and may expect a Supply of all Grace according to our Wants and Necessities Like as the Wife needs not to fear Want if it be in her Husband's Hand provided he be a loving and faithful Husband and that by reason of that Union she hath with him and that Relation she stands in unto him Christ is a Head of Influence to thee O Believer Thou holdest the Head from whence all the Body by Joints and Bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the Increase of God 5. This also shews us that we shall be fruitful to Christ because we are united to him have Union with him We are married to him that we should bring forth Fruit unto God even all the Fruits of Holiness and good Works yea such Works and good Fruit as is acceptable to God And that because we are accepted in Christ our Persons are first accepted as Abel's was and then our Sacrifices or Performances The good Lord help you to weigh well and seriously ponder these things 6. Terror One word to you Sinners which will be first by way of Terror What will you do that have not yet obtained Union with Christ Tremble for your State is deplorable All that are not united to Christ stand united to dead Adam condemned Adam lost Adam and if you die before you obtain Union with Jesus Christ you are lost for ever nay you are as you heard just now united to your Sin and to the Devil all your Sins stand charged upon you and cleave to you But may be you will say Is there no Hope no Help for us Answ God forbid Jesus Christ is tendred to Sinners as Sinners And those that have now Union with him once were in your State and Condition but know this you must labour after Divine Grace and come to this resolve viz. to break your Affinity with Sin While you see not your Folly in keeping your Agreement and Affinity with Hell there is but little Hope O throw down your Arms fight against God no more when once you come to hate your old Lovers and are resolved to leave them forgo them and seek after this Union with Christ there is ground to hope you are not far from the Kingdom of Heaven 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 am upon the Proof and Demonstration of the last Proposition or Point of Doctrine raised from these words viz. That none of the Sheep of Christ or Saints of God can so sin and fall away as eternally to perish but that they shall all certainly be saved The last Time I was upon the Sixth general Argument which was taken from the Nature of that sacred high and sublime Vnion which is between Christ and every true Believer I shall proceed to the next Argument Seventhly The Argument which I shall now insist on and produce further to prove this great and comfortable Doctrine shall be taken from the Death of Jesus Christ For it is indeed I find that great Argument the Apostle makes use of to prove the final Perseverance of the Saints or Elect of God See Rom. 8. 33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect It is God that justifieth Who can implead such or put in an Accusation against them that shall be heard admitted or allowed at God's Bar He brings in four or five Reasons why none can 1. From their Election they are God's Elect. 2. Their Justification they are actually justified they are acquitted declared Righteous in Christ and that by God himself It is God that justifieth If the Supreme Judg he whom they have offended doth acquit and discharge them who shall bring in any Accusation against them To which he adds ver 34. Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died Such a One as our Annotators note may throw down the Gauntlet and challenge all the Enemies in the World let Conscience carnal Reason the Law Sin Hell the Flesh and Devils bring forth all they can say and shew what they can do yet after all they cannot bring under Condemnation that Soul all that they can do will fail to condemn those that Christ died for The 3. Reason is because 't is Christ that died because he died for them that is in their stead or room Should one be condemned for High-Treason against the King's Person and he should accept of another who is his Surety to die for him whose Death according to the Constitution of the Kingdom and Laws thereof would every way serve and answer for the Offence of the guilty Criminal and yet the King should afterwards take the Offender and hang him for that very Offence for which his Surety was put to Death would not all cry out and say it was a piece of great Injustice Even so here should God condemn and cast into Hell one Soul for whom or in the room and stead of whom Christ died would it not be great Injustice in God O shall not the Judg and King of Heaven and Earth do right Brethren It was God himself who substituted his own Son to die instead of the Elect and to that End that they should not die or perish for ever But it may be some will object Object It is granted that Christ died for us and satisfied for all Sins we committed before Grace before we were called or for all Sins against the Law But if we believe not or sin after Grace and Conversion we may be condemned for ever Answ I answer Do not these Men think that Christ did not die for Sins committed against the Gospel and for the Sin of Unbelief even for all such Sins that a Believer does commit after Grace and Regeneration as well as Sins against the Law or Sins committed before they were renewed Alas how long do some of God's Elect Ones continue in a State of Unbelief and refuse the Offers of the Gospel before they do believe and close with Christ Why now if Christ did not die for those Sins which were committed against the Gospel as also for the Sins they do commit after they are in a State of Grace there is not one Soul can be saved because without shedding of Blood there is no remission that is without the shedding of Christ's Blood It is the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son that cleanseth us from all Sin Christ satisfied the Justice of God for all the Sins a Child of God hath doth or ever shall commit against him Original and Actual from the Day of his Birth unto the Day of his Death So that if a Believer perishes for any Sin or Sins he perishes for that Sin or Sins for which Christ died and suffered for in his stead Object I like not say some your Notion viz. That Christ died in our stead or room For though he died for our good yet not in our stead I
9. That thou mayst say to the Prisoners Go forth and to them that are in Darkness Shew your selves He had a Charge to call his Elect out of the Grave of Sin and to knock off their Fetters to open their Eyes and to heal their Wounds 3. He hath a Charge to lead them For he that hath Mercy on them shall lead them even by the Spring of the Waters shall he guide them Christ hath the Conduct of these redeemed Captives which we have fully proved by his being called a Shepherd 4. He hath received a Charge to receive all the Father hath given him and those that come unto him he saith he will in no wise cast out And this he doth not only out of his own Affections and B. wels to all such poor Sinners but also as in discharge of his Office as all are put into his Hand 5. He hath received also a Charge to perfect that good Work that he hath begun in them The bruised Reea shall he not break and the smoaking Flax shall he not quench till he hath brought forth Judgment unto Victory He will carry on that Work in the Soul till it i compleated He shall do this saith the Father this is part of his Work and Office which he hath accepted of And our Saviour takes notice of this thing as his Father's Will and Charge given unto him And this is the Father's Will that sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last Day My Father sent me to cherish and take care of the poorest and weakest Soul that he hath given me and to see that none of them be lost I must as if he should say strengthen their Faith subdue their Corruptions and never leave them till I present them all before my Father without Spot at the last