they are Christs Embassadours and Representatives The Galatians received the Apostle Paul notwithstanding his infirmities as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus Gal. 4.13 14. Give them reverence as those which stand in the room of Christ and are in this honoured above Angels to be employed by the Lord to preach the Gospel Give them countenance do not forsake them when they fall into trouble for the Gospels sake give them maintenance they impart their spirituals unto you and you ought to impart your carnal things far beneath in worth unto them and this by the Lords ordination 1 Cor. 9.11 12 13 14. Give them audience which is the second thing 2. Hear Ministers Wo be to them if they do not preach the Gospel when they are commissioned to the work rather than Angels and wo be to you if you do not hear the Gospel which they preach He that heareth them heareth Christ Luk. 10.16 And they that turn away their ears from hearing them it will be more tollerable for the Land of Sodom in the day of Judgement than for such persons vers 11. 3. Believe Ministers what they preach out of the Word of God it is not their own but is of Divine Authority and therefore is true infallibly Believe in Christ whom they tender to you by the preaching of the Gospel they call you to repentance hearken unto them they hold forth Christ believe in him close with him by faith If you do not repent and believe by their preaching you will not by any other means no though God should send some out of the other world to preach unto you If a Dives should come from Hell to his wicked brethren and tell them what torments he felt and must endure there for ever for such sins as they lived in the practice of and that they were like to come to the same place if they did not repent this might affrighten them but it would not convert them If they believe not Moses and the Prophets neither would they be perswaded though one should rise from the dead and preach unto them Luke 16.31 Suppose that God should send unto you which are wicked from Hell and let loose one of your wicked companions out of the dark prison where he hath been filled with unexpressible anguish under the sense of Gods immediate wrath which hath immediately been laid upon him and he should appear to any of you who are going on in a course of such sins as once he joyned with you in and should come and should appear to you in the dark silent night and awaken you out of your sleep with a hideous noise and there roar out before you under the sense of the pain which he doth endure crying out of his drunkenness his uncleanness his swearing and Sabbath-breaking and should tell you that for such sins he is tormented most horribly and must be tormented eternally and that your sins unrepented of will certainly be punished with the like plagues This might startle you and scare you it may be out of your wits but it would not convert you from your sins If you be not perswaded to repent by the preaching of Ministers who as certainly foretell you of the same eternal Judgements out of the Word of God which are prepared in Hell for the impenitent and with whose preaching God hath promised his blessing which alone can make any means effectual for working repentance surely the other means without his blessing which he hath no where promised would be ineffectual Or suppose that an Angel should come down from Heaven and tell you what he hath there seen and enjoyed and how happy all true Believers departed are in the vision and fruition of God and should set forth the joyes of Heaven with such words as no man can utter and withall should invite sinners unto Christ that they might through him have a title unto and at length share in this glory and happiness yet if they do not believe and will not be perswaded to come to Christ by the preaching of Ministers which is accompanied with the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven 1 Pet. 1.12 which is more than if an Angel should be sent down from Heaven they would not be perswaded by the preaching of an Angel 4. Obey Ministers Heb. 13.17 Obey them which have the rule over you for they watch for your souls 〈◊〉 they that must give an account And you also must give an account what they command you out of the Word of God obey as if God spake to you with an audible voice from Heaven and what they forbid out of the Word of God forbear as you wiâ—â—â— answer it at the great day SECT IV. Doct. 2. THat Ministers are to tell people such wordâ— whereby they may be saved In handling of which point I shall first shew what salvation is here meant and what it is for a people to be saved 2. What words Ministers are to tell people whereby they may be saved 3. How they are to tell the people such words 4. Why Ministers must tell people words whereby they may be saved where I shall give the Reasons of the point 5. And lastly Make some application 1. The first thing is to shew what salvation is here meant and what it is for a people to be saved Negatively we are not here to understand any temporal salvation not a salvation from numerous potent and furious earthly enemies which come forth against Gods Israel to destroy them not a preservation from a Senacharibs host or an Ethiopian Myriad â—r the confederate bands of Moab and Ammon and â—lount Seir who joyn together to cut off the name of Gods people from the face of the earth not a â—escuing from Egyptian bondage or Babylonian captiâ—ity or Turkish Vassallage not an opening of prison doors a pulling out of deep dungeons and â—nocking off strong Iron chains and shackles not a sheltring of