Sense of them 2. The Holy Ghost is mentioned before as he hints as the great Gift of the Gospel-Times as coming down from Heaven not absolutely not as unto his Person but with respect unto an especial Work namely the changing of the whole State of Religious Worship in the Church of God 3. But here in these words when it is said They were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost it is spoken chiefly in respect unto external actual Operations 1. They partake of the Holy Spirit in the common Operations of it themselves they tasted the Heavenly Doctrine as it was administred by others as it is hinted before but here is a Reception or a partaking of the Holy Spirit whereby it had some great and visible Operations upon their Hearts and Lives though not saving Operations not such
lead them to Repentance and may be hate reproach and persecute the People of God nay and are guilty of Blood crucifying Christ afresh in his Members Now I say they might be convinced of all these and many more great Aggravations of Sin and yet after such a taste fall away themselves and become as bad as the worst of them I have mentioned 4. They might have a taste of the terrifying Powers of the World to come even such a taste as Felix had who trembled when he heard Paul preach of Hell Wrath or of Judgment to come This I find our late Annotators intimate to be meant hereby Some of them say they were affected with the powerful Doctrines of the Gospel concerning the Final Judgment as their Natural Conscience was wrought on by the Spirit in the Word they felt it as if it were begun in them the Sparkles of God's Wrath having set their Consciences in a light Flame for their Sins This is a tasting of the Powers of the World to come with a Witness 5. They may taste of the constraining Powers of the World to come so that their Consciences might curb them and put a Bridle on their Lusts so that they might not run into Sin as others do the fear and dread of another World keeps them in awe and restrains them for a time from committing any open or secret Acts of Wickedness and by the Power of this constraining Grace they might as you have heard reform their Lives as to become other Men and Women 6. Moreover as the Powers of the World to come may refer to the Everlasting Joy and Comfort of the Saints they might also have some seeming taste of the sweetness thereof I mean they might have a sight and sense of that happy State the Righteous shall be in in the World to come and they finding Christ to be a Redeemer and that he came to save Sinners from Wrath and to purchase Everlasting Blessedness may have some hope of Interest in that Redemption from Wrath and of being made happy eternally in the World to come they might promise to themselves a part in the first Resurrection and their Hopes herein might be as a sweet taste of the Joys and Consolations of that Day Mr. David Dickson speaking of this Passage saith They may taste of the Powers of the World to come that is saith he in contemplation of the Blessedness promised to the Saints in Heaven and have a natural desire of it as Balaam desired to die the Death of the Righteous Thus many of the Jews rejoiced in John's Doctrine He was a burning and shining Light and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his Light It was but a taste of Joy it did not continue it was but for a Season 1. It is but a Taste or Savour that arises from an enlightned Conscience not from a renewed Heart 2. It is not a taste that makes them out of love with this World or to be weary of it or to die to it though they seem taken with the Thoughts of the World to come yet they value this World no doubt too highly 't is this World that is in their Hearts 3. It is not a taste of the World to come that changes them into a meet and sit State to be partakers of the Glory and Blessedness of it as the Saints are said to be giving Thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light 'T is not a bare taste can do this no nothing but a thorow change of Nature or a spiritual receiving and feeding by Faith on Jesus Christ 4. It was not such a tasting of the Powers of the World to come that made them long for it and to seek it with the full bent of their Wills and urgency of their Affections and to contemn all the Riches Honours and Pleasures of this present evil World for it as Moses and all the Holy Patriarchs did For they that saw such things declare plainly they seek a Countrey and confessed they were Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth 5. It was a tasting not a feeding on Jesus Christ and a digesting of his Word they come not to experience the Powers of the World to come were begun in them setting them against Sin Satan and this World 6. And lastly It was a tasting but no saving Relish no Soulcraving after a true Interest in the Glory of the World to come they did not find the Power of the Resurrection and last Judgment in themselves And that tasting that doth not secure the Soul against a total and final Apostacy as Union with Christ doth is not to be valued or accounted of APPLICATION 1. I told you Brethren at first that touching these Persons Attainments here is nothing spoken of Union with Christ of the Faith of God's Elect of Regeneration Love to God and to his People nothing of Adoption Justification nor Sanctification and so nothing that is pecusiar to a true Christian nothing of those things that accompany Salvation 2. It appears they are like the Ground that oft receives the Rain that falls upon it and yet bears or brings forth Briars and Thorns therefore they are nigh unto cursing whose End is to be burned and this the Apostle hints of them in Vers 7 8. 3. This informs us that Men may go a great way in a visible Profession of the Gospel by common Influences of the Spirit and Light improved by natural Powers and yet be in the Gall of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity 4. O bless God for the least degree of saving Grace Have you love to God to his poor Saints Do you minister unto them for Christ's Sake then have you obtained to a higher degree of Attainment than those ever had and no cause to fear your spiritual State and Condition Thus I have passed through the second thing I first propounded to speak unto namely What those Attainments are that are spoken of the Persons in our Text. I shall now come to the last thing to shew you what is spoken of them Thirdly What is spoken of these Persons consists of two Parts 1. That they may fall away 2. That it is upon their so falling away impossible for them to be renewed by Repentance It is the last of these I purpose to speak of viz That it is impossible to renew them again unto Repentance either to such a Repentance they once had or to true saving and Evangelical Repentance The Reason is by the Holy Ghost added Seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to open shame 1. It is not doubtless impossible in respect of God's Absolute Power had he not limited himself by an unchangeable Decree But if he hath determined to deny Grace and all saving Influences of his Spirit to these Apostates that makes it impossible for them ever to be renewed which shews us that