Day 6 He must give an Account of them also at the last Day and he will present them all without Blame before the Father in Love and say Behold here am I and the Children which thou gavest me none of them are lost 7. Consider in what Relation all Believers stand unto him in as well as he hath them in his Hand they are his Brethren nay more his Seed his Off-spring his own Children begotten and born of his own Spirit they are the Members of his own mystical Body his own Spouse yea of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bone and will not this think you greatly move him excite and stir up his tender Heart to hold them fast in his Hand and keep them from perishing 8. Consider his Faithfulness is it look'd upon as one of the worst Blots any Mortal can have upon him to betray his Trust or not to discharge it with all care and faithfulness especially where the Life of a Person is concerned And shall not our Lord Jesus faithfully discharge his Trust Will he fail any poor Believer under Temptation or leave him to the Power of Sin and Satan when the Life of the Soul is concerned O what is the Natural Life of the Body to the Eternal Life of the Soul Now are all the Godly put into Christ's Hand and hath he accepted of this Trust viz. to keep all the Father hath given him unto Everlasting Life and not suffer the Soul of any one to be lost and will he not be faithful O how faithful hath he been to the Father in all things and to the Souls of those that are already safely landed on the other side of the Grace and will he not be as faithful to all that yet remain in this lower World Alas he knows how weak and frail we are and that without him we can do nothing He is faithful and will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able and will also with the Temptation make way for our escape that we may be able to bear it For in that himself hath suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted He has a Fellow-feeling of our Infirmities and hath Compassion of the Ignorant and such that are out of the Way 9. Consider of the Greatness of that Love he hath to all that are in his Hand or are committed to his Charge which I have already spoken unto 10. Consider what he says in my Text take notice of his Resolution and Purpose of his Soul Neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand Quest What is meant by any Answ The World shall not the Devil shall not the Flesh shall not Sin shall not Temptation shall not Prosperity shall not Adversity shall not Death shall not no Enemy whatsoever shall be able to pluck them out of my Hand viz. 1. They shall not break that Union there is between me and them but it shall abide indissolvable for ever 2. None shall be able to remove my Love from them I will love them still love them to the end 3. None shall cause me to cast them off or throw them out of the Covenant into which I have brought them 4. Neither shall any be able to do it they shall not be able by Force to do it nor by Flattery to do it I will keep them and safely protect them The Enemy will attempt to do it as if our Saviour should say they will strive they will pluck and pull and do what they can to get them out of my Hand but says he they shall not do it Reproaches Persecution Poverty Hunger Nakedness Peril nor Sword these nor any of these shall ever be able to pluck them out of my Hand Thirdly I shall now shew you in what respect the Saints may be said to be in the Hand of Christ or under what considerations I shewed you at first in opening our Text that he hath a seven-fold hold of them which is held forth in part in the Sacred Scripture by several Tropical Allusions 1. They are as you have heard again and again in his Hand by virtue of his Covenant which he made with the Father so that they are in his Hand As when a Man makes a Bargain to do such or such a piece of Work which he ingageth and promiseth he will go through with and will not cease until he has perfected it Now upon this Account we say that Work is in his Hand And thus Christ hath undertaken the Work of our Salvation we and that Work of Grace in us are in his Hand and he will perform it and perfect it before he hath done 2. God the Father hath given us into Christ's Hand we are in his Hand by the Father's gracious Resignation and he hath accepted of the Trust Care and Charge of us as our only Sponsor and Blessed Trustee to pay our Debts and supply all our Wants 3. We are in Christ's Hand as Sheep are in the Hand of a Shepherd to feed lead and preserve us and defend us from all Enemies 4. As a
Grace as I may say is the Off-spring of Heaven And what doth God love on Earth above his own Grace in the Souls of his People 'T is God's Gift though it be Christ's Merit And as Reverend Charnock notes Grace hath great Allies the greatest Power that ever yet acted upon the Stage of the World had a Hand in the birth of it Should we see all the States of the World engaged in bringing a Person to a Kingdom and maintaining therein his Right we could not rationally think that there were any likelihood they should be baffled in it The Trinity saith he sat in Consultation about Grace For if there were such a Solemn Convention held about the first creating of Man much more about the new and better creating of him and raising him somewhat above the State of Man the Father decrees it the Son purchaseth it the Spirit infuseth it The Father appoints the Garison what Grace should be in every Soul Christ raiseth this Force and the Spirit conducts it the Trinity hath a hand in maintaining it and all this is but the carrying on the New Creature The Father is said to beget us John 1. 13. and we are said to be the Seed of Christ Isa 53. 10. and born of the Spirit John 3. 6. therefore that which hath so strong a Relation and Allies cannot be lost Thus Charnock 2. The Father is the Root and Foundation of Grace as it is the Effect of his free Love and Favour and every Grace is part of the Divine Nature in it there is an imitation of one or other of the Divine Attributes and it exemplifies the Divine Perfections in its Operations The Design of God in infusing of his Grace into our Souls is to shew forth his Vertues or his Praise and Glory in all the Parts of it and doth glorify one or another Attribute of God 3. What is Grace and the Work of Grace in the Soul but God's Workmanship which as you have heard he hath shewed much Skill and heavenly Wisdom about and also hath been at more Cost to effect in us than in making the World he will not therefore suffer that Work to be marr'd and brought to nought We are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good Works Did he give his Son purchase Grace and will not the same Love engage his Power to preserve and perfect it in us 4. And since God's Power is concerned in preserving Grace in us and us in a State of Grace can it be thought that Satan that strong Man armed when he had full possession of the Soul and also had so strong a Party in us on his Side and yet could not prevent an overthrow he being vanquished and turned out should ever get possession again especially since now the Soul is so well armed and hath the strongest Party on its Side against him besides such wonderful Allies to stand by it to oppose its Enemies and to aid and assist it against him and all his Abetters If Grace when a Babe gave Satan such a fatal Defeat and Overthrow certainly now it hath got such strength in the Soul it will never be overcome by him We are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation And Christ hath prayed that our Faith fail not and was heard therein Brethren is the Power of the Omnipotent God limited to a Faith of the Creature 's getting and to his Care in securing If so it is as much as to say the Nurse will keep the Child in her Hand if it doth not get out of it and stray away from her We say God keeps us by his Power through Faith because he hath ordained Faith and Holiness to be the Means which