to the precious bloud of Christ as declared in the Gospel or as the grace in him through it is discovered to them or have not submitted to the washing efficacie thereof not so received the love of the truth as to save them to baptize or wash them into Christ for righteousness and strength For these are still under the guilt of their former sins and so still reputed as such with God though from some other cause or reason they may have ceased from their former course of acting or walking in them or through decay of nature and so of the fleshly strength and lust their former sins may have left them yet the wrath of God abides on them even for those sins of their youth because they have not believed on the Name of the onely begotten Son of God And if still they abide in wilful ignorance and unbelief of that truth through the knowledge of which the Son makes free they are not free indeed for the soul being without this knowledge of God in Christ cannot be good not reconciled to God and so not washed from its sins and therefore so remaining till the day of Gods grace and patience pass away from them they shall die in their sins For if ye ye to whom that hath been testified in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit believe not saith our Saviour that I am he if with the heart ye embrace not or close not with the Testimony of Jesus The Christ in those manifestations of it brought to you to save you from your sins ye shall die in your sins Joh. 3. 18 36. 8. 24. with Prov. 19. 2. This description of Whoremongers and Adulterers that are so repuced of God according to his rule of judging men by Jesus Christ and the grounds of it may be further demonstrated from the Testimony of Jesus as to say 1. That they are children of disobedience to the grace of God that is by and through Christ and such onely that do abide under the guilt and imputation of sin from God so as to remain under his wrath for sin this or any other This is thus demonstrated The guilt of the disobedience of the first man Adam in which we have all sinned and of our natural uncleanness or filthiness of the flesh as meerly and necessarily from thence derived to us in which we are by nature altogether filthy sinners enemies to God full of all ungodliness unrighteousness fornication c. These being by imputation laid upon Christ or caused to meet together upon him and he having been made sin and a curse for them he hath thereby made peace and atonement with God for them and by himself purged them away from before the Father so that he hath redeemed us all mankinde of the Father from under the curse of the Law to himself The Father hath released us into his hands and judgeth no man otherwise then by Jesus Christ unto whom as our surety he hath remitted and released the old debt and first judgement he had against us and hath committed all judgement unto him so that in this his judging by Jesus Christ he holds no man under wrath or at a distance from his Majestie merely because they have a sinful Nature full of enmity to God and inclined to all that is contrary to his Law nor for such sinful actions as merely break forth through natural infirmity or violence of temptations nor shall there be any occasion for that Proverb in the eternal judgement of all men by Jesus Christ The fathers have eaten sowre grapes and the childrens teeth are set on edge And though now men do bear some fruit of that first sin and natural sinfulness as thence derived in mortalities and death now reigning upon them yet is that death abolished the sting taken out of it and no man shall perish in it but be raised out of it and brought before the Judgement-seat of Christ For as by man came death so by man the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all dye so in Christ shall all be made alive from this death And now while they live here though in mortal state yet are they not by these fruits of sin remaining upon them nor for this filthiness of the flesh held out from God or under his wrath Col. 1. 20. Heb. 1. 3. Gal. 3. 13. Joh. 5. 22. Rom. 5. 18. Ezek. 18. 1. with 2 Tim. 1. 10. 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. But this is the condemnation that when light is come into the world men love and chuse darkness rather and for this the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who withhold or smother the truth of God in unrighteousness and would not so receive it as to save them from their ungodliness and unrighteousness Because that which may be known of God was manifested in them and they liked not to retain God in their knowledge John 3. 19. Rom. 1. 18 29. Yet also II. That all that consent to sin so as to yeild up their members to commit or serve it or voluntarily follow after its sinful and unclean lusts and make provision for them to fulfill them that they are guiley before God and under wrath as sinning against that grace that brings salvation to all men this we learn from that branch of the testimony of Jesus that declares him in the vertue of his ransom for all a faithful testimony of Gods goodness to men in due time and therewith warning of the danger of hiding retaining and following the sins of the youth shewing the necessity of being washed from them and leading to repentance even so soon as there is any capacity in the soul to know any thing and strength to act voluntarily after their own choice so soon doth he prevent every man with his goodness that they are not left under a necessity of committing or serving sin nor are their sins and iniquities so left upon them that they may not by the grace of God deny and resist them for though they be naturally dead in sins and trespasses yet the dead are made to hear the voice of the Son of God that in hearing or adhering to what they are made to hear by his preventing grace they might live Though the spirit of a man be as a candle out that cannot light it self nor be lighted by a meer blowing upon it yet the inspiration of the Almighty giveth it understanding that true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world is as we have said a testimony in due time a faithful witness therefore whoever sinneth he is of the Devil and hath voluntarily refused to see know or take notice of Gods goodness which bringeth salvation to all men in due season and therewith teacheth that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world 1 Tim. 2. 6. John 16. 8. Rom. 2. 4. Ezek. 33. 10. Joh. 5. 25. Job 32. 8.