and being fallen into the Hands of Justice it self but meeting with a Friend who paid all he owed he cannot but cry out O great Love and Compassion that would be a Deliverance indeed But it is nothing to this we in a spiritual Sense being delivered from Hell by Jesus Christ who payed our Debts for us each of us owing not less than ten thousand Talents I mean so many Sins and every Sin a greater Debt than ten thousand Pounds And this brings me to the next Demonstration Eighthly The Salvation of the Gospel is a Great and Glorious Salvation if we consider the Way and Means by which this Salvation is wrought out and accomplished for us It could not be effected except the Son of God became Man or without the Incarnation Mediation and bloody Passion of Jesus Christ The precious Blood of Christ must be poured forth or there was no Salvation no Deliverance for our Souls Gold nor Silver could not purchase it nor the best of all earthly things For as much as ye know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from a vain Conversation received by Tradition from your Fathers but with the precious Blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spâ—t No such Price would be accepted of God so precious is the Redemption of the Soul Quest But may be some may say Could not the Law effect it Could not the keeping the Precepts the Law of the Ten Commandments do it nor the Sacrifices of the Law procure Salvation for us Answ No it was impossible the Law requires perfect Righteousness sinless Obedience besides we have broke it and thereby the whole World is become guilty before God And could the Blood of Beasts the Blood of Bulls and Goats take away Sin or satisfy Divine Justice and so make an Atonement for our Iniquities No no For it is not possible that the Blood of Bulls and Goats should take away Sin Sin cannot be done away without an infinite Price What Influence could the Blood of Beasts have to take away Sin being in their own Nature corporal things they could not deliver us from the spiritual Evil of the Soul nor were they ordained of God to that End and Purpose but to point out the great Sacrifice Besides saith the Text Sacrifice and Offerings for Sin thou wouldst not but a Body hast thou prepared me It must be the Blood of Christ whose Sufferings had a satisfactory and inconceivable Worth in them For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the Flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful Flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh Compare this with that Passage of the Holy Ghost in Heb. 1. 3. Who being the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power when he had by himself purged our Sins sat down on the right Hand of the Majesty on High He being God as well as Man or his Humanity being hypostatically united to his Divine Nature offered up himself by the Eternal Spirit a Propitiatory Sacrifice unto God by which Satisfaction and Merits he purged or took away the Guilt and Pollution of Sin and delivered us from that just and deserved Wrath that was due unto it by bearing of it himself in our Nature and stead so that God who was injured and whose Holy Law was violated might be just or that his Justice might appear for he could as soon cease to be God as cease to be just and yet hereby he magnifies his Mercy also What can we desire more than to be delivered from Sin and purged from Sin This was the Way and no other which the Wisdom of God found out in Christ both those Attributes are united so that Justice as well as Mercy says Whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ or lays hold of his Righteousness by Faith shall be justified and eternally saved The Apostle adds his being sat down on the right Hand of God to intimate he hath made our Peace obtained Redemption for us and brought in by his Obedience Everlasting Righteousness and made an end of Sin and as a mighty Conqueror has triumphed and is gone to Heaven and there appears at the Father's right Hand to plead the Merits of his own Blessed Sacrifice and that Atonement he hath made for us by his own Blood on the Tree O consider what our Salvation cost him what did he do to work about this Salvation Why he 1. Became Incarnate or was made Flesh And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us and we behold his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Though he was equal with God as you lately heard yet he took on him the form of a Servant 2. He became poor Sirs Jesus Christ who was rich that he might accomplish the Salvation of our Souls became poor May not this affect our Hearts We must be miserable for ever or Christ must become poor and seem to be miserable for a Time No Salvation for us useless our Blessed Saviour doth abase himself and take our Nature upon him For verily he took not on him the Nature of Angels but took on him the Seed of Abraham All this was Brethren to bring this Blessed Salvation to his chosen Ones 3. He in his humane Nature must be made under the Law and so become obnoxious or liable to the Obedience the Law required yea he was obliged to keep it exactly in every part thereof When the Fulness of time was come God sent forth his own Son made of a Woman made under the Law The Apostle adds the Reason of this to redeem them that were under the Law He thus became not only bound to do what the Law required but to suffer what the Law threatned and 〈◊〉 on us who had broke and violated it and this in our Nature or in the same Nature that had sinned in which 〈◊〉 the Justice of God required a Satisfaction for the wrong Sin had do 〈◊〉 unto him Which being impossible for sinful Man 〈…〉 and that we might not be exposed for ever unto th◠〈…〉 Wrath and Punishment in Hell which was due to 〈…〉 for us or in our place that we through 〈…〉 Obedience and painful Death and Suffering both in 〈…〉 Body might obtain a gracious Discharge from Siâ— or free Justification unto Life and a full deliverance from Wrath and Eternâ—â— Death 4. Nay and as he must diâ— if he procures Salvation for us so by this means he also was made a Curse for us for we having broken the Law 〈◊〉 under the Curse of it the Law le ts fly its bitter Curses against very 〈◊〉 thereof For as many as are of the Works of the Law are under the Curse and therefore impossible for us to be 〈◊〉 and saved by it Whosoever keepeth not the