he by his Power will maintain in us as well as Happiness or the Salvation of our Souls to be the End 5. God hath promised to help us to uphold us to strengthen us and to preserve us unto the End The Steps of a good Man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his Way Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his Hand If he falls into Sin into Temptation or Affliction the Lord will not leave him but help him up and bring him out of all his Distresses He hath promised never to leave us nor forsake us He hath also promised to be our God and our Guide even unto Death and hath assured us That the Righteous shall hold on their Ways and he that hath clean Hands shall grow stronger and stronger and to put his Fear into our Hearts that we shall not depart from him Again the Apostle asserts That he that hath begun aâ— good Work in us will perform it to the Day of Christ 6. In a word it cannot stand consistent with the Wisdom Love Faithfulness Holiness nor the Glory of God to suffer any of his own Children and redeemed Ones to be pulled away from him by Sin Satan the Flesh or this World or any Enemy whatsoever and Grace to come to nothing in them 1. Can it stand consistent with his Wisdom to suffer his own Eternal Counsel to be frustrated Or hath any Man the true Grace of God and yet not as the Result of God's Purpose from Eternity If so how comes it to pass that Paul tells the Saints That they were saved and called with an holy Calling not according to our Works but according to his own Purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ before the World began Can it stand consistent with Divine Wisdom to let Satan insult over God himself and boast after this manner Thou hast sent thy Son to die for these Persons thou hast renewed them by thy Grace and made them thy own Children and espoused them to thy own Son and this according to the greatness of thy Love and thy Purpose before all Worlds and didst it also to destroy and bring to nought my Design and laborious Work in seeking to devour them but see how thou art defeated and frustrated in all thou hast done I have tempted them to Sin I have again deceived their Souls and set thee against them and thy Design in saving of these is by me made of none effect I have turned those Saints into Swine and robbed them of all that Grace and rich Treasure thou gavest to them notwithstanding thou hadst put them into the Hand of thy own Son to preserve and keep 2. Can it stand consistent with his tender Love to leave his Saints in the midst of so many cruel Enemies who are unable to save themselves as poor Babes of two or ten Days old out of their Hands and yet suffer them by Sin and Satan to be torn to pieces whilst he stands by and looks on and yet they are such that are his own Children begotten and born of him by his Spirit Or shall his Love be so great in begetting Grace or in infusing
off from pressing Care and Diligence on the Mariners 4. That God who hath ordained the End I tell you again hath also ordained the Means Without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. We are chosen in Christ that we may be holy and without blame before him in Love Nor can any ever come to any well-grounded hope he shall be saved or know he is elected unless he is holy heavenly spiritual watchful and diligent in all Gospel-Duties which is the Fruits and Effects of Election 5. The Decree of Election considered absolutely in it self without respect had unto its Effects is no part of God's revealed Will that is it is not revealed that this Man is and that Man is not Elected This therefore can be made neither Argument nor Objection about any thing wherein Faith and Obedience are concerned 6. The Sovereign and ever-to-be-adored Grace and distinguishing Love of God is laid down in the Word of God to be the greatest Motive to Holiness imaginable Who maketh thee to differ from another O that God should open my Eyes call me by his Grace may a Believer say Shall I sin against him because his Grace so abounds to me God forbid If God hath elected me I may live in Sin walk as I list is the Language rather of a Devil than of a Man much less of a Saint I speak the more to this because I would shew you that are Believers what Improvement you ought to make of God's Free Grace and Love to you Put on therefore as the Elect of God Holy and Beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another And as Moses said Consider what great things God hath done for you Object 4. If I shall persevere to the End what need is there of those Take-heeds in the Scripture Why are we bid to watch and take heed lest we fall Answ This is all one with the former besides I answered it largely when I first entred upon my Work but yet let me add a word or two further 1. A Child of God may sin and fall grievously and greatly dishonour God and bring Reproach on the Gospel which may tend to grieve some and harden others nay he may lose his Comfort and Joy of God's Salvation therefore hath need to watch Satan is a strong a vigilant and cunning Enemy O see what Reasons you have from thence to watch and pray 2. If you grow careless carnal or indifferent in the Matters of Religion it may be a sign that your Hearts are not right with God Many of the Members of the Churches to whom the Epistles were directed were no more than Professors and if so they were liable to fall away and perish for ever Object 5. But same Branches in the Vine may bear no Fruit but may be cut off and wither c. Answ I have also fully answered this Objection already see the Argument taken from our Union with Christ There is a twofold being in Christ an External being in him by a Profession and a true Spiritual being in him Object 6. If Christ died not for all what ground have I to believe he died for me Answ 1. What doth it signify to believe Christ died for all unless thou findest the Effects of his Death in thee Many thousands shall perish notwithstanding Christ died for them in their Judgment that make this Objection yea the generality of them for whom he died therefore unless all were saved what Encouragement is there to believe from hence 2. He that believes shall be saved If thou therefore dost believe thou shalt be saved Is not this a better Ground of Faith than that of Christ's dying for all 3. A bare believing that Christ died for all I have proved is no Ground of thy Interest in his Death for that may be without any Fruits or gracious Effects 4. Thou hast the same Ground to believe as any have or as such had who do now believe before they did believe or as they had once who now are in Heaven 5. Christ died for the chiefest of Sinners and the Promises of Mercy upon believing are made to the vilest Sinners on Earth 6. Great and black Sinners have found Mercy and are now in Heaven even some of them that put Christ to Death And is here not Ground of Faith and Hope for thee 7. Remember that if thou believest not but dost continue in thy Sin and Rebellion against God thou shalt be certainly damned thy rejecting of Christ will have that Effect at last upon all Unbelievers 8. Moreover Christ calls to stout-hearted Sinners such that are far from Righteousness He brings his Salvation near to them He calls upon a People not called by his Name He hath received Gifts for the Rebellious also that God might dwell among them And is not here a good Ground to venture thy Soul upon Jesus Christ be thou who thou wilt 9. No Person is excluded by the Lord that we know of Can any Man say there is no Mercy for him unless he hath sinned against the Holy Ghost which may be not one in an Age is guilty of The Nature of which Sin I purpose to open after I have closed with this Text. Thy Condemnation O Sinner will be of thy self God will judg the World in Righteousness this we are all agreed in and set down as an undeniable Article of our Faith None shall have this to plead at the last Day I was not Elected God will vindicate his Justice and Righteous