houses from fire when in danger of being â—onsumed or of persons from the evil arrows of Peâ—tilence when they fly thick about the ears not a â—eliverance from sore pain of body or violent sickness or any outward calamity which might render the life grievous and keeping off for a while the â—ruel stroke of temporal death which none can long â—scape But positively by salvation here we are to understand spiritual and eternal salvation and a people may be said to be saved in the sense of the Text 1. When they are saved from the wrath and displeasure of an angry sin-revenging God who is the most potent and furious enemy against whom there is no lifting up the hand to defend when he lifts up the hand to destroy The whole world of mankind is guilty of sin before God our first Parents sinned and â—n them all their posterity who are conceived and born in sin and unto all of whom sin is natural unâ—ill the nature be renewed And as when the Angels â—inned they were cast out of Heaven and became
Earth and hath put all things under his feet and all power into his hand and appointed him to be head over all unto his Church He is the King of Saints whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and whose Scepter is a Scepter of Righteousness he hath given Laws to his people with great wisdom and ruleth in their hearts with great power and whosoever will not submit to his Sceptâ—r to be ruled by his Laws he will break them in pieces with his Iâ—on Rod. Thus concerning Christs Vâ—ction to his Offices 2. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Life that he went about doing good His Life was holy free from sin he did no evil no injury to any man he was harmless his whole employment was to do good Never was there such a man living upon the face of the Earth who never committed any sin in his life neither in thought word or deed Some indeed have said they had no sin but they have lied for no man liveth that sinneth not but Christ was born without sin and lived without sin he was perfectly good and righteous and he did good His Life was exactly according to the Rule he fulfilled the Law not only by his passive but also by his active Obedience 3. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Miâ—acles whereof they were witnesses instance is given of his casting out Devils likely he told them of more of his calming the Winds and Sea with a word his feeding five thousand with five Loaves his opening the eyes of them which were born blinde his raising the dead that had been buried several dayes and the like which works were a testimony of his Divinity and that he came from the Father 4. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Death Him they slew and hanged upon a tree Christ humbled himself not only to take upon him our Humane Nature to be born of a mean Virgin and live in a low condition when he was Lord of all and God equall with the Father to take upon him the form of a servant but he humbled himself further to become obedient unto Death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.6 7 8. It was a cursed disgracefull lingering and painfull death which he endured and however it was inflicted upon him by the hands of cruel blood-thirsty men yet it was according to the fore-appointment of God for the satisfaction of Gods Justice for the expiation of Mans sin it was not only for an example of suffering to men but in the room and stead of sinners who otherwise must all have unavoidably perished and for the ratification of the New Testament and Covenant of Grace So that the salvation of Man from sin and Hell and the Inheritance of glory and happiness doth depend upon the Death of Christ which was the purchase hereof 5. Peter speaketh to them concerning Christs Resurrection Him hath God raised from the dead and shewed openly Though Christ dyed and was buried yet the bands of death could not hold him and the Holy One did not see corruption his body was not so long in the grave as to putâ—â—fie but within three dayes he arose again from the dead and was seen of Mary Magdalen first after of two Disciples as they went unto Immaus after of Peter and all the Apostles after of above five hundred Brethren at once He was declared to be Man by his death he was declared to be the Son of God with power by the Spirit of holiness in him which raised him from the dead forty dayes he remained upon the Earth after his Resurrection and then was caught up to the Throne of God in the presence of his Disciples and there he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore whose Resurrection as it hath an influence upon the spiritual Resurrection of his people from sin who when dead in sin are quickened by the same Spirit which raised him up So it is the first fruits of the resurrection of his people from the grave who in their order and Gods appointed time shall be awakened out of their long sleep of death and come forth of the dust and be caught up to meet him in the Air at his last appearance to Judge the World which is the next thing Peter speaketh of Christ. 