e. believe in Christ receive by Faith this Salvation and God is thy Portion Christ is thy Portion 5. God is a present Portion and also a future Portion you may feed on this Portion and the more you live on this Portion the more you have 6. God is an infinite Portion an inconceivable Portion whatsoever is in God so far as it is communicable or God seeth good to impart of himself to us so much of God we shall have what God iâ— and what God has is a Believer's 7. Sinner a Portion thou must have and God too to be thy Portion or thou must perish for ever The loss of God at first was the undoing of all Mankind that was our ruin nor can that Loss be ever repaired until we have God again an eternall loss of God will be the Torment and Misery of the Damned 8. The Reason why the Father sent Jesus Christ to work out this Salvation was that we might have God to be our God Brethren God saith to every one of you that are Believers as he said to Abraham Fear not Abraham I am thy Shield and thy exceeding great Reward Such may say with David My Flesh and Heart faileth but God is the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever And with the Church in the Lamentations The Lord is my Portion saith my Soul therefore will I hope in him 9. Brethren God in this Salvation breaks up as I may say the Fountain of the great Depths of his Divine Grace Love and Goodness The Passage was stop'd by our Sin till Christ opened it by shedding his Blood there was no other way whereby God might let out of himself in his Eternal Goodness to us but this Way only to the Glory of all his Divine Attributes 10. Hereby we have not only God to be our God our Portion but he is so restored to all that believe that they shall never lose him again for ever 11. Did we want a Surety not only to pay our Debts but also to secure us in a State of Grace and to preserve all our Riches for us this Salvation provides such a glorious Surety for us Alas we are like poor Orphans under Age whilst in this World and are not able nor fit to be intrusted with what is our own I mean to have it in our own Hands therefore we and all our Riches are put into the Hand of Christ to keep and improve our Riches for us and to give of it forth to us as he in his Wisdom sees best for us They that slight this Salvation slight this Portion this God and all true Happiness in him in this Salvation this Portion is offered to you Sinners God is willing to be your God your Friend your Father and Portion for ever Here is God in this Salvation Christ in this Salvation the Holy Spirit in this Salvation God and all the Fulness of God Christ and all the Riches of Christ the Holy Spirit and all the Graces and Blessings of the Spirit the Pearl of great Price is thine if thou hast a Part and Interest in this Salvation Here is the Spirit to quicken thee to renew thee to sanctify thee to strengthen thee to comfort thee here is Grace to deck and adorn thee rich Robes to cover thee the Promises to chear thee feed and support thee the Ordinances to feast thee and Angels to guard protect and preserve thee O what a full compleat and comprehensible Salvation Brethren is the Salvation of the Gospel 23. And lastly here is Heaven in this Salvation Heaven and all the Glory of it here is a Kingdom in this Salvation a Kingdom of Glory of Light of Joy and Pleasure here is a Crown that fadeth not away in this Salvation a Crown and Kingdom for every Christian therefore this Salvation is great and glorious HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation BRETHREN the last time I shewed you that Gospel-Salvation is a great and glorious Salvation because it is a full a perfect and compleat Salvation it is not a piece or part of our Salvation that Christ worked and doth work out for us but it is the whole of it in every part thereof Twelfthly 'T is a Great Salvation in respect of the first and principal Minister Preacher and Publisher of it this is one of the Apostle's Arguments and Demonstrations in our Text which at first began to be spoken by the Lord c. Jesus Christ was not only the Saviour that God sent and the Author and Finisher of this Salvation but the Revealer the Minister or Preacher of it God who in times past spake unto the Fathers by the Prophets they were his Ministers Hath in these last Days spoken to us by his Son that is his Son personally as he was manifest in the Flesh 1. His own Son his only Son his only begotten Son he hath no other Son begotten by an eternal Generation but Christ alone 2. The Father's Heir The Heir of all things by whom also he made the World who is the express Image of the Father's Person and the Brightness of his Glory 3. He that hath the absolute Lordship and Dominion over all Creatures in Heaven and Earth 4. Nay and God the Father also speaks himself in him in such a sort and manner as he never before spoke in any Instrument He hath spoken unto us that is the Father in and by the Son who is in personal Union with himself O what a kind of Salvation is this what a Gospel is this that is thus revealed made known and published unto us What Mortal can think to escape that neglects so great Salvation What were the Holy Angels who delivered the Law or what were the Prophets to this glorious Person I mean the Son of God But at last of all he sent unto them his Son saying They will reverence my Son sure they will attend upon his Word Can they forbear honouring and reverencing such a Person Now I will try them as if God should say they may know the Matter is of great Moment and I am in good Earnest and look for Fruit from them Sirs Jesus Christ by Calling or Office when he was upon the Earth was a Minister a Preacher O what great Condescension was this in him who is the true and eternal God! and what an honourable Employment is this What a high and sublime Office is the Office of a Gospel-Minister With what Trembling and Fear ought it to be undertaken I come not to be ministered to but to minister that is to preach the Gospel to communicate heavenly Treasure to the Souls of Men and Women The Priests under the Law were God's Ministers Jesus Christ is God's High Priest and therefore his chief Minister we must receive the Law at his Mouth at this Priest's Mouth We have such an High Priest who is set down on the right Hand of the Throne of the