Proceedings in the Day of Judgment and all Mouths shall be then stopped and every Man's Conscience be a Witness for or against him And though foreseen Faith and Holiness is not the Cause why any are elected yet foreseen Wickedness is the Cause why Men are reprobated O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help Object 7. But is it not said Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling Answ 1. This Text the Papists do abuse as well as the Arminians who strive to make Man a Co-worker or a Partner with Christ in our Salvation But this the Apostle intends not because we are saved by Grace For by Grace are ye saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God Not of Works lest any Man should boast For we are his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good Works 2. Whoever it is that brings in this Text as an Objection against the Doctrine of the Saints Final Perseverance you may be sure is a corrupt Person in his Judgment and one that pleads for a Covenant of Works or joins the Creature with Christ as a Co-workein the Salvation of Man For if it be to be taken in their sense then it would follow that Man is his own Saviour for if I procure my own Salvation by Works or by working it out for my self I save my self or am my own Saviour or I
do appropriate part of it to my self which is the worst part of Popery They say that Christ's Merits with their own good Works do justify and save them And what do the Arminians say less who join Faith Inherent Righteousness and Sincere Obedience with the Merits of Christ both in Justification before God and in the Salvation of their Souls They say all Men are in a capacity or have Power to work out their own Salvation if they will Mr. William Allen says on that Text Rom. 4. Now to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the Vngodly his Faith is counted for Righteousness That they are the Works of the Law he doth not say That he that loves not c. So that Love Gospel-Obedience and Holiness according to these Men are not excluded as the Matter of our Justification before God but are a part of it They plead for Gospel-Works in point of Justification though not for the Works of the Law Pray what Difference is there between these Mens Doctrine and that of the Papists But I having lately in my Treatise called The Marrow of Justification so fully confuted this Grand Error I shall add no more to it at this Time but come to examine the Text. 1. It is evident that the Persons to whom the Holy Apostle wrote this Epistle were Saints and Justified Persons or such who were quickned renewed or regenerated by the Holy Spirit Therefore 2. Let us consider what Part of Salvation it was which they were required to work out 1. They could not appease the Wrath of God nor satisfy Divine Justice that sure was not in their Power to do nor is it here intended 2. They could not deliver themselves from the Curse of the Law because by their uttermost endeavour they could not arrive to a compleat or perfect Righteousness nor satisfy for the breach of it by Original Sin and by Actual Sins formerly by them committed 3. They could not change their own Hearts or create in themselves a new Heart they had no creating Power certainly they dare not say they had Power or were capable to form Christ in their Souls or restore God's lost Image in them Again 4. They could not raise themselves from the Dead for they were once dead in Sins and Trespasses and sure they will say that to raise and quicken the Dead is Christ's Work only You hath he quickned he does not say you have ye quickned 5. They could not bind the strong Man armed who formerly had the ruling Power in them and in whose Chains and Fetters they were once bound Will they say that all Men have a greater Power in them than is the Power of Satan so that Man may translate himself if he will out of the Power and Kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of God's dear Son as all Believers by the irresistable Power of God are 6. They could not believe of themselves because Faith is a Fruit of the Spirit of God and 't is said expresly It is not of our selves but it is the Gift of God Now all things are as parts of our Salvation or appertain thereunto and none of all these things can be here meant by the Apostle because the Persons to whom he wrote had all these things work'd out for them and in them before Quest What Work is it then What were they to work out Answ I answer The Apostle means that good Work of Mortification of Sin and all Works that are the Fruits of Faith that is they should lead a Holy and Godly Life they having received a Principle of Grace from Christ to this very End there being a Necessity that the Tree be first made Good before the Fruit can be Good and that a dead Man have a Principle of Life infused into him before he can either move or work Quest But can the Creature do these things you mention of himself Answ The Apostle seems very jealous of these Saints lest they should catch up some Arminian Notion which is too much rooted in Man's corrupt Nature and therefore to vanquish Free-Will or the Power of the Creature for ever nay the Power that is in regenerated Persons he adds For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his own good Pleasure who worketh in them powerfully effectually carrying on the Work through all Difficulties and Obstacles with victorious Efficacy God works not only Grace in them at first but still by his Spirit through fresh Supplies does aid influence and assist them and will until the Work is perfected or until the Day of Christ We cannot mortify Sin pray nor do any good Work without the Spirit If ye through the Spirit saith Paul do mortify the Deeds of the Body ye shall live So then this is the Sum In Holiness and all good Works we act and do But how even as we are acted moved and influenced of God It is as when God acts works and moves in us by his Spirit And as to do all with fear and trembling this is only to shew how low we should lie at the Foot of God and be humble and not lifted up with Pride since all our Power and Sufficiency is of God But so much to this Text and Objection Object 8. But what say you to that Text in Jer. 22. 24. Though Coâ—iah the Son of Jehojakim King of Judah were the Signet upon my right Hand yet would I pluck thee thence This Place of Scripture is sent me as a grand Objection against Final Perseverance Answ We must distinguish between one that might be near to God or as dear as a Signet on the right Hand in respect of Place or External Dignity as a King and God's bringing him from thence by Temporal Punishment and one that is a Signet upon God's right Hand in respect of Divine Grace and Favour in Jesus Christ or as touching his Eternal Election the latter this Text does not refer unto Object 9. Is it not said If ye abide in me and my Words abide in you c. Answ The Supposition If ye do doth not always denote a Possibility that a Person may not do so See John 15. 10. If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my Love even as I have kept my Father's Commandment and abide in his Love Was it possible for Christ not to abide in his Father's Love Our Saviour uses these Expressions as an Argument of Comparison 1. This shews how acceptable Holiness and Obedience is to God 2. It also implies thus much i. e. That God hath ordained his Saints to Faith Love and Obedience as well as to Eternal Life If my Word abide in you c. Now elsewhere God saith to Christ And the Words which I have put into thy Mouth shall not depart out of thy Mouth nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed which are Believers they shall have his Word abide in them for ever The Law of God
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