6. Peter speaketh to them concerning Gods ordination of Iesus Christ to be the Iudge of quick and dead God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in Righteousness and hath ordained Jesus Christ to be the Judge who will so soon as the mystery is finished and the Elect are gathered come down from Heaven where now he is with a great shout and the sound of a Trumpet and awaken all the dead and summon the whole world to his barr and render unto all according to their works to them that have repented and believed and by patient continuance in well-doing have sought for glory and honour and immortality he will give eternal life but to them which have been impenitent and hard-hearted and disobedient to the Gospel he will give indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish and sentence them to eternal Death 7. Peter speaketh to them concerning Christs Mission of them to preach He sent the Apostles to preach repentance and remission of sins in his Name and he hath appointed the Office of the Ministry to continue to the end of the World for the calling and conversion of those which belong to the Election of Grace and the building up and perfecting the Saints which are called untill they all come into the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.12 13. Thus the Apostle Peter preacheth Christ unto Cornelius and them which were with him SECT IX 4. AND lastly Peter speaks to them concerning the Way of Salvation by Christ vers 43. To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of sins There is no Name under Heaven whereby we can be saved but the Name of Christ Act. 4.11 and there is no salvation by Christ but by Faith When the Jaylor with trembling enquired of Paul and Silas What shall I do to be saved they tell him Believe in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Act. 16.30 31. There are three Arguments which will evidently prove That all such as truely believe in Christ do receive remission of sins and consequently are in a state of Salvation The First may be drawn from Christs Satisfaction The Second from Christs Intercession The Third from the Promises of the New Testament I. First from Christs Satisfaction If Christ hath fully satisfied Gods Justice for the sins of men and this satisfaction be accepted by the Father in the behalf of sinners and this satisfaction be imputed unto all them that truely believe in Christ as if they bad made it themselves Then all those that
eternal death and wrath which they have deserved and by sin are exposed unto Moreover you may here learn the reason why so many people especially those who most seriously and earnestly desire and endeavour their salvation choose to hear Ministers preach rather than others because they are commissioned by the Lord to preach the Word of salvation and their Ministry is most likely to be effectual Others may preach without a Commission the same words and do no good for want of Gods blessing It is not the bare speaking the words of salvation that will bring salvation but the revelation of Gods arm and operation of his Spirit with the Ministry of the Word As when our Saviour raised Lazarus from the dead he cryed with a loud voice Lazarus come forth and he that was dead received life and came forth Ioh. 11.43 44. Others could have spoken the same words as our Saviour and cryed over the grave with as loud a voice Lazarus come forth but with no effect the dead man would have remained still in the state of the dead whatever any man could have spoken or done but when our Saviour spake the words the dead man was quickened there went forth a vertue and efficacy a divine power and spirit with our Saviours words which raised him from the dead so uncommissioned persons may entrench upon the work of the Ministry and preach the Gospel speak words of salvation and cry to sinners to leave their sins to arise from their spiritual death to come forth from their graves they may exhort them to repent and believe that they may be saved and yet none of their words be likely to take impression and effect a saving change in the heart because being out of Gods way they cannot expect Gods blessing but Ministers are qualified and commissioned for the work and through Gods blessing there is a life and power goeth along with their preaching which maketh it effectual for salvation no wonder then if such as are led by the Spirit do choose to hear Ministers preach refusing others that they may be safely guided by them in the way of life and salvation SECT XIII Vse 2. FOR Reproof 1. Of Ministers 2. Of People 1. Are Ministers to tell people words whereby they may be saved this then reproves such Ministers 1. As do not preach at all 2. As do not preach soul-saving Truths 3. As do not preach in such a Way as is likely to do good But my business being chiefly to speak unto People I shall pass by this Use. 2. People are here to be reproved unto whom the Lord sends faithfull Ministers to tell them such words whereby they may be saved 1. It reproves such as persecute such Ministers that are of such a spirit as the wicked Iewes of old spoken of 1 Thess. 2.15 16. Who both killed the Lord Iesus and their own Prophets and persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary unto all men forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved to fill up their sin alway for wrath is come upon them to the uttermost Some there are that persecute Ministers with the tongue by reproaching of them others persecute Ministers with the hand by imprisoning of them and many other wayes afflicting of them seeking the extirpation of them as persons not fit to live upon the face of the earth thus ungratefully they endeavour the ruine of them that desire and seek their salvation and foolishly endeavour to blow out the light which would shew them the way to Heaven 2. It reproves such who if they do not persecute Ministers yet hate them bear a secret spight and enmity in their hearts against them and the reason is because they testifie that their works are evil upon which account our Saviour was hated Ioh. 7.7 they hate them because they reprove them for their sins