Majesty in the Heavens a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle c. or the true Church the Church of the First-Born which the Jewish Church was but a Shadow a Type of But now he hath obtained a more excellent Ministry he excelâ— all Ministers all true Ministers are but his Substitutes and must one Day be accountable to him he is the Great Shepherd and chief Bishop of our Souls This is he that speaketh from Heaven who came from Heaven himself and received his Doctrine from the Father as Mediator and as the great Minister of Righteousness O how shall they escape that refuse such a Preacher one that speaketh from Heaven nay him that is God over all blessed for evermore Where the Word of a King is there is Power Who shall not then attend upon the Word of this King this great and mighty Lord Sinners with what Awe and holy Trembling should you attend on the Word of this Salvation that began first to be spoken by the Lord Christ may be said to speak in and by the Prophets nay to speak to Adam But this speaking doubtless refers to his personal speaking when he was on Earth There may be said to be a threefold beginning of the Gospel-Ministration 1. In Predictions by Promises and by Types 2. In the immediate Preparation of it and so it begun in the Ministry of John the Baptist 3. In the open clear and actual Ministration of it and thus it begun to be first spoken by our Lord himself upon his Baptism for then he entered upon his Ministry and it was carried on afterwards by his Apostles and other Ministers that he appointed and by his Church he daily still does appoint and in an ordinary manner authorize Men to preach it But O how great is this Salvation that God should please to send his own Son to preach and publish this Salvation Brethren should a King lay aside his Crown and throw off his Princely Robes and come into the Pulpit and preach the Gospel would not all wonder at it and flock to hear him David was a King and yet a Preacher Solomon was a King a mighty King and yet a Preacher but what poor and igneble low-born Kings nay base-born Kings were they to this King who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Certainly this is Matter of highest Concernment or of greatest Moment of all things in the World and before all things to be regarded Did Christ in Person speak from Heaven to Men on Earth and make known to them this Salvation Moreover he speaks still he it is that speaks to you now Day by Day by us his poor Ministers who may be you are ready to slight and despise in your Hearts yet know Christ's faithful Ministers personate him they are his Ambassadors they represent the very Person of Christ Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God He that heareth you saith Christ heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Little do Sinners think what they do when they sleep under the Word disregard slight and despise the Word of this Salvation in the Mouths of Christ's Ministers Christ's Ambassadors See what Christ himself saith And whosoever shall not receive you nor hear your Words shake off the Dust of your Feet Verily I say unto you It shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that City All this is because it is Christ's Word and Christ that speaks to you by his Servants the same Contempt that is shewed to the Ambassadors of an earthly King is shewed to him and he treats them as if it were done unto himself Moreover the Esteem and Honour that is shewed to an Ambassador in receiving his Word or in hearkening with awe and respect to what he says in his Master's Name is shewn to the King Ministers are not to be esteemed or had in Honour for their own sakes but for Christ's sake But if you love Christ honour Christ you will love and respect his faithful Servants and hearken to what they speak unto you in his Name and by his Authority Thirteenthly The Salvation of the Gospel is great and glorious if we consider the wonderful Confirmation and Ratification of it in the Days of the Gospel in the Primitive Time Which first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by them that heard him God also bearing them witness both with Signs and Wonders and with divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own Will The Apostle brings this in also as a farther Demonstration of the Greatness of the Salvation of the Gospel namely the consideration of the miraculous confirmation thereof God is said to bear witness to the Gospel and to the Salvation thereof there was never such Witness born to any Truth as is to the Truth of the Gospel For 1. All the Prophets bore witness to it 2. John the Baptist was sent to bear witness to it 3. The Apostles were also Witnesses chosen of God to this end nay and we have the Witness of God himself And the Father himself that hath sent me hath born witness of me The Father bore witness at our Saviour's Baptism and at the Transfiguration by a Voice from Heaven 4. We have the Witness and Confirmation of the wonderful Miracles that our Lord wrought But I have a greater Witness than that of John for the Works which the Father hath given me to finish the same do bear witness to me that the Father hath sent me That which was a Witness of Christ's being the true Messiah was a Witness of the Salvation he hath wrought 1. He raised the Dead opened the Eyes of the Blind even of him that was born blind he cast out Devils he caused the Lame to walk the Dumb to speak he cleansed the Lepers and healed all manner of Diseases and Sicknesses among the People and all to confirm the Truth of this Salvation no Man ever did such Works 2. Moreover the Holy Ghost was given in a miraculous manner unto the Apostles and others they were filled yea baptized with it they spake many strange Languages and all this was 1. To confirm and fully to prove that Christ was the Son of God and Saviour of the World 2. To confirm the Truth of his Doctrine and every Precept Ordinance and Promise thereof 3. To assure all that believe of the certainty of their Eternal Salvation and that they should never perish And also 4. To assure all that believe not that repent not but live in Ways of Sin and Wickedness that they shall all be damned It confirms particularly that word Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish and that word Except a Man be born again