direct young Men to reform their Lives and Ways according to the Precepts of God's Word nor to think by any degree of moral Righteousness or inherent Holiness they could be cleansed no no but to take heed according to the mysterious and sublime Doctrine of God's free grace in Christ Which was the only way of Salvation as well under the Law as under the dispensation of the Gospel Sirs this was and still is Christs Fan namely the glorious Doctrine of God's Grace thro' the Redemption that is in Christ's blood and it was by this fan Christ cleansed that Jewish floor to which my Text primarily refers For the Jews were his floor in which was abundance of Chaff and now Jesus Christ was come with his fan in his hand to purge this floor and evident it is his holy Doctrine severed or separated the Wheat from the Chaff and by this means was the Wheat gathered into Christs Gospel-Garner and the Chaff blown away for as Chaff cannot endure the wind of the fan so could not those unbelieving Jews and hypocritical Pharisees endure Christs holy and heavenly Doctrine See Joh. 6. 52. to v. 60. How can this Man give us his flesh to eat They thought he spake of a Natural eating of his flesh as we eat the flesh of Beasts or Fish His Doctrine was not understood by them Then Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you ver 53. Now the eating of Christs flesh and drinking of his blood is no other thing than the receiving Jesus Christ by Faith for Righteousness and eternal Life Believing in Christ coming to Christ looking to Christ leaning trusting or staying on Christ receiving of Christ and eating of Christ imply one and the same thing It is our going out of our selves to him or feeding by faith on him or resting or relying on his Merits on his Obedience in his Life and in his Death for Justification and eternal Life without any Works done by us or any Righteousness wrought in us as the Apostle speaks But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifies the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness But this mysterious and sublime Doctrine the Jews could not bear but it was such a Fan as fanned them all away that believed not For they being ignorant of God's Righteousness going about to establish their own Righteousness have not submitted themselves to the Righteousness of God They thought their own personal and inherent Righteousness was that by which they must be justified accepted and eternally saved they had meat of their own to eat and therefore saw no need to go to their Neighbours door for it they were full and increased in Goods and thought they had need of nothing And hence the Doctrine of Justification by the Righteousness of Christ alone was rejected by them it was not understood by them that Christ's flesh should be Meat indeed and his blood Drink indeed was a strange Doctrine in their apprehensions they could not conceive how such things could be as Nicodemus spake of Regeneration Nor can any Man whatsoever who will receive no point of Faith but what his natural reason can comprehend and thus this Doctrine of our Lord Jesus was a Fan in his hand and it fanned away all the Chaff of that mighty Jewish floor even all that received not that Doctrine or who believed not in Christ received not Christ by Faith for righteousness and eternal life Nay it was such a Fan that it fann'd away some of Christs Disciples not such who were his Disciples indeed but many that followed him and who are said to believe on him they believed he was the true Messiah had some kind of faith tho' not the Faith of Gods Elect Many of his Disciples when they heard this said This is a hard saying who can bear it It seemed hard to them because they could not comprehend it by their own carnal reason From thà t time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him Such a Fan was this Doctrine then and such a Fan it is now that it may be said to make a discrimination between the pure Wheat and the Chaff for no doubt all that receive not this holy Doctrine whatever fair shew they make in the flesh are but Chaff in the sight of God and will be found such at the last day Nor ought they to be suffered to abide in Christ's Garner on Earth as they shall not be gathered into his Garner in Heaven but be esteemed as Chaff or drossy professors whatsoever their conversations may be I mean such who eat not Christs flesh and drink not his blood i. e. wholly feed not upon Christ rely not alone upon the Merits of a crucified Christ or seek not Justification by his Righteousness only but go about to bring in their own Works and inherent Holiness with Christ's Merits in point of Justification in God's sight But to proceed But like as a Husbandman hath more Fans than one even so also in the Second place Jesus Christ hath another Fan also and that is I doubt not likewise intended here viz. The dispensation of God's Providence for this was as a Fan in Christ's hand by which he fann'd away those unbelieving Jews and so purged his floor I mean the time was now come that their national legal and external Church-State must be pulled down and dissolved the Dispensation was changed the Priesthood changed and right of Church-membership changed they having Abraham to their Father or being the Seed of professing Parents would do them no good nor avail them any thing Because the Covenant of Peculiarity God made with him and his natural seed as such as to the Date of the Duration thereof was now run out and expired the Ax being now laid to the root of the Tree ver 10 th So that unless they receive Christ believe in Christ and are found gracious persons fit Wheat for Christs spiritual Garner or Gospel-Church which is built up of lively stones as Chaff the Gospel-dispensation like a Fan purges them out as indeed it did and blew them all away And we are not alone in respect of this great Truth for many of our worthy Brethren who in some things differ from us assert the same particularly Reverend Mr. Cotton who speaking of this Text Mat. 3. 10. saith The first is the root of Abraham's Covenant which this people much trusted upon and of that it is which John Baptist speaketh Now is the Ax laid to the root of the Tree think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father so that all their confidence that they had in Abraham's Covenant Temple and Tabernacle and such things are burnt up and so they have no Root left them to stand upon and this is one thing intended by the Root Secondly There is saith he
for thou hast spoken of thy Servant's House for a great while to come and hast regarded me according to the Estate of a Man of high Degree O Lord. Thus may every Believer say The Love of Christ will have the like Effect on our Souls as the Knowledg of David's Love to Abigail when he sent Messengers to her to make her his Wife and raise her to his Throne Let me saith she be a Servant to wash the Feet of the Servants of my Lord. 4. The Knowledg of Christ's Love will beget greater and stronger Love in our Souls to him Love begetteth Love but not till it is known O taste Sinners of this Love had you but a Taste how would your Hearts be enflamed in Love to Jesus Christ And as to you Saints 5. The more you know of Christ's Love the more your Hearts will die and your Love cool to all earthly things 6. The more you know of Christ's Love the more firmly you will be fixed and setled in his Truth and be delivered from Fears and Doubts about your standing Alas it is not Sin nor Satan nor Hell nor Death that can deprive your Souls of Christ's Love if you are his If Satan says Thou art a vile Sinner and lays before thee the Baseness of thy Heart tell him Christ's Love passeth Knowledg Does he say that thou wilt fall one time or another Tell him Christ loved thee not for thy Righteousness and his Love that is so infinite will never suffer thee to fall and rise no more 7. The Knowledg of Christ's Love will make us to speak well of God and Christ and his Ways at all times still we shall say the Love of God and Jesus Christ is the same all is in Love whom I love I rebuke and chasten Christ's Love known and experienced will be a Cordial to bear thee up to