and disturb their Consciences sometimes by sounding peals of Judgement in their ears that they cannot sin with that freedom and security as they desire Poor souls how will they endure the pains of Hell themselves that cannot endure the sore-thoughts of them and hate them which bring such sad thoughts into their mindes though it be in order to their escape Would any of you hate a neighbour that should cry aloud in the dead of the night Fire fire and bounce at your doors and awaken you out of your sleep to warn you of a Fire drawing neer to your habitation which if not prevented would burn house and goods and persons together And what do Ministers more than cry Fire fire and tell you of your near approach to everlasting burnings in which without some speedy course taken for prevention will certainly seize upon you and consume you everlastingly And have any reason to be troubled and offended and hate Ministers for awakening them upon such an account as this when their souls lie at stake and are in such danger A Physician of the body is not hated that tells his Patient that his disease is dangerous which if let alone without taking such a remedy will certainly be his death And have any reason to hate Ministers who are Physicians of the Soul because they tell men of the disease of sin which if not cured by the blood of Christ will certainly and may suddenly bring eternal death 3. It reproves such who if they do not so deeply hate Ministers yet will not be perswaded to hear them such as are so drencht in the World and so over head and ears in worldly business that they minde nothing else If any could tell them of a good bargain or some notable way of thriving in their Estates such a one they would visit and hear and O how would they relish such discourses But though Ministers give notice of the best bargain that ever was made and bring tydings of the most notable way of thriving namely of the way of thriving in spiritual and heavenly riches and shew men how they may gain pardon and peace and the favour of God and the graces of the Spirit and escape future misery and attain salvation and everlasting happiness yet like Gallio they minde none of these things they will not step over the threshold to hear Ministers preach the Gospel of salvation and how shall they escape who neglect so great salvation Heb. 2.3 4. It reproves such who if they do hear Ministers yet do not understand them that are so dull of hearing that they know not what Ministers say nor whereof they affirm that gather about a Minister as beasts about a Man that sounds a Trumpet and stare upon him but know not what the meaning of the sound is so they hear Ministers and look and stare upon them some strange things are brought to their ears which they know not the meaning of and are like words of another language to them because their eyes are closed and they want spiritual sense and discerning and a great reason is because they do
name of Christians are ignorant or profane or only civil and morall and live in the total neglect of the salvation of the Gospel and such cannot possibly attain salvation that do not at all seek after it And of them that make some profession of Religion and do something in order to salvation many shall not be able to attain it our Saviour saith that many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able because they do not seek in a right manner because they do not seek salvation chiefly they seek the satisfaction of their lusts before the salvation of their souls because they do not seek it diligently they are careless and formal in the use of the means of salvation they seek but they do not strive to enter in at the strait gate they do not press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling and therefore they fall short and miss of it there are but few that strive to enter in at the strait gate that strive as wrestlers in wrestling or racers in running or warriours in fighting as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth signifie few that seek their salvation above all other things and with all their heart and might few that are resolved for salvation whatever it cost them whatever they do or suffer for it unto which resolution and endeavour all must come or else they cannot be saved and these being so few certainly there are but few that shall be saved More plainly our Saviour speaks to the same purpose Math. 7.13 14. Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat because strait is the gate and narrow the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that finde it The gate and way of sin which leads to death and Hell are wide and broad and the most in the world are passing thorow this gate and walking in this way the course of the world is a course of sin the end of which course is destruction and the reason why so many go in at the gate of sin which is the outer gate of Hell is because strait is the gate and narrow the way which leadeth unto life because of the difficulties in the way of life and salvation which require much pains and diligence if we would go thorow them we must give all diligence if we would make our calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling if we would attain salvation Phil. 1.12 we must labour if we would enter into Rest Heb. 4.12 we must strive if we would enter in at the strait gate Luk. 13.24 we must run if we would obtain the prize 1 Cor. 9.24 we must fight the good fight of Faith if we would lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6.12 the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence saith our