such married persons as believe and know the truth not to dwell together with their relations as persons of knowledge in the â—ight and instructions of the truth known by them and so the wife being in subjection to her own husband as it is fit in Lord therein also cheerfully submitting to and bearing that fruit of sin remaining upon her in this married condition for the Lord's sake and that with thankfulness to him that hath turned our water into wine our curses into blessings into sanctified instruments of good that so if any obey not the Word yet they also may be won by the conversation of the wives while they behold their chaste conversation coupled with fear c. And the husband giving honour to the wife as unto the weaker vessel so tendring and cheririshing And she being also a believer in Christ with him giving honour to her also as an heir together with him of the grace of life that is in Christ Jesus An heir of the same inheritance and having the same title and on the same account for in Christ Jesus is neither male nor female but ye are all one in him all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus for as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and as such the Grace known leads to give honour to her a peculiar kinde of honour in the Lord together with that in the flesh forementioned As likewise it teacheth husbands to love their wives as Christ loved his Church and gave himself for it that he might wash and sanctifie it c. and not to be bitter against them 1 Pet. 3. 1-7 with Eph. 5. 22-25 with Col. 3. 22 c. I shall not inlarge this discourse by further explication of these particular instructions and commandments given by the Lord Jesus unto believers onely say in general that it is shameful and dishonourable in them not to be found so demeaning themselves in the light of the Lord in which they have known and may further know these things and the blessing met with in doing them And be that knows his masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes I might also here fitly place the discovery of another abuse of marriage and dishonourable demeanour in it which is found in another extream namely that of excess and insobriety or intemperance and inordinate affection for in all these things there is excess and then doth a man or woman exceed when their affection to and rejoycing in the present and worldly or natural injoyment of one another and use of the comforts refreshings and contentments of this life are not kept under and in subordination and subserviency to their love to him and glorifying his name by whom they have any comfortable enjoyment of those things and to the promoting the things of his Kingdom in them and by them Much more then when in stead of letting the moderation of our minde be known unto all men we love father mother wife or children more then Christ and that appears when we prefer their love and the injoyment of them before his love and injoyment of him and fellowship with him and the pleasing them before the pleasing and glorifying him and when we suffer ourselves to be swallowed up of and carried away after the delights pleasures and contentments of this life as in the injoyment of one another or in any creature-contentments And surfeit or fill ourselves with them that the heart is over-charged and the body unfitted for seeking or serving him or receiving and drinking in from him in the things of his Kingdom Or also so set our mindes and affections upon them that we cannot freely part with them for his sake or yeild them up to be at his dispose This great instruction contained in the first branch of this Text namely that Marriage is honourable in all considering how and by what means it becomes so and to what great end it is so made Teacheth us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope c. Tit. 2. 11 12 13. And so in this particular that we should every of us learn to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour and not in the lusts of concupiscence as others that know not God but so as devoted and consecrated vessels to the use and honour of him by whom all things which by sin were polluted and filled with shame are made clean and honourable to us 1 Thess 4. 3-5 And so not onely in this but in all things this instruction as well admonisheth to a sober and comely use of every creature not to live to ourselves our own lusts or the lusts of men in the injoyment and use of them but to him that dyed for us and rose again as remembring and considering that we could have had no mercy in meat drink cloaths or in any thing pertaining to this life but by the sacrifice of the Son of God made perfect through his personal sufferings by which peace was made nor any continuance of it after iniquities and abuses of grace committed by us but by his intercession who is our peace which clearly shews wonderful goodness and a gracious and glorious end of the Almighty towards us therein All which powerfully instructs us to aim at that as our great end in all our use of them that God in all things may be glorified and the things of his kingdom promoted 1 Cor. 10. 31 32. 2 Cor. 5. 15. with 1 Pet. 4. 1 2. But for this I refer the Reader to what is spoken afterwards more largely of sobriety in teaching in temptation 4. In the last place This whole consideration may be of further usefulness unto us to instruct and teach us by and upon occasion of earthly Marriages and in our seeking enjoyment and use of them and behaviour in them to be exercised in minding and considering the heavenly as in a resemblance and similitude appointed of God to that purpose That being in the first consideration of it the bottom ground and reason of this being clean and honourable to us and in the second and third considerations of it the end of this and all other creature-enjoyments being made so to us is first and chiefly to be looked to and minded by us in the beginning and whole proceed of our conversation for wisdom counsel and strength to order it aright and to be aimed at as the end of our conversation in all things For some helpfulness therefore herein I shall here put to minde some Instructions concerning that heavenly and spiritual Marriage especially as in the second Consideration of it which is that chiefly resembled by the earthly Marriage as they are set before us in this whole Consideration of the earthly Marriage which is honourable in all as by way of resemblance or similitude The Instructions I shall mention may be ranked under three Heads They are