the end of thy Days 8. This will set your Souls at liberty and bring you out of the Spirit of Bondage and make you to run after him But it is not the knowing of Christ's Love in any degree but to that degree that passeth Knowledg a Love that can't fail which will do this 9. The Knowledg of Christ's Love will make you cling and cleave to him Christ is the Loadstone and our Soul the Needle and now our Soul having touched him it makes to the Center and though you may like the Needle tremble for a Time yet you are hastening to him and never will rest till you come to him whom your Souls love 10. The more you know of him and of his Love the more will be your inward Joy and Peace For this is the Way to be filled with all the Fulness of God and to know the Love of Christ which passeth Knowledg that you may be filled with all the Fulness of God Secondly This may reprehend and sharply reprove such Christians that doubt of the Love of Christ especially those who affirm that justified and sanctified Persons may for ever lose his Love and perish for this renders his Love mutable and changeable according as the Love of Mortals change one towards another Thirdly and lastly What Comfort and Consolation doth this afford to all true Christians But I must proceed to the next Argument to prove That Saints shall not cannot finally fall so as to perish Fourthly Christ's Sheep his Saints shall never so fall as finally and eternally to perish I shall in the next place prove and that from the Nature of the Covenant of Grace First Because it is a Covenant of Grace We do not stand in this Covenant as Adam stood in the first Covenant And now that it is a Covenant of Grace will appear if we consider with whom this Covenant was primarily made and that was with Jesus Christ it was made between God in the Person of the Father and Man in the Person of Christ Our Lord Jesus was constituted in this Covenant the great Head Representative and blessed Surety for and in behalf of all the Father gave unto him Adam had no Surety that undertook for him in the first Covenant as a Covenanting Hand but was entrusted with all his Riches all being put into his own Hand which he soon by his Sin lost and undid himself and all his Posterity whom he was set up as the common Head and Representative of God foresecing this he would not enter into a Covenant any more with Man his Credit being for ever lost And since he lost all when he had Power to stand there was no likelihood or possibility of his standing after he had deprived himself of his Power of doing good being depraved in all the Faculties of his Soul Therefore Christ was set up set up from Everlasting by the Holy God who foresaw all things before they came to pass as the Head and Surety of the New Covenant called the New Covenant in respect had to the time of the Revelation of it to Mankind it being not known until Man had broke the first Covenant now Christ undertook in the Covenant of Grace for all the Elect he personating them when the Father and he entred into that glorious Compact or Covenant-Transactions we having not then an actual Being he represented all that were given to him out of the lost Lump of fallen Man and undertook as Mediator to make up that Breach that was between God and Man and by his perfect Obedience to merit for them Everlasting Life and to bring them all to Glory This being so nothing can more fully demonstrate the Certainty of their Salvation and the Impossibility of any of their perishing for they for whom Jesus Christ did undertake this great and glorious Work even all the Elect Seed were put into his Hand by the Tenour of this Covenant to work out Life and Salvation for them and to die in the room and stead of them thereby to bear that Wrath and Curse that they otherwise must have suffered born and endured for ever Now in this Covenant Eternal Life comes to us primarily by God's Free Grace in his finding out parting with and accepting of his own Son to be our Saviour and Surety And secondly by virtue of what Christ hath done and did undertake to do and suffer for all that should be saved they cannot perish I have found David my Servant with my Holy Spirit have I anointed him My Mercy will I keep with him for evermore and my Covenant shall stand fast in him His Seed also will I make to endure for ever His Seed that is all that are the Product of his Spirit or are quickned and renewed by him This is the Nature of the Covenant of Grace Christ is their Root and Head their Spirit of Life is in him and it is derived from him in Regeneration in a spiritual way as our natural Life was in and derived to us from the first Adam by Generation in a natural way My Brethren pray do not mistake about
faithfully bestowed upon them of which final Perseverance in Grace and Holiness is none of the least Christ's Will runs none of them shall perish and it is the Father's Will that none that he hath given to his Son should be lost Now the Spirit of God cannot fail it is his Work to regenerate sanctify and preserve and to make meet all the Saints of God for the Eternal Inheritance therefore they cannot perish 6 thly The Covenant is firm and sure and doth secure all Christ's Sheep unto Eternal Life appears further because it is confirmed by the highest Witnesses in Heaven and Earth 1. The Father 2. the Son 3. the Holy Spirit and all those wonderful Miracles that were wrought this was one End of that mighty Testimony viz. That all the Father hath given to Christ or all that believe in him may assuredly know they shall not perish but have Everlasting Life 7 thly This Covenant makes all the Blessings thereof sure to all Believers because it is confirmed and ratified by the Blood of the Testator Jesus Christ That Covenant that is confirm'd and ratified by Christ's Blood must needs be sure to all the Seed and secure all Blessings in it to them We have also as a Sign and Token of this Confirmation of the New Covenant the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper This is the Blood of the New Covenant that is shed for you to make Peace for you to procure Justification Reconciliation pardon of Sin and Eternal Life for you it is sealed to you by the Spirit through my Blood take eat this and drink this in token of it as an Assurance of it 8 thly The Covenant of Grace doth secure the standing of Christ's Sheep or preserve all Believers to Everlasting Life because of the Promise and Oath of God We have 1. The Promise of God to Christ He shall see his Seed And again His Seed shall endure for ever How can that be if any one that is begotten by Christ's Word and Spirit may perish 2. The Promises also are as made to us in Christ This was Abraham's Title to the Blessings of the Covenant To Abraham and to his Seed were the Promises made that is to Christ and to all Believers in Christ For all the Promises of God in Jesus Christ are not Yea and Nay but Yea and Amen to the Glory of God the Father From the Father through the Merits of Christ and the Application of the Holy Spirit Nay God that cannot lie promised them to us in Christ before all Worlds See Paul In hope of Eternal Life which God that cannot lie promised before the World began If Believers do perish what will become of the Promises of God nay of the Oath of God For when God made Promise to Abraham because he could swear by no greater he swore by himself c. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the Heirs of Promise the immutability of his Counsel confirmed it by an Oath That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have strong Consolation who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on the Hope set before us This Promise and Oath of God doth respect the Salvation of all the Elect or all that are Believers who are the Heirs of the Promises O let any take heed how they affirm that any one of these may perish since God's Oath is passed that they shall not and 't is to this end that all of them might have strong Consolation 9 thly I might proceed to shew you that the Covenant of Grace does preserve all the Sheep of Christ to Eternal Life and shews us that it is impossible that any of them should so fall away as eternally to perish because they in this Covenant have received the Earnest of the Inheritance and by the same Spirit it is sealed to them also But I shall pass by that having elsewhere spoken fully to it 10 thly and Lastly This Covenant prevents the Saints final falling because it is an absolute Covenant which can never be broken but stands as firm as their Eternal Rock See what the Prophet speaks 't is as absolute as the Covenant God made with Noah For this is as the Water of Noah unto me for as I have sworn the Waters of Noah shall no more go over the Earth so I have sworn that I will not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my loving Kindness shall not depart from thee neither mark it the Covenant of my Peace be removed saith the Lord that hath Mercy on thee And now this Covenant is made with every Sheep and Lamb of Jesus Christ as it appears by what the same Prophet speaks Incline your Ear and come unto me hear and your Souls shall live and I will make an Everlasting Covenant with you even the sure Mercies of David that is then you shall be brought actually into the Bonds of this Covenant which is the Work of the Spirit for who else can make the Dead to hear and live So this Covenant secures you to Eternal Life Let me sum up the whole of this Argument 1. If the New Covenant be a Covenant of Grace and not of Works if it be not according to the first Covenant that was made with Adam but of a quite contrary Nature 2. If it be made with Christ for all his Elect and in him with them before the World began 3. If Christ is the Surety of the Covenant and hath ingaged or obliged himself in this Covenant to the Father to perform all the federal Conditions proposed to him and undertaken by him on their behalf namely to work out perfect Righteousness according as the Law requires of all that can be justified with God and to die in their room to satisfy for their Breach of the Law and to quicken renew sanctify and preserve them all unto Eternal Life 4. If it be an everlasting Covenant well ordered in all things and sure for the Salvation of all that are given unto him it being made upon the unchangeable Decree and Counsel of God 5. If the Execution of all things that are required of Believers in order to their Interest in this Covenant and their perseverance to the End be put into the Hands of the Holy Ghost to work in them and for them 6. If the Covenant is confirmed by such infallible Witness if it be ratified and confirmed by the Blood of Christ 7. If it is also confirmed by God's Promise and Holy Oath 8. If the Earnest of Salvation is given to them 9. And they are sealed unto the Day of Redemption by the Holy Spirit 10. And if 't is an absolute Covenant like that of Noah Then they all and every one of them shall certainly be saved and none of them can fall away so as eternally to perish But all this is true and evidently so therefore
the Power to change the Heart is not in the Creature it is God's Work on the Soul 't is he that stamps his own Image upon us and if he withdraws the Influences of his Holy Spirit from Men or refuses to give Grace to them in order to bring them to Repentance and to believe in Christ they must perish Now God will not afford these Persons that so fall away the Assistance of his Spirit in order to the working the great Work of Faith in them therefore it is impossible for them to be renewed He saith not saith one it is impossible they should be saved but that it is impossible they should be renewed unto Repentance these Apostates Salvation is impossible because their Repentance is impossible He that never repenteth can never be saved for he that repenteth not shall not have Remission of Sin and if the Holy Spirit be utterly withdrawn from Men it is impossible they should ever be renewed to Repentance 2. The Persons therefore here intended do not repent cannot repent Repentance is hid from their Eyes they never endeavour after Repentance they are left to hardness of Heart and to final Impenitency by the Lord as a just Judgment for their horrid Evil and cursed Apostacy possibly they may fall under Terror and Despair yet never desire or look after Repentance on God's Terms Brethren it is not impossible for the greatest Sinner in the World to be renewed that hath not sinned against the Holy Ghost or whom God hath not wholly given up to blindness of Mind and to hardness of Heart All manner of Sins and Blasphemy against the Father and the Sun shall be forgiven unto Men but the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto Men. And all Vnrighteousness is Sin and there is a Sin unto Death 3. God leaves these Persons for ever he utterly casts them off And wo unto them saith he when I depart And may say unto them and much more as he said once unto Ephraim Ephraim is joined unto Idols let him alone He commands his Ministers to let them alone and not striâ—e with them reprove not exhort them any more He saith unto Conscience Let them alone check curb reitrain nor rebuke them any more He saith unto his Spirit Let them alone move them or excite them to perform Religious Duties no more strive with them no more for ever No Doctrine no Word no Rod no Affliction or Judgment shall do them good any more for ever This Spiritual Judgment is the worst of all Judgments and so makes it impossible for them ever to be renewed unto Repentance for there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation which shall devour the Adversaries 4. God puts an end unto all expectation concerning them he looks for no more Good from them he exercises no more Care about them no more Labour Pains nor Patience towards them God affords no more Means of Grace for their Conversion Repentance is hid from their Eyes he says Let this Ground lie barren for ever it shall never be plowed sowed nor watered any more for ever He looks for no more Fruit he will not dress it nor dung it any more his Sun shall shine upon it no more nor shall the Rain fall upon it from Heaven any more wo unto such Souls God saith to them as Christ said when he cursed the barren Fig-tree Never Fruit grow on you any more 5. God in Judgment and Wrath gives these up to a reprobate Sense to hardness of Heart to blindness of Mind and to a seared Conscience and they become notoriously Wicked being filled with Rage and Madness full of Envy and Malice against God and against Christ and against all that fear God 6. And usually they are left in severity to their sensual Lusts and become notoriously Wicked and Prophane nay rather worse than the worst of Carnal Persons that never were enlightned at all And so he gave them up to their own Hearts Lusts and they walked in their own Counsel They are left or given up unto Satan to be led acted and influenced by him and are commonly also carried away into pernicious Errors and Delusions even to believe a Lie that so they may be damned because they received not the Truth in the Love of it that they might be saved And many times they become Persecutors of God's People reproaching vilifying and contemning all Religion Quest What a kind of Sin is the Sin against the Holy Ghost And what sort of Persons are they who may sin this Sin Answ 1. I shall shew you first in the Negative what a Sin it is not Namely all Sin or Sins whatsoever that any carnal Person who to this Day abode under the Power of Natural Ignorance and never was inlightned by any Operations of the Spirit commits for such cannot commit the Sin against the Holy Ghost it being positively said That they are such who were once enlightned 2. It is not every Sin which is against Light and Knowledg for no doubt but David and Peter sinned against Knowledg and the Light of their own Consciences and after they had been enlightned yet were recovered and