Saviour and the violent take it by force Math. 11.12 we must lay siege to Heaven if we would take it and wiâ—h force and violence overcome those potent enemies the Devil the Flesh and the World who would draw or drive us away from the walls and gates of the New Ierusalem It is not an easie thing to be saved the way to Heaven is narrow and it lyeth up hill our endeavours for Heaven especially at the first are like climbing up a steep hill like hewing a way thorow hard rocks like swimming against a strong stream like cutting hard wood against the grain and because of the opposition and difficulty in the way of salvation therefore there be but few that finde the path thereof most choose a broader and easier way It is evident then from what hath been said that this salvation is Rare and scarce the consideration whereof should not discourage you but quicken you unto the greater diligence in your endeavours after it the rarity of it sheweth the worth and excellency of it Jewels and precious stones are rare and hard to be got what difficulties will some goe thorow what dangerous voyages unto the uttermost parts of the Earth will some undertake to bring home some rare things but especially the consideration withall of the necessity of salvatioâ— of which in the next particular should quicken you to seek after it Think with your selves my beloved think seriously and think frequently that there are but few that shall be saved and then examine what reason you have to think that you are in the number of those few When our Saviour told his Disciples that but one of them should betray him they looked one upon another and every one asked him Lord is it I there was none of them without their fears which made them so inquisitive and they seem to be in pain untill they are resolved what then would they have thought and said how fearfull would they have been if our Saviour had told them that the most of them should have betrayed him yea that all of them should betray him but one May not I without uncharitableness say that not one in twelve no nor one in twenty no nor one in a hundred in this City and Nation shall be saved If I should tell you that hear me this day that some of you will be damned yea that many of you will be damned yea that most of you will be damned and that but few of this great company will be saved should I be a false Prophet I will not say it will be thus neither can I do it because this is Gods secret much less do I desire it should be thus for the end of my preaching is that you all might be saved but let me tell you that I fear that many of you here present will be found in the number of those many our Saviour speaketh of that shall seek to enter in at the strait gate and shall not be able our Saviour told his Auditors that flocked to hear him thus and are you better than they you all seek to enter in at the strait gate by coming into this place where the Gospel is preached and where the gate is set open before you but are there not many amongst you that seek in a careless and negligent manner May not I say of all the seekers here that there are but few that strive to enter in at the strait gate Do you all or the most look as if you had your eye upon the mark and glorious prize before you and were pressing with all your might towards it do you hear as if it were for your lives as if you might hear words this day whereby you may be saved do you pray and seek as if you were in earnest as if you were resolved to take Heaven by violence and whatever you were denyed in would not be denyed your salvation Such as do not strive shall never get thorow the strait gate Think with your selves It may be that many in this place shall be damned
therefore the world hate and contend with his Disciples because he hath chosen them out of the world wicked men have an enmity in their hearts against Believers and will not be at Peace with them But Christ preached Peace with God Christ came from Heaven to bring this glad tydings to earth that the God of Heaven was willing to be at Peace with sinfull men It would not have been an easie thing to have made sinners believe especially if they had been convinced of sin how heinous it is in its own nature how highly it affronts and provokes the highest Majesty if they had been awakened with a sense of the dreadfulness of the punishment which God hath threatned and they had deserved for their sins that so great and holy a God should be willing to put up all affronts and forgive all iniquities and be at Peace with sinners yea that he should seek after it They might have questioned not only how this could be but also how any could have known it But to put all out of doubt Christ the eternal Son of God hath come forth from Heaven declaring what he hath heard of the Father and hath made known this that God is willing to be at peace with us Christ was sent from the King of Glory upon the Embassage of Peace and he preached Peace therefore unto men not unto all men for Isa. 57.21 There is no Peace to the wicked that is to such as are impenitent and senseless of their sins and go on still in their trespasses Christ threatned the wicked as severely as Iohn Baptist he tells the impenitent that they should perish Luk 13.3 and the unbelievers that they should die in their sins Ioh. 8.24 And he calls the hypocritical Pharisees who persevered in their opposition of him and his waies Serpents and Vipers that could not escape the damnation of Hell Matth. 