are that may be said to neglect it Thirdly Shew you from whence it is that some do neglect it Fourthly Shew you what a great Sin it is to neglect the Salvation of the Gospel First To neglect the Salvation of the Gospel is to neglect the Means of it the Way which God hath appointed in order to our obtaining an Interest in it 2. It imports a slighting of it to omit seeking after the Knowledg of it or to take no pains in order to the obtaining the Grace and saving Blessings thereof 3. Or to seek Salvation some other ways But Secondly Who may be said to neglect it Answ 1. Such who do not think upon this Salvation they do neglect it Some do not regard it at all it is not in their Minds they do not trouble their Thoughts about it though it be so great That which a Person thinks not of let it be Matter of never so great Moment be sure he doth neglect Have you saith a Man to his Friend done that Business I desired of you No truly saith he I never thought of it this discovers he hath neglected it So it is here in respect of this great Salvation 2. Such neglect the Gospel Salvation who do not study it pry into it and labour to find out the great Mysteries that lie hid in it As he that is put out an Apprentice to learn some curious Art or Trade that never studies the Matter or pries not into the Mysteries thereof neglects his Trade So they who do not study the Gospel and the Mysteries of Christ crucified do neglect the great Salvation thereof Paul determined to know nothing amongst the Learned Corinthians but Jesus Christ and him crucified this shews he did not neglect the Salvation of his own and other Mens Souls Without controversy great is the Mystery of Godliness 'T is not easy to understand the Gospel it is so great a Mystery if it were only a Law with Promises annexed to those who lived up in Obedience to the Precepts of it and Threats to such who were disobedient to its Precepts it would not be a Mystery nor would the Learned Greeks have counted the preaching of such a Gospel to be Foolishness for such a Gospel comports with Man's Carnal Reason and with Natural Religion But to preach Salvation by a Man that was hanged on a Tree or by a crucified Saviour that is a Mystery And hence it was contemned by the Greeks they could not understand how they could be justified by another's Righteousness or that Christ could satisfy for their Sins or how our Sins could be made his that his Righteousness should be made ours this is a Mystery and this Mystery some People do not will not study and so neglect this Salvation 3. Such neglect it that will not hear the Gospel preached but either lie at Home or walk in the Fields or content themselves to hear Morality or good Manners only preached which is all the Salvation too many preach in some Places they think they need not trouble themselves about any other Matters of Religion but only to do to others as they would be done unto or to live sober Lives and to do justly This is good and it is in a right manner held forth in the Gospel and preach'd by such that preach this Salvation But if this were all in vain was it that God sent his Son into the World nay if Morality could save Mens Souls or any Righteousness of the Creature or inherent Holiness Christ is dead in vain These Men know not what the Gospel is and those who preach no other Gospel than Morality do but go about to make the People good Heathens for what is this but the Religion of the Heathen Philosophers 4. Such also neglect this Salvation who though they come to hear Christ preach'd yet only come out of Formality Custom or Curiosity or to divert themselves having little else to do they will go and hear what such or such a Man will say it is not to be instructed in the Mysteries of Salvation nay may be some of them may come with a Design to catch up things to improve to the Reproach of the Minister Now be sure these Persons are such who neglect the Salvation of the Gospel 5. Such likewise who are careless Hearers who hear as if the things preached did not concern them or that sleep under the Word these also neglect this Salvation I have heard of one that would go to the Place of Worship because she could sleep sooner and better there than at Home and no wonder since the Devil rocks the Cradle as I may say or hath such Influence upon them and makes them comply with his Temptations and you shall have help no doubt as some who have hanged themselves it has been observed to be strange how they could do it after such a manner alas Satan helped them he knows how to tie the Rope and to choak them too when they enter upon this Work Perhaps some shall have their Thoughts in a wanton manner run out after this or the other Object they have before their Eyes when with Holy Diligence they should attend upon the Word of this Salvation to the profit of their Souls or else have their Hearts and Thoughts run out upon their worldly Affairs some on their Riches Trades and how to order their Business the Week following and others upon their Poverty All these I must set down as Neglecters of this Great Salvation 6. Such who slight or neglect the Convictions of their own Consciences or that strive to stifle their Convictions whilst under the Word or when gone from hearing it like as Felix did when he sent Paul away the Fire the Word had kindled in his Conscience being too hot for him to bear 7. Such who comply not with the Call of the Word and Offers of this great Salvation but resist and quench the Motions of the Spirit out of love to their Lusts and so reject the Word like them of old Lo they reject the Word of the Lord and what Wisdom is in them These seem to say in their Hearts As for the Word spoken in the Name of the Lord we will not do it But we will certainly do whatsoever goeth out of our Mouths c. These also with a witness neglect this great Salvation 8. Such who regard not the Time the Day and proper Season of this Salvation do neglect it Behold now is the accepted Time behold now is the Day of Salvation But this is not their Time they delay the great Matters of their Souls God's Time is not their Time Seek ye the Lord while he may be found and call upon him while he is near saith the Prophet But they will not do this they think it is too soon they resolve to take more of the sweet of Sin and feed on the Vanities of the World a little longer God calls now whilst it is to