renewed unto Repentance 3. The Sin against the Holy Ghost is not every Sin that is committed against the Holy Ghost for he that grieves the Holy Spirit and that quencheth the Holy Spirit sins against the Holy Spirit nay all wicked Men who sit under the Preaching of the Gospel no doubt sin against the Spirit whilst they resist the Strivings and Motions thereof 4. It is not any hainous and abominable Sin as Whoredom Perjury Murder no not Self-Murder not the murdering of the Saints of God nor putting Christ himself to Death by wicked Hands or the murdering of the Lord of Life and Glory Paul was guilty of the Blood of Stephen and many of the Jews were pardoned who might have a Hand in the barbarous Murder of the Son of God 5. It is not every wilful and presumptuous Sin for multitudes of wicked ignorant Persons so sin daily for whom there is Mercy and Pardon upon Repentance though they have a Whore's Forehead and refuse to be ashamed 6. It is not every degree of Apostacy or Backsliding from God A true Child of God may be guilty of a partial Apostacy for thus Israel sinned and fell from God nay backslid so far as to turn to cursed Idolatry yet God offered them Pardon Return backsliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine Anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord c. 7. Nay I will not say that every malicious Sin against God's People is the Sin against the Holy Ghost when Men hate the Saints for their Religion and Goodness though it be one of the highest Degrees of Wickedness because therein their hatred against God himself is manifested But what may not a Man do that
satisfy the Law and Justice for you Friend you are acquitted Brethren thus it is here Christ offered himself and the Father accepted him in our stead to die for us and to bear that Wrath that was due to us for our Sins and this he did then even when we first sinned in Adam So that we may say in due time Christ died for the Ungodly just as the Stroke of Wrath and Divine Justice was falling on us for it was all one as if he had then actually suffered And also his Blood was as efficacious to save and absolve Adam and all that did believe and apply the Virtue thereof before it was shed as it is to us who believe in these latter Times of the World after it has been shed more than sixteen hundred Years Would not such a guilty Malefactor I mentioned say O this is a great Salvation indeed nay stand and admire at it he expecting nothing but Death and had none to help him or afford any hope or relief to him in the least APPLICATION 1. We may from hence infer God's Love to Mankind is inconceivable nay his Love to sinful Man to lost Man rebellious Man What is Man that thou art mindful him such a vile Creature a Worm a filthy and loathsom Worm a cursed Rebel and Traitor against God that God should let out his Thoughts from Eternity upon him when the Sentence was past against him and he ready to go down to the Pit of Everlasting Wrath and Misery that he should say Deliver him from going down into the Pit I have found a Ransom 'T is not he that is Man himself hath found a Ransom No no I have saith God found a Ransom the Just for the Vnjust or in the room and place of the guilty Sinner It is not I have found Man's good Works Man's reformed Life his Repentance his Faith his Tears his sincere Obedience no but it is the Obedience of Christ the Blood of Christ the Sacrifice of Christ the Merits and Righteousness of Christ this God hath found to be our Ransom God hath found a full Ransom a perfect Ransom God accepted of Christ's Sacrifice for a Compleat Satisfaction it is more satisfactory than if we had lain in Hell for ever for we must always have been paying but never could have made Satisfaction O who could have thought of such a Ransom of such a way of Salvation in this lies the Depth of Divine Wisdom and the Great Mystery of the Gospel How should we adore and admire the Grace of God in Jesus Christ 2. To you poor Sinners let me speak one word by way of Exhortation Did God so early contrive our Salvation O then do you set your Hearts on work to seek this Salvation I mean an Interest in it be early at it do not defer it You young Men think upon it in the morning of your Days this Salvation calls for your utmost diligence to understand and find out the Gospel is a Mystery 't is not easily understood The Preaching of a Crucified Christ is to some Men Foolishness but to them that are saved it is the Power of God Many stumble at the Stumbling-stone God hath laid in Sion Christ is to some a Stumbling-stone and a Rock of Offence but take heed he is not so to you 3. Was there a Council held in Eternity about our Salvation O then consult with all Wisdom the grand Design of God herein It is to exalt his own Glory his own Name his own Free Grace and this being so let it be all your care to advance the Riches of his Grace and let God be wholly exalted and do you lie low at his Feet O close in with God's Counsel accept of this way of Life do not think there is any other way 4. And lastly Consider that the Greatness of God's Mercy and Divine Goodness to us was also one grand End and Design in finding out this Salvation It doth display his unspeakable Love and Bowels towards his poor Creature Man True he had the like regard to his Justice but his Justice had been magnified in our Destruction if his Mercy had never appeared But that his Mercy might be manifested what hath he done his own Son hath born our Sins he hath laid the Hand of his Justice and let out that Wrath that must have lain upon us for ever upon his own Son that Mercy might flow forth to us This should teach us to study Acts of Mercy and contrive that way to be like unto the Holy and Merciful God This is that which he requires of us even to do justly love Mercy and to walk humbly with our God HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation I AM upon the Proof and Demonstration of the first Point of Doctrine raised from our Text viz. That Gospel-Salvation is a Great and Glorious Salvation I have spoken to this already under five Considerations Sixthly The Salvation of the Gospel is Great and Glorious if we consider the Glory and Greatness of those Persons who sat in Counsel about bringing of it in and working of it out for sinful Man We commonly judg of the Greatness of the Undertaking and the Glory of the Work by considering the Dignity Glory Wisdom Power and Greatness of the Persons concerned in it Now if this Work I mean the Salvation of sinful Man had been put into the Hands of the mighty Angels and they had called a Council about it and shewed their uttermost Skill Wisdom and Power in order to the actual accomplishment thereof would not all say this must needs be some great and wonderful Work or a great Salvation But alas they could neither have sound out a way of Salvation for us much less have wrought it out Could they any way have thought how the Glory of every Attribute of God might have been raised and have shone forth in equal Lustre could they have secured the Glory of God's Justice and Holiness and have made up the Wrong we had done to God by our Sin and so have opened a Way for Mercy and Goodness to run down like a mighty Stream and secured the Sanction of the Law and yet have delivered Man from the Curse thereof God must not will not lose the Glory of any one of his Attributes let what will become of the Rebellious Sinner Alas they could never have found out a way whereby the Attributes of Mercy and Justice might meet together and Righteousness and Truth kiss each other the Persons then who found and wrought out this Salvation were not the Holy Angels of God No no none but God himself could do it The Salvation of Israel is of the Lord He is our Saviour How often is this expressed in the Psalms and in other places of the Holy Scripture Salvation is ascribed to the Lord to him only yea to his own Arm to the greatness of his Power Therefore my own Arm brought Salvation