23.33 But Christ preached Peace to all that repented were troubled for their sins that mourned and turned that believed and yielded up themselves to the obedience of the Gospel He preached the Gospel to the poor to the bruised and broken that is such as were sensible of their sins and their need of a Saviour Luk. 4.18 And we Ministers have commission from the Lord to preach Peace to the children of men we are Ministers of the Gospel of Peace unto us is committed the Word of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 Indeed we must sound the Trumpet of War from Heaven in the ears of secure sinners to awaken them but we are to hang out the white flag and to come with Olive branches of Peace from God to them that tremble at Gods Word and are humble for their sins Sinners are there any among you whose hearts the Lord hath touched and bruised for sin yea broken to shivers and melted and filled with grief and sorrow for a life of past-wickedness that have not only legal terrours but true Evangelical repentance I have a word of Peace to deliver to such of you from the Lord. God is willing to be at Peace with you through his Son There is an Advocate with the Father who is ready to make up the breach which sin hath made between God and your souls and God doth call you to lay hold on his strength that you may make Peace with him and he promiseth that you shall make peace with him Isa. 27.5 Thus concerning the word of Repentance and Peace which Peter tells Cornelius and them which were with him SECT VIII 3. PEter speaks to them of the Lord Jesus Christ by whom this Peace was purchased and the Word of Peace preached and that 1. Concerning his Vnction 2. Concerning his Life 3. Concerning his Miracles 4. Concerning his Death 5. Concerning his Resurrection 6. Concerning his Ordination to be the Iudge of the World 7. Concerning his Mission of them to preach 1. Peter speaks to them concerning the Vnction of Christ. He tells them that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with Power God poured forth his Spirit without measure upon Christ which qualified him for his offices and he gave him power and authority to execute them There is a Threefold Office which Christ was anointed unto 1. The Priestly Office 2. The Pâ—â—phetical Office 3. The Kingly Office 1. Christ was anointed to the Priestly Office who offered up sacrifice to God even a sin-offering and Peace-offering â—o make reconciliation for sin not the sacrifice of Bulls and Goats or Lambs or Rams which could never of themselves take away guilt but he through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God he offered the sacrifice of himself for a sweet-smelling savour and shed his own blood for the remission of sins by which blood having obtained eternal redemption for his people he entered into the Holy place not made with hands which was but figurative but into Heaven it self there to appear in the presence of God to make intercession for them Christ is the great High priest not after the order of Aaron who were many and mortall and sinfull and their Priesthood changeable but he is a High-Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec hath an unchangeable Priesthood therefore is able to save all those to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession in their behalf Heb. 7.25 Moreover v. 26. he is holy harmless undefiled seperate from sinners and yet very tender and compassionate towards sinners being touched with the feeling of our Infirmities and knows how to pity them which are tempted he is mercifull and he is faithfull too in this Office which the Lord hath anointed him unto Having therefore such an High-Priest over the House of God sinners have encouragement to draw neer unto God with full assurance of acceptance through him Hebr. 10.21 22. 2. Christ was anointed to the Prophetical Office Christ is that Prophet whom the Lord promised to raise up to his people like unto Moses Deut. 18.15 but is far greater than Moses who came down from Heaven to preach the Gospel of salvation to lost sinners who revealed the counsels of the Father which were hid from ages and generations and kept secret untill his time from the foundations of the World who discovered the purposes of Gods Love and the promises of his Grace and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel Christ is the great Prophet anointed by the Father to teach his people by his Word and Spirit who opens the eyes of the understanding which naturally is dark and blinde and leads his people into all truth who of themselves would wander into errour without whose teachings there can be no saving light nor spiritual discerning and relish of Gospel Mysteries 3. Christ was anointed unto the Kingly Office Peter in his Sermon calls him Lord of all God hath given him a Name above every Name he hath exalted him above all Principalities and Powers and Might and Dominion both in Heaven and