God's sight and accepted for the sake of Christ's Merits Not that Christ's Righteousness alone is the matter of our Justification exclusive of all our inherent Righteousness and Obedience no no but rather it is our Righteousness which doth justify us The Gospel according to these Men is propounded as a Law and God as a Rector or just Governour commanding Obedience thereunto as the procuring Cause of our Justification So that our Faith and Obedience is a Cause and Condition of Life as Unbelief and Disobedience is the Cause of Eternal Death But having formerly detected this dangerous Error I shall not further insist upon the Confutation of it here 5. Such preach a Legal Doctrine that render Man a Co-worker with Christ in the Salvation of their own Souls by which means there is room left for him to boast and glory Such a Doctrine they preach who magnify the Will of Man or the Power of the Creature which I hope I have by the Assistance of God sufficiently detected and refuted in this Treatise All boasting being excluded by the Grace of God in the Gospel Man being abased and God alone exalted APPLICATION I shall now come to make the general Application of what I have said unto you from this great Text and so conclude with all I shall say from it First Inform. First by way of Information the Doctrine which hath in these Sermons been insisted on may inform us That Gospel-Sins are the greatest Sins and that the blind Heathens are not cannot be so guilty and culpable before God nor in such a dangerous Condition as those are who live under the preaching of the Gospel and yet slight and neglect the Salvation of it O what will they do in the Day of Judgment that live in England in London in a Land and City of so great Light and perish through their Sin and Contempt or Neglect of Gospel-Grace Secondly This may also inform us how strangely Mankind are blinded and deceived by the God of this World in that small things are accounted great and that which is of the greatest Concernment is little or not at all regarded but esteemed as a trivial matter O says some we must mind the main Chance they mean the main Business in respect of their Earthly Subsistence which is to get Bread and to provide for the Body for their Wives and Children Now the Doctrine which you have heard shews you how you are deluded that look upon Earthly Things to be the main Business you should look after What is of such Importance as the Salvation of your precious and immortal Souls and to be providing for an endless Eternity Thirdly I may infer from hence That the greatest part of Mankind are Unbelievers for all that neglect this Salvation and look not upon this matter as their chief Business are doubtless in a State of Unbelief They do not credit this holy Doctrine they believe not God's Word If one should tell you that are going a Journy that if you go such a Way you will certainly be destroyed by Thieves or wild Beasts yet you will go on Would it not follow clearly that you believe not what was told you Why thus it is here Sinners are told and assured from the Word of God as certain as God is true and his Word true that if they leave not their Swearing their Pride their Drunkenness their Lying their Lusts and Uncleanness their Worldly-mindedness and their preferring Earth and the things of the World above the things of God or if they do not believe repent and be born again they shall certainly perish for ever yet they go on and live in those ways of Sin and believe not repent not this is an evident sign that they do not give Credit to what is told them and so are Unbelievers and if they still persist in their way they will be certainly damned 1. Our Saviour saith Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish ye shall not escape eternal Wrath be ye great Sinners or not Sinners of the first Rank The Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God 2. Christ saith He that believeth not the Wrath of God abideth on him and they that do not believe are told there is no other way to escape this Wrath and that this Wrath will be poured forth upon them like Fire unless they believe in Christ receive Christ obtain an Interest in Jesus Christ nay that they are condemned already but they believe not 3. Moreover such who live a sober moral Life are told that notwithstanding that yet unless they are born again unless they get Faith in Jesus Christ and their Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees and they obtain the Righteousness of Christ they cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Now they will not believe this but conclude their State is good and that Morality is sufficient to save their Souls which shews that these are Unbelievers also 4. Others are told that their good Deeds their good Duties their Prayers their hearing of Sermons or their being Baptized and having Communion with God's People will not do unless they are savingly renewed and sanctified having the true Grace of God in their Hearts and lead a Godly Holy and Spiritual Life finding the powerful Operations of the Spirit changing them into the Likeness of Jesus Christ but they believe it not but rest upon their Duties and outward Privileges tho they are told the Kingdom of God is not in Meat and Drink but in Righteousness and Truth and Joy in the Holy Ghost or that the Kingdom of God is not inward only but in Power also and that Lamps of Profession will not save them except they have Oil in their Vessels many of these are like the foolish Virgins and believe it not but rest on a bare Name of Christians on a Form of Godliness and may be fall short too as to an outward Profession of Godliness for so do they who pray not in the Closet nor in their Families neither read God's Word nor make it their Business to hear the Word preached in Season and out of Season but every small Matter takes them off of those Duties Be sure all prayerless Souls are graceless Souls it is to be feared many of this sort make Religion but little of their Business who neither read pray nor meditate nor perhaps call upon their Children and Servants so to do but let their Children have their Carnal Lusts their Pride ambitious and wanton Inclinations indulged and nourished in them O how little is the outward Part of God's Worship kept up in the Families of some Professors Fourthly This may serve also for a Use of Terror to secure Sinners 1. May not Cry out Fire Fire Such a Cry hath often startled and amazed many of you that live in and about this City Sirs a Fire is just a breaking out which you cannot escape unless you look about you the sooner