all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Acts 17. 31. See also Rom. 2. 6 16. Now according to these three branches of Gods judging we are to take this namely in such a sense as including them all 1. God will not now own and approve them but reprove convict and bear sentence against them by the spirit of his mouth or doctrine making that a reprover and condemner of them in their spirits and consciences and this in mercy and faithfulness to them that taking shame to themselves and turning at his reproof they may escape further and worse judgement And so is that to be understood 1 Pet. 4. 6. For this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead even by his Spirit to their spirits as in the days of Noah Chap. 3. 19. that they might be namely by that preaching judged that is discovered reproved condemned and made to take shame as men yet living in the flesh but that they might live according to God in the spirit To which agrees that 2 Cor. 5. 15. That one died for all that they which live in their several ages should not henceforth namely after this grace comes to them in his spiritual ministration thus discovering and judging them as dead men see vers 14. live to themselves but to him that died for them and rose again So our Saviour saith The Spirit of truth that he would send in the preaching of the Gospel should reprove judge condemn convict the world of sin because they believe not on him c. Joh. 16. 8 9 10. that is by taking of the things of Christ and shewing them namely what he hath done and is become for sinners and so glorifying him he shall manifest and evince to them that it is their own wilful sin and great iniquity that they believe not on him and that that is the reason that all other sins which thereby are rendred odious and out of measure sinful prevail over them and that they remain still in them and are not washed from them In this sense of judging Ezekiel is called upon as Gods mouth and messenger to judge the Elders of Israel and the bloudy City Wilt thou judge them son of man wilt thou judge them Cause them to know their abominations See Ezek. 20. 4. 22. 2. 23. 36. And for this I dare appeal to all Whoremongers and Adulterers but more especially to those to whom the plain declaration of the Gospel hath come though God leaves not himself without witness to any and most of all to those of them that have gone on in their evil ways following their unclean and sinful lusts till they have brought further wrath shame and judgement upon themselves whether before it hath come to that God hath not oftentimes by the spiritual convictions and reproofs of his instruction by his servants or otherwise also judged them in their own mindes and consciences hath he not graciously shewed them their abominations and how hateful to him in discovering an open fountain for their washing hath not his goodness oft-times melted and moved to repentance hath he not many ways cryed to them Oh do not this abominable thing that I hute though they would take no notice of it nor take shame but went on hiding and holding fast their deceit till a deceived heart turned them more aside and they hardened their hearts to a treasuring up more wrath against the day of wrath Jer. 44. 3 4. Rom. 2. 4. And if any of them should not acknowledge so much yet let God be true and every man a lyer I know they bely the Lord in not acknowledging it because I know he is holy in all his ways and righteous in all his works according to that manifestation of himself in his Son I know he will have no fellowship with iniquity nor shall the sinner stand as approved or allowed in his sight but even while he defers his anger and holds his peace in respect of the judgements of his hand not rebuking in fury poured out yet in this first and more gracious way of judging he speaks once and twice before he strike though men will not perceive or regard it Job 33. 14 c. Zech. 7. 9 12. Oh the folly and madness in the heart of sinners that will not submit to his judgement nor take shame while he is graciously judging that they might turn from their iniquities and understand his truth How do they lay themselves open to wrath for still this decree remains against them Wheremongers and Adulterers God will judge whereas had they submitted to this his merciful judging them by the Gospel and the reproofs of his instruction and turned in the light and power of his reproofs unto him their former wickedness should not have been remembred against them in heaven their name should have been changed and a new name given them and so this decree had lyen no longer against them because they had not been such now in Gods account But they remaining still Whoremongers and Adulterers however judged reproved and condemned for it by the Lord according to the Gospel the decree still lies as much against them as ever for it lies for ever against Whoremongers and Adulterers Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge And so They not receiving reproof but still remaining such especially after God hath spoken once and again by the Gospel 2. God will severely judge them by the judgements of his hand in this present life and world while yet in mercy he doth not cut them off in their iniquity he will judge them as women that break wedlock and shed bloud are judged See Ezek. 16. 35 38-40 c. See also Prov. 6. 32 c. Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding he that doth it destroyeth his own soul A wound and dishonour shall he get and his reproach shall not be wiped away Yea a whore will bring a man to a piece of bread and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life vers 24 25 26 c. True it is he oft-times defers his anger and doth not speedily execute such judgements on such workers of iniquity or with less severity where they have had less means of knowledge of better things but because he leaves not himself without witness to any even of his goodness that is in and through a Saviour moving to repentance therefore he will judge and that without respect of persons according to every mans ways for all the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins For to God belongeth vengeance and recompence and shall not he correct who chastiseth the heathen for such things Prov. 5. 19 20 21. Psal 94. 1 7-10 Rom. 1. 18 c. Abuse not therefore his patience forbearance and long-suffering as thence to imagine he doth not see or