us God is the cause of our Salvation 1. as he hath chosen us unto Salvation Eph. 1.4 As he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world which Election being of Free grace we are said to be saved by Grace Eph. 2 5. 2. As he hath sent his only begotten Son into the world to purchase Salvation for us Joh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Gal. 4.4 5. When the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law to redeem them which were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Sons 3. As he revealeth this Salvation unto us by the Preaching of the Gospel for which end he qualifyeth and sends his Ministers upon this Embassage to make known the glad tydings of Salvation 4. As he conferrs Salvation actually upon us in our effectual calling Justification Adoption Sanctification and Glorification all these are from God Now that must needs be a great Salvation which is effected by the great God especially if we consider that it is the greatest and most glorious of all his works in the world and unto which all his other works have some kind of tendency 2. This Salvation is a great Salvation in regard of the meritorious cause and that is the Lord Jesus Christ the excellency and greatness of whose nature office and sufferings do demonstrate the greatness of this Salvation which was purchased by him The sufferings of Christ were most properly the meritorious cause of mans salvation and they were the greatest sufferings that ever were endured insomuch as 1. They were the sufferings of the greatest person as man he was the head of the creation in regard of dignity he was a greater King than Solomon Matth. 12.42 a greater Prophet than Moses Heb. 3.3 a greater Priest than Aaron even a Priest after the order of Melchisedec Heb. 7. Moreover he was God as well as man God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 and though the Godhead could not properly suffer yet through its union in the same pâ—rson to the Manhood it put an efficacy in his suffering and strengthened the humane nature to undergo greater sufferings as to the value of them in that short space of time than all the Angels and Men in the world had their strength been united together in one person could have endured if the greatest extremity of misery had been layd upon such a one unto all eternity For 2. The sufferings of Christ were equivalent unto eternal death and â—he torments of the damned in Hell yea they were far exceeding as is evident because Gods infinite Justice is hereby fully satisfied and there is sufficiency of merit in them for the redemption of the whole world not only of Believers but also of Unbelievers not only of Men but of Devils too Christs sufferings were of infinite value not in regard of the sufferings but in regard of the Divine nature so closely united unto the Humane nature Therefore the salvation purchased by these sufferings must needs be a great salvation 3. This salvation is a great salvation in regard of the Instrumental Cause and that is Faith faith is a grace of great worth and excellency insomuch as it doth not spring from any root or power of nature but is wrought by the power of God and requireth such exceeding great power in the effecting of it we read of the exceeding greatness of Gods power towards them that believe according to the working of his mighty power Eph. 1.19 which shews that the salvation is great which is effected by this grace of Faith 4. This salvation is a great salvation in regard of the Final Cause and that is the manifestation of Gods glory 1. The glory of his Wisdom in contriving such a way for Mans salvation which no created understanding could have thoâ—ght of 2. The glory of his Justice which is as fully satisfied through Christs sufferings as if all Believers had been eternally punished 3. And chiefly the glory of his free grace and mercy which is set forth and magnified so eminently in all the degrees of mans salvation that nothing may be ascribed unto Man but all unto God alone Thus you see that this salvation is a great salvation in regard of the Thing it self and in regard of the Causes of it It is so great salvation as it hath no comparison and is beyond expression therefore labour to attain tâ—is salvation some endeavour to get a great Estate others to get great Friends others to get great honour and repute in the world do you labour to obtain this great salvation which doth exceed all in greatness it is a high and noble design and is worthy your uttermost care and diligence in seeking after it other things are but small things meer toyes and trifles in comparison nothing in the world hath the least degree of worth compared with this so great sâ—lvation I shall be more brief in speaking of the other properties of this salvation II. This salvation is a Rare Salvation I mean that few do obtain it Many are called few are chosen Matth. 20.16 Many are damned few are saved There are many troops of sinners that are posting in the broad way of destruction it is but a thin scattered company that are pressing forward in the narrow way of life and salvation this is evident from the Answer of our Saviour upon the Question propounded unto him Luk. 13.23 24. Then said one unto him Lord are there few that he saved And he said unto them Strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able In which words he doth in effâ—ct say that Few very Few should be saved for he tells them plainly that the gate of salvation is a strait gate and many cannot pass thorow a strait gate and although many should seek to enter in at this gate yet they should not be able and if many that seek to enter in shall not be able then it follows that none of those which do not seek to enter in shall be able Hence then we may gather a strong argument to prove that very few shall be saved If the most of men and women in the world do not seek salvation at all and they cannot possibly attain it and many that seek salvation shall never finde it then there are but few that shall be saved but the most in the world do not seek salvation at all to say nothing of the Heathen world which is by many degrees the far greater part of the world who sit in darkness and from whom the Gospel of salvation is hid and therefore are expresly said to be lost 2 Cor. 4.3 Even in the Christian world where the light of the Gospel doth shine the most of men and women that bear the