177 to 298 Objections for final falling answered 298 to 312 Fan. What is Christ's Fan shewed in six Particulars from p. 9 to 17 Father God the Father the Contriver of our Redemption 377 The Father could only appoint the Terms or Way of our Recovery 378 The Father substituted and appointed Christ to be our Saviour and Surety 378 The Father prepared Christ a Body and sent him into the World The Father chose us in Christ the Father draws us to Christ 378 379 Fire Why God's Wrath is compared to Fire shewed in eight things 31 32 33 Grace compared to Fire 288 Floor What is Christ's Floor shewed 3 4 5 6 1. Jewish Church 2. National Churches 3. Congregational Churches Follow How Christ's Sheep follow him opened in eight Particulars 115 116 117 Food The Nature of Spiritual Food opened in seven Particulars 137 Full. Gospel-Salvation a full and compleat Salvation opened at large 421 to 429 G. Garner What meant by Christ's Garner viz. 1. His Church 29 2. Heaven 30 Chaff as well as Wheat in Christ's Garner below but none in his Garner above 30 Ghost Sin against the Holy Ghost what 360 361 362 363. How false Professors may be said to partake of the Holy Ghost 334 Good The Word of God Good in what respect 335 336. Grace Vocation of God's Free Grace 151 Faith is a Grace and of God's pure Grace and Favour 151 Repentance a Grace 151 Why Eternal Life is meerly of Grace shewed in five Particulars 154 155 The Father sent Christ to merit Grace for us the Son purchased Grace for us and the Holy Spirit works Grace in us 382 383 Grace works physically 448 The Spring Author and Excellency of Grace as 't is a Divine Principle in Believers opened 286 287 288 289 Gross Acts of Sin may be left by unrenewed Persons 448. H. Habits To change the evil Habits of the Heart is the Work of the Spirit of God only not in Man's Power 448 Hand What meant by the Father's Hand 249 250 251. What meant by Christ's Hand 273 to 280 In what sense Christ's Sheep may be said to be in his Hand 280 to 284 The happy State of Believers by being put into Christ's Hand 276 278 280 281 Heaps Many Heaps of prophane Persons in the National Floor 4 5 6 Hell Torments direful opened in many respects 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 c. Hypocrites How Hypocrites may be known or the Chaff from the Wheat 18 to 25. I. Importance The Salvation of our Souls matter of chiefest Importance we have to mind whilst in this World 441 442 443 Intercession The Nature and Power of Christ's Intercession opened 293 294 Interests All Interests concerned about our Salvation are secured in Christ how 275 Judgment Eternal Judgment an Essential of the Christian Religion 86 Justification Justification how or what 95 96 Justification wholly of Grace 151 The Nature of Justification opened 414 415 Justification compleat 416 Christ's Righteousness being the Matter of it 415. Justification not a gradual Act as Sanctification is in us those that are justified are perfectly justified and for ever justified 263 415. K. Kingdom What meant by Christ's delivering up the Kingdom to the Father 345 Kingdom of Christ very near 353 Kingdom of Christ when it begins 345 It will be glorious 344. Knowledg The Knowledg Christ hath of his Sheep largely opened 98 to 107 Non-proficiency in Knowledg very dangerous 321 Some People perish for lack of Knowledg 445 L. Lake Hell a Lake of Fire 55 Law The Law must be satisfied for our Breach made of it Pag. 152 The Gospel justifies not as a mild Law of Grace requiring sincere Obedience according to the new Doctrine 153 Perfection of Obedience as well required under the Gospel as under the Law tho not of us in point of Justification 152 153 154 Moral Law not abrogated 153 154 Why Christ was made under the Law 238 239. Life Eternal Life A threefold Life of Man 143 What meant by Eternal Life 143 144 How and why Eternal Life is meerly of God's Grace 147 148 149 150 153 154 Why Christ will give Eternal Life to his Sheep 155 156 How Christ is said to be our Life 264 Believers have Eternal Life now how 144 Love The Love of the Father what 184 It secures the standing of Believers in a State of Grace 185 186 c. Love of Christ an early a wonderful a conjugal an attracting and an inconceivable Love it passeth Knowledg 195 196 197 Christ's Love secures our standing also 198 Love to the poor Saints and relieving them for Christ's sake a better sign of true Grace than the greatest of spiritual Gifts 323. M. Mark What the Mark is on the Forehead and right Hand 119. Means The Means of Salvation as well as the End is ordained of God 300. Memory A strong Memory but a natural Gift 38. Mercy God's Mercy manifested in its greatest Glory in Christ 372 Had not God vouchsafed a Redeemer Divine Mercy had never been manifested 372 Divine Mercy will rise up against such that neglect the Gospel-Salvation 468. Ministers Christ the great Minister of the New Testament 429 Ministers Office a high and sublime Office 431 Ministers Christ's Ambassadors 431 Ministers to be careful lest Chaff be let into the Church which is Christ's Garner 30. Murder Self Murder not an unpardonable Sin 51 361. N. Name Names Christ a Name above every Name what 380 What Names Christ hath 380 Christ's Name according to his Nature Nation National The National Sins what great odious and hateful to God 4 5 6 National Church of the Jews dissolved and gone 4 33 No National Church under the Gospel 33 34. O. Office The Office of the Holy Spirit what 461 Such that neglect Gospel-Salvation strive to obstruct the Holy Spirit in the discharge of his Work and Office 461 462. Old The Old Heaven and Old Earth shall pass away to make way for the New 345 Orphan Believers are in Christ's Hand as an Orphan is in the Hand of a faithful Guardian 283. P. Pardon Pardon of Sin what 413 Pardon of Sin a great Blessing opened in six Particulars 413 Passions All the Passions of the Soul let out in Hell will add to their Misery 58 59 60. Pastures What the Pastures are where Christ feeds his Sheep 130 131 132 134. Peace a Gospel-Blessing it passeth all understanding 418. Perseverance Final Perseverance of the Saints proved 177 to 297 Objections against the Saints Final Perseverance answered 297 to 310. Personal Election what Personal Election proved 170 172 173. Portion God the Portion of Believers What a Portion God is opened in eleven Particulars Pag. 427 428. Prayer The Nature of pure spiritual Prayer 134 135. Prayer one of Christ's Pastures 134. Principle From what Principle true Christians act towards God 324 Grace a Vital Principle 288 Grace an abiding Principle 289 to 296. Promises Promises of God a fat Pasture for Christ's Sheep 135. Providences The profit
3. 12. Mark 16. 1â— Isa 46. 12. Philâ—â— 12. Ephes 2. 8 9 10. Rom. 4 5. Allen 's Glass of Justificat What Work of Salvation Man cannot work out Ephes 2. 1 2. What Work it is we are to work out Phil. 1. 6. Rom. 8. 13. Mat. 18. 3. 1 Tim. 1. 19. 2 Tim. 2. 17 18. Acts 23. 1. Ezek. 18. 24. Rom. 10. 3. 1 Cor. 1. 21. Jude 1. Isa 40. 31. Heb. 2. 18. The Absurdities that attend the Doctrine of final Apostacy Charnock * See Dr. Owen in his Answer to Mr. John Goodwin pag. 114 115 116. Psa 51. 12. Practical Discourse pag. 125. Deut. 7. Mat. 11. 25. Rom. 9. 18. Deut. 30. 6. Jer. 31. 33. Serm. 1. Afterwards I was informed who it was that sent it to me Mr. John Goodwin 's sense of the Subjects 〈◊〉 meant The Sense of some of the Antient Fathers of this Text. Mr. David Dickson What the Persons are that the Apostle here intends What things do accompany Salvation Heb. 6. 9. Love to the poor Saints a blessed sign of true Grace The Nature of the common Illuminations of the Spirit Mat. 7. 22. Mat. 6. 23. The Nature of the special Illuminations of the Spirit Acts 2. 37. Zech. 12. 20. Acts 2. 36. Acts 24 25. Joh. 4. 29. Psal 51. 5. Ezek. 6. 9. Ezek. 20. 43. Job 42. 5. Psal 38. 7. Rom. 7. 9. Psal 51. 4. Hos 3. 5. Psal 139. 23. Gen. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 7. 10. Gal. 5. 6. 1 Thess 1. 3. Prov. 4. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 7. Psal 73. 25. 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 3. Serm. II. What meant by the Heavenly Gift How some unrenewed Persons may be said to be partakers of the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 2. 20. 1 Sam. 10. 6 9. Rom. 10. 17. 1 Thess 1. 8. Why the Word of God is called good Ps 19. 10. Psal 119. 105. Psal 119. 50. Col. 3. 16. 2 Cor. 4. 7. 1 Thess 1. 5. Joh. 19. 3. Reader these things were enlarged upon but I am forc'd to leave out the Enlargements here Psal 119. 11. Mat. 11. 28. Psal 34. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Mat. 27. 34. John 2. 23 24. Mat. 13. 20. Psal 119. 127 128. 1 Cor. 13. 1 2. What a kind of taste a Believer hath of God and his Word Psal 42. 2. Mat. 5. 6. Job 23. 12. Ps 19. 10. Psal 110. 97. Jer. 15. 16. Isa 55. 2. Psal 36. 8. Psal 63. 5. Psal 119. 11. Luk. 1. 66. Dr. Owen p. 50 51. Heb. 4. 2. Heb. 6. 6 7. What is meant by the World to come Rev. 11. 15. 2 Pet. 3. 13. What is meant by Christ's delivering up the Kingdom to the Father Job 14. 12. Rev. 21. 1. Luke 20. 35 36. The Nature and Glory of the World to come opened Rev. 22. 3. Isa 55. 13. Rom. 8. 21. Acts 3. 21. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Isa 60. 21. Dan. 7. 27. Dan. 7. 27. Rev. 21. 4. Isa 33. 25. Isa 60. 10. Isa 65. 14. Jer. 31. 12. Isa 35. 2. Rev. 21. 3. 1 Thess 4. 16 17. Mat. 5. 3. Rev. 5. 10. 2 Tim. 4. 8. Jam. 2. 5. Psal 45. 9. Rom. 8. Rev. 21. The Riches of the World to come opened Phil. 3. ult Jam. 5. 2 3. 1 Tim. 6. 17. 1 Joh. 3. 2 3. Psa 17. ult The Honours of the World to come Mat. 12. The Joys and Pleasures of the World to come Psal 36. 8. Psa 16. 11. 1 Cor. 2. 9. How to have Interest in the World to come Mat. 16. 26. Rev. 22. 20. Serm. III. 2 Pet. 3. 10. Phil. 3. 21. 1 Thess 1. 9. Vers 10. What a taste of the World to come a false Professor may have Mat. 7. 22. Isa 22. 13. Isa 56. 12. Rom. 2. 4. Acts 24. 25. Joh. 5. 35. Col. 1. 12. Heb. 11. 13. Ver. 13 14. How it is impossible for these to be renewed unto Repentance Heb. 6. 6. Dickson Mat. 12. 31. Heb. 10. 26 27. Ps 81. 12. 2 Thess 2. 10 11 12. What is not the Sin against the Holy Ghost Jer. 3. 3. Jer. 3. 12. 1 Joh. 3. 9. What the Sin against the Holy Ghost is 2 Pet. 2. 20. Mat. 12. Heb. 10. 26. Heb. 10. 29. Mat. 12. 22 24. 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. Verse 11. Sermon 1. Reader This Treatise is swollen so big already that I can give thee little more than the Heads of the Sermons on this Texts Gospel-Salvation great Salvation comparatively Psa 91. 11. Gospel-Salvation great in it self Rev. 13. 8. Prov. 8. 22 23 24 Job 33 24. Tit. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 1. 9. Gospel-Salvation great in respect of that Counsel held in Eternity about it Zech. 6. 11. 'T is a great Salvation in respect of the Design of it 1 Cor. 2. 6. 1 Cor. 1. 24. Col. 2. 15. 1 Joh. 3. 8. Gospel-Salvation great considering how low Man was fallen and the seasonableness of it Rom. 5. 6. Job 7. 17. Job 33. 24. Serm. II. Gospel-Salvation great considering the Persons that brought it about Psal 25. 5. Isa 63. 5. What part of this Salvation is attributed to God the Father 2 Cor. 5. 18. Heb. 10. 5. Joh. 3. 17. 2 Cor. 1. 3. Rom. 8. 32. Joh. 3. 16. Eph. 1. 3. Joh. 5. 17. What a Part Christ hath in working out this Salvation Christ is a great Saviour Phil. 2. 9. Isa 9. 6. Isa 6. 9. Heb. 1. 4 5. Phil. 2. 6. Isa 19. 20. Heb. 1. 3. Joh. 14. 9. Isa 63. 1. Rev. 5. 5. Heb. 7. 25. Isa 42. 12. The H. Ghost hath his part in working about our Salvation Isa 61. 10. Acts 10. Verse 6. * God calls the Gentiles or whom he pleases among them as well as the Jews which Peter might not understand before now Gal. 1. 16. Mat. 6. 33. Joh. 6. 37. Joh. 3. 15. Mat. 9. 12 13. Mat. 11. 28. Rev. 3. 20. Phil. 1. 6. Serm. III. Great Salvation in respect of what we are delivered from The Evil of Sin opened 1 Sam. 2. 30. Psal 2. 3. Exod. 20. 5. 2 Chron. 19. 2. Rom. 8. 7. Gen. 6. 5 6. Psal 7. 11. Rom. 6. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 56. Isa 61. 1. Acts 8. 23. Ezek. 16. 3 4 5 6. Sinners are under God's Curse Gal. 3. 10. Gal. 3. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 12. Rom. 1. 18. Psa 90. 11. Heb. 12. ult Luke 16. 24. Gospel-Salvation is great in respect of what Christ doth and must do in order to effect it 1 Pet. 1. 28 1â— Heb. 10. 4. Verse 5. Rom. 8. 3. Joh. 1. 14. 2 Cor. 2. 8 9. Heb. 2. 16. Gal. 4. 4. Gal. 3. 13. Gal. 3. 13. Heb. 2. 14 15. Phil. 3. ult 2 Tim. 1. 10. 1 Cor. 15. 26. 1 Cor. 6. 15. Ver. 19 20. Serin IV. Salvation great in respect of the Subjects of it Mat. 16. 26. Zech. 12. 1. 1 Joh. 1. 3. Job 32. 8. 1 Cor. 2. 11. The Soul is capable of Divine Contemplation Ps 139. 1 Ver. 15. 1 Cor. 2. 1 2. Nothing but God himself can satisfy the Soul God's Thoughts greatly let out about the Soul of Man Psal 49. 8. Nothing